Kill With Kindness

Enjoyed this book, though I found it slow at first, but concluded in the usual Ed James way, excellent and not knowing the killer until the end. I have read all Ed James's books and thoroughly enjoyed them.

Another great book from Ed James in the DI Fenchurch series. I have read all the books in this series and although this could be read as a stand alone the reader would be best to read the previous four . They will not be disappointed! These stories are horribly realistic and show a disturbing picture of life in our capital city. Couldn’t put this one down.... brilliant.

James is at the top of his game with another great Fenchurch outing! Great character development and plot.

Another great read from Ed James, with a few twists and turns before the real killer is unveiled. Alongside this, DI Fenchurch also has his own personal story aside from his efforts to crack the case. I always find his books to be gripping and I'm pleased to say that this one was no exception! I couldn't wait to get to the end and find out what had really happened.

I have read each of the previous books in this series, although this one could easily be read as a standalone book. There are references to things that have happened in the previous books but there is background included so you won't feel that you've missed anything vital if you come to this one without having read the others.

Another gripping instalment in this series with the return of a good cast of characters and a healthy dose of dark humour.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for an advance copy of Kill with Kindness, the fifth novel to feature DI Simon Fenchurch of the Met.

Fenchurch is at the funeral of his late boss when he is sent to a murder scene. A young woman has been found dead, handcuffed to a bed in a posh hotel. The handcuffs make it murder and the state of the body suggests poison. When she is identified as Gayle Fisher, a teacher who has recently made headlines for an affair with a pupil, the suspect pool narrows considerably.

I thoroughly enjoyed Kill with Kindness which is an engrossing read with a bit of everything, personality clashes, personal drama, popular culture, twists and some interesting subplots. Fenchurch is working his case with an influx of deadly, extra strong drugs and a spate of acid attacks in the background but, as he digs deeper the cases start to overlap. I like the way Mr James incorporates these topical themes, not forgetting the teacher/pupil sex angle, into his narrative, making it modern and relevant in a readable way, rather than baffling the reader with all sorts of technical jargon and detail as most authors do.

There is rarely a dull moment in the novel, whether the reader is trying to puzzle out who did what and why (it's a given that all suspects and witnesses are hiding information, if not lying), getting caught up in the plentiful action or fretting over Fenchurch's baby son who is in intensive care. The plot unfolds gradually as Fenchurch and the team dig deeper and deeper, although much of it comes about by his freelancing on apparently unconnected side issues.

Simon Fenchurch is an interesting protagonist who always has something going on. In earlier novels it was the hunt for his kidnapped daughter, Chloe, but now that's she has returned to the fold it is his seriously ill son, Al. He is not the angry, blinkered man he once was unless the subject is Acting DCI Dawn Mulholland, now his boss and personal bête noire. Their interactions are tempestuous. I must admit that I don't think this is one of the best novels in the series as Fenchurch seems all over the place and undisciplined. This is blamed on his worry about Al so it probably accurately reflects his state of mind, unfocused but makes for a bit of a messy read. Mr James has, however, set his bar very high so it is still a very readable novel.

Kill with Kindness is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.

Chaos and mayhem abound is probably the best way to describe the fast actioned Kill With Kindness by Ed James which is the latest in his Fenchurch series.

The story is fast moving as Fenchurch and colleagues try to solve the murder of a local teacher who us found dead in a hotel room. The twists, turns, red herrings and dead ends appear in abundance hence the chaos and mayhem description of this police procedural.

I hadn't read any of the previous books in the series but the hints provided made me want to read them as well

A thoroughly recommended book

When a body is found in a seedy hotel Fenchurch knows he should recognize her but the name escapes him. Trying to juggle his time between the new case, his infant son in intensive care and a boss he has serious issues with means, as usual, his life is far from smooth.
Once again Ed James weaves many different strands together to form a satisfyingly intricate story that keeps you guessing. The regular characters are, as always, mixed in with a variety of people who hinder or help things along in a way which feels realistic and pertinent to their view of the case and place in it.
The only problem I had, hence four stars, was the amount of time Fenchurch didn't spend with his son. Maybe it's me but he didn't fight that corner quite enough.
This series has improved with each book and, apart from my slight gripe, I found this story to be complex and well thought out. I was delighted to have the chance to read an advanced copy thanks to Netgalley; it engaged me from page one and you can't ask for more than that.

This is the fifth novel by this author. D I Fenchurch has personal problems, his baby Al needs a life changing operation . An illicit affair results in murder, a spate of acid attacks and a new killer drug is on the streets. Just a normal week for DI Fenchurch and his team and his boss has her own agenda.
This book is well written and fast paced. As usual there are lots of twists and the ending was definitely not what I was expecting. A really good read.
I would like to thank the author Ed James, Amazon Publishing UK and Net.galley for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for giving an honest review.

DI Fenchurch and family are trying to cope with health of young baby Al when an outbreak of acid attacks , bad drugs and a murder erupt in London. While trying to do his job finding the murderer, internal politics within the Department and being drawn into drug deaths he is trying keep focused. This is a really good read and as usual Ed James delivers this.

I gave up reading this after a few chapters, I couldn't get to grips with the characters, I just couldnt warm to them at all. This book really wasn't for me.

This is my first Ed James book and I quite enjoyed it. I realised while reading it that it’s actually part of a series which I was unaware of. I’m not sure if it was intended to read as a stand-alone book or not but I enjoyed it anyway. I will look to read the other books in the series. Overall a good book.

Although now home, the Fenchurch's daughter, Chloe, had once been kidnapped. Now, DI Fenchurch and his wife, Abi, have a 10 month old son who has a heart that needs correction.

DI Fenchurch also has multiple happenings at work. The latest case involves an English teacher Gayle, who had died in a hotel room. All eyes are turned on her husband, Steven. Also, there is some evidence that Gayle was having an affair with Elliot, one of her students. A potent drug - blockchains - has a part in this mystery as do acid "splashes".

Many, many twists and turns brings this well- thought- out story to its' climax.

And, as before, Ed James has proven that all of the suspects are scrutinized.. (Even some of those who may seem perfectly innocent). The questioning during the police interviews is fantastic, as is the character development. An amazing story that truly captures the reader throughout the entire book.


A MUST read!


Many thanks to Thomas & Mercer as well as NetGalley for a great read from start to end!

This latest DI Fenchurch is very fast paced, I like the fact that there's always a few different things going on, recommend to anyone who loves police procedural and general crime books, very happy reader.

Really enjoyed this rollercoaster ride of a book. Never read Ed James before so the bit of background helped. Great plot, characters and ending all you need from a thriller.. Definitely would read his next novel and have no trouble at all recommending it. Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the chance to review this great piece of writing.

Thanks to Netgalley and Thomas and Mercer for review copy.
This is everything I like in a mystery.. It is a British mystery with a serial killer set in London with a engaging DCI.
I loved these sort of books. And loved this one and will read more by this author.

The latest book in the DI Fenchurch series and I read it in one sitting.

Simon Fenchurch has a new unsympathetic Boss and a Son who's ill in hospital, with the resulting family turmoil. Added to this he has the murder of a local school teacher to deal with who has been exposed in the tabloids for having an affair with a pupil. There are also a spate of acid attacks.

Its a good police procedural with characters that you care about. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.

Really enjoy this series. They get better and better. Becoming a go to author for me now. . .

I am disappointed to find out that this is a series as it wasn’t marked when I signed up for it. Having said that I enjoyed it for the most part but found that the break into each scene stopped the flow of the book flitting from one section to another made it difficult to follow.

This was something out of the ordinary. It was an okay read but unfortunately not
enough to keep me entertained.

Book 5 in the DI Fenchurch series and it just keeps getting better with each book. A very intricate story line which keeps you engrossed to the last page. Fast paced, well written with plenty twists, makes this another winner for Ed James. Thanks to Net Galley for my copy. Reviews on Facebook and Goodreads with Amazon to follow.

A little difficult and confusing story as I have not read any of the previous Ed James novels featuring DI Simon Fenchurch however a thoroughly enjoyable read and look forward to catching up on DI Fenchurch earlier cases.

This is the fifth in the Fenchurch series by Ed James and the series just get better and better.
Simon Fenchurch is a detective in London, and the main story line is his investigation of the murder of a teacher whose body has been found in a hotel room. The victim has recently been outed, accused of having an affair with a pupil.
As the parent of two - a daughter who was kidnapped as a child and recently reunited with her family and a new and much longed for baby, who has serious health issues – Fenchurch is torn between his job and his family.
The book follows the twists and turns of the investigation and the various suspects and characters involved, and also the events in Simon’s own life. Nothing is straightforward and some initially unconnected crimes start to connect with the main plot.
Ed James deals well with the emotions involved with the major family issues and I found myself becoming involved with those as the main plot unfolded – but this was an enhancement rather than a distraction. Crimewise, in addition to the murder, a number of events are covered including acid attacks and drug use as well as teacher/pupil abuse. As you would imagine happens in real life, people lie to try to cover up either their own involvement or that of friend/relatives. Being alongside Simon, who is a likeable, human, main character, as he unravels all of this to get to what is really going on keeps the reader involved and intrigued.
I have read all of the Fenchurch books as well as Ed James’ Cullen series and can highly recommend them, I am now awaiting the next episode in the series. This book stands alone, but I would highly recommend reading the others in order which will give a more complete picture and understanding of some of the sub plots.
I have to thank Ed for an advance reader copy of this book, to which I was delighted to award 5*.

Wow! I experienced a rollercoaster of emotions with this book. I just love Ed’s writing style: fast paced, gritty and down to earth. As I don’t want to give any spoilers I won’t elaborate on the story, just that I think this is his best Fenchurch yet.

I’m still a little undecided on this one.

I wasn’t aware this was part of a series so some of the storyline was a little confusing. Perhaps due to this I found I couldn’t take to the characters?

Sadly not a hit with me however I look forward to sampling another Ed James book soon.

I enjoyed the story and it kept me guessing right to the end. My only criticism is at the start with the omp omp, I thought firstly that it was a mobile ring tone but I'm not sure what it had to do with the story.. I haven't read the other books in the series but I will, it is a stand alone book but as previous story lines are incorporated, I will be starting with book one. I would like to thank the publishers and netgalley for letting me have the advance copy.

This is the 5th book in the the DI Fenchurch series by Ed James and the 4th one I have read.
DI Simon Fenchurch is called to investigate the body of a young woman who is found in a London hotel room, the victim of a suspected poisoning. The dead woman is a disgraced teacher from a local school whose affair with a pupil has featured in the newspapers. DI Fenchurch questions the people close to her and some intriguing connections begins to emerge.
I found this book to be more gripping than the previous books in the series with a DI Fenchurch struggling to cope with solving the murder while dealing with the emotions of is seriously ill baby son who is in intensive care. Although the book is the 5th in the series I consider it to be OK to read as a stand-alone but you may wish to read the others to experience the full development of the characters.

I would like to thank Net Galley and Thomas & Mercer for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

The first of this series that I have read but now that I have I will go back and seek the others out. I am not sure how much it will impact reading a later book first but will soon see. A real page turner with a storyline that makes you want to keep reading to find out what is going to happen next. Di Fenchurch was a great lead character and I enjoyed the (troubled!) personal aspects woven in alongside the main story.

I tend to find that unless a book hooks me within the first few chapters, then it's not going to happen and I'm afraid this just didn't.

It begins with a police officer and his baby son who is fighting for his life in hospital and then progresses into a police procedural following the murder of a woman found in a hotel room who has been having an affair with a pupil and includes a storyline of illegal drugs and acid attacks.

I really wanted to like it, but, it just didn't pull me in and I didn't care sufficiently for the characters.

Thanks to netgalley and Thomas Mercer publishing for the opportunity to preview this book in exchange for my honest review.

'Kill With Kindness' is the fifth novel in the DI Simon Fenchurch series by crime writer Ed James set on the gritty East London streets and published by Thomas & Mercer. Amazon certainly seem to be publishing some absolute gems from many well loved crime fiction authors of late. Having been lucky enough to gain auto-approval I have being taking advantage of the excellent books they are putting out consistently.

The story begins with DI Fenchurch attending the funeral of his late boss when he is assigned to the murder of a young woman. Found inside a bedroom in the London-based luxury hotel, she has been handcuffed to the bed with the state of her body suggesting she succumbed to poison. Although Fenchurch recognises the victim he cannot seem to place her. He then comes to the realisation that she was a teacher at a local school who had recently hit the headlines due to having engaged in immoral behaviour with one of her pupils. He decides to follow his gut that this scandalous affair had is in some way related to her untimely demise. But is he correct?

'Kill With Kindness' was an enthralling, engaging and exhilarating read that I enjoyed immensely. I tend to stay away from certain cliches when writing a review including stating that the book was unputdownable but here, I truly feel it is justified. It is an action-packed and sometimes complex story but one that could never be criticised for being banal. You need to keep your wits about you to ensure you follow the direction in which the book is heading! Once again, I have reaffirmed my admiration of DI Fenchurch as a character. He is a dogged investigator and I appreciated that he is given a far more substantial part in the overall plot than most detective get in crime fiction and it feels as though we get to learn new information about him and watch him evolve through each book.

The author has made sure there are plenty of twists, turns and red herrings to add to the readers enjoyment. Fenchurch's sub-plots are always fascinating as the run parallel to the main story and eventually converge to show that both plots significantly more related than we thought. Mr James also sprinkles his plots with topical themes - for example - drugs and acid attacks - play a part modernising the story. Highly recommended to all crime fans. I look forward to Ed's next book as this has swiftly become a series that I can rely on for an excellent storyline with surprising twists, unique characters, and not forgetting Fenchurch himself.

Many thanks to Thomas & Mercer for an ARC. I was not required to post a review and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

This is part of a series and I hadn't read the other ones, but didn't feel like I was missing anything, as I was able to keep up with the plot and characters. This book was a well written mystery and made me go back and read the other books in this series.

I've read all of these and while they are all packed with so many characters that it's sometimes hard to keep them all straight, it was brilliant...as ever...
Characters are genuine, credible and there's a true contemporary feel - real reflection of the current issues plus the personal stories the readers care about.
Thank you!!

Kill with Kindness by Ed James is another hit novel with our favorite DI Fenchurch. This is the fifth in the series however the author provides enough history for you to start with this one. I do recommend that you read the others as well because they are all wonderful. James has a writing style that is all his own. The ability to keep you gripped from the first page to the last and to keep the story interesting and at a pretty fast pace. I enjoyed the characters and the POV was very likeable as usual. I am not even sure I can do this one justice because I enjoyed it so much.

Thank you to netgalley as well as the author/publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

5++ stars ⭐️ out of 5

EXCERPT: Fenchurch thought it through, trying to piece it together.

Half past eight down in deepest, darkest Wapping. Take about half an hour to walk over to the Minories.

Next sighted at eleven.

Plenty of time for Steve to kill Gayle.

ABOUT THIS BOOK: A sadistic killer. An infamous victim. A crime that gets darker and darker…

The body of a young woman is found in a London hotel room, the victim of a suspected poisoning. Called in to investigate, DI Simon Fenchurch soon discovers the case is far more sinister than he could have imagined.

He should have recognised the woman at once—a teacher at a local school, her scandalous affair with a pupil has been splashed across the tabloids. As Fenchurch interrogates those closest to her, a web of suspicious connections begins to emerge.

Meanwhile Fenchurch’s own life is still in turmoil: his family fragmented, his baby son in intensive care, and his mentor replaced by an unsympathetic new boss. The streets of London are in chaos too, with a spate of acid attacks on seemingly random victims.

Struggling to hold on to hope on both fronts, Fenchurch faces the toughest few days of his career. Can he keep his family safe and catch whoever is behind the murder before more lives are lost?

MY THOUGHTS: I have read and enjoyed the previous books in this series, but Kill With Kindness just didn't hook me and reel me in as the others did. A few times, I thought I was there, but ultimately I just didn't really become immersed in this story line.

Perhaps there was just too much going on - the murder, the drugs, the family - all vying for the spotlight, and that's without all the peripheral sub-plots and characters. It all just got a bit too complicated in places.

But I like Fenchurch. He's a grumpy bugger, but loyal once you've won his respect, not quick to forgive if you haven’t. He's still finding his way with his family, adapting to the changes, and it's not over yet. Plus there are changes in his workplace, upsetting the balance. He's a man who calls it like he sees it, and I like that. He is often stubborn, and tends to hold on to grudges long after he should have let them go. He speaks his mind, often to his own detriment. But I like him.

So, will I be reading the next in this series? Definitely. 😊😊😊.5

THE AUTHOR: Ed James writes crime fiction novels, predominantly the SCOTT CULLEN series of police procedurals set in Edinburgh and the surrounding Lothians – the first four are available now, starting with GHOST IN THE MACHINE which has been downloaded over 280,000 times and is currently free. BOTTLENECK (Cullen 5) is out on 17-Mar-14. He is currently developing two new series – DI SIMON FENCHURCH and DS VICKY DODDS, set in London and Dundee respectively. He also writes the SUPERNATURE series, featuring vampires and other folkloric creatures, of which the first book SHOT THROUGH THE HEART is out now and free.

Ed lives in the East Lothian countryside, 25 miles east of Edinburgh, with his girlfriend, six rescue moggies, two retired greyhounds, a flock of ex-battery chickens and rescue ducks across two breeds and two genders (though the boys don’t lay eggs). While working in IT for a living, Ed wrote mainly on public transport but now writes full time.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Amazon Publishing UK, Thomas and Mercer via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of Kill With Kindness by Ed James for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system.

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Another great story from Ed James. There is a lot packed into this book. There is a gripping plot and some great characters and some dark humour thrown in. A brilliant read the whole way through. I am looking forward to the next book in the series.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

Thankyou to NetGalley, Amazon Publishing UK and the author, Ed James, for the opportunity to read an advanced readers copy of Kill With Kindness in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
I found the storyline to be well thought out and written and the characters were engaging.
I was kept on the edge of my seat.
Definitely well worth a read.

I would like to thank Thomas & Mercer Publishing and the Netgalley website for this partnership.

I was immediately attracted to the blanket, you can see a young woman climbing the stairs.

When a young woman's body is found dead in a hotel room Simon Fenchurch will surrender against that it will not be a pleasure. He does not recognize the woman, a teacher who had a relationship with a student. He's going to have to move quickly to stop the chaos in London.

My very first book by this author, I found the story captivating, moving and full of suspense and twists and turns. Looking forward to reading the other books in this series.

I'm a bit disappointed with Kill With Kindness. I'm a fan of Fenchurch usually but I couldn't get to grips with this one. There were too many people involved and I kept getting lost. I also don't think I can stomach any more books where the police are far too busy undermining each other to do any proper police work. I didn't get what was going on with Liam and Katerina at all, or if Liam was a 'goody' or a 'baddie'. The whole thing was too convoluted and confusing for me. I kept going in the hope that the final reveal would clear everything up for me. It didn't.

I tried several times to read this book, but it kept on losing me. There were too many characters mentioned at the beginning, even though they weren't all "on stage", so to speak, and I kept on losing track of who was speaking and what was going on. It was too choppy, not very easy to read, and I was too easily distracted away. It didn't grab my attention at all. However, I won't give a low star rating to a book I didn't even finish reading.

I received this as a review copy from Netgalley so no issue with value for money. I had read the first three books in the series so was familiar with DI Fenchurch. Having not read the fourth book in the series there were a few gaps in the background relating to Fenchurch's team and family but these soon got cleared up. I really enjoyed the previous books and was gripped until the end however this book left me feeling a bit flat and my motivation at the end was just to finish. Hopefully book 4 will be more enjoyable. Worth a read but far from the authors best piece of work.

I have read all Ed James’s books so it’s fair to say I was already a fan.
This the 5th book in the series continues Simon Fenchurch’s career as a Detective Constable in the darker side of London’s Streets.
A woman is found murdered in a hotel room. Recently embroiled in a tabloid scandal she is a local teacher who had in appropriate liaisons with a pupil.
As Fenchurch unravels the case his private life interjects as his young baby lies in intensive care.
Drug wars and a spate of acid attacks all become involved.
The book is well paced and continues the series with aplomb. Great read.
Keep them coming!

This is already the fifth book in the series, and honestly, I just love this series more and more.. The story is well written, fast paced and thrilling throughout. Recommended!