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DS Nathan Cody #2
Hope to Die
CROSS YOUR HEART AND . . . HOPE TO DIE
There was a hate in this killer. A thirst for obliteration rather than a mere desire to end a life . . .
A brutal murder takes place in the grounds of a Liverpool cathedral. A killer is on the loose, driven by a chilling rage. The victim: the last person you'd expect to be subjected to such terrible violence. Can DS Nathan Cody crack the case before another innocent is chosen?
There was a hate in this killer. A thirst for obliteration rather than a mere desire to end a life . . .
A brutal murder takes place in the grounds of a Liverpool cathedral. A killer is on the loose, driven by a chilling rage. The victim: the last person you'd expect to be subjected to such terrible violence. Can DS Nathan Cody crack the case before another innocent is chosen?
374 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 6, 2017
55 people are currently reading
950 people want to read
About the author
David Jackson
16 books516 followersI am the author of a series of crime thrillers featuring Irish-American NYPD Detective Callum Doyle. The first in the series, Pariah, was Highly Commended in the Crime Writers Association Debut Dagger Awards. It is published by Pan Macmillan. The follow-ups are The Helper and Marked, and I am hard at work on the fourth in the series. My writing influences include Ed McBain, Dennis Lehane, George Pelecanos, Robert Crais, Michael Connelly and Harlan Coben, amongst many others. My favourite quote about my work is one from the Guardian, now carried on the front of my novels: 'Recalls Harlan Coben - though for my money Jackson is the better writer.'
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 166 reviews
April 21, 2017
It's always a crap shoot to pick up a new series and read it out of order. So it was with some trepidation that I started reading Hope to Die, #2 in the Nathan Cody series. There is a lot of back story here and initially I felt somewhat at a loss for having missed it. But Jackson does a good job of filling you in on the particulars. Not just with Cody, but all the players.
Cody is a damaged soul due to crimes committed against him. If superiors knew how messed up he feels, he wouldn't be allowed to carry on. So he keeps it hidden, other than having told DS Webley. And she is dealing with her own secrets.
A lot of the story is taken up with Cody’s personal villains, back trying to drive him round the bend. This part of the story really didn't work for me. I also wasn't crazy about the killer’s story, which just seemed a huge cliche to me.
I love Grace. I gather she's a new character to the series. Well defined, she is the techno geek who quickly becomes the darling of the department due to her intelligence and attitude. But she wants to be the heroine and is never happy with the contributions she does make.
The ending was well done and throw a few curve balls at me but not enough to give this more than three stars. I can't say I'll be in any hurry to read the first in the series or any future entries.
My thanks to netgalley and Zaffre for an advance copy of this book.
Cody is a damaged soul due to crimes committed against him. If superiors knew how messed up he feels, he wouldn't be allowed to carry on. So he keeps it hidden, other than having told DS Webley. And she is dealing with her own secrets.
A lot of the story is taken up with Cody’s personal villains, back trying to drive him round the bend. This part of the story really didn't work for me. I also wasn't crazy about the killer’s story, which just seemed a huge cliche to me.
I love Grace. I gather she's a new character to the series. Well defined, she is the techno geek who quickly becomes the darling of the department due to her intelligence and attitude. But she wants to be the heroine and is never happy with the contributions she does make.
The ending was well done and throw a few curve balls at me but not enough to give this more than three stars. I can't say I'll be in any hurry to read the first in the series or any future entries.
My thanks to netgalley and Zaffre for an advance copy of this book.
April 22, 2017
This is the sequel to one of my favourite books from last year, A Tapping at my Door, a police procedural set in Liverpool. For a better understanding of the protagonist, DS Nathan Cody, his history with his colleague, DC Megan Webley, and his relationship with his boss, DCI Blunt, I would recommend reading these in order.
A school teacher is killed in the grounds of the Anglican cathedral in Liverpool. The single woman seemed well liked and respected, so Nathan and his team find it difficult to establish a motive let alone come up with any potential suspects. When a second woman, a prostitute, is murdered in the grounds of a Catholic cathedral, the investigation throws up even more questions. The two victims appear to have nothing in common.
The story was really interesting, and I was totally absorbed throughout. David Jackson created a great balance between the case work and the personal lives of DS Nathan Cody & Co. I admit to having a bit of a thing for Cody though I'm actually not quite sure why. To the majority of the outside world, Cody appears put-together and tough, but he is still struggling with the aftermath of the torture he endured while working undercover, making him very fragile and unstable.
Be aware, if you have a clown phobia: scary stuff alert.
Jackson includes glimpses into the killer's abusive upbringing, which I thought were well done, although - if you read a lot of serial killer thrillers - there was nothing unique there.
I also liked the inclusion of a new member into the police team: Grace Meade, a lonely computer expert. Her "relationship" with Nathan has great potential for interesting developments in further books.
I was completely surprised when the perpetrator was revealed, which was an added bonus, but I have to say, I voiced my despair loudly at the damn ending. Really, not nice, Mr Jackson to leave us hanging like this and now I have to wait for ages to find out what happens next.
The audiobook is narrated by Jonathan Keeble, who is one of my favourite British narrators. If you like audio, listen to this, the narration is brilliant.
I received an ARC via Netgalley, thank you! The audio was purchased by myself.
A school teacher is killed in the grounds of the Anglican cathedral in Liverpool. The single woman seemed well liked and respected, so Nathan and his team find it difficult to establish a motive let alone come up with any potential suspects. When a second woman, a prostitute, is murdered in the grounds of a Catholic cathedral, the investigation throws up even more questions. The two victims appear to have nothing in common.
The story was really interesting, and I was totally absorbed throughout. David Jackson created a great balance between the case work and the personal lives of DS Nathan Cody & Co. I admit to having a bit of a thing for Cody though I'm actually not quite sure why. To the majority of the outside world, Cody appears put-together and tough, but he is still struggling with the aftermath of the torture he endured while working undercover, making him very fragile and unstable.
Be aware, if you have a clown phobia: scary stuff alert.
Jackson includes glimpses into the killer's abusive upbringing, which I thought were well done, although - if you read a lot of serial killer thrillers - there was nothing unique there.
I also liked the inclusion of a new member into the police team: Grace Meade, a lonely computer expert. Her "relationship" with Nathan has great potential for interesting developments in further books.
I was completely surprised when the perpetrator was revealed, which was an added bonus, but I have to say, I voiced my despair loudly at the damn ending. Really, not nice, Mr Jackson to leave us hanging like this and now I have to wait for ages to find out what happens next.
The audiobook is narrated by Jonathan Keeble, who is one of my favourite British narrators. If you like audio, listen to this, the narration is brilliant.
I received an ARC via Netgalley, thank you! The audio was purchased by myself.
March 11, 2017
This is the second novel featuring DS Nathan Cody. The first in the series was, “A Tapping at my Door,” and, like that book, this is also set in Liverpool. Following events in the first novel, in which DC Megan Webley was injured, we return in December, with Webley just about to return to work. Much of the same team are in place; including Detective Chief Inspector Blunt and ‘Footlong’ are joined by new characters, including computer expert Grace Meade.
The author obviously knows Liverpool well and the book begins with a murder in the grounds of the Anglican Cathedral. Victim, Mary Cowper, was a schoolteacher at a local school. She was very neat, very tidy, seemed much liked and respected and was extremely religious. In other words, she seems to be too good to be true, and Cody struggles with finding a motive for the murder.
As well as the murder investigation, we have the ongoing problems between Cody and Webley, as well as Cody’s emotional problems relating to a case a year earlier, in which he was tortured by men in clown masks. He has been receiving anonymous phone calls and now, whoever is at the end of the line, have begun to send more chilling messages.
As Christmas approaches, Cody, who is obviously suffering from PTSD and trying to hide it in order not to be downgraded to a desk job, struggles emotionally. Yet, we also have glimpses of the killer’s past and the reasons behind why they are now committing crimes. These parts, showing the results of a severely dysfunctional childhood, are extremely well done.
I would suggest that you read, “A Tapping at my Door,” before reading this book, as this does follow on from the first. However, this is an excellent series - very exciting and fast moving, but with a good depth of character and interesting back stories. I certainly look forward to reading more by the author and will follow this series if, hopefully, it continues. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.
The author obviously knows Liverpool well and the book begins with a murder in the grounds of the Anglican Cathedral. Victim, Mary Cowper, was a schoolteacher at a local school. She was very neat, very tidy, seemed much liked and respected and was extremely religious. In other words, she seems to be too good to be true, and Cody struggles with finding a motive for the murder.
As well as the murder investigation, we have the ongoing problems between Cody and Webley, as well as Cody’s emotional problems relating to a case a year earlier, in which he was tortured by men in clown masks. He has been receiving anonymous phone calls and now, whoever is at the end of the line, have begun to send more chilling messages.
As Christmas approaches, Cody, who is obviously suffering from PTSD and trying to hide it in order not to be downgraded to a desk job, struggles emotionally. Yet, we also have glimpses of the killer’s past and the reasons behind why they are now committing crimes. These parts, showing the results of a severely dysfunctional childhood, are extremely well done.
I would suggest that you read, “A Tapping at my Door,” before reading this book, as this does follow on from the first. However, this is an excellent series - very exciting and fast moving, but with a good depth of character and interesting back stories. I certainly look forward to reading more by the author and will follow this series if, hopefully, it continues. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.
April 6, 2017
Hope To Die is the second in the DS Nathan Cody series. A Tapping At My Door (which is the first) was my first introduction to this authors works and was one of my outstanding reads of 2016. I went on to read all of the authors books, which I loved, so you can imagine how much I have been dying for this one to be released.
I love Cody and wanted to give him a big hug for what he is having to go through. He has been through an horrendous time and it is very much with him every day. As much as he seems to be quite grounded in front of everyone else, he is in absolute turmoil inside and is constantly fighting his demons.
Due to Cody’s past it would certainly be beneficial for readers to have read A Tapping At My Door before reading Hope To Die.
The story line of a woman who is a very respectable pillar of the community being murdered was really good. I was as flummoxed as the police to why this woman would be killed and there certainly seemed to be no reasoning for it which makes it so much harder for Cody.
Hope To Die is yet another gripping read that had me hooked from start to finish. With twists and turns that had me looking in the wrong direction, there was certainly some shocks in store that I was not expecting. This author knows how to mess with his readers minds whilst delivering a highly adrenaline fuelled read that leaves you having to catch your breath at the end.
My thanks to Bonnier Zaffre and Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
I love Cody and wanted to give him a big hug for what he is having to go through. He has been through an horrendous time and it is very much with him every day. As much as he seems to be quite grounded in front of everyone else, he is in absolute turmoil inside and is constantly fighting his demons.
Due to Cody’s past it would certainly be beneficial for readers to have read A Tapping At My Door before reading Hope To Die.
The story line of a woman who is a very respectable pillar of the community being murdered was really good. I was as flummoxed as the police to why this woman would be killed and there certainly seemed to be no reasoning for it which makes it so much harder for Cody.
Hope To Die is yet another gripping read that had me hooked from start to finish. With twists and turns that had me looking in the wrong direction, there was certainly some shocks in store that I was not expecting. This author knows how to mess with his readers minds whilst delivering a highly adrenaline fuelled read that leaves you having to catch your breath at the end.
My thanks to Bonnier Zaffre and Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
April 5, 2017
With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an open and honest review.
I have been waiting for Hope to Die to be released after reading A Tapping At My Door a couple of months ago. As soon as I got my hands on this I had to read it.
Well this was even better Tapping At My Door. The Murder of the first victim Mary Cowper is in the first chapter. Mary was brutally murdered walking her dog in the grounds of Liverpool Cathedral. Cody discovers that Mary was a popular school teacher who worshiped at the Cathedral. Mary led a quiet life and did not seem to have a private life, in other words to good to be true.
Then the police discover the body of Cassie a prostitute in Liverpool Catholic Cathedral. Cassie was not religious but felt comfort from God. Then Sue Halligan a born again Christian is found murdered in a community hall after a meeting.
Cody, 'Footlong' Harrison and Megan Webley try to find the killer before they can strike again. The story is also told from the POV of the killer as a young child. At the end of the last book Cody was contacted by the man who cut off his toes whilst he was working undercover. All went quiet for two months until he finally contacted Cody with the message let's play. Cody is trying to solve the case whilst his fragile mental health deteriorates further.
There is also a new member of the team Grace a computer geek. She is a civilian but helps in investigations. Grace suffers from self esteem issues and longs to be accepted, she works hard to be accepted as one of team and proves helpful in the investigation. She is attracted to Cody and is pleased when he acknowledges how well she has done. I think she will be an interesting character in future investigations.
Hope To Die was well worth waiting for but be prepared it is grisly. There were plenty of red herrings thrown in and I would never of guessed the killer in a million years.
Although this is book 2 you do need to read book one to follow the Cody storyline.
I have been waiting for Hope to Die to be released after reading A Tapping At My Door a couple of months ago. As soon as I got my hands on this I had to read it.
Well this was even better Tapping At My Door. The Murder of the first victim Mary Cowper is in the first chapter. Mary was brutally murdered walking her dog in the grounds of Liverpool Cathedral. Cody discovers that Mary was a popular school teacher who worshiped at the Cathedral. Mary led a quiet life and did not seem to have a private life, in other words to good to be true.
Then the police discover the body of Cassie a prostitute in Liverpool Catholic Cathedral. Cassie was not religious but felt comfort from God. Then Sue Halligan a born again Christian is found murdered in a community hall after a meeting.
Cody, 'Footlong' Harrison and Megan Webley try to find the killer before they can strike again. The story is also told from the POV of the killer as a young child. At the end of the last book Cody was contacted by the man who cut off his toes whilst he was working undercover. All went quiet for two months until he finally contacted Cody with the message let's play. Cody is trying to solve the case whilst his fragile mental health deteriorates further.
There is also a new member of the team Grace a computer geek. She is a civilian but helps in investigations. Grace suffers from self esteem issues and longs to be accepted, she works hard to be accepted as one of team and proves helpful in the investigation. She is attracted to Cody and is pleased when he acknowledges how well she has done. I think she will be an interesting character in future investigations.
Hope To Die was well worth waiting for but be prepared it is grisly. There were plenty of red herrings thrown in and I would never of guessed the killer in a million years.
Although this is book 2 you do need to read book one to follow the Cody storyline.
March 1, 2017
Oh David Jackson! Seriously. First of all NO with now making us wait for another in this series I really don't like waiting especially not when endings are so beautifully placed for when you think its done then ITS NOT DONE and then THINGS OCCUR. I can't say more because *spoilers*
This is beautifully constructed, brilliantly written and has an immersive and authentic sense of place, just like the first Nathan Cody novel which if you haven't read yet you probably should. First. Not that this can't be a standalone it could but just, no. Read A Tapping At my Door before you read this. You are welcome.
If you have phobia's by the way this author likes to play on them. It's all wonderfully plot related but I do sense that he has a random writing glee in playing on our darkest fears. It works too. **locks all the doors hides under duvet**
Anyway I'll be reviewing this properly rather than just telling the author off nearer to its April publication date. But highly recommended. Keep the lights on throughout the house though. Again you are welcome.
Excellent stuff.
This is beautifully constructed, brilliantly written and has an immersive and authentic sense of place, just like the first Nathan Cody novel which if you haven't read yet you probably should. First. Not that this can't be a standalone it could but just, no. Read A Tapping At my Door before you read this. You are welcome.
If you have phobia's by the way this author likes to play on them. It's all wonderfully plot related but I do sense that he has a random writing glee in playing on our darkest fears. It works too. **locks all the doors hides under duvet**
Anyway I'll be reviewing this properly rather than just telling the author off nearer to its April publication date. But highly recommended. Keep the lights on throughout the house though. Again you are welcome.
Excellent stuff.
March 31, 2017
4.75
Just a tiny something missing to make this a 5 star read. I read through the night to finish this. DS Nathan Cody is investigating the murders of several women. Simultaneously you learn a little about the PTSD he's experiencing due to being tortured and watching his partner killed by clowns that got away. Im going to read the book before this one because I want to find out what I missed.
The flashbacks of the abuse the little boy (serial killer) experienced definitely upset me. The things parents do to their own children. Smh. I felt very bad for the kid.
There were plenty of characters I enjoyed. Cody and DC Webley obviously have feelings they haven't expressed. Her having a fiance is unfortunate lol. I want to see what happens with her and Cody in books to come. I also suspect Grace can be a character to keep an eye on. Her ability to deal with computers isn't the only thing interesting about her.
David Jackson is a new author to me and I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this and give my opinion on it.
Just a tiny something missing to make this a 5 star read. I read through the night to finish this. DS Nathan Cody is investigating the murders of several women. Simultaneously you learn a little about the PTSD he's experiencing due to being tortured and watching his partner killed by clowns that got away. Im going to read the book before this one because I want to find out what I missed.
The flashbacks of the abuse the little boy (serial killer) experienced definitely upset me. The things parents do to their own children. Smh. I felt very bad for the kid.
There were plenty of characters I enjoyed. Cody and DC Webley obviously have feelings they haven't expressed. Her having a fiance is unfortunate lol. I want to see what happens with her and Cody in books to come. I also suspect Grace can be a character to keep an eye on. Her ability to deal with computers isn't the only thing interesting about her.
David Jackson is a new author to me and I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this and give my opinion on it.
July 19, 2019
I was first introduced by David Jackson by reading Tapping At My Door, which if you haven't read it and love reading thrillers I highly recommend it. After reading Tapping At My Door which I found frighteningly good with a policewoman being attacked and with the great police procedural, I became hooked into David Jackson books. I was thrilled when I was asked to join the blog tour for David Jackson's new book. I easily got into Hope To Die with another exciting gripping police procedural with a grisly murder. I totally believed in the police force with the way David Jackson gets it right how the police would go about a murder investigation. One line made me laugh out loud, but I won't reveal what the line was as I don't want to spoil it for other readers. What I liked about the story was how the December bitterly cold weather was wonderfully described. I hate the coldness of the snow myself with having to wrap up to keep warm, so I was��very easily transported to the white snowy atmosphere. I really enjoyed this fresh different location where a body of woman had been found murdered in the grounds of a Cathedral. My heart went out to the woman's dog who would have seen everything that happened to its owner. I was enjoying reading Hope To Die so much that I had to keep reading turning page after page to see how the police are going to catch this killer that's on the loose before he strikes again. I very highly recommend reading Hope To Die as it is a gripping story with DS Nathan Cody. Hope To Die is a perfect crime thriller for fans who must read crime thrillers. As David Jackson is a firm favourite author of mine I'm looking forward to his next crime novel. I do hope you all enjoy reading Hope To Die as much as what I did.
September 29, 2021
This is the 2nd book in the DS Nathan Cody series by author David Jackson. Nathan Cody is one mixed up characters and I think this is one series that really helps if you them in order to keep up with the why’s and wherefores. Even having read other books in this series I still took awhile to get back up to speed with this complex character.
School teacher Mary Cowper is brutally murdered while walking her dog through Liverpool Cathedral churchyard. Everyone only speaks well of her so why was she killed? DS Nathan Cody is given the case and apart from this difficult case he is still suffering nightmares and hallucinations. A killer is on the loose and has other victims on his list so Cody will have to be on top of his game to solve this one.
This series is so much more than a crime novel, DS Nathan Cody is damaged and suffers emotionally, physically and mentally. Broken relationships, nightmares and demons are just a few of the day to day things that Cody has to cope with. This is the main reason I would stress to read them in order so that you can fully understand the issues he has. Cody is an excellent character but this series has many others, DC Megan Webley who Cody had a relationship with, his boss DCI Blunt who has his hands full managing him and the introduction of computer geek Grace.
This series is only going to get better as the characters are developed, good plots and lots and lots of side issues. I really enjoy this authors writing and intend to read a lot more of his work.
School teacher Mary Cowper is brutally murdered while walking her dog through Liverpool Cathedral churchyard. Everyone only speaks well of her so why was she killed? DS Nathan Cody is given the case and apart from this difficult case he is still suffering nightmares and hallucinations. A killer is on the loose and has other victims on his list so Cody will have to be on top of his game to solve this one.
This series is so much more than a crime novel, DS Nathan Cody is damaged and suffers emotionally, physically and mentally. Broken relationships, nightmares and demons are just a few of the day to day things that Cody has to cope with. This is the main reason I would stress to read them in order so that you can fully understand the issues he has. Cody is an excellent character but this series has many others, DC Megan Webley who Cody had a relationship with, his boss DCI Blunt who has his hands full managing him and the introduction of computer geek Grace.
This series is only going to get better as the characters are developed, good plots and lots and lots of side issues. I really enjoy this authors writing and intend to read a lot more of his work.
December 21, 2017
A few months ago, I raved about the first book in the DS Cody series and I’m kicking myself for taking this long to finally read the second one. Follow-ups are always tricky but I can safely say Hope to Die is even better than its predecessor!
Cody’s having an absolutely horrendous time. Not only is there the investigation into the murder of teacher Mary Cowper, which seems to be going nowhere fast, but he has a lot of other things to deal with as well. His relationship with Megan is at an all-time low, he suffers from nightmares and his past is getting ever closer. One word : creepy! Is he suffering from hallucinations again or is someone playing a game with him?
If all that isn’t gripping enough, David Jackson throws in utterly heartbreaking and harrowing chapters that nearly broke me. They are vital to understand where the killer is coming from but boy, did they make for some highly uncomfortable reading. These had me guessing until the end, trying to figure out the whodunnit and, as per usual, getting it completely wrong.
There’s also the introduction of a new member of the team, Grace. She’s a computer geek, desperate to prove herself and quiet frankly, she gives me the heebie-jeebies! And yet, she’s sufficiently intriguing in that overwhelmingly weird sort of way that makes me look forward to learning more about her.
There’s a lot going on in this story and all its various layers held my attention throughout. Well-paced, intricately plotted and brilliantly written, I found Hope to Die totally unputdownable. The DS Cody series is another one to watch out for. It has a fascinating and gripping backstory that is still haunting Nathan Cody, as you will find out yourself when (not if!) you read this series and I can’t wait for more of that in book 3!
Cody’s having an absolutely horrendous time. Not only is there the investigation into the murder of teacher Mary Cowper, which seems to be going nowhere fast, but he has a lot of other things to deal with as well. His relationship with Megan is at an all-time low, he suffers from nightmares and his past is getting ever closer. One word : creepy! Is he suffering from hallucinations again or is someone playing a game with him?
If all that isn’t gripping enough, David Jackson throws in utterly heartbreaking and harrowing chapters that nearly broke me. They are vital to understand where the killer is coming from but boy, did they make for some highly uncomfortable reading. These had me guessing until the end, trying to figure out the whodunnit and, as per usual, getting it completely wrong.
There’s also the introduction of a new member of the team, Grace. She’s a computer geek, desperate to prove herself and quiet frankly, she gives me the heebie-jeebies! And yet, she’s sufficiently intriguing in that overwhelmingly weird sort of way that makes me look forward to learning more about her.
There’s a lot going on in this story and all its various layers held my attention throughout. Well-paced, intricately plotted and brilliantly written, I found Hope to Die totally unputdownable. The DS Cody series is another one to watch out for. It has a fascinating and gripping backstory that is still haunting Nathan Cody, as you will find out yourself when (not if!) you read this series and I can’t wait for more of that in book 3!
March 21, 2018
I absolutely LOVED David Jackson's Callum Doyle series and therefore was very excited when he started a new series with a new detective and read the first book A Tapping At My Window back in April 2016 which I really did enjoy, but to be honest I felt like I was cheating on Callum because I loved that series so much. It's taken me quite a while to get around to reading the second book in this series which was published in April 2017 and to be perfectly honest the only reason I read it was because his new book Don't Make A Sound is coming out soon and word on the street is that it's BLOODY BRILLIANT - I suffer from BOCD (Book OCD) and have to read books in order and therefore started this book yesterday.
Well, what can I say about Hope to Die? The fact I started it yesterday and finished it last night means it's "UNPUTDOWNABLE". The fact that I was ignoring my family and everything around me means it's "GRIPPING". The fact I had no idea who the serial killer was means it's "FULL OF TWISTS". I could go on about the brilliant Nathan Cody and his sense of humour, his dry wit, his backstory and personal demons, his relationships with his colleagues and superiors, his ability to solve crimes, but I won't... all I will say is "I'm sorry Callum - but you've been dumped".
Well, what can I say about Hope to Die? The fact I started it yesterday and finished it last night means it's "UNPUTDOWNABLE". The fact that I was ignoring my family and everything around me means it's "GRIPPING". The fact I had no idea who the serial killer was means it's "FULL OF TWISTS". I could go on about the brilliant Nathan Cody and his sense of humour, his dry wit, his backstory and personal demons, his relationships with his colleagues and superiors, his ability to solve crimes, but I won't... all I will say is "I'm sorry Callum - but you've been dumped".
May 24, 2017
I LOVED A Tapping At My Door, so I was beyond excited to be able to read and review Hope To Die as I’ve been waiting for it since I closed the last page of ATAMD to be honest!
Hope To Die is a cracking addition to the series. We’re back with DS Nathan Cody, who is such a great character, and in this one he is tasked with investigating a brutal murder where there appears to be no motive.
Alongside this, Nathan is battling his own demons. If you’ve not read the first book, I won’t spoil it by saying any more. I will say that I loved the development of his character in Hope To Die. It’s one of my favourite things about the book.
I find it difficult trying to say how much I enjoy David Jackson’s books because I can never do them justice. Packed with a great cast of characters, a tense and gripping plot, Hope To Die was an excellent second instalment in the DS Nathan Cody series.
Highly recommended!
Hope To Die is a cracking addition to the series. We’re back with DS Nathan Cody, who is such a great character, and in this one he is tasked with investigating a brutal murder where there appears to be no motive.
Alongside this, Nathan is battling his own demons. If you’ve not read the first book, I won’t spoil it by saying any more. I will say that I loved the development of his character in Hope To Die. It’s one of my favourite things about the book.
I find it difficult trying to say how much I enjoy David Jackson’s books because I can never do them justice. Packed with a great cast of characters, a tense and gripping plot, Hope To Die was an excellent second instalment in the DS Nathan Cody series.
Highly recommended!
September 21, 2019
An excellent sequel to Jackson’s first in the series. A little graphic in places but relevant and adds to the plot. Characters continue to develop and I’m completely invested in this series! Waiting to see where they go after this instalment. Can’t wait to read #3
April 21, 2017
The publication last year of A Tapping at My Door marked the start of a new series for David Jackson and moved his new protagonist, Nathan Cody, away from the New York playground of his previous detective, Callum Doyle, and set him up in Merseyside. I loved the Callum Doyle series but this change in direction is working out really, REALLY well for both author and reader here. The UK setting of Liverpool is very well known by David Jackson and so these books come across with a confident passion for its people and it’s settings which gives them a gritty realism. I do recommend you start your reading journey with A Tapping at My Door though, it will provide essential backstories to help you understand Nathan’s personality. You will find yourself amazed that he is actually back here in Hope to Die!
I don’t know how he does it but David Jackson can always be relied upon to mess with my emotions which is rather unheard of for me in these hard boiled crime plots he weaves throughout his books. There is an unexpected depth to the crimes so that the reader feels very involved in them very early on, practically becoming another investigator on the case with a vested interest in catching the perpetrator. And the way the dual POV are used means we also get an insight into the mind of that killer which I found very chilling indeed.
The continuing themes of relationships and friendships throughout also bring out the tension in the personal backstories and I was pretty much holding my breath during some scenes between varies characters. I loved the addition of Grace here which also added another layer of interest and I’m chomping at the bit now to find out how circumstances will develop throughout the next books in the series. And that ending sent shivers down my spine!!
It’s been a pleasure to discover that this second book more than lived up to the first, a pretty mean feat especially following on from a much loved preceding series. I love Nathan Cody and can’t wait to see what he has to face next, both in his career and in his personal life.
I don’t know how he does it but David Jackson can always be relied upon to mess with my emotions which is rather unheard of for me in these hard boiled crime plots he weaves throughout his books. There is an unexpected depth to the crimes so that the reader feels very involved in them very early on, practically becoming another investigator on the case with a vested interest in catching the perpetrator. And the way the dual POV are used means we also get an insight into the mind of that killer which I found very chilling indeed.
The continuing themes of relationships and friendships throughout also bring out the tension in the personal backstories and I was pretty much holding my breath during some scenes between varies characters. I loved the addition of Grace here which also added another layer of interest and I’m chomping at the bit now to find out how circumstances will develop throughout the next books in the series. And that ending sent shivers down my spine!!
It’s been a pleasure to discover that this second book more than lived up to the first, a pretty mean feat especially following on from a much loved preceding series. I love Nathan Cody and can’t wait to see what he has to face next, both in his career and in his personal life.
March 9, 2017
I loved this book! It was SOOOO good. A killer is killing women and it seems it's because of their religious beliefs. Meanwhile, the author is letting us into the psyche of the killer. We are reading about the childhood of the killer. It starts when the killer is five years old and how the mother punishes him when he is a child. There is no maternal love there at all. The things this woman does to this child are unspeakable. The ridicule the child faces because of his mother. It's no wonder he grows up to be a killer.
I will give you the warning that this is definitely one not to start at bedtime. Give yourself plenty of daytime to begin reading this one. The ending, when it comes, when definitely make you sit up and go "wow". I recommend this book to anyone who loves thrillers full of suspense. This one definitely has it going for it.
Thanks to Bonnier Zaffre for approving my request and to Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest review.
I will give you the warning that this is definitely one not to start at bedtime. Give yourself plenty of daytime to begin reading this one. The ending, when it comes, when definitely make you sit up and go "wow". I recommend this book to anyone who loves thrillers full of suspense. This one definitely has it going for it.
Thanks to Bonnier Zaffre for approving my request and to Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest review.
April 23, 2018
What a fantastic book! Great stories and characters that all kept me guessing til the end
June 6, 2017
Hope To Die by David Jackson
DS Nathan Cody Book #2
Publisher: Bonnier Zaffre
Thanks to NetGalley and publisher Bonnier Zaffre for the ebook ARC of Hope to Die by David Jackson.
Mary Cowper(42) was walking her dog through a church yard of Liverpool Cathedral on a snowy evening in December. Someone comes up and kills Mary very brutally.
Detective Sergeant Nathan Cody of the Major Incident Team is put on the case. Whichever way Detective Cody turns, Mary seems to be perfect, no one has a bad word to say about her, especially not motive for this very brutal murder.
Then Cassie Harris(28) is found murdered in the same style as Mary.
Nathan seems to have things going on with himself as well. Ghosts of his pasts have been haunting him. He keeps getting mysterious phone calls at night, where the person on the other end of the line says nothing.
Will they be able to catch the killer before someone else gets murdered?
I did not read the first book in the series, A Tapping At My Door. I give this book a rating of 3 stars. I think this book had enough detailed information from the first book that I was still able to understand what was going on in this book. This book was not as fast paced as I would have liked it to be. It took me to read about half of the novel to actually get into the book. I didn’t really like the writing style of this book. It turned out to be a very good book though, and it is worth reading.
DS Nathan Cody Book #2
Publisher: Bonnier Zaffre
Thanks to NetGalley and publisher Bonnier Zaffre for the ebook ARC of Hope to Die by David Jackson.
Mary Cowper(42) was walking her dog through a church yard of Liverpool Cathedral on a snowy evening in December. Someone comes up and kills Mary very brutally.
Detective Sergeant Nathan Cody of the Major Incident Team is put on the case. Whichever way Detective Cody turns, Mary seems to be perfect, no one has a bad word to say about her, especially not motive for this very brutal murder.
Then Cassie Harris(28) is found murdered in the same style as Mary.
Nathan seems to have things going on with himself as well. Ghosts of his pasts have been haunting him. He keeps getting mysterious phone calls at night, where the person on the other end of the line says nothing.
Will they be able to catch the killer before someone else gets murdered?
I did not read the first book in the series, A Tapping At My Door. I give this book a rating of 3 stars. I think this book had enough detailed information from the first book that I was still able to understand what was going on in this book. This book was not as fast paced as I would have liked it to be. It took me to read about half of the novel to actually get into the book. I didn’t really like the writing style of this book. It turned out to be a very good book though, and it is worth reading.
August 4, 2022
Waldo the clown is starting to bug me…. The backstory in this series about the clown has me hooked. I was hoping he would make an appearance in this book, but at least he is getting closer and with some luck, he will show himself in the next book.
This series has been collecting dust on my TBR and after reading A Tapping at My Door last month, I cannot drag myself away. This crime thriller is full of gory details and not for the faint-hearted. I love how the author shares Cody’s thoughts; this poor guy has serious issues.
Like the previous book in the series, I could not get through this one fast enough. The author tells a rather gory tale with loads of bloody details which sensitive readers may find a bit much. I love that Cody’s dreams and thoughts are shared in such vivid detail. You have a front-row seat to this man’s fears. The backstory about Waldo the clown has me hooked and I cannot wait to see where that is going to go. Needless to say, I have the next book ready and waiting.
A woman is found brutally murdered on the grounds of a cathedral. This feels personal, yet the victim does not seem to be someone who could ever evoke this kind of violent behaviour from anyone. Why was she chosen? DS Nathan Cody needs to find this crazed killer before he strikes again, but there is very little at this crime scene for him to work with.
I find myself completely engrossed in this series. I need to know when Waldo will be making his appearance. There are loads of gory details in this book and you are given a true front-row seat to these crimes, experiencing the crime scenes along with the detectives. I could not get through this one fast enough and I loved this ending.
DS Nathan Cody showed again just how damaged he is. The past is haunting him, and in this book, the clown moved a little closer. It is very frustrating how Cody won’t share what is happening with anyone, yet I understand his fear of losing his job. The man’s life is sure to give anyone sleepless nights.
This book and the series have me hooked. I enjoy the details and the damaged characters that never seem to communicate. The author shares all the details with the reader while he keeps the characters in the dark, allowing you to feel as if you are part of the story as it unfolds.
Crime thriller fans will not go wrong with this book. It is full of fast-paced detail that will keep you guessing while you are not able to put this book down. I am late to the party with this series, but I am loving every minute of it and would recommend you add this to your list if you haven’t yet.
https://featzreviews.com
This series has been collecting dust on my TBR and after reading A Tapping at My Door last month, I cannot drag myself away. This crime thriller is full of gory details and not for the faint-hearted. I love how the author shares Cody’s thoughts; this poor guy has serious issues.
Like the previous book in the series, I could not get through this one fast enough. The author tells a rather gory tale with loads of bloody details which sensitive readers may find a bit much. I love that Cody’s dreams and thoughts are shared in such vivid detail. You have a front-row seat to this man’s fears. The backstory about Waldo the clown has me hooked and I cannot wait to see where that is going to go. Needless to say, I have the next book ready and waiting.
A woman is found brutally murdered on the grounds of a cathedral. This feels personal, yet the victim does not seem to be someone who could ever evoke this kind of violent behaviour from anyone. Why was she chosen? DS Nathan Cody needs to find this crazed killer before he strikes again, but there is very little at this crime scene for him to work with.
I find myself completely engrossed in this series. I need to know when Waldo will be making his appearance. There are loads of gory details in this book and you are given a true front-row seat to these crimes, experiencing the crime scenes along with the detectives. I could not get through this one fast enough and I loved this ending.
DS Nathan Cody showed again just how damaged he is. The past is haunting him, and in this book, the clown moved a little closer. It is very frustrating how Cody won’t share what is happening with anyone, yet I understand his fear of losing his job. The man’s life is sure to give anyone sleepless nights.
This book and the series have me hooked. I enjoy the details and the damaged characters that never seem to communicate. The author shares all the details with the reader while he keeps the characters in the dark, allowing you to feel as if you are part of the story as it unfolds.
Crime thriller fans will not go wrong with this book. It is full of fast-paced detail that will keep you guessing while you are not able to put this book down. I am late to the party with this series, but I am loving every minute of it and would recommend you add this to your list if you haven’t yet.
https://featzreviews.com
April 19, 2021
An absolutely outstanding thriller - jt was nice for a change for one of the great crime thrillers to be set in the UK rather than America! Has you hooked until the very last page, full of twists and turns designed to keep you guessing. The author makes good use of different first-person POVs to give you a real insight into the solving of the case. Highly recommend!
September 22, 2017
Hope to Die is the second book in the DS Nathan Cody series and one of my most eagerly anticipated reads of the year. I read the first in the series, A Tapping at My Door last year when it was first released and WOW, I absolutely loved it. Click here to read my five-star review. So much so it made it to my books of 2016 list. I had incredibly high hopes for this second instalment.
And having read (read = devoured) Hope to Die I can confirm that I am not the slightest bit disappointed; this book was well and truly worth the wait! Dare I even go as far as to say that I preferred it ever so slightly to the first book? Hmmm……
DS Nathan Cody is one damaged copper. Having been involved in an undercover mission which went dreadfully wrong several years ago, Cody has yet to shake the guilt and the terrors viciously pummelled into him that night. A word to the wise, if you feel any sort of unease when it comes to evil clowns then this may not be the book for you. I am terrified of the blighters but found some strange, perverse enjoyment in reading about Cody’s association with the malicious monsters. Who knows, you may feel the same way I do!
The incredibly intense first chapter drew me immediately into the book and I consumed the whole thing, from start to finish, in less than 24 hours (which for me is really very quick). That old cliche, I couldn’t put it down…? Well, I couldn’t. Nor did I want to. It was a delight to be back in the Major Incident Team alongside Cody, the formidable DCI Stella Blunt, the kind-hearted yet newly bolshy DC Webley. What an awesome team and yes, I may be a little bit in love with them all.
Called to the scene of a vicious murder in the grounds of a cathedral, the team are left stumped. Their victim is a single middle aged woman, a teacher of religious studies at the local girls’ school with no skeletons in her closet, no one close enough to bear a grudge. They are left floundering. Then a second body turns up, this one not so innocent but associated with the Catholic cathedral. Could the link between these two victims be their beliefs? Will Cody and the team discover who their twisted killer is before a third victim meets their maker…?
I absolutely loved it. One of my favourite reads of the year. It may be that the murders have a religious connotation, which has always appealed to me. It may be the subtle humour Jackson writes into his character’s narrative or it may just be that it’s an absolutely stonking crime thriller series that I insist you check out. As I approached the end of the book I had a fair idea of ‘whodunit’ but that didn’t take away from my enjoyment at all. (I was right by the way.)
Would I recommend this book? You have to ask? Absolutely. This one is definitely on the list of my top reads for 2017. Cody and Megan have the most wonderful chemistry and I have high hopes for their future (I can hope, anyway!). A stellar piece of crime fiction which I want all fans of the genre to read and enjoy. It works perfectly well as a standalone but why bother when you can read the stunning A Tapping at My Door as well. Brilliant work, well done Mr Jackson.
Five out of five stars.
I chose to read and review an eARC of Hope to Die. The above review is my own unbiased opinion.
And having read (read = devoured) Hope to Die I can confirm that I am not the slightest bit disappointed; this book was well and truly worth the wait! Dare I even go as far as to say that I preferred it ever so slightly to the first book? Hmmm……
DS Nathan Cody is one damaged copper. Having been involved in an undercover mission which went dreadfully wrong several years ago, Cody has yet to shake the guilt and the terrors viciously pummelled into him that night. A word to the wise, if you feel any sort of unease when it comes to evil clowns then this may not be the book for you. I am terrified of the blighters but found some strange, perverse enjoyment in reading about Cody’s association with the malicious monsters. Who knows, you may feel the same way I do!
The incredibly intense first chapter drew me immediately into the book and I consumed the whole thing, from start to finish, in less than 24 hours (which for me is really very quick). That old cliche, I couldn’t put it down…? Well, I couldn’t. Nor did I want to. It was a delight to be back in the Major Incident Team alongside Cody, the formidable DCI Stella Blunt, the kind-hearted yet newly bolshy DC Webley. What an awesome team and yes, I may be a little bit in love with them all.
Called to the scene of a vicious murder in the grounds of a cathedral, the team are left stumped. Their victim is a single middle aged woman, a teacher of religious studies at the local girls’ school with no skeletons in her closet, no one close enough to bear a grudge. They are left floundering. Then a second body turns up, this one not so innocent but associated with the Catholic cathedral. Could the link between these two victims be their beliefs? Will Cody and the team discover who their twisted killer is before a third victim meets their maker…?
I absolutely loved it. One of my favourite reads of the year. It may be that the murders have a religious connotation, which has always appealed to me. It may be the subtle humour Jackson writes into his character’s narrative or it may just be that it’s an absolutely stonking crime thriller series that I insist you check out. As I approached the end of the book I had a fair idea of ‘whodunit’ but that didn’t take away from my enjoyment at all. (I was right by the way.)
Would I recommend this book? You have to ask? Absolutely. This one is definitely on the list of my top reads for 2017. Cody and Megan have the most wonderful chemistry and I have high hopes for their future (I can hope, anyway!). A stellar piece of crime fiction which I want all fans of the genre to read and enjoy. It works perfectly well as a standalone but why bother when you can read the stunning A Tapping at My Door as well. Brilliant work, well done Mr Jackson.
Five out of five stars.
I chose to read and review an eARC of Hope to Die. The above review is my own unbiased opinion.
June 6, 2017
Winter is here, Liverpool Cathedral and the snow is falling.
Can you picture the scene?
The stunning, red brick building, smattered with the softest white snow, the deep, wide stairs barely visible, the surrounding trees glistening whilst the branches, heavy with the snow fall, dance gently in the breeze ... perfect for a romantic stroll ... until you see the blood that is ...
For this is the location of the first gruesome murder.
Bludgeoned to death in what appears to be the most random of crimes, DS Nathan Cody and his team are struggling to find any reason for this person to be dead. She seems almost too good to be true.
I absolutely loved this book! What a bloody belter!!!!
This is the first of Jackson's books that I have had the pleasure of reading but it WILL NOT BE THE LAST!!!
His writing is strong and descriptive in that magical way that transports you straight to the scene so you can almost touch DS Cody and the team ... Just brilliant!
Although this is the second book in the series, I did not feel left out having not read book one, there was enough information given about it for me to get a great understanding about what had happened, without, I suspect, boring those who had read it. DS Cody had a hard time in the last book and as he struggles to find the killer from the cathedral, his ghosts are coming back to haunt him, making for some seriously creepy scenes.
I quite simply adored Jackson's writing. I couldn't get enough to be honest. I love the dynamics he has created with the team, I love how they interact, how they care and how they all develop and take the lime light at times. I love how I was pulled into the pages, how the story gripped me from the start and how that feeling never let up (you know the one ... where you literally cannot put the book down?!)
The background stories fill enough of the pages to bring the characters to life, to make them real and oh so likeable.
I cannot recommend this series enough and I will certainly be waiting with bated breath for the next instalment!!!
I was lucky enough to have this both in hardback and audio and both were utterly amazing. I jumped between the two depending on where I was and what I was doing. The narration from Jonathan Keeble was outstanding, to the point that I have downloaded some more books, just because he narrates them!!!
Can you picture the scene?
The stunning, red brick building, smattered with the softest white snow, the deep, wide stairs barely visible, the surrounding trees glistening whilst the branches, heavy with the snow fall, dance gently in the breeze ... perfect for a romantic stroll ... until you see the blood that is ...
For this is the location of the first gruesome murder.
Bludgeoned to death in what appears to be the most random of crimes, DS Nathan Cody and his team are struggling to find any reason for this person to be dead. She seems almost too good to be true.
I absolutely loved this book! What a bloody belter!!!!
This is the first of Jackson's books that I have had the pleasure of reading but it WILL NOT BE THE LAST!!!
His writing is strong and descriptive in that magical way that transports you straight to the scene so you can almost touch DS Cody and the team ... Just brilliant!
Although this is the second book in the series, I did not feel left out having not read book one, there was enough information given about it for me to get a great understanding about what had happened, without, I suspect, boring those who had read it. DS Cody had a hard time in the last book and as he struggles to find the killer from the cathedral, his ghosts are coming back to haunt him, making for some seriously creepy scenes.
I quite simply adored Jackson's writing. I couldn't get enough to be honest. I love the dynamics he has created with the team, I love how they interact, how they care and how they all develop and take the lime light at times. I love how I was pulled into the pages, how the story gripped me from the start and how that feeling never let up (you know the one ... where you literally cannot put the book down?!)
The background stories fill enough of the pages to bring the characters to life, to make them real and oh so likeable.
I cannot recommend this series enough and I will certainly be waiting with bated breath for the next instalment!!!
I was lucky enough to have this both in hardback and audio and both were utterly amazing. I jumped between the two depending on where I was and what I was doing. The narration from Jonathan Keeble was outstanding, to the point that I have downloaded some more books, just because he narrates them!!!
March 7, 2017
I would like to thank Netgalley and Bonnier Zaffre for an advance copy of Hope To Die, the second Liverpool based police procedural to feature DS Nathan Cody.
Mary Cowper, a good Christian teacher, is murdered by a man with a hammer in the grounds of an Anglican church. Cody and the team can find no reason for the murder so their sense of foreboding increases when another woman is murdered in the same way in the grounds of a Catholic Church.
Hope To Die is a good read. The murder plot is fairly straightforward with one thing leading to another until they uncover the culprit. There are several chapters on the unnamed killer's childhood. Again, there is nothing particularly new in it, a mother's sadism wrapped up in religion. The strength of the novel lies in Cody and what is going on in his life. About a year before Cody and his partner were undercover when they were discovered and tortured by men in clown masks. His partner didn't make it and Cody lost 4 toes and some of his sanity. He obviously has PTSD but tries to hide it to keep his job. Now, however, he is being tortured psychologically, initially with silent night time calls, but it's escalating. This will be a theme that runs through the series as nothing is revealed or resolved in Hope To Die. I'm unsure about this running theme. It has got extremely tiresome in Chelsea Cain's and Peter James's novels but at the moment it is interesting.
The characterisation is all about Cody and the only other strong character is Megan Webley, his co-worker and former girlfriend. They have an interesting dynamic. I'll be interested to see how the new civilian analyst, Grace, works out as she seems unstable and has the potential to become a real bunny boiler.
Mr Jackson has a good writing style which makes the novel easy to read. I like the banter between the characters and the rubbish jokes and puns as it seems so everyday.
I enjoyed Hope To Die and have no hesitation in recommending it as a good read.
Mary Cowper, a good Christian teacher, is murdered by a man with a hammer in the grounds of an Anglican church. Cody and the team can find no reason for the murder so their sense of foreboding increases when another woman is murdered in the same way in the grounds of a Catholic Church.
Hope To Die is a good read. The murder plot is fairly straightforward with one thing leading to another until they uncover the culprit. There are several chapters on the unnamed killer's childhood. Again, there is nothing particularly new in it, a mother's sadism wrapped up in religion. The strength of the novel lies in Cody and what is going on in his life. About a year before Cody and his partner were undercover when they were discovered and tortured by men in clown masks. His partner didn't make it and Cody lost 4 toes and some of his sanity. He obviously has PTSD but tries to hide it to keep his job. Now, however, he is being tortured psychologically, initially with silent night time calls, but it's escalating. This will be a theme that runs through the series as nothing is revealed or resolved in Hope To Die. I'm unsure about this running theme. It has got extremely tiresome in Chelsea Cain's and Peter James's novels but at the moment it is interesting.
The characterisation is all about Cody and the only other strong character is Megan Webley, his co-worker and former girlfriend. They have an interesting dynamic. I'll be interested to see how the new civilian analyst, Grace, works out as she seems unstable and has the potential to become a real bunny boiler.
Mr Jackson has a good writing style which makes the novel easy to read. I like the banter between the characters and the rubbish jokes and puns as it seems so everyday.
I enjoyed Hope To Die and have no hesitation in recommending it as a good read.
May 9, 2018
This was pretty darn good. A school teacher's body is found outside an Anglican cathedral. Hmm, strange. The woman was very religious but no motive for the murder is apparent. Then a dead prostitute is found outside a Catholic cathedral. OK, now its getting interesting.
Nathan Cody and his crew are investigating these murders. Much of their progress comes from newbie, Grace, a geek tech wizard but also all round smart cookie who has some pretty good ideas. Meanwhile Nathan is being plagued by crank phone calls. These get more creepy and menacing as time goes on and Nathan realises they're related to his nightmares. On the surface he seems OK but he is still plagued by nightmares from the time he was caught during an undercover operation and was tortured by guys in clown masks and forced to watch his partner being killed.
The killer in this book had an awful childhood and we see things from his perspective in some of the chapters. Although it doesn't excuse what he is doing it does go some way towards explaining it. We're left with a cliffhanger as it becomes clear that the clown dudes are not yet finished with Nathan Cody. Eek, I'm looking forward to THAT showdown!
Nathan Cody and his crew are investigating these murders. Much of their progress comes from newbie, Grace, a geek tech wizard but also all round smart cookie who has some pretty good ideas. Meanwhile Nathan is being plagued by crank phone calls. These get more creepy and menacing as time goes on and Nathan realises they're related to his nightmares. On the surface he seems OK but he is still plagued by nightmares from the time he was caught during an undercover operation and was tortured by guys in clown masks and forced to watch his partner being killed.
The killer in this book had an awful childhood and we see things from his perspective in some of the chapters. Although it doesn't excuse what he is doing it does go some way towards explaining it. We're left with a cliffhanger as it becomes clear that the clown dudes are not yet finished with Nathan Cody. Eek, I'm looking forward to THAT showdown!
October 20, 2017
Very impressive. Cody, Webley, Blunt and co are getting better and better with every outing and Cody's continuing psychological problems are such a clever leitmotif. David Jackson has created a team of characters the reader will care about and his plotting and pace in this book are testimony to a writer at the top of his game. The vividly evoked Liverpool setting, the intriguing story and characters who really come to life would translate so effectively to TV that I wouldn't be at all surprised to see this picked up before long. If you like a real page-turner with a lot of intelligence, give this one a try.
April 27, 2017
To call this a thriller is an understatement. At first, I wasn't sure where the story was going, but as it went on, I found it incredibly hard to stop reading. Some passages are ultimately harrowing, dealing with the experience of child abuse at the hands of a devout mother, and one or two of these actually upset me (which takes a lot of doing!). But elsewhere the pace of the plot and the twists and turns of the case were riveting, and I genuinely didn't see the ending coming. Looking forward to reading some more David Jackson!
July 14, 2018
My actual rating is 2.5 stars. Compared to the other books I've read just recently this novel just wasn't quite as good.
April 25, 2017
I love the storyline of these books but I just hate the ongoing story about the clowns and phone calls to Nathan Cody. I’m good with the serial killer so I don’t need to read about the hero’s failing mental health. At only 42% I was wondering if I was even going to finish this book. If it weren’t for the narration I probably wouldn’t have. I knew, however, if this was still a problem at the end of this book I wouldn’t be reading any more from this author.
At 71% we finished with another long episode of Cody and the clowns. They keep scaring him shitless and he can’t even concentrate at work. He’s even alienated Megan. She didn’t want a thing to do with him.
I mean, really? Who wants a hero with mental problems? First in A Tapping at My Door and now it continues in this book, with no end in sight? As much as I enjoyed the serial killer stories in these two books I’m completely done. I’ll make up my own ending, rather than think about Cody being on the verge of insanity in every book, and not knowing when the next part of the story is going to be published.
I’m rating this book on the serial killer part ONLY. The latter part of this review was my own personal rant about the lousy way this was written, as far as Cody was concerned.
The story was very good and very exciting and I love that you have no idea who the killer is until near the end. And throughout the book I felt so sorry for him. It was so hard to read his story and I could see why his head was so screwed up. What a dysfunctional family that was.
He killed three women, all the while killing one woman in particular, but never having the nerve to kill THAT one. The solving of the case was taken away from with Cody’s mental problems.
AS to the narration: Phenomenal. Jonathan Keeble gets better with every book he reads. His emotions are just incredible.
At 71% we finished with another long episode of Cody and the clowns. They keep scaring him shitless and he can’t even concentrate at work. He’s even alienated Megan. She didn’t want a thing to do with him.
I mean, really? Who wants a hero with mental problems? First in A Tapping at My Door and now it continues in this book, with no end in sight? As much as I enjoyed the serial killer stories in these two books I’m completely done. I’ll make up my own ending, rather than think about Cody being on the verge of insanity in every book, and not knowing when the next part of the story is going to be published.
I’m rating this book on the serial killer part ONLY. The latter part of this review was my own personal rant about the lousy way this was written, as far as Cody was concerned.
The story was very good and very exciting and I love that you have no idea who the killer is until near the end. And throughout the book I felt so sorry for him. It was so hard to read his story and I could see why his head was so screwed up. What a dysfunctional family that was.
He killed three women, all the while killing one woman in particular, but never having the nerve to kill THAT one. The solving of the case was taken away from with Cody’s mental problems.
AS to the narration: Phenomenal. Jonathan Keeble gets better with every book he reads. His emotions are just incredible.
February 2, 2026
I first read book 1 in this series years ago back in 2018. I knew that I really enjoyed the first book and decided to play catch up with this series with book 2 featuring DS Nathan Cody. This latest book sees Nathan called to the grounds of a Cathedral where a brutal murder has taken place. Nathan and the team work the case until the body of a second victim turns up also in the grounds of a Cathedral which makes their job even harder.
The thing that got me with the first book in this series is the main character himself. Whilst Nathan was working undercover he suffered trauma which hasn't left him and this is woven into the storyline which makes for an absolutely compelling read because we really get to know Nathan Cody on a personal level and not just in work mode. We also get to see the story continue between Nathan and his colleague (who also happens to be his ex) Megan Webley.
One character I absolutely loved who I think is one to watch is the new Tech member of the team Grace. I think there may be some real interesting things to come with her in the mix. David Jackson also manages to give me that spine tingling sensation when reading. I'm not a fan of reading on a late, dark and miserable when the author manages to make you unnerved as a reader. That in itself is a total skill!!!
This book made for an enthralling read and I absolutely loved getting back into this series. I am happy that I can move straight on to book 3 in this series....
The thing that got me with the first book in this series is the main character himself. Whilst Nathan was working undercover he suffered trauma which hasn't left him and this is woven into the storyline which makes for an absolutely compelling read because we really get to know Nathan Cody on a personal level and not just in work mode. We also get to see the story continue between Nathan and his colleague (who also happens to be his ex) Megan Webley.
One character I absolutely loved who I think is one to watch is the new Tech member of the team Grace. I think there may be some real interesting things to come with her in the mix. David Jackson also manages to give me that spine tingling sensation when reading. I'm not a fan of reading on a late, dark and miserable when the author manages to make you unnerved as a reader. That in itself is a total skill!!!
This book made for an enthralling read and I absolutely loved getting back into this series. I am happy that I can move straight on to book 3 in this series....
May 31, 2017
A follow up to A Tapping At My Door, Hope To Die could be read as a standalone novel but you would get more enjoyment from it if you know and understand why Nathan Cody is hurting emotionally and physically.
The novel starts with a murder in one of my favourite areas of Liverpool, the gardens surrounding the Anglican Cathedral. I’ve always enjoyed reading a novel where I know the area and the Cathedral and the Georgian Quarter of Liverpool is one I know quite well. The footpath where the murder takes place is one where I wouldn’t dream of going when its dark. There is a lot of history and a lot of graves!
All the team are there, my favourite character Blunt, Webley and Ferguson and of course Cody. Cody is still struggling with his demons and doesn’t know to handle Webley. Most of the time it ends up being the wrong way, which doesn’t go unnoticed by Blunt. There is also a new member of the team. One who I really didn’t know whether I should like her or fear her. This was a person I found a little disturbing and I feel there is plenty to discover in further novels.
The murders take place quickly and there doesn’t appear to be a connection. There are also flashbacks from the person who could be the killer. There is no identification or any clue to when the events took place. They are, however, very convincing and quite upsetting because of how real they felt.
This is a study of different personalities and how the past can affect the present and the future. Both the killer and Cody have suffered but both cope or otherwise in different ways. Cody senses that the persecutors from the past are getting closer but he doesn’t know how to deal with it. The ending of the book showed that there is much more to come with this series.
With thanks to the publisher for the copy received.
The novel starts with a murder in one of my favourite areas of Liverpool, the gardens surrounding the Anglican Cathedral. I’ve always enjoyed reading a novel where I know the area and the Cathedral and the Georgian Quarter of Liverpool is one I know quite well. The footpath where the murder takes place is one where I wouldn’t dream of going when its dark. There is a lot of history and a lot of graves!
All the team are there, my favourite character Blunt, Webley and Ferguson and of course Cody. Cody is still struggling with his demons and doesn’t know to handle Webley. Most of the time it ends up being the wrong way, which doesn’t go unnoticed by Blunt. There is also a new member of the team. One who I really didn’t know whether I should like her or fear her. This was a person I found a little disturbing and I feel there is plenty to discover in further novels.
The murders take place quickly and there doesn’t appear to be a connection. There are also flashbacks from the person who could be the killer. There is no identification or any clue to when the events took place. They are, however, very convincing and quite upsetting because of how real they felt.
This is a study of different personalities and how the past can affect the present and the future. Both the killer and Cody have suffered but both cope or otherwise in different ways. Cody senses that the persecutors from the past are getting closer but he doesn’t know how to deal with it. The ending of the book showed that there is much more to come with this series.
With thanks to the publisher for the copy received.
August 30, 2017
David Jackson does it again another crack a jack of a read
A cleverly plotted police procedural superbly written which will you leave you guessing until the end, in Nathan Cody you have a tortured soul a character with a great back story that the author keeps drip feeding the reader.
You get a real feelimg of authenticity within the storyline that helps the book to flow and the pages to turn, top notch entertainment.
As usual with the ending you have that great sense of wanting more to know what further dark places Cody is to be taken
As with all the authors books would highly recommend an author who deserves to be widely read
A cleverly plotted police procedural superbly written which will you leave you guessing until the end, in Nathan Cody you have a tortured soul a character with a great back story that the author keeps drip feeding the reader.
You get a real feelimg of authenticity within the storyline that helps the book to flow and the pages to turn, top notch entertainment.
As usual with the ending you have that great sense of wanting more to know what further dark places Cody is to be taken
As with all the authors books would highly recommend an author who deserves to be widely read
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