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Johnny One Eye #6
A Taste for Blood
The sixth novel in the Detective Johnny (One Eye) Hawke series.Two laser-sharp detectives, two thought-provoking cases and two skilful plots.Featuring private investigator Johnny (One Eye) Hawke, and his one-time colleague in the police force Detective David Llewellyn. Llewellyn is investigating the chilling crimes of a top psychiatrist and his scheming patient who the doctor believes has knuckled under his authority. In the meantime, Hawke is on the case of a mysterious suicide in Edgware Road... soon discovered as not your average suicide.The guts and insight of the two investigators bring both cases to a head - though you won't even begin to see how until you have turned the last pages. “This is a delightful read because you are not quite sure what will happen and you are hooked enough to keep on reading. Enjoyable.” – J Robert Ewbank, author“Interesting mystery that takes place in the 1930’s in England. Private Investigator Johnny Hawke is investigating a suicide that seems off and his police buddy, Detective David Llewellyn is investigating a bloody crime involving an escaped convict and a psychiatrist. The two stories merge for a twisted ending. The details are grisly and the main villain enjoys his victims just a bit too much. But other than that, it was a good story with an unpredictable ending – just how I like my mysteries. Although this is the sixth Johnny Hawke novel, you can read it and understand it without reading the previous books. Enough background is given so that you know who Johnny is.”‒ Donna Miller, Librarian, USA “Even though this was the sixth novel in the series it can be read as a stand-alone, forming an intriguing double set of mysteries... a nerve-wracking conclusion that will have you on edge until it’s resolved. The murderer is truly chilling, definitely not for the faint-hearted.”‒ Rebecca Chandler, Reviewer, UK
- GenresWorld War IICrimeMystery
220 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 3, 2013
3 people are currently reading
24 people want to read
About the author
David Stuart Davies
188 books140 followersDavid Stuart Davies was a British writer. He worked as a teacher of English before becoming a full-time editor, writer, and playwright. Davies wrote extensively about Sherlock Holmes, both fiction and non-fiction. He was the editor of Red Herrings, the monthly in-house publication of the Crime Writers' Association, and a member of The Baker Street Irregulars and the Detection Club.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
February 8, 2016
I didn't really want this story to end. I didn't know how it was going to end, and I just loved that feeling. Too often can you predict what's going to happen in a book, but A Taste For Blood? Nope. You can't.
First take a look at the cover. It's dark and twisted and broody and makes me think of Jack the Ripper, a world awash with blood.
I love crime books, I probably read one each week, but I didn't think this would be my cup of tea. How wrong I was. It was like a pot of steaming Darjeeling.
The narrative switches between a few different characters in this book, but that didn't bother me at all. All of the characters had their own strong voice, their own mannerisms with language which made them stand apart from each other.
The characters are really very British, so there's an abundance of tea - and we all know how I love my tea.
I grinned. "I'm anybody's for a cuppa and a biscuit."
I could relate to the characters. Well, most of them. Not really Sexton or Northcote. Eew. Although I did understand Northcote's motives towards the end. My favourite character to read was probably David Llewellyn.
This book twists and turns so unexpectedly that I re-read more than a few sections, just to make sure I'd taken it all in properly. It's gruesome and violent and more than once my toes curled. It's horrific in the way that all good crime should be, with blood and gore everywhere and enough mystery to keep you, as a reader, on your toes.
Some things didn't really work for me though. Mostly the setting. World War Two London, and the characters are popping into pubs for a sandwich and cafés for meals, and drinking lots of overly sweet tea and alcohol. It doesn't make sense to me that these resources would be so readily available in wartime London with rationing in full swing. I'm a tea addict (and tea-geek) so I know how little tea was available, not to even mention the more scarce products like sugar, and it just doesn't add up to me.
I received a copy of this for free via NetGalley for review purposes.
First take a look at the cover. It's dark and twisted and broody and makes me think of Jack the Ripper, a world awash with blood.
I love crime books, I probably read one each week, but I didn't think this would be my cup of tea. How wrong I was. It was like a pot of steaming Darjeeling.
The narrative switches between a few different characters in this book, but that didn't bother me at all. All of the characters had their own strong voice, their own mannerisms with language which made them stand apart from each other.
The characters are really very British, so there's an abundance of tea - and we all know how I love my tea.
I grinned. "I'm anybody's for a cuppa and a biscuit."
I could relate to the characters. Well, most of them. Not really Sexton or Northcote. Eew. Although I did understand Northcote's motives towards the end. My favourite character to read was probably David Llewellyn.
This book twists and turns so unexpectedly that I re-read more than a few sections, just to make sure I'd taken it all in properly. It's gruesome and violent and more than once my toes curled. It's horrific in the way that all good crime should be, with blood and gore everywhere and enough mystery to keep you, as a reader, on your toes.
Some things didn't really work for me though. Mostly the setting. World War Two London, and the characters are popping into pubs for a sandwich and cafés for meals, and drinking lots of overly sweet tea and alcohol. It doesn't make sense to me that these resources would be so readily available in wartime London with rationing in full swing. I'm a tea addict (and tea-geek) so I know how little tea was available, not to even mention the more scarce products like sugar, and it just doesn't add up to me.
I received a copy of this for free via NetGalley for review purposes.
June 30, 2013
A Taste for Blood is set in 1940s London, during World War Two, and features two characters that fans of the author will have met before - Detective Inspector David Llewellyn of the Metropolitan Police and Private Detective, Johnny Hawke. As this is the first time I had encountered any novels by David Stuart Davies, I had no knowledge of these two characters. However, this did not affect my enjoyment of this crime novel.
There are two storylines to the book, one in which we meet a particularly horrible villain who had previously been caught by D.I.Llewllyn and incarcerated for eight years before his escape. He is a ghoulish character, who is determined to imprint himself on the world in a very unpleasant manner. The other storyline concerns Johnny Hawke’s investigation of a suspicious suicide. Both cases touch each other at intervals throughout the book, as David Llewellyn and Johnny Hawke are friends - this friendship plays an important part in the last part of book.
I enjoyed A Taste for Blood. It was rather gruesome in parts, but the violence was not gratuitous. I particularly liked the way in which the author used words and phrases which resonated with me. They reminded me of films and novels written in the 40s and 50s, giving the novel an authentic period feel. I had no idea how these intertwined plots would resolve themselves and was kept guessing until the end.
I shall certainly search out some more of David Stuart Davies, starting, I think, with the first book featuring Johnny Hawke.
There are two storylines to the book, one in which we meet a particularly horrible villain who had previously been caught by D.I.Llewllyn and incarcerated for eight years before his escape. He is a ghoulish character, who is determined to imprint himself on the world in a very unpleasant manner. The other storyline concerns Johnny Hawke’s investigation of a suspicious suicide. Both cases touch each other at intervals throughout the book, as David Llewellyn and Johnny Hawke are friends - this friendship plays an important part in the last part of book.
I enjoyed A Taste for Blood. It was rather gruesome in parts, but the violence was not gratuitous. I particularly liked the way in which the author used words and phrases which resonated with me. They reminded me of films and novels written in the 40s and 50s, giving the novel an authentic period feel. I had no idea how these intertwined plots would resolve themselves and was kept guessing until the end.
I shall certainly search out some more of David Stuart Davies, starting, I think, with the first book featuring Johnny Hawke.
March 16, 2019
This review originally published in Looking For a Good Book. Rated 3.0 of 5
This is one of the oldest books in my ARC queue and was requested at a time when I was requesting everything in the hopes that I'd be approved for something. I did not know that it was a part of a longer series. But all that aside, I don't think you need to read the previous five books in the Johnny One-Eye Detective series to appreciate the story ... though you might want to after reading this.
Johnny "One-Eye" Hawke is a private investigator and is currently looking in to a suicide that just doesn't feel right. A police detective friend of his, David Llewellyn, is investigating a bloody crime involving an escaped convict and a psychiatrist. These appear to be separate, parallel stories until Hawke manages to come to a realization about his friend. The cases do teases us as coming together once in a while, but author Davies manages to keep us on our toes.
The book is set during WWII era and I'm not quite sure why. I tend to like historical fiction, but nothing about the era mattered to the story. In fact I found it a bit of distraction because it read pretty modern and then something would pop up from the era and I'd be thrown off for a moment.
The book is well-written and the mystery is very intriguing. The last few chapters had me on the edge of my seat. They were also somewhat gruesome in expectation of a nasty killing.
On the one hand, this is very much the sort of hard mystery you might want to read (if you enjoy mysteries with a bite). It's well-written, with interesting characters, and a plot that keeps you paying attention. On the other hand, there is nothing really very spectacular here. It's a good story but not one that I will look back on and want to read again. It is what I consider beach fare or an airplane read ... something to keep me occupied and entertained (I find reading to be entertaining) and not much more.
In that sense, then, this is a perfectly average read.
Looking for a good book? A Taste for Blood by David Stuart Davies is a good hard mystery that won't leave you longing for more but will entertain fans of the genre.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
This is one of the oldest books in my ARC queue and was requested at a time when I was requesting everything in the hopes that I'd be approved for something. I did not know that it was a part of a longer series. But all that aside, I don't think you need to read the previous five books in the Johnny One-Eye Detective series to appreciate the story ... though you might want to after reading this.
Johnny "One-Eye" Hawke is a private investigator and is currently looking in to a suicide that just doesn't feel right. A police detective friend of his, David Llewellyn, is investigating a bloody crime involving an escaped convict and a psychiatrist. These appear to be separate, parallel stories until Hawke manages to come to a realization about his friend. The cases do teases us as coming together once in a while, but author Davies manages to keep us on our toes.
