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Detective Jeff Rickman #1
The Dispossessed
Bled to death and left in a bin, the teenage prostitute is just the first victim. DI Jeff Rickman's investigation into the Afghan refugee's death leads first to the heart of a community who can't - or won't - talk to him. Then the investigation comes home to Rickman's own private life. He is framed for a murder he didn't commit.
416 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2004
About the author
Margaret Murphy
72 books92 followersMargaret Murphy writes internationally acclaimed and bestselling psychological thrillers under her own name, and in September 2023, she will publish the first of a new series, Dead Man Walking as M. K. Murphy.
She has also published forensic thrillers as Ashley Dyer and AD Garrett. She is a past Chair of the Crime Writers Association (CWA), founder of Murder Squad, and a former RLF Writing Fellow and Reading Round Lector. A Short Story Dagger, HRF Keating, and CWA Red Herring award winner, she has also been shortlisted for the ‘First Blood’ critics award and CWA Dagger in the Library.
www.margaret-murphy.co.uk
(Pseudonym: A.D. Garrett)
(Pseudonym: Ashley Dyer https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...)
She has also published forensic thrillers as Ashley Dyer and AD Garrett. She is a past Chair of the Crime Writers Association (CWA), founder of Murder Squad, and a former RLF Writing Fellow and Reading Round Lector. A Short Story Dagger, HRF Keating, and CWA Red Herring award winner, she has also been shortlisted for the ‘First Blood’ critics award and CWA Dagger in the Library.
www.margaret-murphy.co.uk
(Pseudonym: A.D. Garrett)
(Pseudonym: Ashley Dyer https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
November 29, 2022
Definitely worth the read! Loved the storyline, but will admit, cops crossing the line to get the bad guy is not exactly my cup of coffee...whether the bad guy deserves it or not! A great look at how the justice system is the same in other countries too...I will check out the next one once it's available...well done!
September 20, 2023
Read this as part of a trilogy
September 29, 2021
THIS WAS SAID TO BE A GRIPPING, CHILLING, CRIME THRILLER, TO ME THAT WAS MISLEADING BECAUSE THE BULK OF THE STORY EVOLVED AROUND THE PERSONAL LIVES OF MOST OF THE CHARACTERS. ALL THE PERSONAL PROBLEMS TOOK OVER THE WHOLE STORYLINE. THE VISUAL DISCRIPTION OF JEFF RICKMAN AND DR. GRAVES SOUNDED AS THOUGH THEY WERE A VERY UNSUAL LOOKING COUPLE. RICKMAN IS A VERY SECRETIVE PERSON IF HE’D TALKED MORE, IT MIGHT EASE SOME OF HIS PROBLEMS. ;<
February 14, 2021
I did enjoy this however I nearly stopped reading when a Scouse policeman brought the Scum newspaper into a scene. Given that the paper is reviled and boycotted across Merseyside I was surprised to see this and it left a sour taste. The book appears to have first been released in the early 00s, so even then it shouldn’t have been used. This needs editing out and replacing with another newspaper.
December 2, 2020
Having been offered the new third book in this series as an ARC by Joffe Publishers, I thought I’d best set to and acquaint myself with the characters and read the first two. So, here we go!
The first book See her Burn is a long book but gives a good insight into the characters and their personalities. It is a cracking book, well written and tragic in many ways. Rickman one of the main characters is a complex man with hidden secrets, and his sidekick Foster is a great detective if a little unconventional. Hart is a bit of a mystery, all the men like her, and she’s a good detective. Read this book you won’t be disappointed.
Now, the second one, is even better! I have to say I just loved Megan, she’s quick, clever and outsmarts everyone. As I’ve always said, revenge is a dish best eaten cold! I’m not saying anymore, except, this book is such good value, well they both are, 9 hours per book to get your teeth into and it’s exciting. It held me and I wanted to savour the end, to read it in the early hours and enjoy it on my own with only the dogs, everyone else is asleep! Recommend this on, but read the first one before this.
The first book See her Burn is a long book but gives a good insight into the characters and their personalities. It is a cracking book, well written and tragic in many ways. Rickman one of the main characters is a complex man with hidden secrets, and his sidekick Foster is a great detective if a little unconventional. Hart is a bit of a mystery, all the men like her, and she’s a good detective. Read this book you won’t be disappointed.
Now, the second one, is even better! I have to say I just loved Megan, she’s quick, clever and outsmarts everyone. As I’ve always said, revenge is a dish best eaten cold! I’m not saying anymore, except, this book is such good value, well they both are, 9 hours per book to get your teeth into and it’s exciting. It held me and I wanted to savour the end, to read it in the early hours and enjoy it on my own with only the dogs, everyone else is asleep! Recommend this on, but read the first one before this.
January 20, 2025
A gripping thriller
Detective Jeff Rickman is put in charge of the murder of a young refugee, which also touches the work of his partner, Doctor Grace. Bubbles of revenge, prostitution and identity theft pop to the surface as the bodies stack up. With the reappearance of his estranged, injured brother Rickman finds himself questioning his sense of self. As his life is devastated he has to deal with much more.
Tense, chilling as it took me through the streets of Liverpool and the world of the refugees seeking the all-important right to stay. Good plot, believable and kept me reading, fully immersed. Not quite sure of the relevance of the title but will look for the next in the series.
Detective Jeff Rickman is put in charge of the murder of a young refugee, which also touches the work of his partner, Doctor Grace. Bubbles of revenge, prostitution and identity theft pop to the surface as the bodies stack up. With the reappearance of his estranged, injured brother Rickman finds himself questioning his sense of self. As his life is devastated he has to deal with much more.
Tense, chilling as it took me through the streets of Liverpool and the world of the refugees seeking the all-important right to stay. Good plot, believable and kept me reading, fully immersed. Not quite sure of the relevance of the title but will look for the next in the series.
March 16, 2023
It took a while to get into the story and actually seeing and knowing the characters.
British police work differently that in the US. Understanding some of their ways, sometimes takes me out of the story. The main character is flawed and reticent, but passionate at the same time.
The story was complicated and at times very personal to the main characters.
Reading international books, I learned that traffickers, drug cartels, serial killers are prevalent in all the other nations that I've read books about. It's scarry! We, as a population are getting worse and worse! Again, scarry!!
British police work differently that in the US. Understanding some of their ways, sometimes takes me out of the story. The main character is flawed and reticent, but passionate at the same time.
The story was complicated and at times very personal to the main characters.
Reading international books, I learned that traffickers, drug cartels, serial killers are prevalent in all the other nations that I've read books about. It's scarry! We, as a population are getting worse and worse! Again, scarry!!
July 16, 2024
The murder of a prostitute leads DI Jeff Rickman’s investigation into a group of asylum seekers in Liverpool. Unwilling to talk, Jeff finds it harder and harder to discover the dead girl’s identity and reason for her untimely passing.
The story starts to unravel when a criminal network is found that exploits the women for paid sex while terrorizing them to keep them from talking to anyone. And the person cooperating with the police to solve this case? He is the brain behind the operation.
The story starts to unravel when a criminal network is found that exploits the women for paid sex while terrorizing them to keep them from talking to anyone. And the person cooperating with the police to solve this case? He is the brain behind the operation.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 2, 2024
Well there’s a story here, this book is about 20 years old and has been sitting on the bookcase all that time. The reason I bought it is that my hubby is mentioned in the acknowledgements as he used to work in forensics before he retired and helped the author with research, so I felt it was about time I read it.
June 20, 2017
Thrilling suspense with plenty of twists.
August 2, 2020
Good suspense crime with plenty of twists. Jeff Rickman is a great character with some really unfortunate life experience. Well developed and paints a pretty grim picture of immigrant exploitation.
November 26, 2020
Brilliant
A fantastic, exciting albeit sad book in parts,, couldn't put it down looking forward to reading more from this author
A fantastic, exciting albeit sad book in parts,, couldn't put it down looking forward to reading more from this author
January 6, 2021
First Margaret Murphy book I have read. It was okay but not one of my favourites to date. I will read another one as it may have been more my mindset rather than the plot at the time I read this one
January 31, 2021
Another great book by Margaret Murphy!
Couldn't put it down. Lots of twists and a death that had me in tears. Margaret Murphy is a brilliant author!
Couldn't put it down. Lots of twists and a death that had me in tears. Margaret Murphy is a brilliant author!
February 25, 2021
She Her Burn
I wouldn't call it a gripping chilling crime story. It was just a well written crime story. With a little twist, a little turn to captivate readers who love mystery.
I wouldn't call it a gripping chilling crime story. It was just a well written crime story. With a little twist, a little turn to captivate readers who love mystery.
June 4, 2021
Gripping thriller, full of horror and surprise
Fast paced, intense, gruesome, fearsome, when a girl is found dead in a wheelie bin, a whole new set of dirt is discovered
Fast paced, intense, gruesome, fearsome, when a girl is found dead in a wheelie bin, a whole new set of dirt is discovered
December 13, 2021
A bit of a confusing book with the change of characters
November 23, 2022
I feel it takes a lot of courage as an author to make a main character so vulnerable and kill his significant other in the first novel. Really enjoyed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 23, 2024
Zo’n heerlijke ‘gevonden op de camping’ exemplaar’ Leuke ontdekking. Nooit van haar gehoord maar smaakt naar meer .gewoon een lekkere angelsaksische thriller.
January 14, 2025
Audio version of this book 📕- A good start to the series. Narration was good until she tried to do the scouse accents which were dreadful!!
July 8, 2020
Hard hitting book
I enjoyed reading about Jeff, a detective with a lot of baggage in his past. Grace, a doctor, is the love of his life and is crucial to the story. On her way to work she sees a woman's body, falling out a wheelie bin as it is being emptied into the wagon. This sets off a twisted chain of events. This books Is topical and shines a light onto the plight of refugees.
I enjoyed reading about Jeff, a detective with a lot of baggage in his past. Grace, a doctor, is the love of his life and is crucial to the story. On her way to work she sees a woman's body, falling out a wheelie bin as it is being emptied into the wagon. This sets off a twisted chain of events. This books Is topical and shines a light onto the plight of refugees.
July 9, 2020
I really hope there will be a book 2! This is a tightly woven tale with wonderful characters - more please!!!!
June 1, 2009
Margaret Murphy's crime stories are detailed and chilling. If you don't have tears in your eyes because you've grown to like a character and then lose him/her to death, you're on the edge of your seat, anxious to find out what's going to happen next.
The Dispossessed paints a dark picture of asylum seekers in Britain. At first it looks as if the narrative is going to lead nowhere, but this seems to be Murphy's way of telling it. Bit by bit all the pieces fill in a picture, which she then shuffles and shuffles until you realize that you're at the centre of the despair these refugees find themselves in ... to the extent that even the police have to cheat the system to corner their murderer.
Dr Grace Chandler is able to set the scene for the pained refugee, while her partner, Chief Inspector Jeff Rickman, shows the reader the shady side of what goes on on the streets. In addition, a gang of pre-teens playing 'trick or treat' naïvely walk into extreme danger and the prostitutes plying their trade (ironically right opposite a church) makes you think it's all about money. Grace's interpreter, Natalja Sremać, and Natalja's lover, Mirko Andrić, turn out to be pivotal to the plot. The fact that Natalja is a beautiful woman with an intriguing past just adds to the spellbinding and tragic quality of the story. Besides having a knack for revealing the thoughts of the police (and I'm surprised to see just how emotional the force can get!), occasional glimpses into what's going on in the minds of the criminals is extremely revealing. Murphy also makes sure that her characters watch TV and read the newspapers, filling in the gaps left by detailed character sketches. The story is so intricate, that writing any more would give away the criminal.
The Dispossessed paints a dark picture of asylum seekers in Britain. At first it looks as if the narrative is going to lead nowhere, but this seems to be Murphy's way of telling it. Bit by bit all the pieces fill in a picture, which she then shuffles and shuffles until you realize that you're at the centre of the despair these refugees find themselves in ... to the extent that even the police have to cheat the system to corner their murderer.
Dr Grace Chandler is able to set the scene for the pained refugee, while her partner, Chief Inspector Jeff Rickman, shows the reader the shady side of what goes on on the streets. In addition, a gang of pre-teens playing 'trick or treat' naïvely walk into extreme danger and the prostitutes plying their trade (ironically right opposite a church) makes you think it's all about money. Grace's interpreter, Natalja Sremać, and Natalja's lover, Mirko Andrić, turn out to be pivotal to the plot. The fact that Natalja is a beautiful woman with an intriguing past just adds to the spellbinding and tragic quality of the story. Besides having a knack for revealing the thoughts of the police (and I'm surprised to see just how emotional the force can get!), occasional glimpses into what's going on in the minds of the criminals is extremely revealing. Murphy also makes sure that her characters watch TV and read the newspapers, filling in the gaps left by detailed character sketches. The story is so intricate, that writing any more would give away the criminal.
August 20, 2014
A very sad story. Unfortunately you can believe too easily that there are people who would prey on refugees in the way the story depicts. Money talks and refugees are scum. They have no one to look out for them so easily fall prey to predators. The action takes a horrible turn when danger comes too close to the investigating police officers. Food for thought.
September 7, 2014
A good thriller with some surprising twists. Plenty of tension. I read it in one sitting - easy to read prose. I did get a little confused with the foreign names but that's just me. I forget a name from one chapter to the next unless it's one I'm used to hearing. I liked Jeff as a character and I'm wondering if there are more with him in it. The premise seemed horribly plausible to me!
October 13, 2014
It got a bit tedious after about half way... don't want to talk about spoilers but a spoiler spoiled it for me... it was competently written but got a bit ploddy... a sort of 'need to take you to the conclusion' , but really why bother... the action's prematurely kinda ejaculated way back there and we're just going through the motions now
December 7, 2015
Goed boek. Het thema is zeer actueel. Namelijk vluchtelingen. Het boek is al wel wat ouder, maar kun je zien dat boeken soms tijdloos zijn en dat het een actueel thema blijft. De personages zijn levensecht en goed neergezet. Het is niet een spectaculaire actie thriller. Een goede politieroman, waarbij je over de schouders mee kijkt van de recherche en de agenten.
November 11, 2017
Not a bad crime novel - had put off reading it a few times due to the very small print (even with my specs on!) in my copy!
Entertaining enough with one or two events I didn't expect but the subject matter of the abuse of asylum seekers isn't one for me....much preferred "Now You See Me".
Entertaining enough with one or two events I didn't expect but the subject matter of the abuse of asylum seekers isn't one for me....much preferred "Now You See Me".
December 30, 2016
Not the most amazing book I have ever read but I enjoyed the twists and turns, even if I did predict most of them!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews