The Blood Detective [Audio CD]

Dan Waddell (Author), Colin Mace (Narrator)

Product Details

• Audio CD
• Publisher: RecordedBooks (2008)
• ISBN-10: 1440720711
• ISBN-13: 978-1440720710
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Blood Detective by Dan Waddell, November 8, 2009

By 

Susie "Susie" (Chicago Area) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Blood Detective (Hardcover)

I'm an avid fan of police procedural series, mostly Nordic and Euro.

Waddell's Blood Detective is a great introduction to a new series.

The story is set in England. There are three main characters, all well defined, and special in their own ways.

I especially like Nigel Barnes, a genealogist. The murder investigation is mostly done by Barnes' research through birth, marriage and death certificates.

The story is well written, perfectly paced from the first to the last page with no wasted words.

I ordered the second book, BLOOD ATONEMENT, a Nigel Barnes mystery novel immediately after I finished BLOOD DETECTIVE.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Great concept that somewhat fizzles out at end, October 18, 2008

By 

hessa (Boston, MA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Blood Detective (Hardcover)

Genealogist Nigel Barnes teams up with a couple cops in order to solve a string of serial killings in modern day London. Oddly, Nigel's genealogical research is much more interesting--and convincing--than the work done by law enforcement. The author seems iffy on actual police procedures, but quite knowledgeable on the secrets of tracing one's past.

The writing in this book is generally rich and well-crafted, carrying it through some rather serious plot holes. Why, for example, doesn't the London Police Force hire more than just one genealogist to help them when the clock is ticking until the next murder? Although the book is engrossing, the ultimate unveiling of the killer is not terribly satisfying. I will probably check out the sequel to see if its ending packs a bigger punch, and if Waddell eases up on the long, rambling historical details which somewhat slow the pace of The Blood Detective.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars strong police procedural, June 15, 2008

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Blood Detective (Hardcover)

Scotland Yard hires genealogist Nigel Barnes as a consultant to their investigation into ghastly serial killings haunting London. The only link between the victims besides a gruesome death is each corpse is marked with "1A137".

Barnes follows up on the death number and soon realizes it is the number on the death certificate filed in 1879 for murder victim Albert Beck, who was stabbed to death in a churchyard. As he widens his historical search, he learns that Beck was one of the five victims allegedly murdered by the Kensington Killer; Eke Fairbairn was arrested as such, tried and executed. Further evidence seems to imply Eke was innocent and an apparent descendant is avenging his undeserved execution by executing relatives of the prosecution.

Although the climax seems implausible, readers will relish this strong police procedural with a fascinating lead character, who uses genealogy to uncover nineteenth century clues to a present day serial killer. The story line is fast-paced, but held together by Nigel as he begins to piece together the puzzle. He will remind the audience somewhat of Rhett McPherson's Missouri genealogist Torie O'Shea. Fans will enjoy this fine English whodunit while looking forward to more such cases starring Nigel.

Harriet Klausner