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DS Heckenburg #7
Kiss of Death
Could this be the end for Heck?The Sunday Times bestseller returns with an unforgettable crime thriller. Fans of MJ Arlidge and Stuart MacBride won’t be able to put this down.
Don’t let them catch you…
A Deadly HuntDS ‘Heck’ Heckenburg has been tasked with retrieving one of the UK’s most wanted men. But the trail runs cold when Heck discovers a video tape showing the fugitive in a fight for his life. A fight he has no chance of winning.
A Dangerous GameHeck realises that there’s another player in this game of cat and mouse, and this time, they’ve not just caught the they’ve made sure no one else ever does.
A Man Who Plays With FireHow far will Heck and his team go to protect some of the UK’s most brutal killers? And what price is he willing to pay?
Don’t let them catch you…
A Deadly HuntDS ‘Heck’ Heckenburg has been tasked with retrieving one of the UK’s most wanted men. But the trail runs cold when Heck discovers a video tape showing the fugitive in a fight for his life. A fight he has no chance of winning.
A Dangerous GameHeck realises that there’s another player in this game of cat and mouse, and this time, they’ve not just caught the they’ve made sure no one else ever does.
A Man Who Plays With FireHow far will Heck and his team go to protect some of the UK’s most brutal killers? And what price is he willing to pay?
465 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 9, 2018
98 people are currently reading
286 people want to read
About the author
Paul Finch
206 books464 followersPaul Finch is a former cop and journalist, now full-time writer. Having originally written for the television series THE BILL plus children's animation and DOCTOR WHO audio dramas, he went on to write horror, but is now best known for his crime / thriller fiction.
He won the British Fantasy Award twice and the International Horror Guild Award, but since then has written two parallel series of hard-hitting crime novels, the Heck and the Lucy Clayburn novels, of which three titles have become best-sellers.
Paul lives in Wigan, Lancashire, UK with his wife and children.
He won the British Fantasy Award twice and the International Horror Guild Award, but since then has written two parallel series of hard-hitting crime novels, the Heck and the Lucy Clayburn novels, of which three titles have become best-sellers.
Paul lives in Wigan, Lancashire, UK with his wife and children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews
September 16, 2018
EXCERPT: It was a strange thing, but as recently as one day ago, if you'd asked Brian Kelso which of two desperate criminals you'd expect to be the most unrestrainedly violent - the older one, or the younger one - he'd have opted for the younger one every time.
But of course, the last nine hours had not just changed his views on that, it had changed everything.
ABOUT THIS BOOK: Don’t let them catch you…
A Deadly Hunt
DS ‘Heck’ Heckenburg has been tasked with retrieving one of the UK’s most wanted men. But the trail runs cold when Heck discovers a video tape showing the fugitive in a fight for his life. A fight he has no chance of winning.
A Dangerous Game
Heck realises that there’s another player in this game of cat and mouse, and this time, they’ve not just caught the prize: they’ve made sure no one else ever does.
A Man Who Plays With Fire
How far will Heck and his team go to protect some of the UK’s most brutal killers? And what price is he willing to pay?
MY THOUGHTS: I have read some, but not all, of the previous books in this series and mostly loved them. Heck has always been a man of action but, even for him, Kiss Of Death takes this to the extreme. I admit to liking a bit, well actually a lot, more subtlety than what we get here, which is purely gung-ho action man stuff.
If you like lots of violent action, fight scenes, shoot outs and blowing things up, you will love this, but it's not for me. Definitely not my favorite in this series. But I still definitely recommend this series as a really good read.
😕😕😕
THE AUTHOR: Paul Finch is a former cop and journalist, now full-time writer. Having originally written for the television series THE BILL plus children's animation and DOCTOR WHO audio dramas, he went on to write horror, but is now best known for his crime / thriller fiction.
He won the British Fantasy Award twice and the International Horror Guild Award, but since then has written two parallel series of hard-hitting crime novels, the Heck and the Lucy Clayburn novels, of which three titles have become best-sellers.
Paul lives in Wigan, Lancashire, UK with his wife and children.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Avon Books via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of Kiss of Death by Paul Finch for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system.
This review and others are also published on my blog sandysbookaday.wordpress.com https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
But of course, the last nine hours had not just changed his views on that, it had changed everything.
ABOUT THIS BOOK: Don’t let them catch you…
A Deadly Hunt
DS ‘Heck’ Heckenburg has been tasked with retrieving one of the UK’s most wanted men. But the trail runs cold when Heck discovers a video tape showing the fugitive in a fight for his life. A fight he has no chance of winning.
A Dangerous Game
Heck realises that there’s another player in this game of cat and mouse, and this time, they’ve not just caught the prize: they’ve made sure no one else ever does.
A Man Who Plays With Fire
How far will Heck and his team go to protect some of the UK’s most brutal killers? And what price is he willing to pay?
MY THOUGHTS: I have read some, but not all, of the previous books in this series and mostly loved them. Heck has always been a man of action but, even for him, Kiss Of Death takes this to the extreme. I admit to liking a bit, well actually a lot, more subtlety than what we get here, which is purely gung-ho action man stuff.
If you like lots of violent action, fight scenes, shoot outs and blowing things up, you will love this, but it's not for me. Definitely not my favorite in this series. But I still definitely recommend this series as a really good read.
😕😕😕
THE AUTHOR: Paul Finch is a former cop and journalist, now full-time writer. Having originally written for the television series THE BILL plus children's animation and DOCTOR WHO audio dramas, he went on to write horror, but is now best known for his crime / thriller fiction.
He won the British Fantasy Award twice and the International Horror Guild Award, but since then has written two parallel series of hard-hitting crime novels, the Heck and the Lucy Clayburn novels, of which three titles have become best-sellers.
Paul lives in Wigan, Lancashire, UK with his wife and children.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Avon Books via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of Kiss of Death by Paul Finch for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system.
This review and others are also published on my blog sandysbookaday.wordpress.com https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
December 11, 2018
I have a tendency to let the books I need to review pile up a bit. So, when I sat down to write reviews today and it was this book turn did the remembrance of the books godawful ending hit me again. And, I had managed to move on. And, now it all comes back to me...
First, I want to say that this is the first book I have read in the DS Heckenburg series, and I didn't know until I had started to read it that it was book seven. That didn't bother me much, just meant I have six books more to read. I had previously read the novella Death’s Door so I was a bit familiar with Heck.
As for this story, it was interesting especially when it all started to make sense, you know why all those dangerous men could have disappeared from the face of the earth. And I loved the fact that a short conversation at the beginning of the book where Heck learns some interesting, but at the time relevant, facts would, later on, be important to the case. Now, the story is good, I felt that this is a perfectly alright crime novel. And, then BAM Paul Finch decided to end the book with a twist so big that I mentally felt my jaw drop. Now, these are all pretty new characters for me, but that ending hit me so hard. I never ever expected that ending. I did feel before that godawful ending that the story had its ups and downs, you know a good crime novel. Some slow parts and some really good parts. However, Paul Finch saved the best (or the worts?) until the last minute...
I want to thank the publisher for providing me with a free copy through NetGalley for an honest review!
First, I want to say that this is the first book I have read in the DS Heckenburg series, and I didn't know until I had started to read it that it was book seven. That didn't bother me much, just meant I have six books more to read. I had previously read the novella Death’s Door so I was a bit familiar with Heck.
As for this story, it was interesting especially when it all started to make sense, you know why all those dangerous men could have disappeared from the face of the earth. And I loved the fact that a short conversation at the beginning of the book where Heck learns some interesting, but at the time relevant, facts would, later on, be important to the case. Now, the story is good, I felt that this is a perfectly alright crime novel. And, then BAM Paul Finch decided to end the book with a twist so big that I mentally felt my jaw drop. Now, these are all pretty new characters for me, but that ending hit me so hard. I never ever expected that ending. I did feel before that godawful ending that the story had its ups and downs, you know a good crime novel. Some slow parts and some really good parts. However, Paul Finch saved the best (or the worts?) until the last minute...
I want to thank the publisher for providing me with a free copy through NetGalley for an honest review!
August 19, 2018
Oh Heck! This one was a bit of a rollercoaster ride.
If you love this series, as indeed I do, then Kiss of Death will tick all the boxes and then some, a purely brilliant read, truly edge of the seat stuff with an ending so devilishly clever you may well be stunned into silence for a while.
The writing is sublimely immersive with a darkly edgy feel, the case Heck is on this time takes off in beautifully unexpected directions and did I mention that ending? Yeah that one is going to stick for a while.
Pure entertainment, top notch crime fiction with a strong emotional core. Huge brownie points for this one. Bring on the next!
Highly Recommended.
If you love this series, as indeed I do, then Kiss of Death will tick all the boxes and then some, a purely brilliant read, truly edge of the seat stuff with an ending so devilishly clever you may well be stunned into silence for a while.
The writing is sublimely immersive with a darkly edgy feel, the case Heck is on this time takes off in beautifully unexpected directions and did I mention that ending? Yeah that one is going to stick for a while.
Pure entertainment, top notch crime fiction with a strong emotional core. Huge brownie points for this one. Bring on the next!
Highly Recommended.
August 8, 2018
'Kiss of Death' is the seventh book in the DS Mark 'Heck' Heckenburg series by The Sunday Times bestselling author Paul Finch, and after taking a break in 2016 to be replaced by the DC Lucy Clayburn series of which there are now two bestselling books, Heck is back with a bang in 'Kiss of Death' but could this be the end for him in this new and compelling tale? Flaming Nora everybody, protect yourself because this is one rough ride!
As with all of the previous books, the story itself is self-contained meaning the books can be read as standalones or in any order. That said, Heck is (forgive me) a heck of a character and to understand his behaviour, complex personality and motivations fully you need to follow his evolution from the first novel in the series right the way through. Reflecting the current austerity situation here in the UK, there are rumours that the Serial Crime Unit (SCU), the specialist team who look into niche crimes, is to be disbanded to save police money. They are viewed as an unnecessary extravagance and most believe that the money would be better placed elsewhere. So, in a bid to save their jobs the team have reassigned themselves to Operation Sledgehammer and the dangerous job of tracking down and apprehending the UK's most wanted, with Heck tasked with finding a particularly nasty armed robber named Eddie Creeley who stands accused of disposing of his robbery victims in disturbing fashion. Unfortunately, noone knows where Creeley is until his sister receives a video and the whole search criteria changes - Heck is now searching for a violent psychopathic killer who has fallen in the clutches of someone who could be even more dangerous than himself, not only is Creeley in grave danger but Heck may be too. Let the games begin!
I thoroughly enjoyed some of the moral dilemmas explored in this book and the fact that the police still have to protect the life of psychopath Creeley despite him not valuing the life of his victims would be a tough one for anyone to stomach but in reality the police have to deal with these complexities everyday. This is a story that plays with your mind but never fails to make you consider the bigger picture. Finch's stories tend to have an authentic feel about them and that is no surprise, being a former cop and a scriptwriter for television police drama's. There is always action aplenty and I have found every one of his books to be extremely exciting and wholly gripping, sometimes the pages can't turn fast enough! 'Kiss of Death' begins at quite a steady pace for a Finch novel but it soon picks up to the usual breakneck speed I have come to both love and expect from his books. The story contained in each particular book is always unique and original and this one was no exception. And boy! That ending was certainly explosive, really explosive. I am pleased to report that Mr. Finch has the cliffhanger down to a fine art!
All in all, if you can suspend your disbelief for some aspects of the plot you will be well rewarded. Another episode of Heck fun and frolics comes to an end... until the next time y'all. Recommended for fans of Simon Kernick, Mark Billingham, M. J. Arlidge and Stuart McBride and crime buffs who like pacy, action-packed adventures.
Many thanks to Avon for an ARC. I was not required to post a review and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
As with all of the previous books, the story itself is self-contained meaning the books can be read as standalones or in any order. That said, Heck is (forgive me) a heck of a character and to understand his behaviour, complex personality and motivations fully you need to follow his evolution from the first novel in the series right the way through. Reflecting the current austerity situation here in the UK, there are rumours that the Serial Crime Unit (SCU), the specialist team who look into niche crimes, is to be disbanded to save police money. They are viewed as an unnecessary extravagance and most believe that the money would be better placed elsewhere. So, in a bid to save their jobs the team have reassigned themselves to Operation Sledgehammer and the dangerous job of tracking down and apprehending the UK's most wanted, with Heck tasked with finding a particularly nasty armed robber named Eddie Creeley who stands accused of disposing of his robbery victims in disturbing fashion. Unfortunately, noone knows where Creeley is until his sister receives a video and the whole search criteria changes - Heck is now searching for a violent psychopathic killer who has fallen in the clutches of someone who could be even more dangerous than himself, not only is Creeley in grave danger but Heck may be too. Let the games begin!
I thoroughly enjoyed some of the moral dilemmas explored in this book and the fact that the police still have to protect the life of psychopath Creeley despite him not valuing the life of his victims would be a tough one for anyone to stomach but in reality the police have to deal with these complexities everyday. This is a story that plays with your mind but never fails to make you consider the bigger picture. Finch's stories tend to have an authentic feel about them and that is no surprise, being a former cop and a scriptwriter for television police drama's. There is always action aplenty and I have found every one of his books to be extremely exciting and wholly gripping, sometimes the pages can't turn fast enough! 'Kiss of Death' begins at quite a steady pace for a Finch novel but it soon picks up to the usual breakneck speed I have come to both love and expect from his books. The story contained in each particular book is always unique and original and this one was no exception. And boy! That ending was certainly explosive, really explosive. I am pleased to report that Mr. Finch has the cliffhanger down to a fine art!
All in all, if you can suspend your disbelief for some aspects of the plot you will be well rewarded. Another episode of Heck fun and frolics comes to an end... until the next time y'all. Recommended for fans of Simon Kernick, Mark Billingham, M. J. Arlidge and Stuart McBride and crime buffs who like pacy, action-packed adventures.
Many thanks to Avon for an ARC. I was not required to post a review and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
August 12, 2018
This is one of the very best crime series about and arguably Kiss of Death is the best. A fine plot, cleverly revealed with Heck continuing to put himself forward, to go alone, to risk it all. Perhaps the time is coming when he must decide if he wants to carry on this way. What an ending.... Review to follow shortly on FOr Winter Nights.
July 8, 2018
Kiss of Death – Heck is back
Paul Finch has once again brought back his best creation, Detective Sergeant Mark ‘Heck’ Heckenburg. Finch once again gives Heck that stubborn northern attitude that we all love and has created an edge of the seat thriller with Kiss of Death. Heck thinks there needs to be changes and changes are coming, but not possibly how he thinks.
The Serious Crimes Unit are on borrowed time, with cutbacks and less resources, they could be next on the list for Policing cuts. When Gemma Piper decides to team up with the cold case team, also under threat of closure, so that they can bring in the top 20 most wanted criminals in Britain, in Operation Sledgehammer.
For the detective that loves to work on his own and do his own thing has been assigned a partner someone he has worked with before, Gail Honeyford. Then sent on their way to Hull to find a lead on their wanted criminal. While finding a major break in the case for their wanted felon, they uncover a whole new world of trouble. While at the same time upsetting members of the Humberside force, and some of their top brass.
What is uncovered shocks at first and may not have the full sympathy of any copper, they still have a job to do. Someone is killing their 20 most wanted before they have had time to capture them. Heck just cannot leave things alone, and like picking a scab, puts himself in danger, even though he is supposed to be off duty.
While some people are happy with the outcome, there are others that are not and may want to get even with Heck and his colleagues. But don’t all criminals?
This is a brilliant page turning thriller that will keep you turning the pages. You may want to read a chapter, but before you know it you are half a book in and hooked. Fast paced, single minded crime fighting from Heck.
How this has never been turned in to a tv series I will never know!
Paul Finch has once again brought back his best creation, Detective Sergeant Mark ‘Heck’ Heckenburg. Finch once again gives Heck that stubborn northern attitude that we all love and has created an edge of the seat thriller with Kiss of Death. Heck thinks there needs to be changes and changes are coming, but not possibly how he thinks.
The Serious Crimes Unit are on borrowed time, with cutbacks and less resources, they could be next on the list for Policing cuts. When Gemma Piper decides to team up with the cold case team, also under threat of closure, so that they can bring in the top 20 most wanted criminals in Britain, in Operation Sledgehammer.
For the detective that loves to work on his own and do his own thing has been assigned a partner someone he has worked with before, Gail Honeyford. Then sent on their way to Hull to find a lead on their wanted criminal. While finding a major break in the case for their wanted felon, they uncover a whole new world of trouble. While at the same time upsetting members of the Humberside force, and some of their top brass.
What is uncovered shocks at first and may not have the full sympathy of any copper, they still have a job to do. Someone is killing their 20 most wanted before they have had time to capture them. Heck just cannot leave things alone, and like picking a scab, puts himself in danger, even though he is supposed to be off duty.
While some people are happy with the outcome, there are others that are not and may want to get even with Heck and his colleagues. But don’t all criminals?
This is a brilliant page turning thriller that will keep you turning the pages. You may want to read a chapter, but before you know it you are half a book in and hooked. Fast paced, single minded crime fighting from Heck.
How this has never been turned in to a tv series I will never know!
June 4, 2018
I would like to thank Netgalley and Avon Books UK for an advance copy of Kiss of Death, the seventh novel to feature DS Mark "Heck" Heckenburg of NCA's Serial Crimes Unit.
With the most recent wave of cuts threatening its existence the SCU is in trouble so DSU Gemma Piper has found a solution in Operation Sledgehammer where, in conjunction with the equally threatened Cold Case Unit, they will hunt down the worst unapprehended suspects and bring them to justice. Heck and newbie DC Gail Honeyford are sent to Hull to apprehend Eddie Creeley but what they discover there sends the case in a new direction.
I thoroughly enjoyed Kiss of Death which is a high octane, action packed read with plenty of unexpected twists and turns. It should be noted that while the premise of the plot is highly improbable it doesn't get in the way of an exciting read which starts with action, finishes with action and has some kind of action in almost every chapter. It is a fairly violent novel which might not appeal to the faint hearted but fairly reflects the world Heck moves in. It makes me think of the blockbuster action films from the 80s. The novel ends in a cliffhanger that no one will see coming and already has me desperate for the next one in the series as it will be very interesting to see what Mr Finch does with the sad scenario he has created.
Heck is the character who drives the novel. He is smart, maverick and seemingly unafraid of anything. He is the one who makes the connections, seeing patterns and relationships other can't and is often the one to collect the information that informs his thinking, often by unorthodox means as he has never seen a rule book he didn't want to tear up. He is always at the thick of the action and no matter how many times he is hit he always gets up to have another go. In some unexpected, candid moments in the novel he explains his attitude for the first time. He has an interesting perspective.
Kiss of Death is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.
With the most recent wave of cuts threatening its existence the SCU is in trouble so DSU Gemma Piper has found a solution in Operation Sledgehammer where, in conjunction with the equally threatened Cold Case Unit, they will hunt down the worst unapprehended suspects and bring them to justice. Heck and newbie DC Gail Honeyford are sent to Hull to apprehend Eddie Creeley but what they discover there sends the case in a new direction.
I thoroughly enjoyed Kiss of Death which is a high octane, action packed read with plenty of unexpected twists and turns. It should be noted that while the premise of the plot is highly improbable it doesn't get in the way of an exciting read which starts with action, finishes with action and has some kind of action in almost every chapter. It is a fairly violent novel which might not appeal to the faint hearted but fairly reflects the world Heck moves in. It makes me think of the blockbuster action films from the 80s. The novel ends in a cliffhanger that no one will see coming and already has me desperate for the next one in the series as it will be very interesting to see what Mr Finch does with the sad scenario he has created.
Heck is the character who drives the novel. He is smart, maverick and seemingly unafraid of anything. He is the one who makes the connections, seeing patterns and relationships other can't and is often the one to collect the information that informs his thinking, often by unorthodox means as he has never seen a rule book he didn't want to tear up. He is always at the thick of the action and no matter how many times he is hit he always gets up to have another go. In some unexpected, candid moments in the novel he explains his attitude for the first time. He has an interesting perspective.
Kiss of Death is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.
August 17, 2018
As I’m sitting here writing this review, my mind keeps flicking back to that ending. I had heard that the ending of this book was going to be quite something and Paul Finch really did deliver. Wow, did he get the adrenaline pumping and now I really want to talk about it with someone, but I definitely can’t say anything about it here. No, you’ll just have to read the book for yourself to find out what happens and if you are a long-time fan of these books and the characters, like me, be prepared to be in for a shock.
Kiss of Death is the seventh book in the DS Mark Heckenburg series. I have been a huge fan of this series since I read Stalkers a couple of years ago and I have read every book since. In the latest book, Heck seems to be at a bit of a loose end in his career and he is tempted to move to a different squad, when the position of a DI arises, particularly as their budget continues to be eaten up by police cuts. This is a theme which runs through the book. You can see that Mark still has strong feelings for his boss, Gemma Piper, otherwise known as The Lioness by her team at Scotland Yard. Over the course of these novels you have been able to see that he has never quite forgiven himself for letting Gemma go after they had a short relationship when they were young police officers. Their relationship has always interested me and Gemma is a character who I find fascinating.
As Heck and the rest of the squad continue to remain uncertain about their future, they are tasked with tracking down some of the UK’s most wanted criminals who have gone on the run. And as their investigation into the missing criminals deepens, it takes a very disturbing path. You don't realise quite how the investigations are going to pan out at the beginning but Paul really pulls the different strands together well.
If you are new to this series then be prepared for an action packed and tense ride. Kiss of Death can easily be read as stand-alone, but I really would recommend going back and starting this series from the beginning. They are all brilliant stories and you will get a lot more enjoyment out of the plot if you see how Paul’s characters have developed over the course of the series.
Heck is such a brilliant character. It was my work colleague who actually first introduced me to these books as Heck is also one of her favourite characters in crime fiction. Unpredictable is one word to describe Heck. He isn’t a police officer who will keenly follow orders, but as Gemma says, he does get results which is why he is sometimes given free reigns on a case. He is an officer who will fight for justice even if it means putting his own life and the lives of others around him at risk. Heck is also a character who you will root for right from the start.
Once you finish reading this book you really will be desperate to read the next book straight away. I know I’ll be first in the queue to read it and I’ll be thinking about what’s happening to Paul’s characters right up until then. Thank you to Sabah Khan at Avon Books for inviting me to take part in the blog tour and for providing me with a copy of the book to read via Netgalley.
Kiss of Death is the seventh book in the DS Mark Heckenburg series. I have been a huge fan of this series since I read Stalkers a couple of years ago and I have read every book since. In the latest book, Heck seems to be at a bit of a loose end in his career and he is tempted to move to a different squad, when the position of a DI arises, particularly as their budget continues to be eaten up by police cuts. This is a theme which runs through the book. You can see that Mark still has strong feelings for his boss, Gemma Piper, otherwise known as The Lioness by her team at Scotland Yard. Over the course of these novels you have been able to see that he has never quite forgiven himself for letting Gemma go after they had a short relationship when they were young police officers. Their relationship has always interested me and Gemma is a character who I find fascinating.
As Heck and the rest of the squad continue to remain uncertain about their future, they are tasked with tracking down some of the UK’s most wanted criminals who have gone on the run. And as their investigation into the missing criminals deepens, it takes a very disturbing path. You don't realise quite how the investigations are going to pan out at the beginning but Paul really pulls the different strands together well.
If you are new to this series then be prepared for an action packed and tense ride. Kiss of Death can easily be read as stand-alone, but I really would recommend going back and starting this series from the beginning. They are all brilliant stories and you will get a lot more enjoyment out of the plot if you see how Paul’s characters have developed over the course of the series.
Heck is such a brilliant character. It was my work colleague who actually first introduced me to these books as Heck is also one of her favourite characters in crime fiction. Unpredictable is one word to describe Heck. He isn’t a police officer who will keenly follow orders, but as Gemma says, he does get results which is why he is sometimes given free reigns on a case. He is an officer who will fight for justice even if it means putting his own life and the lives of others around him at risk. Heck is also a character who you will root for right from the start.
Once you finish reading this book you really will be desperate to read the next book straight away. I know I’ll be first in the queue to read it and I’ll be thinking about what’s happening to Paul’s characters right up until then. Thank you to Sabah Khan at Avon Books for inviting me to take part in the blog tour and for providing me with a copy of the book to read via Netgalley.
August 25, 2018
DS ‘Heck’ Heckenburg and his colleagues have been tasked with finding some of the UK's most wanted men as part of Operation Sledgehammer. A lot rides on them finding these criminals - there are rumours that the Serial Criminal Unit (SCU) that he works for is in danger of being shut down to save money. During his investigations he discovers a film showing the man he is looking for, Eddie Creeley in an unfair fight for his life. It soon transpires that other fugitives on the most wanted list have also mysteriously disappeared and Heck soon realises they might not be the only players in this game of cat and mouse.
Heck has to decide how far he will go to protect some of the UK's most brutal criminals.
Wow! This is a real rollercoaster of a book - from the moment it kicks off to the very last page, Finch manages to keep you turning those pages. A gritty crime thriller, there are tons of dangerous situations Heck and his colleagues find themselves in but all feel (mostly) believeable. I loved the moral dilmena - someone else is taking out the bad guys - why not let them just get on with it?
This is the 7th book in a series of books about the character Heck, but the first one I've read - this didn't matter, it worked well as a stand alone book but I guess you'd be more invested in the characters if you'd read the whole series.
I really enjoyed this - a sign of a good book for me is if you are reading every second you have spare and when I was racing through the pages whilst also trying to cook dinner, I knew I was on to a good thing. I also liked the fact that there were some strong female characters (a couple of the more senior investigators are female). If you like books by Mark Billingham, Stuart MacBridge and Peter James, this is definately for you.
Thank you to Avon Books and Paul Finch for sending me a copy of this book as part of a blog tour.
Heck has to decide how far he will go to protect some of the UK's most brutal criminals.
Wow! This is a real rollercoaster of a book - from the moment it kicks off to the very last page, Finch manages to keep you turning those pages. A gritty crime thriller, there are tons of dangerous situations Heck and his colleagues find themselves in but all feel (mostly) believeable. I loved the moral dilmena - someone else is taking out the bad guys - why not let them just get on with it?
This is the 7th book in a series of books about the character Heck, but the first one I've read - this didn't matter, it worked well as a stand alone book but I guess you'd be more invested in the characters if you'd read the whole series.
I really enjoyed this - a sign of a good book for me is if you are reading every second you have spare and when I was racing through the pages whilst also trying to cook dinner, I knew I was on to a good thing. I also liked the fact that there were some strong female characters (a couple of the more senior investigators are female). If you like books by Mark Billingham, Stuart MacBridge and Peter James, this is definately for you.
Thank you to Avon Books and Paul Finch for sending me a copy of this book as part of a blog tour.
March 12, 2019
A weird thing happened to me. I picked this book up back when it was first released and for some reason after a few chapters I put it down. Don’t ask me why, I think I just wasn’t in the mood for it. It has taken me all this time to finally get back to it. Well now that I have finished I am just plain pissed off. I am thoroughly pissed off that Mr Finch has left us readers in LITERALLY a state of disarray with that cliffhanger of an ending.
Listen I have blogged for years now and gone are the days when I am going to list all the things I loved and give people a detailed rundown of the story line. If you have a keen interest then check out all of my 6 previous Paul Finch reviews for the Heck series. What I will say is this is a typical Finch book featuring Heck. Heck is working a cold case and we see the return of Gail Honeyford as his new partner. Both of these things I wasn’t expecting but they worked tremendously well. There is plenty of action and pace as per normal and the story line kept me entertained throughout.
I found the beginning a little slow which is unusual, but a quarter of the way in and I was gone. A straight session took me all the way through to the end by which point I was practically foaming at the mouth with impatience. I literally was reading so fast with excitement I realised I was missing bits so had to force myself to slow down….and the last chapter….well I was torn between wanting to slap Paul Finch and hugging him for writing such a magnificent ending. This series truly is a fabulous one and I literally CANNOT wait for the next Heck book……
Listen I have blogged for years now and gone are the days when I am going to list all the things I loved and give people a detailed rundown of the story line. If you have a keen interest then check out all of my 6 previous Paul Finch reviews for the Heck series. What I will say is this is a typical Finch book featuring Heck. Heck is working a cold case and we see the return of Gail Honeyford as his new partner. Both of these things I wasn’t expecting but they worked tremendously well. There is plenty of action and pace as per normal and the story line kept me entertained throughout.
I found the beginning a little slow which is unusual, but a quarter of the way in and I was gone. A straight session took me all the way through to the end by which point I was practically foaming at the mouth with impatience. I literally was reading so fast with excitement I realised I was missing bits so had to force myself to slow down….and the last chapter….well I was torn between wanting to slap Paul Finch and hugging him for writing such a magnificent ending. This series truly is a fabulous one and I literally CANNOT wait for the next Heck book……
September 6, 2022
When this author releases a new book I know that I will not be disappointed.
DS Heck Heckenburg is a gritty, no nonsense cop who always gets his man. In this book Heck is part of the Serious Crime Unit and now part of Operation Sledgehammer. The twenty most wanted criminals need to be taken off the streets. Unfortunately someone else has the same idea.
This book was a bit of a slow burner but I am glad I persevered as once the action started it was full throttle until the last page. This is one gritty, hard core crime thriller, I loved it!!!! Can't wait for the next book already downloaded.
DS Heck Heckenburg is a gritty, no nonsense cop who always gets his man. In this book Heck is part of the Serious Crime Unit and now part of Operation Sledgehammer. The twenty most wanted criminals need to be taken off the streets. Unfortunately someone else has the same idea.
This book was a bit of a slow burner but I am glad I persevered as once the action started it was full throttle until the last page. This is one gritty, hard core crime thriller, I loved it!!!! Can't wait for the next book already downloaded.
June 18, 2018
Wow, what a riveting read this was! Packed full of drama and excitement, this book had everything you could want from a detective novel. Well drawn characters, a tense, drama filled plot and an amazing cliffhanger ending! I hadn't realised this was book number 7 in a series revolving around D.S. Mark Heckenburg, but that didn't detract from my enjoyment as the book works perfectly as a standalone and I got a good grasp of his and his colleagues characters. Of course, having read and enjoyed this so much, I now want to go back and discover his full story in the first six books. I also can't wait for book 8, as I just have to see how the explosive ending here plays out. Highly recommended!
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
June 11, 2018
Gripped from page one until the end and now I want more! This is the 7th in the series featuring DS Mark Heckenburg. He works for serious crimes unit under his boss and ex girlfriend DSU Gemma Piper.
Operation Sledghammer is set up to track down the UK’s most wanted but the most wanted are disappearing, is it foul play? I loved how the story unfolded and the characters. The continuing interplay between Gemma and Mark just add to the story.
You could read this without having read the previous books but I would definately recommend reading it. I will be waiting for the next Book!
Operation Sledghammer is set up to track down the UK’s most wanted but the most wanted are disappearing, is it foul play? I loved how the story unfolded and the characters. The continuing interplay between Gemma and Mark just add to the story.
You could read this without having read the previous books but I would definately recommend reading it. I will be waiting for the next Book!
June 3, 2021
Das ist der 7.Band der Mark Heckenburg Reihe von Paul Finch. Der letzte Fall hat mir gut gefallen, aber das Buch fand ich noch ein wenig besser.
Das Cover ist schön anzusehen und auch der Schreibstil ist wie gewohnt flüssig.
Es gibt zahlreiche unerwartete Wendungen und besonders das Ende fand ich sehr überraschen und vor allem echt gemein.
Ich bin sehr gespannt ob da noch was kommt.
Zusammenfassend bekommt das Buch 5 von 5 Sterne und eine Leseempfehlung. Das Buch konnte mich wieder sehr fesseln und unterhalten.
Das Cover ist schön anzusehen und auch der Schreibstil ist wie gewohnt flüssig.
Es gibt zahlreiche unerwartete Wendungen und besonders das Ende fand ich sehr überraschen und vor allem echt gemein.
Ich bin sehr gespannt ob da noch was kommt.
Zusammenfassend bekommt das Buch 5 von 5 Sterne und eine Leseempfehlung. Das Buch konnte mich wieder sehr fesseln und unterhalten.
August 19, 2018
All reviews can be found on my blog at https://thewritinggarnet.wordpress.com
I don't usually do this, and I one who dislikes reviews with swearing in, but I have to break my rule just this once as I don't think a measly 'oh my goodness!' will cut the mustard this time around.
Fucking hell! I mean....fuuuuuucking hell! What an ending!!!!!! I have never read anything like it, and I am also extremely gutted that the next book in the series is not available right this second (there had better be another book in the series!). There's nothing like leaving your readers hanging is there? Usually I dislike endings where I find myself with multiple questions instead of getting things resolved, yet this just....works. No, wait, it doesn't just work, it's absolutely genius.
I must admit that I haven't read many of the 'Detective Mark Heckenburg' series, nor have I read them in order. However, 'Kiss Of Death' was a belter of a read as a standalone. Of course I must have missed out on the basic background of good ol' Heck and Gemma, but seeing as my knuckles went white as I gripped the kindle whilst I was reading 'Kiss Of Death', I have a slight feeling that I will be going back to book one and binge reading them all. In fact, that is exactly what I am going to do - how can I not?! Paul Finch is a genius!!!!
Heck seems to have his own set of rules where his job is concerned, especially if it means him being smack bang in the firing line despite being told to step away by his superiors. Heck's colleagues all know that they have to follow procedures and do things by the book, however Heck's memo with that on seems to have been mislaid....every time. I found his bulshyness quite arrogant yet it ended up being quite endearing as his passion pushed aside the arrogance like no tomorrow.
If you're after a story which raises your heart rate, keeps you glued to your seat, makes your jaw hang open like you're pretending to be a fish, as well as gripping hold of things like you're about to fall off, then 'Kiss Of Death' is PERFECT for you. Don't shoot me here, but I wasn't overly keen on the book when I first started reading it. It took me at least 30 odd percent before I was able to lose myself in Heck's powerful persuasion's and Paul Finch's gripping storyline - I felt that the pace was too slow to begin with which ended up making the hook a lot slower to do its job. However, once the book surpassed the 30 odd percent mark, I became gripped by what my eyes were reading. It's gruesome, I won't lie, but yet again Paul Finch makes it work!
The more of 'Kiss Of Death' I read, the faster the pace became and the more intense the situations within the storyline became. There was so much to keep focused on, I couldn't help but feel as though my head was turning in every direction to keep up with Heck and the gang as they attempt to take on another, well, gang. No, I'm not complaining either!
Despite my earlier reservations, 'Kiss Of Death' ended up surpassing all of my expectations, making this one of the best books I have read so far this year! I am so pleased I ignored my earlier thoughts as what a cracking (literally), spine tingling, chilling, and utterly, utterly suspenseful read this turned out to be. I've said it once but I will say it again - that ending!!!!! Paul Finch has certainly got his readers where he wants them, and given the outstanding strength of his latest novel, I will be standing here with bells on waiting for the next book in the series!!!
Out-flipping-standing - give this man an award! Brilliant. Intense. Absolute GENIUS!
I don't usually do this, and I one who dislikes reviews with swearing in, but I have to break my rule just this once as I don't think a measly 'oh my goodness!' will cut the mustard this time around.
Fucking hell! I mean....fuuuuuucking hell! What an ending!!!!!! I have never read anything like it, and I am also extremely gutted that the next book in the series is not available right this second (there had better be another book in the series!). There's nothing like leaving your readers hanging is there? Usually I dislike endings where I find myself with multiple questions instead of getting things resolved, yet this just....works. No, wait, it doesn't just work, it's absolutely genius.
I must admit that I haven't read many of the 'Detective Mark Heckenburg' series, nor have I read them in order. However, 'Kiss Of Death' was a belter of a read as a standalone. Of course I must have missed out on the basic background of good ol' Heck and Gemma, but seeing as my knuckles went white as I gripped the kindle whilst I was reading 'Kiss Of Death', I have a slight feeling that I will be going back to book one and binge reading them all. In fact, that is exactly what I am going to do - how can I not?! Paul Finch is a genius!!!!
Heck seems to have his own set of rules where his job is concerned, especially if it means him being smack bang in the firing line despite being told to step away by his superiors. Heck's colleagues all know that they have to follow procedures and do things by the book, however Heck's memo with that on seems to have been mislaid....every time. I found his bulshyness quite arrogant yet it ended up being quite endearing as his passion pushed aside the arrogance like no tomorrow.
If you're after a story which raises your heart rate, keeps you glued to your seat, makes your jaw hang open like you're pretending to be a fish, as well as gripping hold of things like you're about to fall off, then 'Kiss Of Death' is PERFECT for you. Don't shoot me here, but I wasn't overly keen on the book when I first started reading it. It took me at least 30 odd percent before I was able to lose myself in Heck's powerful persuasion's and Paul Finch's gripping storyline - I felt that the pace was too slow to begin with which ended up making the hook a lot slower to do its job. However, once the book surpassed the 30 odd percent mark, I became gripped by what my eyes were reading. It's gruesome, I won't lie, but yet again Paul Finch makes it work!
The more of 'Kiss Of Death' I read, the faster the pace became and the more intense the situations within the storyline became. There was so much to keep focused on, I couldn't help but feel as though my head was turning in every direction to keep up with Heck and the gang as they attempt to take on another, well, gang. No, I'm not complaining either!
Despite my earlier reservations, 'Kiss Of Death' ended up surpassing all of my expectations, making this one of the best books I have read so far this year! I am so pleased I ignored my earlier thoughts as what a cracking (literally), spine tingling, chilling, and utterly, utterly suspenseful read this turned out to be. I've said it once but I will say it again - that ending!!!!! Paul Finch has certainly got his readers where he wants them, and given the outstanding strength of his latest novel, I will be standing here with bells on waiting for the next book in the series!!!
Out-flipping-standing - give this man an award! Brilliant. Intense. Absolute GENIUS!
August 13, 2018
The complex and convoluted investigation, code named Operation Sledgehammer, brings DS Mark 'Heck' Heckenburg into contact with a new partner, DC Gail Honeyford, who he worked with, some time ago, whilst on a previous investigation. Their new mission, as part of the Special Crime Unit, is to track down a number of cold cases and to discover the whereabouts of a vicious criminal who has evaded capture for far too long. This investigation is fraught with difficulty from the offset, and the complicated dynamics of working with Heckenburg makes for interesting reading.
I have to admit that this is the first book by this author I have read, and so to come into this crime series, at book seven, is perhaps not the best place to start. However, Kiss of Death works really well as a standalone novel, and whilst I have perhaps missed some of the more subtle references, particularly around Heck's complicated relationship with his boss, DSU Gemma Piper, there is no doubt that the overall complexity of both the plot and the characters works exceptionally well. Heck's rather maverick approach, and his often unorthodox investigative methods, help to give the story a realistic edginess. He’s definitely not a detective who plays it safe and that’s what makes this investigation so compelling.
The author writes with a credible authenticity which comes from his time as a police officer and also as a script writer for one of our most popular TV police dramas. This shows in the fine attention to detail and his clever ability to control a complicated plot without ever losing sight of the bigger picture. Kiss of Death is a very visual story, and is certainly something that I could, very easily, see played out as a TV drama, it has definite style and would work, really well, in terms of pace and tension.
The book concludes with a whopper of a cliff-hanger which I am sure will make regular followers of the series gasp out loud; it certainly leads the way for Book 8.
I have to admit that this is the first book by this author I have read, and so to come into this crime series, at book seven, is perhaps not the best place to start. However, Kiss of Death works really well as a standalone novel, and whilst I have perhaps missed some of the more subtle references, particularly around Heck's complicated relationship with his boss, DSU Gemma Piper, there is no doubt that the overall complexity of both the plot and the characters works exceptionally well. Heck's rather maverick approach, and his often unorthodox investigative methods, help to give the story a realistic edginess. He’s definitely not a detective who plays it safe and that’s what makes this investigation so compelling.
The author writes with a credible authenticity which comes from his time as a police officer and also as a script writer for one of our most popular TV police dramas. This shows in the fine attention to detail and his clever ability to control a complicated plot without ever losing sight of the bigger picture. Kiss of Death is a very visual story, and is certainly something that I could, very easily, see played out as a TV drama, it has definite style and would work, really well, in terms of pace and tension.
The book concludes with a whopper of a cliff-hanger which I am sure will make regular followers of the series gasp out loud; it certainly leads the way for Book 8.
July 10, 2018
I’ve read Paul Finch’s earlier Detective Mark Heckenberg books so I was excited to receive this one from NetGalley in exchange for a review.
Heck is part of a team, tasked with investigating some very high profile criminals who need to be found and convicted. Known as Operation Sledgehamme, each member of SCU has a major criminal to find and Heck’s is a murderous and cruel bank robber, Eddie Creeley, who has been at large for many years.
Heck’s feelings for Gemma, his boss continue to be a major part of his life. He cannot get over them, yet he is not sure if she feels the same way as she she is very interested in a new and rather good looking copper on her team.
This is an adrenaline fuelled, fast moving story. Wherever there is danger, Heck is in the thick of it. He does not think before he acts and this leads him into a great deal of trouble.
The best bit of the book is the end, not because I was pleased to have finished it but because it was so exciting and it was set in the area of Hertfordshire where I live so I recognised all the roads! The closing scene was a real cliffhanger and I cannot wait to get my hands on Book 8 to find out what happens next! Pity I’ll have to wait a while for this treat!
If you enjoy thrillers you will definitely love this series.
Heck is part of a team, tasked with investigating some very high profile criminals who need to be found and convicted. Known as Operation Sledgehamme, each member of SCU has a major criminal to find and Heck’s is a murderous and cruel bank robber, Eddie Creeley, who has been at large for many years.
Heck’s feelings for Gemma, his boss continue to be a major part of his life. He cannot get over them, yet he is not sure if she feels the same way as she she is very interested in a new and rather good looking copper on her team.
This is an adrenaline fuelled, fast moving story. Wherever there is danger, Heck is in the thick of it. He does not think before he acts and this leads him into a great deal of trouble.
The best bit of the book is the end, not because I was pleased to have finished it but because it was so exciting and it was set in the area of Hertfordshire where I live so I recognised all the roads! The closing scene was a real cliffhanger and I cannot wait to get my hands on Book 8 to find out what happens next! Pity I’ll have to wait a while for this treat!
If you enjoy thrillers you will definitely love this series.
July 16, 2018
Oh my goodness! I've only just finished this book and I am done. Spent. Still reeling from that ending! Before I go on though, I will just mention that, although the main story is self contained, please do take some time to really get to know Heck et al and go back and start from book one and play catch-up. He is a bit of a complex character and some of what motivates and drives him, although touched on briefly here, does maybe need a bit more explanation to really get to know the real Detective Mark Heckenburg of the NCA SCU.
Reflecting what is going on in the real world, there are rumours of cuts to the Force and, as our story begins, it becomes apparent that the future of the SCU is threatened. To try and ride the tide, the SCU teams up with the Cold Case squad choosing 20 of the most evil fugitives to track down and bring to justice in the very aptly named Operation Sledgehammer. As they are to be working in twos, Heck is paired up with old "friend" Gail Honeyford. The two of them tasked with finding Eddie Creeley, a nasty man indeed, his crimes having escalated so much that he was even rejected by his own criminal peers, going to ground for several years already. But it soon becomes apparent that this new combined task force aren't the only ones searching for both Creeley and the others on the hit list and things start to go a bit south for all involved.
Once I started this book, once I reconnected with Heck, it soon became apparent that I was going nowhere, doing nothing, until I got to the end of the book. All the things I know and love about Heck were present in this latest episode. His complicated relationship with Gemma now has an additional facet with the addition of a new DI, threatening not only their on-off personal dalliance but also Heck's professional standing in her eyes. But, aside from that, Heck is the same maverick, gut following, corner taking, oblivious to risk, Heck that I have grown to really admire since book one and throughout this series. Bulldozing his way into things without really thinking through all the consequences, his ends being the only ones that matter and hang the rest of them. Whether he really would survive in real life work doing what he does, well, I'm not sure about that but, for the purpose of fiction, why not!? He continues to see things that others fail to notice, holds on to ideas that others dismiss, a bit like a dog with a bone at times but, and this is important, his heart is in the right place even if his lines are a bit blurred at times.
The plot contained within the book is a bit complex at times; there's a lot going on throughout. Most of which is very hard hitting and at times quite hard to read about as there are some very dark themes that run throughout the book. There are scenes and characters that, on introduction, don't appear to fit in with the rest of what is happening but, knowing this author as I do, I know they will eventually so the key for me was to just sit with them, remember them, and know that eventually the bigger picture will all come together. And it does, with explosive consequences!
I need to talk about the ending but, at the same time, I don't want to. If I don't talk about it I can pretend it didn't happen, right? Obviously I can't talk about it here even if I wanted to (spoilers) but suffice to say, even though I am not a fan of that kind of ending at all, it didn't annoy me in the slightest. Leaving things as the author did doesn't make me yearn for the next book any more that I was always going to, this being a series I already love.
The way things were left at the end does however pose the question of what next for Heck? How does he move on from this? Well, hopefully I won't have to wait too long to find out. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
Reflecting what is going on in the real world, there are rumours of cuts to the Force and, as our story begins, it becomes apparent that the future of the SCU is threatened. To try and ride the tide, the SCU teams up with the Cold Case squad choosing 20 of the most evil fugitives to track down and bring to justice in the very aptly named Operation Sledgehammer. As they are to be working in twos, Heck is paired up with old "friend" Gail Honeyford. The two of them tasked with finding Eddie Creeley, a nasty man indeed, his crimes having escalated so much that he was even rejected by his own criminal peers, going to ground for several years already. But it soon becomes apparent that this new combined task force aren't the only ones searching for both Creeley and the others on the hit list and things start to go a bit south for all involved.
Once I started this book, once I reconnected with Heck, it soon became apparent that I was going nowhere, doing nothing, until I got to the end of the book. All the things I know and love about Heck were present in this latest episode. His complicated relationship with Gemma now has an additional facet with the addition of a new DI, threatening not only their on-off personal dalliance but also Heck's professional standing in her eyes. But, aside from that, Heck is the same maverick, gut following, corner taking, oblivious to risk, Heck that I have grown to really admire since book one and throughout this series. Bulldozing his way into things without really thinking through all the consequences, his ends being the only ones that matter and hang the rest of them. Whether he really would survive in real life work doing what he does, well, I'm not sure about that but, for the purpose of fiction, why not!? He continues to see things that others fail to notice, holds on to ideas that others dismiss, a bit like a dog with a bone at times but, and this is important, his heart is in the right place even if his lines are a bit blurred at times.
The plot contained within the book is a bit complex at times; there's a lot going on throughout. Most of which is very hard hitting and at times quite hard to read about as there are some very dark themes that run throughout the book. There are scenes and characters that, on introduction, don't appear to fit in with the rest of what is happening but, knowing this author as I do, I know they will eventually so the key for me was to just sit with them, remember them, and know that eventually the bigger picture will all come together. And it does, with explosive consequences!
I need to talk about the ending but, at the same time, I don't want to. If I don't talk about it I can pretend it didn't happen, right? Obviously I can't talk about it here even if I wanted to (spoilers) but suffice to say, even though I am not a fan of that kind of ending at all, it didn't annoy me in the slightest. Leaving things as the author did doesn't make me yearn for the next book any more that I was always going to, this being a series I already love.
The way things were left at the end does however pose the question of what next for Heck? How does he move on from this? Well, hopefully I won't have to wait too long to find out. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
July 15, 2018
Kiss of Death, the seventh book in the Detective Mark Heckenburg series. Mark "Heck" Heckenburg is part of the NCA's Serial Crimes Unit. This is the first book I have read by this author and I have to say WHY?. I really enjoyed this drama pact story, and will definitely be going back to read more of this series.
August 13, 2018
This is book 7 in the Detective Mark Heckenburg series but you can read it as a standalone which I did. I do want to read the other books though. This book is non stop, I felt as though I would have to dragged away from it as I couldn’t stop reading. I found the plot different and ingenious and such a compulsive read.
January 13, 2022
The most thrilling and heartbroken book of the series. If this were a TV series, Kiss of Death is one damn season finale I couldn’t wait for the next season. One thing for sure is DS Heckenburg will rise anew in the next book and I just hope he will set the world on fire.
January 20, 2019
Love this series, cannot believe that ending though, I'm gutted...
December 19, 2024
Will it be the end
Great book to round off the series well paced throughout and typical Heck methods of police work and working alone
Great book to round off the series well paced throughout and typical Heck methods of police work and working alone
August 26, 2018
This is a fast paced thriller featuring DS Paul ‘Heck’ Heckenburg, a loose cannon on Britain’s Serial Crimes Unit. He’s survived for ten years in the job because he gets results that are worth more than chaos he creates. While displaying immature attitudes and behavior, he can be charming, and is not so set in his opinions that he can’t change his mind. He’s tenacious, and has let the job consume his life. Overall, Heck is an entertaining protagonist who comes to understand himself better over the course of the book. Of course, he gets help from his junior partner on this journey.
My only concern is the beginning.
There’s a prologue that is unnecessary and contributes only a little to the story. It set a level of expectation for me that didn’t pay off what it promised. Chapter one describes a sting operation on a series of priest-murdering-thugs. This is well written and suspenseful, but once the sting is over, the book dissolves into exposition disguised as dialogue that explains who the main players and their relationships to each other. Too many characters were introduced at one time, and I had to write them down to keep them straight. This is the seventh book in the series, and I understand Finch’s need to describe the players. I wish he’d found a more exciting way to accomplish this.
The story is set in London with a few side trips. It revolves around ubiquitous budget cuts and fear that the Serial Crimes Unit might be dissolved. To prove their importance, the unit combines with a cold case unit and goes after the twenty most heinous criminals in the country. Some of the cases are several years old, and the criminals have disappeared. Heck is paired with a junior partner that he previously worked with, and they are assigned the crime described in the prologue.
The author describes good police work in a credible fashion. He also makes clear when Heck steps over the line. The story has several plot twists, some predictable, but most not.
Once into the story, the action starts and doesn’t let up until the final page. The book is well worth the read.
My only concern is the beginning.
There’s a prologue that is unnecessary and contributes only a little to the story. It set a level of expectation for me that didn’t pay off what it promised. Chapter one describes a sting operation on a series of priest-murdering-thugs. This is well written and suspenseful, but once the sting is over, the book dissolves into exposition disguised as dialogue that explains who the main players and their relationships to each other. Too many characters were introduced at one time, and I had to write them down to keep them straight. This is the seventh book in the series, and I understand Finch’s need to describe the players. I wish he’d found a more exciting way to accomplish this.
The story is set in London with a few side trips. It revolves around ubiquitous budget cuts and fear that the Serial Crimes Unit might be dissolved. To prove their importance, the unit combines with a cold case unit and goes after the twenty most heinous criminals in the country. Some of the cases are several years old, and the criminals have disappeared. Heck is paired with a junior partner that he previously worked with, and they are assigned the crime described in the prologue.
The author describes good police work in a credible fashion. He also makes clear when Heck steps over the line. The story has several plot twists, some predictable, but most not.
Once into the story, the action starts and doesn’t let up until the final page. The book is well worth the read.
July 26, 2024
Another good Paul Finch book. I did feel it dragged a bit at times but the ending!!!! I’m not over that ending… I need more
October 19, 2018
And that was only the beginning. Wait until you read the ending ...
Gah. How on earth do I start? If you even remotely a fan of the Heck series, then you are absolutely going to love this book. And, if you are like me, you are going to bloody well curse author Paul Finch for how he sets us up and leaves us hanging, as without a doubt he does just that. If you like your cases wrapped up all nice and neat with a clear line over the end of the book, this is going to bug the hell out of you and no mistake as it ends on an almighty cliffhanger - just putting it out there.
But enough about the end, what about the story? Well this time around Heck is thrown somewhat of a curveball. After the thrill of the capture outlined in the extract, the team are given what appears to be a much more sedate assignment - tracking down some of the worst criminals on the UK's unofficial 'most wanted' list. Chasing down cold cases was not what you'd expect Heck and co to be doing but, as with any of this fabulous series, nothing is ever quite as straight forward as it seems. Chasing down his own particular felon launches Heck into the middle of a case which is much darker than he could have imagined and one which puts his life in grave danger.
So far, so Heck. Would you want it any other way?
I think what really makes this series is the way in which Paul Finch has created such likeable, if somewhat maverick characters. You root for them all the time, even those you may not yet have a strong feeling for, such as newcomer to the team, Gail Honeyford. She has a history with Heck which makes their partnership a little awkward, at least for him, but I liked her straight away. No nonsense, yet not quite straight enough to stop Heck at his most maverick, she is a fighter and someone I'm looking forward to seeing more of. There is also another new face, DI Jack Reed, who has Heck all of a bluster, mainly because of jealousy over his close relationship with Gemma Piper. It really is quite amusing to see the mighty Heck reduced to almost school boy levels of sulking and petulance whenever he sees the pair of them.
But it is Heck who is really and truly the star of the show and he excels himself in this story. Never one to shy away from danger he is right in the thick of it with many high action, high drama and high tension scenes. You can really feel Paul Finch's skill in screenwriting being transferred to the page with scenes that have you completely hooked, perched on the edge of your chair and even holding your breath. The pacing in these chapters is spot on and the way in which the writing gets your heart pumping is excellent, giving me everything I want in an action based story. And Heck was at the centre of it all. Funny, determined and, for once, completely open and honest, he provided the thrills and some more heart warming moments as well.
Now this book actually pulls together a few separate stories which seem unconnected at the start. Bear with it as, when you start to make your way through the book, all will become clear and you can start to see a very distinct and unexpected picture forming. Paul Finch has done a brilliant job of hiding the wood amongst the trees but as you carve your way through you will understand how things really appear. But you will still have that one nagging, unresolved question. One you may not be certain you want the answer to ...
Argh. .. There is so much I want to say about this book but I really can't. I was gripped from the start and I tore through the book in no time, even though I didn't want it to end. But end it did. The author said he wanted it to be explosive - well he managed that and then some. Just when you think things are going one way, he throws in a ruddy great big grenade and blows it all up. I was absolutely floored by it. Gobsmacked. And I cannot believe I have to wait for the next book as I need it right now. My only regret in all of this is that I came so late to this series. What was I thinking?
Dagnabbit. It has been a while since a book as left me as happily frustrated as this one. Well done, Sir. Nice job.
Gah. How on earth do I start? If you even remotely a fan of the Heck series, then you are absolutely going to love this book. And, if you are like me, you are going to bloody well curse author Paul Finch for how he sets us up and leaves us hanging, as without a doubt he does just that. If you like your cases wrapped up all nice and neat with a clear line over the end of the book, this is going to bug the hell out of you and no mistake as it ends on an almighty cliffhanger - just putting it out there.
But enough about the end, what about the story? Well this time around Heck is thrown somewhat of a curveball. After the thrill of the capture outlined in the extract, the team are given what appears to be a much more sedate assignment - tracking down some of the worst criminals on the UK's unofficial 'most wanted' list. Chasing down cold cases was not what you'd expect Heck and co to be doing but, as with any of this fabulous series, nothing is ever quite as straight forward as it seems. Chasing down his own particular felon launches Heck into the middle of a case which is much darker than he could have imagined and one which puts his life in grave danger.
So far, so Heck. Would you want it any other way?
I think what really makes this series is the way in which Paul Finch has created such likeable, if somewhat maverick characters. You root for them all the time, even those you may not yet have a strong feeling for, such as newcomer to the team, Gail Honeyford. She has a history with Heck which makes their partnership a little awkward, at least for him, but I liked her straight away. No nonsense, yet not quite straight enough to stop Heck at his most maverick, she is a fighter and someone I'm looking forward to seeing more of. There is also another new face, DI Jack Reed, who has Heck all of a bluster, mainly because of jealousy over his close relationship with Gemma Piper. It really is quite amusing to see the mighty Heck reduced to almost school boy levels of sulking and petulance whenever he sees the pair of them.
But it is Heck who is really and truly the star of the show and he excels himself in this story. Never one to shy away from danger he is right in the thick of it with many high action, high drama and high tension scenes. You can really feel Paul Finch's skill in screenwriting being transferred to the page with scenes that have you completely hooked, perched on the edge of your chair and even holding your breath. The pacing in these chapters is spot on and the way in which the writing gets your heart pumping is excellent, giving me everything I want in an action based story. And Heck was at the centre of it all. Funny, determined and, for once, completely open and honest, he provided the thrills and some more heart warming moments as well.
Now this book actually pulls together a few separate stories which seem unconnected at the start. Bear with it as, when you start to make your way through the book, all will become clear and you can start to see a very distinct and unexpected picture forming. Paul Finch has done a brilliant job of hiding the wood amongst the trees but as you carve your way through you will understand how things really appear. But you will still have that one nagging, unresolved question. One you may not be certain you want the answer to ...
Argh. .. There is so much I want to say about this book but I really can't. I was gripped from the start and I tore through the book in no time, even though I didn't want it to end. But end it did. The author said he wanted it to be explosive - well he managed that and then some. Just when you think things are going one way, he throws in a ruddy great big grenade and blows it all up. I was absolutely floored by it. Gobsmacked. And I cannot believe I have to wait for the next book as I need it right now. My only regret in all of this is that I came so late to this series. What was I thinking?
Dagnabbit. It has been a while since a book as left me as happily frustrated as this one. Well done, Sir. Nice job.
June 15, 2018
To say I have been left reeling by this latest chapter in Heck's life is an understatement!
Detective Sergeant Mark Heckenburg is back but could this be last case for Heck at the SCU?
When SCU combines forces with the Cold Case Squad, in order to save departments, they soon realise that they are not the only ones who have been looking for felons gone to ground. Heck once again follows his instincts to uncover the deeper powers behind the disappearances.
Really enjoyed this book and loved it as the story unfolded every time Heck put two and two together. The SCU really would be lost without him. There are elements of violence throughout this book but I would say that they are not as graphic and expansive as some of Paul Finch's previous books have contained, that being said there are still some scenes that made me squirm. I know this is fictional writing but the sad truth is, is that out there somewhere, there are people who are capable of such depraved and unconscionable crimes. Let's hope we also have a Heck out there to stop them.
Lots of favourite characters are back again, with a few new faces to make things interesting! Does Gemma have a new love interest? For that matter, does Heck?!
This is a far more emotional book for Heck than the previous stories in the series. Although he still manages to get himself into scrapes and generally disregard orders from higher up, Heck embraces the inner demons that have been plaguing him of late and faces them full force. With decisions made and words spoken I was on the brink of happiness but then the end of the book happened...
Detective Sergeant Mark Heckenburg is back but could this be last case for Heck at the SCU?
When SCU combines forces with the Cold Case Squad, in order to save departments, they soon realise that they are not the only ones who have been looking for felons gone to ground. Heck once again follows his instincts to uncover the deeper powers behind the disappearances.
Really enjoyed this book and loved it as the story unfolded every time Heck put two and two together. The SCU really would be lost without him. There are elements of violence throughout this book but I would say that they are not as graphic and expansive as some of Paul Finch's previous books have contained, that being said there are still some scenes that made me squirm. I know this is fictional writing but the sad truth is, is that out there somewhere, there are people who are capable of such depraved and unconscionable crimes. Let's hope we also have a Heck out there to stop them.
Lots of favourite characters are back again, with a few new faces to make things interesting! Does Gemma have a new love interest? For that matter, does Heck?!
This is a far more emotional book for Heck than the previous stories in the series. Although he still manages to get himself into scrapes and generally disregard orders from higher up, Heck embraces the inner demons that have been plaguing him of late and faces them full force. With decisions made and words spoken I was on the brink of happiness but then the end of the book happened...
July 23, 2018
OH MY GOD…. Paul Finch does it again in the 7th instalment of the Heck series! Absolutely loved it, had me gripped from page 1 so much so I read it well into the night as I just had to know and NOW…. Can’t get over the ending, my heart went out to Heck when he shares a spine tingling kiss with his one true love which ends up saving his life! Shocked to the core, what a twist and a rollercoaster of a ride through this book. Where does it go from here….. hoping I haven’t got too long to wait to find out!!!
Many thanks to Netgalley and Avon Books for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion
Many thanks to Netgalley and Avon Books for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion
September 17, 2018
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This is the seventh book in the DS Mark 'Heck' Heckenburg series and I absolutely loved it and I devoured the book in an evening!
I am a fan of this author's books anyway but this one was very enjoyable, had an excellent plot and the author's normal addictive writing style - this one was most definitely a hit with me!
I loved the interaction from the characters and I am so glad that the author has gone back and added a new book to the Heck series, I have been patiently waiting for this book to be released!
Five stars from me, very highly recommended - a thrilling read!!
This is the seventh book in the DS Mark 'Heck' Heckenburg series and I absolutely loved it and I devoured the book in an evening!
I am a fan of this author's books anyway but this one was very enjoyable, had an excellent plot and the author's normal addictive writing style - this one was most definitely a hit with me!
I loved the interaction from the characters and I am so glad that the author has gone back and added a new book to the Heck series, I have been patiently waiting for this book to be released!
Five stars from me, very highly recommended - a thrilling read!!
August 20, 2018
The seventh Mark “Heck” Heckenburg thriller from Paul Finch. Having read all the books which precede Kiss of Death I was more than a little excited at the prospect of reuniting with Heck – I love these stories and Paul Finch always delivers on thrills.
Suffice to say that I was not disappointed.
Kiss of Death is another corker and, if anything, the action is bigger, louder and more shocking than ever before. Heck is still working under Gemma Piper his current boss but his former lover. Although the pair work well together there is always an undercurrent of tension between the two and it is clear that Heck would love the chance to rekindle the relationship the pair shared at the start of their careers. Unfortunately for Heck his cavalier attitude clashes with Gemma’s “by the book” approach and she has kept him at arms length. Making things worse is the addition to their team of a new blue-eyed-boy who Gemma seems to favour and who is very much a “by the rules” player.
Trying to ignore the frustrations of seeing Gemma’s head being turned by another cop Heck throws himself into the latest investigation. There is a push to track down missing criminals but some shocking evidence will come to the police which throws their investigation into a new direction. Heck is not adverse to cutting corners to get a result but such is his desire to succeed that he will find himself exposed and taking too many risks. It makes for terrific reading.
Paul Finch always makes excellent use of shock tactics to keep me gripped when reading his books and Kiss of Death was no exception. The story builds and builds and the stakes creep ever higher. By the time the endgame had been reached I was lost to the outside world – the book was my sole focus and I was oblivious to everything else. Just when I thought it was done…a sucker punch. Oh my days what a finale – no spoilers but WOW.
If you have not had the thrill of reading a Paul Finch “Heck” novel you have missed a treat (well 7 treats now). These books are brilliant examples of top class crime fiction and I urge you to hunt them down. Kiss of Death nets Paul Finch and Heck another five star review from me – I cannot get enough of these books.
Suffice to say that I was not disappointed.
Kiss of Death is another corker and, if anything, the action is bigger, louder and more shocking than ever before. Heck is still working under Gemma Piper his current boss but his former lover. Although the pair work well together there is always an undercurrent of tension between the two and it is clear that Heck would love the chance to rekindle the relationship the pair shared at the start of their careers. Unfortunately for Heck his cavalier attitude clashes with Gemma’s “by the book” approach and she has kept him at arms length. Making things worse is the addition to their team of a new blue-eyed-boy who Gemma seems to favour and who is very much a “by the rules” player.
Trying to ignore the frustrations of seeing Gemma’s head being turned by another cop Heck throws himself into the latest investigation. There is a push to track down missing criminals but some shocking evidence will come to the police which throws their investigation into a new direction. Heck is not adverse to cutting corners to get a result but such is his desire to succeed that he will find himself exposed and taking too many risks. It makes for terrific reading.
Paul Finch always makes excellent use of shock tactics to keep me gripped when reading his books and Kiss of Death was no exception. The story builds and builds and the stakes creep ever higher. By the time the endgame had been reached I was lost to the outside world – the book was my sole focus and I was oblivious to everything else. Just when I thought it was done…a sucker punch. Oh my days what a finale – no spoilers but WOW.
If you have not had the thrill of reading a Paul Finch “Heck” novel you have missed a treat (well 7 treats now). These books are brilliant examples of top class crime fiction and I urge you to hunt them down. Kiss of Death nets Paul Finch and Heck another five star review from me – I cannot get enough of these books.
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