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DS Minter #1
Flesh & Blood
Mord. Korruption. Verrat: Willkommen in der Familie. Ein junger Undercover-Polizist wird erschossen. Vor den Augen seiner Kollegen regelrecht hingerichtet. Bei einem Einsatz, von dem nur eine kleine Eliteeinheit wusste. Der leitende Detective Tom Beckett ahnt, dass er einen Maulwurf in seinen Reihen hat. Jemanden, der die Ermittlungen gegen Brightons brutale Drogengangs untergräbt. Und er weiß, dass er nur noch einem einzigen Mann vertrauen kann: Sergeant Minter. Ein junger ehrgeiziger Mann, den Beckett nicht in seinem Team haben wollte und der nun gegen die einzige Familie ermitteln soll, die er je kannte: seine Kollegen. Gemeinsam nehmen die beiden den Kampf auf ...
375 pages, Paperback
First published April 12, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
October 20, 2012
This British crime novel is the first in a series to feature Detective Sergeant Minter who grew up in foster homes and has no real family other than the police. He remains troubled by the murder years earlier of one of his closest--and only--friends, a girl who was also in foster care.
Minter is now stationed in Brighton, where a particularly vicious drug lord has been the target of a long investigation. Minter is assigned to the team pursuing the investigation and, coincidentally, the team is headed by Detective Tom Beckett, the detective who failed to solve the murder of Minter's childhood friend.
Minter has been assigned to the investigation from the outside and Beckett and the rest of the team are not sure that they can trust him. They fear that he may have been sent to spy on them. Minter, in turn, is not sure that he can trust any of his new colleagues.
As the book opens, one of the team members is murdered on the orders of the drug lord and at the same time a new gang is muscling its way into Brighton, attempting to take over the drug trade and thus starting a brutal gang war. Minter is caught up in all of this and must decide where his loyalties really lie.
This is a fairly well-written debut novel and the action moves swiftly along. That said, I really couldn't develop much empathy for Minter or for any of the other characters and thus I really could not get as caught up in the story as I would have liked. The book ends with some loose ties that are clearly meant to be developed in later books, but I don't know if I care enough about them to see how it all turns out. Thus three stars rather than four.
Minter is now stationed in Brighton, where a particularly vicious drug lord has been the target of a long investigation. Minter is assigned to the team pursuing the investigation and, coincidentally, the team is headed by Detective Tom Beckett, the detective who failed to solve the murder of Minter's childhood friend.
Minter has been assigned to the investigation from the outside and Beckett and the rest of the team are not sure that they can trust him. They fear that he may have been sent to spy on them. Minter, in turn, is not sure that he can trust any of his new colleagues.
As the book opens, one of the team members is murdered on the orders of the drug lord and at the same time a new gang is muscling its way into Brighton, attempting to take over the drug trade and thus starting a brutal gang war. Minter is caught up in all of this and must decide where his loyalties really lie.
This is a fairly well-written debut novel and the action moves swiftly along. That said, I really couldn't develop much empathy for Minter or for any of the other characters and thus I really could not get as caught up in the story as I would have liked. The book ends with some loose ties that are clearly meant to be developed in later books, but I don't know if I care enough about them to see how it all turns out. Thus three stars rather than four.
March 17, 2012
Debut novel that announces a new crime writer on the block. DS Minter moves to Brighton's elite police force as a brutal turf war between drug gang's is taking place. An undercover cop is assassinated at the races in the novel's spectacular opening, and it turns out there's a snitch among the detectives.
Minter is an interesting and plausible character, an orphan who wants to belong in the force, but to tackle this case he has to go up against his new family – the police.
The writing is sharp and Mark Peterson evokes Brighton's occasionally seedy side with skill.
Minter is an interesting and plausible character, an orphan who wants to belong in the force, but to tackle this case he has to go up against his new family – the police.
The writing is sharp and Mark Peterson evokes Brighton's occasionally seedy side with skill.
May 28, 2012
Having finally bought this book on Saturday after it being recommended to me by a teacher, it did not fail to disappoint. From the time I bought it until I finished it this morning, I was hardly able to put it down, and this is probably the fastest I've read a book in quite a while, which surely must say something in the author's favour.
Flesh and Blood has a believable storyline, interesting characters, lots of conflict between the characters and a number of plot twists that leave the reader wanting more.
Flesh and Blood has a believable storyline, interesting characters, lots of conflict between the characters and a number of plot twists that leave the reader wanting more.
February 7, 2020
Mark Peterson, apparently a pseudonym, produced this first of, apparently, two, DS Minter procedurals/mysteries in 2012. My copy was signed on 26 April of that year. It has waited patiently on my shelves for me to take it up. I waited patiently for it to achieve its potential, but was disappointed. Neither the plot nor the writing thrilled me, but all together they managed to hold me through. I rather doubt I'll be springing for any more Minter tales.
June 19, 2014
NO SPOILERS
Enjoyed the story arc this series has potential. Minter is odd but that is somehow made ok. Definitely many procedural errors but I'm prepared to allow a little poetic license to a new author.
The story drags you in though it lacks accuracy it is worth a read. I liked it enough to read the next one.
Enjoyed the story arc this series has potential. Minter is odd but that is somehow made ok. Definitely many procedural errors but I'm prepared to allow a little poetic license to a new author.
The story drags you in though it lacks accuracy it is worth a read. I liked it enough to read the next one.
March 2, 2023
I got this from a mystery box from book grocer. I have dived into it not knowing what to expect, didn’t check any reviews. It was an okay read. The story telling and writing is there but it misses the wow element. I could tell from the beginning the suspect they were after, like the one crooked cop who’s it gonna be. The story doesn’t really have a proper pov, it shifts from one scene to another by paragraphs. Which seemed like a prob to me. The characters are not great. It has loads and loads of violence, unalive scene in details. So trigger warning!!! The main character seemed to have many potential but didn’t live upto it.
September 10, 2018
This felt underwritten on a number of levels. The character development felt superficial. The structure didn't support the story telling. It almost worked. Maybe as a debut novel, the writer just needed a better editor. But I was irritated more than engaged as I read this police procedural set in Brighton.
August 31, 2024
Appalling. No character development, stilted dialogue, gratuitous violence as well as mistakes in the timeline.
January 8, 2012
Full review can be found here.
I received this book after entering a Waterstones competition. This book has not yet been released.
This book is a new British crime novel set in Brighton. It follows a police operation aiming to bring down a large drugs ring.
The book opens with the death of an undercover police officer and the realisation that the operation may have been compromised. For DSI Tom Beckett, who has been leading this operation through his own personal grief, this looks like it could be the end of his career as he knows it. With the threat of budget cuts making itself evident and the potential leak, it seems that Operation Windmill is doomed to fail without having been completed. DS Minter is the new guy on the team and has a bit of a patchy relationship with the team as well as having his own past demons to deal with.
This book starts by dropping the reader into the middle of the action with catalyst happening within the first few pages. With a view that covers everyone - from police officers to the drug barons - you get to see all the points of view and their thoughts on the matter, no matter how small the character's part. I found this to add to the mystery instead of take away from it as it had you left with more questions and totally ruined any suspicions I was already forming.
I have the feeling that Peterson really did his research before writing this book - on politics as well as police work - and this came across well in many of the things that happened throughout the plot.
With such a lively backdrop as Brighton, Peterson has really brought the area to life, using it's vivid reputation to set the scenes and help move it along without having to go into too much unnecessary detail.
I received this book after entering a Waterstones competition. This book has not yet been released.
This book is a new British crime novel set in Brighton. It follows a police operation aiming to bring down a large drugs ring.
The book opens with the death of an undercover police officer and the realisation that the operation may have been compromised. For DSI Tom Beckett, who has been leading this operation through his own personal grief, this looks like it could be the end of his career as he knows it. With the threat of budget cuts making itself evident and the potential leak, it seems that Operation Windmill is doomed to fail without having been completed. DS Minter is the new guy on the team and has a bit of a patchy relationship with the team as well as having his own past demons to deal with.
This book starts by dropping the reader into the middle of the action with catalyst happening within the first few pages. With a view that covers everyone - from police officers to the drug barons - you get to see all the points of view and their thoughts on the matter, no matter how small the character's part. I found this to add to the mystery instead of take away from it as it had you left with more questions and totally ruined any suspicions I was already forming.
I have the feeling that Peterson really did his research before writing this book - on politics as well as police work - and this came across well in many of the things that happened throughout the plot.
With such a lively backdrop as Brighton, Peterson has really brought the area to life, using it's vivid reputation to set the scenes and help move it along without having to go into too much unnecessary detail.
February 2, 2017
Brighton is becoming as popular a setting for thriller/police procedurals as is Edinburgh. This
is the latest and is said to be 1st in a series featuring DS Minter. The story is one of drug dealing and a police operation to deal with the problem which has gone wrong. The violence is fairly graphic, starting with the first chapter and not fiving up. The writer captures the locale well, and the gay culture of, particularly, the Kemptown area, setting the story around the annual Gay Pride march through the city. I liked the character of DS Minter and officers with whom he works. Whether the characters and descriptions of those on the other side of the law are correct, I cannot say! Well worth 3*, I shall be looking out for other books about DS Minter.
is the latest and is said to be 1st in a series featuring DS Minter. The story is one of drug dealing and a police operation to deal with the problem which has gone wrong. The violence is fairly graphic, starting with the first chapter and not fiving up. The writer captures the locale well, and the gay culture of, particularly, the Kemptown area, setting the story around the annual Gay Pride march through the city. I liked the character of DS Minter and officers with whom he works. Whether the characters and descriptions of those on the other side of the law are correct, I cannot say! Well worth 3*, I shall be looking out for other books about DS Minter.
May 17, 2013
Enjoyable story set in Brighton involving the turf wars of drug dealers. Good characterization of Minter, the cop sent to spy on the team from HQ who will have none of that, the dealers themselves and the police offers. At first I did get confused by the number of characters being introduced - police, drug dealers and rent boys. Brighton itself played a significant part and the ending was set up for a follow up which I will definitely read. TMI at times regarding the crimes.
November 14, 2014
This was certainly not the best I've ever read when it comes to UK police procedural. I found it jumped around alot (too many narratives) and a little slow going in the beginning. I give this about a 3.5 out of 5. It certainly picked up in the 2nd half and it took awhile before you give a crap about the main character. For a while, i wasn't sure who the main character was. I hope book #2 flows better.
June 30, 2013
First of a new (to me) series of British police procedurals. Interesting characters, somewhat run of the mill plot ( drug stuff) and a bit gory in spots, but I really got hooked on the main folks. Set in Brighton, so it reminded me a bit of the Roy Grace series. I have #2 sitting here waiting for me, so I will get to it very soon.
December 21, 2014
Not a bad start to a series, many of the characters who seemed rather one dimensional became more realistic as the plot progressed. I would be interested in reading the sequel to this before I decided whether it would investing more time in the author or not.
July 13, 2013
It's not the best detective book I've read however it was still an enjoyable read
November 21, 2013
Crime novel by numbers. Predictable and unsurprising but still enjoyable enough to read to the end.
March 5, 2014
Very well written, kept me guessing for a while as I read on. The characters in this book, some of the seeder side of English life. I would highly recommend this book.
April 11, 2014
Really enjoyed. Good dark and gritty crime story. Enjoyed the Brighton 'underworld' stuff!
April 18, 2016
I love to find first novels. Often I get new authors to add to my 'go to' list.
I have found another in Mark Peterson. This was an excellent read.
I have found another in Mark Peterson. This was an excellent read.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews