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DCI Rachel King #2
Two Victims
Detective Rachel King has two victims to deal with. The first woman was local nurse, Agnes Moore. One of the victim’s friends makes contact but then disappears.
Does Rachel have a serial killer on her hands? And what was Agnes really helping local girls with?
Will Rachel’s former lover, well-know villain Jed McAteer come back to haunt her with his connections to the victims.
Who will pay the ultimate price next?
Does Rachel have a serial killer on her hands? And what was Agnes really helping local girls with?
Will Rachel’s former lover, well-know villain Jed McAteer come back to haunt her with his connections to the victims.
Who will pay the ultimate price next?
244 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 31, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 143 reviews
July 29, 2019
DCI Rachel King #2
A woman's body had been found at a building site. She'd been shot. While forensics are searching the site, another body is found. They manage to identify the first body but they are having a little difficulty in identifying the second victim.
This is a fast paced page turner. We are on the second book in this series and I'm really liking it. DCI Rachel King is given the case of what she thinks is one murder case. And it's not proving to be a easy case to solve when they discover another body. The story is gripping but I don't think that the book can be read as a standalone as there are quite a few references back to the first book in this series. An enjoyable read.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Joffe Books and the author Helen H. Durrant for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
A woman's body had been found at a building site. She'd been shot. While forensics are searching the site, another body is found. They manage to identify the first body but they are having a little difficulty in identifying the second victim.
This is a fast paced page turner. We are on the second book in this series and I'm really liking it. DCI Rachel King is given the case of what she thinks is one murder case. And it's not proving to be a easy case to solve when they discover another body. The story is gripping but I don't think that the book can be read as a standalone as there are quite a few references back to the first book in this series. An enjoyable read.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Joffe Books and the author Helen H. Durrant for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 30, 2019
Detective Rachel King and her team are investigating a woman found murdered in a building site. It's when another body is found just a couple of feet away that things get interesting.
The second woman found was killed earlier. There is no identification and no one seems to be missing who fit her description. The first woman found was a nurse, Agnes Moore.
When the investigation goes further, King discovers that Agnes had secrets .. is that why she was killed? What's her connection with Victim # 2 ?
And there's another kink in the chain. Jed McAteer is very well known to Rachel. They had a connection in their childhood ... and he's the father of her youngest child - a fact that only one or two people know. But Rachel went toward law enforcement, while Jed went in the other direction. It's his building site that housed the two victims.
Is he involved? And if he is .... will it cost her the career she has fought so hard to achieve? And if there is a serial killer on the loose ... who will be next?
This is second in the series that features Rachel King and her team. She's a bulldog, tenacious until she gets what ... or who ... she goes after. I like the blend of her professional and personal life. She's trying to balance work with being a mom ... and who has the help of her ex-husband who conveniently lives right next door.
Well paced action kept me glued to the pages. There are plenty of secondary characters to watch and wonder about. Suspense starts on the very first page and builds until the surprising ending.
Many thanks to the author / Joffe Books / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
August 16, 2019
TWO VICTIMS is the second book in a brilliant crime series by best-selling author, Helen Durrant. Both these novels feature detective DCI Rachel King, a thirty-nine-year old divorced mother of two teenage daughters who lives next door to ex-husband Alan. Having enjoyed reading most of her novels, I look forward to starting the second book in this new series. The novel is set in the Cheshire, ten miles outside Manchester.
A murdered woman found buried on a building site, with a bullet to her skull.
But then another body is found buried in the same place, and had been in the ground for some time.
Detective Rachel King, the SIO is assigned to both cases. The first victim, a woman was a local nurse, Agnes Moore. One of the victim’s friends makes contact but then disappears.
Are the two killings connected?
Rachel has her hands full, while investigating two murders, and raising two teenage daughters on her own. The building site is owned by Rachel’s secret ex- lover villain, Jed McAteer.
Agnes and the girl had both been killed in the same way, therefore not random…a serial killer! Both were shot in the head. And what was Agnes really helping local girls with?
But what was Rachel’s former lover, villain Jed McAteer connection to the victims.
A mystery with a stunning twist and a race against time to save her career and stop further killings.
This is a well-written crime fiction novel, with engaging characters for a new series that shows much promise.
Many thanks to the author, Joffe Books via Netgalley for my digital copy.
A murdered woman found buried on a building site, with a bullet to her skull.
But then another body is found buried in the same place, and had been in the ground for some time.
Detective Rachel King, the SIO is assigned to both cases. The first victim, a woman was a local nurse, Agnes Moore. One of the victim’s friends makes contact but then disappears.
Are the two killings connected?
Rachel has her hands full, while investigating two murders, and raising two teenage daughters on her own. The building site is owned by Rachel’s secret ex- lover villain, Jed McAteer.
Agnes and the girl had both been killed in the same way, therefore not random…a serial killer! Both were shot in the head. And what was Agnes really helping local girls with?
But what was Rachel’s former lover, villain Jed McAteer connection to the victims.
A mystery with a stunning twist and a race against time to save her career and stop further killings.
This is a well-written crime fiction novel, with engaging characters for a new series that shows much promise.
Many thanks to the author, Joffe Books via Netgalley for my digital copy.
November 14, 2021
This is a 3.5 star read.
July 31, 2019
This is the second book in the DCI Rachel King Series by author Helen H Durrant following on from 'Next Victim'. This book can be read as a stand-alone.
DCI Rachel King is a divorced mother of two teenage girls and lives next door to ex husband Alan in the Cheshire village of Poynton, just outside from central Manchester. Rachel is good at her job and juggles the strains of her job, her teenage girls and her secret of former lover, a well-know villain Jed McAteer. In 'Two Victims' Rachel is faced with investigating the death of a local nurse, Agnes Moore, found buried on a building site with a bullet in her skull. But this is increased to a double murder when another body is found buried in the same place. The building site is owned by Rachel's ex lover Jed McAteer.
This is another well paced, no nonsense crime novel that delivers. Interesting characters and good sub plots.
I would like to thank both Net Galley and Joffe Books for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
DCI Rachel King is a divorced mother of two teenage girls and lives next door to ex husband Alan in the Cheshire village of Poynton, just outside from central Manchester. Rachel is good at her job and juggles the strains of her job, her teenage girls and her secret of former lover, a well-know villain Jed McAteer. In 'Two Victims' Rachel is faced with investigating the death of a local nurse, Agnes Moore, found buried on a building site with a bullet in her skull. But this is increased to a double murder when another body is found buried in the same place. The building site is owned by Rachel's ex lover Jed McAteer.
This is another well paced, no nonsense crime novel that delivers. Interesting characters and good sub plots.
I would like to thank both Net Galley and Joffe Books for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
August 10, 2019
Two Victims is the second book about Manchester-based DCI Rachel King. I received a free ARC from NetGalley, but bought and read the first one as I like to read series in order, then needed a bit of a break, so this review is a bit late.
You do get enough backstory to skip the first one, although events and characters from it are frequently referred to, without significant spoilers, so it depends on how much this would bother you.
Set a few months after Next Victim, this has Rachel investigating the murders of a young girl and an older woman, both shot in the head and left in a ditch on a building site owned by Rachel’s shady ex, gangster turned businessman Jed McAteer, but at different times. There seems to be a connection to a dodgy club where girls from Eastern Europe are kept in squalid conditions, but Rachel can’t believe Jed would be involved in trafficking.
I wasn’t particularly enthused by the first book, an unoriginal police procedural with a predictable plot line, but initially was more enthusiastic about this one, until it’s revealed that once again Rachel’s teenage daughter is linked to one of the suspects, and then Jed is implicated again. I could accept this if it were set in a tiny village but Manchester is a large city and all these coincidences just felt like cheating.
I also don’t like Rachel as a heroine, she’s stroppy, arrogant and thin-skinned, and is also a terrible mother. Everything has to be about her, and while her daughters are equally obnoxious, you can’t blame them for hurting that she picks the job over them every single time. At least her team were better developed this time round.
The writing was competent, I didn’t guess the motivation or identity of the killer and it was well paced, and not too long. I certainly wouldn’t call it a massive twist. The ending leaves things open for the next book, but the mystery kingpin has been so well signposted that it’s unlikely I’ll bother with it.
Both books have a lot of 4 star ratings from reviewers who clearly enjoyed them more than I did, so don’t let my lukewarm assessment put you off if you like this sort of thing, I just think there are much better police series out there.
You do get enough backstory to skip the first one, although events and characters from it are frequently referred to, without significant spoilers, so it depends on how much this would bother you.
Set a few months after Next Victim, this has Rachel investigating the murders of a young girl and an older woman, both shot in the head and left in a ditch on a building site owned by Rachel’s shady ex, gangster turned businessman Jed McAteer, but at different times. There seems to be a connection to a dodgy club where girls from Eastern Europe are kept in squalid conditions, but Rachel can’t believe Jed would be involved in trafficking.
I wasn’t particularly enthused by the first book, an unoriginal police procedural with a predictable plot line, but initially was more enthusiastic about this one, until it’s revealed that once again Rachel’s teenage daughter is linked to one of the suspects, and then Jed is implicated again. I could accept this if it were set in a tiny village but Manchester is a large city and all these coincidences just felt like cheating.
I also don’t like Rachel as a heroine, she’s stroppy, arrogant and thin-skinned, and is also a terrible mother. Everything has to be about her, and while her daughters are equally obnoxious, you can’t blame them for hurting that she picks the job over them every single time. At least her team were better developed this time round.
The writing was competent, I didn’t guess the motivation or identity of the killer and it was well paced, and not too long. I certainly wouldn’t call it a massive twist. The ending leaves things open for the next book, but the mystery kingpin has been so well signposted that it’s unlikely I’ll bother with it.
Both books have a lot of 4 star ratings from reviewers who clearly enjoyed them more than I did, so don’t let my lukewarm assessment put you off if you like this sort of thing, I just think there are much better police series out there.
August 30, 2020
A fast-paced, very good Instalment (#2 ) of DCI Rachel King, her family, including the infamous Jed McAteer.
The body of a nurse, buried on a construction site, leads to yet another body that seems linked to the first. The plot quickly unfolds in a grippingly quick series of events.
A number of references to the first book pop-up in this read which I thus recommend, so as to enjoy the full intricacies of this instalment.
Not a dull moment when different jurisdictions become entangled, along with a far more sinister set of crimes unfolding and the original murders coalescing into the well constructed plot. The ending certainly implies a book #3, hopefully sooner rather than later!
The body of a nurse, buried on a construction site, leads to yet another body that seems linked to the first. The plot quickly unfolds in a grippingly quick series of events.
A number of references to the first book pop-up in this read which I thus recommend, so as to enjoy the full intricacies of this instalment.
Not a dull moment when different jurisdictions become entangled, along with a far more sinister set of crimes unfolding and the original murders coalescing into the well constructed plot. The ending certainly implies a book #3, hopefully sooner rather than later!
January 9, 2021
The second book in the detective Rachel King series did not disappoint. Rachel is an almost 40 year old DCI with greater Manchester police , the mum of two teenage daughters , she lives next door to her ex husband and also has history with one of Manchester’s biggest villains. Lots of twists and turns as the plot came together in this one following a body found on wasteland closely followed by a second body. Human trafficking , deceptive nurses , the homeless , gangsters and more are covered in this book. I’m thoroughly enjoying this series , on to #3
August 25, 2022
*The Hunt Is On*
This instalment sees Detective Rachel King and her team dealing with a buried dead woman named Agnes. She was a nurse and there are so many glowing reports about her. Sadly next to her is the body of a young woman. Is there a connection?
As Rachel and her team delve into the case they get conflicting stories of a dark side to Agnes who was hiding under the cover of being a do-gooder. Why was she helping so many vulnerable young girls.
Rachel also has another problem her case is literally being taken away from her via another DCI fron another patch. Will Rachel hand the case over? Why is her Superintendent being very quiet and not putting up a fight for his team.
There are shootings, near misses, people trafficking, dangerous villains, torture and Rachel’s ex Jed a well known villain throwing a spanner in the works as she struggles to keep it all under wraps especially from the DCI from another patch.
This was a page turner and all engrossing, a marked improvement from from book one.
This instalment sees Detective Rachel King and her team dealing with a buried dead woman named Agnes. She was a nurse and there are so many glowing reports about her. Sadly next to her is the body of a young woman. Is there a connection?
As Rachel and her team delve into the case they get conflicting stories of a dark side to Agnes who was hiding under the cover of being a do-gooder. Why was she helping so many vulnerable young girls.
Rachel also has another problem her case is literally being taken away from her via another DCI fron another patch. Will Rachel hand the case over? Why is her Superintendent being very quiet and not putting up a fight for his team.
There are shootings, near misses, people trafficking, dangerous villains, torture and Rachel’s ex Jed a well known villain throwing a spanner in the works as she struggles to keep it all under wraps especially from the DCI from another patch.
This was a page turner and all engrossing, a marked improvement from from book one.
July 3, 2020
This one was quite interesting for me. In my review of Book 1 in this series I really enjoyed Rachel King as a character. In this she really got on my nerves. I found her really aggressive, quick to temper and off putting. I've got book 3 to follow so I may have to average her out after I've finished them all! Although it does show how we aren't the same all the time, people have good and bad days; characters have good and bad character days (that made sense in my head!)
I liked the premise of the story; a woman is found murdered by bullet to the head & a secondary body is found besides her. Soon everyone linked to the murders seem to die as well. Is it a serial killer or something more. Things get complicated (for Rachel not the reader) when it seems that events may actually be split but just intertwine with each other.
It's quite fast paced, you have no idea who to trust and who's telling the truth & Rachel seems to be butting heads with just about everyone. It follows on from the first book and there are references back to it so although it isn't too bad to have not read it, it will make much more sense to read the books in order. There are also some hints as to what to expect in the next book.
Overall I enjoyed it and looking forward to picking up 'Wrong Victim'.
I liked the premise of the story; a woman is found murdered by bullet to the head & a secondary body is found besides her. Soon everyone linked to the murders seem to die as well. Is it a serial killer or something more. Things get complicated (for Rachel not the reader) when it seems that events may actually be split but just intertwine with each other.
It's quite fast paced, you have no idea who to trust and who's telling the truth & Rachel seems to be butting heads with just about everyone. It follows on from the first book and there are references back to it so although it isn't too bad to have not read it, it will make much more sense to read the books in order. There are also some hints as to what to expect in the next book.
Overall I enjoyed it and looking forward to picking up 'Wrong Victim'.
July 30, 2019
Two Victims by Helen H. Durrant is the second in the Detective Rachel King series.
First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Joffe Books, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Series Background: (Warning – May contain spoilers from previous books)
DCI Rachel King is with the serious crime squad for east Manchester. Her team consists of: DS Elwyn Pryce, her long-time colleague and friend; DC Jonny Farrell, the newest member of the team, and still a little green; and DC Amy Metcalfe, who shows potential, but is a bit unreliable. Rachel went through a somewhat amicable divorce and her husband bought the house next door in order to help raise their two teenage daughters. Although Rachel knows she cannot have a relationship with her first love Jed McAteer due to his criminal background, he is hard to forget. Only her partner knows of their relationship, and the fact that her youngest daughter is actually McAteer's.
My Synopsis:
Two bodies are found in a building site that Jed McAteer is developing into housing. Both shot in the head. One, Agnes Moore, is a local nurse who seems to be helping homeless young women every chance she gets. The other young girl is harder to identify.
When Rachel's investigation leads her to another dead body, she steps on the toes of DCI Mark Kenton from another district, who insists on taking over. Apparently he is working on a human trafficking ring, and has been doing so for a long time. Rachel doesn't want to let go, but her boss seems to be siding with DCI Kenton.
Rachel, of course, pushes back, and continues to do whatever she wants.
My Opinions:
This was another fast-paced story, and a very easy read.
I am still unsure about Rachel. She's definitely a hard worker, but.... I still think her parenting skills are lacking, and her temper is a little out there. She seems very unprofessional in her work. Overall I am having a hard time liking her, which makes the books a little off-putting. I rather like the supporting cast (Elwyn, Jed, her daughters) better.
The plot was good, and although I did guess the perpetrator early on, I could not determine the motive.
Again, there was an appendix at the back of the book showing a list of British slang, which, as a Canadian, I find helpful (sort of wish it was at the beginning of the book).
Overall, it was only an okay read, but I'm going to stick with the series, if only to see where it goes from here.
For a more complete review of this book and others, please visit my blog: http://katlovesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
August 1, 2019
This is the second in the Detective Rachel King series and the characters are being filled out with more detail about them. Rachel is a divorcee with two teenage daughters and struggles with balancing her career and her job. I can relate to her so much as I well remember being a single working mother of teenagers and every note about their lives rings so true.
This time, a body of a young woman is found in a trench on a building site and as the police examine the area, another body is found, killed in exactly the same way - shot. The second victim is a local practise nurse who cares for many young and homeless girls in the area, but finding the identity of the earlier body is difficult. We are shown the procedure that the police follow in order to find the killer, with all the frustrations Rachel feels at having to wait for forensic results while still continuing with the investigation. An added problem is the fact that Jed McAteer, a well-known criminal and a former lover of Rachel's, owns the land where the bodies were found. Rachel is still trying to hide her relationship with Jed from her colleagues, something which is getting harder in every book.
This is a fast-paced story which kept me glued to my Kindle and, despite trying desperately to guess who the killer was, I failed again. I would recommend this series to all lovers of police procedural books and I can't wait for the next installment.
This time, a body of a young woman is found in a trench on a building site and as the police examine the area, another body is found, killed in exactly the same way - shot. The second victim is a local practise nurse who cares for many young and homeless girls in the area, but finding the identity of the earlier body is difficult. We are shown the procedure that the police follow in order to find the killer, with all the frustrations Rachel feels at having to wait for forensic results while still continuing with the investigation. An added problem is the fact that Jed McAteer, a well-known criminal and a former lover of Rachel's, owns the land where the bodies were found. Rachel is still trying to hide her relationship with Jed from her colleagues, something which is getting harder in every book.
This is a fast-paced story which kept me glued to my Kindle and, despite trying desperately to guess who the killer was, I failed again. I would recommend this series to all lovers of police procedural books and I can't wait for the next installment.
August 1, 2019
Wow the author has nailed it with this one
This is book 2 in the DCI Rachel King series set in Manchester. We first met Rachel and her team in Next Victim which was a brilliant introduction to the series.
Rachel's domestic life adds an interesting vein to the series as does her past. Divorced (with her ex husband living next door), Rachel is trying to juggle a demanding career with the problems that come with bringing up 2 teenage girls. Megan is at university and that brings its own issues whereas Mia is still at school., suffering from Type 1 diabetes and also nearly losing her life in a kidnapping it is understandable that both Rachel and Megan are protective of her.
The book itself is fast-paced with the suspense beginning on the first page and building all the way through. There are several things going on the keep the reader totally engrossed in the story.
The body of a young woman is found in a ditch. She has been shot and while forensics are searching for clues another body is found, this one a teenage girl. To add to the issues faced by Rachel and her team the bodies are on land being developed by Jed McAteer. Jed is a loveable rogue from Rachel's university days who keeps popping up where he isn't wanted. Rachel and Jed share a secret, one that could destroy Rachel's life and career.
As the team begin investigating they uncover more wrongdoings and a DCI from another station starts to muscle in on the action. People trafficking, sex slaves and worse are all thrown into the mix. As cases become entwined can Rachel hold on to her suspect and find justice for the dead?
This is a twisty turny book that had me hooked at the very first page and kept giving all the way to the totally unexpected ending. An absolutely brilliant read. I cant wait for the next book in this series.
This is book 2 in the DCI Rachel King series set in Manchester. We first met Rachel and her team in Next Victim which was a brilliant introduction to the series.
Rachel's domestic life adds an interesting vein to the series as does her past. Divorced (with her ex husband living next door), Rachel is trying to juggle a demanding career with the problems that come with bringing up 2 teenage girls. Megan is at university and that brings its own issues whereas Mia is still at school., suffering from Type 1 diabetes and also nearly losing her life in a kidnapping it is understandable that both Rachel and Megan are protective of her.
The book itself is fast-paced with the suspense beginning on the first page and building all the way through. There are several things going on the keep the reader totally engrossed in the story.
The body of a young woman is found in a ditch. She has been shot and while forensics are searching for clues another body is found, this one a teenage girl. To add to the issues faced by Rachel and her team the bodies are on land being developed by Jed McAteer. Jed is a loveable rogue from Rachel's university days who keeps popping up where he isn't wanted. Rachel and Jed share a secret, one that could destroy Rachel's life and career.
As the team begin investigating they uncover more wrongdoings and a DCI from another station starts to muscle in on the action. People trafficking, sex slaves and worse are all thrown into the mix. As cases become entwined can Rachel hold on to her suspect and find justice for the dead?
This is a twisty turny book that had me hooked at the very first page and kept giving all the way to the totally unexpected ending. An absolutely brilliant read. I cant wait for the next book in this series.
September 11, 2019
Note - I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
NCIS - that's what this book reminded me of. Super forensic scientist, best Medical examiners, a team of investigators.... Even the dialogues were similar. Like, ' I will know more when we do the autopsy' and 'The dead talks to us'.
However, the most annoying part of the book was Rachel, AKA 'the heroine'. All her reactions were completely off. Instead of senior investigator and divorced mother of two, she was more like a bratty newbie and hormonal angsty teenager. Take for example, her reactions to her love interest McAteer. She is unnecessarily hostile and angry towards him because of personal reasons. On many occasions, she behaves immaturely (like not telling her daughter he is her biological father) and it is highly irritating.
Even her actions and reactions in personal life are wrong. In the first book, her younger daughter is kidnapped. And still, when her elder daughter doesn't come home for two days, she is completely relaxed and doesn't care. And when her older daughter does turn up in a police station, all she feels is annoyance towards the other officers, who are actually being nice and not charging her daughter. She is rude to her colleagues, who are just doing their job. And she kept throwing her weight around. That entire situation really put me off and made me start to dislike Rachel from just not liking her, before.
The mystery and crime component of the book was not a winner, either. For one, it was too personal. Like, what are the chances that the case she is working on is related to her daughter's friends. That's two for two (i.e., in both the books). I, personally, don't enjoy drama in my mystery and thriller reads. And there was a lot of drama. Drama from personal life that interfered with her professional. Isn't the goal of writing such characters, that nothing interferes with their professional life - not love life and not family?
Then, there is the entire trafficking thing with McAteer. Love of the heroine's life, secretly father of one of her child, sordid, criminal past, high school sweethearts, forbidden love (criminal and police officer... can it get more Romeo and Juliet?), being set up, going in hiding, dirty cops..... can it get any more melodramatic and cliche?
As for the actual mystery of two dead bodies, there is nothing that makes it special... or even unforgettable. It was totally an accident and others who provided information, that they stumbled onto who the villain was.
Basically, this book was worse than average. The writing was okay, but I might have liked it more if not for the characters. Even the side characters were unlikable or inconsistent. Take the heroine's reckless, bratty, hormonal teenage daughters, for example. Or even the villain. One second he/she is lawyering up and denying everything, and next chapter they are confessing. Why - just because! What...!?
There are far better books in this genre out there and I would not recommend this book over them. It has a vast room for improvement before it can come to par with those other books.
NCIS - that's what this book reminded me of. Super forensic scientist, best Medical examiners, a team of investigators.... Even the dialogues were similar. Like, ' I will know more when we do the autopsy' and 'The dead talks to us'.
However, the most annoying part of the book was Rachel, AKA 'the heroine'. All her reactions were completely off. Instead of senior investigator and divorced mother of two, she was more like a bratty newbie and hormonal angsty teenager. Take for example, her reactions to her love interest McAteer. She is unnecessarily hostile and angry towards him because of personal reasons. On many occasions, she behaves immaturely (like not telling her daughter he is her biological father) and it is highly irritating.
Even her actions and reactions in personal life are wrong. In the first book, her younger daughter is kidnapped. And still, when her elder daughter doesn't come home for two days, she is completely relaxed and doesn't care. And when her older daughter does turn up in a police station, all she feels is annoyance towards the other officers, who are actually being nice and not charging her daughter. She is rude to her colleagues, who are just doing their job. And she kept throwing her weight around. That entire situation really put me off and made me start to dislike Rachel from just not liking her, before.
The mystery and crime component of the book was not a winner, either. For one, it was too personal. Like, what are the chances that the case she is working on is related to her daughter's friends. That's two for two (i.e., in both the books). I, personally, don't enjoy drama in my mystery and thriller reads. And there was a lot of drama. Drama from personal life that interfered with her professional. Isn't the goal of writing such characters, that nothing interferes with their professional life - not love life and not family?
Then, there is the entire trafficking thing with McAteer. Love of the heroine's life, secretly father of one of her child, sordid, criminal past, high school sweethearts, forbidden love (criminal and police officer... can it get more Romeo and Juliet?), being set up, going in hiding, dirty cops..... can it get any more melodramatic and cliche?
As for the actual mystery of two dead bodies, there is nothing that makes it special... or even unforgettable. It was totally an accident and others who provided information, that they stumbled onto who the villain was.
Basically, this book was worse than average. The writing was okay, but I might have liked it more if not for the characters. Even the side characters were unlikable or inconsistent. Take the heroine's reckless, bratty, hormonal teenage daughters, for example. Or even the villain. One second he/she is lawyering up and denying everything, and next chapter they are confessing. Why - just because! What...!?
There are far better books in this genre out there and I would not recommend this book over them. It has a vast room for improvement before it can come to par with those other books.
July 23, 2019
I would like to thank Netgalley and Joffe Books for an advance copy of Two Victims, the second novel to feature DCI Rachel King of the East Manchester police.
Rachel and the team are called out to a murder on a building site. A woman, later identified as Agnes Moore, has been recently killed by a shot to the back of the head. While searching the site the forensics team find a second body buried deeper but shot the same way. Who is she and what is her link to Agnes?
I enjoyed Two Victims which is a solid police procedural with an unexpected solution although the subject matter (no spoilers) makes for uncomfortable reading. The novel is told from various points of view to give the reader a wider perspective on events but fortunately, because I hate the cod psychology that goes with it, no mention of the killer or their thoughts. I like that Ms Durrant keeps that well hidden until the reveal - I would never have guessed. The plot is well done with the team struggling in the dark until gradually a clearer picture emerges. I love the winnowing process of a good procedural. Much of Rachel’s case is taken over by DCI Kenton and his separate investigation, so the fireworks around that are entertaining. This, however, looks like part one of an ongoing plot line and will, I assume, be continued in the next book.
Rachel King is an interesting protagonist. She is a single mum with two teenage daughters so their upbringing and crises are part of the narrative although it’s a bit coincidental that they always seem to get involved in her cases, pushing the narrative along with timely information.
Two Victims is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.
Rachel and the team are called out to a murder on a building site. A woman, later identified as Agnes Moore, has been recently killed by a shot to the back of the head. While searching the site the forensics team find a second body buried deeper but shot the same way. Who is she and what is her link to Agnes?
I enjoyed Two Victims which is a solid police procedural with an unexpected solution although the subject matter (no spoilers) makes for uncomfortable reading. The novel is told from various points of view to give the reader a wider perspective on events but fortunately, because I hate the cod psychology that goes with it, no mention of the killer or their thoughts. I like that Ms Durrant keeps that well hidden until the reveal - I would never have guessed. The plot is well done with the team struggling in the dark until gradually a clearer picture emerges. I love the winnowing process of a good procedural. Much of Rachel’s case is taken over by DCI Kenton and his separate investigation, so the fireworks around that are entertaining. This, however, looks like part one of an ongoing plot line and will, I assume, be continued in the next book.
Rachel King is an interesting protagonist. She is a single mum with two teenage daughters so their upbringing and crises are part of the narrative although it’s a bit coincidental that they always seem to get involved in her cases, pushing the narrative along with timely information.
Two Victims is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.
August 4, 2019
I read the first in this series Next Victim, at the beginning of the year, so I jumped at the chance to read this one. Don’t worry if you haven’t read the first, it can be read as a stand-alone.
A woman’s body is found on a building site and Rachel is tasked to investigate. What she didn’t count on was a second body being discovered underneath it!
The building site is linked to her old flame and crook turned businessman Jed McAteer but did he have anything to do with the murders?
Two Victims is a great addition to this series, which seems to be going from strength to strength!
Rachel is rapidly becoming one of my favourite characters. She’s a no nonsense kind of person, who can seem a little abrasive at times but that’s only because she wants justice for the murder victims. She also has to deal with her rebellious daughters, one of which has just turned eighteen and is determined to push her mum’s buttons.
I will warn you there is some tough subject matter during the book, including human trafficking and torture, which may not be to everybody’s taste.
Two Victims is really a must for anyone who loves a fast paced police procedurals with a tenacious female lead.
A woman’s body is found on a building site and Rachel is tasked to investigate. What she didn’t count on was a second body being discovered underneath it!
The building site is linked to her old flame and crook turned businessman Jed McAteer but did he have anything to do with the murders?
Two Victims is a great addition to this series, which seems to be going from strength to strength!
Rachel is rapidly becoming one of my favourite characters. She’s a no nonsense kind of person, who can seem a little abrasive at times but that’s only because she wants justice for the murder victims. She also has to deal with her rebellious daughters, one of which has just turned eighteen and is determined to push her mum’s buttons.
I will warn you there is some tough subject matter during the book, including human trafficking and torture, which may not be to everybody’s taste.
Two Victims is really a must for anyone who loves a fast paced police procedurals with a tenacious female lead.
August 9, 2019
This is the 2nd book in the Rachel King series, which, incidentally for me, is set in Manchester. It follows on from the Next Victim, which was a fab read as well.
The main character, Rachel is juggling life as a mother of teenagers, whilst living next door to her ex husband and trying to concentrate on work. The tension builds up theoughout the book and I found I really didn't want to put it down to do my hum drum things in life! I love Helen's books and this one proves no different, fantastic piece of writing and agin, as always I am looking forward to the next!
A big thanks to Joffe books and Helen Durrant for allowing me to be privileged enough to receive an ARC, with just my brutal opinion in return🤣.
The main character, Rachel is juggling life as a mother of teenagers, whilst living next door to her ex husband and trying to concentrate on work. The tension builds up theoughout the book and I found I really didn't want to put it down to do my hum drum things in life! I love Helen's books and this one proves no different, fantastic piece of writing and agin, as always I am looking forward to the next!
A big thanks to Joffe books and Helen Durrant for allowing me to be privileged enough to receive an ARC, with just my brutal opinion in return🤣.
Read
August 25, 2019Unfortunately, and through no fault of the author, I couldn't connect with this book. It took me over a month to finish (which is a LONG time for me) and I really had to force myself not to DNR it.
The plot was intriguing enough and the writing was more than acceptable, so I can list any reasons as to why I didn't enjoy it. But at any rate, this wasn't my cup of tea, and I won't be rating it publicly due to that.
If this book sounds interesting to you at all, please give it a try. It might be the perfect fit for you!
The plot was intriguing enough and the writing was more than acceptable, so I can list any reasons as to why I didn't enjoy it. But at any rate, this wasn't my cup of tea, and I won't be rating it publicly due to that.
If this book sounds interesting to you at all, please give it a try. It might be the perfect fit for you!
November 8, 2019
I really enjoyed the first book in this series, Next Victim, but found this a little lacklustre and samey. Rachel's former boyfriend is again implicated in the murders (he owns the building site where the victims are found) and one of her daughter is being difficult, again. Durrant is a reliably good author but this wasn't one of her better efforts.
July 23, 2019
Two women are found murdered in the trench of a building site. Both were killed by a single gun shot. One of them is identified as a local nurse, Agnes Moore. She's said to have been an angel to young women from the streets who were in distress. The other body is about 2 months older and the police have no leads on who she is or why she was killed. In addition, a teenaged girl on the run is hiding from some very bad people and she may have vital information for DCI Rachel King and her team. There's some evidence of people trafficking through a local seedy club and additional violence ensues as detectives start getting closer to the black heart at the source. NO SPOILERS.
I am really enjoying this fast-paced police procedural/crime thriller series. In this second book, we see more of the same Rachel King with her incredible work ethic and her continued personal issues involving her family life and her past history with local criminal turned profitable businessman, Jed McAteer. Not much more has come out to let us get to know the various other characters any better but this case was quite complicated and interesting. I like when the details and clues are painstakingly found through tedious investigation along with forensic examination and are slowly revealed as they'd be in a real police case. Some of the revelations were surprising. I'm looking forward to reading the third book in this compelling series.
Thank you to NetGalley and Joffe Books for this e-book ARC to read and review.
I am really enjoying this fast-paced police procedural/crime thriller series. In this second book, we see more of the same Rachel King with her incredible work ethic and her continued personal issues involving her family life and her past history with local criminal turned profitable businessman, Jed McAteer. Not much more has come out to let us get to know the various other characters any better but this case was quite complicated and interesting. I like when the details and clues are painstakingly found through tedious investigation along with forensic examination and are slowly revealed as they'd be in a real police case. Some of the revelations were surprising. I'm looking forward to reading the third book in this compelling series.
Thank you to NetGalley and Joffe Books for this e-book ARC to read and review.
August 4, 2019
Full of action
DCI Rachel King, set in Manchester's criminal underworld is on the case of a double murder. Victim Agnes Moore been shot in the head, believed by friends to be away on holiday, works in the homeless shelter and nurse at the health centre. The other victim is an unknown body of a woman in a pink uniform. The book has everything as you read drugs, trafficking,prostitution and enslaving foreign girls. Nicu Bogdan is connected with a lot of organised crimes is the man Rachel and the team need to track down him and Jed McAteer both are in for a long stretch . Throughout this book there is so much happening in every chapter and every one is a new lead. With a massive twisty ending, I loved it
DCI Rachel King, set in Manchester's criminal underworld is on the case of a double murder. Victim Agnes Moore been shot in the head, believed by friends to be away on holiday, works in the homeless shelter and nurse at the health centre. The other victim is an unknown body of a woman in a pink uniform. The book has everything as you read drugs, trafficking,prostitution and enslaving foreign girls. Nicu Bogdan is connected with a lot of organised crimes is the man Rachel and the team need to track down him and Jed McAteer both are in for a long stretch . Throughout this book there is so much happening in every chapter and every one is a new lead. With a massive twisty ending, I loved it
July 27, 2019
A perfectly good entry in the books by Durrant. Strong characters, back stories, cliffhanger. Reads like a crime soap opera. This one is about past loves, human trafficking and grooming girls for prostitution. Good characters and could be a standalone. I always pick Durrant' s books for a quick, consistent read.
Copy provided by the Publisher and NetGalley
Copy provided by the Publisher and NetGalley
January 13, 2021
Audio version of this book 📚- second book in the DCI Rachel King series, a good read and great narration
July 12, 2021
A+++++
August 3, 2019
Building on the successful first book featuring DCI Rachel King "Next Victim", this is the second book and it is a fine sequel. Rachel King is a working mother of two argumentative teenage girls, student Megan and schoolgirl Mia, with the strange living arrangement of having her ex-husband Alan living next door. Handy for childcare and home-cooked meals but sometimes she feels trapped by the past. Also looming large in her past is local crime baron Jed McAteer with whom she had an affair years ago resulting in Mia, something that has only come to light recently. Jed is making a big deal about becoming legit but can Rachel or anyone else for that matter really believe that? Stationed at East Manchester CID Rachel runs a small team of DS Elwyn Pryce and DCs Jonny Farrell and Amy Metcalfe. Elwyn is also a good friend to her and the only one who knows her secret about Jed. Their patch is not the nicest or most affluent although there is a lot of new housing being built to improve the area, and it is on just one of these sites that the body of a woman is discovered, hardly cold and killed by a gun shot to her head. Unfortunately whilst gathering evidence of this killing, a second older body is also found. Whilst the first woman is easily identified as a local nurse who tried to help homeless girls, the second proves much harder to identify and with apparently no motive for either killing Rachel and the team are struggling to link the victims or find a suspect. A possible witness also disappears and the detectives are left with many tangled threads and clues all waiting to be unravelled and put together, hopefully before anyone else dies. The author keeps up the pace and delivers a great plot covering very current crimes with an ending which leaves the reader eagerly awaiting book number three. This story works fine as a stand alone but I would recommend reading book one first, not only for the history but also so you don't miss out on a great read! This is shaping up to be a favourite series of mine. 5*
July 21, 2019
Agnes is a practice nurse at a GP surgery. She likes to help out the homeless and needy when she can and also helps at the local homeless hostel. When she is found dead with a bullet through her head things don’t add up as everyone appeared to like her but there are rumours of her making a profit which adds to the confusion. When the scene is investigated another body is found close by, again of a woman killed by a bullet around two months before hand. DCI Rachel King is trying to put the pieces together whilst also trying to keep away from her past in the form of an ex-criminal who happens to be the father of one of her children. A secret she would rather not reveal. As ever Helen quickly gets the reader into both the plot and the characters, so skillul is her writing. You quickly feel as if you know these people and that you are a bystander at a safe distance. Nothing that is going to give you nightmares or put you off your dinner (other than a murder or two!) and a smile along the way. Well rounded characters that have that extra something to them- not just a part of the plot. There are subplots and threads so although this would stand alone it is better read as part of the series to give some of the back story. (This is number two in the series.) I very much look forward to DCI Rachel’s next case.
For more reviews please see my blog http://nickibookblog.blogspot.co.uk/
or follow me on Twitter@nickisbookblog
For more reviews please see my blog http://nickibookblog.blogspot.co.uk/
or follow me on Twitter@nickisbookblog
August 4, 2019
Two Victims by Helen H Durrant was just Brilliant. This is the second book in the Detective Inspector Rachel King series.
WoW what a book this was. Detective Inspector Rachel King and her team are called to a woman's body found on a building site. Whilst they were there, they find another decomposing body underneath the first body they found.
The first body was of a practice nurse at a GP surgery, called Agnes Moore. She been an angel to young women from the streets and who may be homeless, who needed her help and medical advice.
Are they contacted?
And How?
Detective Inspector Rachel King is trying to piece the murderers together as well as juggling her private life from her past. An ex-criminal Jed McAteer, who keeps on popping up in her life, is the father of one of her children called Mia. A big secret she doesn't want to come out on the open.
How long can she hide this big secret?
Will her past catch up with her?
Will she connect the two murders before anyone else is murdered?
I highly recommend all of Helen's Books. I just love them and they are an easy lovely read.
One thing I love about Helen's books: they can be a stand a lone book or read as a series progresses.
Big Thank You to NetGalley, the Publisher Joffe Books, and Helen H Durrant, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
WoW what a book this was. Detective Inspector Rachel King and her team are called to a woman's body found on a building site. Whilst they were there, they find another decomposing body underneath the first body they found.
The first body was of a practice nurse at a GP surgery, called Agnes Moore. She been an angel to young women from the streets and who may be homeless, who needed her help and medical advice.
Are they contacted?
And How?
Detective Inspector Rachel King is trying to piece the murderers together as well as juggling her private life from her past. An ex-criminal Jed McAteer, who keeps on popping up in her life, is the father of one of her children called Mia. A big secret she doesn't want to come out on the open.
How long can she hide this big secret?
Will her past catch up with her?
Will she connect the two murders before anyone else is murdered?
I highly recommend all of Helen's Books. I just love them and they are an easy lovely read.
One thing I love about Helen's books: they can be a stand a lone book or read as a series progresses.
Big Thank You to NetGalley, the Publisher Joffe Books, and Helen H Durrant, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
July 23, 2019
Thank you NetGalley and Joffe Books for this arc.
This is the 2nd Rachel King story and a good one. Rachel is called out to the scene where a body has been found on a construction site.... oops! There's another body found under the first one. The police team has to find out who the bodies are before they can really start investigating the murders. The story move from slow to fast and then picks up again before slowing some more. The slow spots are filled in with Rachel's domestic dramas. Is she ever a mess! She has secrets that are starting to come out and she's scrambling to prevent further revelations of her "personal" life. While she doesn't appear to be dishonest, her inability to own her own past choices have truly made her present life a disaster. The police story seems credible but loses some of that with Rachel's tantrums at work. There's some hints of a greater criminal conspiracy/ investigation to come and I hope that if so, Rachel doesn't find her life imploding.
3.5 stars
This is the 2nd Rachel King story and a good one. Rachel is called out to the scene where a body has been found on a construction site.... oops! There's another body found under the first one. The police team has to find out who the bodies are before they can really start investigating the murders. The story move from slow to fast and then picks up again before slowing some more. The slow spots are filled in with Rachel's domestic dramas. Is she ever a mess! She has secrets that are starting to come out and she's scrambling to prevent further revelations of her "personal" life. While she doesn't appear to be dishonest, her inability to own her own past choices have truly made her present life a disaster. The police story seems credible but loses some of that with Rachel's tantrums at work. There's some hints of a greater criminal conspiracy/ investigation to come and I hope that if so, Rachel doesn't find her life imploding.
3.5 stars
October 15, 2019
Easy to read, followed its own plot easily
To begin with I had several jumpstarts with this book, I had a bit of trouble naturally falling into a reading burst (although I did force myself to persist and finished the book in a day). The storyline itself just easy to follow, has a few simple twists and turns but overall I didn’t find it exceptionally twisting compared to other crime mystery novels I have read recently.
My first issue was I really struggled to connect with main character Rachel King. Yes, she is hard hitting no nonsense DCI but at times the dialogue of her I found a little bit ‘irritating’. Saying that however, in terms of the job role she is within the book I can see why she adapts a certain attitude, whit and behaviour.
I enjoyed the book, however upon hindsight I didn’t have much connection with any of the characters and for me as a reader, that is something I need in order to propel the story to another level for me.
Just a crime mystery book and if that’s what you are looking for, read away.
To begin with I had several jumpstarts with this book, I had a bit of trouble naturally falling into a reading burst (although I did force myself to persist and finished the book in a day). The storyline itself just easy to follow, has a few simple twists and turns but overall I didn’t find it exceptionally twisting compared to other crime mystery novels I have read recently.
My first issue was I really struggled to connect with main character Rachel King. Yes, she is hard hitting no nonsense DCI but at times the dialogue of her I found a little bit ‘irritating’. Saying that however, in terms of the job role she is within the book I can see why she adapts a certain attitude, whit and behaviour.
I enjoyed the book, however upon hindsight I didn’t have much connection with any of the characters and for me as a reader, that is something I need in order to propel the story to another level for me.
Just a crime mystery book and if that’s what you are looking for, read away.
August 7, 2019
Second in the DCI King series and it's another brilliant read full of suspense. The characters have developed well and the writing is exceptional. I read it in two sittings which could quite easily have been one if life hadn't got in the way. I eagerly await the next in the series and highly recommend this book to anyone hooked on crime thrillers.
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