What a plot! Kept me guessing through the whole book. Action all the way through - go Maddie Ives.
Sensitive subject through the book, which I feel portrayed both sides of the story a little, but should raise discussions around DVA and the effect that it has on all concerned.
Had to concentrate a little at the beginning to work out what was happening, but once I had the characters it all flowed in a complicated web.

The Deadly Houses is the sixth instalment in the Detective Maddie Ives series set in Canterbury and written by a serving Detective investigating serious crimes. The fact that he is a member of law enforcement makes this book, and series, all the more compelling and credible and you get a real taste of the circumstances behind the crimes. It isn't necessary to have read any of the preceding instalments to enjoy this one. Adrian Hughes saunters into Canterbury police station and confessed to murdering a social worker; he even provides photographic evidence. DC Rhiannon Davis of Major Crimes is stunned into silence before taking him in for an interview. Later her superior DS Ives conducts her own interview and both come to the conclusion that it is doubtful that he committed the crime. His behaviour and mannerisms suggest he could be covering for someone so the team begin to investigate who the woman is and why she was slaughtered. The map he provided to aid the police in finding the body was accurate and they find the body wrapped in a tarp inside a dilapidated building.

This is a genuinely terrifying read so if you are easily creeped out this may not be for you but for the rest of the crime connoisseurs, this is a must-read. Charlie Gallagher is undoubtedly one of the best writers of police procedurals out there and his books continue to get better and better; this instalment is by far his most compulsive and gripping yet. Inspiration for these books likely comes from his police experiences and this added authenticity makes the story as realistic and believable as it can get. It is a complex read that jumps between two timelines at the start and there is so much going on that I was captivated and riveted throughout. Police procedurals don't get any more addictive and well-executed than this. The plot is full of exciting twists, turns and reveals and the tension and uneasy atmosphere can be felt at all times. From the moment I picked this up I raced through it and simply couldn't put it down as I was desperate to know what happened in the end. With many lives at stake, the team must race against the clock to save those in danger and this leads to a nail-biting conclusion. Many thanks to Joffe for an ARC.

I couldn't finish this. It started out well but did not hold my interest. I tried to scan through it but just couldn't.  It is rare that I don't finish a book.

The Deadly Houses is the sixth instalment in the Detective Maddie Ives series set in Canterbury and written by a serving Detective investigating serious crimes. The fact that he is a member of law enforcement makes this book, and series, all the more compelling and credible and you get a real taste of the circumstances behind the crimes. It isn't necessary to have read any of the preceding instalments to enjoy this one. Adrian Hughes saunters into Canterbury police station and confessed to murdering a social worker; he even provides photographic evidence. DC Rhiannon Davis of Major Crimes is stunned into silence before taking him in for an interview. Later her superior DS Ives conducts her own interview and both come to the conclusion that it is doubtful that he committed the crime. His behaviour and mannerisms suggest he could be covering for someone so the team begin to investigate who the woman is and why she was slaughtered. The map he provided to aid the police in finding the body was accurate and they find the body wrapped in a tarp inside a dilapidated building.

This is a genuinely terrifying read so if you are easily creeped out this may not be for you but for the rest of the crime connoisseurs, this is a must-read. Charlie Gallagher is undoubtedly one of the best writers of police procedurals out there and his books continue to get better and better; this instalment is by far his most compulsive and gripping yet. Inspiration for these books likely comes from his police experiences and this added authenticity makes the story as realistic and believable as it can get. It is a complex read that jumps between two timelines at the start and there is so much going on that I was captivated and riveted throughout. Police procedurals don't get any more addictive and well-executed than this. The plot is full of exciting twists, turns and reveals and the tension and uneasy atmosphere can be felt at all times. From the moment I picked this up I raced through it and simply couldn't put it down as I was desperate to know what happened in the end. With many lives at stake, the team must race against the clock to save those in danger and this leads to a nail-biting conclusion. Many thanks to Joffe for an ARC.

My first ARC review!!! The hugest of thank you's to Netgalley, Joffe Books (publisher) and Charlie Gallagher (author) for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an unbiased review. 

I'm a thriller buff. I can't resist a well-written thriller that draws me in and keeps me theorizing and guessing till the very end. This was a great read, and I'll definitely be picking up more books in the Detective Maddie Ives series (this is book 6, and the first I'm reading). 

I love how this book blends a number of my favorite thriller elements in one book - a police investigation, a murder mystery, and the thrill of guessing and trying to solve the mystery (and being wrong a number of times LOL). 

The team - Maddie Ives, Harry Blaker, Rhiannon Davis and PC Vince Arnold - in this book gets to work on what might just be their toughest and worst case ever. We see a lot of creepy and scary stuff in this book (be sure to sleep with your lights on).

It had a bit of a slow start, but once it picks up pace, you wouldn't want to drop it till you read the very last word. A man makes his way to the police station and admits to murder. He leads the police to the body, and when they get there, they determine that there is so much more than he is letting on. They discover that he was at the scene, but nothing there shows that he definitely committed the murder. 

If you're looking for a great murder mystery thriller, I 100% recommend this book! With a great storyline and a largely unexpected ending, you'll love it!!!

