Deceiver on the Levels

Detective Kate Hamblin Mystery #15

by David Hodges

A missing schoolgirl. A body in the woods. A killer who’s only just begun.

Newly promoted to Detective Inspector, Kate is back on her old patch at Highbridge CID.

But there’s no time to settle in. Early Monday morning, Kate gets a call. Fourteen-year-old schoolgirl Tammy Robinson is missing. She hasn’t been seen since Friday afternoon when she told her mother she was going to her best friend’s to revise. She never made it.

Kate discovers that Tammy wasn’t going to her friend’s house at all. She was planning to meet a mysterious boyfriend she called Gerry. She’d met him in an online chatroom — who is he really?

The following day, a body is discovered in the woods. It’s not Tammy.

Kate is in a race against time to unmask the most dangerous killer she’s encountered yet. Before more young women die.

Genres: Fiction

286 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 17, 2025

About the author

A former superintendent with Thames Valley Police, with thirty years experience in the force, David Hodges is a prolific crime writer and author of twenty crime novels plus an autobiography on his life in the police service. His debut crime novel received critical media acclaim and a welcome accolade from Inspector Morse’s creator, the late great Colin Dexter, and since then he has become the author of several successful stand-alone thrillers, including BLAST, TARGET and BURNOUT, published by Lume Books (formerly Endeavour Media).

In particular, his Somerset murder series, published by Joffe Books, which is set on the mist-shrouded Somerset Levels in England and features the exploits of feisty detective, Kate, and her easy-going partner, Hayden, has gone from strength to strength. It has attracted keen interest in Europe, the USA, Canada and Australia as well as in Britain.

The first six previously published thrillers in the series are also available on Audible for sight challenged readers and those who prefer the spoken word. All David's novels are available on amazon in paperback and Kindle format.

David's latest novel in his Murder On The Levels series, SHADOWS ON THE LEVELS, was published by Joffe books on 1st January 2025, and he has now been invited to talk about his books and his 'life of crime' at the Words In Watchet Literary Festival in Somerset. This will take place at the Methodist Church, Harbour Road, Watchet, from 2.00 - 3.30 pm on Sunday 23rd February 2025 and readers and non-readers will all be very welcome. (https://www.wordsinwatchet.com)

David has two married daughters and four grandchildren and lives in the UK with his wife, Elizabeth, where he continues to indulge his passion for thriller writing and to pursue his keen interest in wild life and the countryside.

He is a member of the Society of Authors, The Crime Writers Association, The Crime Readers Association and International Thriller Writers Inc.

Reviews

[Linden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kate is relieved to have a SIO for this case that is not her hostile supervisor. A young teen is missing— Tammy had arranged to meet what she thought was a handsome older guy that she’d been corresponding with online. Tammy is defiant and disrespectful—could someone who has had enough of her attitude be involved? Kate has been chastised before for going it alone and not calling for backup, and unfortunately she does it again. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

[Diane Elizabeth Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great to see Kate and the team back!
Now a DI, Kate is as sharp and feisty as ever. Dylan is, well... Dylan, but he has his moments.
As ever, we have a twisty story with red herrings, brilliant characters full of depth and personality, and a great team dynamic.
Where is Tammy? Her disappearance sparks a frenzied search, and the plot thickens as we race through each chapter.
I love this series, and this instalment is another great addition.
The ending was all tied up neatly with no loose ends and I can't wait for the next one.
My thanks to Joffe Books for the ARC. This is my own opinion.

[Barbi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 15th? book in the series and I don't feel like I missed anything by not having read the other books. I may have to go back and start the series from the beginning. I liked the chararcters. The lead detective and her husband were an interesting match, so maybe the earlier books really fill that relationship in. The storyline was interesting and I never guessed who did it.

Thanks for the ARC Netgalley.

[Sandra Vdplaats · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tammy is a handful and often gets into trouble at school. She also doesn't get along with her father and often runs away. So when she meets a boy in a chat room, she seizes the opportunity to escape her parents' house and meet him. However, things don't go as she expected: instead of her friend Gerry, someone else is waiting for her.
It seems as if Tammy has disappeared off the face of the earth, and a search is launched. Will the police manage to rescue her from this psychopath's clutches in time?

What a fantastic thriller! The author keeps the reader hooked until the very end by keeping the perpetrator's identity hidden for a long time. The story is reminiscent of an American TV series about a psychopath who targets young girls and keeps them captive in his basement. I won't reveal any more, but I had already worked out how Tammy was kept and what that meant.

I really enjoyed reading it, especially as it's not your typical police procedural. I've always been a huge fan of Hitchcock, so it was great to see his name pop up in the book. Even Jekyll and Hyde made a quick appearance.
The story brought to mind a poem by Philip Larkin, which is about parents passing on their mistakes (and a few extras) to their children.
Tammy, of course, has no good role models at home, and the same goes for the perpetrator. It's no excuse, but you can't help feeling a tad empathy for him and understanding why he is who/what he is. ('man hands on misery to man.')

I found Kate and her husband, look-a-like Boris Johnson/Hayden, particularly likeable. What a lovely couple!
I found the scene in the hospital where the kidnapper tries to suffocate Tammy really exciting — it seemed to have come straight out of a film!
And who is this mysterious ‘Mother’?
The nail-biting excitement of the ending, where Kate finds the house with the basement but can't escape because the perpetrator unexpectedly returns, is also a highlight. Will Hayden arrive in time to save her from the clutches of this terrible man, or will he be too late?
A very exciting story, I’d love to see Hayden play a bigger role in the next story.


A 5 star rating for me, and hope to read more by this author. Thank you Joffe Books for the review copy. 🌷

[MoMo Book Diary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is only the second novel in David Hodge's Detective Kate Hamblin series that I have read, and I was hooked from the very start. The story flows smoothly, drawing you in deeper with each chapter, and the way Hodges constructs the mystery makes it hard to put down. He’s brilliant at creating scenarios that nudge the reader towards one conclusion, only to shift the perspective and leave you questioning yourself. One of the strongest aspects of this book is the way suspicion is layered. From the kidnapper’s point of view we know certain details, and then when the narrative shifts to Kate’s perspective, she encounters people who could easily match that picture. Each time, you’re left thinking “this must be the one”… only for the possibility to be thrown into doubt when another character fits the same clue. It’s a clever use of misdirection, and it means you’re never quite sure whose story to trust. I loved being steered down different paths, second-guessing myself at every turn.

That said, there were two things that kept this from being a five-star read for me. The first is the way Hayden is described, supposedly through Kate’s eyes. I found the tone unnecessarily derogatory — rather than giving a rounded or affectionate view of her husband, it came across as belittling. It jarred with me, and instead of adding depth to their relationship, it made it feel uncomfortable. The other issue was the use of certain words that felt out of place. While they’re technically correct, words like reconnoitre, obviating, quere, and insensible interrupted the natural rhythm of the story. On Kindle you can quickly tap for a definition, but in print it risks pulling the reader out of the moment. For me, when there are perfectly good everyday alternatives, these choices just broke the flow unnecessarily.

Despite these frustrations, the book remains a gripping read. The plot is clever, the tension builds well, and the red herrings are particularly well done. It’s a solid 4-star story that kept me turning the pages — and it’s made me want to go back and catch up on more of the Detective Kate Hamblin series.

[Alyson Read · Rating 5 out of 5]

After being promoted to DI in Bristol, Kate Lewis is back where she belongs at Highbridge Police Station filling the shoes of her former boss DI Charlie Woo, as her husband Hayden also makes a sideways move back into uniform as their new intelligence officer. Jamie Foster has been promoted to her DS and old faces Ben Holloway and Danny Ferris are joined by some new DCs, although DCI Toby Ricketts is still gunning for her as usual. On only her first day back she and Jamie investigate the report of a missing teenager, Tammy, a troublesome rebellious girl known to be at odds with her strict controlling father and whose alcoholic mother knows little about her movements. They discover from a diary that she has gone off to meet a lad she has met in an internet chatroom but have to wonder if he is what he appears to be. The reader already knows what events have befallen Tammy and her abductor. The team’s relief at finding Tammy is short-lived however when the strangled corpse of a young woman is found in the same area and they join the MIT hunt for a killer whilst also trying to solve Tammy’s abduction, two crimes which surely must be related. Little do they realise what a dangerous and depraved individual they are all trying to catch.
It’s nice to see Kate back at Highbridge CID, and thank goodness she has the wonderfully impressive Supt Deirdrie Hennessey on her side when dealing with the odious Ricketts, whilst Hayden is also now in a role more suited to his skills. I liked the fact that the reader was privy to the killer’s story whilst the detectives were working in the dark as they slowly unravelled the clues in a fast paced and well plotted police procedural which has some good suspects for the reader to ponder over. For much of the story Kate is more of a team player than before, and once again the close dynamic between her and Hayden comes to the front when it matters most. I can’t wait to see what comes next in this series.

[Vanessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Deceiver on the Levels by David Hodges this is the 15th book in the Detective Kate Hamblin Mystery series and this is the second book I have read in this series and I really enjoyed it, Just like the last bookI had no problems getting into it and understanding all the old characters especially the main character Detective Kate Hamblin who I really liked.

This book starts with a fourteen-year-old schoolgirl Tammy Robinson, is reported missing, She hasn’t been seen since Friday afternoon when she told her mother she was going to her best friend’s to revise. But, she never made it.

Kate then, discovers that Tammy wasn’t going to her friend’s house at all. She was planning to meet a mysterious boyfriend she called Gerry. She’d met him in an online chatroom....... Who is he really?

On the following day, a body is discovered in the woods. It’s not Tammy. But who is she?

Kate is now racing towards time and time is running out to find Tammy alive!

Will Kate and her team find her before it is too late?

I highly recommend this book and it can be read as. standalone which is great.
4 ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

[Maddie Weeks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Deceiver On The Levels is book 15 of the Detective Kate Hamblin mysteries. I’ve not read any of the previous books so can be read as a standalone but you might enjoy it more if you read the previous books.

I enjoyed the premise of this book a the prologue was SO intense and creepy! It is told through the POVs of a couple of characters.

Unfortunately I think it fell flat after the prologue. I think the chapters are a lot longer than they needed to be. Short, snappy chapters would have made this more gripping.

One of my pet peeves in a book is when male characters are disrespectful to women if they’ve got a higher job role etc and this book had this a couple of times which did put me off. As did the Irish character that I felt came across as Scottish!

Overall, I think this book is well written and I do think there is a good mix of characters. I’d say it starts off very fast paced but does slow down throughout the book. The ending was good too!

If you have any content triggers, I advise you to read any trigger warnings beforehand.

I recommend this to anyone who likes a crime thriller with longer chapters!

Overall, I give this 3 stars!

[Joan Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Detective Inspector Kate Lewis is assigned the case of a missing 14 year old girl, Tammy Robinson, Inexplicably, the parents have waited two days to notify police, making Kate's job even harder. She looks deeply into people at the girl's school, including two close friends, but it's as if Tammy has disappeared into thin air. There are a lot of suspects, but no evidence for any particular one. When another girl narrowly avoids being abducted, Kate pulls out all the stops to find the perpetrator.

I've read another book in the series and enjoyed it very much. This one was good, too, with a suspenseful crime, and lots of suspects, and a methodical investigation. The ending was a bit bizarre, or I might have given five stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Phil Rogers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Part 15 in the Kate Hamblin series is easily read as a stand-alone

The story starts with a young girl being groomed and enticed to a secluded wood, abducted and held captive in a cellar. Fast forward and newly promoted Detective Inspecor Kate is thrown in at the deep end on her first day back on her old patch at Bridgewater and is given the task of finding the girl.
Kate is greeted by her Nemesis in the form of the arrogant and self seeking DCI Toby Rickets, and he slyly hints that he is going to make her life a misery!
Kate meets her team, and the reunion is bittersweet as she is welcomed by old friends but sees the empty desks of two colleagues tragically murdered on duty.
The search soon turns into a murder hunt when an adult body is found. Kate is convinced that the two cases are related, and she is faced with a race to find the killer before another body is added to the count.
A clever novel full of suspense well penned by a retired police officer.

[Alison Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book jumps straight in with a kidnapping. The victim Tammy Robinson. When she's reported missing, it starts a hunt for this missing teenager. Although nothing about this case is straightforward. The motives for this kidnapping are a little unusual. While on the hunt for the missing teenager, a body is discovered. Which leaves the police with a few things to consider. I liked the way the author has used characters that are quite frankly, strange and disturbing this really added to the storyline. This is a book that will grip you and keep you invested in wanting to know the outcome. There are plenty of twists along the way. As the storyline comes together, will the investigation team manage to figure out who is behind the kidnapping and murder? A fantastic ending tops this book off nicely.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read as an Arc thanks to Joffe Books and as someone who has read the previous books in the series, I was looking forward to seeing what the latest outing for Kate Hamblin has to offer.

As with the previous 14, it's a well written story with an interesting premise that doesn't quite go as you expect with an early twist surrounding Tammy, one of the main characters in the novel.

Although an enjoyable read once again, there are a few times in this one where I almost felt the need to suspend belief a little but it shouldn't detract too much from what is a solid storyline. I'd perhaps like a little bit more Hayden than we get in this one because of the relationship between him and Kate but overall, I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a decent 'whodunit'.

[Mrs C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 15 in the series but can be read as a standalone.
Kate newly appointed DI along with her husband Haydn return to Highbridge .
On day 1 she is faced with a missing teenager and soon after a body is found in the woods. It turns out not to be Tammy but are the 2 cases linked?
The investigation is hindered by her friends hiding or lying about events in Tammy's life.
There are 2 main suspects until a laptop is found and points to the victim having been groomed & abducted.
Leads point here there and everywhere but the perpetrator is only revealed at the end the rest being red herrings.
Gung Ho Kate as shes known again sets off on her own to prepare to take the person down, only to find herself captive with his next victim. Can Haydn rescue her in time?.

[June · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book 15 in the Detective Kate Hamblin Mystery series, and like the others, a most enjoyable gripping read.
It has a well written gripping storyline and plot, with twists and revelations.
There are strong characters, and I especially like Kate and her feisty manner. I'll get it done, no matter what attitude. Where Haydon is totally the opposite, with a laid-back attitude and his love of food. Although he can prove his worth when needed.
This captured me from start to finish and had me guessing, but those red herrings and twists sent me in the wrong direction.
A thoroughly enjoyable book.
My thanks to Joffe books for the advanced copy. This is my honest and unbiased review of this book.

[LaughterandThunderstorms · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although this book is part of a series, it was the first one I picked up. As with many series, you miss some backstory and nuances about the characters, but there’s enough context to get a clear sense of who they are and how they interact.

Kate, newly promoted to a senior role, is razor-sharp and highly attuned to the undercurrents around her. Her new team’s dynamic feels authentic, with just enough tension to suggest cracks beneath the surface.
The plot is a maze of red herrings, false leads, and dark twists. Just when you think you’ve cracked it, another reveal throws you off balance. There are moments of genuine shock and a constant sense of unease that keeps the tension high.
Full review on my blog page

[Charlotte Baddeley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was absolutely delighted to read the latest book in the Kate Hamblin series. This is book 15 but is easily read as a stand alone but why would you when it is such a brilliant series.

When school girl Tammy Robinson disappears everyone fears the worst. There is a predator out there and it up to Kate and her team to find out who and why. Recently promoted and back from Bristol Kate is delighted to be reunited wth her old team.

I was absolutely certain I had solved this particular mystery quite early on. Of course, this is David Hodges and not only was I wrong but was totally unprepared for the thrilling climax which kept me reading well past midnight.

I wish David Hodges could write as fast as I read but I will just have to be patient and wait for number 16.

[Mary Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kate is back and is immediately tasked with the investigation into the disappearance of a teenage girl. This is not your usual story into a missing person. The discovery of a body which is not of the girl escalates things dramatically.

I really enjoyed this. I was sure I knew who the perpetrator was but I was so wrong. There is plenty of misdirection throughout and as usual, Kate makes things worse for herself near the end when she goes off on one of her own runs. The story had me hooked all the way through and although this is the latest in a long running series, it still feels fresh and you would be easily able to read this without having read the prior books.

[Sally Winsor · Rating 3 out of 5]

A troublesome schoolgirl is missing. No one seems surprised. Has she run away, as she has supposedly done before, or is it something more sinister? Only DI Kate Lewis seems worried. Only when the girl is found collapsed on the side of the road, and a body is found nearby, is a full scale investigation launched.
Although not a true police procedural, due to the ‘poetic license’ the author fully admits he employs, it is a reasonable story with a number of twists. It is the fifteenth book in the series but it can be read as a standalone.

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the latest in a series of 15 novels so far, featuring now Detective Inspector Kate Hamblin, as she investigates attacks on young girls.

Kate, who is intrepid and very much inclined to rush in when she should be following police procedure, is married to Hayden, also in the force but a complete contrast to his wife, slow and slothful and to be found eating as often as possible rather than working hard.

The story is well written, with good characterisation; it is a somewhat gruesome tale with twists and turns.

[K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tammy is 14 but feels she is much older, she is off to meet Gerry, an 18 year old met on the internet. But of course he is neither Gerry nor 18. It takes her parents three days to report her missing, during which time any trail has gone ice cold. Her friends are not much help, neither is the school.
Kate Hamblin has just returned to her old station as DI after a year based in Bristol, this is her first case. There are few clues for the police, even when Tammy is found they are no further forward in identifying her abductor.
Fast paced and full of twists a very good read.

[Lisa reads alot Hamer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book 15 in the series but can be read as a standalone as brief information is giving on each character but again, another series I didn’t know about and have now downloaded the first 3 books in the series.
It’s full of twists and turns and I was really gripped from start to finish. As well as a cracking plot I loved the banter and friendships between the members of the team.
A definite series and author I will be following from@ is on!

Thank you @zooloosbooktours for having me on this tour

#DavidHodges #DeceiverontheLevels #JoffeBooks #ZooloosBookTours @joffebooks

[Rary ⏾ ❤︎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Read: NetGallery & Joffe Books

The prologue was gripping it pulled me in instantly! The killer was twisted and some scenes made my stomach churn.
The encounter with the killer had me on edge and him suddenly vanishing act like Houdini. When the killer was finally revealed I was so stunned I had to go back and retrace the clues.
A brilliantly crime thriller that keeps you gasping all the way through!

[Barbara Deeprose · Rating 5 out of 5]

It Kept Me Guessing

Now a detective inspector, Kate Hambling is called into work when a schoolgirl is reported missing. She left home Friday afternoon to supposedly visit a friend but never arrived. A desperate search is underway and a body is found, but it is not the missing girl. With so few clues will Kate and her team find her before it is too late? This book kept me guessing and once again I got it wrong!

[Louise Gray · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a terrifying case and Hamblin is up against it as she races to solve it. I enjoyed the detailed exploration of the process and thinking as she did so. It’s a dark story, given the severity of the crime at its centre, but the author doesn’t let this affect the pace amd it holds its own as a thriller as well as a mystery.

[Christina Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Detective Inspector Kate Lewis is a maverick but she gets away with it because she is so good at her job.
When a 14-year-old goes missing Kate won't stop until she finds her.
A good solid read.
#DecieverOnTheLevels #JoffeBooks #DavidHodges #DetectiveInspectorKateLewis

[Phil Rogers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Part 15 in the Kate Hamblin series is easily read as a stand-alone

The story starts with a young girl being groomed and enticed to a secluded wood, abducted and held captive in a cellar. Fast forward and newly promoted Detective Inspecor Kate is thrown in at the deep end on her first day back on her old patch at Bridgewater and is given the task of finding the girl.
Kate is greeted by her Nemesis in the form of the arrogant and self seeking DCI Toby Rickets, and he slyly hints that he is going to make her life a misery!
Kate meets her team, and the reunion is bittersweet as she is welcomed by old friends but sees the empty desks of two colleagues tragically murdered on duty.
The search soon turns into a murder hunt when an adult body is found. Kate is convinced that the two cases are related, and she is faced with a race to find the killer before another body is added to the count.
A clever novel full of suspense well penned by a retired police officer.

[Mo · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gripping crime thriller. I really recommend it, the prose is well written, good descriptions of where actions take place and the characters well drawn and believable. The story keeps the suspense going right to the end.

[Jeannie Bee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book free of charge via Joffe Books in return for an honest review.

Another in the Kate Lewis series. Good read although I had a pretty good idea whodunnit quite a bit before they were revealed. I still enjoyed the book and would recommend to other readers.

[Melvyn Homer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deceiver on the levels. An evil and sadistic perpetrator is on a mission. It is Kate's first case as DI. Clues and red herrings need to be sorted so that the individual can be bought to justice. Well told with strong characters, keeps you gripped until the pulsating finale.

[Bev Priest · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book in a great series, I really enjoyed reading it. The story is well paced and a bit gritty in places which keeps your interest nicely. Look forward to reading more about Kate and co in the future.