Shadows on the Levels by David Hodges Book Review

About the Book:

Five old friends. One guilty secret. A crime that won't stay buried.

Detective Kate and her husband Hayden are hoping to ease in gently after a year-long sabbatical.

But on Kate's first day back in the job, she's called out to Pagan's Clump, an isolated, eerie spot on the Somerset Levels. Human remains have been discovered.

Kate races to the scene. Only to learn the bones have been there for many years. This cold case is going nowhere.

Then Kate's called out to a break-in at bestselling novelist Lizzie Johnson's stunning country home. Another false alarm. Lizzie contacted the police with wild tales of a nightmarish face at her window. Now she thinks she was mistaken.

Two days later, Lizzie Johnson is dead. An accidental overdose, it would appear.

Kate is not convinced. She doesn't believe in ghosts and ghouls - but the dead woman was clearly terrified of something.

Then Kate uncovers a link between Lizzie Johnson and the bones at Pagan's Clump - and the case takes a shocking twist . . .

My Review:

While this book is down the line in a long series, it is the first I have read. I felt it read fine on its own. The plot is not a whodunit as we know the crime from the beginning and those who did it. At least we think we do. I was surprised with a twist near the end that set the whole mystery plot on its head. I thought I knew what was going on but there was a deeper layer to the mystery that Kate revealed.

Kate is an interesting detective, known for her independence. I was a little surprised at her harsh comments toward her husband but he seemed to need that treatment to be motivated to action. I am sure previous novels reveal her reasons for her attitude towards him. Why they stay married seems odd but is good for character interaction.

The plot is good as Kate works to uncover the long ago crime. Current murders create a new emphasis to the investigation and a twist in the plot. There is a good amount of suspense near the end. This is a good novel for those who like British crime investigations set in an interesting location.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

About the Author:

A former superintendent with Thames Valley Police, with thirty years experience in the force, David Hodges is a prolific crime writer and author of eighteen crime novels plus an autobiography on his life in the police service. His debut crime novel received critical media acclaim and a welcome accolade from Inspector Morse’s creator, the late great Colin Dexter, and since then he has become the author of several successful stand-alone thrillers.

David has two married daughters and four grandchildren and lives in the UK with his wife, Elizabeth, where he continues to indulge his passion for thriller writing and to pursue his keen interest in wild life and the countryside.

He is a member of the Society of Authors, the Crime Writers and Crime Readers Associations and International Thriller Writers Inc.

Joffe Books, Ltd., 280 pages.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

(My star ratings: 5-I love it, 4-I like it, 3-It's OK, 2-I don't like it, 1-I hate it.)