A Quiet Place to Kill

Kember and Hayes #1

by N.R. Daws

In this tense thriller set on a WW2 airbase, a female pilot faces danger in the sky―and a murderer on the ground. July 1940. As the Battle of Britain begins, the women of the Air Transport Auxiliary carry out the dangerous task of ferrying warplanes to RAF airbases. But for the ATA detachment sent to the base at Scotney, it’s not only in the skies that they’re a target―it seems a killer is stalking them on the ground… On the day pilot Lizzie Hayes arrives in the quiet village, one of her new comrades is found murdered. One of the few women in Britain with a psychology PhD, Lizzie thinks she can use her skills to help identify the killer among the military staff and local villagers, but DI Jonathan Kember isn’t convinced. When a second pilot is murdered, Lizzie’s profile of the killer comes into sharper focus―attracting anonymous threats against her own life. With Kember’s investigation stalling and events at the airbase becoming ever more sinister, Lizzie’s talents are given a chance. But can she and the still-sceptical Kember work together to find the killer before Lizzie becomes the next victim?

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Crime, Thriller, Mystery Thriller, Fiction, World War II

383 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2021

Reviews

[Alayne Emmett · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very slow read, it read like an Agatha Christie novel. Set during World War 2 which is one of my favourite eras this was a disappointing read. I really struggled with it, the language and the way the story unfolded. I know crime investigations moved slowly in those days but, this was too slow.

[Libby Meserve · Rating 2 out of 5]

The beginning was quite slow and I found it very hard to get into. I found myself getting bored during members perspective, Lizzie’s perspective is a little better but not by much. To me it felt like the story came second to every else, the writer focuses way too much attention on her mental problems. Not that mental problems aren’t important but I don’t need to know about every panic attack the character has. Also I didn’t understand the obsession of chain smoking throughout the whole book. It did start to pick up toward the middle but I still didn’t feel any connections toward the characters what so ever. Another thing that I didn’t like was I felt he was just throwing fancy words in where they weren’t needed. I feel like the book would have flowed better without them. I did like the ending quite a bit but I did guess the killer about 50% through the book. Even though I gave this book a 2 star I will probably read the second book and give it a chance. Would I recommend…… it wouldn’t be my first choice but yes I would. It wasn’t a bad story so someone might like it, it just wasn’t for me.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

July 1940 Scotney, Kent. The ATA (Air Transport Auxiliary) unit have been moved to RAF Scotney. But as the female pilots arrive a body is discovered. That of Lavinia Scott of the ATA. Sergeant Dennis Wright receives help from D.I. Jonathan Kemper. As part of rhe ATA is Lizzie Hayes, PHd, in Psychology, specialising in the study of criminal minds. She offers her help. But soon there is another body. Can Kemper and Hayes determine the guilty party, but what of the motive.
An entertaining, but slow paced, historical mystery with its cast of varied and likable characters. A good start to a new series.
An ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent pace and engaging characters- I'm looking forward to more in this series!

[Louise Owen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my Amazon first choice so I didn’t pay for it. After having read it I would have happily bought this book. It may seem strange to say that a book where a killer mimics Jack the Ripper was a cosy mystery, but to me that was the feel of the book.
Some of the characters were well written but there were some who weren’t as developed. The same that can be said for many books.
There were parts that seemed irrelevant that felt a bit shoehorned in, like the suggested mystery about why Kember had been seconded to the Kent constabulary from Scotland Yard. Never actually answered, so I’m unsure why it was in there.
The use of real historical figures names and the things they did gave this book a great grounding in the era it was set in. As did many of the responses the women got.
I did work out who the killer was quite a bit before Lizzie and Kember did, but that is not the reason for a loss of a star. Some things just felt a little contrived to me, and yes I know this is a book of fiction so everything is contrived. This was still not enough to spoil a good read I just didn’t think it was quite enough for a 5 star.
This was a good read and well worth a look.

[Jackie Dunnings · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good historical novel set in WW2. Feminism, murder & set in a lovely countryside village. Warning violent murders.

[Angela DT · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Quiet Place to Kill by N.R. Daws


I really enjoyed this tale set in WW2. Our main character is Lizzie Hayes who joins the Air Transport Auxiliary b ( ATA ) a post given to women to pilot planes to RAF based all over ( this took me on a journey via Google to find out more - fascinating . )
Anyway the story is that Lizzie is in a village wherein new member of them is murdered, and a DO Jonathan Kember is on the case to find out who is the murderer . Then another murder takes place , and Lizzie who has a PhD in psychology sets out to work with him to help solve the cases..
A great mystery / murder with good characters , and I could definitely see a series forming here , and would happily carry on reading them if it were.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story:
It is 1940, and the Battle of Britain is just beginning. DI Jonathan Kember is on secondment to the Kent County Constabulary from Scotland Yard, and when a female officer of the Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA) is found murdered near the RAF Scotney airbase, Kember is dispatched to investigate.

There he meets Lizzie Hayes, Third Officer in the ATA, and with a PhD in psychology, specialising in the criminal mind. At first dismissing her as a crank, Kember come to appreciate the unique insight Lizzie can bring to the case.

But with a Group Captain who is less than pleased to have women on his base, local criminals taking advantage of the blackouts, and German air raids putting everyone’s lives at risk, will Kember and Hayes be able to prevent another death when Lizzie herself becomes a target?

My thoughts:
Having recently taken part in the blog tour for the third book in the Kember and Hayes series, “A Perfect Time to Murder”, I was keen to go back to the beginning of the series and read about the duo’s first case together. Although I found the third book fine to read as a standalone, I enjoyed seeing how their relationship began, and this case is certainly a baptism of fire!

Kember is a diligent police detective who is determined to bring the murderer of ATA women to justice. Although sceptical that Lizzie can bring any value to the case he (reluctantly!) includes her, and is won over by her unorthodox but unique skills in understanding the psychology of the killer.

The suspects in the case range from a local thief to the village vicar, so Kember has his work cut out trying to get to the bottom of things. It was interesting to hear Lizzie’s thoughts on the possible ‘profile’ of the killer — criminal psychology being pretty much unknown to the police force, and most likely to be dismissed as “mumbo jumbo”, as local Sergeant Dennis Wright puts it!

The pair make a great team, with very different but complementing skills. And by the end there is definitely a hint that they may become more than colleagues…

The plot itself involves the gruesome killing of women in the ATA, and there are plenty of suspects in the frame. The author keeps us guessing right until the end, leading to a nail-biting final reveal. I enjoyed this introduction to the characters just as much as book three — Kember and Hayes are a partnership, and I look forward to reading the next book, “A Silent Way to Die” very soon!

[Colleen N · Rating 4 out of 5]

I borrowed A Quiet Place to Kill by N.R. Daws through Kindle Unlimited and it’s my first book by this author. I choose the book based off of the cover and dove right in. I will say that I almost gave up on this book because the first 40% of it seemed slow but I am so glad that I kept pushing through. By the time I got to 45% in, the book picked up tremendously and it seemed to really come together. I ended up enjoying this book significantly which says some thing because I generally am not a person who likes historical books. This Historical Thriller Crime book taught me so much and opened up my eyes to a whole new genre. I really enjoyed the characters of Kember and Hayes.

Lizzie is a woman before her time, I she was written wonderfully, I love how feisty she was especially for the time period and seeing the potential of what’s to come.

Hayes is also a wonderful character who doesn’t seem to have many hang-ups about the woman’s movement. I felt as if each character was written very realistic, very engaging, and with great purpose.

While the main premise of this book is about crime and murder I appreciated what a front burner it took in regards to the women’s movement and women not having to only be kept barefoot, pregnant and in the kitchen. I felt the author did a tremendous job of making it part of the forefront, but doing it with class and style.

This was an easy four-star read for me and I can’t wait to move on to book 2.

[Andy Carter · Rating 2 out of 5]

Great literature this isn’t.

Set in WW2 the action takes place at a RAF base in rural Kent, where some women pilots have arrived to ferry planes to and from other airbases, much to the displeasure of senior officers at the airbase, who have old-fashioned ideas of what women can do. Three of the women are murdered in horrific fashion.

The police can spare only one detective for the case, along with the local bobbie. However, one of the women pilots has a PhD in criminal psychology and eventually persuades the police to let her help identify the type of person who is committing the murders.

It’s an easy to read novel, but not that well-written. None of the characters really come alive, and their dialogue is not natural. The killer wasn’t hard to spot and I found his motivation somewhat unbelievable.

[Anne Farrington · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting story about a group of female pilots in England during WWII, and a series of murders that appears to be targeting them. The main character is Lizzie - who is a trained criminal psychologist who struggles not only with acceptance in trying to practice her craft, but also in general due to a number of conditions including OCD, anxiety attacks, etc. The detective working on the case is Jonathan Kemper. It's a good story as they try to uncover the murderer on the RAF airbase. That being said I'm not sure I'll read the next in the series because Lizzie reminded me of a female, WWII era version of the TV character Monk and as such I found her somewhat annoying. But overall an enjoyable read.

[Jennie Godfrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started this book wondering if it would be ‘my sort of thing’ and finished it firmly knowing it was. This is a highly interesting whodunnit set in WW2 - with two detectives (one professional, one a profiler) whose characters are so richly studied and drawn. The relationship between the two is as interesting as the mystery identity of the murderer - and Lizzie (the profiler) in particularly is a rich and complex portrayal of a highly intelligent woman with anxiety and OCD. I was completely absorbed in the historical elements, the whodunnit and the blossoming relationship between detective and profiler. Bravo!

[Mary Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed it. It was slow-paced but that didn't bother me as I immersed myself in the small village locale during WW2 where air raids and sirens going off are common occurences. A time where women were looked down on and expected to be at home doing feminine work.

Lizzie is the main character whose qualification in psychology makes her an ideal candidate to provide a profile into the killer of one of her colleagues, but DI Kember is not interested. The battle of wills was terrific and I enjoyed how Lizzie tried to deal with her anxiety while at the same time trying to get into the head of the killer. I will definitely read the next one.

[Simeon Payne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Might have been a bit mean with the 3-star rating but there were issues with this. I liked the character development, at least the characters had dimension and personality and the likeable ones weren't portrayed as perfect. My main issue was with the antagonist in the storyline as although not absolutely certain I spotted the killer almost straight away, and as such this I think detracted from the story. Worth a read, not certain if I will read the follow up, though authors do tend to improve plot wise in second novels so may give it a go.

[Ivy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish to thank Goodreads Giveaways and the publisher for this ARC copy of this book.

Being the first book in a series it took a bit to get to know the main characters but once that was done the story moved along at just the right pace to keep me interested and to keep the story from going to the dull/boring side. Set in 1940 England during WW2, you get the feel of the urgency to figure out who the killer is so that they can get on with their job of fighting the Germans.

I look forward to getting to know the main characters better as this series continues.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thrilling start to a series set in WW2 England. The book features a female pilot named Lizzie who also happens to be a psychologist. When her fellow pilots are being murdered she helps the detective discover the killer. This is not a cozy mystery but actually quite dark. The 2 main characters are "prickly" and very flawed. They are trying to solve these horrible crimes while under constant bombardment by the Nazis - its the Blitz after all. I really enjoyed the audio performance and look forward to listening to the next in the series.

[Susan Alibone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gripping story

I do not normally read book whose setting is wartime but I was on holiday and thought I would give it a go. Also I am an advocate of women taking on all areas of work. I was not disappointed. I enjoyed every word from first to last only stopping twice, once to eat and once to sleep. The characters are truly credible and the narrative easy to read. I am now looking for more books from this author

[Cindy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just OK

I was disappointed thinking this was going to be a WW II novel, but it was really just a serial killer set during the war on a military base. The women there to transport planes were the targets of an officer who hated women. I figured out which officer was the murderer before it was disclosed. The book just seemed to drone on. I won't bother with any others in the series.

[Andrea Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very historical background to this murder
Set on an active airbase in ww2 where the controversial ATA is now based on RAF Scotney where the women from all different backgrounds are working to support the war effort. Into this a new arrival is found murdered. Sometimes the wartime story wins out over the murder. sometimes the characters of both male and female make you realise how far we have come in how much was tolerated that now we'd find unacceptable.

[Dorris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Would have enjoyed it, but it is set during WWII and many actions (such as expecting red and white wine at a bar, snapping a rubber band on one's wrist, etc.) just do not seem fit the era which lessened my enjoyment of the story. In my youth I knew women who had served during WWII despite the prejudice they faced and the part of the book describing the ridicule and harassment seemed on point.

[Jenny Graves · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book.
The setting was an interesting one and, as something of a feminist, I could really relate to the frustrations of the women of the Air Transport Auxiliary. But when they started getting murdered, the tension built really well and I found myself going to bed earlier in order to find out what happened next. I did guess the murderer close to the end, which I suppose only endeared me to the author even more! It's always good to get it right. :)

[T.S. Arthur · Rating 5 out of 5]

Climactic ending

I love a bit of historical fiction, but with the murder and thrills thrown in, this was a bit of a rare treat. The setting was perfect, described excellently and very accurate to my amateur knowledge. The characters, their mind sets and development were also superbly done, with Lizzie being a real sparky sort. Thoroughly enjoyed and will most likely be picking up more of this authors books in the future.

[Laura Gibbons · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, a nice easy read, likeable characters, enough mystery and tension to keep you coming back to find out what happens next and some nice twists and turns. I did however work out who the murderer was fairly easily but doubted myself a few times much like the detective himself! I would probably read a second book if there is one.

[gerry latawiec · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hashed ending

Well, the story is set in the early part of the 1940s and my main thought was why is he having the females chain smoking all the time? Was he trying to give up smoking? There's far better way to set scenes. Having the heroine trying to see through the murderers mind sounded or read well but then the actual reveal is so fake "it's a fair cop guv" sprang to mind.

[Neil Halliwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

History & Drama

An old fashioned who dunnit, set in the battle of Britain, wrapped up in the emancipation of Women.
If you ever wondered how crime was solved with a back drop of air raids, this is the one for you.
A real page turner with drama from first page to last, the attitudes of the time provide interest throughout.
I Really enjoyed this book.

[Freda Lawes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intriguing skills combination

Having picked this book at random because of the WW2 connection, I was quickly drawn into the clever use of what are seen as modern skills in policing, together with the impeccable research. I hope the teaming of Kember and Lizzie is used again - I feel there are a lot of things still to be explored.

[Gavin Griffiths · Rating 5 out of 5]

A little slow at times, but a great book in the end, can’t wait for the next

A great book as the beginning to hopefully a great series. A little slow in places, but I’m sure police investigation at that time without technology was much slower. Really really enjoyed this, and look forward to book 2.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Someone else is killing women in a violent and barbaric spree. Set against the backdrop of WW2 and the posting of women to airfields to deliver planes. Lizzie offers her services as a psychologist to help solve the killings. The book is a whodunit but unlike most I read I was able to spot the murderer quite early on which kind of spoilt it for me as I like to be kept guessing.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very well researched book with an interesting and well presented setting. The main characters are well drawn and grow during this and the next book. The puzzle itself is well thought out. However - the red herrings are too simplistic - they come cross as mere devices - also they appear in the second book too meaning you have to read these in order.

[Stuart · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book as having read The Rose Code not long ago about women serving in WWII, this kind of followed on re: the female pilots who shifted repaired/new planes around the various airfields. Sprinkle in a murder mystery and the pig headed sexism of the time and its quite a good read...kept me up to 0030 to finish it off!
Evidently there's a series so best hunt out book #2