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D.I. Denning and D.S. Fisher #1
Know No Evil
Old crimes don’t stay buried forever…
It’s high summer, and London sizzles in the grip of a heatwave. But when the body of young mother, Leanne Wyatt, is discovered in an East London park, the heat rises to boiling point for D.I. Matthew Denning. Under pressure to solve the case, and fast, he delves into Leanne’s history and finds that she was close to some dangerous individuals – could one of them have taken her life in an angry rage? But when another woman is found dead in similar circumstances, Denning is forced to consider that a killer stalks the capital’s streets.
But when young, ambitious, D.S. Molly Fisher, discovers a horrifying link to these deaths and a killing spree in South London a decade ago –a terrifying summer where young women died at the hands of a psychopath the press dubbed ‘The Bermondsey Ripper’, the case is blown wide open. Anthony Ferguson is serving a life sentence for the crimes, so are these new deaths the result of a copycat killer - or did the police convict the wrong man? Whatever the case, Denning and Fisher need to stop a killer in his tracks – before he sets his sights on them.
The launch of a gripping new crime thriller series featuring D.I. Matthew Denning and Constable Molly Fisher, Know No Evil will utterly engross fans of Ian Rankin, Angela Marsons and L.J. Ross.
It’s high summer, and London sizzles in the grip of a heatwave. But when the body of young mother, Leanne Wyatt, is discovered in an East London park, the heat rises to boiling point for D.I. Matthew Denning. Under pressure to solve the case, and fast, he delves into Leanne’s history and finds that she was close to some dangerous individuals – could one of them have taken her life in an angry rage? But when another woman is found dead in similar circumstances, Denning is forced to consider that a killer stalks the capital’s streets.
But when young, ambitious, D.S. Molly Fisher, discovers a horrifying link to these deaths and a killing spree in South London a decade ago –a terrifying summer where young women died at the hands of a psychopath the press dubbed ‘The Bermondsey Ripper’, the case is blown wide open. Anthony Ferguson is serving a life sentence for the crimes, so are these new deaths the result of a copycat killer - or did the police convict the wrong man? Whatever the case, Denning and Fisher need to stop a killer in his tracks – before he sets his sights on them.
The launch of a gripping new crime thriller series featuring D.I. Matthew Denning and Constable Molly Fisher, Know No Evil will utterly engross fans of Ian Rankin, Angela Marsons and L.J. Ross.
370 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 10, 2019
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411 people want to read
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July 14, 2021
EXCERPT: BERMONDSEY RIPPER'S LATEST VICTIM?
The body of an eighteen year old woman was discovered by a dog walker in undergrowth in a park near East Dulwich station earlier this morning. She'd been beaten and strangled.
Police are so far refusing to comment on whether the young woman could be the latest victim of the so-called 'Bermondsey Ripper', who has been terrorising women in and around South London for the past year. Detective Inspector Ken Walters, who is leading the investigation into the murders, said it was 'unhelpful to speculate at this early stage.' He denied police were struggling to make progress with the investigation, insisting there had been a number of breakthroughs in recent days.
The police have come in for constant criticism over their handling of the 'Bermondsey Ripper' case, which has so far seen six women viciously murdered in and around South London.
ABOUT 'KNOW NO EVIL': Old crimes don’t stay buried forever…
It’s high summer, and London sizzles in the grip of a heatwave. But when the body of young mother, Leanne Wyatt, is discovered in an East London park, the heat rises to boiling point for D.I. Matthew Denning. Under pressure to solve the case, and fast, he delves into Leanne’s history and finds that she was close to some dangerous individuals – could one of them have taken her life in an angry rage? But when another woman is found dead in similar circumstances, Denning is forced to consider that a killer stalks the capital’s streets.
But when young, ambitious, D.S. Molly Fisher, discovers a horrifying link to these deaths and a killing spree in South London a decade ago –a terrifying summer where young women died at the hands of a psychopath the press dubbed ‘The Bermondsey Ripper’, the case is blown wide open. Anthony Ferguson is serving a life sentence for the crimes, so are these new deaths the result of a copycat killer - or did the police convict the wrong man? Whatever the case, Denning and Fisher need to stop a killer in his tracks – before he sets his sights on them.
MY THOUGHTS: Graeme Hampton has written a evenly-paced and well plotted police procedural/crime thriller that kept me intrigued throughout. He has achieved a good balance between the characters private lives and the crime thread, and has even managed to enticingly intertwine them to provide the reader with an extra frisson of suspense and suspicion.
D.I. Matthew Denning is level-headed and experienced. D.S. Molly Fisher is young, ambitious and impetuous, inclined to follow her instincts. This trait is both a blessing and a curse as it frequently lands her in hot water.
I didn't always like Molly's character. At times she was a little too mercurial, particularly concerning her private life. I certainly didn't like her partner and failed to understand the attraction between them. But then, that happens in real life, too. There were a couple of other minor characters who grated on me, mostly because their characters were more caricatures than realistic.
In fact, in the beginning, I didn't think I was going to like Know No Evil at all. The investigation into Leanne Wyatt's death starts by focusing on the low-life drug dealing son of a local organised crime boss, which is about as appealing to me as being drenched with a bucket of icy water on a winter's day. But luckily, the investigation soon moves on, and although the thread is continued throughout the story, it becomes a 'bit-part'.
The story is told from the perspectives of both Denning and Fisher, which enables the reader to see the difference in their thought processes and their approach to the case. There are plenty of red herrings and dead ends in the investigation and a few good twists which kept my interest. And I must say that I thought the denouement was clever, and one that I hadn't even entertained.
Narrator, Julie Maisey, was a pleasure to listen to.
Know No Evil is the first in a new detective series, and I will definitely be lining up for #2.
⭐⭐⭐.7
#KnowNoEvil #NetGalley
I: @graeme_hampton #sagaegmont
T: @Gham001
#contemporaryfiction #crime #detectivefiction #murdermystery #policeprocedural
THE AUTHOR: Graeme Hampton was born in Paisley and grew up in Stirling. After leaving school he trained as a stage manager and worked in London for a number of years. He returned to Scotland in his late twenties to study for a BA in English Literature at Stirling University. After many years of dull jobs and bleak times, he became a full-time writer. His first novel, Know No Evil, was published in July 2019, and was followed up by Blood Family in early 2020. He is currently working on the third novel in the Denning & Fisher series.
He lives in Hastings, East Sussex. (Amazon)
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Saga Egmont for providing an audio ARC of Know No Evil written by Graeme Hampton and narrated by Julie Maisey for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
The body of an eighteen year old woman was discovered by a dog walker in undergrowth in a park near East Dulwich station earlier this morning. She'd been beaten and strangled.
Police are so far refusing to comment on whether the young woman could be the latest victim of the so-called 'Bermondsey Ripper', who has been terrorising women in and around South London for the past year. Detective Inspector Ken Walters, who is leading the investigation into the murders, said it was 'unhelpful to speculate at this early stage.' He denied police were struggling to make progress with the investigation, insisting there had been a number of breakthroughs in recent days.
The police have come in for constant criticism over their handling of the 'Bermondsey Ripper' case, which has so far seen six women viciously murdered in and around South London.
ABOUT 'KNOW NO EVIL': Old crimes don’t stay buried forever…
It’s high summer, and London sizzles in the grip of a heatwave. But when the body of young mother, Leanne Wyatt, is discovered in an East London park, the heat rises to boiling point for D.I. Matthew Denning. Under pressure to solve the case, and fast, he delves into Leanne’s history and finds that she was close to some dangerous individuals – could one of them have taken her life in an angry rage? But when another woman is found dead in similar circumstances, Denning is forced to consider that a killer stalks the capital’s streets.
But when young, ambitious, D.S. Molly Fisher, discovers a horrifying link to these deaths and a killing spree in South London a decade ago –a terrifying summer where young women died at the hands of a psychopath the press dubbed ‘The Bermondsey Ripper’, the case is blown wide open. Anthony Ferguson is serving a life sentence for the crimes, so are these new deaths the result of a copycat killer - or did the police convict the wrong man? Whatever the case, Denning and Fisher need to stop a killer in his tracks – before he sets his sights on them.
MY THOUGHTS: Graeme Hampton has written a evenly-paced and well plotted police procedural/crime thriller that kept me intrigued throughout. He has achieved a good balance between the characters private lives and the crime thread, and has even managed to enticingly intertwine them to provide the reader with an extra frisson of suspense and suspicion.
D.I. Matthew Denning is level-headed and experienced. D.S. Molly Fisher is young, ambitious and impetuous, inclined to follow her instincts. This trait is both a blessing and a curse as it frequently lands her in hot water.
I didn't always like Molly's character. At times she was a little too mercurial, particularly concerning her private life. I certainly didn't like her partner and failed to understand the attraction between them. But then, that happens in real life, too. There were a couple of other minor characters who grated on me, mostly because their characters were more caricatures than realistic.
In fact, in the beginning, I didn't think I was going to like Know No Evil at all. The investigation into Leanne Wyatt's death starts by focusing on the low-life drug dealing son of a local organised crime boss, which is about as appealing to me as being drenched with a bucket of icy water on a winter's day. But luckily, the investigation soon moves on, and although the thread is continued throughout the story, it becomes a 'bit-part'.
The story is told from the perspectives of both Denning and Fisher, which enables the reader to see the difference in their thought processes and their approach to the case. There are plenty of red herrings and dead ends in the investigation and a few good twists which kept my interest. And I must say that I thought the denouement was clever, and one that I hadn't even entertained.
Narrator, Julie Maisey, was a pleasure to listen to.
Know No Evil is the first in a new detective series, and I will definitely be lining up for #2.
⭐⭐⭐.7
#KnowNoEvil #NetGalley
I: @graeme_hampton #sagaegmont
T: @Gham001
#contemporaryfiction #crime #detectivefiction #murdermystery #policeprocedural
THE AUTHOR: Graeme Hampton was born in Paisley and grew up in Stirling. After leaving school he trained as a stage manager and worked in London for a number of years. He returned to Scotland in his late twenties to study for a BA in English Literature at Stirling University. After many years of dull jobs and bleak times, he became a full-time writer. His first novel, Know No Evil, was published in July 2019, and was followed up by Blood Family in early 2020. He is currently working on the third novel in the Denning & Fisher series.
He lives in Hastings, East Sussex. (Amazon)
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Saga Egmont for providing an audio ARC of Know No Evil written by Graeme Hampton and narrated by Julie Maisey for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
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June 29, 20193.5⭐️ rounded up to 4
London is sizzling in the grip of a heatwave. The body of a young mother, Leanne Wyatt, was discovered in an East London park.DI Matthew Denning is under pressure to solve the case. Leanne was close to some dangerous criminals, could one of them have taken her life? But then another woman's body is found in similar circumstances. DS Molly Fisher finds a horrifying link to the deaths and a killing spree in London a decade ago.
This is a well thought out, fast paced police procedural. It's full of twists and had me guessing quite a lot of the time. We get a lot of the backstory to the main character which makes you think that this could be the start of a new series. I did not really like Molly's character for several reasons, but maybe my opinion will change with the next ok. A decent enough read.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Hera Books and the author Graeme Hampton for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
London is sizzling in the grip of a heatwave. The body of a young mother, Leanne Wyatt, was discovered in an East London park.DI Matthew Denning is under pressure to solve the case. Leanne was close to some dangerous criminals, could one of them have taken her life? But then another woman's body is found in similar circumstances. DS Molly Fisher finds a horrifying link to the deaths and a killing spree in London a decade ago.
This is a well thought out, fast paced police procedural. It's full of twists and had me guessing quite a lot of the time. We get a lot of the backstory to the main character which makes you think that this could be the start of a new series. I did not really like Molly's character for several reasons, but maybe my opinion will change with the next ok. A decent enough read.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Hera Books and the author Graeme Hampton for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 10, 2019
Know No Evil is the opener in a brand new, highly entertaining police procedural series featuring Met colleagues DI Matt Denning and DS Molly Fisher, and I found It well crafted and full of heart-in-your-mouth moments. The story centres around DS Denning's first case for murder so of course, he wants to show how much of a capable investigator he is. However, when the debased body of young Leanne Wyatt is discovered Molly quickly comes to the shocking realisation that this modus operandi is simply too close to that of a past case to be coincidental. As Fisher digs further into the past she discovers connections to a brutal murder spree carried out over a decade earlier by Anthony Ferguson aka The Bermondsey Ripper. So is he in fact back or is this the work of a copycat who has studied Ferguson's killing spree in intimate detail?
I thoroughly enjoyed Know No Evil as it is full of intrigue and plenty of exciting action. From the first chapter I was hooked; seriously clear your diary before you begin. The writing is engaging and penned in an easy flowing manner and there are a plethora of twists and turns, peaks and troughs. The fact that the story starts out being told from both Matt and Molly's points-of-view, as they each carry out their independent investigations and then merges and we get to see both of their perspectives on the same incidents helps makes this a wonderfully rounded police procedural. It's well-plotted and our main protagonists, Matt and Molly, are introduced and given ample development. They are both intelligent, independent thinkers and I look forward to seeing them evolve over the course of the series. Many thanks to Hera Books for an ARC.
I thoroughly enjoyed Know No Evil as it is full of intrigue and plenty of exciting action. From the first chapter I was hooked; seriously clear your diary before you begin. The writing is engaging and penned in an easy flowing manner and there are a plethora of twists and turns, peaks and troughs. The fact that the story starts out being told from both Matt and Molly's points-of-view, as they each carry out their independent investigations and then merges and we get to see both of their perspectives on the same incidents helps makes this a wonderfully rounded police procedural. It's well-plotted and our main protagonists, Matt and Molly, are introduced and given ample development. They are both intelligent, independent thinkers and I look forward to seeing them evolve over the course of the series. Many thanks to Hera Books for an ARC.
July 15, 2019
I went into this book thinking it to be routine police procedural with a team and a boss and forensics. The book had all that and more. 3 murders had all the cops in a tizzy with absolutely no clues. Till a cop from CID, DS Molly Fischer, with a secret, brought out an important fact to the forefront. Such murders had happened before... Then it was a race against time to prevent further kills.
Graeme Hampton's debut had me cheering on for the lead cop DI Matthew Denning and Molly for different reasons. I loved the way Graeme has woven their personal lives into the plot. The results were quite unexpected. The author was quite a master storyteller in melding every single plot line.
The book started a bit slow but once Molly brought her suspicions to light, the book took on a different route. It became fast paced, there was a bustling energy to these sleep lacking cops. The drive with which they gave everything to the investigation had me cheering them on from the sidelines. Their investigation was pure back-breaking hardwork. And each one of them put in their hours.
The ending was unexpected, making the journey through the pages all worth it. I loved the way Graeme had his characters pick up one jigsaw piece at a time and join them carefully to form a complete picture. The characters were not very likable, they had their own fallacies. But their need to nail the murderer was fervent. It made my vengeant heart dance with joy. Another perp in the slammer.
Graeme Hampton's debut had me cheering on for the lead cop DI Matthew Denning and Molly for different reasons. I loved the way Graeme has woven their personal lives into the plot. The results were quite unexpected. The author was quite a master storyteller in melding every single plot line.
The book started a bit slow but once Molly brought her suspicions to light, the book took on a different route. It became fast paced, there was a bustling energy to these sleep lacking cops. The drive with which they gave everything to the investigation had me cheering them on from the sidelines. Their investigation was pure back-breaking hardwork. And each one of them put in their hours.
The ending was unexpected, making the journey through the pages all worth it. I loved the way Graeme had his characters pick up one jigsaw piece at a time and join them carefully to form a complete picture. The characters were not very likable, they had their own fallacies. But their need to nail the murderer was fervent. It made my vengeant heart dance with joy. Another perp in the slammer.
June 30, 2019
I would like to thank Netgalley and Hera Books for an advance copy of Know No Evil, the first novel to feature DS Matt Denning and DS Molly Fisher of the Met.
Recently promoted DI Matt Denning gets his first murder case when the battered body of Leanne Wyatt is found in a local park. While he is concentrating on her contacts DS Molly Fisher in an unofficial investigation is uncovering links to a 12 year old murder spree by the so called Bermondsey Ripper, Antony Ferguson. Further murders encourage her to take her findings to Denning.
I enjoyed Know No Evil which is a credible debut with an absorbing plot and some good twists. The novel is told from the two protagonists’ point of view, alternating between them as they pursue their initially separate investigations and then giving two perspectives on the same events. It makes for a rounded read. The novel is well plotted with plenty going on which holds the reader’s attention. There is nothing particularly innovative about it but it’s solid and reads well. If I have one criticism I feel that the author does not get the work/personal balance quite right. For a police procedural there is a bit too much external strife to make it a great read.
The characterisation is strong with both Denning and Fisher being well described. Denning is the young, smart detective on the accelerated promotion programme. He seems well adjusted and in control but underneath it he feels the pressure to get a result. I like him and look forward to reading more. I didn’t take to Molly Fisher in the same way. She is smart and able to make connections the others can’t but she’s annoyingly pushy with a sense of entitlement.
Know No Evil is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.
Recently promoted DI Matt Denning gets his first murder case when the battered body of Leanne Wyatt is found in a local park. While he is concentrating on her contacts DS Molly Fisher in an unofficial investigation is uncovering links to a 12 year old murder spree by the so called Bermondsey Ripper, Antony Ferguson. Further murders encourage her to take her findings to Denning.
I enjoyed Know No Evil which is a credible debut with an absorbing plot and some good twists. The novel is told from the two protagonists’ point of view, alternating between them as they pursue their initially separate investigations and then giving two perspectives on the same events. It makes for a rounded read. The novel is well plotted with plenty going on which holds the reader’s attention. There is nothing particularly innovative about it but it’s solid and reads well. If I have one criticism I feel that the author does not get the work/personal balance quite right. For a police procedural there is a bit too much external strife to make it a great read.
The characterisation is strong with both Denning and Fisher being well described. Denning is the young, smart detective on the accelerated promotion programme. He seems well adjusted and in control but underneath it he feels the pressure to get a result. I like him and look forward to reading more. I didn’t take to Molly Fisher in the same way. She is smart and able to make connections the others can’t but she’s annoyingly pushy with a sense of entitlement.
Know No Evil is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.
May 4, 2022
Thank you Netgalley for the audio copy in exchange for a honest review. When the body of a young mother is discovered D.I. Denning and his team start to investigate. Not long after another body is discovered. D.S. Fisher finds a link to the Bermondsey Ripper cases a decade ago. Have they a copy cat serial killer or did they convict the wrong man?
July 31, 2022
The first title in a series introducing the reader to D.S. Molly Fisher and D.I. Matthew Denning who begin working together to track down a killer whose crimes ring eerily familiar to a case from over a decade ago and who someone has already been convicted and is now serving a life sentence. Is the wrong man in prison? Is there now a copy-cat killer looking for his or her fifteen minutes of fame?
This book is a slow build as the author does a great job of character building, allowing the reader to get to know not just Molly and Matthew, but also the people in their lives, families, friends, coworkers and even enemies. I really liked Matthew and Molly and got a good sense of the pressure they are under as well as the flaws in their characters, making them feel more like normal, every-day people dealing with the stresses and challenges of their lives and careers.
As the murders increase, I could empathize with Molly’s frustration that her investigative theories are falling on deaf ears, while coming face to face with disturbing revelations about her boyfriend. Meanwhile, Matthew is frustrated that his ex-wife and her new boyfriend are making plans with his son during his scheduled visitation time and his new wife seems less supportive of him and more about moving on up to a higher priced neighborhood.
The story offers a lot of red herrings as to who is behind the killings and it took me to nearly the end of the book to even begin to suspect the identity of the culprit.
My Final Verdict: Well developed characters and an interesting story with some wonderful twisty and nail-biting moments will please fans of mysteries and thrillers. I look forward to spending more time with Matthew and Molly and see what they get involved in next.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of Know No Evil from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This book is a slow build as the author does a great job of character building, allowing the reader to get to know not just Molly and Matthew, but also the people in their lives, families, friends, coworkers and even enemies. I really liked Matthew and Molly and got a good sense of the pressure they are under as well as the flaws in their characters, making them feel more like normal, every-day people dealing with the stresses and challenges of their lives and careers.
As the murders increase, I could empathize with Molly’s frustration that her investigative theories are falling on deaf ears, while coming face to face with disturbing revelations about her boyfriend. Meanwhile, Matthew is frustrated that his ex-wife and her new boyfriend are making plans with his son during his scheduled visitation time and his new wife seems less supportive of him and more about moving on up to a higher priced neighborhood.
The story offers a lot of red herrings as to who is behind the killings and it took me to nearly the end of the book to even begin to suspect the identity of the culprit.
My Final Verdict: Well developed characters and an interesting story with some wonderful twisty and nail-biting moments will please fans of mysteries and thrillers. I look forward to spending more time with Matthew and Molly and see what they get involved in next.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of Know No Evil from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
July 18, 2020
"Competent police procedural"
This is an overcrowded genre at present, and new detective pairings have to be exceptional to force their way to the top. All the ingredients were there for a successful first outing. The main characters have the required back stories, the busy MIT office contained its fair share of misfits, and the action kept moving forwards at a decent page-turning pace. The final reveal of the killer wasn't that much of a surprise but at least there was no dreaded cliffhanger. I might have gone for 5* but early on in the book Denning mentioned playing for the First XI at school - at Rugby. Now that is a schoolboy error. Every game I played in , we started with fifteen on our side.
This is an overcrowded genre at present, and new detective pairings have to be exceptional to force their way to the top. All the ingredients were there for a successful first outing. The main characters have the required back stories, the busy MIT office contained its fair share of misfits, and the action kept moving forwards at a decent page-turning pace. The final reveal of the killer wasn't that much of a surprise but at least there was no dreaded cliffhanger. I might have gone for 5* but early on in the book Denning mentioned playing for the First XI at school - at Rugby. Now that is a schoolboy error. Every game I played in , we started with fifteen on our side.
May 8, 2023
My first book by this author but I enjoyed it and would read more by him. Characters were believable and plot flowed well.
July 7, 2019
Firstly Thanks to Tracy at Compulsive Readers Book Tours and Hera books for an eARC of a new crime series by Graeme Hampton, Know No Evil.
London is sizzling in the summer heat when the body of a young woman is found brutally murdered in a London park.
Newly fast tracked DI Matthew Denning picks up his first murder case.
He starts the investigations alongside DS Deepak Neeraj, the man he beat to the job.
At the same time DS Molly Fisher, who dreams of joining the MIT, is unofficially investigating the case of the “Bermondsey Ripper” a series of murders of young woman in the past.
When Fisher starts to see possible links she takes them to Denning...
This is an excellent debut novel, I was drawn in from the start. I like how the book is written , one chapter from each of the main protagonists conducting their individual investigations.
It’s a strong, well plotted, first in the series, the pacing, whilst not super fast and in your face, feels right, the twists are clever and I genuinely didn’t guess the ending so it kept my interest until the end.
There is quite a bit of the characters backs stories to suggest there is more to come in this series, and I think that DS Neeraj has more to come aswell, as the devil boss, DCI Linda “Betty Taggart” McKenna
4 🔥🔥🔥🔥 from me for this absorbing, smart new police procedural series.
London is sizzling in the summer heat when the body of a young woman is found brutally murdered in a London park.
Newly fast tracked DI Matthew Denning picks up his first murder case.
He starts the investigations alongside DS Deepak Neeraj, the man he beat to the job.
At the same time DS Molly Fisher, who dreams of joining the MIT, is unofficially investigating the case of the “Bermondsey Ripper” a series of murders of young woman in the past.
When Fisher starts to see possible links she takes them to Denning...
This is an excellent debut novel, I was drawn in from the start. I like how the book is written , one chapter from each of the main protagonists conducting their individual investigations.
It’s a strong, well plotted, first in the series, the pacing, whilst not super fast and in your face, feels right, the twists are clever and I genuinely didn’t guess the ending so it kept my interest until the end.
There is quite a bit of the characters backs stories to suggest there is more to come in this series, and I think that DS Neeraj has more to come aswell, as the devil boss, DCI Linda “Betty Taggart” McKenna
4 🔥🔥🔥🔥 from me for this absorbing, smart new police procedural series.
July 9, 2019
DI Matt Denning, recently promoted to the role is at his first murder case. A young woman’s beaten body has been found.
Meanwhile DS Molly Fisher is doing her own investigation and finds links to an old case….The Bermondsey Ripper…..when more bodies are found she decides to approach Denning with her suspicions…and so the partnership begins…
This is told from both Denning and Foster’s perspectives, which gives a unique view of how their minds work, how they each process the same events. Very clever.
As this is the start of the series there is quite a bit of character building, so you get to know their backgrounds and personalities.
“‘He looks like a frigging ad for Hugo Boss.’”
There are enough twists to keep you guessing in this solid, engrossing and well plotted police procedural …thoroughly entertaining.
Thank you to Tracy and Compulsive Readers for the opportunity to participate in this blog tour and for the promotional materials and a free copy of the ebook. This is my honest, unbiased review.
Meanwhile DS Molly Fisher is doing her own investigation and finds links to an old case….The Bermondsey Ripper…..when more bodies are found she decides to approach Denning with her suspicions…and so the partnership begins…
This is told from both Denning and Foster’s perspectives, which gives a unique view of how their minds work, how they each process the same events. Very clever.
As this is the start of the series there is quite a bit of character building, so you get to know their backgrounds and personalities.
“‘He looks like a frigging ad for Hugo Boss.’”
There are enough twists to keep you guessing in this solid, engrossing and well plotted police procedural …thoroughly entertaining.
Thank you to Tracy and Compulsive Readers for the opportunity to participate in this blog tour and for the promotional materials and a free copy of the ebook. This is my honest, unbiased review.
July 8, 2019
There were several storylines within Know No Evil, and the way the author weaved them in and pulled them all together was truly masterful. Since I'm not from England, there were a lot British sayings that I had to discern from context clues...and some of them I completely want to steal for my everyday life. But, possibly one of the best things about this author is the brilliant use of description! So many times I thought: "Wow! What an incredible way to show the reader!!" Here's one of my favorite examples of what I mean: "...murders seemed to rise up out of nowhere and embrace the capital in a bear hug of fear and paranoia." So. Good.
Finally, I loved that all the characters in KNE were flawed and imperfect in their own ways. It gave them a depth and connectivity that I think most readers can relate to!
Definitely recommend this book.
Finally, I loved that all the characters in KNE were flawed and imperfect in their own ways. It gave them a depth and connectivity that I think most readers can relate to!
Definitely recommend this book.
July 11, 2021
4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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🧨this may contain spoilers.
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Thankyou #netgalley #herabooks #graemehampton for an advance copy for an honest review.
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For a few chapters of the book it's seems very confusing . I was not very sure what am I reading. But this is all flashbacks and makes sense at the end .
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The writing is engaging , and some of the plot has a what?where? But as a couple who has a little problem with marriage comes to connect to find out the real killer going on do their own investigation.
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Overall , this is a good series👍
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❤️Shaye.reads
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🧨this may contain spoilers.
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Thankyou #netgalley #herabooks #graemehampton for an advance copy for an honest review.
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For a few chapters of the book it's seems very confusing . I was not very sure what am I reading. But this is all flashbacks and makes sense at the end .
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The writing is engaging , and some of the plot has a what?where? But as a couple who has a little problem with marriage comes to connect to find out the real killer going on do their own investigation.
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Overall , this is a good series👍
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❤️Shaye.reads
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 28, 2022
3.5 stars for this first instalment in a new series.
I liked the storyline and how old and new murders converged to give up the guilty party but I found some of the characters to be a bit exaggerated, especially the Molly Fisher one who has too high an opinion of herself and her capacity as a DC. She somewhat redeemed herself towards the end and I hope she won’t be as obnoxious in the next instalments.overall, it was a good read and I’ll be reading the next instalments.
I liked the storyline and how old and new murders converged to give up the guilty party but I found some of the characters to be a bit exaggerated, especially the Molly Fisher one who has too high an opinion of herself and her capacity as a DC. She somewhat redeemed herself towards the end and I hope she won’t be as obnoxious in the next instalments.overall, it was a good read and I’ll be reading the next instalments.
April 30, 2025
first time reading this author and I really enjoyed this book. Great storyline, good characters and a twist at the end x
June 14, 2025
I did figure out the who-done-it part ahead of the characters, but the mystery is well-written and the denouement left a satisfying ending.
October 15, 2022
The first book in a new series. This means time to get to know a new team. Lately I have read a lot of books where the leading detective was a woman. This time it’s a man who is the main investigator, DI Denning. This does not mean women are not important in this police force. No, sir. The boss is a woman and one of the detectives who plays a big part in the investigation is a woman as well, DS Fisher.
It’s always helpful to get some background information on the police team and to look over their shoulder into their private lives. Here though, I had the feeling there was maybe a bit to much focus on that which took away the flow of the story sometimes.
The story starts on a high, slows down afterwards and picks up pace at the end again. I never had thought the author would take me on this path and I was flabbergasted when I found out who this sneaky killer’s identity.
Sometimes I feel for the killer, because they have been through so much and I can understand what triggered them. A killer who kills for the fun of killing makes my stomach turn. A baddie who uses and manipulates a person into killing, must be the lowest of the lowest in my opinion. In which category does our culprit belong? That for me to know and for you to find out. 😉
This is a story that I enjoyed. I liked DI Denning. The jury still is debating on whether DS Fisher was likeable or not. 4 stars
Thank you
It’s always helpful to get some background information on the police team and to look over their shoulder into their private lives. Here though, I had the feeling there was maybe a bit to much focus on that which took away the flow of the story sometimes.
The story starts on a high, slows down afterwards and picks up pace at the end again. I never had thought the author would take me on this path and I was flabbergasted when I found out who this sneaky killer’s identity.
Sometimes I feel for the killer, because they have been through so much and I can understand what triggered them. A killer who kills for the fun of killing makes my stomach turn. A baddie who uses and manipulates a person into killing, must be the lowest of the lowest in my opinion. In which category does our culprit belong? That for me to know and for you to find out. 😉
This is a story that I enjoyed. I liked DI Denning. The jury still is debating on whether DS Fisher was likeable or not. 4 stars
Thank you
March 16, 2023
A good start to the series. DI Matt Denning is new to the Murder Investigation Team, a fast track graduate who has risen quickly. His first case involves the murder of a young woman in East London - there are a couple of obvious suspects but no clear evidence to link either to the crime. Another body turns up with a similar MO, and then a third. Denning is chasing a serial killer.
Meanwhile, DS Molly Fisher sees a link between the killings and a ten year old series of murders. The killer is serving a life sentence, but she suspects that something isn't quite as it seems. Molly is in the CID team and desperate to join the prestigious MIT - could this be her way in?
The novel is well written and the characters are well developed and believable. Their private lives play into the plot, giving a rounded feel. The eventual solution is perhaps a little bit too neat (no spoilers) but overall this was a good read.
Meanwhile, DS Molly Fisher sees a link between the killings and a ten year old series of murders. The killer is serving a life sentence, but she suspects that something isn't quite as it seems. Molly is in the CID team and desperate to join the prestigious MIT - could this be her way in?
The novel is well written and the characters are well developed and believable. Their private lives play into the plot, giving a rounded feel. The eventual solution is perhaps a little bit too neat (no spoilers) but overall this was a good read.
July 12, 2019
This book is Graeme’s Debut Book.
Wow, I really enjoyed this book.
I loved Matt Denny and Molly Fisher. They really feel like real detectives that would be working today solving major crimes.
Molly Fisher is working is CID Drug crimes but her goal is to work for MIT. She becomes fascinated in a new case when a young woman is found dead, badly beaten. She has a hunch that this new killing is apart of an old crime. The serial killer, Ferguson AKA The Burdersy Killer. Who Killed Three Women 12 years ago.
She decides to go off by herself to follow her hunch. I love her passion, drive and determination for finding out what really happened. She is also very down to earth and battling personal problems at home with her boyfriend, Jon. She is not only a detective but she is a person anyone can relate to.
Matt Denning, he’s a breath of fresh air. He is cold faced, hard to read but also laid back and realistic.
He is an excellent DI who does everything by the book, follows every lead and keeps a very open mind with the investigation. While also battling to see his son, Jake who is diagnosed with ADHD and Autism. His mum, Claire dislikes Matt for leaving and divorcing her years before. He now faces a new challenge of Claire’s new boyfriend and feeling like he will take over his father role. You can tell he cares and loves his son and wants to be a good dad but also being an excellent detective.
The plot was super interesting and gripping. Women being murdered, extremely badly beaten, with no identification. Most quite women who don’t seem to have many friends and family.
It is a complex, intriguing, grabbing storyline that you can sink your teeth into. I was hooked from beginning to end. It is Well written and a quick read.
Wow, I really enjoyed this book.
I loved Matt Denny and Molly Fisher. They really feel like real detectives that would be working today solving major crimes.
Molly Fisher is working is CID Drug crimes but her goal is to work for MIT. She becomes fascinated in a new case when a young woman is found dead, badly beaten. She has a hunch that this new killing is apart of an old crime. The serial killer, Ferguson AKA The Burdersy Killer. Who Killed Three Women 12 years ago.
She decides to go off by herself to follow her hunch. I love her passion, drive and determination for finding out what really happened. She is also very down to earth and battling personal problems at home with her boyfriend, Jon. She is not only a detective but she is a person anyone can relate to.
Matt Denning, he’s a breath of fresh air. He is cold faced, hard to read but also laid back and realistic.
He is an excellent DI who does everything by the book, follows every lead and keeps a very open mind with the investigation. While also battling to see his son, Jake who is diagnosed with ADHD and Autism. His mum, Claire dislikes Matt for leaving and divorcing her years before. He now faces a new challenge of Claire’s new boyfriend and feeling like he will take over his father role. You can tell he cares and loves his son and wants to be a good dad but also being an excellent detective.
The plot was super interesting and gripping. Women being murdered, extremely badly beaten, with no identification. Most quite women who don’t seem to have many friends and family.
It is a complex, intriguing, grabbing storyline that you can sink your teeth into. I was hooked from beginning to end. It is Well written and a quick read.
July 9, 2019
I loved this book. It was a really well written mystery thriller with a wonderfully intriguing story. The characters were really well created, giving them a history that made them feel real. To quote Graeme, "I wanted to create two detectives who come across as real and credible, the kind of cops you'd find working in the Met Police today, but who are also interesting and complex enough to engage with readers. Both characters are flawed, but both have many admirable qualities too." And he most certainly was able to do that. Both the characters felt more human than made up. Both had problems personally as well as professionally. And that made them even more relatable. Overall a wonderful book, one which I would not hesitate to recommend it to anyone. And a big thank you to NetGalley and Hera Books for giving me this ARC in exchange of my honest review.
December 28, 2025
The first book in a series of books involving DI Matt Denning and DS Molly Fisher. Denning has just arrived fast track younger than your normal DI. And Molly is in CID. A young woman turns up murdered then another one and before you know it the new DI has a serial killer on the loose. Molly gets herself involved by doing enquiries even though she isn’t in the MIT, but she uncovers some leads that need to be looked at. There are side stories where Matt is divorced and has a young autistic son and his ex wife is in a new relationship. He himself is now living with a high flying banker and it already seems like not a good coupling but I could be wrong . I’ve got other books in the series to read but this one was good and hopefully they just get better like most writers .
January 17, 2026
It could have been good, the story certainly started really well and made you want to stick around to find out how it all cam together. Sadly, the resolution was completely absurd: there were many ways that it could have ended that were clever and at least made sense, but no, the author decided to go with the silly one only for the sake of surprising the audience (and making them roll their eyes).
Then there are the characters. Shallow, unlikeable, irrational. DS Fisher is possibly one of the worst female characters ever written. And Denning, well, he doesn't have much going for him either. And let's not talk about the rest of his team who sound like annoying brats most of the time.
What a shame.
Then there are the characters. Shallow, unlikeable, irrational. DS Fisher is possibly one of the worst female characters ever written. And Denning, well, he doesn't have much going for him either. And let's not talk about the rest of his team who sound like annoying brats most of the time.
What a shame.
August 11, 2021
I really like this first book in a new series for me by a new author to me.
Fisher & Denning are flawed in their personal lives, but darn good at work, solving several murders. I wasn’t quite sure who they’d discover to be the true killer. Something clicked when a big detail is revealed close to the end and then things started adding up for me. I was suspicious of the actual killer early on, some of which was due to foreshadowing.
My suspicions were confirmed & the story was wrapped up pretty nicely. I liked the case, lead characters and twists that popped up. I’ve already added the next two books in this series to my list!
Fisher & Denning are flawed in their personal lives, but darn good at work, solving several murders. I wasn’t quite sure who they’d discover to be the true killer. Something clicked when a big detail is revealed close to the end and then things started adding up for me. I was suspicious of the actual killer early on, some of which was due to foreshadowing.
My suspicions were confirmed & the story was wrapped up pretty nicely. I liked the case, lead characters and twists that popped up. I’ve already added the next two books in this series to my list!
June 29, 2023
A great mystery, Know No Evil was well written with really interesting characters. Can't wait to read more by this author in the future.
Synopsis:
It’s high summer, and London sizzles in the grip of a heatwave. But when the body of young mother, Leanne Wyatt, is discovered in an East London park, the heat rises to boiling point for D.I. Matthew Denning. Under pressure to solve the case, and fast, he delves into Leanne’s history and finds that she was close to some dangerous individuals – could one of them have taken her life in an angry rage? But when another woman is found dead in similar circumstances, Denning is forced to consider that a killer stalks the capital’s streets.
Synopsis:
It’s high summer, and London sizzles in the grip of a heatwave. But when the body of young mother, Leanne Wyatt, is discovered in an East London park, the heat rises to boiling point for D.I. Matthew Denning. Under pressure to solve the case, and fast, he delves into Leanne’s history and finds that she was close to some dangerous individuals – could one of them have taken her life in an angry rage? But when another woman is found dead in similar circumstances, Denning is forced to consider that a killer stalks the capital’s streets.
June 10, 2019
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley.
I assume this is the first in a planned series of novels featuring DI Denning and DS Fisher, since we learnt so much about their personal lives here. I thought this was a well-plotted and well-paced police procedural. I disliked DS Fisher, but maybe she will redeem herself in future instalments, and DS Neeraj has potential as a character.
The writing was the weakest thing about the book for me - the author seemed to be trying too hard somehow. There were constant descriptions of the ways light fell in the early chapters and in places the narration would suddenly become very slangy, almost like speech, before reverting to normal.
I would be keen to read more in this series.
I assume this is the first in a planned series of novels featuring DI Denning and DS Fisher, since we learnt so much about their personal lives here. I thought this was a well-plotted and well-paced police procedural. I disliked DS Fisher, but maybe she will redeem herself in future instalments, and DS Neeraj has potential as a character.
The writing was the weakest thing about the book for me - the author seemed to be trying too hard somehow. There were constant descriptions of the ways light fell in the early chapters and in places the narration would suddenly become very slangy, almost like speech, before reverting to normal.
I would be keen to read more in this series.
March 28, 2020
After reading many Crime Novels from various popular authors, there is a sameness about them that almost suggests that they are all using the same formula with just slight variations on the theme.
Know No Evil is no exception. It is an easy enough read to pass the time but there is nothing exceptional about it and the ending is like so many others of its type.
I was surprised that there were quite a lot of typos interspersed throughout the novel, grammatical errors or words left out. Whoever proof read it didn't do a good job.
Know No Evil is no exception. It is an easy enough read to pass the time but there is nothing exceptional about it and the ending is like so many others of its type.
I was surprised that there were quite a lot of typos interspersed throughout the novel, grammatical errors or words left out. Whoever proof read it didn't do a good job.
June 29, 2021
The first in an absorbing police procedural series featuring D.I. Denning and D.S. Fisher. Graeme Hampton’s debut novel is well crafted, filled with suspense and intriguing throughout. The characters are authentic, have interesting back stories and their development is fueled by conversations and interactions that feel appropriate to the situation. This is a fast paced, character driven novel that uses clever clues and twisty sub plots to maintain an ongoing feeling of suspense. I enjoyed it immensely and would easily recommend it.
July 3, 2021
Audio version of this book 📚- I found this book a bit of a slow burner and that the author tended to concentrate more on the main characters personal lives than the actual storyline. The storyline only really kicked in near the end which was a shame as it had the premise of being a good book. The narrator was ok however she didn’t really give the characters voices much depth as she had quite a monotonous voice at times
Thank you to NetGalley and Saga Edmont Audio for the audio version of this book in exchange for an honest review
Thank you to NetGalley and Saga Edmont Audio for the audio version of this book in exchange for an honest review
November 4, 2022
The ending was a surprise. But then again I had worked out it wasn't the people the police went about investigating. The police seemed a bit thick in this book. I was more than a little disturbed that they called one of the victims a woman when he was a man. Even identifying as a woman doesn't make you female. And the female characters in this book went along with it! Not sure if I will bother reading anymore of these -this effort to cancel women and have the police speak lies all the way through the book was disturbing.
December 27, 2022
Plenty of Action
First book I have read by this author but I really enjoyed it and have already started on book 2. DI Matthew Denning has some murders to solve but with very little to go on he has his work cut out. DS Molly Fisher is keen to work in Denning's department and starts her own investigation and soon realises there are similarities to a serial killer who has been in prison for ten years. DI Denning agrees to ask for her to join his team temporarily and they work together to get to the truth.
First book I have read by this author but I really enjoyed it and have already started on book 2. DI Matthew Denning has some murders to solve but with very little to go on he has his work cut out. DS Molly Fisher is keen to work in Denning's department and starts her own investigation and soon realises there are similarities to a serial killer who has been in prison for ten years. DI Denning agrees to ask for her to join his team temporarily and they work together to get to the truth.
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