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RUTHLESS CRIMES a totally captivating crime mystery (Detective Sophie Allen Book 9) by [MICHAEL HAMBLING]

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Michael Hambling

RUTHLESS CRIMES a totally captivating crime mystery (Detective Sophie Allen Book 9) Kindle Edition

by MICHAEL HAMBLING (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

3,345 ratings

Book 9 of 11: Detective Sophie Allen

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Looking for a gripping mystery by a bestselling author? Full of twists and turns, this crime thriller will keep you turning the pages until the satisfying conclusion.

TWO VICTIMS WITH NO PASTS.

A man is found stabbed to death on the Southampton morning commuter train.

But why can’t Detective Sophie Allen’s team find out anything about his history? And why was he staying in a house that seems to be owned by a government security unit?

Then there is another stabbing, this time in a refuge for abused women. And again, Sophie can find very little about the victim’s life.

HOW DOES ALL THIS CONNECT TO DESPERATE MIGRANTS ARRIVING ON THE BEACHES?

The Dorset-based detective team discovers duplicity that reaches to the top echelons of government in this twisting tale of treachery, tragedy and hope.

Discover a captivating crime mystery which will have you gripped from start to finish.

If you like Angela Marsons, Rachel Abbott, Colin Dexter, Ruth Rendell, or Mark Billingham you will be gripped by this exciting new crime fiction writer.

WHAT READERS ARE SAYING ABOUT MICHAEL HAMBLING:

“Very well written and highly recommended.” Viv

“An utterly compelling book from Michael Hambling.” Ron

“The characters were a diverse, mixed bag of well-developed, realistic personalities.” Nicki

“This book is a must read.” Barbara

“This was a good book, I love Sophie as a character.” Hannelore

THE DETECTIVES
DCI Sophie Allen is Dorset’s acknowledged expert on murder and violent crime. She is 42 as the series starts, and lives with her husband and younger daughter in Wareham. Her elder daughter is studying in London. Sophie has a law degree and a master’s in criminal psychology. Her brilliant mind conceals some dark secrets from her past.

DS Barry Marsh is based at Swanage police station. He's quiet, methodical and dedicated, the perfect foil for Sophie's hidden fragility.

THE SETTING
Dorset. A beautiful English county which includes a stunning section of the coastline, but whose beauty belies darkness beneath the surface.

DISCOVER YOUR NEXT FAVOURITE MYSTERY SERIES NOW!

THE DCI SOPHIE ALLEN BOOKS
Book 1: DARK CRIMES
Book 2: DEADLY CRIMES
Book 3: SECRET CRIMES
Book 4: BURIED CRIMES
Book 5: TWISTED CRIMES
Book 6: EVIL CRIMES
Book 7: SHADOW CRIMES
Book 8: SILENT CRIMES
Book 9: RUTHLESS CRIMES
Book 10: BRUTAL CRIMES
Book 11: HIDDEN CRIMES

Book 9 of 11

Detective Sophie Allen
Print length

276 pages
Language

English
Sticky notes

On Kindle Scribe
Publication date

September 9, 2020
File size

1082 KB
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Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08GQ9LGRM
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Joffe Books crime thrillers (September 9, 2020)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 9, 2020
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 1082 KB
Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
Print length ‏ : ‎ 276 pages
Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 1789314895

Best Sellers Rank: #112,183 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #204 in Women's Detective Fiction
- #2,803 in Police Procedurals (Kindle Store)
- #3,733 in Contemporary Women's Fiction

Customer Reviews:
3,345 ratings

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Michael Hambling

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I try to write thoughtful, contemporary crime novels and include several plot layers in my books. The adult novels feature DCI Sophie Allen and her close-knit team of detectives. I don't write simple whodunnits, nor violent, all-action, gun-toting thrillers.

The sequence of books in the series is as follows:

BOOK 1: DARK CRIMES

BOOK 2: DEADLY CRIMES

BOOK 3: SECRET CRIMES

BOOK 4: BURIED CRIMES

BOOK 5: TWISTED CRIMES

BOOK 6: EVIL CRIMES

BOOK 7: SHADOW CRIMES

BOOK 8: SILENT CRIMES

BOOK 9: RUTHLESS CRIMES

BOOK 10: BRUTAL CRIMES

BOOK 11: HIDDEN CRIMES

BOOKS 1 - 8 are available as a Kindle box set. The Kindle versions of my novels provide a really low-cost way of reading my books.

I've also started a series of adventure/crime/mysteries for teenagers: THE MISFITS, available on Amazon.

BOOK 1: The LOST TRAMP

BOOK 2: THE MISSING PILOT

The Misfits are a group of friendly and supportive teenagers who all feel themselves to be outsiders in some way; disabled, gay, ethnic minority, Asperger's or other life-issues that leave them feeling isolated. They get together and instantly feel at home with each other. They set about solving crimes that may appear to be too low-level for the police, though they have a habit of escalating. Give the books a go; you'll probably enjoy them!

I live in the West of England and set the locations of my novels in this region, usually in Dorset, a beautiful coastal county.

You may wish to visit my website to find out more: www.michaelhambling.co.uk. You'll also find a collection of short stories available for free online reading. I'm happy to answer all emails that come my way. My email address is michael@michaelhambling.co.uk.

A small number of bizarre reader reviews for novel 9 imply that I’m a “rabid leftie”. In fact I’m a floating voter and have voted for all three main UK political parties in elections at various times. But I have an “inclusive” outlook on life, and I empathise with minorities. Some also seem to object to my stated support for NHS and care staff during the Covid pandemic, and also to the inclusion of a small number of LGBT people in my novels. I intend to continue including personalities and topics that make people think. I support both the Black Lives Matter movement and improved Trans Rights.

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5

3,345 global ratings

5 star		55%
4 star		27%
3 star		12%
2 star		3%
1 star		3%

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Top reviews from the United States

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Ellen Oceanside

Excellent

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on November 4, 2020

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Sophie is at a lost when she has murdered victims and can nor find any information of who they were as a person. A well plot that was woven from the past, with schemes. Mixed with Sophie two daughters and how they have gotten settled in their careers . Well done.

One person found this helpful

Helpful

Kindle Customer

Great read

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on February 26, 2022

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Another great read, in this series.
The book allows more information about the various characters rafters to become more real.

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on November 2, 2021

Verified Purchase

I just happened to be reading this book when immigration is a very political and racist issue here in the states, just like as described in this book. The people who make money off of these poor innocents just trying to live are despicable to say the least, just like in this book. I had a hard time putting it down at any given time, I was so involved with it. Good plot, great subject, and I love that the good guys win again!

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on September 19, 2020

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I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. There were so many twists and turns in this story that at times it got confusing. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys reading a really great crime mystery.

5 people found this helpful

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Robert Saint-Aubin

Spider web

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on November 29, 2020

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A ruthless example of too many captivating multi-layered overlapping captivating subplots with two many intertwined characters and competing constabulary. Its a good read when you make it to the end.

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on January 14, 2021

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Enjoy this great mystery with the unexpected to be what is going to happen!! The pace of the story will keep the pages turning?

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on October 24, 2021

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This isn't a mystery novel. It's a left wing diatribe. Just awful. I have read all of the Sophie Allen novels, but I won't be reading anymore.

Helpful

fanmystery

well written, suspenseful mystery in Dorset England

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on September 14, 2020

A man waiting for the doors to open for the early train finally gets in the car. When he gets to the seat in the back, he finds a dead man on the floor. Detectives from the Violent Crime Unit, Rae and Stu. Sophie Allen is the boss of the unit. They interview the few others in the station, and find that there was a couple with wheelie suitcases on the platform for about five minutes who were no longer there. They search the grounds of the station, and find there is a bike in the car park near where the stabbing must have taken place. The dead man had lived in a rather sparse apartment. He had kept to himself, and had no passport. Finding more about him or who owns the apartment is quite difficult.

Soon, a woman who has been placed in a hostel for abused women is found killed by someone dressed as a nurse who had come to dress her wounds. The police have trouble finding out about her as well.

Then there is a boat overloaded with refugees which tries to land on a Dorset beach and flips in the high waves. The parents of an Iranian family try to help rescue those who were still in the boat after they get their son Kamal and daughter Arshi almost to shore. Several of the refugees die, including the children's father. Their mother is badly injured. They are taken to a hospital. The police are anxious to find out who is running these trips for refugees. Kamal has taken many pictures with his camera, and he gives the camera to the police who befriend the children. Fortunately, they were coming to join relatives who help them.

Sophie's team soon realizes there is a connection of the first to deaths to migrants coming to England, and there may be a political connection to the criminal activity. Sophie and her team have a lot of work to figure everything out and catch culprits before they get away.

This is a very readable book with likeable police who you want to win. There is surprise and suspense. Now I can't wait to go back and read the first 8 books in the series.

Helpful

Top reviews from other countries

Crippen

Not good

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on October 14, 2020

Verified Purchase

I have read all the other books in the series, this one I couldn’t get on with. I gave up at 20%, got fed up with left wing ranting re: illegal immigrants, bad tories, religion Etc. It seems as though Allen has turned into a quite nasty and petty copper, would not in all honesty recommend this book.

18 people found this helpful

Costa

This is not "another Sophie Allen book"

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on September 23, 2020

Verified Purchase

I have read and enjoyed all of the previous Sophie Allen books, especially as I live in Dorset. However unlike the previous books this book seems to be a left wing full on woke pro immigration anti wicked Home Office (Tory) Minister work masquerading as a detective novel. I find myself speeding over pages of irrelevant dogma to hope to return to the plot!

14 people found this helpful

Kiwibird

Very disappointing

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on January 28, 2021

Verified Purchase

After reading all the previous Sophie Allen titles, to say I was disappointed in this would be an understatement. In fact I gave up at the at the 20% mark. The sanctimonious lecturing - right wing bad, left wing good - was jarring and unnecessary. If I want to read a paean to wokery (and I don't) I'll take out a sub to the Guardian. Perhaps I should have been warned, as the previous book in the series, SILENT CRIMES, gave an inkling of what was lurking in the wings. Please lighten up Mr Hambling and return to the "put a smile on your readers' faces while still telling a good story" tone of the earlier books. Unless you do, I won't be back for more.

11 people found this helpful

Kindle person

Predictable

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on October 2, 2020

Verified Purchase

Very average and, as usual with these books a really,really tame ending and a plot that you should be able to predict the outcome half way through.
This author has become totally bereft of any original ideas gradually as the series goes on. Series started off well but went downhill quite quickly.
As for the the main character. What an overrated, annoying, self centred, arrogant boring know it all!!

7 people found this helpful

Robert Crouch

Interesting story and issues

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on August 26, 2021

Verified Purchase

I’ve loved the previous eight books in the series. The characters in the team and their relationships are the backbone of the stories as they investigate some pretty horrific crimes. Sometimes there’s a personal element to the crimes, which only raises the stakes and tension.

In this ninth outing, it takes the team a while to piece together some apparently random killings. First a man stabbed on a train. No past, no information, plenty to interest Detective Superintendent Sophie Allen. Another body with no history is found in a refuge. Then a group of refugees wash up on a beach. With an overcrowded boat and a wicked tide, some end up dead.

And suddenly the team get some traction with their investigations. Rae in particular shines in this story, while Sophie goes across country to London and Oxford as the investigation gathers momentum.

The people trafficking aspect is well portrayed. It’s shown through the eyes of a young refugee and shows the predicament, dangers and difficult choices people on the run face. There’s also the criminal side, where criminals make a fortune from misery.

However, the investigation seems to be scattered all over the place, and I found it difficult to keep track of events and people at times. The climax when it came was a little lacking in tension and action, which meant the story didn’t quite give me the buzz and excitement of previous novels.

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