The Deadliest Legacy

A Bizarre Chain Of Events..
When a literary festival ends abruptly due to an unexpected death and several attempted murders, DCI David Vogel and team become involved in a complex and wholly bizarre chain of inexplicable events - and it seems that Delia Day, renowned romantic novelist extraordinaire is at the very heart of it all. A wholly enjoyable and entertaining murder mystery with an intriguing and compelling plot populated with a credible and eclectic cast of characters with a well imagined setting. The fifth outing in this series and a worthy addition indeed.

Another mystery in this series. Secrets and guesses keep this book going. Realistic characters add to the story. This book was sent to me electronically by Netgalley for review. Thanks to the publisher and the talented author. This is a quick fun read.

Death at a book festival with a motley array of colourful characters. DCI Vogel and team have a complicated time trying to ascertain who did what to whom after the original death was shown, despite the obvious evidence, to have been murder. Was it mistaken murder though? A pleasant cosy mystery, death yes but over violent and gore no. A detective quietly getting on with the job, supported by his family and no special dramas there. Nice change. An author and characters new to me but I shall head off and find the earlier stories. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy.

Thank you NetGalley and Severn House for the eARC.
What an enjoyable book! I loved the fact that a third of the book was all about the characters involved in the mystery, so you got a real feel for them. DCI David Vogel first thought the victim died of natural causes, but subsequent happenings changed his mind. The world's foremost romantic author has had two attempts on her life and it's probably related to the first death. But it took quite a bit of sleuthing to find the answer...and what a surprise that was! Terrific!
Great read, impossible to put down, I loved it!

In The Deadliest Legacy by Hilary Bonner, DCI David Vogel investigates a sudden death at a local book festival in this gripping police procedural.

This is the 5th book in the DCI David Vogel series. The story had credible characters and a good storyline. I enjoyed getting to know these characters. I really liked the setting and the book festival vibe.

I would recommend this book and this series.

#TheDeadliestLegacy #NetGalley @SvrnRvrPublish

Book Festival Can Be Deadly in North Devon

DCI David Vogel is enjoying a Sunday lunch with his wife and daughter in Appledore. He receives a call that there was a death at the book festival nearby. Because of disruptions to family life the past year, they were disappointed in this rare event being interrupted. He gets up and walks down to the book festival. The main storyline unfolds from here.

When DCI Vogel arrives at the scene of the death, I was 30% into reading the novel. The main storyline structure jumps back a few days. The reader will be introduced to all the main characters of the book festival as they arrive and participate in the early activities. Insight is provided into the personal eccentricities, desires, hates, and secrets of the organizer, writer participants, and some attendees. This part of the novel provides a rich pool of potential victims and perpetrators. When the death occurs, it is apparent to the EMTs and Vogel that the poor person died of a heart attack. Another incident demonstrates a serious fault in his logic. Now, the investigation begins. The insight gained in the first 30% of the novel shows that during the interviews with Vogel and his team, people do not always tell the truth, especially not the whole truth, and not telling only the truth. I really enjoyed this aspect. I was hooked and couldn’t stop reading.

There is background on DCI Vogel with his family. Even as he is in the middle of a murder investigation, he still runs back to finish desert with his family, and he check on the search of his daughter’s missing cat. Professionally, the reader will see how Vogel handles persons whose lifestyles are different from his. There is some background on DS Saslow. When individuals with lifestyles, with which Vogel is not comfortable, the reader will see how Saslow handles them. Even her knowledge of these lifestyles helps the investigation. These aspects enhanced my reading enjoyment of this novel.

For the aspects that can stop some readers immediately, I believe all readers should not have a problem with this novel. There are no intimate scenes. Rude and vulgar language is quite minimal. There is some language that some would consider impious. There is some violence described as it occurs. Looking at all these aspects, I believe that if this was a TV show, it would only be rated PG.

I did not find anything I did not like about this novel. I suspect what I liked most could stop some readers from continuing to read this novel. That was the long section before the death at the festival. I will note that while reading this section, I was questioning where this novel was heading, but it was well worth the delay. I was very happy with the ending, especially for DCI Vogel’s daughter. There were not any loose ends.

I have read the previous four novels in this series and one other. Each novel presented a fresh look into DCI Vogel's team. She is solidly in my Must-Read author rating. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel and am looking forward to reading all future novels by Hilary Bonner. I recommend reading this novel. I rate this novel with five stars.

I received a free prepublication e-book version of this novel through NetGalley from Severn House. My review is based solely on my own reading experience of this book. I wish to thank Severn House for the opportunity to read and review this novel early.

A solid procedural featuring a more rounded detective than we often seen in the genre. Delia, a romance novelist, is attending a bookfest in Appledore and she's expecting to be, as usual adored by her fans but that's not what happens. First there's a murder and then she's attacked. DCI David Vogel wanted to have a nice lunch with his family but that's not what happens either. This goes back in time from that lunch to the week before the murder to give the reader a sense of what happened. Vogel makes some assumptions that as it turns out are not accurate. DS Saslow's personal life pops up a bit as well adding to the story. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. No spoilers from me but know that this is an enjoyable and suitably twisty read.

David Vogel, mild mannered surface, steely strength running deep!

David Vogel’s latest murder investigation is a web of past deceits, present truths and complicated twists.
Vogel is called away from a family dinner to attend the death of a prominent screen writer , James Harding, at the annual book writers festival at Appledore in NorthDevon.
Nothing to see here! It appears to be more a heart attack, but Vogel goes through the appropriate procedures. It’s more that the dead person is a high profile Netflix writer that’s had him called out.
Vogel needs to get back to his wife and daughter, Rosamund. She’s about to go to a residential school but is upset about her missing cat.
When another successful Romance author, Delia Day, who’d been on the same panel as Harding, is injured in an ‘accident’, Vogel is suspicious, which becomes a certainty when Delia is attacked in the hospital.
This was a convoluted yet exciting tale that kept me swiping the digital page so fast that I almost lost it several times in my determination to find out who’d done it!
Even the ending added its own frisson!

A Severn House ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)

This is book five in this series, and you know what I am going to say... Well, maybe not. Obviously it's a series book and the point of them is to get to know the main characters etc etc. But I would have to admit that this book does work well as a standalone enough to not have to play catch up. Although, the previous books are all top notch so...
This book is set at a book festival. The headline "act" being the most successful living romantic novelist Delia Day. Tbf, not my chosen genre to read, but even I have to admit to her prowess and prolificness. Anyway... it was a dark and stormy night... which ended up in murder... dun dun duuun!
I get ahead. She is sat down on a panel with renown screenwriter James Harding who was responsible for transforming her books onto the small screen. Netflix to be precise. One minute they are playing nice with the host, the next he is lying dead on the floor. Initial thoughts are of cardiac arrest... But David Vogel is called in just to make sure. He initially agrees. Until that is, Delia Day is also attacked...
And so begins a cracking tale of mystery and intrigue starring an eclectic cast of characters/suspects which had me chasing my tail throughout as I tried to second guess, and promptly gave up. The story is well plotted and that plot ably executed. With twists and turns and the odd red herring thrown in for good measure, eventually the lies and secrets are peeled back and the eventual shocking truth revealed!
I do love David Vogel as a character as he is not the stereotypical wounded cop. Yes he has his faults and idiosyncrasies and, although the main series characters do have some personal stuff going on, the main focus is always on the case in hand, or cases if you include the extra one herein. This means that the book gets on with itself very well, free of any superfluous waffle or padding to distract.
All in all, a cracking addition to an already well impressive series. Roll on next time. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

The Deadliest Legacy is the fifth book in the DCI David Vogel series. I have read and enjoyed each of the prior books, and this one is interesting since it takes place at a book festival in North Devon. There are unexpected victims and suspects at the festival and DCI Vogel has to figure out who is who! 

I really like David Vogel as a main character. He is a loving husband and father and a respected boss. I like the way he works with DS Dawn Saslow - they make a great team! There is way more than meets the eye in this case and the plot of this murder mystery takes a turn that would be impossible to guess. I enjoy police procedurals and this series is well-written and enjoyable to read. I always know I will be entertained when I pick up a book in this series. 

I received an advance copy of this ebook at no cost from NetGalley and Severn House. My review is voluntary and unbiased.

I always find funny mysteries set at literary festivals because it's also a game of trying to guess if the characters were inspired by read life writers.
This one was entertaining, fast paced and kept me guessing.
I loved it.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

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