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A PC Donal Lynch Thriller #2
Dance With the Dead
Aspiring actress Elizabeth Smart lands her centre stage role: her mutilated body is found dumped in North London’s red light district.
Clasped in her hand is a piece of human hair belonging to an unidentified body of a woman murdered two weeks ago. PC Donal lands himself a place on the murder squad just as his unconventional brother, journalist Finton, unearths the secret double life of Elizabeth.
The bodies mount, each clinging to the strands of hair belonging to the previous victim. The police are convinced it’s the act of a serial killer. But how does Donal convince them it’s not?
The only people he can trust are the victims he dances with in his dreams...
Clasped in her hand is a piece of human hair belonging to an unidentified body of a woman murdered two weeks ago. PC Donal lands himself a place on the murder squad just as his unconventional brother, journalist Finton, unearths the secret double life of Elizabeth.
The bodies mount, each clinging to the strands of hair belonging to the previous victim. The police are convinced it’s the act of a serial killer. But how does Donal convince them it’s not?
The only people he can trust are the victims he dances with in his dreams...
400 pages, Paperback
First published October 20, 2016
21 people are currently reading
142 people want to read
About the author
James Nally
10 books28 followersJames Nally was a journalist for 15 years, before leaving to become a producer and director of TV and film.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
July 17, 2016
This is a grisly crime story set in the early 1990s in London. PC Donal Lynch has dead victims visit him in his dreams offering clues as to their death, something which he has found difficult to handle. It is the fallout from this gift that has resulted in him being relegated to working in the Cold Crime Unit. Donal is Irish and has a difficult relationship with his father who is in the IRA. It is a time when the British government is engaging in efforts to attain peace. Donal lives with his elder brother, Finlan, who is a tabloid crime reporter, aiding Donal's investigations. This is a double edged sword, for whilst Finlan has a nose for uncovering deception and corruption, he is himself so intimately acquainted with those practices.
The story begins with Donal visiting the scene where there has been the horrific murder of actress Elizabeth Little which replicates the Black Dahlia case. Donal is there as he is collating data on similarities to historical murders. It becomes clear that elements of the murder is present in the MO of several murdered women. The case begins to run in two different directions, to a feared and violent crime boss or his minions and the other that has connections to Donal's family in Ireland. This is a harrowing and dangerous blood drenched trail that takes in cover ups, deception, corruption, double dealing and political expediency. Donal's gift for dancing with the dead plays a crucial part in the case.
James Nally is a talented writer who creates wonderful characters and complex intricate plotlines. The atmosphere of underlying menace that pervades the dark story is skilfully done. There are moments of light humour usually at the expense of Donal in his relationship with Zoe. I thought the novel was great, so much so that I want to read the next in the series. Highly recommended. Thanks to HarpersCollins Avon for an ARC.
The story begins with Donal visiting the scene where there has been the horrific murder of actress Elizabeth Little which replicates the Black Dahlia case. Donal is there as he is collating data on similarities to historical murders. It becomes clear that elements of the murder is present in the MO of several murdered women. The case begins to run in two different directions, to a feared and violent crime boss or his minions and the other that has connections to Donal's family in Ireland. This is a harrowing and dangerous blood drenched trail that takes in cover ups, deception, corruption, double dealing and political expediency. Donal's gift for dancing with the dead plays a crucial part in the case.
James Nally is a talented writer who creates wonderful characters and complex intricate plotlines. The atmosphere of underlying menace that pervades the dark story is skilfully done. There are moments of light humour usually at the expense of Donal in his relationship with Zoe. I thought the novel was great, so much so that I want to read the next in the series. Highly recommended. Thanks to HarpersCollins Avon for an ARC.
July 19, 2016
So one day not so long back I accidentally bought a book when doing some online shopping for , well not books (yes EVERY TIME I tell myself I’ll just have a QUICK look see whats about but I’m accident prone) – anyway that book just happened to be Alone with the Dead – the first Donal Lynch novel – and turns out I fell immediately in love with this character (you can see review for that HERE ) and all the rest. So when I spotted the sequel on Netgalley there was no stopping me.
Once again it was a banging read. Brilliant crime fiction with added “other” – possibly – or maybe Donal is just disturbed – he is certainly disturbingly hilarious at times- the dark often inappropriately laugh out loud moments James Nally brings to the table just makes the whole thing more addictive.
With “Dance with the Dead” we have a multi layered plot that speaks to Donal’s own background (and by the way his brother Fintan is a bloody marvel of a character seriously) and adds a possible serial killer into the mix all whilst the poor guy is trying to redeem himself within the police force. The crime elements of the plot are brilliantly imagined and ever so fascinating, there is huge depth to both character and setting that really rings true, even given the wilder elements. The fact that it is all set in the 90’s just makes it even better, James Nally builds his story around real life events going on in the background and it works extraordinarily well.
For me, this is classic crime fiction with a twist – I love the twist – and I love that Donal is so beautifully rubbish in his brilliance – his attempts at fanning the flames of a possible romance in this instalment made me smile such a lot. Also the relationships he builds with family and the people around him make a great backdrop to the individual crime stories told, you just want to keep reading for many different reasons.
Book one was great. Book two was better. I think I may have found my new favourite crime thing.
Highly Recommended
Once again it was a banging read. Brilliant crime fiction with added “other” – possibly – or maybe Donal is just disturbed – he is certainly disturbingly hilarious at times- the dark often inappropriately laugh out loud moments James Nally brings to the table just makes the whole thing more addictive.
With “Dance with the Dead” we have a multi layered plot that speaks to Donal’s own background (and by the way his brother Fintan is a bloody marvel of a character seriously) and adds a possible serial killer into the mix all whilst the poor guy is trying to redeem himself within the police force. The crime elements of the plot are brilliantly imagined and ever so fascinating, there is huge depth to both character and setting that really rings true, even given the wilder elements. The fact that it is all set in the 90’s just makes it even better, James Nally builds his story around real life events going on in the background and it works extraordinarily well.
For me, this is classic crime fiction with a twist – I love the twist – and I love that Donal is so beautifully rubbish in his brilliance – his attempts at fanning the flames of a possible romance in this instalment made me smile such a lot. Also the relationships he builds with family and the people around him make a great backdrop to the individual crime stories told, you just want to keep reading for many different reasons.
Book one was great. Book two was better. I think I may have found my new favourite crime thing.
Highly Recommended
February 26, 2017
Approaching Dance With The Dead as a stand-alone read and without the benefit of seeing 'psychic cop' DC Donal Lynch in his debut appearance I knew I was taking something of a chance as I usually run a mile from anything that veers towards the realm of soothsayers and the paranormal. However, the upside of this novel is that James Nally doesn't take himself too seriously and his protagonists 'gift' is not so much a boon as a burden. Although I sense that Donal has quite a history behind him probably best served by reading the first book of this series, Alone With The Dead, we first meet him in Dance With The Dead banished to the Cold Case Unit and working doggedly to obtain another shot at the Murder Squad. Plagued by insomnia and medicating with red wine, DC Lynch has a legion of problems. Excommunicated for becoming a British cop by a father (an IRA sympathiser), he is mocked mercilessly for encountering dead victims in his dreams and letting his psychologist in on the secret. Lambasted by his superiors, scorned by his colleagues and ridiculed by older brother, Fintan, he is struggling to keep his head above water. It doesn't help that golden boy Fintan has just bagged himself a job as chief crime reporter for the most salacious of red tops, the Sunday News and has acquired the nickname 'Vice Admiral Lynch'. With Fintan going through a fallow period in respect of his sordid exposes and Donal acting on his superior officers orders to analyse the unsolved murders of prostitutes in the last few years and to cross-reference and extract likely connections, the two brothers see an opportunity pool their knowledge and combine to best effect.
When a fresh body in the form of aspiring actress Elizabeth Little is discovered in a middle-class quarter of North London, mutilated, defiled, cut in half and drained of blood, Fintan smells a scoop and Donal finally has 'fresh meat' to analyse. Clearly the victim is not the usual streetwalker or crack-dependent prostitute, but similarities in the modus operandi chime with that of a previous case. That the latest victim is clutching a piece of human hair from the head of that previous victim, Valerie Gillespie, is enough for the Lynch brothers to be spurred into action and with Fintan's unscrupulous journalism and Donal's access to the precious shelved murders case notes and forensics it sets them on the tail of a very dangerous serial killer. Not only a serial killer but a man who has a reputation for doing his own dirty work.. but Donal doesn't just want in on the live murder squad, he has a good heart, a compassion for the victims and is far less ruthless than carefree Fintan. Brilliantly making use of LA literary noir, Fintan draws parallels between this case and that of Elizabeth Short, the original Black Dahlia in the James Ellroy classic and one has to admire his brass neck.
Donal's burgeoning relationship with forensic science analyst, Zoe delivers an excellent slice of feel good romance and Donal's sympathy for the women who bear the brunt of a life at the mercy of violent pimps makes him a protagonist to vie for. As he meddles in the seedy underworld and risks life and limb in his pursuit of a killer, an unwelcome visit from his father brings the case far too close to home and sees him detour back to Ireland. Donal's general ineptness and lack of social graces sees his move through a number of comic scenarios, but thankfully Nally stops short of farce for the most part but it sadly got a little too puerile for my taste. Brother Fintan is a larger than life character and on occasions threatens to usurp Donal as the focus of attention and the frequent engagement with the victim's in Donal's dreams is a hard ask for someone with little patience for "mumbo-jumbo"!
A real mixed bag of a read for me with the high points being the whip-smart humour and repartee between Donal and brother, Fintan, the devilishly clever plotting that holds the novel together and the early 1990's London setting. On the down-side though, the all too frequent 'dreams' slowly came to irk and Donal's father's IRA connections in the wake of a fragile peace accord left me cold. James Nally writes well and clearly has a knack for quirky and memorable characters who make a big impression on readers, but for me Dance With The Dead frequently got a little too carried away with its own humour risking overshadowing what is essentially a clever plot! On balance, I doubt I will follow Donal's future escapades. At just shy of four-hundred-pages, some rigorous editing could also have made the route to conclusion a little more direct. Brimming with character and bristling with black humour it would be a pity if the filthy humour, deters future readers. Not for me sadly, but an author with obvious talent although the near farcical interludes were not to my taste.
When a fresh body in the form of aspiring actress Elizabeth Little is discovered in a middle-class quarter of North London, mutilated, defiled, cut in half and drained of blood, Fintan smells a scoop and Donal finally has 'fresh meat' to analyse. Clearly the victim is not the usual streetwalker or crack-dependent prostitute, but similarities in the modus operandi chime with that of a previous case. That the latest victim is clutching a piece of human hair from the head of that previous victim, Valerie Gillespie, is enough for the Lynch brothers to be spurred into action and with Fintan's unscrupulous journalism and Donal's access to the precious shelved murders case notes and forensics it sets them on the tail of a very dangerous serial killer. Not only a serial killer but a man who has a reputation for doing his own dirty work.. but Donal doesn't just want in on the live murder squad, he has a good heart, a compassion for the victims and is far less ruthless than carefree Fintan. Brilliantly making use of LA literary noir, Fintan draws parallels between this case and that of Elizabeth Short, the original Black Dahlia in the James Ellroy classic and one has to admire his brass neck.
Donal's burgeoning relationship with forensic science analyst, Zoe delivers an excellent slice of feel good romance and Donal's sympathy for the women who bear the brunt of a life at the mercy of violent pimps makes him a protagonist to vie for. As he meddles in the seedy underworld and risks life and limb in his pursuit of a killer, an unwelcome visit from his father brings the case far too close to home and sees him detour back to Ireland. Donal's general ineptness and lack of social graces sees his move through a number of comic scenarios, but thankfully Nally stops short of farce for the most part but it sadly got a little too puerile for my taste. Brother Fintan is a larger than life character and on occasions threatens to usurp Donal as the focus of attention and the frequent engagement with the victim's in Donal's dreams is a hard ask for someone with little patience for "mumbo-jumbo"!
A real mixed bag of a read for me with the high points being the whip-smart humour and repartee between Donal and brother, Fintan, the devilishly clever plotting that holds the novel together and the early 1990's London setting. On the down-side though, the all too frequent 'dreams' slowly came to irk and Donal's father's IRA connections in the wake of a fragile peace accord left me cold. James Nally writes well and clearly has a knack for quirky and memorable characters who make a big impression on readers, but for me Dance With The Dead frequently got a little too carried away with its own humour risking overshadowing what is essentially a clever plot! On balance, I doubt I will follow Donal's future escapades. At just shy of four-hundred-pages, some rigorous editing could also have made the route to conclusion a little more direct. Brimming with character and bristling with black humour it would be a pity if the filthy humour, deters future readers. Not for me sadly, but an author with obvious talent although the near farcical interludes were not to my taste.
July 20, 2016
After reading Alone with the Dead: A PC Donal Lynch Thriller last year, I was really looking forward to reading Dance with the Dead, the second book in the series, and I wasn't disappointed.
Donal is 'withering away' in the Cold Crime Unit following the incidents in the previous book. But when the mutilated body of a woman is found in a London red light district, he sees an opportunity to get back onto the murder squad as he has been working on cold cases involving prostitutes and there could be a link. Is there a serial killer at work?
His brother Fintan is as ever keen on helping him, mainly to further his own career as a journalist. But when their father, with whom Donal has a very strained relationship, unexpectedly arrives from Ireland, the plot really thickens as Donal attempts to solve the mystery of the murdered women and the mystery of his Dad's sudden appearance, while also trying to progress his blossoming relationship with Zoe from the Forensic Science Service.
Donal is a totally lovable character. His sleep paralysis adds to the story and brings a unique twist to it. I was surprised by how much more I liked his unscrupulous brother Fintan this time. Characterization of all the characters is definitely one of the strong points of this novel. The others are the setting and the atmosphere. James Nally takes us back to London in 1993, referencing memorable events and providing a multi-layered, complex plot that delves into the politics and history of British - Irish relations. It's a wonderfully dark crime thriller. And have I mentioned that I loved the dry wit? I'm sure some of the things I found completely hilarious were somewhat inappropriate, but I was 100% entertained. More, please. 4.5 stars.
Many thanks to James Nally and HarperCollins UK for providing me with an ARC via NetGalley.
Donal is 'withering away' in the Cold Crime Unit following the incidents in the previous book. But when the mutilated body of a woman is found in a London red light district, he sees an opportunity to get back onto the murder squad as he has been working on cold cases involving prostitutes and there could be a link. Is there a serial killer at work?
His brother Fintan is as ever keen on helping him, mainly to further his own career as a journalist. But when their father, with whom Donal has a very strained relationship, unexpectedly arrives from Ireland, the plot really thickens as Donal attempts to solve the mystery of the murdered women and the mystery of his Dad's sudden appearance, while also trying to progress his blossoming relationship with Zoe from the Forensic Science Service.
Donal is a totally lovable character. His sleep paralysis adds to the story and brings a unique twist to it. I was surprised by how much more I liked his unscrupulous brother Fintan this time. Characterization of all the characters is definitely one of the strong points of this novel. The others are the setting and the atmosphere. James Nally takes us back to London in 1993, referencing memorable events and providing a multi-layered, complex plot that delves into the politics and history of British - Irish relations. It's a wonderfully dark crime thriller. And have I mentioned that I loved the dry wit? I'm sure some of the things I found completely hilarious were somewhat inappropriate, but I was 100% entertained. More, please. 4.5 stars.
Many thanks to James Nally and HarperCollins UK for providing me with an ARC via NetGalley.
July 28, 2016
This story is set in the early 1990s in London. Dead victims visit PC Donal Lynch in his dreams to help him solve their crimes and he is having troubling with this. The result is his assignment to the Cold Crime Unit. He is investigating a murder the shows similarities to the Black Dahlia case and it seems that murders in present day share similarities to old cases. As more details are revealed it seems the case may have connections to Donal’s family. Great read. I would like to thank the Publisher and Net Galley for the chance to read this ARC.
August 7, 2016
PC Donal Lynch has found his career stalling. Side lined with a temporary appointment as a DC, he is now working with the cold case unit, a dumping ground for the officers in reaching the ends of their career, by fair means or foul. Hidden away down in ‘the Cemetery’, Donal had been working back through cold cases involving prostitutes, people whose murders had gone barely investigated as there was no one to care about them.
Donal quickly becomes convinced that some of these murders are just the start, that the Toms were the first victims in a fledgling serial killer career, and he is set the task of comparing the murders to other, unsolved cases, looking for obvious links. When a young woman is found murdered in a dodgy area of London, known for its crack addicted Tom’s, Donal is sent to check out the murderer’s MO to see if it matches anything he has seen before.
What Donal finds is a similarity to more than just a local unsolved murder. The victim, Liz Little, was an aspiring actress, not a Tom, and her death is eerily similar to that of Elizabeth Short, ‘The Black Dahlia’. Not only that but two other clues have been left behind, clues which link back to a previous murder victim with no apparent ties to Liz Little. With Donal’s journalist brother, Fintan on his back for information, the two follow up on some of Fintan’s clues, leading them to Liz’s place of work, The Florentine Gardens, a nightclub owned by a notorious London gangland boss, Jimmy Reilly.
When Liz appears to Donal in one of his dreams, he knows that there must be a connection to the club, but her clues are so vague he has a hard time interpreting them. When he finds an anonymous tip off in one of the cold case files which links to Liz’s murder, Donal has to wonder if the club has all just been a distraction, the suspect having no known ties to Reilly or the Florentine. Donal follows up on the lead, his investigations taking him back to Ireland where he makes a startling discovery about his mother. With his IRA sympathising father turning up on their doorstep in London, Donal has to wonder if there is a link between his father’s sudden appearance and the identification of the potential killer, something hidden in a memory from his childhood.
‘Dance with the Dead’ is a really interesting read. Blending some dark humour with more slapstick moments, Donal’s first moments at the Liz Little crime scene being a classic example, it also touches on darker themes of murder and abuse. The contradictions in the evidence is enough to make you wonder just how there can be two so very clearly viable suspects who appear to know nothing of each other and yet where the murders are inextricably linked. It is this aspect on which Nally has managed a very clever twist, one I honestly hadn’t expected.
Set in early 1990’s London, I think that it is probably the setting and the characters that really make this story work. The Anglo-Irish hostilities play a big part in the story, the chance of a final truce between the IRA and the British Government bringing a whole new element of doubt to the investigation. What is more important? Finding a killer or ensuring peace between the warring factions? Also, being set before the mass distribution of mobile technology, it brings good old fashioned detection to the fore, taking us back to an era that is all telephone boxes and fax machines. Nally captures all of this extremely well, and having lived in London around the time the book is set, it certainly felt familiar.
Donal himself is a great character. His unusual character trait aside, he is funny, almost naïve in his approach to policing, his hapless manner making the discoveries more by accident than by design. Generally failing in nearly all aspects of this life, both love and career, he is a character you can’t help but like, seemingly wet behind the ears but with his heart in the right place. The story is told in the first person, meaning the readers view of events is Donal’s view, perhaps helping with the engagement with the character. He has a dependency on his old friend, Shiraz, is plagued by visions of the dead, has a tortured relationship with his father, which adds another layer of conflict to the story, and a frustrating relationship with his brother. FIntan is another brilliant character, his journalistic instincts and confidence making him the polar opposite to his brother.
I really enjoyed the ‘otherworldly’ aspect of the novel, the thought that Donal was being visited by the ghosts of the victims. It may be nothing more than good old fashioned intuition, but it gives Donal an edge, a chance to make connections other officers don’t seem to see. I can’t wait to see where this leads next.
4 stars.
My thanks to publishers Harper Collins UK, Avon and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review.
Donal quickly becomes convinced that some of these murders are just the start, that the Toms were the first victims in a fledgling serial killer career, and he is set the task of comparing the murders to other, unsolved cases, looking for obvious links. When a young woman is found murdered in a dodgy area of London, known for its crack addicted Tom’s, Donal is sent to check out the murderer’s MO to see if it matches anything he has seen before.
What Donal finds is a similarity to more than just a local unsolved murder. The victim, Liz Little, was an aspiring actress, not a Tom, and her death is eerily similar to that of Elizabeth Short, ‘The Black Dahlia’. Not only that but two other clues have been left behind, clues which link back to a previous murder victim with no apparent ties to Liz Little. With Donal’s journalist brother, Fintan on his back for information, the two follow up on some of Fintan’s clues, leading them to Liz’s place of work, The Florentine Gardens, a nightclub owned by a notorious London gangland boss, Jimmy Reilly.
When Liz appears to Donal in one of his dreams, he knows that there must be a connection to the club, but her clues are so vague he has a hard time interpreting them. When he finds an anonymous tip off in one of the cold case files which links to Liz’s murder, Donal has to wonder if the club has all just been a distraction, the suspect having no known ties to Reilly or the Florentine. Donal follows up on the lead, his investigations taking him back to Ireland where he makes a startling discovery about his mother. With his IRA sympathising father turning up on their doorstep in London, Donal has to wonder if there is a link between his father’s sudden appearance and the identification of the potential killer, something hidden in a memory from his childhood.
‘Dance with the Dead’ is a really interesting read. Blending some dark humour with more slapstick moments, Donal’s first moments at the Liz Little crime scene being a classic example, it also touches on darker themes of murder and abuse. The contradictions in the evidence is enough to make you wonder just how there can be two so very clearly viable suspects who appear to know nothing of each other and yet where the murders are inextricably linked. It is this aspect on which Nally has managed a very clever twist, one I honestly hadn’t expected.
Set in early 1990’s London, I think that it is probably the setting and the characters that really make this story work. The Anglo-Irish hostilities play a big part in the story, the chance of a final truce between the IRA and the British Government bringing a whole new element of doubt to the investigation. What is more important? Finding a killer or ensuring peace between the warring factions? Also, being set before the mass distribution of mobile technology, it brings good old fashioned detection to the fore, taking us back to an era that is all telephone boxes and fax machines. Nally captures all of this extremely well, and having lived in London around the time the book is set, it certainly felt familiar.
Donal himself is a great character. His unusual character trait aside, he is funny, almost naïve in his approach to policing, his hapless manner making the discoveries more by accident than by design. Generally failing in nearly all aspects of this life, both love and career, he is a character you can’t help but like, seemingly wet behind the ears but with his heart in the right place. The story is told in the first person, meaning the readers view of events is Donal’s view, perhaps helping with the engagement with the character. He has a dependency on his old friend, Shiraz, is plagued by visions of the dead, has a tortured relationship with his father, which adds another layer of conflict to the story, and a frustrating relationship with his brother. FIntan is another brilliant character, his journalistic instincts and confidence making him the polar opposite to his brother.
I really enjoyed the ‘otherworldly’ aspect of the novel, the thought that Donal was being visited by the ghosts of the victims. It may be nothing more than good old fashioned intuition, but it gives Donal an edge, a chance to make connections other officers don’t seem to see. I can’t wait to see where this leads next.
4 stars.
My thanks to publishers Harper Collins UK, Avon and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review.
May 28, 2023
I began this as an attempt to 'get back into' crime fiction, having read less of the genre in the past year or so. Regrettably this was not the best book to reignite that passion, and confirmed a number of the reasons why I'd cooled to that field. Here a psychologically troubled Irish cop in London tries to link together murders of women with historical resonances, there are arguments with superiors who don't believe him and even just a bit of James Oswaldesque supernatural side-story. Clichéd cardboard cut-out characters with the same back stories as I've read a hundred times before, utterly generic 'variation on a theme' plot, writing that tried too hard to be be witty, less 'wise ass', more just 'ass'. I'm sure Nally is competent, but I'm not sure whether this was the wrong book at the wrong time for me, or just a bit 'meh'.
April 23, 2018
I saw this book on NetGalley and liked the sound of it, however when I started reading it, I realised I’d already read it some time ago.
This is a really good series and PC Donal Lynch’s unique investigative techniques make it more interesting.
PC Donal Lynch has dead victims visit him in his dreams offering clues as to their death, something which he has found difficult to handle.
The story begins with Donal visiting the scene where there has been the horrific murder of actress Elizabeth Little. There are cover ups, deception and political battles involved in this story and Donal's gift plays a crucial role in the case.
Great series.
Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the opportunity to read this book.
This is a really good series and PC Donal Lynch’s unique investigative techniques make it more interesting.
PC Donal Lynch has dead victims visit him in his dreams offering clues as to their death, something which he has found difficult to handle.
The story begins with Donal visiting the scene where there has been the horrific murder of actress Elizabeth Little. There are cover ups, deception and political battles involved in this story and Donal's gift plays a crucial role in the case.
Great series.
Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the opportunity to read this book.
August 5, 2016
I really like a good crime book so was really interested to read Dance With the Dead.
The book starts with the murder of Elizabeth Smart and quickly you are drawn into the plot line as Donal Lynch attempts, with his journalist brother, to solve her murder. The police think it's the work of a serial killer but Donal needs to convince them otherwise. Will the visions and dreams he has help him?
Set in 1993 this gritty story will totally draw you in to this story. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more from this author.
Thanks to Harper Collins UK Avon and NetGalley for the chance to review.
The book starts with the murder of Elizabeth Smart and quickly you are drawn into the plot line as Donal Lynch attempts, with his journalist brother, to solve her murder. The police think it's the work of a serial killer but Donal needs to convince them otherwise. Will the visions and dreams he has help him?
Set in 1993 this gritty story will totally draw you in to this story. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more from this author.
Thanks to Harper Collins UK Avon and NetGalley for the chance to review.
Want to read
October 1, 2023Dance With the Dead by James Nally.
A PC Donal Lynch Thriller.
Aspiring actress Elizabeth Smart lands her centre stage role: her mutilated body is found dumped in North London’s red light district. Clasped in her hand is a piece of human hair belonging to an unidentified body of a woman murdered two weeks ago.
PC Donal lands himself a place on the murder squad just as his unconventional brother, journalist Finton, unearths the secret double life of Elizabeth.
The bodies mount, each clinging to the strands of hair belonging to the previous victim. The police are convinced it’s the act of a serial killer. But how does Donal convince them it’s not?
The only people he can trust are the victims he dances with in his dreams.
Really enjoyable read. I love this series. 4*.
A PC Donal Lynch Thriller.
Aspiring actress Elizabeth Smart lands her centre stage role: her mutilated body is found dumped in North London’s red light district. Clasped in her hand is a piece of human hair belonging to an unidentified body of a woman murdered two weeks ago.
PC Donal lands himself a place on the murder squad just as his unconventional brother, journalist Finton, unearths the secret double life of Elizabeth.
The bodies mount, each clinging to the strands of hair belonging to the previous victim. The police are convinced it’s the act of a serial killer. But how does Donal convince them it’s not?
The only people he can trust are the victims he dances with in his dreams.
Really enjoyable read. I love this series. 4*.
Read
January 18, 2024Second of the Donal Lynch books. Somehow Donal has kept his job with the police but has been moved into the cold cases unit. His work there overlaps with a new murder and he ends up involved in the case with the "assistance" of his journalist brother Fintan who now shares a flat with him.
Donal is still having waking dreams where he's visited by the murder victims who give him clues which he struggles to interpret. As before lots of people, including the police, are untrustworthy and Donal's father ends up in London on IRA business (while a peace deal is being negotiated) that overlaps with the murder case.
More positively Donal acquires a non-murderous girlfriend Zoe, who works in scene of crime forensics.
Donal is still having waking dreams where he's visited by the murder victims who give him clues which he struggles to interpret. As before lots of people, including the police, are untrustworthy and Donal's father ends up in London on IRA business (while a peace deal is being negotiated) that overlaps with the murder case.
More positively Donal acquires a non-murderous girlfriend Zoe, who works in scene of crime forensics.
January 18, 2018
Dance With The Dead is the second book featuring DC Donal Lynch by James Nally,this second outing sees Donal relegated to the cold case unit,but the grisly death of a young women gives him the chance to help investigate a live case and hopefully into the Murder Squad.James Nalley has managed to inject his usual humour and a touch of romance into what is sometimes a bit gruesome tale.As in Alone With The Dead,Donal is assisted by his newspaper reporter brother Fintan and of course the occasional visit from the dead who give him clues to the past.overall a good story and plot covering pretty much everything from drugs,prostitution through to his fathers possible involvement with the IRA.
Thanks to James Nally,Harper Collins and Netgalley for the free copy to review.
Thanks to James Nally,Harper Collins and Netgalley for the free copy to review.
June 29, 2018
I want to thank Netgalley and Avon Editions for this partnership.
It all begins when the mutilated body of actress Elizabeth Smart is found in the red light district of London. Holding in his hand human hair from a body found two weeks ago. And several bodies at regular intervals will be found hair in hand, the police will think of a serial killer.
A well-written thriller with flowing chapters and a captivating storyline.
It all begins when the mutilated body of actress Elizabeth Smart is found in the red light district of London. Holding in his hand human hair from a body found two weeks ago. And several bodies at regular intervals will be found hair in hand, the police will think of a serial killer.
A well-written thriller with flowing chapters and a captivating storyline.
August 4, 2019
Unexpected ending
I don’t want to give it away but it’s worth the read. A little slow in places, a little confusing in one or two places and that could have just been me. I had to re-read a few sentences here and there because it lost me. Even with all of that it was definitely worth reading. I stayed up till 2 am (kept falling asleep) because I couldn’t put it down.
I don’t want to give it away but it’s worth the read. A little slow in places, a little confusing in one or two places and that could have just been me. I had to re-read a few sentences here and there because it lost me. Even with all of that it was definitely worth reading. I stayed up till 2 am (kept falling asleep) because I couldn’t put it down.
March 31, 2018
Not a bad read, just me. I have problems with the psychic parts of the story although there are not too many. Not a conventional police procedural, in fact actual police involvement is quite minimal, more like a PI.
February 12, 2020
A good but strange story with, as we like to see, plenty of twists and turns - an Irish detective and his brother, a journalist, work together to solve a chain of murders - humour, intrigue and downright blundering gets the case solved. A little slow to start but well worth sticking with it
August 8, 2018
The second PC Donal Lynch Thriller is another hectically paced police procedural starring a well-meaning, ne'er do well, young detective plagued by visions of the dead and excellent intentions.
December 9, 2018
Good but not as good as the first. Rather grisly and violent - wouldn't have finished except that I love the main character with his self-deprecating wit.
January 20, 2019
It took me a long time to get through this, because it didn't liven up until near the end.
December 7, 2020
Really enjoyed this although, if you are easily offended I would avoid it, as it is so far wide of being politically correct!!!
May 23, 2017
The ending let the book down but found the full story and sub plots enthralling. Excellent beginning and middle, but the ending was far too formulated
January 31, 2017
I read and reviewed the first, Alone With The Dead back in October 2015 and was really impressed. Donal Lynch is a very unusual police character and I was looking forward to seeing how this author had developed him.
Since the events played out in Alone With The Dead Donal has been working in the Cold Crime Unit, hidden away and ploughing through cases of unsolved murders. Donal is not the usual candidate to work the Cold Crimes, he's not washed-up, or ready for retirement. He's keen and he's eager. Sometimes he messes up, sometimes he makes the wrong choices but he's determined.
It isn't long before Donal begins to link together some of these unsolved cases. Its clear that the victims; prostitutes, sex workers, or Toms as they are often referred to, have never had anyone working on their murders who actually give a toss about them. Donal is convinced that there is far more to uncover and when a woman is found murdered he's on the case.
I was delighted to be reacquainted with Donal Lynch in this excellently plotted crime story and so pleased that James Nally has really developed him, along with his multiple complicated relationships, and especially his connection with his journalist brother Fintan. The reader learns more about his ex girlfriend whilst watching him form a new relationship with colleague Zoe. There's also the surprise appearance of Donal and Fintan's father, yet another strained and difficult relationship that Donal has to manage.
Alongside the impeccable characterisation in this story, the author also cleverly recreates the atmosphere of the 1990's police force. The attitudes of the police, and the media towards the street girls is horrifying, but sadly does reflect those times. The author does not hold back, the language is raw and brutal, and Donal is a lone soldier against the prejudice and hate.
A complex, multi layered story, riddled with wit and humour, yet dealing with dark and sometimes uncomfortable issues. Dance With The Dead is a worthy follow up to the first in this series. I look forward to book three
http://randomthingsthroughmyletterbox...
Since the events played out in Alone With The Dead Donal has been working in the Cold Crime Unit, hidden away and ploughing through cases of unsolved murders. Donal is not the usual candidate to work the Cold Crimes, he's not washed-up, or ready for retirement. He's keen and he's eager. Sometimes he messes up, sometimes he makes the wrong choices but he's determined.
It isn't long before Donal begins to link together some of these unsolved cases. Its clear that the victims; prostitutes, sex workers, or Toms as they are often referred to, have never had anyone working on their murders who actually give a toss about them. Donal is convinced that there is far more to uncover and when a woman is found murdered he's on the case.
I was delighted to be reacquainted with Donal Lynch in this excellently plotted crime story and so pleased that James Nally has really developed him, along with his multiple complicated relationships, and especially his connection with his journalist brother Fintan. The reader learns more about his ex girlfriend whilst watching him form a new relationship with colleague Zoe. There's also the surprise appearance of Donal and Fintan's father, yet another strained and difficult relationship that Donal has to manage.
Alongside the impeccable characterisation in this story, the author also cleverly recreates the atmosphere of the 1990's police force. The attitudes of the police, and the media towards the street girls is horrifying, but sadly does reflect those times. The author does not hold back, the language is raw and brutal, and Donal is a lone soldier against the prejudice and hate.
A complex, multi layered story, riddled with wit and humour, yet dealing with dark and sometimes uncomfortable issues. Dance With The Dead is a worthy follow up to the first in this series. I look forward to book three
http://randomthingsthroughmyletterbox...
July 24, 2016
On the plus side of this, even though it is book number two in a series, I don't feel as though I missed anything by not reading book number one. They seem to be entirely stand alone books where there is a beginning a middle and an end.
That being said, I seem to be in a majority as far as the fact that I did NOT enjoy this story. It felt very stunted. I could not become engaged in this story no matter how hard I tried - there was just too much bouncing around between this person and that person and this organization against that one. In fact, I found myself putting this book down several times and doing other things. It did not captivate me the way other stories have.
I wanted more of Donal's "gift" (or curse depending on how you look at it). I wanted to see how this came into play, and I was sadly disappointed between the "reality" of the story and what I had hoped would come to pass.
Overall, I do think that this story will appeal to readers. Its not a bad story by any means - its just not for me.
DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.
That being said, I seem to be in a majority as far as the fact that I did NOT enjoy this story. It felt very stunted. I could not become engaged in this story no matter how hard I tried - there was just too much bouncing around between this person and that person and this organization against that one. In fact, I found myself putting this book down several times and doing other things. It did not captivate me the way other stories have.
I wanted more of Donal's "gift" (or curse depending on how you look at it). I wanted to see how this came into play, and I was sadly disappointed between the "reality" of the story and what I had hoped would come to pass.
Overall, I do think that this story will appeal to readers. Its not a bad story by any means - its just not for me.
DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.
July 24, 2016
An unputdownable touching story. Let's get one thing straight I'm not a psychic cop. I can't predict the future. Nor do I possess some macabre ability to contact the dead. But something's not right. Every time I get close to the body of a murder victim, they appear to me in the middle of the night. I'd like to say they turn up in my dreams. They appear when I'm awake, and engage with me. They're always trying to tell me something. There's a red-light district in King's Cross. The roads don't go anywhere. They're all cul-de-sacs. The council put up metal gates at the end of these roads. They were forcing punters to perform a series of tricky three point turns would put them off. But the punters still came because the girls never left. A body of a young prostitute has been found. Most of the prostitutes were hooked on smack or crack. Donal from the Cold Case Unit is analysing the unsolved murders of prostitutes in the city over the past few years. It is possible that there are links to this young girl murder and others. The men they fail to catch for the murders of these prostitutes may strike again. Chilling, brutal, addictive. If you like reading Tim Weaver or James Oswald then your like reading Dance With The Dead by James Nally.
September 21, 2016
DC Donal Lynch has been renegaded to the Cold Case Unit due to what happened in the first DC Donal Lynch book - Alone with the Dead (I haven't read this one yet but will hunt it out!) and is working on a case involving prostitutes. But when a new murder happens he is sent to see if there are any links to his old cases, which there is.
I think Lynch is a special character and is well described by the author. From what I gather happened in the first book, Lynch had a lot of sleep troubles. The dead victims used to visit him in his sleep helping him to solve their murders. As I said before I haven't read the first book, but didn't feel I needed to while I was reading this one. Lynch is a loveable funny character who is failing in his career but tries his very hardest.
I love the atmosphere of the book, it really does creep into your bones. The one thing I feel keeps this crime thriller a cut above the rest is that it's set in the 1990's. Before the internet and lots of new fangled technology. It mixes the Anglo-Irish politics of the 90's into the story, which for me gave it that extra edge.
A highly recommended crime thriller for those who love addictive, dark and gritty storylines.
I think Lynch is a special character and is well described by the author. From what I gather happened in the first book, Lynch had a lot of sleep troubles. The dead victims used to visit him in his sleep helping him to solve their murders. As I said before I haven't read the first book, but didn't feel I needed to while I was reading this one. Lynch is a loveable funny character who is failing in his career but tries his very hardest.
I love the atmosphere of the book, it really does creep into your bones. The one thing I feel keeps this crime thriller a cut above the rest is that it's set in the 1990's. Before the internet and lots of new fangled technology. It mixes the Anglo-Irish politics of the 90's into the story, which for me gave it that extra edge.
A highly recommended crime thriller for those who love addictive, dark and gritty storylines.
October 12, 2016
This took me AGES to read and I really don't know why. Once I picked it up again I flew through it and enjoyed it.
It may have been the 'seeing dead people in his sleep' bit that threw me and made me put it down but I'm still not entirely sure. Don't let that put you off though as it's a well written and exciting story filled with sneaky violent people and the people who want to stop them.
PC Donal Lynch and his journalist brother Fintan are on the trail of a killer and are led to an underworld boss and his 'gentleman's club', add in their IRA embroiled father coming to stay and Donal's burgeoning relationship with forensics lady Zoe and you have a fun-filled jaunt through early 1990's London.
*Huge thanks to James Nally, HarperCollins UK, Avon and NetGalley for this copy in exchange for an honest review*
It may have been the 'seeing dead people in his sleep' bit that threw me and made me put it down but I'm still not entirely sure. Don't let that put you off though as it's a well written and exciting story filled with sneaky violent people and the people who want to stop them.
PC Donal Lynch and his journalist brother Fintan are on the trail of a killer and are led to an underworld boss and his 'gentleman's club', add in their IRA embroiled father coming to stay and Donal's burgeoning relationship with forensics lady Zoe and you have a fun-filled jaunt through early 1990's London.
*Huge thanks to James Nally, HarperCollins UK, Avon and NetGalley for this copy in exchange for an honest review*
July 15, 2016
Dance With The Dead
By James Nally
I reviewed this ARC through Netgalley for Harper Collins UK for a honest review.
This crime thriller begins with Donal Lynch, a DC (Detective Constable ) who sees the spirits of dead murder victims,and analyzes crime scenes for his cold case unit in London.
Faced with the brutal murder of a young woman, who is tortured, killed, and dismembered. He is convinced it is the work of a serial killer.
Long, and sometimes grisly descriptive. This novel is quite the nail biter. A good read. 4 stars.
By James Nally
I reviewed this ARC through Netgalley for Harper Collins UK for a honest review.
This crime thriller begins with Donal Lynch, a DC (Detective Constable ) who sees the spirits of dead murder victims,and analyzes crime scenes for his cold case unit in London.
Faced with the brutal murder of a young woman, who is tortured, killed, and dismembered. He is convinced it is the work of a serial killer.
Long, and sometimes grisly descriptive. This novel is quite the nail biter. A good read. 4 stars.
July 10, 2016
Ah, the early nineties,a time that seems so incredibly dated now, where people had pagers and used phone boxes and faxes. It's a wonder any crime was solved.
I liked the character of Donal, young and innocent,but with a dodgy past love life and shady father, and annoying brother.
Oh, and those dreams he has about the dead, which were not the central force of the story I was expecting.
The story had enough in it to keep me turning pages quite quickly,a grisly murder or two, some loathsome suspects, and all round good mystery.
Definitely be reading another one.
I liked the character of Donal, young and innocent,but with a dodgy past love life and shady father, and annoying brother.
Oh, and those dreams he has about the dead, which were not the central force of the story I was expecting.
The story had enough in it to keep me turning pages quite quickly,a grisly murder or two, some loathsome suspects, and all round good mystery.
Definitely be reading another one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 29, 2016
well done British procedural with the twist of interesting insight into Anglo-Irish politics of the 1990s. This is heavy on characters, which is something crime writers often forget about. Donal is complex as a real person, as is his family. I had not read the first book in this series but that was not, I don't think, a problem. I would, however, like to read more from Nally, who has a thoughtful measured writing style. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC and to the publisher for making this available to the US audience.
November 21, 2016
Book Review originally published here: http://www.iheartreading.net/reviews/...
I have to admit I picked up this book because the cover intrigued me – the synopsis didn’t convince me that much. But soon enough, I started getting sucked into the sotry and loved every minute of it. PC Donal is an amazing protagonist, with some hidden secrets, the case kept me on the edge of my seat, and the writing was excellent.
I have to admit I picked up this book because the cover intrigued me – the synopsis didn’t convince me that much. But soon enough, I started getting sucked into the sotry and loved every minute of it. PC Donal is an amazing protagonist, with some hidden secrets, the case kept me on the edge of my seat, and the writing was excellent.
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