The book is set during WWII era and I'm not quite sure why. I tend to like historical fiction, but nothing about the era mattered to the story. In fact I found it a bit of distraction because it read pretty modern and then something would pop up from the era and I'd be thrown off for a moment.
The book is well-written and the mystery is very intriguing. The last few chapters had me on the edge of my seat. They were also somewhat gruesome in expectation of a nasty killing.
On the one hand, this is very much the sort of hard mystery you might want to read (if you enjoy mysteries with a bite). It's well-written, with interesting characters, and a plot that keeps you paying attention. On the other hand, there is nothing really very spectacular here. It's a good story but not one that I will look back on and want to read again. It is what I consider beach fare or an airplane read ... something to keep me occupied and entertained (I find reading to be entertaining) and not much more.
In that sense, then, this is a perfectly average read.
Looking for a good book? A Taste for Blood by David Stuart Davies is a good hard mystery that won't leave you longing for more but will entertain fans of the genre.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
September 19, 2024
After an iffy start with Book 1, I ended up quite enjoying this little series. Johnny has been mourning Max’s death of course, and during a visit to her grave, the resident priest hires him to look into the sudden death of a parishioner. A woman was found hanged in her home, so naturally the police assume suicide. Father Sanderson knows she had a secret that caused her murder but he is bound by the confessional. While Johnny is investigating this case, his friend, David Llewelyn, is reliving the most horrifying case of his career: a canabilistic killer that David caught years ago escaped from the asylum where he was held.
Peter is determined to join Johnny in the detective business, and while being treated for an injury, Johnny meets a young Russian woman named Ivana and there are hints that he may have found love again.
I presume this it the final book in the series, and it ends happily with a hopeful note for the future.
Peter is determined to join Johnny in the detective business, and while being treated for an injury, Johnny meets a young Russian woman named Ivana and there are hints that he may have found love again.
I presume this it the final book in the series, and it ends happily with a hopeful note for the future.
January 15, 2026
Stars a truly horrific villain. After a clever escape Hawke aids the police in recapturing him. This the second book in the series. I guess the author felt he’d developed the Hawke character adequately in the first book and concentrated on the police character in this one. I enjoyed the pacing. It added to drama of the conclusion
April 20, 2025
Just so-so.
June 1, 2024
In 1935 DS David Llewellyn caught serial killer Dr Ralph Northcote. Now it us 1944 and the doctor is in a psychiatric hospital but for how long. Father Sanderson is concerned over the suicide of parishioner Annie Salter and wants Johnny Hawke to investigate.
An entertaining historical mystery. Another good addition to this enjoyable series.
An entertaining historical mystery. Another good addition to this enjoyable series.
June 28, 2025
My 6P review: Premise, Plot, People, Place, Prose/Pace, Praise
PI Johnny Hawke is investigating the suspicious suicide in Edgware Road while his long-time friend Detective David Llewellyn is investigating the crimes of a psychiatrist and his scheming patient. The two cross paths in this thriller.
The plot was well executed and their stories intertwined really well.
The characters were great. I really liked Johnny and David. They were well fleshed out and believable.
The story was set in World War II but this was not at all convincing.
The properties had blackout curtains and rationing existed and yet the characters were able to go to cafes and have sugar in their tea. This made no sense and at times I had to be reminded of when the story was set.
It was a very easy read and the text flowed easily.
This was a random download to my Kobo and I was pleased to read it.
PI Johnny Hawke is investigating the suspicious suicide in Edgware Road while his long-time friend Detective David Llewellyn is investigating the crimes of a psychiatrist and his scheming patient. The two cross paths in this thriller.
The plot was well executed and their stories intertwined really well.
The characters were great. I really liked Johnny and David. They were well fleshed out and believable.
The story was set in World War II but this was not at all convincing.
The properties had blackout curtains and rationing existed and yet the characters were able to go to cafes and have sugar in their tea. This made no sense and at times I had to be reminded of when the story was set.
It was a very easy read and the text flowed easily.
This was a random download to my Kobo and I was pleased to read it.
March 29, 2013
Interesting mystery that takes place in the 1930’s in England. Private Investigator Johnny Hawke is investigating a suicide that seems off and his police buddy, Detective David Llewellyn is investigating a bloody crime involving an escaped convict and a psychiatrist. The two stories merge for a twisted ending. The details are grisly and the main villain enjoys his victims just a bit too much. But other than that , it was a good story with an unpredictable ending – just how I like my mysteries.
Although this is the fifth Johnny Hawke novel, you can read it and understand it without reading the previous books. Enough background is given so that you know who Johnny is.
Although this is the fifth Johnny Hawke novel, you can read it and understand it without reading the previous books. Enough background is given so that you know who Johnny is.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews