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The body of a young man is found in a graveyard the night after a wild, drug-fuelled party. At first glance, there doesn’t appear to be anything sinister about his death, despite the shock of Detective Inspector Mark Olbeck realising that he once knew him.

Detective Sergeant Kate Redman has other things to worry about, not least her ongoing affair with her superior officer Chief Inspector Anderton. But when a second body is found in suspiciously similar circumstances, Kate, Olbeck and the rest of the Abbeyford police team realise they are up against a devious killer who will stop at nothing to indulge a literal thirst for blood…

222 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 30, 2016

1257 people are currently reading
690 people want to read

About the author

Celina Grace

62 books454 followers
I’ve been trying to get published as a writer since…. um… er…um…see, it was that long ago I can’t remember. A long time. I make it fifteen years and counting….

I’ve also been writing for as long as I can really remember. I wrote my first story, The Blue Ruby, when I was about seven (if I can find that deathless prose scribbled in an exercise book somewhere, I might upload it here for a bit of light relief). Throughout college and university, I experimented with screenplays and scripts (I was studying Film and English at the time at the University of East Anglia), as well as other more short stories. In my twenties, I started my first novel, finished it, then my second, then my third. In my thirties, I was slightly side-tracked by the birth of my son but, leaving aside that trifling distraction, managed to write my fourth..

I didn’t bother trying to get the first novel published as I saw it as more of a practise run at this business of being an author. With the second, I entered the 2004 Lit Idol competition and got to third place. That was my ticket to publication, I thought, surely? Hah! Just the first in a long line of disappointments, of which every writer must be familiar… hopes built up to then be smacked down again. I had an agent approach me after the competition and on their encouragement, I finished, edited and polished the manuscript, sent it off to them with happy hopes – to be told months later that they didn’t think it was quite right for them..

Gutted, but enthusiasm relatively undimmed, I started on a new novel, inspired in part by the dramatic events of 2005 – the London bombings. I also wrote a short story at the same time on the same subject – it was on my mind a lot that summer (unsurprisingly. Freedom Fighter is the story – available on Amazon as part of The Mourning After short story collection). This novel The House on Fever Street (written under my maiden name Celina Alcock) was shortlisted for the 2006 Crime Writers’ Association Debut Dagger Award. Aha, I thought, a fairly prestigious and industry recognised award. This will get me published. Did it? Did it buggery!.

The House on Fever Street was also longlisted in the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award of that year, which garnered me some nice reviews and a much needed ego boost but didn’t advance my career as a published author much further..

So what next for our doughty heroine? She ups and writes her fourth novel, gains an agent and thinks now, now I have finally made it as a published author! And she waits. And waits. And waits some more. And then waits a bit more. And a bit more. Finally, for variety, she waits a bit more..

So, after two years of waiting, reading about self-publishing on Amazon and other platforms, I believe a phrase that ends in ‘…for a game of soldiers’ passed my lips and I decide to publish myself. So I did. And here I am on Amazon, making sales. No publisher. No agent. Just me..

And that makes me VERY happy.

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5 stars
633 (40%)
4 stars
585 (37%)
3 stars
278 (17%)
2 stars
49 (3%)
1 star
21 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 114 reviews
Profile Image for Dawn Gill.
78 reviews3 followers
October 30, 2016
I have read all the Kate Redman mystery series. I like them because a) female protagonist b) she has proper feelings and frailties c) the stories are based in the West Country, but aren't annoyingly rural c) the plots are convincing d) they are always well written.
I've paid for most of the novels, but Celina Grace added me to her advance reader list so I received a copy of this in exchange for minimal proof reading and an honest review.
It's rare for me to come across an author who doesn't feel the need to ramp up the graphic violence in a police procedural and more often than not I find the female characters aren't fully rounded. Not so with this author. All the characters are well drawn with individual traits so that they feel genuine. I have got to know most of them over the past 9 novels, and the author introduces new ones as and when appropriate.
We get plenty of detail about the murders (of course there are murders!) but it's never excessive. Some authors seem to have a thesaurus open at every sentence,, opting for multiple adjectives for every little feeling or event, which I find irritating and distracting. Celina Grace manages to describe everything with a welcome freshness that feels very natural, making for a really rapid and comfortable read.
Kate has plenty of moments that strike me as real, both personally and professionally. Each novel in the series shows her personal development and she is growing in exactly the way a real colleague does as you work with them. I won't tell you the plot or the outcome - if it is good news for her or bad, (spoilers, sweetie!) but it picks up where novel 9 left off and I am really looking forward to the net one. Would I have paid full price? Yes, bird - I would happily do so. :-)
Profile Image for Les.
2,911 reviews1 follower
December 16, 2018
Amid my Bosch-a-thon I decided to read this quick story and that probably really hurt my rating. This series just seems so silly and trite compared to the other series. Also Connelly writes stronger female characters than a woman author.

This story begins with Kate waking up in bed next to her supervisor, yeah they had sex... and the rest of the book we have the neurotic thoughts of an adolescent trapped in an adult's body. She spends her time thinking about where the relationship is going, do her colleagues know, should she tell them, what did that look mean? How about that one? how should she sign her emails? Should she knock on his door, ask for a key? Then when her colleagues notice something new; is this a copper thing? I never figured it out when my colleagues were gettin' some, she lies and feels guilty about lying.

Oh yeah there's a crime where some guy is hooking up with other guys killing them and draining their blood. But how is Kate supposed to figure this out when she is so obsessed with her sex life.

I would say the author is sexist but there is a second character in the book who is equally if not more distracted by his relationship and allowing his police work and instinct to go by the wayside.

Really it was rather a disappointing addition to the series
Profile Image for Liza Perrat.
Author 19 books244 followers
April 9, 2019
Not great, but not awful either. Just very average in terms of a plotline with no real surprises and characters without great depth.
Good if you're looking for a quick read where you don't have to concentrate too hard.
Profile Image for Cheryl .
2,395 reviews80 followers
November 15, 2017
Reading a Kate Redman novel is like going home .... you're relaxed and comfortable, you know everyone and you can catch up with friends on all the juicy going-ons that have happened while you've been away.

It's been a while since I've read one of the Kate Redman series books, but I fell into it straight away - the warm life-like characters, the personal dramas, the thrill of a murder investigation and the final shocking tidbit thrown in the end. (Celine Grace is so good at that!) It's interesting to see just how much the character of Kate has grown over the series, and while she still doubts herself on a personal level, she is going from strength to strength in her job. Her love life seems to have turned around big time, even if it is a little illicit and secrets have to be kept for the moment.

It was shocking to see the deterioration of such a strong character as Mark. His disintegrating relationship, the distance between Kate and himself, his lack of attention to his job and finally, his making of bad choices that leads to his breakdown.

Big changes afoot look to be happening in the future. What will happen to Mark and how will Anderton's and Kate's relationship fare? Who will now be boss at the station?
I can't wait to find out what happens next on this outstanding series! Highly, highly recommended for all Kate Redman fans.
Profile Image for Kimba Tichenor.
Author 1 book160 followers
May 28, 2022
A vacation read that just did not deliver. Out of the gate, the book disappointed. Rather than being introduced to a strong female detective lead in the opening pages, the reader learns that the female lead is sleeping with her boss and that she is more focused on this relationship than she is on the case before her. Repeatedly, she expresses angst abut whether he really loves her and why she is hiding this relationship from her co-workers. This disappointing beginning is followed by a simplistic plot that lacks any believable or engaging twists and turns. Not to mention there are some ridiculous dialogues, such as when a seasoned detective expresses concerns that the department is hunting a real vampire. So if you are looking for a smart, fast-paced mystery, this book is not for you.
Profile Image for Betsy.
1,123 reviews144 followers
December 30, 2018
I haven't read any of the other books in the series so maybe this was not the best one to start with since I really did not like most of the principle characters, especially DS Redman. Perhaps with more background they might improve. I think this book is a good example of why sexual partners should not work together. Kate Redman acted like a giddy schoolgirl at times with her longings to see her boss and daydreams of 'What if.' This kind of behavior is not what I read mysteries for so although I might try an earlier one sometime, it won't be in the near future.
Profile Image for Linda Lpp.
569 reviews33 followers
March 25, 2019
Another good case

The books are over before you know it. But as a result are fast moving and leave you with enough questions...now what? does this ending mean ...? Off to find out more...
363 reviews
December 21, 2018
Although the murder mystery itself might rate a 3 or perhaps a 4...... I have never been confronted with an entire group of police personnel who act like they are at best still in high school. The men are bad enough (one guy is seriously worried that vampires might exist) but the women are so unprofessional at work and silly headed/conflicted away from the job! Pretty awful.
Profile Image for BookWorm.
855 reviews2 followers
July 1, 2018
Another good book in the series although I have to say they're a bit short for the cost of the ebook. Basically you get one criminal case per book but very little happening in the way of the character's personal lives. As interesting as the cases are that's just not enough for me!

I want to see more of Kate and Chloe's relationship since having a female friend was a big deal a few books ago. Instead the focus is Kate and Anderton feeling frisky every time they look at or think about each other. And since we don't get much insight into the supporting characters or even a physical description they often just become names on a page to me. I have no idea what Anderton looks like which makes it hard to imagine him as a developed person. Maybe that was described earlier in the series and I missed it. But it would be good to get more observational details in each book to bring the story more to life. I'm starting to think they're not quite worth the combined expense (this is Book 10!) so I might stop here.
Profile Image for Lynda Kelly.
2,204 reviews107 followers
May 2, 2020
And another terrific addition to this series. These are my go-to books, along with a couple of other authors, when I know I'm never going to be disappointed, especially when I've had to trawl through some godawful presentations with prior books. I can guarantee I will finish the story and have enjoyed a couple of days with old friends......though I was less than impressed with Mark's behaviour in this one. I was pleased to see Kate and Anderton are seemingly going from strength to strength as well. Chloe remains one of my favourites and I hope we get to learn more about her in another book.
I did find it odd that the synopsis stated a young man was murdered at the start when he was 40 years old !! She did an odd thing twice, adding the same word needlessly, "John hadn't thought of him in years, really. Funny, really, considering...." and again with, "It doesn't sound like he really knew anything abut his brother, really, does it ?" This passage is just horrible English, "Then, feeling guilty, she stuck her head into one of the other offices to see if she could find their former colleague, Anne Whittacker, (was this spelt properly ?) would mind helping out answering a few phone calls, just for ten minutes." It just reads wrong.
There were other mistakes, writing too and not to (a schoolboy error), heading not hiding, Mannering not Mainwaring and a few times words were missed in sentences....then no apostrophes on Ladies or Gents and both painstakingly made and print out needed hyphenating.
I loved this saying she quoted, "Sunlight is the best disinfectant" and that is even MORE true given our current weeks of lockdown here !! I was very satisfied with the final line as well.
712 reviews9 followers
March 21, 2019
A compelling mystery! Celina Grace has added yet another impressive whodunit!

Pulse is an electrifying hunt for a serial killer before he strikes again! Partners Kate and Mark, along with Atherton, Chloe, Theo and Rav work together to solve the case! What's great about the series is how each character is so imperfectly human! Their lives are conflicted and they make poor choices sometimes in their personal lives but these dedicated detectives find the clues to stop high profile crimes!
While the story is weighted down with procedural details at times, the mystery is intense and challenging to the reader! The author gives the reader hints along the way so we feel involved in solving the case and unmasking the killers! It's always fun to identify the perps before anyone else!
Another entertaining and satisfying Kate Redman mystery!
Profile Image for Susan.
1,485 reviews
May 21, 2018
A series of exsanguinated young men's bodies found in graveyards keeps the team busy, and of course the vampire jokes begin to surface. A young med student is following the pathologists around for training. Olbeck is shattered to find that he knew the first one found, and is also having problems with his current partner, Jeff. Kate is still having an affair with her boss, Anderton, and worries about whether she should tell her friends what is going on. Chloe, formerly with the Salterton police, is now a member of the Abbeyford force, and is Kate's friend. When Anderton fails to caution a suspect - deliberately or accidentally? - it compromises the case as well as his position, and throws the team into a sort of chaos at the end.
Profile Image for Sam.
3,454 reviews265 followers
December 31, 2018
This follows on shortly after the previous book (which I happen to have read) and finds Kate and her team on the trail of a killer who favours vulnerable men and has a particular fondness for graveyards. Complicating this is the growing relationship between Redman and Anderton, which they are trying to keep from the team and Olbeck's past relationship with one of the victims as well as the slow breakdow of his marriage. Once again the writing is gripping and the story flows well although I did find Redman's approach to her new relationship a little annoying as the constant doubt and self-questioning seemed to jar with her otherwise strong character. Thankfully this did start to sort itself out towards the end of the book as she got a grip and stuck with what she believes.
158 reviews1 follower
January 2, 2019
I once heard that writing a good detective story you decide the ending then work backward's spreading clues through the book.
I am sorry but this book although well written with good characters failed to hide anything ..........
Writing a review becomes hard as from almost the first chapter you have a suspect and he's there at the end.
The author also makes several mistakes with police procedure. Her need to have a romance between leading characters forgetting this is never allowed in police forces.
Not a good read
Profile Image for Jodi Pomerleau.
627 reviews8 followers
January 15, 2019
I really like Kate...I like the other characters too. I liked the premise of this story. But I sure got tired of Kate's second guessing herself and her relationship with Anderson. The back and forth of "does he like me, doesn't he like me, should I tell people, should I stay home tonight" got tedious and annoying. This was another story where it was obvious, at least to me, as soon as the character was introduced, who the perpetrator was. I think I'm taking a break from Kate for a while.
328 reviews
January 27, 2019
I've read several books in this series & enjoy it a lot. I read a few of the reviews on this site & was frankly, surprised that the readers weren't as impressed as I. I read about 10 books a month. That's a lot for someone who works full-time, so I think I know good when I see it. Celina Grace is good, & the Kate Redman Mysteries are very good reads. The characters are flawed, & human, yes. The stories are well written, with twists & turns. I have a lot of books on my Kindle, but when a Kate Redman is there, it rises to the head of the line!
2,078 reviews
March 30, 2020
When young men are found posed in different graveyards, Kate, Anderton and their team know they are dealing with a serial killer. As Kate digs into the case and searches for similar cases in other parts of the country, the team is struggling to find any evidence. When Kate learns the identity of the man who was seen with one of the victims, they know they are headed in the right direction. In Kate's personal life, her relationship with Anderton is progressing nicely and she is far less insecure than she was previously. Another good mystery from this author.
Profile Image for Susan Walt.
Author 4 books5 followers
November 1, 2020
I have read a few books in the Kate Redman series

The book provides enough information about the characters so that .you can enjoy it without reading the previous books in the series first.

Once again Kate is on the hunt for a serial killer. While struggling to keep a personal secret and trying to figure out what is worrying her friend Mark.

Like all Celina's books, this book also ends with an unexpected twist.

One of those thrilling books where you cannot stop reading untul you have reached the end.
1,146 reviews7 followers
December 20, 2018
Young men are being murdered, drained of blood and left in cemetaries. Kate Redmond and her colleagues have to tear themselves away from their personal dramas to solve the crime. I was disappointed in this novel. Can't say I care much for Kate who spends more time lusting after her lover and boss. I identified one of the perps onfirst appearance, never a good sign. Not especially fun or interesting to see the story unwind. Okay police procedural with unprofessional, annoying characters.
638 reviews3 followers
January 17, 2019
Soft Mystery

Not sure what to put this under a soft mystery or a cosy mystery, storyline was good, but the way it was solved and the characters much to be desired. I found the main character Kate a bit sickly and not much said about each character unless it was done in other books as this is No:10, but still should have some sought f reference about the rest of the crew, as for the love affair very amateurish.
401 reviews2 followers
January 27, 2019
I love this series. I haven’t really read all of the books in this series in order, but that hasn’t been an issue. I have a few more to go and then I’ll start another one of her series. The characters in this book (series) are likeable and highly relatable. The stories are always exciting. The books aren’t very long and I usually can read one in a couple sittings. I love reading English detective books and this author is a good one.
540 reviews2 followers
March 10, 2019
I've read other Kate Redman stories but this one was a disappointment . From the beginning it was more about her relationship with her boss , Anderton then the murders being committed and to be solved . Inbetween the police work more of their relationship is discussed than the details of the crimes . Now that their relationship is in the open we can have the old Kate Redman back confident in her work .
Profile Image for Uwe.
620 reviews
April 21, 2019
I don’t know what should be gripping in this story or which main character keeps you drawn to her/him. That is just a boring story, with boring characters and a police procedure ...... better call it a none existing police procedure.
They would never let a detective work on a case when the victim was his boyfriend ones. And definetely never let him go to the morgue ..........
Just boring and ridiculous!
Profile Image for Susan.
7,242 reviews69 followers
October 9, 2018
Another case for Anderton and the team when a body is discovered in a graveyard after attending a drug-fuelled party. Whether it is suspicious or not Detective Inspector Mark Olbeck recognises him as an ex-boyfriend.
Another enjoyable mystery in this well-written series with some very likeable characters.
134 reviews
December 28, 2018
Not quite sure

Since this is the tenth book, I have a feeling I expected more of our heroine and her lot. A good enough mystery and character development. Kate is the principal character but seems immature and whiney insecure. Her love interest may be in it for a fling, or, just can't express a definite commitment.
40 reviews
December 28, 2018
Wow!

My husband and I enjoyed all the previous books in this series. Celina has written another book that kept me up at night reading. I enjoy the characters and plots and look forward to the next book in this series. Thanks for another great book, even though I need to catch up on sleep.
Profile Image for Leigh Roberts.
106 reviews3 followers
November 4, 2019
Fantastic

What a great mystery. I was pulled into the story and couldn’t stop reading. The ending was a complete surprise, I never saw it coming.

Kate Redmon is an amazing character one you just have to know more about. I am looking forward to reading more of Celina’s work.
250 reviews2 followers
October 29, 2020
Serial killer or vampire, bodies drained of blood something killed them.

Another Kate Redmon mystery. Can she survive her love affair, her best friends marriage problems and a possible vampire killing young men leaving them in cemeteries? Lots of police work involved to find the the bad guys in this storyline.
Profile Image for Karen DelMastro.
478 reviews1 follower
February 15, 2021
I enjoy reading books by Celina Grace. In the Kate Redman series, I get to read a murder mystery knowing that it won't be filled with gruesome details. I was surprised that the author would have Joshua attempt to kill Olbeck since he knew Olbeck was a detective. It didn't seem to fit Joshua's profile. The relationship between Kate & Anderton also keeps things interesting.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Anna.
157 reviews2 followers
October 30, 2016
I thoroughly enjoyed reading more about Detective Kate Redman, this is a well paced page turner.
It has a good mix of her professional and her personal life which makes her human. I enjoyed learning more of her relationships with other characters. I want to read more!!!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 114 reviews

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