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DI Nick Dixon #9
Beyond the Point
DI Nick Dixon is on the hunt for a vicious serial killer, following a trail of fingerprints and DNA across west Somerset.
When the body of a young woman is found on the building site of a nuclear power station, work grinds to a halt. The body bears all the hallmarks of yet another random murder at the hands of the escaped killer. Then Dixon finds a motive.
Fighting for his place on the Major Investigation Team, he soon uncovers a family’s desperate search for the truth, exposing a web of corruption and death that will shake the billion pound construction project to its very foundations. But who can be trusted when so much money is at stake?
Can Dixon find the killer under intense pressure from the top of government? And, can he do it before anyone else has to die?
When the body of a young woman is found on the building site of a nuclear power station, work grinds to a halt. The body bears all the hallmarks of yet another random murder at the hands of the escaped killer. Then Dixon finds a motive.
Fighting for his place on the Major Investigation Team, he soon uncovers a family’s desperate search for the truth, exposing a web of corruption and death that will shake the billion pound construction project to its very foundations. But who can be trusted when so much money is at stake?
Can Dixon find the killer under intense pressure from the top of government? And, can he do it before anyone else has to die?
361 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 23, 2019
1568 people are currently reading
1444 people want to read
About the author
Damien Boyd
22 books963 followersDamien Boyd is a former solicitor turned crime fiction writer.
Drawing on extensive experience of criminal law as well as a spell in the Crown Prosecution Service, Damien writes fast paced crime novels featuring Detective Inspector Nick Dixon.
Damien is published by Thomas & Mercer.
Drawing on extensive experience of criminal law as well as a spell in the Crown Prosecution Service, Damien writes fast paced crime novels featuring Detective Inspector Nick Dixon.
Damien is published by Thomas & Mercer.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 274 reviews
August 27, 2021
This is a mystery, and this is the 9th book in the DI Nick Dixon series. This book is where a police office Dixon is looking for a person that has killed more then one person, but it turns into more then just looking for a murder. I did like this book, but I did not love it. I am glad I read it, but it was not my favorite police or mystery book. I won a kindle edition of this book from a goodreads giveaway, but this review is my feelings about it.
April 9, 2025
Another book that was a pleasure to read from start to finish.
Although the ninth in a series of police procedurals set among the murder investigation team of the Avon and Somerset force it reads as a stand-alone. Furthermore it is steeped in layers of mystery and faced-paced action.
As a fan of the author and his characters it is a delight to receive an early copy of Beyond the Point. I was not disappointed and the novel was all consuming. I liked that it was a straight time line of an investigation based on a hunt for a serial killer on the run and foolishly straying into Nick’s patch.
DI Nick Dixon and his faithful team are relentless in their pursuit of the fugitive and finally track him down at Hinckley Point.
This is riveting stuff, intense action and creatively written. Yet the unfolding of this case reveals a conspiracy far greater in its greed and equally without a thought to the lives that are taken and affected by the need to keep the criminality a secret.
Nick goes into a zone, focusing on justice for the victims and with a zeal that he truth will be revealed.
At times frustrated by a lack of evidence but determined to piece it together Dixon is the driving force that never falters or accepts second best.
Like an onion the many layers of the past links between the co-conspirators are brought into focus but with his bosses getting itchy feet because of the cost of the operation and the political fallout the investigation teeters on the edge of success.
The whole team are led without complaint and the action continues to the very end.
Damien Boyd is a great writer. The journey he has taken his characters on is not only interesting but diverse in location and plot. Yet it is by and large rooted in this West Country world abutting the Bristol Channel. No two novels are the same unless you read them as one man and his dog. Monty is again the one who takes the reader’s attention and breaks his master’s heart. He is the rest and play to Dixon’s work and this balance provides a well rounded story.
As authors go it is a delight for a book lover that the next Boyd novel will be as good as the last. Some series can drift off and become formulaic but in this instance Boyd gets better. He is comfortable in his fictional reality and makes that world as accessible through believable flawed characters and a hero or two. I fear for Nick once dangling with mates over a crevice, testosterone pumping, beer swilling climbing. If the series continues becoming more in touch with his hormones, sensitive and falling (not clever for a climber) into love and shared mortgages, worrying over the colour of his cravat and morning suit. Jane is his love interest, they send sloppy texts and a love for Monty.
Send him on a mountaineering trek Damien before it’s too late!!!
Loved it, full praise to the author - May he become a better known name and fully recognised for his consistently high standard work.
Although the ninth in a series of police procedurals set among the murder investigation team of the Avon and Somerset force it reads as a stand-alone. Furthermore it is steeped in layers of mystery and faced-paced action.
As a fan of the author and his characters it is a delight to receive an early copy of Beyond the Point. I was not disappointed and the novel was all consuming. I liked that it was a straight time line of an investigation based on a hunt for a serial killer on the run and foolishly straying into Nick’s patch.
DI Nick Dixon and his faithful team are relentless in their pursuit of the fugitive and finally track him down at Hinckley Point.
This is riveting stuff, intense action and creatively written. Yet the unfolding of this case reveals a conspiracy far greater in its greed and equally without a thought to the lives that are taken and affected by the need to keep the criminality a secret.
Nick goes into a zone, focusing on justice for the victims and with a zeal that he truth will be revealed.
At times frustrated by a lack of evidence but determined to piece it together Dixon is the driving force that never falters or accepts second best.
Like an onion the many layers of the past links between the co-conspirators are brought into focus but with his bosses getting itchy feet because of the cost of the operation and the political fallout the investigation teeters on the edge of success.
The whole team are led without complaint and the action continues to the very end.
Damien Boyd is a great writer. The journey he has taken his characters on is not only interesting but diverse in location and plot. Yet it is by and large rooted in this West Country world abutting the Bristol Channel. No two novels are the same unless you read them as one man and his dog. Monty is again the one who takes the reader’s attention and breaks his master’s heart. He is the rest and play to Dixon’s work and this balance provides a well rounded story.
As authors go it is a delight for a book lover that the next Boyd novel will be as good as the last. Some series can drift off and become formulaic but in this instance Boyd gets better. He is comfortable in his fictional reality and makes that world as accessible through believable flawed characters and a hero or two. I fear for Nick once dangling with mates over a crevice, testosterone pumping, beer swilling climbing. If the series continues becoming more in touch with his hormones, sensitive and falling (not clever for a climber) into love and shared mortgages, worrying over the colour of his cravat and morning suit. Jane is his love interest, they send sloppy texts and a love for Monty.
Send him on a mountaineering trek Damien before it’s too late!!!
Loved it, full praise to the author - May he become a better known name and fully recognised for his consistently high standard work.
September 10, 2023
Setting: Somerset, UK; modern day.
In this ninth book in the crime series featuring DI Nick Dixon, Nick and his team are pursuing the murderer from the previous book, who escaped from Wiltshire Police and is now leaving a trail of destruction and death through the West Country.
As the killer always seems to be several steps ahead of Nick and his team, he becomes increasingly frustrated until he has a flash of inspiration and sets his sights on the construction site for the Hinkley Point nuclear power station. Deciding that the killer, Steiner, has gone to ground within the site, he and his team move in - but a further death and a linked disappearance open up an investigation into corrupt business practices which have led to bankruptcies, suicide and murder....
This is yet another excellent episode in this gripping series with the characters becoming more and more familiar and likeable. Fortunately, I have several more of this series on Kindle ready to be read! - 9/10.
In this ninth book in the crime series featuring DI Nick Dixon, Nick and his team are pursuing the murderer from the previous book, who escaped from Wiltshire Police and is now leaving a trail of destruction and death through the West Country.
As the killer always seems to be several steps ahead of Nick and his team, he becomes increasingly frustrated until he has a flash of inspiration and sets his sights on the construction site for the Hinkley Point nuclear power station. Deciding that the killer, Steiner, has gone to ground within the site, he and his team move in - but a further death and a linked disappearance open up an investigation into corrupt business practices which have led to bankruptcies, suicide and murder....
This is yet another excellent episode in this gripping series with the characters becoming more and more familiar and likeable. Fortunately, I have several more of this series on Kindle ready to be read! - 9/10.
June 19, 2025
Slightly different to the rest, carries on from previous book
March 12, 2020
The opening section of Beyond the Point is a continuation of the story in the previous book, Deadlock. I have read all the books in this series, but even so had to rack my brains to remember what had happened in a book I had read over a year ago (I cottoned on eventually). Some reviewers have even had to go back and read Deadlock again. This is a minor quibble, but might be off-putting for a reader who is new to the Nick Dixon books.
As always, the main investigation is a complex one that requires Nick and his team to delve back into old cases until the motive becomes clear. A lot of the action takes place in the unusual setting of the construction site for a new power station (Hinkley Point C). This is a restricted area and further complicates the investigation, bringing Nick Dixon into conflict with senior officers. Like most other fictional detectives of his rank, he does not have a lot of time for his media-conscious, budget-obsessed superiors, but does not let it hold him back from doing what he needs to do.
Another thread to this gripping story is the poisoning of Dixon’s dog, Monty; as if he did not have enough to contend with. As regular readers will know, Dixon’s favourite way to wind down, and think about the case he’s working on, is to take Monty for a walk on the beach at the end of a long hard day. Nevertheless, he manages to stay focussed on the case as he waits for news of Monty.
Beyond the Point is the ninth book to feature Nick Dixon and his colleagues; one of the reasons I really like reading a series like this is that you are already familiar with the team of detectives, you don’t have to spend time becoming acquainted with them, and you can just jump straight into the story.
The Somerset countryside plays a large part in these books and, if made into a TV series, would surely do for the tourist industry there what the books by Ann Cleeves have done for Shetland and Northumbria. As I didn’t read this immediately when it first came out, there is not long to wait now for the next in the series, Down Among the Dead. I hope there will be many more books in this series.
As always, the main investigation is a complex one that requires Nick and his team to delve back into old cases until the motive becomes clear. A lot of the action takes place in the unusual setting of the construction site for a new power station (Hinkley Point C). This is a restricted area and further complicates the investigation, bringing Nick Dixon into conflict with senior officers. Like most other fictional detectives of his rank, he does not have a lot of time for his media-conscious, budget-obsessed superiors, but does not let it hold him back from doing what he needs to do.
Another thread to this gripping story is the poisoning of Dixon’s dog, Monty; as if he did not have enough to contend with. As regular readers will know, Dixon’s favourite way to wind down, and think about the case he’s working on, is to take Monty for a walk on the beach at the end of a long hard day. Nevertheless, he manages to stay focussed on the case as he waits for news of Monty.
Beyond the Point is the ninth book to feature Nick Dixon and his colleagues; one of the reasons I really like reading a series like this is that you are already familiar with the team of detectives, you don’t have to spend time becoming acquainted with them, and you can just jump straight into the story.
The Somerset countryside plays a large part in these books and, if made into a TV series, would surely do for the tourist industry there what the books by Ann Cleeves have done for Shetland and Northumbria. As I didn’t read this immediately when it first came out, there is not long to wait now for the next in the series, Down Among the Dead. I hope there will be many more books in this series.
July 30, 2024
Beyond the Point is the 9th book in the DI Nick Dixon series set in Somerset. I had read all of them in order but skipped over this one to get up to date for an ARC and had been meaning to come back to it for a while. This one picks up where book 8 (Dead Lock) ended, with Dixon on the hunt for a serial killer, but it’s 3&1/2 years since I read that and there’s not much recap, so went back over the end of that one as I couldn’t remember what had happened. It’s not crucial to the plot but I definitely recommend reading the preceding book first. This was another good English procedural from an under-rated series, although not my favourite - I finished it over a month ago and have already forgotten most of what happened!
(Recently I’ve found writing reviews to feel like more of a chore, and that I struggle to find new things to say about good but not brilliant books. I’m going to trial writing shorter reviews until I get my mojo back.)
(Recently I’ve found writing reviews to feel like more of a chore, and that I struggle to find new things to say about good but not brilliant books. I’m going to trial writing shorter reviews until I get my mojo back.)
June 18, 2019
Another good West Country police procedural featuring DI Nick Dixon - an interesting character well developed but without the personal problems or neuroses many fictional policemen are saddled with to make them more interesting.
September 6, 2019
This is a tough one in some ways. As always, Nick Dixon books are awesome. BUT when you’ve listened to 8 of them with the same narrator and then he changes on book 9 it’s hard to figure out if you liked it as much as the others.
According to the story, I did. It started in 1994 (I think) with a man committing suicide, then moves to present day. It’s about a serial killer that finally gets cornered and says he’ll kill his hostage unless he can talk to Dixon. And that where the story really starts. More bad guys showed up and there ended up being a total of 3 and Dixon had to find out who each one was. It was really a good mystery.
No sex and the F-bomb was used 25 times.
As to the narration: Simon Mattacks was barely okay for me. His female voices are pretty bad and he doesn’t read with any emotion. I really, really missed Napoleon Ryan. The last thing he narrated was in May of 2018. I hope that doesn’t mean he’s quit narrating.
September 17, 2021
A terrible accident leaves 3 men dead. Was there employer negligent? He claims the job was sabotaged but unable to prove anything he kills himself on the eve of his trial. Years later the disappearance of his wife and several murders lead to the accident being re-investigated. Much of the action is in and around EDF Energy's Hinckley Point C and once again the subject had been well researched.
Along the way Nick is again targeted but he is got at by an unexpected source in almost the worst way possible. He is held back by lack of evidence and by the hierarchy at EDF and members of the government trying to close down the investigation as because if it. Of course a lot of money is being lost everyday the site is closed. As always there are many deaths and many cases solved along the way.
Along the way Nick is again targeted but he is got at by an unexpected source in almost the worst way possible. He is held back by lack of evidence and by the hierarchy at EDF and members of the government trying to close down the investigation as because if it. Of course a lot of money is being lost everyday the site is closed. As always there are many deaths and many cases solved along the way.
February 21, 2025
It is a good police procedural following Inspector Nick Dixon in his best "superhero" mode as he chases Steiner across the county. Fast paced as the chase leads onto the Hinkley Power Station building site and the story leads back to a previous case, suicide and murder. All this in lawless Somerset!
As usual, Nick treats superiors contemptuously and flies close to the wind between success and disciplinary action. An inept Assistant Chief Constable who is only interested in saving face and money, to hell with people or providing a service to the community. Oh! and there is that old nemesis Chief Inspector Chard. Too heavy on the dog aspect. Monty seems to be dominating the series. 3 stars.
As usual, Nick treats superiors contemptuously and flies close to the wind between success and disciplinary action. An inept Assistant Chief Constable who is only interested in saving face and money, to hell with people or providing a service to the community. Oh! and there is that old nemesis Chief Inspector Chard. Too heavy on the dog aspect. Monty seems to be dominating the series. 3 stars.
June 18, 2019
I can always rely on Damien Boyd for a good, solid police procedural (and nice to get it on my Kindle Unlimited subscription). This deals with a serial killer who goes on the loose at nuclear power station Hinckley Point. The story that thereby unravels is satisfyingly complex, having its roots in corruption and fixing many years ago. I like the Somerset setting of Boyd's books and his characters - DI Dixon, his police officer girlfriend Jane (though is it a bit sexist to always call Dixon 'Dixon' and Jane 'Jane'?) his dog Monty and their police colleagues. Monty has a big role in this one, leading to one of Dixon's all time enemies being put away (I won't give anything away, but it's a good sub-plot). Today's series detectives always have a characteristic issue/problem. (eg Strike and his prosthesis) and Dixon has diabetes. I was intrigued that the story opens with him having his annual retinal screen...there were some details that I wasn't sure were accurate so I've referred to a colleague who works in this area and she's doing to report back to me (I'll disclose - I work in this area, so am especially interested in this issue of Dixon's - his hypos, his 'jabs' and his diet which, like so many police procedural characters, seems to be very unhealthy...). Hope Damien is working on his next book already.
March 19, 2021
Had potential,but no.Choppy writing,assumes the reader has read the previous books,MC is tooo perfect,repetitive.
June 16, 2024
Audio version of this book - a great addition to the series
May 12, 2025
Entertain ing enough!
May 10, 2020
I've been with DCI Dixon from the beginning but in the last couple of books, I'd started to find the stories less engaging. This outing, though, was terrific - possibly the best yet. It starts off roughly where the previous book left off - but I'd actually forgotten the details of the previous book and it didn't matter at all. It's a great story with several threads. What I liked is that the different threads were resolved piece-meal and throughout the book so you weren't waiting until the end for everything to make sense.
June 4, 2019
Beyond the point
I so enjoyed this book, having read the other Nick Dixon books. I couldn’t put it down, reading into the small hours, but persistence paid off & Nick got his ‘men’ in the end. Thank you Damian for such a detailed & well written novel. What will Nick Dixon uncover next?
I so enjoyed this book, having read the other Nick Dixon books. I couldn’t put it down, reading into the small hours, but persistence paid off & Nick got his ‘men’ in the end. Thank you Damian for such a detailed & well written novel. What will Nick Dixon uncover next?
October 3, 2021
Always brilliant plots.
I have thoroughly enjoyed reading every book in this series, which just keep getting better and better. Dixon and his team always work so well together and the investigations into the murders they are looking into really thorough. Hinckley Point power station plays a big part in this story plus an intriguing sub plot involving the second Severn bridge. Dixon and Co not only need to solve a few murders but also a great deal of fraud. Jane and Monty of course always at Dixon's side......
I have thoroughly enjoyed reading every book in this series, which just keep getting better and better. Dixon and his team always work so well together and the investigations into the murders they are looking into really thorough. Hinckley Point power station plays a big part in this story plus an intriguing sub plot involving the second Severn bridge. Dixon and Co not only need to solve a few murders but also a great deal of fraud. Jane and Monty of course always at Dixon's side......
December 8, 2021
It's about time!!!
This was another amazing read by R Boyd! I don't know where he gets all these ideas, but it sure would be interesting to visualize what goes on in his brain! Throwing in multiple plots, and twists and turns, he again makes sure you'll never figure out the guilty party. I truly highly recommend this book, and I do have to say it's about time DI Dixon!
This was another amazing read by R Boyd! I don't know where he gets all these ideas, but it sure would be interesting to visualize what goes on in his brain! Throwing in multiple plots, and twists and turns, he again makes sure you'll never figure out the guilty party. I truly highly recommend this book, and I do have to say it's about time DI Dixon!
December 21, 2022
whew!
Oooh this one was a good one. This story stemmed like through the last two books so I’m glad they finally got that settled! I don’t know much about power plants and such but learned quite a bit reading through this one of the construction if it. Was intense and education and satisfying!
Oooh this one was a good one. This story stemmed like through the last two books so I’m glad they finally got that settled! I don’t know much about power plants and such but learned quite a bit reading through this one of the construction if it. Was intense and education and satisfying!
December 1, 2019
Tony Steiner is still on the run from the last book. It’s the biggest manhunt in recent history and he’s nowhere to be seen. That is until the body of elderly Mrs Boswell turns up, hanging in her barn in a remote cottage. When there’s another sighting, it suggests Steiner is moving eastwards so the hunt is concentrated in that direction. DI Nick Dixon becomes convinced that Steiner is hiding out in the massive building project that is Hinckley Point C, future nuclear power station. There’s no way the police are going to be allowed to wander around there on a detective’s whim. It’s a different matter when a dead body is found: dumper truck driver Amy has had her neck broken and been dumped in a silo which was due to be filled with aggregate. Finally the team is allowed in but Nick is limited to the main section because Steiner has left references to him at his previous hideouts which have been interpreted as threats. Instead, Nick is told to follow up his hunch that Amy’s death was targeted and not a simple ‘she saw Steiner and paid the price’ scenario that the higher ups favour. The first thing Nick finds is that Amy’s Mum disappeared only two weeks previously. Nick doesn’t believe in coincidences. That leaves him looking into Stella, Amy’s Mum, and Amy’s past for an answer.
That takes us back to the prologue where a man commits suicide, leaving a note to his wife Stella and his unborn daughter whom he would like to be called Amy. Years previously, Liam won the contract to build the platforms under the then new Severn bridge. During construction, a platform had collapsed resulting in the death of three workmen. Liam is sure the platform was sabotaged but cannot prove it. On the eve of his trial for negligence, Liam takes the easiest way out for him. It turns out to be the hardest way for Stella, who has spent the intervening years trying to prove the sabotage. Stella had even roped Amy into her obsession.
When Nick looks at the report of Stella’s disappearance, several things don’t add up. At first he assumes it’s laziness as the investigating officer was his nemesis, Chard. Eventually, Nick realises that it’s more than just laziness, it’s deliberate doctoring if statements. It turns out married Chard had been having a relationship with Stella and that he’d taken the original police file of the investigation into the collapse of the platform and given it to her. Chard had nothing to do with her disappearance but he’d tried to cover up his connection. That covering up had meant that the person or persons who had taken Stella, had killed her as suggested by the copious amount of blood left at the scene, were getting away with it.
Meanwhile, Steiner has been cornered and was holding a driver hostage at the top of the highest crane on site. He’s insisting Nick come to him. Good job Nick has a head for heights. In a tense scene, Steiner tells Nick he was given a false ID to gain access to the site and that his first job was to sabotage the tarmac so that the current contractor would lose his contract. Then he was told to kill Amy. The rewards were bitcoin and a passage out of Hinckley on a boat, which turned out to be a lie. He wanted Nick to know about his being double crossed and to bring those responsible to justice. There’s a twisted logic to this and a respect for Nick’s abilities. Steiner dies from a sniper bullet to the head.
Personal pressure is piling on to Nick. He’s seen so much blood and horrors recently and has had to wash Steiner’s brains out of his hair. The hunt for Steiner has meant he’s been playing fast and loose with his eating and insulin injections for his diabetes. In fact, the hospital keep trying to contact him after a recent check up and they are saying it’s urgent and still Nick is ignoring them. Then Monty, Nick’s dog, is poisoned. Someone has put anti-freeze into his drinking bowl. It’s touch and go and Monty won’t be out of danger for several days. Nick’s in a personal pressure cooker and the heat just keeps being turned up.
Nick starts looking for people involved with the old case platform collapse and the new building contracts at Hinckley. It is a long, laborious process to find the links across the years and even longer to prove them. With two out of three conspirators accounted for, Nick has to stick his neck out to search the land of a baronet, especially as they’ve searched once already and come up empty handed. Nick prevails and justice is finally done for Liam, Stella and Amy
That takes us back to the prologue where a man commits suicide, leaving a note to his wife Stella and his unborn daughter whom he would like to be called Amy. Years previously, Liam won the contract to build the platforms under the then new Severn bridge. During construction, a platform had collapsed resulting in the death of three workmen. Liam is sure the platform was sabotaged but cannot prove it. On the eve of his trial for negligence, Liam takes the easiest way out for him. It turns out to be the hardest way for Stella, who has spent the intervening years trying to prove the sabotage. Stella had even roped Amy into her obsession.
When Nick looks at the report of Stella’s disappearance, several things don’t add up. At first he assumes it’s laziness as the investigating officer was his nemesis, Chard. Eventually, Nick realises that it’s more than just laziness, it’s deliberate doctoring if statements. It turns out married Chard had been having a relationship with Stella and that he’d taken the original police file of the investigation into the collapse of the platform and given it to her. Chard had nothing to do with her disappearance but he’d tried to cover up his connection. That covering up had meant that the person or persons who had taken Stella, had killed her as suggested by the copious amount of blood left at the scene, were getting away with it.
Meanwhile, Steiner has been cornered and was holding a driver hostage at the top of the highest crane on site. He’s insisting Nick come to him. Good job Nick has a head for heights. In a tense scene, Steiner tells Nick he was given a false ID to gain access to the site and that his first job was to sabotage the tarmac so that the current contractor would lose his contract. Then he was told to kill Amy. The rewards were bitcoin and a passage out of Hinckley on a boat, which turned out to be a lie. He wanted Nick to know about his being double crossed and to bring those responsible to justice. There’s a twisted logic to this and a respect for Nick’s abilities. Steiner dies from a sniper bullet to the head.
Personal pressure is piling on to Nick. He’s seen so much blood and horrors recently and has had to wash Steiner’s brains out of his hair. The hunt for Steiner has meant he’s been playing fast and loose with his eating and insulin injections for his diabetes. In fact, the hospital keep trying to contact him after a recent check up and they are saying it’s urgent and still Nick is ignoring them. Then Monty, Nick’s dog, is poisoned. Someone has put anti-freeze into his drinking bowl. It’s touch and go and Monty won’t be out of danger for several days. Nick’s in a personal pressure cooker and the heat just keeps being turned up.
Nick starts looking for people involved with the old case platform collapse and the new building contracts at Hinckley. It is a long, laborious process to find the links across the years and even longer to prove them. With two out of three conspirators accounted for, Nick has to stick his neck out to search the land of a baronet, especially as they’ve searched once already and come up empty handed. Nick prevails and justice is finally done for Liam, Stella and Amy
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 29, 2019
It had been some time since I read the 8th book in this series so I had to download the 8th book again to refresh my memory about Steiner, a psychopath who makes appearances in both 8th and 9th. Of course this meant it was worth my while to join Kindle Unlimited for a month and pick up a couple more books I had interest in. I am now up to date with DI Nick Dixon and don't want to spoil this one for others other than to recommend that the books really need to be read in order. Dixon has many admirable qualities as does his partner Jane.
Within the chaotic carried-over search for Steiner, another deadly series of crimes is uncovered linked to a major nuclear power plant construction project in Somerset, Hinckley Point C. Wherever billions of dollars in construction costs are at stake, temptation presents itself to a certain segment of the population. Dixon digs deep in his investigations, gets hold of a bone and won't let go despite opposition. The action is lively, the characters diverse, complex and always interesting.
As for Dixon's diabetes, he doesn't always eat on time or get enough sleep and is trying to avoid having his diabetic retinopathy tended to, but he does finally get a ring on Jane's finger.
Within the chaotic carried-over search for Steiner, another deadly series of crimes is uncovered linked to a major nuclear power plant construction project in Somerset, Hinckley Point C. Wherever billions of dollars in construction costs are at stake, temptation presents itself to a certain segment of the population. Dixon digs deep in his investigations, gets hold of a bone and won't let go despite opposition. The action is lively, the characters diverse, complex and always interesting.
As for Dixon's diabetes, he doesn't always eat on time or get enough sleep and is trying to avoid having his diabetic retinopathy tended to, but he does finally get a ring on Jane's finger.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 7, 2023
The title of this felt appropriate because this is the “point” beyond which I’ll read no more of this series. Had bought this as part of a boxset based on the glowing reviews and positive comments the series gets on Amazon / Good Reads. But realised after about Book 2, I’m in the complete opposite camp on this series. Really haven’t enjoyed them at all. Found them consistently clumsily written, and never got into the characters or story.
In fact, the only part I enjoyed of this was getting to the end and realising I’d finished the boxset, and wouldn’t have to read any more about DI Dixon.
This one was particularly poor, with a messy storyline and flat and hard to believe plot points. Too many characters, and too much dull legal stuff.
It starts with a leftover thread from the previous book in the series, where a killer had escaped and was on the run in the South West of England. Despite a major police manhunt and lots of publicity, a corrupt official at Hinkley Point nuclear power station manages to find him, give him a false identity and get him a job inside the plant, where he asks him to commit a murder against one of the employees.
This all sounds far-fetched, and well, it is. This part of the story ends mid-way through the book in a fairly ridiculous sounding face-off on top of a high-up crane between the escaped killer and DI Dixon.
The second half of the story then mainly follows why the corrupt official hired the killer to kill that particular employee. It’s to do with dodgy finance and procurement contracts, with historic cases of sabotage, police corruption and murder coming back into the limelight. It’s almost passable, but the mix of contract law and murder doesn’t gel all that well together, and there’s no real insight into the character or motivation of the villains in this story.
We also get lots of dull background research information about Hinckley Point. Like the author wanted to show off how much research he’d done on it. Felt overdone, and just padded out the book with what sounded like regurgitated promotional material. Ending up skipping parts of this as added little to the story.
It doesn’t help that the lead character isn’t likeable. He mainly puts the d*ck in Dixon. For example, he shuts down anyone else making a joke or light hearted comment, by saying it’s a murder case. But then makes his own smart comments and expects everyone else to laugh. Also his complete disrespect for other police officers just comes across as complete disrespect for anyone who doesn’t see the world the way he does. He’s horribly lacking in empathy for anyone apart from his dog and his one dimensional policewoman girlfriend. There’s an unpleasant subplot where someone poisons his dog, which results in lots of padded out writing about visits to the vet. But it never feels like the worst will happen, and that storyline just fizzles out in the end.
Still don’t get who this series appeals to. Can understand people living in the area might like it for all the locations. And maybe a certain type of Daily Mail reading / old-fashioned conservative type might enjoy the vaguely right-wing middle class undercurrent running through it. But not for me, and definitely done with this series.
In fact, the only part I enjoyed of this was getting to the end and realising I’d finished the boxset, and wouldn’t have to read any more about DI Dixon.
This one was particularly poor, with a messy storyline and flat and hard to believe plot points. Too many characters, and too much dull legal stuff.
It starts with a leftover thread from the previous book in the series, where a killer had escaped and was on the run in the South West of England. Despite a major police manhunt and lots of publicity, a corrupt official at Hinkley Point nuclear power station manages to find him, give him a false identity and get him a job inside the plant, where he asks him to commit a murder against one of the employees.
This all sounds far-fetched, and well, it is. This part of the story ends mid-way through the book in a fairly ridiculous sounding face-off on top of a high-up crane between the escaped killer and DI Dixon.
The second half of the story then mainly follows why the corrupt official hired the killer to kill that particular employee. It’s to do with dodgy finance and procurement contracts, with historic cases of sabotage, police corruption and murder coming back into the limelight. It’s almost passable, but the mix of contract law and murder doesn’t gel all that well together, and there’s no real insight into the character or motivation of the villains in this story.
We also get lots of dull background research information about Hinckley Point. Like the author wanted to show off how much research he’d done on it. Felt overdone, and just padded out the book with what sounded like regurgitated promotional material. Ending up skipping parts of this as added little to the story.
It doesn’t help that the lead character isn’t likeable. He mainly puts the d*ck in Dixon. For example, he shuts down anyone else making a joke or light hearted comment, by saying it’s a murder case. But then makes his own smart comments and expects everyone else to laugh. Also his complete disrespect for other police officers just comes across as complete disrespect for anyone who doesn’t see the world the way he does. He’s horribly lacking in empathy for anyone apart from his dog and his one dimensional policewoman girlfriend. There’s an unpleasant subplot where someone poisons his dog, which results in lots of padded out writing about visits to the vet. But it never feels like the worst will happen, and that storyline just fizzles out in the end.
Still don’t get who this series appeals to. Can understand people living in the area might like it for all the locations. And maybe a certain type of Daily Mail reading / old-fashioned conservative type might enjoy the vaguely right-wing middle class undercurrent running through it. But not for me, and definitely done with this series.
October 7, 2019
Wowsers, are we really on book nine of this series? Doesn't time fly when you are having fun! Even though the main story is self-contained within this book, there is so much to be gained with regard to backstory and character development that, as always, I would really urge you to start from book one and read in order. I would definitely recommend each and every one of these books although I will also add that the first isn't the strongest but worth reading to be in at the beginning.
So, Nick and his team are on the hunt for a serial killer who has remained a step ahead of the Police at every turn. Just when they think they have tracked him down, further investigations reveal that although he had been at the scene they visit, he is long gone already. But they feel they are honing in as he has started to leave more of a trail. More evidence which they believe will assist his capture. Nick believes he may have found his man but it appears he may have only just missed him when a body is found at the site of a new nuclear power station. A crime that both links to and pits him against his nemesis, and uncovers a motive that appears tricky to investigate further. But Nick's instinct is well known, and indeed respected, and he is finally given the leeway to question certain people but, with time running out, can he get to the bottom of things in time, and bring some long coming justice?
One of the things I really love about this series is the fact that Nick Dixon is relatively normal. Yes, he is dating within the force, but him and Jane have managed to sort all that side of things out. He does have his health worry and this is a bit more front and centre in this book, but all that aside, he is one of the most well-balanced cops in this genre. Yes, he seems to have second sight and occasionally this seems to come so far out of left field to be unrealistic but, you know what, the rest of the book(s) is(are) so good that I'll happy take a bit of progression with a pinch of salt.
It's fast paced all the way through and is blessed with no superfluous waffle or padding so the story gets on with itself well. Characterisation is great, both the series regulars and episode extras are all well drawn and develop well as the story progresses.
The plot is outstanding - set over a fair few years, starting way back in the past with a suicide - it takes a bit of digging to eke out the truth but it really is horrifying when all the layers have been peeled back and the reasons for what happened is finally exposed.
All in all, a great addition to an already wonderful - top five - series. With how certain things were left at the end, I really can't wait to see what the author has in store for next time.
So, Nick and his team are on the hunt for a serial killer who has remained a step ahead of the Police at every turn. Just when they think they have tracked him down, further investigations reveal that although he had been at the scene they visit, he is long gone already. But they feel they are honing in as he has started to leave more of a trail. More evidence which they believe will assist his capture. Nick believes he may have found his man but it appears he may have only just missed him when a body is found at the site of a new nuclear power station. A crime that both links to and pits him against his nemesis, and uncovers a motive that appears tricky to investigate further. But Nick's instinct is well known, and indeed respected, and he is finally given the leeway to question certain people but, with time running out, can he get to the bottom of things in time, and bring some long coming justice?
One of the things I really love about this series is the fact that Nick Dixon is relatively normal. Yes, he is dating within the force, but him and Jane have managed to sort all that side of things out. He does have his health worry and this is a bit more front and centre in this book, but all that aside, he is one of the most well-balanced cops in this genre. Yes, he seems to have second sight and occasionally this seems to come so far out of left field to be unrealistic but, you know what, the rest of the book(s) is(are) so good that I'll happy take a bit of progression with a pinch of salt.
It's fast paced all the way through and is blessed with no superfluous waffle or padding so the story gets on with itself well. Characterisation is great, both the series regulars and episode extras are all well drawn and develop well as the story progresses.
The plot is outstanding - set over a fair few years, starting way back in the past with a suicide - it takes a bit of digging to eke out the truth but it really is horrifying when all the layers have been peeled back and the reasons for what happened is finally exposed.
All in all, a great addition to an already wonderful - top five - series. With how certain things were left at the end, I really can't wait to see what the author has in store for next time.
January 29, 2023
With a dangerous criminal on the loose there’s no rest for DI Nick Dixon. Despite knowing exactly who they are after, Dixon and his team have had very little success in tracing him this last month. Until the bodies start being uncovered and Dixon finally catches the scent – and he knows his quarry isn’t so far away after all.
I’ve been enjoying this series and while I don’t feel this is one of the author’s strongest books it is a very solid and enjoyable read. The plot is extremely straight forward and while the killer is the same nemesis as the previous book in this series, the author explains everything very well – without those annoying, massive info-dumps – and I feel readers who haven’t read any of the previous installments can still be clear on the plot and enjoy the book.
I do feel that readers looking for a heavily action-based story or something with a deep mystery might not be as pleased with this story as others. The killer is known from the very beginning – though readers wanting a more “who dun it” style of book might start with Dead Lock, the previous book where they do the more traditional mystery solving. But this is more of a police procedural manhunt style of story.
I was impressed though that a lot of the conflict came from within the police force and team themselves – things like the power and political plays between the media and the bureaucracy and the more internal police issues. That was quite a bit of the conflict and tension found in this type of story. I also really appreciated how about halfway in the manhunt started to link around another aspect of the mystery and there was still a puzzle to solve and more traditional mystery case to solve. So that was a really enjoyable aspect to the story as well.
I was pleased both Nick and Jane had a good amount of time together – both working and personal – in this story and I am very happy with how both of their character arcs are coming along. Readers looking for lots of bombs and chase and action might not find this story fits their needs. For a realistic and character driven story with plenty of police procedure and enough questions and tension to push the plot along this was a good story and one I enjoyed.
I’ve been enjoying this series and while I don’t feel this is one of the author’s strongest books it is a very solid and enjoyable read. The plot is extremely straight forward and while the killer is the same nemesis as the previous book in this series, the author explains everything very well – without those annoying, massive info-dumps – and I feel readers who haven’t read any of the previous installments can still be clear on the plot and enjoy the book.
I do feel that readers looking for a heavily action-based story or something with a deep mystery might not be as pleased with this story as others. The killer is known from the very beginning – though readers wanting a more “who dun it” style of book might start with Dead Lock, the previous book where they do the more traditional mystery solving. But this is more of a police procedural manhunt style of story.
I was impressed though that a lot of the conflict came from within the police force and team themselves – things like the power and political plays between the media and the bureaucracy and the more internal police issues. That was quite a bit of the conflict and tension found in this type of story. I also really appreciated how about halfway in the manhunt started to link around another aspect of the mystery and there was still a puzzle to solve and more traditional mystery case to solve. So that was a really enjoyable aspect to the story as well.
I was pleased both Nick and Jane had a good amount of time together – both working and personal – in this story and I am very happy with how both of their character arcs are coming along. Readers looking for lots of bombs and chase and action might not find this story fits their needs. For a realistic and character driven story with plenty of police procedure and enough questions and tension to push the plot along this was a good story and one I enjoyed.
August 2, 2019
This is my first book by Damien Boyd, who is a lawyer in real life. This is book number 9 in the Nick Dixon series (see below). Dixon, the hero, has an uncanny ability to think like the perp, which does not endear him to his colleagues.
Dixon is after a serial killer who seems to be getting his jollies by taunting the police, and Dixon in particular. The case seems to be just a serial killer on the loose but soon turns into more. Our hero is a struggling diabetic, who has a hard time stifling his urges to snap at the lesser mortals who also carry a warrant card (policemen and women).
A couple of things bothered me about this book. I've never heard of DNA testing results coming back in a matter of a very few hours. Also, Dixon doesn't seem to be a real diabetic. There's a bit more to being diabetic than just jabbing an insulin shot from time to time. It didn't seem realistic. Because this is my first book with this hero, the interaction between Dixon and Jane seemed sterile. Maybe more emotion has been displayed in other books in this series. But I'm willing to read another to find out.
Also, Dixon is just too good at his guesses. It's not realistic. Otherwise, the story is very interesting and keeps the reader turning pages. I certainly enjoyed this one.
DI Nick Dixon Crime
1. As the Crow Flies (2013)
2. Head in The Sand (2013)
3. Kickback (2014)
4. Swansong (2015)
5. Dead Level (2016)
6. Death Sentence (2016)
7. Heads or Tails (2017)
8. Dead Lock (2018)
** 9. Beyond the Point (2019)
Dixon is after a serial killer who seems to be getting his jollies by taunting the police, and Dixon in particular. The case seems to be just a serial killer on the loose but soon turns into more. Our hero is a struggling diabetic, who has a hard time stifling his urges to snap at the lesser mortals who also carry a warrant card (policemen and women).
A couple of things bothered me about this book. I've never heard of DNA testing results coming back in a matter of a very few hours. Also, Dixon doesn't seem to be a real diabetic. There's a bit more to being diabetic than just jabbing an insulin shot from time to time. It didn't seem realistic. Because this is my first book with this hero, the interaction between Dixon and Jane seemed sterile. Maybe more emotion has been displayed in other books in this series. But I'm willing to read another to find out.
Also, Dixon is just too good at his guesses. It's not realistic. Otherwise, the story is very interesting and keeps the reader turning pages. I certainly enjoyed this one.
DI Nick Dixon Crime
1. As the Crow Flies (2013)
2. Head in The Sand (2013)
3. Kickback (2014)
4. Swansong (2015)
5. Dead Level (2016)
6. Death Sentence (2016)
7. Heads or Tails (2017)
8. Dead Lock (2018)
** 9. Beyond the Point (2019)
June 28, 2020
For me each one in the series has just gotten better and better. Here Dixon is not only stymied by the killing at first but also having to go up against the government as well. There are secrets from the past that arise. Corruption up the wazoo from the past and now the present that play a part in everything going on and he has a lot on his plate.
But in true Dixon fashion he quietly (well as quietly as someone who doesn’t care whose feathers he rattles as long as he finds the truth) goes about finding the truth and uncovering what is really going on. I love how he protects those around him while they help him find the answers. He just plows through and doesn’t let things stop him. He knows the stakes and just goes about figuring things out and wading through the pressures, corruption and secrets that try to keep him from finding out the truth. I love how he does things. He faces the danger head on and just goes about things like it was a day at a quiet office. He seems cool as a cucumber when you know he isn’t . I love how he thinks things through and comes to the truth. I also love how he will do what he needs to to get justice and stop anyone else from being hurt even if it puts him in danger.
Another great story full of twists and turns, secrets, corruption and for one of the first times we see the pressure on Dixon begin to affect him a wee bit. Not much but a bit as he finds a way to find out the truth while not stepping on too many toes. A page turner and edge of your seat until the very end.
But in true Dixon fashion he quietly (well as quietly as someone who doesn’t care whose feathers he rattles as long as he finds the truth) goes about finding the truth and uncovering what is really going on. I love how he protects those around him while they help him find the answers. He just plows through and doesn’t let things stop him. He knows the stakes and just goes about figuring things out and wading through the pressures, corruption and secrets that try to keep him from finding out the truth. I love how he does things. He faces the danger head on and just goes about things like it was a day at a quiet office. He seems cool as a cucumber when you know he isn’t . I love how he thinks things through and comes to the truth. I also love how he will do what he needs to to get justice and stop anyone else from being hurt even if it puts him in danger.
Another great story full of twists and turns, secrets, corruption and for one of the first times we see the pressure on Dixon begin to affect him a wee bit. Not much but a bit as he finds a way to find out the truth while not stepping on too many toes. A page turner and edge of your seat until the very end.
June 14, 2019
2.5 stars.
This was a solid installment of the series, but I have to be honest: I was a bit bored. Out of the modern police procedurals written by an author in the UK, I probably have the most trouble understanding Damien Boyd's lingo, without googling quite a few terms, that is. It doesn't seem to be a problem when I read a couple of his books in a row, but since it's been a while for me since his last book, I had a hard time getting into this one. This is not pointed out as a complaint or even as constructive criticism; rather, it's an explanation of my rating of this book.
The mystery aspect of this story was alright, but my enjoyment was hampered by the many googling sessions I did for the construction terms. I felt confident enough to guess at some of them, but some were too important so I had to look them up. At the very least, it definitely seemed like Boyd thoroughly researched the setting that strongly influenced the plot. It never felt like he didn't know what he was talking about and as a reader, I felt like he respected my intellect and time to make a genuine showing in that regard.
That being said, I continued to enjoy Nick and Jane's relationship, which to be honest, is the main reason I'm continuing on with this series. It was realistic and they were both just so easy to like. I'm looking forward to seeing what's next for them.
Safe, no sex scenes, a couple of swear words.
This was a solid installment of the series, but I have to be honest: I was a bit bored. Out of the modern police procedurals written by an author in the UK, I probably have the most trouble understanding Damien Boyd's lingo, without googling quite a few terms, that is. It doesn't seem to be a problem when I read a couple of his books in a row, but since it's been a while for me since his last book, I had a hard time getting into this one. This is not pointed out as a complaint or even as constructive criticism; rather, it's an explanation of my rating of this book.
The mystery aspect of this story was alright, but my enjoyment was hampered by the many googling sessions I did for the construction terms. I felt confident enough to guess at some of them, but some were too important so I had to look them up. At the very least, it definitely seemed like Boyd thoroughly researched the setting that strongly influenced the plot. It never felt like he didn't know what he was talking about and as a reader, I felt like he respected my intellect and time to make a genuine showing in that regard.
That being said, I continued to enjoy Nick and Jane's relationship, which to be honest, is the main reason I'm continuing on with this series. It was realistic and they were both just so easy to like. I'm looking forward to seeing what's next for them.
Safe, no sex scenes, a couple of swear words.
March 8, 2021
I wavered in rating this book: Is it 3- or 4-star worthy? I went with four because it's an action-packed page turner with a great plot featuring not one, but several villains. I considered giving it three stars because Boyd makes a lot of references to incidents and a couple of apparently important characters that occur or appear in one or more of the previous eight books in the series. So I know that if I read any more of these - which I might - I should begin at the beginning. Fair enough, I guess.
Beyond the Point opens with Dixon hunting for a currently-active serial killer, but eventually involves investigation into crimes committed years earlier for entirely different reasons. The plot lines are well drawn and everything is neatly sewn up in the end. This is my introduction to Detective Inspector Dixon, who trained as a lawyer but gave that up to become a cop. Now he's a cop in Southwest England, across from southern Wales. He seems to have a knack for getting into trouble with at least some of his superiors, and he's got a dog that he often takes along on business. He seems like a nice enough guy who's really cocky, which I could see annoying some people. This is one of those books - I assume it's one of those series, actually - in which the landscape is mentioned often and becomes kind of a character.
It's a good read. I'll reiterate, though, that I'd start off with the first in the series, not the ninth.
Beyond the Point opens with Dixon hunting for a currently-active serial killer, but eventually involves investigation into crimes committed years earlier for entirely different reasons. The plot lines are well drawn and everything is neatly sewn up in the end. This is my introduction to Detective Inspector Dixon, who trained as a lawyer but gave that up to become a cop. Now he's a cop in Southwest England, across from southern Wales. He seems to have a knack for getting into trouble with at least some of his superiors, and he's got a dog that he often takes along on business. He seems like a nice enough guy who's really cocky, which I could see annoying some people. This is one of those books - I assume it's one of those series, actually - in which the landscape is mentioned often and becomes kind of a character.
It's a good read. I'll reiterate, though, that I'd start off with the first in the series, not the ninth.
June 2, 2019
Another enjoyable outing by DI Dixon but, as per my comments on Dead Lock, it is once again all moved forward by Dixon's ideas and intuition and no one else contributes to the resolution of the case. Some are neutral, others hamper progress, the rest are just drones. And then there is the small matter of clearing complex cases and receiving no appreciation by way of promotion or trust. It seems that taking villains off the street is no longer a path to professional advancement; what a strange police force.
At least the buffoon Chard, who seemed to have been elevated to DCI on the basis of incompetence, is gone but now Dixon seems to be pissing off an ACC and it all seems a bit of old trope that brilliant junior officer is having to constantly circumvent stupid and narrow minded intervention from above in order to get a result.
At least the buffoon Chard, who seemed to have been elevated to DCI on the basis of incompetence, is gone but now Dixon seems to be pissing off an ACC and it all seems a bit of old trope that brilliant junior officer is having to constantly circumvent stupid and narrow minded intervention from above in order to get a result.
June 3, 2019
A good read
Interesting storyline - definitely action and reaction..
A woman's belief in her husband's integrity long after his suicide, has fatal consequences for his family, when she finds proof that he was the man she never doubted he was.
Her daughter, born after her father's death, has got to know him through her mother's reminiscing about him and comes to believe that he was falsely accused of negligence resulting in three men's death.
Nick Dixon is compelled to find her body, as evidence at her home points to this. In doing so he finds himself in a spider's web of intrigue, corruption & greed.
Monty has a close call with death, following the long awaited arrest of a corrupt business man.
As usual Nick gets a result, Jane gets a special gift & most important of all Monty gets to play on the beach with his tennis ball!
Interesting storyline - definitely action and reaction..
A woman's belief in her husband's integrity long after his suicide, has fatal consequences for his family, when she finds proof that he was the man she never doubted he was.
Her daughter, born after her father's death, has got to know him through her mother's reminiscing about him and comes to believe that he was falsely accused of negligence resulting in three men's death.
Nick Dixon is compelled to find her body, as evidence at her home points to this. In doing so he finds himself in a spider's web of intrigue, corruption & greed.
Monty has a close call with death, following the long awaited arrest of a corrupt business man.
As usual Nick gets a result, Jane gets a special gift & most important of all Monty gets to play on the beach with his tennis ball!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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