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A Jill Kennedy and DCI Max Trentham Mystery #3
Where Petals Fall
Praise for Shirley "A deft combination of police procedural and psychological thriller."--Kirkus Reviews"A satisfying cross between a police procedural and a modern, slightly edgy British village mystery, leaving the reader eager for more Max and Jill investigations."--BooklistA woman's body is found in a quarry, wrapped in a shroud. Five years earlier, four women were killed the same way. But the man whom Jill Kennedy and Max Trentham believed to be guilty is dead--or is he?Shirley Wells lives in Lancashire, England. She has published thirteen novels, including two previous novels in the Kennedy-Trentham series.
- GenresMystery ThrillerMystery
265 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2009
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
May 31, 2020
This story had a great ending. I did not see that twist coming. Besides that there is a lot of drinking in this series, I mean a lot! Every other scene is someone having coffee or alcohol. Some minor gripes about the main characters: Jill is really into betting on horse racing and can't cook at all and Max is a functioning alcoholic, even though drinking cost him his relationship with Jill, he still sees no problem with it.
February 1, 2025
The third book in the Kennedy and Trentham series. I mistakenly read this book first, but still enjoyed it.
It is set in small town Lancashire in the UK, in a smallish, reasonably tightly knit village, and follows a forensic psychologist Jill Kennedy and detective Max Trentham.
It starts off throwing you straight in at the deep end, when a body is found in a quarry. The story then unfolds over whether this might be the return of a serial killer that they thought they had closed.
The psychologist viewpoint adds a bit of a different slant to the police procedural genre. There is a good mix of police crime solving, interrogations and office bickering, with a bit of everyday village life. The author creates a good atmosphere, and it fits the setting.
The story kept me interested right to the end, and although you may have an idea of the guilty party, there is a twist at the end that keeps it fresh.
Hunting out books 1 and 2 now. If book 3 is anything to go by, then this is a series that I’m going to enjoy!
It is set in small town Lancashire in the UK, in a smallish, reasonably tightly knit village, and follows a forensic psychologist Jill Kennedy and detective Max Trentham.
It starts off throwing you straight in at the deep end, when a body is found in a quarry. The story then unfolds over whether this might be the return of a serial killer that they thought they had closed.
The psychologist viewpoint adds a bit of a different slant to the police procedural genre. There is a good mix of police crime solving, interrogations and office bickering, with a bit of everyday village life. The author creates a good atmosphere, and it fits the setting.
The story kept me interested right to the end, and although you may have an idea of the guilty party, there is a twist at the end that keeps it fresh.
Hunting out books 1 and 2 now. If book 3 is anything to go by, then this is a series that I’m going to enjoy!
March 13, 2025
If you have beaver tea.d a thriller. Which I haven't. I was blown away could not put this book down.
August 27, 2012
I'm a big fan of Shirley Wells' books. This is the third in a British crime series following DCI Max Trentham and police psycologist/profiler Jill Kennedy and it didn't disappoint.
Well written, with lots of twists and turns this book, like the last two, kept me guessing till almost the last moment. With the added benefit of being set in the same area, with many of the same characters as the previous two books I have really warmed to the Jill and Max and their friends and families.
The books would make a good TV series - Can't wait to read the next one!
Well written, with lots of twists and turns this book, like the last two, kept me guessing till almost the last moment. With the added benefit of being set in the same area, with many of the same characters as the previous two books I have really warmed to the Jill and Max and their friends and families.
The books would make a good TV series - Can't wait to read the next one!
September 7, 2013
Another gripping page-turner by Shirley Wells. As with the previous releases, there is a good balance between the detail of the police work and the main characters' personal lives, making this series of books, so far, the more believable crime fiction plots I've come across in this genre.
My only niggle was the quality of the kindle version, with wide paragraph spacing, missing punctuation and occasional lack of spaces between words. Despite this, it wasn't off-putting (just mildly irritating) which I think reflects on the quality of the writing.
My only niggle was the quality of the kindle version, with wide paragraph spacing, missing punctuation and occasional lack of spaces between words. Despite this, it wasn't off-putting (just mildly irritating) which I think reflects on the quality of the writing.
August 22, 2009
I really liked this mystery. Lots of twist and turns. I'm always looking for a new author and Ms. Wells spun a great tale. I didn't realize this was like the 3rd in a series though, so I will have to go back and read the novels that preceded this one. I really thought the murderer was going to be a different character, but had an idea it was this character at the beginning and changed my mind. I guess I was thrown for a loop.
May 19, 2014
3.5 Stars
This is based on the audiobook which saw a less than average reader with some voices, verging on cringe-worthy, that made the experience slighlty worse in my opinion. The 'thesp', OTT voice of the 'gypsy' was terrible and so annoying.
The story in itself aws mediocre, but it did gain a whole star in the rating in the conclusion right at the end which was a welcome surprise. Although a pleasant enough story, it doesn't shine like some of Simon Kernick's or Stephen Leather's works.
This is based on the audiobook which saw a less than average reader with some voices, verging on cringe-worthy, that made the experience slighlty worse in my opinion. The 'thesp', OTT voice of the 'gypsy' was terrible and so annoying.
The story in itself aws mediocre, but it did gain a whole star in the rating in the conclusion right at the end which was a welcome surprise. Although a pleasant enough story, it doesn't shine like some of Simon Kernick's or Stephen Leather's works.
August 21, 2016
The novel is a continuation of a series - although I believe it would be fine as a stand alone book.
The characters relationships develop - both Max and Jill. Max is a police detective, Jill is a forensic psychologist
This story begins with the discovery of a body by two young boys. The circumstances surrounding the murder are similar (almost identical) to a previous serial killer - but that serial killer is dead. Or is he? What is going on?
An enjoyable read . Now I just need the next book
The characters relationships develop - both Max and Jill. Max is a police detective, Jill is a forensic psychologist
This story begins with the discovery of a body by two young boys. The circumstances surrounding the murder are similar (almost identical) to a previous serial killer - but that serial killer is dead. Or is he? What is going on?
An enjoyable read . Now I just need the next book
July 18, 2014
A great book, it kept me guessing right to the end, Shirley Wells certainly knows how to write a good Crime/ thriller story, they are like a roller coaster, you open the first page and hang on tight for the ride, Brilliant :)
January 8, 2010
They finally have one of Shirley Wells' books in here! This was a good one,too. I'm looking forward to book #4 in the series.
May 8, 2010
British mystery - not my favorite type of book but kept me entertained for a few days.
July 5, 2011
A very clever mystery! But a little tedious in the middle of the book.
February 12, 2012
Engaging police procedural series starring a forensic psychologist and her colleague, and erstwhile detective inspector lover, continues to entertain.
December 13, 2013
3.5 stars verging on 4
February 7, 2014
Great storyline again
January 31, 2016
Another good one but still kinda basic. Love the twists & turns but not the indecipherable timeline.
November 24, 2009
Another episode in the Jill Kennedy/Max Trentham series.
November 6, 2018
Jake yanked open the door in time to hear Darren say, "Is that 999? [British version of 911] Only we've found a dead body--wrapped up in a white sheet, it is. And it's almost had its head chopped off." There was a pause. "It don't matter who I am. It's up at the quarry. Lee Quarry."
Jake snatched the phone from his brother's hand and slammed it down.
"Come on," he hissed. "Forget we ever saw it!"
~~A village in Lancashire, England
When the call from two young boys comes in, DCI Max Trentham, and psychologist/criminal profiler Jill Kennedy are put on the case. There's only one problem. The murder scene is practically identical to the work of serial killer Edward Marshall. Like the newest victim, he murdered four women, wrapping each in a shroud, then tying their wedding ring around their waist with a red ribbon. But it can't be Edward Marshall. Five years ago Jill and Max were hot on his trail. The case culminated in a hide speed chase, and Edward drove his car off a cliff while running from the police. Multiple witnesses saw him in the car just before he plunged to his death.
Now Jill and Max are faced with a troublesome crime scene. Is Edward alive after all? Has he come back to continue his gruesome work? Or is there a new copycat killer wreaking havoc outside their English village? And can Jill figure out the psychology behind this newest crime before another victim is murdered? Read to find out!
Bottom line: Where Petals Fall was a welcome read after my last few "mysteries" novels. Wells knows how to spin a yarn. Jill and Max occasionally let their sense of humor show, while relentlessly following the trail of clues. We as readers are right there with them--running into yet another dead end, trying to read between the lines of the witness interviews, attempting to judge which "persons of interest" might be lying, and attempting to connect the dots between the sparse (and sometimes frustrating) clues. This is an excellent pick for those who love classic mysteries. To top it off, I absolutely loved the ending. Given 4 stars or a rating of Excellent. Recommended as library check out win, or a bookstore pick!
Jake snatched the phone from his brother's hand and slammed it down.
"Come on," he hissed. "Forget we ever saw it!"
~~A village in Lancashire, England
When the call from two young boys comes in, DCI Max Trentham, and psychologist/criminal profiler Jill Kennedy are put on the case. There's only one problem. The murder scene is practically identical to the work of serial killer Edward Marshall. Like the newest victim, he murdered four women, wrapping each in a shroud, then tying their wedding ring around their waist with a red ribbon. But it can't be Edward Marshall. Five years ago Jill and Max were hot on his trail. The case culminated in a hide speed chase, and Edward drove his car off a cliff while running from the police. Multiple witnesses saw him in the car just before he plunged to his death.
Now Jill and Max are faced with a troublesome crime scene. Is Edward alive after all? Has he come back to continue his gruesome work? Or is there a new copycat killer wreaking havoc outside their English village? And can Jill figure out the psychology behind this newest crime before another victim is murdered? Read to find out!
Bottom line: Where Petals Fall was a welcome read after my last few "mysteries" novels. Wells knows how to spin a yarn. Jill and Max occasionally let their sense of humor show, while relentlessly following the trail of clues. We as readers are right there with them--running into yet another dead end, trying to read between the lines of the witness interviews, attempting to judge which "persons of interest" might be lying, and attempting to connect the dots between the sparse (and sometimes frustrating) clues. This is an excellent pick for those who love classic mysteries. To top it off, I absolutely loved the ending. Given 4 stars or a rating of Excellent. Recommended as library check out win, or a bookstore pick!
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews