Deceived by the Light

DI Bob Willis #1

by Damien Boyd

An innocent man framed. A case closed. A serial killer free to kill again.

It is 1985. Detective Inspector Mungo ‘Bob’ Willis is being forced out of Avon and Somerset Police on medical grounds. His career is in tatters, his body broken, his mind shattered, and his partner—DS Lizzie Harper—dead in a sting operation gone wrong.

Their last case is closed, but Bob is convinced an innocent man has been framed, leaving a serial killer cruising the A303 with impunity, free to target lone women who have broken down by the roadside late at night.

The killer knows the police aren’t looking for anyone else in connection with the murders. What they don’t know is what Bob will do next.

And when another woman is killed in horrifyingly similar circumstances, Bob launches his own—unofficial—investigation. Can he stop a sadistic killer before they kill again? And again…

Genres: Mystery, Crime, Mystery Thriller, Thriller, Audiobook, Fiction, Detective

317 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 14, 2025

About the author

Damien Boyd is a former solicitor turned crime fiction writer.

Drawing on extensive experience of criminal law as well as a spell in the Crown Prosecution Service, Damien writes fast paced crime novels featuring Detective Inspector Nick Dixon.

Damien is published by Thomas & Mercer.

Reviews

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been a huge fan of Damien Boyd’s Nick Dixon series for a long time and was intrigued to see what a new series might bring. It’s fair to say that I am not disappointed! This series is very different from the Dixon one, set in a different era and when the A303 looked a little different to how it looks now. What they do have in common is a detective who won’t just toe the line and follow orders, but will pursue the truth until it’s found. The plot has all the twists, turns and surprises you could wish for and keeps you guessing until the end…and those surprises do continue right up to the very end of the book! I will be eagerly anticipating the next book and hope there will be many more to come.

[Joe Maggs · Rating 2 out of 5]

One man’s nostalgia-fuelled stumble through the 1980s; a wayward waft in the direction of a “historical novel” as is mentioned in the back.

I really like Damien Boyd’s books, I’ve made that very clear on a number of occasions. A new series, a new setting, I was very open to the idea and really excited. I shouldn’t have been.

Opportunities are given and wasted almost simultaneously. First-person narration, agreed let’s give it a shot! Oh you’ve ruined it within a few pages. Every few sentences there must be a semi-rhetorical question directed at the reader - no thanks!! It adds nothing and takes away plenty, from the rhythm of the narration, and is so saturated throughout that it just gets annoying.

On the nostalgia point, it really feels like we’re just ramming in anything 80s related for the sake of it. Little Chefs, hot hatches, the Troubles and the IRA (in Somerset??? Sorry???). Historical fiction should feel immersive and properly rooted in its time and place - it should feel authentic and real. It shouldn’t feel like a whirlwind Frankstein’s monster of “things that existed in the 80s” with no real thread running through.

I think I mentioned in recent reviews of the later Nick Dixon series that the body counts were getting a bit silly. More deaths != a better crime novel and here it’s so huge as to be laughable. I think by the time we reached the levels here the incompetent DCS Sharp may have been removed from his post!!

The scenes where the ex-soldiers kept snapping their heels, saluting and stating their rank and name to the protagonist before confessing their sins was just weird, too.

There were some good parts, but I’m struggling to recall them now. What I can say is this was a mercifully quick read.

It’s a shame, I think there was a real opportunity to do something different here, but the execution was way off. We’re a long way from the halcyon days of the early Nick Dixon novels now.

[Stephie Phoenix · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read

Ok, I've read all the DI Dixon novels (and enjoyed) and wandered blindly into this with vague expectations of A. N. Other police procedural in the absence of anything specific I had to entertain myself with.

It was outstanding. I'm a '75 baby so the weird-yet-familiar tech prehistory amused. I live in the South West. My mum lives just off the A303 (Semley). My partner lives in West Belfast (16 minutes walk from Clondara Street! I checked). Oh, and I love the Levellers which is the entirety of my Battle of the Beanfield background which I now know more about 😊
So hit a few spots there for me

Very well written, absorbing story, and some sensitive topics handled with grace and fairness

[Mrs Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

DI 'Bob' Willis's debut is a compelling read, following his unofficial investigation into the deaths of not only his work partner, but other murders as well, he talks you through every step he takes, whilst his superior officer refuses to believe anything that he is told, seemingly for a quiet life, where the murder case is closed. The books setting in 1985 certainly brings back memories to readers old enough to remember queuing along the A303 to the west country and the delights of the little chef breakfasts and especially the jubilee pancakes! Definitely a 5🌟 read, which I hope is the precursor to a new series, and which I feel will be every bit as successful as the DI Nick Dixon books are!

[Jill Beattie-Paterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this! A real page turner, I couldn’t put it down. Thankfully read it on holiday so didn’t have to. 😀

It’s a serial killer murder mystery with a few twists n turns and my jaw dropped; not quite the ending I expected!! I liked getting inside the mind of our flawed protagonist and enjoyed the writing style. I would’ve liked a few of his personal ends to be more neatly tied up, particularly with his kids, but I’m still giving it 5 stars as I was gripped throughout.

[Mandi Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this - written conversationally with the main protagonist telling his story directly to us.

[Ella Korsand · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was really looking forward to reading this but just couldn’t get into properly? Loved the story line but wasn’t a fan of the writing style

[Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deceived by the Light by Damien Boyd is book 1 in his new series about DI Bob Willis. His name is Mungo Willis, but he has the nickname Bob, after a cricket player. This series is set in 1985. I love the author’s Nick Dixon series. This is quite different, but I certainly enjoyed this first book and keen to see what happens as the series progresses. It is hard to say too much without giving away spoilers. Bob is on sick leave and his boss, Sharp, is trying to get him retired to get rid of him. Bob is still investigating a case that has been closed, and he is very determined to find the perpetrators he still knows are out there. One of them is known from the beginning but mystery surrounds the second. A trail of bodies has been left along the way. I really enjoyed it and found it hard to put down. I really like Bob, and he has an ally in Angela, a journalist. It was written in a first person style which is a bit different to what I’m used to but I still loved it. It suited the story. There was certainly a twist at the end.

[Laz the Sailor · Rating 3 out of 5]

This author is well respected for his UK based procedurals, and this is the first in a new series set in the late '80s. Mungo/Bob Willis is a troubled cop who is confident that the public story about a murder doesn't align with his dented memory. He wanders the countryside collecting random clues, meeting lots of interesting characters, and surviving multiple attempts to silence him. In the end, he is proved right, but for the wrong reasons.

The descriptions of the English countryside are wonderful, and the first-person POV is innovative, including breaking the 4th wall occasionally.

But the sum isn't greater than the parts, and the ending was particularly unsatisfying for me. Perhaps if I lived in England, it would have been more entrancing. YMMV.

[Allie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun and fast paced read. I picked it up purely because so much of it happens along the A303 and it’s familiar to me, as was some of the content in Belfast during the troubles. I enjoyed the characters, and I like the fact it takes place in the 80’s - I like the nostalgia crossover with the crime genre. It makes the story feel grittier when the protagonist doesn’t have access to modern technology. So much more is at stake.

[Joe Fisher · Rating 3 out of 5]

What I will say is this one has more of a plot, better pacing and offers something a little different to the other book I read by this author.

I like the era it's set in and how it leans into the time for plot points. The lazy aspect of writing in the first and second person narrative is one of the drawbacks.

It was fine: a nice little police procedural.

[Paddy Flavin · Rating 5 out of 5]

No slow balls.

In this fast paced hunt for a serial killer there is no break in play.
It moves with all the excitement and energy of a one day match.
I literally read it from cover to cover in a day, great read!
Damien don’t hold your breath for an invite to any regimental dinners though.

[Roo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, and not just because the main character loved Jubilee Pancakes,just like me!
Exciting and fast paced and almost impossible to guess, especially with the various twists.
And the Battle of the Beanfield thrown in for good measure. A right trip down memory lane!

[Babydoclaz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mungo 'Bob' Willis is a completely different character than Nick Dixon, in the first detective series from Damien Boyd. Although different, the storytelling and plot remain excellent. Mungo's POV and his dogged pursuit of the truth, getting him into dangerous situations, is compelling reading. Damien Boyd has really honed his craft. Can't wait for the next one.

[jeni carr · Rating 5 out of 5]

couldn’t put this book down

Would have read all night if I could have done - a real page turner!

Looking forward to more in this series! And more from the same author!

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Took a while to get into this new series. Told in the first person, which I’m not a fan of, by a policeman on sick leave. He has a conviction the investigation has come to the wrong decision and he is going to find out what happened to his partner and who ran him over. Good story.

[Wayne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did enjoy the read but a few too many murders

[John Wintersteen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, this was quite a book. Goes by leaps and bounds over the Nick Dixon books and THEY were terrific. Looking forward to any new book by Damien Boyd

[Belle Jackson · Rating 3 out of 5]

IRA scandals in Somerset felt a bit farfetched, was expecting more from the ‘big reveal’ at the end

[Gail Radka · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Nick Dixon books so excited to see a brand new character. You didn’t disappoint i loved Bob and admired his tenacity. Great story throughly enjoyed will read more

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

very good

A new author for me and was so glad I read this book had good characters and a really good plot . I will look for more in this series

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

A new character series to get my teeth into. This time mid 80’s time setting - which was enjoyable!

[Ivory · Rating 3 out of 5]

In Deceived by the Light , Damien Boyd plunges readers into the shadowy world of 1985 Britain, where Detective Inspector Mungo “Bob” Willis is a man on the brink. Broken in body and spirit after being forced out of the police force, Bob becomes obsessed with reopening a case he believes has been botched—a chilling string of murders along the A303. Convinced an innocent man has been framed and that a sadistic killer remains at large, Bob embarks on an unauthorized investigation. But as bodies continue to pile up and paranoia tightens its grip, the line between justice and vengeance blurs dangerously.

While the premise is undeniably gripping, some parts of the plot stretch believability to their limits, veering into territory that feels far-fetched even for a thriller. Certain scenes could have been trimmed or skipped altogether, leaving the pacing sluggish and the tension diluted. As for Bob Willis himself, he’s not a character who particularly stands out—he’s neither charismatic nor deeply flawed enough to evoke much sympathy. That said, his inner monologue provides moments of dark humor and introspection that are genuinely entertaining, offering brief flashes of levity amidst the gloom. Unfortunately, none of the characters truly captured my investment, which left me yearning for someone—anyone—to root for.

The slow pace may test the patience of even the most dedicated readers, but there’s no denying that Boyd’s writing style shines through. His prose carries a weight and atmosphere that draws you in despite the story’s flaws. For fans of crime fiction who appreciate skillful storytelling over explosive twists, this might still be worth exploring. While Deceived by the Light didn’t quite hit the mark for me, Boyd’s ability to craft mood and tone ensures his work remains intriguing—and sometimes, that’s reason enough to turn the page.

[Sharon Whittock · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to Deceived by the Light, and at first I found the writing style a bit hard to grasp. The way the story was told—directly from the point of view of the policeman as if he were speaking to the reader—felt unusual, but I did get used to it after a while.

The setting was a nice surprise. It takes place in Somerset in 1985, which is where I was born, so hearing the familiar places mentioned added a personal touch and made parts of the story more enjoyable.

The plot itself was good, though quite unusual. It did feel slow in places, and some scenes—especially the car chases—seemed drawn out longer than necessary. The story also includes themes of police corruption and cover-ups, which added another layer to the mystery but also made certain sections quite frustrating. One scene in particular, involving hippies doing a peace march, was uncomfortable to listen to because it appeared the police were brutalising them, and that really stood out.

There’s also a serial-killer storyline, and the main policeman is portrayed as somewhat naïve and not particularly skilled, which made his attempts to solve the case feel a bit frustrating at times. We have a sense early on of who one of the killers might be, but the reveal of the second killer felt a bit flat for me. It wasn’t someone I had really considered throughout the story, so the ending didn’t have the impact I expected.

Overall, it was okay. I think the fact that I listened to the audiobook helped me persevere—if I’d been reading it, I’m not sure I would have stuck with it. Will I read more of Damien Boyd’s books? I’m honestly not sure.

[Cidney · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love the Nick Dixon books so was expecting to really love this. Unfortunately I wasn't so sure about this one. Bob Willis is on gardeing leave after he set up an unusual sting operation with the young sergeant Lizzie who worked with him. However it went wrong and it seems the wrong man was attributed with her killing and that of several young women, all of whom had one of their headlights knocked out and drove alone along the A303 (definitely a road to avoid). But the body count is rising with more bodies of young mutilated women turning up. All I can say at this point is that the Somerset police should have been investigated for their appalling lack of diligence in looking for the serial killer.

I also wasn't too sure about writing in the first person, sometimes it worked and sometimes it seemed rather laboured as if the author had forgotten he was writing in the first person, bit weird there. And although I had sympathies with Bob (real name Mungo but the police he worked with renamed him Bob after a cricketer around at that time?), but going gung-ho at anything solo is definitely not going to end all that well. And it didn't, yes Bob got his men but the plot seemed a tad laboured in parts and I found myself giving up when we got to the IRA involvement, which I can believe, but it didn't seem "tidy" after they were involved. Am not sure if I want to read another one in this series.

[Mrs Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

A conversation with the central character

This book is a great read, unexpected plot twists mean the somewhat elderly and bashed about off-sick detective is in grave danger most of the way through but we root for him because he is doing the right thing at serious cost to himself. Yes he is motivated to fight wrongs and bring his partner's killers to justice but he talks directly to us, letting us see what he is thinking and invites us to understand his position even when it is equivocal does not follow police procedure. Set in Devon in the 1980s, it cannot present today's technology but the writer uses that to great advantage by showing us how Willis has to think on his feet. It is a wonderful.Read and the promised sequel is awaited with excitement. Willis is a normal man but his awareness of the readers' perspective and engagement with us gives us an intimacy with both his motives and his ingenuity so we come to regard him as a friend, e enjoy if he makes us concerned about our electric windows. Read this, it is full of frighteningly credible action but seen through the eyes of a good man who has warmth and humour and humanity, and who hows great courage even as he expects to die.

[Norma · Rating 5 out of 5]

( Format : Audiobook )
"I've started so I'll finish."

A new crime series set in England's South West in the mid 1980s but very different from most: DI Mungo 'Bob' Willis is convinced that the wrong man, killed by a lorry when when he jumped from a road bridge, is not the man who had mutilated and murdered three women including his police partner,attacked after breaking down on the A303, and is determined to discover the truth. Unfortunately, he himself was hospitalised for three months after being hit by another car, memory impaired, and was no longer on active duty.

The investigation is told in the first person which puts the reader straight into Bob's head, in a position of discovery as the fast paced and unusual story unfollds. Different, fascinating and hard to put down, it is narrated by Nicholas Boulton, his performance further enhancing the pleasure of the tale with each character voiced individually and the character of Bob himself portrayed with feeling..

This has been my first encounter with author Damien Boyd, and one I thoroughly enjoyed. I look forward to book two in this series and meanwhile intend to seek out a previous series he has written.

[Desney King · Rating 4 out of 5]

Damien Boyd is one of my favourite British crime writers - I've read every DI Nick Dixon novel and look forward to a new one each year.
Boyd has used a clever and unusual blend of first and second person narration in this first Bob Willis novel - a change of style that removes any hint of confusion between Dixon and Willis. It also gives us an intimate relationship with Willis and that's where the problem lies for me: he comes across as a fuddy duddy irritating man with many tedious repetitive expressions. Unfortunately, that doesn't gel with his sharp-witted, intuitive detective work.
A fast-paced, engrossing police procedural flawed by a protagonist who just doesn't fit.
The fourth star is a nod to Damien Boyd who I know can do so much better.
I hope he sharpens up doddery old Bob Willis in book 2.

[Gary Hart · Rating 5 out of 5]

The most enjoyable read in quite a while

I purchased the latest Damien Boyd novel expecting another episode of Nick Dixon’s adventures. No! Who is this Bob Willis? A broken down, old detective on sick leave. Started reading and very quickly started liking Bob, or Mungo. Only a mother could love a boy called Mungo!
Loved the story line and the characters,and the persistence of Bob, battling against the odds to find answers and bring the culprits to justice.
Not sure if I saw Bob Willis play in Bendigo (Australia) in 1984/5, but Botham was certainly there.
I have been to Somerset and Wiltshire and visited a few Little Chef establishments, so these references added to my reading pleasure. I am an Aussie.
An interesting, and confusing ending, when the “big picture” is revealed. Very satisfying, and my highest rating for a long time. Thanks Damien!

[tedpearl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mixed feelings about my first Damien Boyd book. The underlying story line is great, a good thriller with interesting set of characters. The logic used to find "who done it" was mostly rational. What put me off is the improbabilities and logical errors - like 2 foreigners (Irish) able to follow / observe a veteran Police inspector for days on end without sticking out like sore thumbs, and their ability to read the detective' s mind and share detailed knowledge of his investigation is impossible.
Usage of first person narration was good but then author / hero carrying on a conversation with the reader detracted from the book.
Being knocked out repeatedly is not with no apparent ill effects is unlikely, similarly having a badly damaged knee being repeatedly kicked would definitely not allow walking or operating a manual car in high speed chases.