What do you think?
Rate this book
Another Place to Die
Matt Cross is a pillar of the community in Southport: family man, entrepreneur and environmentalist. Everyone is happy to take his money, drink in his bars and forget where it all came from, until Matt is found murdered next to a statue in the woods behind his manor house.
DCI Tom Morton and DC Elaine Fraser are reunited to take on the case, which is too hot for the local police. Tom finds himself in an abandoned building with a team of misfits and facing a wall of silence.
Inside the wall, Matt’s team manoeuvre for position. The king is dead: will it be his widow, his lawyer or his enforcer who is crowned in his place? Connor Holden knows it won’t be him – he just wants to keep his job and his life.
Tom, taking the lead role for the first time in his career, struggles to find the truly guilty in an extended family where no one is innocent, and then he’s blindsided by the arrival of Lucy, a witness from another case – a witness he’d like to get a lot closer to.
Mark Hayden’s latest crime novel is an absorbing, multi-layered exploration of tragedy, duty, family and the fight for survival on the other side of the law.
DCI Tom Morton and DC Elaine Fraser are reunited to take on the case, which is too hot for the local police. Tom finds himself in an abandoned building with a team of misfits and facing a wall of silence.
Inside the wall, Matt’s team manoeuvre for position. The king is dead: will it be his widow, his lawyer or his enforcer who is crowned in his place? Connor Holden knows it won’t be him – he just wants to keep his job and his life.
Tom, taking the lead role for the first time in his career, struggles to find the truly guilty in an extended family where no one is innocent, and then he’s blindsided by the arrival of Lucy, a witness from another case – a witness he’d like to get a lot closer to.
Mark Hayden’s latest crime novel is an absorbing, multi-layered exploration of tragedy, duty, family and the fight for survival on the other side of the law.
543 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 4, 2016
59 people are currently reading
25 people want to read
About the author
Mark Hayden
27 books286 followersAuthor also writes under Ruth Ward
Mark Hayden is the nom de guerre of Adrian Attwood. He lives in Westmorland with his wife, Anne.
Adrian has had a varied career working for a brewery, teaching English and being the Town Clerk in Carnforth. He is now a part-time writer and part-time assistant in Anne's craft projects.
He is also proud to be the Mad Unky to his Great Nieces & Great Nephew.
His current writing project is the King’s Watch series of urban fantasy novels, from 13th Witch all the way down to Zero Hour. If he can keep it up.
Mark Hayden is the nom de guerre of Adrian Attwood. He lives in Westmorland with his wife, Anne.
Adrian has had a varied career working for a brewery, teaching English and being the Town Clerk in Carnforth. He is now a part-time writer and part-time assistant in Anne's craft projects.
He is also proud to be the Mad Unky to his Great Nieces & Great Nephew.
His current writing project is the King’s Watch series of urban fantasy novels, from 13th Witch all the way down to Zero Hour. If he can keep it up.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
March 8, 2020
When local mobster Matt Cross is murdered in his own woods with his own shotgun, DCI Tom Morton and DC Elaine Fraser are brought in as a last resort to head up a team of officers drawn from anywhere except Southport because Matt had his finger in so many pies that finding a local officer without (ahem) a vested interest would be difficult.
Tom soon finds that he has been saddled with all the misfits that other divisions didn't want. The clock-watchers, the skivers, the dim-witted and the purely antagonistic. He also has a lot of potential motives for the murder: was it a rival racketeer? Was it something to do with his environmental activities? Was it a power grab by one of his deputies? Was it a family thing?
And then, just when his neck is on the line to wrap the murder investigation up quickly, purely by coincidence, Lucy White turns up in Southport to manage a local coffee shop owned by a football legend. Not only that, Lucy seems to have landed right in amongst Matt's deputies and shady businesses.
This is much more of a procedural detective story than the Operation Jigsaw trilogy, following on from the previous book. Yet there is still that interlinking with Tom's family, the chaste romance with Lucy, Elaine's rugby-playing husband and all the twisty, turny, cast of thousands narrative that keeps a reader glued to the book.
In just over one month I have read 14 books by Mark Hayden, starting, as so many others seem to have done, with the King's Watch series then going back to the Operation Jigsaw trilogy and finally with the two Tom Morton novels. Mark Hayden definitely has a crowded writing style, he writes from the POV of lots of characters, often with no indication that the narrator has changed. He references characters and events in other stories, which is fine for me because I've binge read them in a short space of time but could be difficult to follow if you read them across a longer timeframe. Yet I love them, I love Conrad in the King's Watch series and I love Tom in this latest series, I see in his author afterword that Mark Hayden suggests he might put Tom, Elaine and/or Lucy in Eight Kings so now I'm going to have to go back and search for them!
I am devastated that there are now no new (to me) Mark Hayden books for me to read.
Tom soon finds that he has been saddled with all the misfits that other divisions didn't want. The clock-watchers, the skivers, the dim-witted and the purely antagonistic. He also has a lot of potential motives for the murder: was it a rival racketeer? Was it something to do with his environmental activities? Was it a power grab by one of his deputies? Was it a family thing?
And then, just when his neck is on the line to wrap the murder investigation up quickly, purely by coincidence, Lucy White turns up in Southport to manage a local coffee shop owned by a football legend. Not only that, Lucy seems to have landed right in amongst Matt's deputies and shady businesses.
This is much more of a procedural detective story than the Operation Jigsaw trilogy, following on from the previous book. Yet there is still that interlinking with Tom's family, the chaste romance with Lucy, Elaine's rugby-playing husband and all the twisty, turny, cast of thousands narrative that keeps a reader glued to the book.
In just over one month I have read 14 books by Mark Hayden, starting, as so many others seem to have done, with the King's Watch series then going back to the Operation Jigsaw trilogy and finally with the two Tom Morton novels. Mark Hayden definitely has a crowded writing style, he writes from the POV of lots of characters, often with no indication that the narrator has changed. He references characters and events in other stories, which is fine for me because I've binge read them in a short space of time but could be difficult to follow if you read them across a longer timeframe. Yet I love them, I love Conrad in the King's Watch series and I love Tom in this latest series, I see in his author afterword that Mark Hayden suggests he might put Tom, Elaine and/or Lucy in Eight Kings so now I'm going to have to go back and search for them!
I am devastated that there are now no new (to me) Mark Hayden books for me to read.
April 14, 2020
I usually steer clear of 'crime' novels - far too often the senior detective is either suffering some major personal trauma, or is an alcoholic and his/her boss is inept or crooked. There will, more often than not, be some pretty dubious police work (the 'best' example I have read being that of a DCI who interviewed a ten year old girl in his home one evening and then sent her to stay the night at the home of his DS - ridiculous!)
But, I really really enjoyed the Conrad Clarke urban fantasy series and I thought I'd give this series a go.
I loved the small attention to detail - the settings, the way the correct procedures were followed, the way Morton acted, all the different characters etc. It was refreshing to read a crime novel where I wasn't shouting at my Kindle (and the police!) "You can't DO that!"
A decent plot, without the all-too-frequent 'shocking twist' or resorting to child abuse etc. This was a straight-out, well-written crime novel.
There were a few typos and places where a paragraph break needed to be inserted, and usually I would remove a star for those, but I had so much fun reading this, it deserves full marks!
But, I really really enjoyed the Conrad Clarke urban fantasy series and I thought I'd give this series a go.
I loved the small attention to detail - the settings, the way the correct procedures were followed, the way Morton acted, all the different characters etc. It was refreshing to read a crime novel where I wasn't shouting at my Kindle (and the police!) "You can't DO that!"
A decent plot, without the all-too-frequent 'shocking twist' or resorting to child abuse etc. This was a straight-out, well-written crime novel.
There were a few typos and places where a paragraph break needed to be inserted, and usually I would remove a star for those, but I had so much fun reading this, it deserves full marks!
April 22, 2020
Like a lot of the other readers I seem to be methodically working my way through Mark Hayden's stories. You ask ,"Why?" Because it is really rare to find an author who takes you out of yourself and whose stories carry you along so effortlessly.
The Baddies are baaad, but you can't help liking them in some manner or at least respecting them, the characters are beautifully drawn and form a solid base. The plots weave and intertwine playing with the story and charge back allowing you to make inferences, usually wrong, These are superb stories written by a master, once you are in you cannot get out. Just a thought, how do you make the Baddies so real and so human, must know a lot of them, take a long hard look at the character of a certain RAF officer. It is easiest to write about what you know .
The Baddies are baaad, but you can't help liking them in some manner or at least respecting them, the characters are beautifully drawn and form a solid base. The plots weave and intertwine playing with the story and charge back allowing you to make inferences, usually wrong, These are superb stories written by a master, once you are in you cannot get out. Just a thought, how do you make the Baddies so real and so human, must know a lot of them, take a long hard look at the character of a certain RAF officer. It is easiest to write about what you know .
September 30, 2023
Really good reading
Although I'm not really a crime thriller fan and came across Tom Morron through The King's Watch series. I have totally enjoyed this series. Highly recommended reading...
Although I'm not really a crime thriller fan and came across Tom Morron through The King's Watch series. I have totally enjoyed this series. Highly recommended reading...
July 15, 2023
2023 bk 223. The second book to feature Tom Morton and his activities as he grows into his new role as detective in charge of a case, a case that includes a witness from the 1st case and the person he is personally interested in. I was slow getting into this because it involved political corruption and at first it was not easy to fit pieces together - but Hayden does his normal, incredible job of synthesizing the complex into the basic and leads us to the suspect and motivation. I do hope there will be a third book in the series.
June 20, 2024
Mixed feelings
I really enjoyed the novel. The mixed feelings relate more to the dropping of this as a series and taking Tom and Lucy into the King's Watch series. Not everything needs a paranormal aspect, and these are actually really well done books in their own right.
The King's Watch series became overly complex and has its own character appendix because it has become so unwieldy to follow. The main storyline has almost entirely disappeared from the later books in the series. The side novels, written by another author within Hayden's world, are underwhelming and have almost the opposite level of detail and depth, leaving the characters somewhat wooden and 2 dimensional.
The only place to now go is to the trilogy set before this, which should explain Tom's injury and the vague references to Conrad Clarke throughout these two novels. I would have preferred to read the series in the order they are supposed to have occurred, however Amazon doesn't provide links to the entire panoply of Hayden's work so an accurate reading order is not available. Perhaps Hayden could arrange for the series to be linked up in a more accessible way. I came across the King's Watch series first, and because Tom doesn't appear until roughly halfway through the series, it's not obvious that these are set before or run time wise alongside them, therefore references to events in the two series are rather lost on the reader and the apparent animosity Tom initially has for Conrad makes little to no sense. Hopefully, that will be resolved by reading the earlier trilogy, and I will be able to resume with a better understanding.
Please link the novels and provide a reading order!!!
I really enjoyed the novel. The mixed feelings relate more to the dropping of this as a series and taking Tom and Lucy into the King's Watch series. Not everything needs a paranormal aspect, and these are actually really well done books in their own right.
The King's Watch series became overly complex and has its own character appendix because it has become so unwieldy to follow. The main storyline has almost entirely disappeared from the later books in the series. The side novels, written by another author within Hayden's world, are underwhelming and have almost the opposite level of detail and depth, leaving the characters somewhat wooden and 2 dimensional.
The only place to now go is to the trilogy set before this, which should explain Tom's injury and the vague references to Conrad Clarke throughout these two novels. I would have preferred to read the series in the order they are supposed to have occurred, however Amazon doesn't provide links to the entire panoply of Hayden's work so an accurate reading order is not available. Perhaps Hayden could arrange for the series to be linked up in a more accessible way. I came across the King's Watch series first, and because Tom doesn't appear until roughly halfway through the series, it's not obvious that these are set before or run time wise alongside them, therefore references to events in the two series are rather lost on the reader and the apparent animosity Tom initially has for Conrad makes little to no sense. Hopefully, that will be resolved by reading the earlier trilogy, and I will be able to resume with a better understanding.
Please link the novels and provide a reading order!!!
July 18, 2021
Having enjoyed Hayden’s King’s Watch and Operation Jigsaw series immensely, and having been exposed to his Tom Morton character somewhat briefly in each, I had high hopes coming into this much shorter 2 book series.I was not disappointed in the least.
Even with the very interestingly convoluted story line, this one was never less than mesmerizing. And - like all of my favorite novels and series - not all of the so-called good guys were good, and not all of the scoundrels were irredeemably bad. Gray areas are the most fun, right? They sure were in this case.
What I really like about all three series is that they can be complicated without being unrealistic - even the King’s Watch tales (which involve magic -spoiler…) do it in such a way that it’s believable. There are bureaucracies and order to many of the magical realms and beings, just as there are others that have no order or any bureaucracy at all, yet they all fit seamlessly into the mundane worlds that the characters inhabited before they knew about any alternatives.
It’s all masterfully woven, and greatly appreciated.
Can’t wait for more, no matter the thread - as long as everyone, or almost everyone, is included.
Even with the very interestingly convoluted story line, this one was never less than mesmerizing. And - like all of my favorite novels and series - not all of the so-called good guys were good, and not all of the scoundrels were irredeemably bad. Gray areas are the most fun, right? They sure were in this case.
What I really like about all three series is that they can be complicated without being unrealistic - even the King’s Watch tales (which involve magic -spoiler…) do it in such a way that it’s believable. There are bureaucracies and order to many of the magical realms and beings, just as there are others that have no order or any bureaucracy at all, yet they all fit seamlessly into the mundane worlds that the characters inhabited before they knew about any alternatives.
It’s all masterfully woven, and greatly appreciated.
Can’t wait for more, no matter the thread - as long as everyone, or almost everyone, is included.
July 22, 2020
another wee cracker you'll enjoy.
I am enjoying Mr Hayden's books, so far I have read my way through the complete "king's watch" to date, the "operation jigsaw" trilogy and today I've just finished the 2nd in this "Tom Morton" series, his last to date in this series. I have enjoyed them all very much and couldn't turn the page fast enough to find out what would happen next - thank God for kindle as it read me out the story when my hands were busy making cuppas, eating etc and when my eyes refused to focus as they were too tired to read and I needed to find out the ending even though I was exhausted - you get the picture?! It's up to you now to check the books out for yourself and see if you enjoy them as much. Enjoy...
I am enjoying Mr Hayden's books, so far I have read my way through the complete "king's watch" to date, the "operation jigsaw" trilogy and today I've just finished the 2nd in this "Tom Morton" series, his last to date in this series. I have enjoyed them all very much and couldn't turn the page fast enough to find out what would happen next - thank God for kindle as it read me out the story when my hands were busy making cuppas, eating etc and when my eyes refused to focus as they were too tired to read and I needed to find out the ending even though I was exhausted - you get the picture?! It's up to you now to check the books out for yourself and see if you enjoy them as much. Enjoy...
December 8, 2021
Probably my favourite Mark Hayden novel so far
I came to these books from reading the author's urban fantasy series The King's Watch.
The Operation Jigsaw trilogy, and the 2 DCI Morton novels are firmly set in the "normal" non-magical world, but provide a lot of background and context to the King's Watch series. Also, they are cracking good reads in their own right.
This murder mystery thriller had more twists and turns than you could shake a mixed metaphor at (if you read the books, and get acquainted with Morton, you'll see what I did there).
I absolutely loved it. Stayed up too late several nights in a row to keep reading. It was just so compelling.
I came to these books from reading the author's urban fantasy series The King's Watch.
The Operation Jigsaw trilogy, and the 2 DCI Morton novels are firmly set in the "normal" non-magical world, but provide a lot of background and context to the King's Watch series. Also, they are cracking good reads in their own right.
This murder mystery thriller had more twists and turns than you could shake a mixed metaphor at (if you read the books, and get acquainted with Morton, you'll see what I did there).
I absolutely loved it. Stayed up too late several nights in a row to keep reading. It was just so compelling.
February 29, 2020
I loved Another Place to Die. I’ve read all Mark Hayden’s published books. I started with the Conrad Clarke books and became fascinated with such different work from my usual reads. I had to start at the beginning. I’m now going to read the Conrad books again having learned more about the background. Tom Morton is a great character too. And Another Place was so well constructed. A really gripping story.
August 20, 2020
Another great story
I have read 7 Connor Clarke books and thoroughly enjoyed them.Then I read the Operation Jigsaw trilogy and decided that Mr Clarke was not the man I thought he was. Fortunately D I Morton came along to be the hero I was holding out for. Mr Hayden spins a good yarn with believable characters and I sincerely hope that Morton makes an appearance in an adventure of his own again very soon.
I have read 7 Connor Clarke books and thoroughly enjoyed them.Then I read the Operation Jigsaw trilogy and decided that Mr Clarke was not the man I thought he was. Fortunately D I Morton came along to be the hero I was holding out for. Mr Hayden spins a good yarn with believable characters and I sincerely hope that Morton makes an appearance in an adventure of his own again very soon.
June 8, 2021
More Tom…
Please. Mark Hayden presents everyday characters who have unusual depths and odd quirkiness. He wraps these in interesting plots, presented with an easy writing style … except that he throws in odd moments that make one think.
I like the Kings Watch series and having read them all, tried Tom. No regrets. Nicely paced, interesting places and people, offer an enjoyable read.
Please. Mark Hayden presents everyday characters who have unusual depths and odd quirkiness. He wraps these in interesting plots, presented with an easy writing style … except that he throws in odd moments that make one think.
I like the Kings Watch series and having read them all, tried Tom. No regrets. Nicely paced, interesting places and people, offer an enjoyable read.
April 6, 2022
Good book, poorly edited
The story is great! Interesting characters in difficult situations, and multiple points of view. But oh,the editing! Mr. Hayden really needs a good proofreader or copy editor (this is a problem in all of his books I've read). Not quite bad enough to make me give up on the book, though, which was good enough to distract me from many more-important things I should have been doing!
The story is great! Interesting characters in difficult situations, and multiple points of view. But oh,the editing! Mr. Hayden really needs a good proofreader or copy editor (this is a problem in all of his books I've read). Not quite bad enough to make me give up on the book, though, which was good enough to distract me from many more-important things I should have been doing!
December 7, 2019
A very good read
I’ve read all Mark Hayden’s books now. Thoroughly engaging. I really like the way he has developed the characters of DCI Morton, Elaine, and Lucy. As much as I love the Kings Watch series, I will be quite disappointed if there isn’t a Tom Morton 3. Highly recommend this author.
I’ve read all Mark Hayden’s books now. Thoroughly engaging. I really like the way he has developed the characters of DCI Morton, Elaine, and Lucy. As much as I love the Kings Watch series, I will be quite disappointed if there isn’t a Tom Morton 3. Highly recommend this author.
November 17, 2020
Excellemt
This kept me guessing most of the way through. Tom and Elaine's characters really grew throughout the book and the story was well planned out. I loved the twists and turns and knowing more than the police did at different points made it more interesting- i wanted to know how they would figure it all out. I really enjoyed it
This kept me guessing most of the way through. Tom and Elaine's characters really grew throughout the book and the story was well planned out. I loved the twists and turns and knowing more than the police did at different points made it more interesting- i wanted to know how they would figure it all out. I really enjoyed it
March 26, 2021
Very enjoyable - good plot and interesting conclusion
I liked the characterisation and the development of the lead characters from the previous book.
I know Southport and it was sufficiently atmospheric for me to identify with the freezing wind and the rain - I went to school in Ormskirk and they swore the weather came straight from Iceland!
I liked the characterisation and the development of the lead characters from the previous book.
I know Southport and it was sufficiently atmospheric for me to identify with the freezing wind and the rain - I went to school in Ormskirk and they swore the weather came straight from Iceland!
Read
February 22, 2023Great police crime novel
I came to the DCI Morton novels from reading the Kings Watch series. There is no magic in these books - they have the same interesting plotlines with just enough complexity, characters who are believable, sympathetic and wonderfully flawed and great tension that keeps you reading into the early hours. I hope there will be more.
I came to the DCI Morton novels from reading the Kings Watch series. There is no magic in these books - they have the same interesting plotlines with just enough complexity, characters who are believable, sympathetic and wonderfully flawed and great tension that keeps you reading into the early hours. I hope there will be more.
August 6, 2020
Well written - interesting characters
I enjoyed reading this book. Mark is one of my favourite writers, and he didn't disappoint. Enough twists and turns to keep the reader's minds busy, and enough back story to make you care about the characters.
I enjoyed reading this book. Mark is one of my favourite writers, and he didn't disappoint. Enough twists and turns to keep the reader's minds busy, and enough back story to make you care about the characters.
December 15, 2020
Amazing!
For a very long time I've not read books like that. They are all amazing, the characters, the action.. I can't wait to read more of Tom Morton and Conrad Clark. Thank you Mr Hayden for writing them. Amazing
For a very long time I've not read books like that. They are all amazing, the characters, the action.. I can't wait to read more of Tom Morton and Conrad Clark. Thank you Mr Hayden for writing them. Amazing
June 28, 2021
Another great chapter in the Tom Morton story
Great plot, believable characters, well written crime/thriller. I urge you to read The Rainbow Trilogy and the first of the Tom Morton books. I sat up till 2 in the morning because I simply couldn’t put this down. More please!
Great plot, believable characters, well written crime/thriller. I urge you to read The Rainbow Trilogy and the first of the Tom Morton books. I sat up till 2 in the morning because I simply couldn’t put this down. More please!
June 24, 2025
Enjoyed the story, probably too much. Ended up reading too late at night because I was so engaged.
Hayden continues to build the main characters, making them interesting and believable. If you like mysteries I recommend this series.
Hayden continues to build the main characters, making them interesting and believable. If you like mysteries I recommend this series.
September 27, 2019
Great book
Enjoyed whole series I am looking forward to more, prime reading library worth the cost for books such as this
Enjoyed whole series I am looking forward to more, prime reading library worth the cost for books such as this
February 8, 2020
Could not put it down
These Tom Morton stories have been brilliant. I kept reading to 3:30 in the morning. I hope Mark Hayden returns to these characters again.
These Tom Morton stories have been brilliant. I kept reading to 3:30 in the morning. I hope Mark Hayden returns to these characters again.
July 2, 2020
Great series
I enjoyed this series, interesting characters, police procedure, showing the investigation from various points of view. I hope there’s more books to come.
I enjoyed this series, interesting characters, police procedure, showing the investigation from various points of view. I hope there’s more books to come.
August 9, 2020
Another great story continuing Tom Morton’s journey meeting some great characters along the way. Looking forward to more of these and truly enjoying the kings Watch series by the same author with the characters introduce in the first Tom Morton trilogy.
August 19, 2020
Sadly, this is the last of the Mark Hayden books. I started with the King’s Watch, blasted through that, then the Jigsaw series and now this.
Looking forward to more.
Looking forward to more.
October 12, 2020
A Different Slant
A different slant on police stories. The characters are anything but stereotypical, especially the hero. The storyline is also atypical. An enjoyable read
A different slant on police stories. The characters are anything but stereotypical, especially the hero. The storyline is also atypical. An enjoyable read
February 9, 2021
More!
I love this series and I’m upset they have ended. I like the characters and love the settings, very good
I love this series and I’m upset they have ended. I like the characters and love the settings, very good
November 16, 2021
Great series
Am working my way through all of Mr Hayden work. Thoroughly enjoyable and well written. So good I even followed on Facebook so I can see whats coming next.
Am working my way through all of Mr Hayden work. Thoroughly enjoyable and well written. So good I even followed on Facebook so I can see whats coming next.
May 16, 2022
Makes you want more….
Likable characters with detailed backgrounds that draw you into the moment. Great detail with just enough description but not so much as to overwhelm you.
Likable characters with detailed backgrounds that draw you into the moment. Great detail with just enough description but not so much as to overwhelm you.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews