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Doug Mullen #1
Dead in the Water
A body found in the water exposes dark family secrets and infidelity
Private detective Doug Mullen discovers a body floating in the River Thames. He doesn't tell the police that he knows who it is, and when he is hired to investigate the dead man, matters get very complicated. Mullen is used to tracking down cheating husbands, not ruthless killers. The victim turns out to have been playing a complex game of deception with more than one woman.
As Mullen gets closer to tracking down the killer, he finds himself in grave danger. Unless he can crack the case, Detective Inspector Dorkin may pin the crime on him, or those with secrets to hide may put him out of circulation.
Mullen fights for his life as this fast-moving mystery reaches its stunning conclusion.
Dead in the Water is the first in a new series of detective thrillers featuring Doug Mullen - ex-army, ex-runaway, struggling human being - and recently set up as a private detective, with his only work coming from tracking down cheating husbands.
Private detective Doug Mullen discovers a body floating in the River Thames. He doesn't tell the police that he knows who it is, and when he is hired to investigate the dead man, matters get very complicated. Mullen is used to tracking down cheating husbands, not ruthless killers. The victim turns out to have been playing a complex game of deception with more than one woman.
As Mullen gets closer to tracking down the killer, he finds himself in grave danger. Unless he can crack the case, Detective Inspector Dorkin may pin the crime on him, or those with secrets to hide may put him out of circulation.
Mullen fights for his life as this fast-moving mystery reaches its stunning conclusion.
Dead in the Water is the first in a new series of detective thrillers featuring Doug Mullen - ex-army, ex-runaway, struggling human being - and recently set up as a private detective, with his only work coming from tracking down cheating husbands.
185 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 2, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
September 27, 2024
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That's going to be a no from me, my dude.
This book was like reading a copy of a copy of a copy of every mediocre P.I. novel ever written. Completely overwrought with clichés - whether it was the turns of phrase or the character types - it was all so meh with a hard-to-follow plot.
I think what bothered me the most was the misogyny that popped up throughout. It starts with the cheating spouse case. Anyone who sees the incriminating pictures Mullens took just can't understand why the husband would sleep with an overweight woman, saying things like, "She needed to go on a crash diet, fast. God only knew what Paul saw in her."
It continues with another male character being "infuriated by the woman's common sense" and consistently dismissive of women in general. He stopped short of telling the female characters to get back in the kitchen.
I could chalk this up to character choice, except those displays of sexism served no purpose to the story. These characters didn't need to consistently denigrate women. For the most part, each female character's behaviour made it seem as though the author doesn't really know any real women.
One woman finds Mullens passed out on the street so she brings him into his house and stays with him all night, sleeping in a chair, and keeping watch despite never meeting him before. Nursing a strange man back to health, alone in your apartment? Fuck that. Another woman tries not to "become hysterical" because a man she knew for a couple of days stood her up. I mean, the author might as well have written all the women as eating chocolate and having their periods in every scene.
The tagline for this book is "...a gripping detective thriller full of suspense." I think a more accurate tagline would be "...this is a story, maybe."
⭐ | 1 star
book source: The publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a review.
That's going to be a no from me, my dude.
This book was like reading a copy of a copy of a copy of every mediocre P.I. novel ever written. Completely overwrought with clichés - whether it was the turns of phrase or the character types - it was all so meh with a hard-to-follow plot.
I think what bothered me the most was the misogyny that popped up throughout. It starts with the cheating spouse case. Anyone who sees the incriminating pictures Mullens took just can't understand why the husband would sleep with an overweight woman, saying things like, "She needed to go on a crash diet, fast. God only knew what Paul saw in her."
It continues with another male character being "infuriated by the woman's common sense" and consistently dismissive of women in general. He stopped short of telling the female characters to get back in the kitchen.
I could chalk this up to character choice, except those displays of sexism served no purpose to the story. These characters didn't need to consistently denigrate women. For the most part, each female character's behaviour made it seem as though the author doesn't really know any real women.
One woman finds Mullens passed out on the street so she brings him into his house and stays with him all night, sleeping in a chair, and keeping watch despite never meeting him before. Nursing a strange man back to health, alone in your apartment? Fuck that. Another woman tries not to "become hysterical" because a man she knew for a couple of days stood her up. I mean, the author might as well have written all the women as eating chocolate and having their periods in every scene.
The tagline for this book is "...a gripping detective thriller full of suspense." I think a more accurate tagline would be "...this is a story, maybe."
⭐ | 1 star
book source: The publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a review.
September 4, 2015
Doug Mullen is a private investigator who picked up his job on a whim, wanting an easy way to make some cash. He gains his first job by placing business cards all over town, and finds it relatively easy to capture photos of a cheating husband. Before long though, he's being asked to investigate a murder, something he's really not qualified to do.
Things get a little complicated when it turns out that he found the dead body and he realizes he knew the victim too. Despite being set in the city of Oxford, the cast is very small, and it seems like everything ties together a little too neatly. Before long we've introduced love possibilities (the woman he photographed with the cheating husband and his new client) and more bodies start dropping. The police seem rather incompetent, and have decided Doug is the most likely murderer. Can't really blame them when he seems to be involved in everything.
Everything was just a little too cozy for my liking, and just seemed to fall into place without much effort. It was a good mystery; with the whodunnit at the end being unexpected. It left some loose ends though, some questions unanswered, and the last third of the book felt a little rushed.
Overall I felt it was a decent read. I would recommend it to a friend who is looking for a quick mystery read, but did think it was a little shallow in character depth. I would still continue with this series in the future.
I'd like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.
Things get a little complicated when it turns out that he found the dead body and he realizes he knew the victim too. Despite being set in the city of Oxford, the cast is very small, and it seems like everything ties together a little too neatly. Before long we've introduced love possibilities (the woman he photographed with the cheating husband and his new client) and more bodies start dropping. The police seem rather incompetent, and have decided Doug is the most likely murderer. Can't really blame them when he seems to be involved in everything.
Everything was just a little too cozy for my liking, and just seemed to fall into place without much effort. It was a good mystery; with the whodunnit at the end being unexpected. It left some loose ends though, some questions unanswered, and the last third of the book felt a little rushed.
Overall I felt it was a decent read. I would recommend it to a friend who is looking for a quick mystery read, but did think it was a little shallow in character depth. I would still continue with this series in the future.
I'd like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.
August 15, 2015
I found this a quick, enjoyable read, well suited for readers who like the Cormoran Strike series by Robert Galbraith (aka J K Rowling). The tone and story lines are similar. It centers around a private eye in England who is former military and a bit down on his luck.
It's not a predictable tale, and I like books where it's not clear who the murderer is. I think the characters could have been more developed, and it would have made a good book even better. I will look for more books by this author.
I read this ARC from NetGalley.
It's not a predictable tale, and I like books where it's not clear who the murderer is. I think the characters could have been more developed, and it would have made a good book even better. I will look for more books by this author.
I read this ARC from NetGalley.
August 16, 2015
I received this arc from Netgalley.
I enjoyed the first half of this book unfortunately it took a turn for the worst. Around about midway it started dragging and continued to go downhill fast. When I got to 90% it just became downright ridiculous. The ending left a lot to be desired. The title actually sums up this book pretty good. So glad to be done with this. In the future I will avoid this author at all costs.
I enjoyed the first half of this book unfortunately it took a turn for the worst. Around about midway it started dragging and continued to go downhill fast. When I got to 90% it just became downright ridiculous. The ending left a lot to be desired. The title actually sums up this book pretty good. So glad to be done with this. In the future I will avoid this author at all costs.
November 11, 2018
It took me a while to get round to reading this and on the whole it was good but I would perhaps have like to know more about some of the characters ... I felt it kind of got a little lost half way through but still held my interest and need to know the outcome. A 3.5 star read for me
April 27, 2023
This is a great start to a new series, and I find myself warming to Doug Mullen and, to some extent Becca Baines. I didn’t start the series with this first one, but I felt that I had to return to the beginning to get the back stories. This one filled me in nicely with all the information I needed to know, and at the same time it was a very enjoyable read with a nice gentle murder investigation and plenty of humorous sections to lighten the mood. I find these books a fast read – the chapters are quite long which makes me keep going rather than break off at the end of a short chapter. This is something that I never used to enjoy but with this particular book I found it kept the mood going and help build up the anticipation of what was coming next. There are breaks within the long chapters which does help if you find you need to be doing something other than reading – not that I would condone that idea!
All in all, I am enjoying this series very much and will make a point of purchasing the other books in the series as they have actually become quite addictive. If you like a nice gentle but fast paced read, then I highly recommend this book.
All in all, I am enjoying this series very much and will make a point of purchasing the other books in the series as they have actually become quite addictive. If you like a nice gentle but fast paced read, then I highly recommend this book.
January 3, 2018
I enjoyed this book, never having read anything before by this author, I was pleased to find it recommended for me on my Kindle unlimited.
What a good story and I love the characters and the facts and histories that are woven into the book.
I actually did not guess who had done it until it was revealed towards the last few pages of the book.
Well done to the author Peter Tickler and I look forward to any books he might write with the main character in mind again. I feel that there is a long way this character to go.
What a good story and I love the characters and the facts and histories that are woven into the book.
I actually did not guess who had done it until it was revealed towards the last few pages of the book.
Well done to the author Peter Tickler and I look forward to any books he might write with the main character in mind again. I feel that there is a long way this character to go.
October 13, 2020
Good read.
The battery is at 6% so this will be fast.
Looking for a fun fast read that makes you wonder what happens next? This is your book.
Because I'm a) broke, b) stingy, most of what I read comes of the Unlimited "shelf". Not so are up to par. Peter Tickler's *Dead in the Water* is definitely with the time. It's funny where it would be and exciting where it should be. My only complaint is that the ending (Chapter 9 & Epilogue) sound everything too quickly. More time be in the build up.
The battery is at 6% so this will be fast.
Looking for a fun fast read that makes you wonder what happens next? This is your book.
Because I'm a) broke, b) stingy, most of what I read comes of the Unlimited "shelf". Not so are up to par. Peter Tickler's *Dead in the Water* is definitely with the time. It's funny where it would be and exciting where it should be. My only complaint is that the ending (Chapter 9 & Epilogue) sound everything too quickly. More time be in the build up.
April 15, 2023
A Good Read
When Doug Mullen decides to become a private investigator, his first job is to get proof of a cheating husband which he does. Janice, the wife of the cheat recommends her friends at church to hire him to look into the death of one of the congregation, but it was actually Doug who found the body. Grateful for any work Doug takes it on but not only is his own life put in danger, the police actually suspect him of being the killer. First book I have read by this author and I look forward to reading more.
When Doug Mullen decides to become a private investigator, his first job is to get proof of a cheating husband which he does. Janice, the wife of the cheat recommends her friends at church to hire him to look into the death of one of the congregation, but it was actually Doug who found the body. Grateful for any work Doug takes it on but not only is his own life put in danger, the police actually suspect him of being the killer. First book I have read by this author and I look forward to reading more.
May 11, 2020
Quite Slow
Slow and rather drab story the PI seemed to wake up one morning and decided to become a detective and his first job was boring just finding out if a man was having an affair and his next job was to find out who killed Chris a down and out that had given up the bottle and who Mullen had actually found face down in the river. It was quite slow and boring nearly gave up on a couple of occasion, certainly not gripping.
Slow and rather drab story the PI seemed to wake up one morning and decided to become a detective and his first job was boring just finding out if a man was having an affair and his next job was to find out who killed Chris a down and out that had given up the bottle and who Mullen had actually found face down in the river. It was quite slow and boring nearly gave up on a couple of occasion, certainly not gripping.
April 20, 2023
This is a decent start to a series. It's a bit far-fetched but it didn't bother me, although it took some time for me to warm to Mullen.
What initally seemed a straightforward story turned out to be more complicated especially when a second body is found. The characters other than Mullen were not nice and I enjoyed disliking them. It made the suspect list longer.
The story held my interest throughout and I will read more in the series to see what Mullen gets involved in next.
What initally seemed a straightforward story turned out to be more complicated especially when a second body is found. The characters other than Mullen were not nice and I enjoyed disliking them. It made the suspect list longer.
The story held my interest throughout and I will read more in the series to see what Mullen gets involved in next.
March 25, 2023
I enjoyed this first book in a new series (and a new author) for me. The characters took a while to settle (hence four stars only) but the contrasting approaches from the curmudgeonly policeman and the novice private investigator make good reading. Looking forward to the next one.
Julian Tremayne, Pocklington, East Yorkshire
Julian Tremayne, Pocklington, East Yorkshire
March 27, 2023
Absolutely riveting
This is a book I just could not put down. Excellent story and I look forward to getting to know more about Doug Mullen. Definitely a book to recommend and I now want to read the next book in the series. Well written and one just wants more of Peter Tickler's suspense stories.
This is a book I just could not put down. Excellent story and I look forward to getting to know more about Doug Mullen. Definitely a book to recommend and I now want to read the next book in the series. Well written and one just wants more of Peter Tickler's suspense stories.
June 19, 2020
Too laborious
Have to say I did not enjoy this book. The PI, Doug Mullen, was almost wooden, the other characters in the story were also wooden. The background to the story was nearly the whole book and the climax was an Anti Climax. Sorry but not one I will never reading .
Have to say I did not enjoy this book. The PI, Doug Mullen, was almost wooden, the other characters in the story were also wooden. The background to the story was nearly the whole book and the climax was an Anti Climax. Sorry but not one I will never reading .
July 16, 2020
Another good story
Another good story featuring Doug Mullen and his private sleuthing and the scrapes he gets himself into.Lots of twists and turns in the story and an unexpected ending.
Another good story featuring Doug Mullen and his private sleuthing and the scrapes he gets himself into.Lots of twists and turns in the story and an unexpected ending.
April 16, 2023
Fun read
Great author, new to me. The detective is very human and very likeable. My guess as to the murderer was way off. Satisfying read all around and I am going to start Book 2 tomorrow!
Great author, new to me. The detective is very human and very likeable. My guess as to the murderer was way off. Satisfying read all around and I am going to start Book 2 tomorrow!
June 26, 2023
don’t believe the blurb!
To sell this as a gripping detective thriller full of suspense is ridiculous! Silly and far fetched, it really does test the acceptance level. The only good thing is that it is very short.
To sell this as a gripping detective thriller full of suspense is ridiculous! Silly and far fetched, it really does test the acceptance level. The only good thing is that it is very short.
August 20, 2023
A short and not entirely satisfactory thriller. Doug Mullen one day decides to become a PI. Cases fall into his lap, all connected to an Oxford church and its circle of friends. Several murders, a few affairs and a strange police inspector later, the truth comes out. All too neatly really.
August 14, 2019
Well-written and some kind of something original. I liked it.
February 16, 2021
Worth reading, quite suspenseful. So many suspects, and you won't guess the real villain.
April 7, 2021
Enjoyable
My first read of Peter tickler and I found it enjoyable not only because of the story line but also of my connection with oxford. Will read another of his books
My first read of Peter tickler and I found it enjoyable not only because of the story line but also of my connection with oxford. Will read another of his books
April 18, 2023
very good
I enjoyed this book beginning to end a mix of humour and seriousness I felt for Mullen as he bumbled through life fencing with the even more bubbling dorking
I enjoyed this book beginning to end a mix of humour and seriousness I felt for Mullen as he bumbled through life fencing with the even more bubbling dorking
August 3, 2024
Dead in the water
Very good book didn’t want to put it down like books like this is the author’s still writing and where are these books
Very good book didn’t want to put it down like books like this is the author’s still writing and where are these books
September 10, 2025
Excellent
April 8, 2017
It's ok. Quite basic. A few twists along the way.
August 17, 2015
I liked this book because of the setting. The city of Oxford was very well used. The descriptions of places and journeys was excellent. I also liked the way that the revealing of the identity of the killer did not become apparent until the last few pages.
There were some interesting characters, some a little too good to be true. Some a bit too gullible to be believable. What I didn't like so much was some of the strained descriptions, I didn't need to know what was in every sandwich.
In all this proved to be a good quick read, fairly typical of the genre. I enjoyed it and would look out for future Peter Tickler books. I struggled to land a 'score' three or four stars? Oh for a point five? I'd like to give 3.5
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher, Joffe Books for a copy in advance of publication.
There were some interesting characters, some a little too good to be true. Some a bit too gullible to be believable. What I didn't like so much was some of the strained descriptions, I didn't need to know what was in every sandwich.
In all this proved to be a good quick read, fairly typical of the genre. I enjoyed it and would look out for future Peter Tickler books. I struggled to land a 'score' three or four stars? Oh for a point five? I'd like to give 3.5
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher, Joffe Books for a copy in advance of publication.
June 5, 2023
Dead in the water by Peter Tickler is a Detective thriller which I enjoyed and is the first book I have read by this author.
Private Detective Doug Mullen discovers a dead body lying face down in the Thames and informs the Police. This leads to Detective Doug Mullen being hired to investigate cheating husbands and discovers who the dead body in the Thames is through his volunteer work at a drop in centre for down and outs associated with the Church.
Through his Detective work he is chasing leads which end up putting his own life in danger as someone tries to put a spanner in the works with his investigation.
Private Detective Doug Mullen discovers a dead body lying face down in the Thames and informs the Police. This leads to Detective Doug Mullen being hired to investigate cheating husbands and discovers who the dead body in the Thames is through his volunteer work at a drop in centre for down and outs associated with the Church.
Through his Detective work he is chasing leads which end up putting his own life in danger as someone tries to put a spanner in the works with his investigation.
September 1, 2015
I really enjoyed the style of this book. It moves along at a smart pace and keeps you guessing right up to the end. I thought the main character was rather charming. He didn’t take himself too seriously and came across as a rounded personality. There were lots of other interesting characters to keep the reading wondering about how they were connected. A good four star read. Thanks to Netgallery for the chance to read and review this book.
August 21, 2015
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book started well with a dead body being found by new private detective Doug Mullan. Mullan is soon appointed to discover what happened to Chris. There are many dead bodies following and I felt the story rather lost its way and I lost interest in it.
This book started well with a dead body being found by new private detective Doug Mullan. Mullan is soon appointed to discover what happened to Chris. There are many dead bodies following and I felt the story rather lost its way and I lost interest in it.
September 11, 2015
Doug Mullen is a private eye who just kind of fell into that job. When he is hired to investigate the murder of a body found floating in the river Thames he realizes he knew the man. Due to his involvement at every turn the police suspect him. Fast paced read with twists and turns. Thanks to the publisher and Net Galley for the chance to read this ARC.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews