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DI Gardener #3
Implant
Bramfield, near Leeds, a sleepy little market town nestled on the borders of West and North Yorkshire.Detectives Stewart Gardener and Sean Reilly discover the naked corpse of Alex Wilson, nailed to the wall of a cellar in his uncle’s hardware store. His lips are sewn together and his body bears only one mark, a fresh scar near his abdomen.Within forty-eight hours, their investigation results in dead ends, more victims, no suspects and very little in the way of solid evidence.Gardener and Reilly have a problem and a question on their hands: are the residents of Bramfield prepared for one of history’s most sadistic killers, The Tooth Fairy? The perfect read for fans of Peter May, Mark Billingham and Peter James.
320 pages, Paperback
First published August 9, 2018
161 people are currently reading
95 people want to read
About the author
Ray Clark
41 books35 followersThe British Fantasy Society published Ray Clark's first work in 1995 - Manitou Man: The World of Graham Masterton, was nominated for both the World and British Fantasy Awards. In 2009, Ray's short story, Promises To Keep, made the final shortlist for the best short story award from The Tom Howard Foundation. Ray is based in Goole, and has set his Gardener and Reilly crime series in nearby Leeds.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
August 30, 2018
4☆ A Suspenseful Crime Thriller
Implant is a pacy crime thriller that is suspenseful and gripping.
This is the first book I have read by Clark and I'm intrigued to read more.
When Detectives Gardener and Reilly are called out to what they believe to be a regular break in.
They are horrified at what they discover.
To be honest it gave me chills!
They find a man crucified to a wall and his lips sewn together.
As you can see not your normal break in.
But even more intriguing was the tarot card left for them to unravel.
The Detectives are thrown into a cat and mouse chase as they try to solve the clues and stop the 'Tooth Fairy' before it's too late.
But with time against them and no apparent leads other bodies are turning up.
Who is the 'Tooth Fairy '?!
I was thoroughly enthralled with Implant.
Some of the scenes are gruesome and are fairly graphic, but they needed to be to connect with just how sadistic and ruthless The Tooth Fairy is.
I really liked Detective Gardener and Reilly they work really well together and are strong characters. The police procedural is realistic and I enjoyed being a part of the investigation alongside them.
Although I did happen to work out who the Tooth fairy was.
As expected with crime thrillers there was some nice twists and turns.
It was a gripping read that kept me turning the pages.
I recommend reading this chilling book if you enjoy your crime thrillers a lil gruesome, a cat and mouse race against time, that draws you in.
Thank you to Love Book Group Tours for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
My Review is also on my Blog Website :-
https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2018/0...
Implant is a pacy crime thriller that is suspenseful and gripping.
This is the first book I have read by Clark and I'm intrigued to read more.
When Detectives Gardener and Reilly are called out to what they believe to be a regular break in.
They are horrified at what they discover.
To be honest it gave me chills!
They find a man crucified to a wall and his lips sewn together.
As you can see not your normal break in.
But even more intriguing was the tarot card left for them to unravel.
The Detectives are thrown into a cat and mouse chase as they try to solve the clues and stop the 'Tooth Fairy' before it's too late.
But with time against them and no apparent leads other bodies are turning up.
Who is the 'Tooth Fairy '?!
I was thoroughly enthralled with Implant.
Some of the scenes are gruesome and are fairly graphic, but they needed to be to connect with just how sadistic and ruthless The Tooth Fairy is.
I really liked Detective Gardener and Reilly they work really well together and are strong characters. The police procedural is realistic and I enjoyed being a part of the investigation alongside them.
Although I did happen to work out who the Tooth fairy was.
As expected with crime thrillers there was some nice twists and turns.
It was a gripping read that kept me turning the pages.
I recommend reading this chilling book if you enjoy your crime thrillers a lil gruesome, a cat and mouse race against time, that draws you in.
Thank you to Love Book Group Tours for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
My Review is also on my Blog Website :-
https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2018/0...
August 15, 2018
WOW,this author certainly doesn't hang around,quick introduction to two of the main characters and then the reader is launched into a gripping tale of mystery and intrigue that is packed full of twists and has some innovative murders that Jigsaw himself would have been proud of.
It all begins with a mysterious phone call to the small community police station in Bramfield near Leeds at 3am informing the police that they need to check out the hardware store in town because the front door is wide open.The young constable who goes to investigate the store decides that there is more to the case than a simple burglary and Detectives Stewart Gardener and Sean Reilly are soon summoned to the scene. They eventually discover the naked corpse of Alex Wilson,nailed to the wall of the caller. His lips have been sewn together and his body bears just one mark,a fresh scar near his abdomen.
Within forty eight hours Gardener and his team find themselves caught up in a frustrating case that results in dead ends,no suspects,missing people and very little evidence. Then another body is discovered.....
The detectives race against time to stop the sadistic killer,dubbed The Tooth Fairy before he or she commits any more horrific murders and Reilly eats all the biscuits in Bramfield and the surrounding area.
This fast paced,gripping thriller mainly follows Detective Gardener and his team's investigation but there is also chapters covering the thoughts and actions of a few other characters. I really liked Stewart Gardener and his team,they all worked really well together and every officer had a wicked sense of humour. I also liked the banter between Gardener and Reilly,they were good friends as well as work colleagues and were like an old married couple at times. The murders they were investigating were innovative and ingenious,not really very gory but the descriptions of the pain the victims were suffering were vivid and spine chilling. The thing was that despite knowing that the person's actions were wrong once the reason why the killer was targeting his or her victims was revealed, I found it hard not to feel a bit of sympathy for that person. There was some vivid,realistic characters in this story including one called Ernie and yes he was a milkman but unfortunately he was only mentioned in passing. There wasn't a slow speed police chase after Ernie,the fastest milkman in Yorkshire....sadly
Despite the author's attempts at misdirection I did figure out who the killer was quite early in the story but that didn't spoil my enjoyment of this enthralling thriller. There was a number of unexpected twists and the story that had a wonderful old fashioned feel to it held my attention throughout the whole book. Despite this being the third book in the series it can be read and enjoyed as a stand alone. This is the first book that I have read by this author and it will definitely not be my last.
Many thanks to Urbane publications limited and Kelly of Love Books Group for a arc of this book and the opportunity to take part in the blog tour
It all begins with a mysterious phone call to the small community police station in Bramfield near Leeds at 3am informing the police that they need to check out the hardware store in town because the front door is wide open.The young constable who goes to investigate the store decides that there is more to the case than a simple burglary and Detectives Stewart Gardener and Sean Reilly are soon summoned to the scene. They eventually discover the naked corpse of Alex Wilson,nailed to the wall of the caller. His lips have been sewn together and his body bears just one mark,a fresh scar near his abdomen.
Within forty eight hours Gardener and his team find themselves caught up in a frustrating case that results in dead ends,no suspects,missing people and very little evidence. Then another body is discovered.....
The detectives race against time to stop the sadistic killer,dubbed The Tooth Fairy before he or she commits any more horrific murders and Reilly eats all the biscuits in Bramfield and the surrounding area.
This fast paced,gripping thriller mainly follows Detective Gardener and his team's investigation but there is also chapters covering the thoughts and actions of a few other characters. I really liked Stewart Gardener and his team,they all worked really well together and every officer had a wicked sense of humour. I also liked the banter between Gardener and Reilly,they were good friends as well as work colleagues and were like an old married couple at times. The murders they were investigating were innovative and ingenious,not really very gory but the descriptions of the pain the victims were suffering were vivid and spine chilling. The thing was that despite knowing that the person's actions were wrong once the reason why the killer was targeting his or her victims was revealed, I found it hard not to feel a bit of sympathy for that person. There was some vivid,realistic characters in this story including one called Ernie and yes he was a milkman but unfortunately he was only mentioned in passing. There wasn't a slow speed police chase after Ernie,the fastest milkman in Yorkshire....sadly
Despite the author's attempts at misdirection I did figure out who the killer was quite early in the story but that didn't spoil my enjoyment of this enthralling thriller. There was a number of unexpected twists and the story that had a wonderful old fashioned feel to it held my attention throughout the whole book. Despite this being the third book in the series it can be read and enjoyed as a stand alone. This is the first book that I have read by this author and it will definitely not be my last.
Many thanks to Urbane publications limited and Kelly of Love Books Group for a arc of this book and the opportunity to take part in the blog tour
August 19, 2018
Revenge is a dish best served cold ...
I never read a book by this author before and I truely regret it. I can't start to imagine the amount of research that was needed to make this story come alive, but I certainly appreciate that.
The methods the killer used were original and clever but sadistic w!thout a doubt. The book was fluently written and the little bits of humour that were added, increased the reading pleasure.
I guessed who was behind all the cruelty rather early on, but it did not, in the least, disturb me or tone my enthousisam for the story down. The author had a little surprise up his sleeve that I did not see coming. 5 stars well deserved.
Thank you, Ray Clark, Urbane Publications and Love Books Group.
https://bforbookreview.wordpress.com
I never read a book by this author before and I truely regret it. I can't start to imagine the amount of research that was needed to make this story come alive, but I certainly appreciate that.
The methods the killer used were original and clever but sadistic w!thout a doubt. The book was fluently written and the little bits of humour that were added, increased the reading pleasure.
I guessed who was behind all the cruelty rather early on, but it did not, in the least, disturb me or tone my enthousisam for the story down. The author had a little surprise up his sleeve that I did not see coming. 5 stars well deserved.
Thank you, Ray Clark, Urbane Publications and Love Books Group.
https://bforbookreview.wordpress.com
August 5, 2018
Review to follow on my stop on the Blog tour
Want to read
August 9, 2020🎁 FREE on Amazon today (8/9/2020)! 🎁
August 15, 2020
DI Gardener and his team investigate when a body is discovered in a basement, in a horrible way to die. But this will not be the last. Who are the guilty party and what could the motive possibly be.
An interesting and well-written crime story
An interesting and well-written crime story
August 15, 2018
First I’d like to state, unbeknowing to me I have jumped right into book 3 of the Gardner and Reilly series. But this hasn’t effected my review (or at least I don’t feel like it has)
Each chapter of the book has a time frame from when the crime starts, loved this about the book! The story kicks off on a high with a break in, a locked basement and then the discovery of Alex Wilson nailed to the wall!
A total OMG moment!!
Gardner and Reilly are sent on what feels like a wild goose chase by a totally disturbed killer, who obviously plans his murders out, takes great joy in making the victims feel every ounce of terror and pain all the while planning his next kill.
I enjoyed every aspect of this book, from the locations, the crimes and the detectives. Gardner and Reilly work well as a team, get each other’s quirks and sometimes sick sense of humour and seem to know what the other is thinking or even say.
This book had me gripped from the 1st chapter/time frame. I loved how the authors mind works, how he describes locations, characters and crime scenes. I felt like I was part of the team and as time was ticking away I seemed to be turning those pages faster and faster!
This book has had be adding books 1 & 2 to my TBR pile and I know they will be bumped up the list. A truly gripping book that will have you loosing sleep due to turning those pages!
Each chapter of the book has a time frame from when the crime starts, loved this about the book! The story kicks off on a high with a break in, a locked basement and then the discovery of Alex Wilson nailed to the wall!
A total OMG moment!!
Gardner and Reilly are sent on what feels like a wild goose chase by a totally disturbed killer, who obviously plans his murders out, takes great joy in making the victims feel every ounce of terror and pain all the while planning his next kill.
I enjoyed every aspect of this book, from the locations, the crimes and the detectives. Gardner and Reilly work well as a team, get each other’s quirks and sometimes sick sense of humour and seem to know what the other is thinking or even say.
This book had me gripped from the 1st chapter/time frame. I loved how the authors mind works, how he describes locations, characters and crime scenes. I felt like I was part of the team and as time was ticking away I seemed to be turning those pages faster and faster!
This book has had be adding books 1 & 2 to my TBR pile and I know they will be bumped up the list. A truly gripping book that will have you loosing sleep due to turning those pages!
June 20, 2019
An early morning call leads the police to the body of Alex Wilson, a petty crook, nailed to the wall of his uncle’s hardware store. But why did he end up kill in such a grisly way?
Another body turns up, it’s up to Reilly and Gardener to stop this sick killer before someone else ends up dead.
So this is the third in the Gardener and Reilly, which I actually didn’t realise before I picked this up. I did feel like I’d missed a little of the characters’ back story but it didn’t spoil my overall enjoyment of the novel.
Goodness me, The Tooth Fairy is one of the most diabolical and gruesome serial killers I’ve read in a long time! The way he played with the police, sending cryptic messages, really kept me intrigued throughout out.
For me the characters really made this book, even the more minor characters were realistic and well rounded. I also loved the jokey camaraderie between Gardener and Reilly.
My only complaint was I felt it got a little bogged down in the details, which at times slowed the pace a little but of course that’s just my opinion.
Implant is a must for lovers of gritty and gruesome police procedurals.
Another body turns up, it’s up to Reilly and Gardener to stop this sick killer before someone else ends up dead.
So this is the third in the Gardener and Reilly, which I actually didn’t realise before I picked this up. I did feel like I’d missed a little of the characters’ back story but it didn’t spoil my overall enjoyment of the novel.
Goodness me, The Tooth Fairy is one of the most diabolical and gruesome serial killers I’ve read in a long time! The way he played with the police, sending cryptic messages, really kept me intrigued throughout out.
For me the characters really made this book, even the more minor characters were realistic and well rounded. I also loved the jokey camaraderie between Gardener and Reilly.
My only complaint was I felt it got a little bogged down in the details, which at times slowed the pace a little but of course that’s just my opinion.
Implant is a must for lovers of gritty and gruesome police procedurals.
March 22, 2020
Not a common or garden murder mystery, this book is creepy with "a little slice of horror". Someone with a pretty sick mind is finding inventive ways to torture and kill people in a sleep Yorkshire town. DI Stewart Gardener is tasked with hunting them down.
October 27, 2020
First I’d like to state, unbeknowing to me I have jumped right into book 3 of the Gardner and Reilly series. But this hasn’t effected my review (or at least I don’t feel like it has)
Each chapter of the book has a time frame from when the crime starts, loved this about the book! The story kicks off on a high with a break in, a locked basement and then the discovery of Alex Wilson nailed to the wall!
A total OMG moment!!
Gardner and Reilly are sent on what feels like a wild goose chase by a totally disturbed killer, who obviously plans his murders out, takes great joy in making the victims feel every ounce of terror and pain all the while planning his next kill.
I enjoyed every aspect of this book, from the locations, the crimes and the detectives. Gardner and Reilly work well as a team, get each other’s quirks and sometimes sick sense of humour and seem to know what the other is thinking or even say.
This book had me gripped from the 1st chapter/time frame. I loved how the authors mind works, how he describes locations, characters and crime scenes. I felt like I was part of the team and as time was ticking away I seemed to be turning those pages faster and faster!
This book has had be adding books 1 & 2 to my TBR pile and I know they will be bumped up the list. A truly gripping book that will have you loosing sleep due to turning those pages!
Each chapter of the book has a time frame from when the crime starts, loved this about the book! The story kicks off on a high with a break in, a locked basement and then the discovery of Alex Wilson nailed to the wall!
A total OMG moment!!
Gardner and Reilly are sent on what feels like a wild goose chase by a totally disturbed killer, who obviously plans his murders out, takes great joy in making the victims feel every ounce of terror and pain all the while planning his next kill.
I enjoyed every aspect of this book, from the locations, the crimes and the detectives. Gardner and Reilly work well as a team, get each other’s quirks and sometimes sick sense of humour and seem to know what the other is thinking or even say.
This book had me gripped from the 1st chapter/time frame. I loved how the authors mind works, how he describes locations, characters and crime scenes. I felt like I was part of the team and as time was ticking away I seemed to be turning those pages faster and faster!
This book has had be adding books 1 & 2 to my TBR pile and I know they will be bumped up the list. A truly gripping book that will have you loosing sleep due to turning those pages!
September 21, 2022
This was another good (though gruesome) crime thriller in the box set I have, where D.I. Gardener is on the trail of a cruel murderer.
I liked the writing style, though sometimes it felt rather repetitious. It's fast-paced and had a great sense of place. The descriptions of the murder scenes - yikes.
The cast of characters suited the plot and the humour fitted well into the story - the banter between officers.
Overall, worth a look.
I liked the writing style, though sometimes it felt rather repetitious. It's fast-paced and had a great sense of place. The descriptions of the murder scenes - yikes.
The cast of characters suited the plot and the humour fitted well into the story - the banter between officers.
Overall, worth a look.
November 27, 2022
Outstanding!
Wow that was an extremely thought provocating story that was so unique I'm interested where Ray gets his inspiration from.
It started with an anonymous telephone call to the police regarding some kind of deadline only to discover a grusome murder in the cellar of a local hardware store. Great characters, strong story kept me enthralled to a great conclusion. Well done.
Wow that was an extremely thought provocating story that was so unique I'm interested where Ray gets his inspiration from.
It started with an anonymous telephone call to the police regarding some kind of deadline only to discover a grusome murder in the cellar of a local hardware store. Great characters, strong story kept me enthralled to a great conclusion. Well done.
August 9, 2025
WOW what a read
Great storyline so interesting. DI Gardener and his Team were likelable, witty and good at their jobs. The description of the areas and homes were so vivid. I liked that, i could picture the scenes in my mind. The killings were so unique, I couldn't put this book down. I've added this author to my favorites and you SHOULD too, you wont regret it. I look forward to reading more in the series .
Great storyline so interesting. DI Gardener and his Team were likelable, witty and good at their jobs. The description of the areas and homes were so vivid. I liked that, i could picture the scenes in my mind. The killings were so unique, I couldn't put this book down. I've added this author to my favorites and you SHOULD too, you wont regret it. I look forward to reading more in the series .
July 9, 2022
Implants……
Now if you have a queasy disposition or don’t like medical related murders then be warned! This is one gruesome book and I found it absolutely brilliant. I really don’t know where the author got their ideas from. It’s fascinating. The books just keep getting better. Roll on book 4.
Now if you have a queasy disposition or don’t like medical related murders then be warned! This is one gruesome book and I found it absolutely brilliant. I really don’t know where the author got their ideas from. It’s fascinating. The books just keep getting better. Roll on book 4.
April 29, 2020
Another great story
Another great story Ray Clark. A really well crafted story with plenty of action and twists and turns and good strong characters.
Another great story Ray Clark. A really well crafted story with plenty of action and twists and turns and good strong characters.
May 1, 2020
One of the best crime novels I've ever read. So original and creative. I would make for a great movie.
May 5, 2020
Excellent read
Ray Clark is fast becoming one of my favourite authors. I truly hope there are more Gardener and Reilly books in the pipeline.
Ray Clark is fast becoming one of my favourite authors. I truly hope there are more Gardener and Reilly books in the pipeline.
July 7, 2020
Book 3 in the series and it's another rollercoaster gripping story, I don't know how Ray Clark thinks up the things that happen in this book, but there brilliant.
August 29, 2022
Another gritty and fast paced read. Quite graphic in places but that just added to the storyline. Really enjoying this series!
February 6, 2023
Wow . I thought the 1st 2 books in this series were good but this is even better. A terrific story
October 5, 2023
Very well written, good characters, fast pace
July 27, 2025
Love these stories but this one was a little bit too gruesome
August 4, 2025
这套很浮夸，有点像漂亮国的那个啥robot hunter那个系列那种案子，结果是在Leeds。
December 27, 2018
This is the third book in the Gardener and Reilly series and I must admit I have not read the first two but this was not a problem as the book works perfectly as a standalone although I am sure that it would have been interesting to know more of the recurring characters’ back stories if I had read the first two before starting this one.
The blurb makes the book sound very gruesome and I went in to it with some trepidation but actually, although the murders are disturbing and unpleasant, I found the book started out with quite a light, easy to read and informal tone which is unusual in a book of this type but something I really enjoyed. It is quite hard to describe what I mean but the writing felt conversational and friendly and it made it very easy to warm to the characters and the community quickly and become invested in the story. I like to think that this is because the author is from Yorkshire and lives not very far from me and the book is set in a village outside Leeds in a community similar to my own, and everyone knows what warm, friendly and likeable people we Yorkshire folk are!
The chapters in this book are very short which I like in books of this type, as it keeps the pace moving fast and makes it easy to read and are based around the time that events are happening in the investigation which made it easy to keep up with the development of the case. We are introduced to a lot of characters very quickly in the first few chapters and I had to concentrate to begin with to keep who was who straight in my head, especially as I started reading it late at night when I was tired, but once I had them sorted out, the writing flowed very smoothly and I was quickly engrossed. The characters are complete, rounded, real people with their own quirks and personalities which added nicely to the story without detracting from it, I thought they were very well written. There is a sense of humour running through the interactions between the police officers which I thought was probably a good reflection of how people react to cope with some of the awful things they see.
The crimes themselves were fiendish and complicated and the police don’t seem to have much to go on so the investigation is a real puzzle that is fascinating to follow and watch unfold. The murderer is very clever and, although I had worked out who had done it by the end, their motivations were intriguing and I felt the whole thing flowed well and was wrapped up in a satisfying way by the conclusion of the book. I think the author has been very inventive in his plotting – I am always envious of how crime writers’ minds work!
All in all, this is an accomplished and satisfying novel that will pay dividends to any crime fan who picks it up and I would definitely recommend it and will be going back to pick up the first two books in the series.
The blurb makes the book sound very gruesome and I went in to it with some trepidation but actually, although the murders are disturbing and unpleasant, I found the book started out with quite a light, easy to read and informal tone which is unusual in a book of this type but something I really enjoyed. It is quite hard to describe what I mean but the writing felt conversational and friendly and it made it very easy to warm to the characters and the community quickly and become invested in the story. I like to think that this is because the author is from Yorkshire and lives not very far from me and the book is set in a village outside Leeds in a community similar to my own, and everyone knows what warm, friendly and likeable people we Yorkshire folk are!
The chapters in this book are very short which I like in books of this type, as it keeps the pace moving fast and makes it easy to read and are based around the time that events are happening in the investigation which made it easy to keep up with the development of the case. We are introduced to a lot of characters very quickly in the first few chapters and I had to concentrate to begin with to keep who was who straight in my head, especially as I started reading it late at night when I was tired, but once I had them sorted out, the writing flowed very smoothly and I was quickly engrossed. The characters are complete, rounded, real people with their own quirks and personalities which added nicely to the story without detracting from it, I thought they were very well written. There is a sense of humour running through the interactions between the police officers which I thought was probably a good reflection of how people react to cope with some of the awful things they see.
The crimes themselves were fiendish and complicated and the police don’t seem to have much to go on so the investigation is a real puzzle that is fascinating to follow and watch unfold. The murderer is very clever and, although I had worked out who had done it by the end, their motivations were intriguing and I felt the whole thing flowed well and was wrapped up in a satisfying way by the conclusion of the book. I think the author has been very inventive in his plotting – I am always envious of how crime writers’ minds work!
All in all, this is an accomplished and satisfying novel that will pay dividends to any crime fan who picks it up and I would definitely recommend it and will be going back to pick up the first two books in the series.
August 19, 2018
Let me say this book is not for delicate hearts; it's gore, with high doses of doubtful moral and with drops of dark humour. Let me be clear, I liked very much the story and I finished within a few hours but if you don't like blood or stories with a doubtful morality, this is not for you, but you'll be losing the chance to read a very addictive book!
I was quite surprised with this book, I found the murder method original and surprising, I will not tell you any spoilers, but it was delicate, original and really deathly! I hope I'll never find any killer with the same modus operandi, it had to be so painful...
While in the beginning it was a little difficult following the links between the characters, this is the third book of this series, when you start following the plot you get addicted to the detectives Stewart Gardener and Sean Reilly, their friendship and jokes are the same as an old marriage, but makes the story real and interesting. I'll read the next book of the series, for sure!
When a detective receives a mysterious call and sends the police to a special location in unseemly hours, you could guess that what they will not find something pretty, but possibly a death body... but quite a bloody body. Let me say that in this case none of the victims are innocent, making the reader to enter into a very delicate line in morality, do you have to take justice on your own hands or believe that the police and the law will convict the felons? I always like to think that the law is better than vengeance, but in desperate times you never know how one will act.
I highly recommend you to read this book; for the police procedure, for the characters, for the investigations... everything in this book is great, simply read it! ;)
I was quite surprised with this book, I found the murder method original and surprising, I will not tell you any spoilers, but it was delicate, original and really deathly! I hope I'll never find any killer with the same modus operandi, it had to be so painful...
While in the beginning it was a little difficult following the links between the characters, this is the third book of this series, when you start following the plot you get addicted to the detectives Stewart Gardener and Sean Reilly, their friendship and jokes are the same as an old marriage, but makes the story real and interesting. I'll read the next book of the series, for sure!
When a detective receives a mysterious call and sends the police to a special location in unseemly hours, you could guess that what they will not find something pretty, but possibly a death body... but quite a bloody body. Let me say that in this case none of the victims are innocent, making the reader to enter into a very delicate line in morality, do you have to take justice on your own hands or believe that the police and the law will convict the felons? I always like to think that the law is better than vengeance, but in desperate times you never know how one will act.
I highly recommend you to read this book; for the police procedure, for the characters, for the investigations... everything in this book is great, simply read it! ;)
August 14, 2018
*** Trigger warning: mildly to middlin’ graphic violence.
Implant is second in Clark’s Gardener & Reilly mystery/ suspense series. After the tortured remains of a young man are found in the basement of a hardware store, detectives Gardener and Reilly are called to the drowsy hamlet of Bramfield to investigate. The body of Alex Wilson offers many surprises for the investigators. He is bound to a frame, crucified in a manner. Wired into the body, like a Frankenstein experiment gone wrong, an internal insulin pump delivers a deadlier payload to it's victim. A pair of cards is found nearby, one a tarot card, and the other an obscure game card labelled 'Inspector Catcher. As more bodies surface, complete with deadly implants and mysterious cards, Gardner and Reilly race to solve the puzzle before any others die.
Revenge is a powerful motivator. With Implant, Clark shows just how powerful. A quick-fire ride, escalating rapidly, the case comes closed in a few short days. It's planning, though, that's a different story, for the best revenge is well-thought out. It didn't take me too long to figure out the culprit, but learning the why kept me engaged. The implants and experiments were terrifying. These things were supposed to help save lives. Instead, they were used to brutally take them. I appreciated the humour between Gardener and Reilly. Despite it being a relatively quick read for me, I felt I really got to know the pair.
Recommended! Perfect for fans of Seven and The Bone Collector.
***Many thanks to Love Books Tours and the author for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Implant is second in Clark’s Gardener & Reilly mystery/ suspense series. After the tortured remains of a young man are found in the basement of a hardware store, detectives Gardener and Reilly are called to the drowsy hamlet of Bramfield to investigate. The body of Alex Wilson offers many surprises for the investigators. He is bound to a frame, crucified in a manner. Wired into the body, like a Frankenstein experiment gone wrong, an internal insulin pump delivers a deadlier payload to it's victim. A pair of cards is found nearby, one a tarot card, and the other an obscure game card labelled 'Inspector Catcher. As more bodies surface, complete with deadly implants and mysterious cards, Gardner and Reilly race to solve the puzzle before any others die.
Revenge is a powerful motivator. With Implant, Clark shows just how powerful. A quick-fire ride, escalating rapidly, the case comes closed in a few short days. It's planning, though, that's a different story, for the best revenge is well-thought out. It didn't take me too long to figure out the culprit, but learning the why kept me engaged. The implants and experiments were terrifying. These things were supposed to help save lives. Instead, they were used to brutally take them. I appreciated the humour between Gardener and Reilly. Despite it being a relatively quick read for me, I felt I really got to know the pair.
Recommended! Perfect for fans of Seven and The Bone Collector.
***Many thanks to Love Books Tours and the author for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
October 7, 2018
Review originally published here: https://joyfulantidotes.com/2018/08/1...
I was shocked to find that Implant was part of an already established series. I guess I had my suspicions when past incidents were adhered to in some places, but for the most part, I was convinced this was a standalone book. So, don’t worry about not having had the acquaintance of Gardener and Reilly earlier, Implant proves their worth on its own.
For me, this book is police crime drama at its finest. There were many strands to the story and each one kept me intrigued, finally intertwining into a wonderful conclusion. What I liked the most was how the story was told. I’ve read books from this genre in the past and many times they go on without incidence for chapters and all of a sudden there is a big breakthrough and the story ends. What Implant does instead is provide pieces of information here and there when necessary to keep you on your toes. I really felt like I was unravelling the mystery at the same time the detectives were.
Finally, another reason why Implant appealed to me was because of its similarities to the Saw films (but not too many similarities that you will feel this story has already been done). Saying that a likeness to Saw also means a lot of extreme violence so if that isn’t your kind of thing, this book may not be the one for you.
If this review was appealing to you, then I strongly recommend that you pick up a copy of Implant. You won’t be disappointed.
I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I was shocked to find that Implant was part of an already established series. I guess I had my suspicions when past incidents were adhered to in some places, but for the most part, I was convinced this was a standalone book. So, don’t worry about not having had the acquaintance of Gardener and Reilly earlier, Implant proves their worth on its own.
For me, this book is police crime drama at its finest. There were many strands to the story and each one kept me intrigued, finally intertwining into a wonderful conclusion. What I liked the most was how the story was told. I’ve read books from this genre in the past and many times they go on without incidence for chapters and all of a sudden there is a big breakthrough and the story ends. What Implant does instead is provide pieces of information here and there when necessary to keep you on your toes. I really felt like I was unravelling the mystery at the same time the detectives were.
Finally, another reason why Implant appealed to me was because of its similarities to the Saw films (but not too many similarities that you will feel this story has already been done). Saying that a likeness to Saw also means a lot of extreme violence so if that isn’t your kind of thing, this book may not be the one for you.
If this review was appealing to you, then I strongly recommend that you pick up a copy of Implant. You won’t be disappointed.
I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
July 25, 2018
A seemingly small potential crime of a shop having its doors open in the middle of the night leads the team to a rather strange case. Many years beforehand they had a case where the perpetrator left “clues” and this one is beginning to appear the same. There is one added factor- murder. A body is found in the basement of the shop. What could a tarot card, messages that appear be be from an old board game and the character of Inspector Catcher have to do with the crime? Detectives Stewart Gardener and Sean Reilly have their work cut out. and work together well as a believable team. This is the third in a series but happily stands alone. This is my first book by this author and won’t be my last- I really enjoyed it. It has an unusual start and characters that you take to who have some back story- something to give them depth but not enough to detract from the plot as well as a little humour in the right places. I knew who the perpetrator was early on but this in no way detracted from the enjoyment of how they were going about catching him. Well written so that you are taken to the heart of the action and keep turning to find out what happens next. There is an easy flow to the chapters and nothing to perplex the grey matter too much but the clues are a brilliant unique touch. A wonderful read with a captivating and imaginative well thought out plot
For more reviews please see my blog http://nickibookblog.blogspot.co.uk/
or follow me on Twitter @nickij
For more reviews please see my blog http://nickibookblog.blogspot.co.uk/
or follow me on Twitter @nickij
August 17, 2018
This book is the embodiment of what a well written psychological thriller should be. The characters are highly developed and complex with a variety of traits and different sides to their personalities. Detectives Gardener and Reilly are protagonists with their witty banter and sharp sleuthing skills who are well-suited to hunt down the merciless antagonist, The Tooth Fairy. I don't want to give anything away, so let's just say the nickname is a bit ironic. The plot is remarkably twisted and original with the killer's methods of torturing and murdering his victims. There are many surprises in store for the reader even when they assume they have the mystery solved. Though this is the third in a series, which I have not read, it stands on its own. I highly recommend this thriller and plan to read the others in the series.
December 18, 2020
Not kidding about the "little slice of horror." I'm not usually squeamish, but hoo boy. There were a few scenes that made me full body cringe. I shudder thinking about it.
I love mysteries with serial killers with gimmicky MOs, and this was a beautiful example. A double gimmick whammy, with medical/body horror, and board games/trivia. You wouldn't think the two things would go together, but they did.
I like the writing, the characters are likable and interesting (and we did get a bit of character driven plot, but not much, which I like), and the mystery was great, horrific, but with a somewhat understandable motive.
Overall, a good one!
I love mysteries with serial killers with gimmicky MOs, and this was a beautiful example. A double gimmick whammy, with medical/body horror, and board games/trivia. You wouldn't think the two things would go together, but they did.
I like the writing, the characters are likable and interesting (and we did get a bit of character driven plot, but not much, which I like), and the mystery was great, horrific, but with a somewhat understandable motive.
Overall, a good one!
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