Dirty Little Lies

Reuben Maitland #1

by John Macken

Reuben Maitland runs the UK’s elite forensic crime squad — GeneCrime. At the cutting edge of modern crime detection, GeneCrime use the very latest scientific knowledge to identify, arrest, prosecute and convict Britain’s worst criminals. But now the hunters are about to become the hunted, with their own techniques being used in an effort to destroy them.

When one of the GeneCrime team is brutally murdered, Reuben does not suspect that this is the start of a concerted attack on the squad. His first clue comes when the police discover a warning written in the victim’s own blood, in the language of genetics. When another team member is captured, tortured and sadistically murdered, Reuben is desperate to find and stop the killer. But as his investigations gather steam, he finds his career under attack. Reuben is perceived as having used his scientific discovery for a very personal reason, and rivals in the police use this to remove him from command. Suddenly ostracized and under suspicion, he knows he must fight this battle alone. The killing has not stopped, and the only thing certain is that Reuben is next on the killer’s list.


From the Trade Paperback edition.

Genres: Thriller, Suspense, Crime, Mystery

374 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

Reviews

[Sander Verhaegen · Rating 4 out of 5]

kwam traag op gang, en was niet altijd even makkelijk om te lezen, maar de laatste hoofdstukken vlogen erdoor!

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spannend en origineel door de forensische invalshoek.

[Cynthia]

boring ... round and round in circles... little forward movement

[Sheridan Miles · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book was ok, and although it was quite will written it still really took me a while to get through as I kept losing interest due to all the jumping from they to them, this to that...
There was so much going on and it did become quite tedious.
I was glad to finally reach the end.

[Suzanne Van de Wiel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Het boek kwam te traag op gang, heb het een paar keer weggelegd. Toch doorgebeten en dan werd het toch wel spannend.

[Lydia Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was different from the same old, same old. I didn't see how it could ever be resolved!

[Nancy]

I never actually read it as I couldn't get past the first 2 murders which were too gruesome & graphic for me.

[Bryngel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I actually think Macken is a good writer, only the story needs to be edited and perhaps thought through one more time before ending it. It got better and had its moments, the whole DNA thing, yes, why not? I think I'll give Macken a second chance and read something a little more recent.

[Elaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Upon beginning this book, the reader could easily be confused. Continue on and it begins to come together while other parts cause confusion. The intrigue is there though so you'll want to press on.

Ok. So what really bothers me is the repeated use of a character's name when that person is the only one currently present. Also redundant is the continued use of characters' first and last names used together throughout.

My husband liked this more than I did but then again, I had read it aloud, skipping what was unnecessary.

I'm guessing the author forgot what must have been a painful hand of one of the key characters because that character suddenly seems pain-free. Hey, I had to mention that.

A totally unexpected ending.

I'm giving it 4 stars because I thought it was between a 3 and a 4 and my husband liked it.

[Keli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good read. First time I have read from this author. Good story telling of the manipulation of DNA testing and how in wrong hands it can do terrible wrong. Every time I put the book down I found I kept wanting to go back to see who was framing Ruben. Kept ya guessing right to the end!

[Maaike · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stars: 3,5

[Mrs Gail P Madeley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great