Wow. 
As soon as I started I knew this would be a real page turner. The kind of book that has you thinking about it all day. 
This is part of the Detective Maddie Ives series, but the first I have read. It works very well as a stand-alone novel. 

I loved the way the story was told from the different characters’ POV, this kept it fast paced while still being easy to follow. 

Towards the middle I did feel the pace slowed a little, when, as readers we knew what Maddie and Harry needed to know and they seemed to be one step behind. 

However, I found myself willing them on and screaming at them to “come on” as the took chase of the evil antagonist and I was pleased with the ending. 

I believed in the characters, and am now eager to read the rest of the series. 

Thanks to NetGalley, Joffe Books and to Charlie for providing me a complimentary copy of this book to review.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own!
Thank You NetGalley, Publisher & Charlie for this ARC!

The Deadly Houses is a Detective Maddie Ives Book 6 series. 
Even though I have not read the other 5 books before this one. I really enjoyed it. It was completely a creepy read.... which are my absolute favorite!
 I felt like I could not stop reading this one. It had me wanting to devour this book in one sitting so I could finish this one up and know what was happening at the end. 

You will have no clue what is about to go down!
Now I am about to get on my Kindle to get his other books to read
Because I think I found my new favorite author!

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me a complimentary copy of The Deadly Houses by Joffe Books in exchange for my honest review

I do not get scared easily when reading books, but this one made me feel really uneasy. I hate the thought of being watched and stalked, so this book did make me uncomfortable at times. It was very well written as you could feel the terror from the characters. 
This is a very fast paced book and you will want to finish it quickly as you want to know what will happen next.

Detective Maddie Ives #6

Adrian Hughes walks into Canterbury police station saying that he's murdered a stranger. He shows them a picture of the body and a detailed route map of where the body can be found. But Maddie knows he's lying. Three more victims are under pressure. If they fail, their families will die.

You have to do what these people tell you otherwise your own family will be at risk. Maddie turns to DI Harry Blaker for help solving this case. Harry is still grieving for his daughter and hasn't returned to Major Crime investigations. You can tell Charlie has been in the police force, there's always so much more attention to detail. The plotline is gripping ,tense, well written and a steady paced read. This is a really good series.

Preview copy provided via NetGalley. I love a thriller so I was excited to get into this book. Only words wow.... What the heck is happening. Its the most bizzare scernio of murder you could imagine right from the off. No one who loves thrillers will be able to put this book down. It has you hooked from the beginning 

Charlie has a beautifully intriguing way of writing, of predicting the reader thoughts and only giving enough information to keep you guessing. It's the best kind of writing for this genre and I was throughly impressed from chapter one. 

The story starts with a confession, the each chapter changes its stance and point of view. The best  template for thriller, as you move through the chapters the end of each chapter can be a cliffhanger that won't be revealed in the next. 

Brilliant book, gripping story that in its bizzare unfolding makes the story a thrilling read. 
#NetGalley #thedeadlyhouses #books #bookreview

That was heart stoppingly tense! DS Maddie Ives has a new boss to break in after DI Harry Blakey endured a personal tragedy (in the previous book I assume) that saw him finally return to work training new recruits rather than being at the pointy end in Major Crime.. the new DI is inexperienced in detecting and is also a total nob. So when Maddie is told to close a case as solved that she feels is far from solved who does she turn to for advice? None other than Harry. He initially sends her packing but has a sudden change of heart when he realises he is bored senseless with the training work and is soon back in the saddle as Maddie’s boss.

The case is a tricky one! A man named Adrian Hughes walks into the station one night, announces that he killed ‘her’ and demands to be arrested. He won’t say much, just enough for the police to find the body and the evidence implicating him. He makes very sure of that. Maddie is convinced there were others involved. There is no doubt Adrian was at the scene but there is no evidence that he actually killed woman. The body had been there a week before Adrian went to the place to leave his ‘evidence’ behind. 

At this point, we the readers, know what is going on - not everything of course, but we know a lot more than the police do. And that spoiled it a little bit for me.  The book also dragged at the start. But it soon picked up the pace and as the police catch up with us in the knowledge stakes the story becomes much more interesting. I won’t say any more as I don’t want to spoil it for you but, as the story progressed the pace and tension became relentless and it was a race to a nail biting finish with many lives in the balance. I’ve read some of the earlier books in the series and they were all very good. I recommend this one to all thriller fans. It can easily be read as a stand-alone. Many thanks to Netgalley, Joffe Books and Charlie Gallagher for providing the book for me to review.

Wow this book brings out all the feels. Imagine having to be watched and made to do things you don't want to do or you lose your family. This is gut wrenching and terrifying. If you only read one book this year - make sure it’s this one! Five stars!

I’d like to thank Joffe Books and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘The Deadly Houses’, the sixth in the Detective Maddie Ives series written by Charlie Gallagher, in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

DC Rhiannon Davis is working nights when Adrian Hughes turns up at the police station and admits to having killed a woman.  When questioned, DS Maddie Ives feels that something’s not quite right and soon finds the body of a woman wrapped in plastic in a derelict building.  DI Harry Blaker is brought back to work with Maddie and together they come across the worst crime that either of them has ever experienced during their time in the Major Crimes Unit.  

I’ve read all of the books in this series and can say without a doubt that ‘The Deadly Houses’ is the best one yet.  The team of Maddie Ives, Harry Blaker, Rhiannon Davis and PC Vince Arnold work really well together and it’s a pleasure to meet up with them again. The plot is superb with a strong storyline and excellent descriptions, it’s nerve-wracking with nail-biting twists.  I was gripped from page one and couldn’t stop reading, and the shocking conclusion was not only horrifying but also brought tears to my eyes.  I can truthfully say that this is one of the best novels I’ve had the pleasure to read and can wholeheartedly recommend it for anyone who wants to read an outstandingly tense and heart-stopping thriller.

Adrian Hughes Walks into the police station and declares he has Murdered a woman.  Despite discovering the body and Enough crime scene evidence to put Hughes away, DS Maddie Ives has the feeling not is all it seems and won’t let the case rest.  DI Blaker returns to take lead in the investigation.  Several people linked backed to Hughes go missing and seems more is at risk they they could ever imagine. 
Great read and clever storyline.

Charlie Gallagher knows how to write a 5* thriller! This is book 6 in the DS Maddie Ives series and it just keeps improving. It sucks you in from the beginning until the very last page. It is so well written and filled with tension and a gripping plot. If you only read one book this summer, make it this one. It's an easy 5 star from me and I highly recommend this author.

This has to be by far the best of the DS Maddie Ives series , number 6 and well all I can say after reading is PHEW

Starting with a flashback to 18 months ago where a young boy witnesses his father beating his mother we then move to 18 months later when a man confesses in great detail to a killing of a social worker but something does not ring true and DC Rhiannon Davies and DS Massie Ives doubt his story . 

So much going on that you do not want to put this book down for one minute and after reading you feel that you have been involved in the case and the conclusion

Thank you to Joffe Books and Netgalley for the best read so far

Good to catch up with Maddie Ives once again. A totally gripping and original storyline. Kept me thoroughly engrossed and enthralled as the story unfolds. Great read, thoroughly recommended

A quiet night shift in Major Crimes doesn't usually involve someone arriving at the front desk, admitting to murdering a stranger, and even providing photos! Adrian Hughes, however, is a little different from their usual clientele and even seems prepared for incarceration when he's interviewed by DC Rhiannon Davis and later by boss, DS Maddie Ives. Neither of them are convinced he is telling the whole truth but accept his account of what happened until they can investigate further. 

Linda Morris is scared, terrified even, and with good reason. Chained to the floor of a bunker-like structure she has been forced to watch a film showing the location of a dead body and knows she could very well be next. Linda has no idea how she ended up a captive or what she would do when faced with her greatest fear but she could be about to find out. 

Serving officer, Charlie Gallagher is easily one of the best police procedural authors available right now. I thought his first Maddie Ives novel was good but every time he releases a new book in this series he takes his work to new levels. Although this wasn't as devastating as the previous book it absolutely was as authentically terrifying as anything I've read in a while. 

Main protagonist, Maddie Ives, is brilliantly portrayed and along with partner Harry Blaker dominate every chapter they appear in. Rhiannon Davis and Vince Arnold seem to have become the two slightly lesser police officers and together make an engaging and well balanced team. The antagonists once again plumb the depths of depravity and the situation everyone involved finds themselves in seemed, for most of the story, to be impossible to extricate themselves from. 

As I've come to expect there were parts of the ending I had sorted while others left me shocked and wondering how things will continue. I have yet to be disappointed by anything written by Charlie Gallagher and I don't see that changing any time soon. 

I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers in exchange for an unbiased review and would recommend it to anyone looking to dive into the highest quality police procedural fiction; buy this, you won't be disappointed.

Charlie Gallagher just keeps getting better & better. You would expect a police procedural novel written by a serving police officer to be highly credible & this is one of Charlie's strong points.
This is a fast-paced page Turner that throws you right into the centre of the story. One man's confession of murder raises more questions than answers.
Charlie Gallagher ranks alongside Ian Rankin, Peter James, Mark Billingham & Peter Robinson as one of Britain's best crime writers.

*Thank you to NetGalley and Charlie Gallagher for sending me this ARC in exchange for an honest review*

This, unfortunately, was a do not finish for me. I went in with high hopes. I love a good mystery/thriller and from the title, it seemed like it may have a supernatural element to it. 

There were several things I liked about this novel; Maddie is smart, capable and ready to do what it takes to solve this though her supervisor considers it solved. She was a real character and I enjoyed seeing things from her point of view. I found it interesting that when the suspect walks in and confesses, she doesn't really believe him. I just really liked reading from her point of view. I thought the story line had true potential to be a really good whodunit.

So why would this be a do not finish. I almost never use this as an excuse to not finish a book that is really grabbing me but I felt like the whole story was told in the first 200 pages. When I checked and saw that this had at least another 200 pages, I couldn't continue. I felt done. Perhaps there is a second mystery in the second half of the book that I missed entirely. And maybe I will pick it up again but as I kept going this time, I struggled to go on.