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DCI Hanlon #1
The Stolen Child
Meet DI Hanlon. A woman with a habit of breaking the rules and a fierce loyalty to the few people she respects.
Her boss, Corrigan. Looks like a street copper promoted above his ability. Underestimate him at your peril.
Enver Demirel. Known in the boxing ring as Iron Hand. Now soft and gone to seed. But he would do anything for Hanlon.
When the kidnap of a 12-year-old boy blos the case of some missing children wide apart, the finger is pointing at the heart of the Met.
Corrigan sends in the only cop in his team who is incorruptible enough to handle it - Hanlon.
And then he sends Demirel to spy on her...
Once you start the DI Hanlon series, you won't be able to put it down. Perfect for fans of Angela Marsons, Lisa Regan and Mark Dawson.
This book was previously published as Time To Die by Alex Howard.
What readers are saying about The Stolen Child:
'Brilliantly done, authentic and doesn't pull any punches'
'The story twists and turns its way to an edge of the seat conclusion'
'Difficult to put down'
'Brilliant and well written'
'A great new character and a gripping story'
'I thoroughly enjoyed the story and the turns of the plot.'
'A great female lead, in a story that is as much about character as it is about the crime.'
Her boss, Corrigan. Looks like a street copper promoted above his ability. Underestimate him at your peril.
Enver Demirel. Known in the boxing ring as Iron Hand. Now soft and gone to seed. But he would do anything for Hanlon.
When the kidnap of a 12-year-old boy blos the case of some missing children wide apart, the finger is pointing at the heart of the Met.
Corrigan sends in the only cop in his team who is incorruptible enough to handle it - Hanlon.
And then he sends Demirel to spy on her...
Once you start the DI Hanlon series, you won't be able to put it down. Perfect for fans of Angela Marsons, Lisa Regan and Mark Dawson.
This book was previously published as Time To Die by Alex Howard.
What readers are saying about The Stolen Child:
'Brilliantly done, authentic and doesn't pull any punches'
'The story twists and turns its way to an edge of the seat conclusion'
'Difficult to put down'
'Brilliant and well written'
'A great new character and a gripping story'
'I thoroughly enjoyed the story and the turns of the plot.'
'A great female lead, in a story that is as much about character as it is about the crime.'
357 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 8, 2014
147 people are currently reading
295 people want to read
About the author
Alex Coombs
19 books82 followersAlex Coombs studied Arabic at Oxford and Edinburgh Universities and went on to work in adult education and then retrained to be a chef,
Alex Coombs was born in Lambeth in south London. Silenced for Good is the first of a new series of novels featuring Hanlon as a PI. He lives in South Bucks but has family in Scotland and spends a considerable amount of time in Edinburgh and Argyll.
He is the author of four previous novels featuring Hanlon in the police ( the DCI Hanlon series). He also writes light-hearted crime fiction as HVCoombs for One More Chapter/Harper Collins.
Visit his website at www.alexcoombs.co.uk or Facebook@AlexCoombsCrime
Alex Coombs was born in Lambeth in south London. Silenced for Good is the first of a new series of novels featuring Hanlon as a PI. He lives in South Bucks but has family in Scotland and spends a considerable amount of time in Edinburgh and Argyll.
He is the author of four previous novels featuring Hanlon in the police ( the DCI Hanlon series). He also writes light-hearted crime fiction as HVCoombs for One More Chapter/Harper Collins.
Visit his website at www.alexcoombs.co.uk or Facebook@AlexCoombsCrime
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
January 13, 2021
In an old bunker on the Essex coast, a dog walker discovers the charred body of teenage African girl. She’s been circumcised and the labia are sewn up. Around her are witchcraft symbols. On the wall next to her the word 18 is scribbled in Arabic.
In Wood Green (London) the eighteen-month-old baby of an illegal Turkish immigrant disappears from his shopping trolley while he takes his daughter to the toilet. Days later, his dead body turns up in a London canal next to lock 18.
A 12-year-old diabetic boy is abducted while his mother is in Germany for her job. He has but a limited amount of insulin with him. He is promised to a rich, prominent but paedophile judge who can’t wait to get his hands on him. Time runs out very fast.
Are those 3 cases related? DI Hanlon seems to think so. What does 18 mean? Someone suggests it may relate to the first and eight letters of the alphabet A and H. Things escalate when DS Whiteside, a personal friend of Hanlon is liquidated in his own flat. She’s certain who’s behind the attack but has no proof.
DI Hanlon has quite a reputation as a ball breaker and has few friends in the force but those she has are fiercely loyal to her. She received the highest possible medal for bravery while taking action in direct conflict with her orders. So, she’s known to flaunt the rules and doesn’t always play nicely by the procedures or protocols. After the attack on Whiteside and the abduction of little Peter, she’s willing to break every rule or regulation in the book.
It’s made very clear in this book that police protocols aren’t always easy to follow and can obstruct an investigation. It’s a very difficult moral issue. How far can a police officer go in extracting the truth from a suspect when there are lives in danger? It’s typical for criminals who disrespect the civil rights and privacy of their victims to become squeamish when they think that their own are under threat.
As this is the first book in a series, it starts out rather slow to introduce the main characters but once we’re acquainted, the story takes off and doesn’t stop till it’s all over. There are many storylines and investigations by different teams happening at the same time. So, you have to keep your attention at all times because things become complicated at times. But that’s something that happens like that in real life as well. It’s a welcome diversion from the books where one super team investigates and does everything on their own. I’m definitely eager to read the other books in the series. I’m curious to see if the author can continue the series on the same high level of suspense as well as bringing urgent social and moral questions to the attention.
It’s a gritty police procedural and skirts difficult issues like illegal immigration and female genital mutilation; both are an increasing problem that’s often swept under the carpet.
Some of the people die in a horrendous way, although I can’t say that it’s undeserved. If you’re averse of violence, this is not a book for you. What I didn’t like was the excitement over and the sexiness given to the Makarov handgun. Ok, this was totally in line with the person’s character but I fear the description was too real for its own good and may give a wrong impression to influenceable people. Take it from me; guns are dangerous and kill, they do not belong on our English or European streets. (Americans can carry on shooting themselves if they want to continue this tradition but it’s not one we should copy)
. One thing I have noticed is that this is actually a re-issue of an existing series and is outdated on the point that after Brexit, there will not be a Brit as president of the European Court. It’s only a minor thing and merely indicates the time of action (around 2012 or so) and certainly doesn’t interfere with the narrative.
I thank Netgalley and Boldwood Books for the free ARC they provided and this is my honest and unbiased review of it.
In Wood Green (London) the eighteen-month-old baby of an illegal Turkish immigrant disappears from his shopping trolley while he takes his daughter to the toilet. Days later, his dead body turns up in a London canal next to lock 18.
A 12-year-old diabetic boy is abducted while his mother is in Germany for her job. He has but a limited amount of insulin with him. He is promised to a rich, prominent but paedophile judge who can’t wait to get his hands on him. Time runs out very fast.
Are those 3 cases related? DI Hanlon seems to think so. What does 18 mean? Someone suggests it may relate to the first and eight letters of the alphabet A and H. Things escalate when DS Whiteside, a personal friend of Hanlon is liquidated in his own flat. She’s certain who’s behind the attack but has no proof.
DI Hanlon has quite a reputation as a ball breaker and has few friends in the force but those she has are fiercely loyal to her. She received the highest possible medal for bravery while taking action in direct conflict with her orders. So, she’s known to flaunt the rules and doesn’t always play nicely by the procedures or protocols. After the attack on Whiteside and the abduction of little Peter, she’s willing to break every rule or regulation in the book.
It’s made very clear in this book that police protocols aren’t always easy to follow and can obstruct an investigation. It’s a very difficult moral issue. How far can a police officer go in extracting the truth from a suspect when there are lives in danger? It’s typical for criminals who disrespect the civil rights and privacy of their victims to become squeamish when they think that their own are under threat.
As this is the first book in a series, it starts out rather slow to introduce the main characters but once we’re acquainted, the story takes off and doesn’t stop till it’s all over. There are many storylines and investigations by different teams happening at the same time. So, you have to keep your attention at all times because things become complicated at times. But that’s something that happens like that in real life as well. It’s a welcome diversion from the books where one super team investigates and does everything on their own. I’m definitely eager to read the other books in the series. I’m curious to see if the author can continue the series on the same high level of suspense as well as bringing urgent social and moral questions to the attention.
It’s a gritty police procedural and skirts difficult issues like illegal immigration and female genital mutilation; both are an increasing problem that’s often swept under the carpet.
Some of the people die in a horrendous way, although I can’t say that it’s undeserved. If you’re averse of violence, this is not a book for you. What I didn’t like was the excitement over and the sexiness given to the Makarov handgun. Ok, this was totally in line with the person’s character but I fear the description was too real for its own good and may give a wrong impression to influenceable people. Take it from me; guns are dangerous and kill, they do not belong on our English or European streets. (Americans can carry on shooting themselves if they want to continue this tradition but it’s not one we should copy)
. One thing I have noticed is that this is actually a re-issue of an existing series and is outdated on the point that after Brexit, there will not be a Brit as president of the European Court. It’s only a minor thing and merely indicates the time of action (around 2012 or so) and certainly doesn’t interfere with the narrative.
I thank Netgalley and Boldwood Books for the free ARC they provided and this is my honest and unbiased review of it.
January 30, 2021
Favorite Quotes:
Hanlon was careful with words. She weighed them carefully before she used them, like a miser with money
She ran her eyes over him speculatively like a butcher eyeing a piece of meat of dubious quality, and Enver straightened his back into a more erect posture.
He still had an out-of-date mental image of himself as being in terrific shape, if a little overweight… Like in a dream he’d run as fast as he could, yet seemed to be going nowhere. He’d misjudged totally how quickly he could move; he’d only just managed to break into a speedy waddle.
My Review:
This was an intense, riveting, and propulsive read with several distinct storylines that were constantly gathering steam toward a devastating convergence. Alex Coombs is a first-class scrivener with exceptionally strong word voodoo. His superb writing and top-shelf storytelling featured cleverly crafted story threads that were woven with exacting word choices that kept the varied emotional tones at the perfect pitch while crackling with tension. The crimes and issues involved were totally unconscionable and had me cringing and flinching, yet I couldn’t have stopped reading if my hair had been on fire. I was quickly sucked into an ever-darkening vortex during the first few lines of page one, and it never abated.
Each addition to the large cast of diverse characters was uniquely etched and oddly compelling with brain-tickling descriptions and observations. The enigmatic and fiercely composed DI Hanlon was a conundrum for everyone and I am completely enthralled with her, as I do revere and adore a kickass chick. So imagine my glee to have three more volumes of her exploits already loaded on my beloved Kindle. Score!
I also gained a new entry to my Brit Words and Phrases list with navvy, which Mr. Google tells me is a laborer employed in the excavation or construction.
Hanlon was careful with words. She weighed them carefully before she used them, like a miser with money
She ran her eyes over him speculatively like a butcher eyeing a piece of meat of dubious quality, and Enver straightened his back into a more erect posture.
He still had an out-of-date mental image of himself as being in terrific shape, if a little overweight… Like in a dream he’d run as fast as he could, yet seemed to be going nowhere. He’d misjudged totally how quickly he could move; he’d only just managed to break into a speedy waddle.
My Review:
This was an intense, riveting, and propulsive read with several distinct storylines that were constantly gathering steam toward a devastating convergence. Alex Coombs is a first-class scrivener with exceptionally strong word voodoo. His superb writing and top-shelf storytelling featured cleverly crafted story threads that were woven with exacting word choices that kept the varied emotional tones at the perfect pitch while crackling with tension. The crimes and issues involved were totally unconscionable and had me cringing and flinching, yet I couldn’t have stopped reading if my hair had been on fire. I was quickly sucked into an ever-darkening vortex during the first few lines of page one, and it never abated.
Each addition to the large cast of diverse characters was uniquely etched and oddly compelling with brain-tickling descriptions and observations. The enigmatic and fiercely composed DI Hanlon was a conundrum for everyone and I am completely enthralled with her, as I do revere and adore a kickass chick. So imagine my glee to have three more volumes of her exploits already loaded on my beloved Kindle. Score!
I also gained a new entry to my Brit Words and Phrases list with navvy, which Mr. Google tells me is a laborer employed in the excavation or construction.
February 6, 2022
The Stolen Child by Alex Coombs is the first in the DCI Hanlon Series, first published in 2014 and re-published by Boldwood in 2021. I listened to the audio book version, narrated by Elizabeth Baguley available on Scribd if you have a subscription.
I could tell this was Coombs’ debut. This introduction to DCI Hanlon in her London years feels not as slick as the later books. London features prominently, and is as fleshed out as Coombs’ characters. The amount of graphic violence is present as ever (maybe even more graphic as in later books) and Hanlon strides through it with grim purpose, like an avenging demi-goddess.
I knew I would have to get used to a different narrator and after three bouts of Bonnyman, the British Elizabeth Bagulay sounded right for the London surroundings but it lacked the levity Bonnyman could bring. Also there was not a single foreign name or phrase that didn’t get mangled in the process. Not a single one came out right. A new record.
I might just read the next one and not bother with the audio as it doesn’t add any extra shine to it. Hanlon didn’t speak to me yet. Let’s see what book 2 will bring.
Not a crumb of romantic involvement of any kind for Hanlon this time around.
Themes: heavy crime, kidnapping, murder, racism, corruption, pedophilia.
4 Stars
I could tell this was Coombs’ debut. This introduction to DCI Hanlon in her London years feels not as slick as the later books. London features prominently, and is as fleshed out as Coombs’ characters. The amount of graphic violence is present as ever (maybe even more graphic as in later books) and Hanlon strides through it with grim purpose, like an avenging demi-goddess.
I knew I would have to get used to a different narrator and after three bouts of Bonnyman, the British Elizabeth Bagulay sounded right for the London surroundings but it lacked the levity Bonnyman could bring. Also there was not a single foreign name or phrase that didn’t get mangled in the process. Not a single one came out right. A new record.
I might just read the next one and not bother with the audio as it doesn’t add any extra shine to it. Hanlon didn’t speak to me yet. Let’s see what book 2 will bring.
Not a crumb of romantic involvement of any kind for Hanlon this time around.
Themes: heavy crime, kidnapping, murder, racism, corruption, pedophilia.
4 Stars
August 8, 2023
*A Fierce Protagonist*
DCI Hanlon is a force to be reckoned with. She possess no fear and is not adverse to using violence. In fact she relishes it. She shows no mercy and if you hurt someone close to her, all bets are off and this story is no exception, as we see the depth of how far she will go no matter the consequences…. that’s all I am saying…
DCI Hanlon is a force to be reckoned with. She possess no fear and is not adverse to using violence. In fact she relishes it. She shows no mercy and if you hurt someone close to her, all bets are off and this story is no exception, as we see the depth of how far she will go no matter the consequences…. that’s all I am saying…
July 10, 2021
This book was previously published as Time To Die by Alex Howard (2015)
Recently there's been a spate of missing children. When a 12-year-old diabetic boy goes missing without his insulin, Hanlon is charged with solving this case. The clock is ticking for this boy and Hanlon is determined to bring him home safe.
Two children have already been found dead .... are the deaths and this later disappearance all part and parcel of the same killer?
What she finds in her investigation leads to a possible link to her own department.
This is a tough, gritty novel highlighting a very tough subject matter. There's plenty of action, characters are solidly drawn. This is the first book in a series that feature DCI Hanlon. She's known for her tenacity, her stubbornness, a powerful loyalty to those she respects, and is always on the right side of the law.
Many thanks to the author / Boldwood Books / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
Recently there's been a spate of missing children. When a 12-year-old diabetic boy goes missing without his insulin, Hanlon is charged with solving this case. The clock is ticking for this boy and Hanlon is determined to bring him home safe.
Two children have already been found dead .... are the deaths and this later disappearance all part and parcel of the same killer?
What she finds in her investigation leads to a possible link to her own department.
This is a tough, gritty novel highlighting a very tough subject matter. There's plenty of action, characters are solidly drawn. This is the first book in a series that feature DCI Hanlon. She's known for her tenacity, her stubbornness, a powerful loyalty to those she respects, and is always on the right side of the law.
Many thanks to the author / Boldwood Books / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
February 6, 2017
A truly horrifying novel. It's subject matter (no spoilers here) was extremely difficult to read and thankfully all the descriptive violence was saved for "the bad guys", who were the foulest humans on the planet, and got what they deserved. Even so, I still feel "dirty" for having read it, the subject matter was that awful. I will be having a fierce debate with myself as to whether to read another in the series.
January 14, 2021
Now everyone that knows me, knows I love a good binge read ... sooooo ... binge read is exactly what I did. I was so captured by this series and the characters that I barely paused to eat.
Apart from the fact that the narrators Point of View jumped about a little mid chapter, I loved The Stolen Child. The plot was deviously plotted and some of the bad characters left me wanting to scream at their unconscionable depravity. Coombs has a real handle on the streets of London and really brought them to life.
Likewise it was brilliant to be re-introduced to Enver Demirel. I loved the diverse nature of the characters and Coombs clearly researched well for this novel. Gripping and nail-biting are only two words i would use to describe this.
My recommendation is that when you open this book, you allow yourself time to be fully drawn into Hanlon's world, because I guarantee you will binge read the other three like I did.
Apart from the fact that the narrators Point of View jumped about a little mid chapter, I loved The Stolen Child. The plot was deviously plotted and some of the bad characters left me wanting to scream at their unconscionable depravity. Coombs has a real handle on the streets of London and really brought them to life.
Likewise it was brilliant to be re-introduced to Enver Demirel. I loved the diverse nature of the characters and Coombs clearly researched well for this novel. Gripping and nail-biting are only two words i would use to describe this.
My recommendation is that when you open this book, you allow yourself time to be fully drawn into Hanlon's world, because I guarantee you will binge read the other three like I did.
January 29, 2021
'The Stolen Child' by Alex Coombs was previously published as Time To Die by Alex Howard. The first book in a series featuring DI Hanlon, a woman with a frequent tendency to be a rule breaker and is a fierce friend to the few she respects. She does things her own way and gets results. This is a story that deals with some very tough subjects so, anyone sensitive to it may find it a trigger.
The story begins with different investigations going on, for me this created a realism as we all know how hard the police work and how much they are underfunded.
A twelve year old Type 1 diabetic boy goes missing, without his insulin, Hanlon is given the task to find him before it is too late, to make it worse there has been two gruesome deaths previous to him going missing. One teenager and one child, the question is, are they linked?
A brutally graphic and gritty story that begins a little slower due to the introduction to Hanlon, we find a prickly woman who is no ones fool. One who, as I said in my introduction will get the job done in whatever way she needs, be that by bending a few rules well, if she thinks that's what she needs to do so be it. As the story unfolds the pace picks up and time just races by.A really good story even given the tough subject. A great introduction to DI Hanlon.
Thanks to Rachel's Random Resources, Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the copy of the book and my place on the tour today.
The story begins with different investigations going on, for me this created a realism as we all know how hard the police work and how much they are underfunded.
A twelve year old Type 1 diabetic boy goes missing, without his insulin, Hanlon is given the task to find him before it is too late, to make it worse there has been two gruesome deaths previous to him going missing. One teenager and one child, the question is, are they linked?
A brutally graphic and gritty story that begins a little slower due to the introduction to Hanlon, we find a prickly woman who is no ones fool. One who, as I said in my introduction will get the job done in whatever way she needs, be that by bending a few rules well, if she thinks that's what she needs to do so be it. As the story unfolds the pace picks up and time just races by.A really good story even given the tough subject. A great introduction to DI Hanlon.
Thanks to Rachel's Random Resources, Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the copy of the book and my place on the tour today.
August 2, 2017
Di Hanlon is a bad-ass. Pretty much everyone knows that, and although some like her and others hate her, pretty much everyone fears her. And for good reason. One look into her eyes and you think you've seen the devil.
At first, I found it a little hard to like her, as she's really not even close to normal. The best thing I could say is that at least she's on the side of the law-abiding citizens. But as I got to know more about her, and the bad guys got really bad, I began to see her as the hero she is, and someone that would solve the cases and catch the bad guys, who surely deserved whatever they got, for they were pure evil. Pedophiles who used children, then disposed of them in the worst way - by killing them or feeding them to the wild pigs. It was very sad.
I'm pretty sure I'll read more from this series
At first, I found it a little hard to like her, as she's really not even close to normal. The best thing I could say is that at least she's on the side of the law-abiding citizens. But as I got to know more about her, and the bad guys got really bad, I began to see her as the hero she is, and someone that would solve the cases and catch the bad guys, who surely deserved whatever they got, for they were pure evil. Pedophiles who used children, then disposed of them in the worst way - by killing them or feeding them to the wild pigs. It was very sad.
I'm pretty sure I'll read more from this series
May 15, 2014
**4.5 stars**
Publication date: Available now from Head of Zeus.
Thank you to the author and publisher for the review copy.
Detective Inspector Hanlon. She’ll break but she won’t bend. A woman with a habit of breaking the rules and a fierce loyalty to the few people she respects.
Her boss, Corrigan. Looks like a street copper promoted above his ability. Underestimate him at your peril.
Enver Demirel. Known in the boxing ring as Iron Hand. Now soft and gone to seed. But he would do anything for Hanlon.
Now the kidnap of a 12-year-old diabetic boy has blown the case of some missing children wide apart and the finger is pointing at the heart of the Met.
Corrigan sends in the only cop in his team who would care more about the life of a boy than about her own career. Hanlon.
And then he sends Demirel to spy on her..
So. Crime novels featuring new detectives – so many of them out there. Some brilliant, some not bad, some mediocre and some, lets face it, truly terrible. Not often you come across one that has a bit of an edge, a cut above, something a little different. The last time for me was when I read Sarah Hilary’s brilliant debut “Someone Elses Skin” and there was Marnie Rome. Now Alex Howard brings us DI Hanlon – so meet my new favourite detective…
She’s not that likeable. But I loved her. She not always that trustworthy. But you would want her on your side. She has an inate sense of justice and doesnt really care that much for the rules. If you get on her radar beware – yet if you gain her trust and her loyalty she will fight for you until her last breath. It is wonderful to see a strong independant female character that actually is exactly that – warts and all, no need to worry about whether or not she is “feminine” enough in her actions. DI Hanlon is what she is. And what that would be is a marvellous character to follow into a dark and sinister tale of missing children…
This is an emotive story, featuring as it does children in peril, but it is brilliantly done, authentic and doesnt pull any punches. There is an intriguing depth here, over and above a standard “police procedural”, that gives you a real feeling for the people involved, victims and villains alike, somewhere in the middle being the Police force with all its politics and shenanigans. And hovering over it all, kind of like on that magnificent cover art, is Hanlon who’s razor sharp focus cares only about the job in hand. Some absolutely fascinating insights here and all beautifully written in a way that immerses you right into the world and lets you live there for the duration.
Now Hanlon may be front and centre, the glue that holds it all together, but there are no cardboard characters here. Her boss, the superbly enigmatic Corrigan is terrifically compelling. Enver Demirel is “the good guy” in an eccentric and marvellous sense, and all the people you meet along the way have something to add to the whole. The story twists and turns its way to an edge of the seat conclusion and overall this was a scintillating and heartfelt reading experience.
Definitely comes highly recommended from me. Oh and you know what? Tony Parsons should perhaps read this one…
Purchase Information: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Time-Die-Hanl...
Follow Head of Zeus on Twitter : https://twitter.com/HoZ_Books
Happy Reading Folks!
Publication date: Available now from Head of Zeus.
Thank you to the author and publisher for the review copy.
Detective Inspector Hanlon. She’ll break but she won’t bend. A woman with a habit of breaking the rules and a fierce loyalty to the few people she respects.
Her boss, Corrigan. Looks like a street copper promoted above his ability. Underestimate him at your peril.
Enver Demirel. Known in the boxing ring as Iron Hand. Now soft and gone to seed. But he would do anything for Hanlon.
Now the kidnap of a 12-year-old diabetic boy has blown the case of some missing children wide apart and the finger is pointing at the heart of the Met.
Corrigan sends in the only cop in his team who would care more about the life of a boy than about her own career. Hanlon.
And then he sends Demirel to spy on her..
So. Crime novels featuring new detectives – so many of them out there. Some brilliant, some not bad, some mediocre and some, lets face it, truly terrible. Not often you come across one that has a bit of an edge, a cut above, something a little different. The last time for me was when I read Sarah Hilary’s brilliant debut “Someone Elses Skin” and there was Marnie Rome. Now Alex Howard brings us DI Hanlon – so meet my new favourite detective…
She’s not that likeable. But I loved her. She not always that trustworthy. But you would want her on your side. She has an inate sense of justice and doesnt really care that much for the rules. If you get on her radar beware – yet if you gain her trust and her loyalty she will fight for you until her last breath. It is wonderful to see a strong independant female character that actually is exactly that – warts and all, no need to worry about whether or not she is “feminine” enough in her actions. DI Hanlon is what she is. And what that would be is a marvellous character to follow into a dark and sinister tale of missing children…
This is an emotive story, featuring as it does children in peril, but it is brilliantly done, authentic and doesnt pull any punches. There is an intriguing depth here, over and above a standard “police procedural”, that gives you a real feeling for the people involved, victims and villains alike, somewhere in the middle being the Police force with all its politics and shenanigans. And hovering over it all, kind of like on that magnificent cover art, is Hanlon who’s razor sharp focus cares only about the job in hand. Some absolutely fascinating insights here and all beautifully written in a way that immerses you right into the world and lets you live there for the duration.
Now Hanlon may be front and centre, the glue that holds it all together, but there are no cardboard characters here. Her boss, the superbly enigmatic Corrigan is terrifically compelling. Enver Demirel is “the good guy” in an eccentric and marvellous sense, and all the people you meet along the way have something to add to the whole. The story twists and turns its way to an edge of the seat conclusion and overall this was a scintillating and heartfelt reading experience.
Definitely comes highly recommended from me. Oh and you know what? Tony Parsons should perhaps read this one…
Purchase Information: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Time-Die-Hanl...
Follow Head of Zeus on Twitter : https://twitter.com/HoZ_Books
Happy Reading Folks!
April 27, 2022
This book was suggested to me by ‘Amazon’ and as I had just finished a book I thought I’d give it a try. My first problem was I wasn’t sure if there was a previous series I should read first. This series is DCI Hanlon, but there is also a DI Hanlon series with different titles, given the lower rank should these be read first? It turns out they are the same books renamed, a bit annoying.
The book had quite a lot I didn’t like, but I found DI Hanlon a really interesting character and it was her who kept me going through all the irritations. Unfortunately she takes up a surprisingly small amount of the story, for the main character. In fact this was one of my biggest criticism of the book.
Another problem was how much more of a struggle it was to get into this book. It just jumped around too much, the author would carefully introduce new characters and describe a situation and then just drop it and move onto something new. I assume it was his way of introducing all the characters that were going to appear in the book, but I much prefer to have a story that flows and new characters are introduced, as they become part of the story. It didn’t help that the author could be really long-winded at times.
There were some other very minor problems. The author had AC Corrigan annoyed with Hanlon for the arrest of ‘Anderson’, a big time criminal, but he shouldn’t have known anything about her involvement in this case.
Also, I'm being very petty, but I found it slightly annoying that every time the author referred to Hanlon's car it was the 'Audi'. She’s not Gene Hunt from Ashes to Ashes, firing up the Quattro.
There is a dramatic ending to the book which works well, but it doesn’t tidy up any of the many lose ends Hanlon has created by her unofficial actions.
Overall this could have been a very good thriller, but for me there were far too many problems.
The book had quite a lot I didn’t like, but I found DI Hanlon a really interesting character and it was her who kept me going through all the irritations. Unfortunately she takes up a surprisingly small amount of the story, for the main character. In fact this was one of my biggest criticism of the book.
Another problem was how much more of a struggle it was to get into this book. It just jumped around too much, the author would carefully introduce new characters and describe a situation and then just drop it and move onto something new. I assume it was his way of introducing all the characters that were going to appear in the book, but I much prefer to have a story that flows and new characters are introduced, as they become part of the story. It didn’t help that the author could be really long-winded at times.
There were some other very minor problems. The author had AC Corrigan annoyed with Hanlon for the arrest of ‘Anderson’, a big time criminal, but he shouldn’t have known anything about her involvement in this case.
Also, I'm being very petty, but I found it slightly annoying that every time the author referred to Hanlon's car it was the 'Audi'. She’s not Gene Hunt from Ashes to Ashes, firing up the Quattro.
There is a dramatic ending to the book which works well, but it doesn’t tidy up any of the many lose ends Hanlon has created by her unofficial actions.
Overall this could have been a very good thriller, but for me there were far too many problems.
May 22, 2014
Visceral, violent thriller which races along, propelled by an excellent new heroine!
Move over, Inspector Morse! This is a classic police thriller which grabs you by the throat from the first page and doesn't let up the tension until the cataclysmic finale. Plenty of blood, sadism, violence, villains, perversions, local colour and suspense along the way. The author is interested in many things, and manages to interest the reader, too. Alex Howard can only get better and better -- like his principal character, DI Hanlon, who may remind older readers of Modesty Blaise!
An excellent debut novel which I hope will be succeeded by many more in the same vein.
August 15, 2023
This book was “alright”. I tend to prefer books written by women and this book is a good reminder of why. Too much detail when it comes to the violence, the child sex predators. It felt salacious and the thoughts of the pedophiles definitely made me uncomfortable. Describing their fantasies seemed unnecessary and walked right up to the line of being it’s own form of child pornography.
Overall this book had potential but spent too much time trying to be titillating. There are other police procedural type books that are less gruesome and more thoughtful.
Overall this book had potential but spent too much time trying to be titillating. There are other police procedural type books that are less gruesome and more thoughtful.
August 7, 2017
A difficult read due to the subject (in fact, I have to wonder about anyone who could write this.
February 1, 2021
DI Hanlon first comes across as cold and threatening, almost manic and scary in the way she looks at people. She’s been a problem for the Met ever since rescuing a PSCO who was getting beaten by a mob, going against direct orders and hospitalising three of the attackers in the process. A hero with a medal as far as the public see her but a problem for the police which ambitious Assistant Commissioner Corrigan takes on. Basically she becomes the AC’s attack dog. We first meet her at a crime scene he has sent her to, on the whisper that witchcraft might be at work. A Somalian girl has been sexually assaulted and murdered but despite the strange objects left in the army bunker on the Essex coast, she reports back to him that it all seems straightforward. Apart from the Arabic numeral 18 scrawled on the wall which no one seems bothered about. We next see her finishing off an old case with DS Whiteside from her former Serious and Organized Crime Group, visiting small time dealer Toby Manning and “persuading” him into letting them set up a sting against Patrick Cunningham who is the defence solicitor for a major drugs dealer and who has bragged how much he knows about the man’s operations. We also get to read about the abduction of a Turkish toddler in a supermarket. A woman appears at this scene and also at the home of a woman with a young son. Just who is she and what is she planning? DS Enver Demirel is a copper who really cares about the community that he serves. Real people with real problems. Not surprising then that his family drag him into the disappearance of the missing toddler, a case now four days cold and still unreported to the police as the family are in the UK illegally. Before he can do anything, however, the baby’s sexually assaulted body turns up in a London canal with a spooky connection to the number 18. DCS Ludgate is put in charge of the case and Hanlon inveigles her way into it by suggesting to Corrigan that the racist Ludgate needs an eye keeping on him. She has uneasy feeling the two dead children may be linked but has no proof as yet to take to Corrigan. As repayment for this she is forced to attend the party of a local property developer called Harry Conquest as Ludgate's guest and immediately she has suspicions that the man is not as snowy white as the PNC would suggest. Once again Whiteside is pulled into helping her off the record, this time to look into anti-Semitism but unearths a lot more besides. All the various strands start to come together as a third child is snatched and another investigation is launched. As Hanlon pursues her hunches about Conquest, more and more people are put in danger. Enver seems to be the only one she can trust in a desperate race against the clock. The whole story is very well told, with lots of separate threads laid out for the reader to absorb as the plot is gradually revealed. The pace picks up speed and results in a fast and furious ending which was incredibly satisfying all round although I would love to see how some of the evidence was explained! I might not have liked Hanlon at the start of the story but by the end I loved her character! She and Enver made a fantastic pairing so it's great to see them appearing in future books. 5*
December 31, 2025
The Stolen Child is the first book in the DCI Hanlon series and it starts with a bang. The main case is the disappearance of a 12 year old boy, but it ties into the disappearance of other children. It sounds like there might be some people from the MET involved, so DCE Hanlon is put on the case, as she is believed to be totally uncorruptible. Time is of the essence in this case as thy boy is diabetic, and depending on what he eats and how much insulin he has, his life could be in danger in more than one way. Two of the other children that were missing have turned up dead with the number 18 written in Arabic near their bodies. Will DCI Hanlon be able to find this last victim before her ends up dead?
This is the first book in the series, so there are some slow periods introducing the main characters. I have to say that I wasn't a fan of Hanlon in this book. Yes, she is a good copper in the sense that she is able to solve crimes. Yes she is uncorruptible and not afraid to put others in their place. What I didn't like was described in the blurb: A woman with a habit of breaking the rules and a fierce loyalty to the few people she respects. She didn't hesitate to break the rules and I'm not a fan of police that use force or intimidation beyond what is legal. She did grow on me as the book progressed. The children that are found have been tortured and the results of that are described with was a bit hard to read about. I was so worried about young Peter. He didn't know what was about to happen to him and he was smart. The reader knows that he is about to become the victim of a pedophile, a judge no less, but will he be saved before that happens. I find the way Hanlon works to be a moral issue. Do you follow the rules and maybe not save the innocent victim, or do you flaunt the rules and perhaps muddy the case so you rescue the victim, but the culprit gets off? There is a lot of intersecting stories with different teams investigating, so you have to pay attention to all the players, but it kept me interested for sure. This is a crime thriller/police procedural that is dark and gritty. I will read the rest in the series as I already have them, but here's hoping that I begin to like Hanlon more in the next book.
This book was originally published as Time To Die by Alex Howard in 2015,
This is the first book in the series, so there are some slow periods introducing the main characters. I have to say that I wasn't a fan of Hanlon in this book. Yes, she is a good copper in the sense that she is able to solve crimes. Yes she is uncorruptible and not afraid to put others in their place. What I didn't like was described in the blurb: A woman with a habit of breaking the rules and a fierce loyalty to the few people she respects. She didn't hesitate to break the rules and I'm not a fan of police that use force or intimidation beyond what is legal. She did grow on me as the book progressed. The children that are found have been tortured and the results of that are described with was a bit hard to read about. I was so worried about young Peter. He didn't know what was about to happen to him and he was smart. The reader knows that he is about to become the victim of a pedophile, a judge no less, but will he be saved before that happens. I find the way Hanlon works to be a moral issue. Do you follow the rules and maybe not save the innocent victim, or do you flaunt the rules and perhaps muddy the case so you rescue the victim, but the culprit gets off? There is a lot of intersecting stories with different teams investigating, so you have to pay attention to all the players, but it kept me interested for sure. This is a crime thriller/police procedural that is dark and gritty. I will read the rest in the series as I already have them, but here's hoping that I begin to like Hanlon more in the next book.
This book was originally published as Time To Die by Alex Howard in 2015,
February 26, 2023
This is the first of the Hanlon series and it is clear that Coombs has yet to get into his stride. He uses the omniscient POV excessively, getting into the head of character after character, often spaced apart by only a paragraph or so. We are treated to what the character is thinking, what the surrounds look like in too much frustrating detail that it slows down the narrative. It could have done with a through editing. We are treated to virtual travelogues, pages devoted for instance to boarding the Northern line, its history, the stations along the route, the statue outside East Finchley station … oh please. The writing when it gets going can be refreshing, the plot only complex and ingenious but it is about the most nauseating I have read: what paedophiles do to children and how they lust after the prospect. Of course DCI Hanlon at huge risk and great personal cost, including flouting police procedural rules, fixes things. She is wild cop, then there a few good cops and a very bad cop. The upside of all this is that – skipping the nauseating bits – the story is gripping. You want to read on, which I suppose is the acid test for a good book. Whereas I gave the later Hanlon, Buried for Good, 5 stars this one because of the flaws of writing and the over the top nastiness, only rates three.
January 21, 2021
Reading Stuff 'n' Things
Well, crikey, that was a tough but exciting read that I wasn't able to put down despite the content.
I haven't read anything by this author before and missed this first time round when it was published under a different name but I'm so glad I didn't let it pass me by this time because what a treat it is, although it should come with a warning as there are some very unsavoury sections regarding child abuse that will upset people so be warned.
What we have here is a hard-hitting, gritty and dark story that starts at a fairly gentle pace whilst introducing the main characters but then, wow, it ramps up and doesn't stop until the end. The characters are exceptional and so well described that I could clearly see them in my mind.
The main character, DI Hanlon, is driven by her own form of justice and won't shy away from any situation even if it goes against the letter of the law - she will do what it takes to bring those responsible for despicable crimes to justice and she doesn't hold back. She is one tough cookie and I doubt any miscreant out there would want to be on her bad side!
The sense of tension Mr Coombs developed was palpable and the emotions this book evoked were so strong that I actually felt my heart-rate climbing and experiencing real anger and hatred towards some of the characters - not many books do that which, to me, shows the ability of the author to really draw you in and develop people and situations that get under your skin.
Due to the subject matter and the level of violence contained, this won't appeal to everyone however I would certainly recommend it to those who enjoy a less than flowery police procedural that is likely to be more realistic than most other books in the genre.
Many thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest, unbiased and unedited review and for introducing me to yet another excellent British author.
I'm off to read the second in the series now - The Innocent Girl.
Well, crikey, that was a tough but exciting read that I wasn't able to put down despite the content.
I haven't read anything by this author before and missed this first time round when it was published under a different name but I'm so glad I didn't let it pass me by this time because what a treat it is, although it should come with a warning as there are some very unsavoury sections regarding child abuse that will upset people so be warned.
What we have here is a hard-hitting, gritty and dark story that starts at a fairly gentle pace whilst introducing the main characters but then, wow, it ramps up and doesn't stop until the end. The characters are exceptional and so well described that I could clearly see them in my mind.
The main character, DI Hanlon, is driven by her own form of justice and won't shy away from any situation even if it goes against the letter of the law - she will do what it takes to bring those responsible for despicable crimes to justice and she doesn't hold back. She is one tough cookie and I doubt any miscreant out there would want to be on her bad side!
The sense of tension Mr Coombs developed was palpable and the emotions this book evoked were so strong that I actually felt my heart-rate climbing and experiencing real anger and hatred towards some of the characters - not many books do that which, to me, shows the ability of the author to really draw you in and develop people and situations that get under your skin.
Due to the subject matter and the level of violence contained, this won't appeal to everyone however I would certainly recommend it to those who enjoy a less than flowery police procedural that is likely to be more realistic than most other books in the genre.
Many thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest, unbiased and unedited review and for introducing me to yet another excellent British author.
I'm off to read the second in the series now - The Innocent Girl.
July 30, 2021
4.5 stars
Well that was a crazy ride! DI Hanlon is an officer you want on your side at all times and is not everyone's cup of tea. Investigating the death of a young girl, a baby that goes missing and the abduction of a 12 year old boy leads Hanlon and her very small group of trusted associates into a dark and depraved world.
I did need to warm up to Hanlon as she is the furthest thing from a kind and gentle police officer. On top of that she does not like to play by the rules, however, is always on the side of the good guys. Her physical abilities border on being a real life Wonder Woman but in the end you are cheering for her and her trusted sidekick Enver as you are drawn into this story.
This is a gritty, police procedural (albeit with a copper that likes to break the rules) and I do warn you that the violence is a bit over the top as well as the subject matter regarding children. If you can stomach that though I highly recommend this book and I look forward to reading more Alex Coombs.
Well that was a crazy ride! DI Hanlon is an officer you want on your side at all times and is not everyone's cup of tea. Investigating the death of a young girl, a baby that goes missing and the abduction of a 12 year old boy leads Hanlon and her very small group of trusted associates into a dark and depraved world.
I did need to warm up to Hanlon as she is the furthest thing from a kind and gentle police officer. On top of that she does not like to play by the rules, however, is always on the side of the good guys. Her physical abilities border on being a real life Wonder Woman but in the end you are cheering for her and her trusted sidekick Enver as you are drawn into this story.
This is a gritty, police procedural (albeit with a copper that likes to break the rules) and I do warn you that the violence is a bit over the top as well as the subject matter regarding children. If you can stomach that though I highly recommend this book and I look forward to reading more Alex Coombs.
October 12, 2022
Good story, bad reader!
In the end, this was actually a damn good story, unfortunately almost ruined by a very bad Audible reader! The number of mispronounced words throughout, often fairly easy ones, was truly staggering. In addition, the performance was riddled with poor intonation and diction, involving many words being swallowed or, at best, mumbled, as well as badly timed pauses, indicating lack of breathing control. This resulted in the characters' speech coming across as hollow, and the reader seemed to have no idea how to use her voice to raise and lower the tension during the story.
I would certainly read more audiobooks from this series if they were read by someone else. Alternatively, I'll just get them on Kindle! I certainly want to get to know D.I. Hanlon better in the coming months.
In the end, this was actually a damn good story, unfortunately almost ruined by a very bad Audible reader! The number of mispronounced words throughout, often fairly easy ones, was truly staggering. In addition, the performance was riddled with poor intonation and diction, involving many words being swallowed or, at best, mumbled, as well as badly timed pauses, indicating lack of breathing control. This resulted in the characters' speech coming across as hollow, and the reader seemed to have no idea how to use her voice to raise and lower the tension during the story.
I would certainly read more audiobooks from this series if they were read by someone else. Alternatively, I'll just get them on Kindle! I certainly want to get to know D.I. Hanlon better in the coming months.
April 7, 2023
While the story lines in THE STOLEN CHILD may not be original, DI Hanlon and her cast of supporting characters are definitely original and so skillfully developed, I would not be surprised to meet them on the streets. The good guys were GOOD, the bad guys were VERY BAD, and in between, there is a whole community that DI Hanlon has yet to decide if they are good or bad. Alex Coombs has given us a unique female lead in Hanlon. She's tough, intelligent, loyal and really doesn't care what she has to do to solve her cases abd save the victims. When faced with two deaths that raise some very nasty questions and a kidnapping that turns into a race against her fellow officers, it's clear that Coombs has poured his heart into giving us a heroine that will not be forgotten.
1st book in the series.....WOW, what's next?
1st book in the series.....WOW, what's next?
January 7, 2021
DI Hanlon shows no mercy to criminals, she plays no part in cosying up to her superiors. She gets results her way. With Demirel assigned to her she has to solve the cases of missing and killed children, and not by the book.
An enjoyable read, although disturbing with its subject matter.
I read this book with the title The Stolen Child by Alex Coombs
This book was given to me by Netgalley and publishers in exchange for an honest review
An enjoyable read, although disturbing with its subject matter.
I read this book with the title The Stolen Child by Alex Coombs
This book was given to me by Netgalley and publishers in exchange for an honest review
March 28, 2022
Strong plot and feisty female detective. DI Hanlon has a difficult case which leads her into unsavoury and dangerous fields as her initial investigation of a child's death morphs into an exposure of a very unpleasant child sexual exploitation ring - readers be warned if this might be upsetting. The plot is complex, the characters well developed and the various thread tie together convincingly. I look forward to listening to more in the series.
August 28, 2022
I would have rated this book higher—at least 4 star—but was put off by the detailed graphic sexual references and coarse language. Also, I just thought Hanlon was a little too tough for my liking. That being said, it is well written and did hold my interest through to the end. I liked the characters, especially the ex-boxer that pummelled the bent cop. If there is a DCI Hanson #2, I’ll read it to see if Hanlon acquires a bit more femininity—like Ripley in Aliens.
September 27, 2022
Not sure if this should be a 3 or a 4.
Hanlon is a very scary copper. To her justice is what matters not necessarily going through the prescribed legal procedures. She is off active duty because she she went into a riot situation saving a fellow officer’s life. She wasn’t supposed to bother the rioters.
Now she’s become aware of another major criminal and goes after him with all the viii hi or she has. She will take him down and it won’t be pretty!
Hanlon is a very scary copper. To her justice is what matters not necessarily going through the prescribed legal procedures. She is off active duty because she she went into a riot situation saving a fellow officer’s life. She wasn’t supposed to bother the rioters.
Now she’s become aware of another major criminal and goes after him with all the viii hi or she has. She will take him down and it won’t be pretty!
March 19, 2021
Two and a half stars from me. This is very well-written and despite the harrowing subject matter, an engrossing read. I have already started the next in the series.
I am happy to suspend my disbelief for novels. However, this could have easily been three stars if the violence level, at some points in the book, had not reached comic book levels which made it less believable.
I am happy to suspend my disbelief for novels. However, this could have easily been three stars if the violence level, at some points in the book, had not reached comic book levels which made it less believable.
August 11, 2025
Not a pleasant topic (sex trafficking, pedophilia, murder and abuse) but well written so your stomach broils when you read it and empathize with the victims and police trying to combat the situation.
Quite graphic descriptions and really unpleasant scenes but generally a decent read, of good winning out to evil.
Quite graphic descriptions and really unpleasant scenes but generally a decent read, of good winning out to evil.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 15, 2017
Fantastic book
Brilliant and well written and the narrator so well read , love the main character in this story hope to find out more about her in following books 📚 thank you Alex Howard for the D I HANLON series , i,ve got book 2 ready 😊
Brilliant and well written and the narrator so well read , love the main character in this story hope to find out more about her in following books 📚 thank you Alex Howard for the D I HANLON series , i,ve got book 2 ready 😊
October 31, 2018
I loved this book, well told, great pace and truly gripping. DI Hanlon is a fantastic character and if Jack Reacher was a woman this is it - seriously gritty and so real. If you seek justice, DI Hanlon is your women. Can't wait to read the next one.
January 21, 2021
*This series was previously published under another title and the author name Alex Howard*
This is the first book in the DI Hanlon series, and it deals with some very tough subject matter, so readers be warned.
When the story starts we do have multiple storylines and investigations, but this makes for a more realistic story, as this is what would happen in the real world. After the gruesome deaths of a child and teen, when a 12 year old diabetic boy goes missing with no insulin, Hanlon is assigned to find him before its too late. But is this case related to the two deaths?
Although gritty and graphic this does start somewhat slow as we get to know Hanlon. She is very unlikeable, isn't trustworthy, will break/bend the rules in the interest of judgement, but is loyal to those she cares about. Once the story gets going, it really gets going and is very fast paced. Bloody and brutal, this was a great story, even with the tough subject matter.
I recommend this book and give it 4 of 5 stars.
Thank you to Rachel’s Random Resources and author Alex Coombs for the review copy of this book. My thoughts and opinions are my own.
This is the first book in the DI Hanlon series, and it deals with some very tough subject matter, so readers be warned.
When the story starts we do have multiple storylines and investigations, but this makes for a more realistic story, as this is what would happen in the real world. After the gruesome deaths of a child and teen, when a 12 year old diabetic boy goes missing with no insulin, Hanlon is assigned to find him before its too late. But is this case related to the two deaths?
Although gritty and graphic this does start somewhat slow as we get to know Hanlon. She is very unlikeable, isn't trustworthy, will break/bend the rules in the interest of judgement, but is loyal to those she cares about. Once the story gets going, it really gets going and is very fast paced. Bloody and brutal, this was a great story, even with the tough subject matter.
I recommend this book and give it 4 of 5 stars.
Thank you to Rachel’s Random Resources and author Alex Coombs for the review copy of this book. My thoughts and opinions are my own.
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