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Inspector Jack Brady #5
The Puppet Maker
How can you be saved when no one knows you're lost?
No one knew about the Puppet Maker... Until DI Brady found what remained of his victims.
The murderer never meant them to be found. They are his private collection: each body identical, each... altered.
Brady knows that now his secret is out, the killer will destroy the evidence - including his latest captive. He must find a man who has hidden the worst of crimes for over twenty years. And whose nameless victims were never even missed...
No one knew about the Puppet Maker... Until DI Brady found what remained of his victims.
The murderer never meant them to be found. They are his private collection: each body identical, each... altered.
Brady knows that now his secret is out, the killer will destroy the evidence - including his latest captive. He must find a man who has hidden the worst of crimes for over twenty years. And whose nameless victims were never even missed...
352 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 21, 2016
21 people are currently reading
211 people want to read
About the author
Danielle Ramsay
15 books140 followersDanielle Ramsay is a proud Scot living in a small seaside town in the North-East of England. Always a storyteller, it was only after initially following an academic career lecturing in literature that she found her place in life and began to write creatively full-time.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
May 14, 2018
I am SO glad I've discovered Danielle Ramsay and her books. This was an exceptionally good novel that had me riveted and exceeded all expectations. So much so that it's in my long list of my Top 17 Reads of 2017.
Danielle doesn't hold back when she writes. There is a sense that she has put all of herself into the book. There is strong emotional undercurrents in the plot and with the characters. I was pulled in and held on tight.
The plot is fantastic, despite being an Inspector Jack Brady book this one can be read totally as a stand alone so feel free to start your enjoyment of Danielle's books with this gem. Love crime? You'll love this. No skirting around the edges with difficult, thrilling and chilling scenes here. The plot in this book chilled me to the bone.
Two serial killers! Two plots running side by side. What more could you want? The plot is dark and twisted and the killers relentless. They are some scenes in this book that stunned me, graphic, awful, horrific and exceptionally well written. Many say they won't read horror but love crime. Well some crimes are horrible and some scenes bring you a sense of horror. How can a human being do that?
I won't give a thing away but the plot went over and above and was a unique angle on anything I've read in the last few years. This is an author with an imagination who is willing to push the boundaries. You won't leave this book and just forget about it.
I loved Jack Brady, maverick North East copper with a big heart and a determination to stop the evil on his patch. I would want him on my team. Whatever it takes to get the job done, that's Jack. He's a likeable rogue character that doesn't fit the mould.
The book is fast paced, it's for constant reveals and some scenes that just stopped me in my tracks. A few in particular made me think "did the author just go THERE?" and I loved it! If you like your crime darkly tinted and throwing up shocks don't miss this book. You won't be bogged down in too much police procedures, you will be with Jack wanting him to find the serial killers before more blood is spilt.
A book I couldn't put down that really blew me away. I loved so much about it. It's even set in the seaside town of Whitley Bay where I used to live! I'm just glad I've moved as there is a lot of serial killer action it seems in the region. As for the victims in this one - my heart broke for them. Indescribable suffering.
5 well earned stars. I'm a new fan of Danielle Ramsay and hungry for more of her books. A talented gritty writer that crime fans will love. The Puppet Maker is worth buying, reading, sharing and talking about. Go on - you know you want to. Fabulous!
I read a paperback version of the book. Eager to read it after hearing Danielle speak at a book event. All review opinions are my own and totally unbiased.
Danielle doesn't hold back when she writes. There is a sense that she has put all of herself into the book. There is strong emotional undercurrents in the plot and with the characters. I was pulled in and held on tight.
The plot is fantastic, despite being an Inspector Jack Brady book this one can be read totally as a stand alone so feel free to start your enjoyment of Danielle's books with this gem. Love crime? You'll love this. No skirting around the edges with difficult, thrilling and chilling scenes here. The plot in this book chilled me to the bone.
Two serial killers! Two plots running side by side. What more could you want? The plot is dark and twisted and the killers relentless. They are some scenes in this book that stunned me, graphic, awful, horrific and exceptionally well written. Many say they won't read horror but love crime. Well some crimes are horrible and some scenes bring you a sense of horror. How can a human being do that?
I won't give a thing away but the plot went over and above and was a unique angle on anything I've read in the last few years. This is an author with an imagination who is willing to push the boundaries. You won't leave this book and just forget about it.
I loved Jack Brady, maverick North East copper with a big heart and a determination to stop the evil on his patch. I would want him on my team. Whatever it takes to get the job done, that's Jack. He's a likeable rogue character that doesn't fit the mould.
The book is fast paced, it's for constant reveals and some scenes that just stopped me in my tracks. A few in particular made me think "did the author just go THERE?" and I loved it! If you like your crime darkly tinted and throwing up shocks don't miss this book. You won't be bogged down in too much police procedures, you will be with Jack wanting him to find the serial killers before more blood is spilt.
A book I couldn't put down that really blew me away. I loved so much about it. It's even set in the seaside town of Whitley Bay where I used to live! I'm just glad I've moved as there is a lot of serial killer action it seems in the region. As for the victims in this one - my heart broke for them. Indescribable suffering.
5 well earned stars. I'm a new fan of Danielle Ramsay and hungry for more of her books. A talented gritty writer that crime fans will love. The Puppet Maker is worth buying, reading, sharing and talking about. Go on - you know you want to. Fabulous!
I read a paperback version of the book. Eager to read it after hearing Danielle speak at a book event. All review opinions are my own and totally unbiased.
March 21, 2017
Excellent read. Review to follow when I have access to my laptop
April 10, 2017
Even though this is the 5th book in the series, as I haven’t read any of the others in the series, it can easily be read as a stand alone. Saying that, as I enjoyed it so much, I certainly will be going back now and reading the rest.
Brady I took to straight away. He is deep and broody, everything I want from a fictional detective. The case him and his team are working on is very much a horrific one as well as being a race against time to solve it before the killer strikes again.
Holy Moly this is one gripping story line. I totally loved it! The Puppet Maker is one seriously sick and twisted individual. You know what though, he really makes this book. As a lover of crime thrillers, you have got to have a love/hate relationship with the baddy and you seriously will with this one. You love him because he is so bad which makes the story addictive almost but you hate what he does to the victims as it is just down right wrong as well as horrific. Definitely a rememberable villain.
The Puppet Master is my first introduction to this author and certainly won’t be the last. This is a fast paced, adrenaline fuelled type of read. I was literally on tender hooks all the way through and when the story picked up even more pace towards the end, I didn’t know if my heart could take it. With an outcome that I didn’t see coming, I literally could not get enough. Absolutely loved it!
My thanks to the author for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
Brady I took to straight away. He is deep and broody, everything I want from a fictional detective. The case him and his team are working on is very much a horrific one as well as being a race against time to solve it before the killer strikes again.
Holy Moly this is one gripping story line. I totally loved it! The Puppet Maker is one seriously sick and twisted individual. You know what though, he really makes this book. As a lover of crime thrillers, you have got to have a love/hate relationship with the baddy and you seriously will with this one. You love him because he is so bad which makes the story addictive almost but you hate what he does to the victims as it is just down right wrong as well as horrific. Definitely a rememberable villain.
The Puppet Master is my first introduction to this author and certainly won’t be the last. This is a fast paced, adrenaline fuelled type of read. I was literally on tender hooks all the way through and when the story picked up even more pace towards the end, I didn’t know if my heart could take it. With an outcome that I didn’t see coming, I literally could not get enough. Absolutely loved it!
My thanks to the author for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
February 7, 2017
4.5 Stars. I have really enjoyed all 5 books in this series, and the author isn't scared to pull her punches - not even sure how Brady gets himself out of bed in each morning. This book was very much a continuation from the last one but had quite a different feel to others in the series. Brady felt much more like a lone wolf in this one and up against it with two serial killers on the prowl! I notice the author has said this one can be read as a standalone and I did agree.
Quite a shocking ending which could change everything and I look forward to the next in the series which is due to be released later this year. I will certainly be picking it up. I can recommend this series.
Quite a shocking ending which could change everything and I look forward to the next in the series which is due to be released later this year. I will certainly be picking it up. I can recommend this series.
April 8, 2024
I can't normally get on with crime novels. I love watching the shows, e.g, criminal minds, but I've always struggled with the books. That being said, I loved this one.
This is the 1st crime novel I haven't DNFd within the first 2 chapters, and I'm so glad I decided to read it. The writing flowed so easily.
My only 'complaint' is that some words e.g "macabre" and "paraphernalia" were written too often. It started to get a little annoying just reading the same word over and over again. Apart from that, I loved it.
This is the 1st crime novel I haven't DNFd within the first 2 chapters, and I'm so glad I decided to read it. The writing flowed so easily.
My only 'complaint' is that some words e.g "macabre" and "paraphernalia" were written too often. It started to get a little annoying just reading the same word over and over again. Apart from that, I loved it.
July 18, 2022
This was a great book but I didn't realise it was #5 of a series, so I did get a little lost at times. I will definitely read the first one as I liked her style of writing ✍
The main character Brady was intriguing with a history that I need to know more about. 🤔
The main character Brady was intriguing with a history that I need to know more about. 🤔
March 23, 2018
(Warning: slight spoilers.)
I bought Danielle Ramsay’s The Puppet Maker at a book fair when on holiday in England because it was cheap and I desperately needed something to read. Honestly, big mistake. My biggest take away from reading this book is to never trust or buy books selling for £4. I found this book very hard to get through, not because it was boring or too high a reading level for me, but because I just couldn’t get over the writing. It was difficult to continue reading when I was constantly critiquing Danielle Ramsay’s writing in my head and rereading the same information over and over again.
Danielle Ramsay, it seems, felt the need to constantly repeat information that had already been stated before. It was frustrating for me to be pulled away from the exciting action of the book to hear for the twentieth time that (spoilers) Anabel had been kidnapped and Brady was running out of time to save her, or that Brady hated the media, or that the Puppet Maker had lobotomized a dozen girls with similar backgrounds. I get it. You’ve told this to me several times already. I’m not going to forget about the main points of the story that quickly. Can we just move on, please? Another thing that really irked me about the writing of The Puppet Maker was the absurd amount of simple sentences used. While reading this book I kept mentally adding commas to the text to elongate sentences which distracted me from the story. Some sentence complexity and length variety is very important in writing, and this book was seriously lacking it. This made it very difficult and unenjoyable to read for me.
Apart from all the problems I had with the book, however, I did find the story itself to be quite good. The double plot and the fact that, although completely unrelated to each other, the two serial killers had a lot in common (a fact that was summarized very well, actually, in the book’s epilogue). Ignoring all of the breaks we took to reiterate all of the important information (yes I’m still going on about it. It’s payback.), it was pleasantly fast paced and thrilling. I constantly wanted to know what was going to happen next, and throughout most of the book I was left with an appropriate amount of questions and predictions. The evidence that fueled Brady’s investigations was interesting, the characters’ backstories were rich and exciting, and the many things going on in Brady’s life made the book very fun and riveting. I don’t typically read crime books, and The Puppet Maker has inspired me to seek out more books of this genre. (But, sorry, I’ll be staying away from other DI Jack Brady books.)
Overall, I think that The Puppet Maker is a great story with poor execution. It was gripping and exciting, but these positive aspects of the book were buried underneath poor writing and extreme redundancy. To me, it just seemed like something I might have written in the 6th grade (writing which should be burned and forgotten about). So although I did enjoy parts of this book and will definitely seek out more crime drama novels in my future, I most certainly won’t be recommending The Puppet Maker to any of my friends, and instead I will be warning them about the unreliability of cheap book fairs.
I bought Danielle Ramsay’s The Puppet Maker at a book fair when on holiday in England because it was cheap and I desperately needed something to read. Honestly, big mistake. My biggest take away from reading this book is to never trust or buy books selling for £4. I found this book very hard to get through, not because it was boring or too high a reading level for me, but because I just couldn’t get over the writing. It was difficult to continue reading when I was constantly critiquing Danielle Ramsay’s writing in my head and rereading the same information over and over again.
Danielle Ramsay, it seems, felt the need to constantly repeat information that had already been stated before. It was frustrating for me to be pulled away from the exciting action of the book to hear for the twentieth time that (spoilers) Anabel had been kidnapped and Brady was running out of time to save her, or that Brady hated the media, or that the Puppet Maker had lobotomized a dozen girls with similar backgrounds. I get it. You’ve told this to me several times already. I’m not going to forget about the main points of the story that quickly. Can we just move on, please? Another thing that really irked me about the writing of The Puppet Maker was the absurd amount of simple sentences used. While reading this book I kept mentally adding commas to the text to elongate sentences which distracted me from the story. Some sentence complexity and length variety is very important in writing, and this book was seriously lacking it. This made it very difficult and unenjoyable to read for me.
Apart from all the problems I had with the book, however, I did find the story itself to be quite good. The double plot and the fact that, although completely unrelated to each other, the two serial killers had a lot in common (a fact that was summarized very well, actually, in the book’s epilogue). Ignoring all of the breaks we took to reiterate all of the important information (yes I’m still going on about it. It’s payback.), it was pleasantly fast paced and thrilling. I constantly wanted to know what was going to happen next, and throughout most of the book I was left with an appropriate amount of questions and predictions. The evidence that fueled Brady’s investigations was interesting, the characters’ backstories were rich and exciting, and the many things going on in Brady’s life made the book very fun and riveting. I don’t typically read crime books, and The Puppet Maker has inspired me to seek out more books of this genre. (But, sorry, I’ll be staying away from other DI Jack Brady books.)
Overall, I think that The Puppet Maker is a great story with poor execution. It was gripping and exciting, but these positive aspects of the book were buried underneath poor writing and extreme redundancy. To me, it just seemed like something I might have written in the 6th grade (writing which should be burned and forgotten about). So although I did enjoy parts of this book and will definitely seek out more crime drama novels in my future, I most certainly won’t be recommending The Puppet Maker to any of my friends, and instead I will be warning them about the unreliability of cheap book fairs.
October 31, 2016
I have read each and every book in the DI Jack Brady series. I thoroughly enjoyed them all. The series is set in Whitley Bay in the North East of England, which is a place I am familiar with. ‘The Puppet Maker’ is the darkest book of the series so far.
The characters in this book are realistic. DI Brady is up against it from the start. He is the focus of a media frenzy. The media are baying for blood and highlighting how incompetent the police are, as the police have failed to apprehend the murderer. Brady still has the love/ hate relationship with Whitley Bay. He feels resentment to the town and he feels almost shackled to the town. However hard he tries to break free from Whitley Bay, something always drags him back. Brady is on a downward spiral and he even starts to alienate those he was previously close to. Brady still has issues regarding Claudia. The villain in ‘The Puppet Maker’ is suitably and terrifyingly creepy. The author really has created a monster, who will make you shudder and will make your skin crawl. The ease with which the villain is able to change personas, is really quite frightening.
‘The Puppet Maker’ is really well written and structured. Reading this book was like being on a rollercoaster ride in that there were lots of twists, turns and stomach churning moments. At times I literally had to hold my breath as I feared for DI Brady and his colleagues and I also feared what was going to happen next. I was hooked on this book from the very first word on the very first page until the very last word on the very last page. I felt rather protective of DI Brady and I hope that things improve for DI Brady in the next book as he deserves some happiness.
In short I really loved this book. I would definitely recommend this book to others. I can’t wait to read further books in this series. ‘The Puppet Maker’ scores a solid 5* from me.
The characters in this book are realistic. DI Brady is up against it from the start. He is the focus of a media frenzy. The media are baying for blood and highlighting how incompetent the police are, as the police have failed to apprehend the murderer. Brady still has the love/ hate relationship with Whitley Bay. He feels resentment to the town and he feels almost shackled to the town. However hard he tries to break free from Whitley Bay, something always drags him back. Brady is on a downward spiral and he even starts to alienate those he was previously close to. Brady still has issues regarding Claudia. The villain in ‘The Puppet Maker’ is suitably and terrifyingly creepy. The author really has created a monster, who will make you shudder and will make your skin crawl. The ease with which the villain is able to change personas, is really quite frightening.
‘The Puppet Maker’ is really well written and structured. Reading this book was like being on a rollercoaster ride in that there were lots of twists, turns and stomach churning moments. At times I literally had to hold my breath as I feared for DI Brady and his colleagues and I also feared what was going to happen next. I was hooked on this book from the very first word on the very first page until the very last word on the very last page. I felt rather protective of DI Brady and I hope that things improve for DI Brady in the next book as he deserves some happiness.
In short I really loved this book. I would definitely recommend this book to others. I can’t wait to read further books in this series. ‘The Puppet Maker’ scores a solid 5* from me.
October 25, 2016
In this fast-paced thriller, there are not one but TWO serial killers operating in North East England. Both have a long history of horrific murders but the 2nd one's gruesome killings aren't discovered until the "hero" - Detective Inspector Jack Brady - more or less stumbles across a dozen bodies, while he's busily searching for clues to the 1st one's whereabouts. Brady is the main character. The others are almost incidental to the story as throughout the book - apart from a dozen or so pages when one of the 2nd serial killer's victims reveals her horrendous plight - we get to read Brady's conversations, thoughts and opinions (for example, he really loathes the media). He's obviously a man with "issues", seemingly centred around his family and his ex-wife, but since I haven't read the other books in this series, I wasn't exactly certain what those were. To be honest, I didn't much like Brady's constant dramatics. Although the author is at pains to show that Brady's heart is in the right place, he spends a large part of the book shouting - at criminals, suspects, witnesses and even his own colleagues (*see Note). The author, Danielle Ramsay, goes into quite a lot of graphic detail about the truly evil crimes being committed by the 2 serial-killers-at-large. This is the 5th Jack Brady novel and although it's a fast, easy read, I doubt if I'll bother with the other four.
*Note - Fans of the BBC TV series "Walking The Dead" who remember Trevor Eve regularly chewing up the scenery as the main character, Detective Superintendent Peter Boyd, will know what to expect.
*Note - Fans of the BBC TV series "Walking The Dead" who remember Trevor Eve regularly chewing up the scenery as the main character, Detective Superintendent Peter Boyd, will know what to expect.
February 7, 2017
This book follows on very soon after blood reckoning so make sure you read that one first. It continues the story that was so prominent but also an investigation starts when Jack Brady finds a roomful of dead bodies all identical in appearance. They were hidden so well that they were never intended to be found but now they have what does this mean for the woman who is currently missing?
This is another excellent story in this series and I am hoping for more to come. The characters are wonderfully well devised and the storyline is fast moving and keeps you hooked.
This is another excellent story in this series and I am hoping for more to come. The characters are wonderfully well devised and the storyline is fast moving and keeps you hooked.
June 29, 2016
I've long been a fan of Danielle Ramsay
and I've been looking forward to The Puppet
Maker. I have to say that i loved it! Gripping,
disturbing, gory and absolutely brilliant!
It gripped me from the first page and I
couldn't put it down. If you love exciting crime
/ horror stories with great characters and great
writing than you'll love The Puppet Maker!
and I've been looking forward to The Puppet
Maker. I have to say that i loved it! Gripping,
disturbing, gory and absolutely brilliant!
It gripped me from the first page and I
couldn't put it down. If you love exciting crime
/ horror stories with great characters and great
writing than you'll love The Puppet Maker!
May 28, 2017
The Puppet Maker is the fifth book in the Inspector Jack Brady series and currently the latest instalment. This book takes dark to a whole new level. With each novel Danielle Ramsay has introduced her readers to more heinous crimes, but The Puppet Maker tips the Brady series from crime/thriller to psychological thriller. The story is written so well, you can tell the transition from crime to thriller is something Danielle has been working up to and wasn't just a spur of the moment idea she had one day. From the prologue right up until the end, this book is terrifyingly graphic.
"Why were they like that? Identically dressed. Long dark hair. Perfect faces. Painted. Heavy red lipstick - each one of them. All turned to face him. Watching him.
Grotesque. Horrific. Dead."
The Puppet Maker carries on from Blood Reckoning. There is enough information about The Joker killings in this book that it can still be read as a standalone, though I highly recommend you pick up the others anyway. To set the scene, Jack has a run in with a notorious killer from the seventies called The Joker in the events of Blood Reckoning, he gets away without charge just before Jack gets the evidence he needs for a conviction, the evidence comes too late to save several lives and this results in Brady being held responsible by the press.
Jack is dealing with the aftermath of these events while The Joker is still on the loose when he uncovers the work of another serial killer, The Puppet Maker, whose crimes date back twenty years yet he's never been caught or even come under suspicion in all that time. While trying to solve this new mystery, The Joker gets restless and things between the killer and Jack get personal.
You really should feel for Jack, despite always getting results there's equally always something more going on that comes back to bite him. He really needs a nap, he's barely had a drink and with Claudia gone out of his life again, it's all getting to be too much. The Jack in this book felt a lot like the Jack from Broken Silence, unwilling to accept help after taking six months off the job. He's cold to everyone even his loyal Deputy Conrad, typical self destructive behaviour that Jack had started to train himself out of prior to Claudia leaving him, again.
The ending of the book is bittersweet. There's a certain amount of resolution, not all of it good but it ends a turbulent chapter in Brady's life and one that I hope sees him coming back stronger than ever. Wounds heal but scars remain, hopefully Jack will allow himself time to get himself sorted and Danielle will return with a sixth book in the near future. It's good to see Jack get his walking off into the sunset moment, I like to imagine that he finds his brother, they have an adventure and Jack remembers that he's a survivor and then he returns to the North East ready for the next job.
I would recommend this book to any classic thriller fan, some of the Chapters will give you Stephen King levels of adreniline and as much as I want Jack to have a good, easy life -I would love more of this type of storyline in his future. While we wait for a new instalment, we've got the first book in a new series coming up. The Last Cut featuring DS Harri Jacobs will be released in less than a week on June 1st! I will be reading and reviewing the book as soon as I can so look out for that.
"Why were they like that? Identically dressed. Long dark hair. Perfect faces. Painted. Heavy red lipstick - each one of them. All turned to face him. Watching him.
Grotesque. Horrific. Dead."
The Puppet Maker carries on from Blood Reckoning. There is enough information about The Joker killings in this book that it can still be read as a standalone, though I highly recommend you pick up the others anyway. To set the scene, Jack has a run in with a notorious killer from the seventies called The Joker in the events of Blood Reckoning, he gets away without charge just before Jack gets the evidence he needs for a conviction, the evidence comes too late to save several lives and this results in Brady being held responsible by the press.
Jack is dealing with the aftermath of these events while The Joker is still on the loose when he uncovers the work of another serial killer, The Puppet Maker, whose crimes date back twenty years yet he's never been caught or even come under suspicion in all that time. While trying to solve this new mystery, The Joker gets restless and things between the killer and Jack get personal.
You really should feel for Jack, despite always getting results there's equally always something more going on that comes back to bite him. He really needs a nap, he's barely had a drink and with Claudia gone out of his life again, it's all getting to be too much. The Jack in this book felt a lot like the Jack from Broken Silence, unwilling to accept help after taking six months off the job. He's cold to everyone even his loyal Deputy Conrad, typical self destructive behaviour that Jack had started to train himself out of prior to Claudia leaving him, again.
The ending of the book is bittersweet. There's a certain amount of resolution, not all of it good but it ends a turbulent chapter in Brady's life and one that I hope sees him coming back stronger than ever. Wounds heal but scars remain, hopefully Jack will allow himself time to get himself sorted and Danielle will return with a sixth book in the near future. It's good to see Jack get his walking off into the sunset moment, I like to imagine that he finds his brother, they have an adventure and Jack remembers that he's a survivor and then he returns to the North East ready for the next job.
I would recommend this book to any classic thriller fan, some of the Chapters will give you Stephen King levels of adreniline and as much as I want Jack to have a good, easy life -I would love more of this type of storyline in his future. While we wait for a new instalment, we've got the first book in a new series coming up. The Last Cut featuring DS Harri Jacobs will be released in less than a week on June 1st! I will be reading and reviewing the book as soon as I can so look out for that.
January 2, 2018
An excellent read
The storyline kept me wanting to continue reading. This is yet another well constructed story line that incorporates past plots and characters and is best read in sequence. I have enjoyed every moment of this book and look forward to further episodes.
The storyline kept me wanting to continue reading. This is yet another well constructed story line that incorporates past plots and characters and is best read in sequence. I have enjoyed every moment of this book and look forward to further episodes.
September 29, 2023
The puppet maker Di Jack Brady 5
I have read every book of this series and don't know where to start from book none onwards they just got better and better I will definitely recommend them to friends
I have read every book of this series and don't know where to start from book none onwards they just got better and better I will definitely recommend them to friends
March 25, 2017
3.5*s
July 16, 2017
This book was FANTASTIC!! I couldn't put it down, a real page turner that keeps you guessing right until the end.
September 12, 2017
Again yet another good series but at the moment the last in the Jack Brady series. It finished open ended so may be he will return.
January 15, 2018
Back to form. A great read.
August 21, 2018
Jack Brady is looking for serial killers while his ex wife is quietly mentally disintegrating. A story of horrific exploitation of the vulnerable.
February 17, 2021
Given to me by a friend and took me three years to get round to reading it. Took me two weeks to finish. Fantastic book.
June 17, 2023
Her last request ma
October 11, 2023
Absolutely amazing from start to finish.. graphic..twisted amazing 👏
February 23, 2017
Hope Danielle Ramsay does a series with DS Conrad. He's my favourite character in this series!!!! Danielle Ramsay is definitely becoming a favourite author of mine and I'll definitely read her next series. If you've never read any of hers, I thoroughly recommend them.
August 10, 2016
I have read each and every book in the DI Jack Brady series. I thoroughly enjoyed them all. The series is set in Whitley Bay in the North East of England, which is a place I am familiar with. ‘The Puppet Maker’ is the darkest book of the series so far.
The characters in this book are realistic. DI Brady is up against it from the start. He is the focus of a media frenzy. The media are baying for blood and highlighting how incompetent the police are, as the police have failed to apprehend the murderer. Brady still has the love/ hate relationship with Whitley Bay. He feels resentment to the town and he feels almost shackled to the town. However hard he tries to break free from Whitley Bay, something always drags him back. Brady is on a downward spiral and he even starts to alienate those he was previously close to. Brady still has issues regarding Claudia. The villain in ‘The Puppet Maker’ is suitably and terrifyingly creepy. The author really has created a monster, who will make you shudder and will make your skin crawl. The ease with which the villain is able to change personas, is really quite frightening.
‘The Puppet Maker’ is really well written and structured. Reading this book was like being on a rollercoaster ride in that there were lots of twists, turns and stomach churning moments. At times I literally had to hold my breath as I feared for DI Brady and his colleagues and I also feared what was going to happen next. I was hooked on this book from the very first word on the very first page until the very last word on the very last page. I felt rather protective of DI Brady and I hope that things improve for DI Brady in the next book as he deserves some happiness.
In short I really loved this book. I would definitely recommend this book to others. I can’t wait to read further books in this series. ‘The Puppet Maker’ scores a solid 5* from me.
The characters in this book are realistic. DI Brady is up against it from the start. He is the focus of a media frenzy. The media are baying for blood and highlighting how incompetent the police are, as the police have failed to apprehend the murderer. Brady still has the love/ hate relationship with Whitley Bay. He feels resentment to the town and he feels almost shackled to the town. However hard he tries to break free from Whitley Bay, something always drags him back. Brady is on a downward spiral and he even starts to alienate those he was previously close to. Brady still has issues regarding Claudia. The villain in ‘The Puppet Maker’ is suitably and terrifyingly creepy. The author really has created a monster, who will make you shudder and will make your skin crawl. The ease with which the villain is able to change personas, is really quite frightening.
‘The Puppet Maker’ is really well written and structured. Reading this book was like being on a rollercoaster ride in that there were lots of twists, turns and stomach churning moments. At times I literally had to hold my breath as I feared for DI Brady and his colleagues and I also feared what was going to happen next. I was hooked on this book from the very first word on the very first page until the very last word on the very last page. I felt rather protective of DI Brady and I hope that things improve for DI Brady in the next book as he deserves some happiness.
In short I really loved this book. I would definitely recommend this book to others. I can’t wait to read further books in this series. ‘The Puppet Maker’ scores a solid 5* from me.
July 4, 2016
This was my first crack at a DS Brady novel and my God was it exciting. I have already ordered book 1 and will definitely be along for the rest of the series. The dark nature of the plot and fantastic characterisation left me desperate for more. Two killers, two twisted tales and one impossible choice. It's a fast paced read that genuinely gave me chills.
April 23, 2016
Breathtaking
The latest Jack Brady book is breathtakingly good. I finished reading it in one session, just could not put it down. Not being one to spoil another's read all I will say is that the story is excellent and races along. The ending unforeseen. Read it!
The latest Jack Brady book is breathtakingly good. I finished reading it in one session, just could not put it down. Not being one to spoil another's read all I will say is that the story is excellent and races along. The ending unforeseen. Read it!
May 1, 2016
Fantastic fast paced action packed book
September 5, 2016
review to follow xxx
September 20, 2016
boring deathly boring.
April 13, 2017
When a book is put forward by reviewers as being 'so gory' and I'm left feeling disappointed, what does that say about me..?
The story was pretty good but the narrative was a bit of a mess. The idea of two serial killers running around has a great premise but this was pretty much just two separate threads with one cleared up at the finale 'just because', as far as I could tell. Brady was the usual cliché of borderline alcoholic detective with family problems who's wife had left him.... yadda.... yadda... and so, being under a lot of stress was "REALLY ANGRY ALL THE TIME!" except when he was brooding.
Pretty much your usual run of the mill serial killer tropes, but with some great ideas, particularly the Puppet Makers methods and background, but poorly executed. Unlike the Puppet Makers victims.
B'doom- tish!!!
The story was pretty good but the narrative was a bit of a mess. The idea of two serial killers running around has a great premise but this was pretty much just two separate threads with one cleared up at the finale 'just because', as far as I could tell. Brady was the usual cliché of borderline alcoholic detective with family problems who's wife had left him.... yadda.... yadda... and so, being under a lot of stress was "REALLY ANGRY ALL THE TIME!" except when he was brooding.
Pretty much your usual run of the mill serial killer tropes, but with some great ideas, particularly the Puppet Makers methods and background, but poorly executed. Unlike the Puppet Makers victims.
B'doom- tish!!!
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