The first (hopefully) of a series of DI Ford books from Andy Maslen.
This book takes you on the winding journey of Ford’s first murder case to catch a killer with a penchant for the dramatic.
With several possible perpetrators and none of the reasons adding up the how and why are critical yet elusive..

Police thriller, lots of suspects twists and turns. Characters were good,well portrayed ,room for future possibilities. Kept me guessing.

A good read, slow to start but about a third of the way in I was utterly gripped and completed within days.

This is the kind of book that had me thinking about it all the time - who’s the killer, will he be caught, will he kill again? I was back and forth with my thoughts as to to who the culprit was, and frustrated when my thoughts did not match those of the DI!

I believed the characters, and it was easy to keep up with them and the timeline.
I enjoyed the Ford’s background story which lends itself well to a book series.
I would definitely read more.

Thank you to NetGalley, Andy Malden and time Amazon Publishing UK for this ARC in return for review.

Wow - I could not put this book down! I’m a bit of a wuss when it comes to crime fiction - I’m really careful of violent images or ideas that root themselves firmly and unpleasantly in my brain. This one came close but didn’t cross that line for me. I think the first scene was the most chilling I’ve read recently and had me on the edge of my seat waiting for the killer to be caught. In typical detective fiction style the book starts with murder - that of a young mother and her son which felt particularly sad and brutal. Ford is a recently promoted DI, a widower who feels responsible for the death of his wife; he has a teenage son and feels unable to start a new relationship. He’s working on a force short of resources and money and under pressure, and he needs his first case to be solved quickly. But then there’s another death and another. What makes this a great read is the pace and tension maintained right to the very end, well-rounded characters and an excellent plot. Ford is a particularly intriguing D.I. - he feels some kind of mental connection to the thought processes of the killer, has gut instincts which are usually accurate but in this case appear to be misleading him. The unravelling of the crime is compelling, throwing out twists and false starts along the way and the conclusion is deeply satisfying. I really hope Ford will be back to solve another case, and look forward to seeing how his personal relationships will develop. With grateful thanks to Netgalley and Amazon Publishing UK for a digital copy of this book.

I’ve read a number of British crime series over the years and was excited to discover a new one.

DI Ford (his first name is never disclosed) has many challenges to deal with – he needs to prove himself in his newly promoted role of Detective Inspector whilst juggling life as a single parent to his teenage son, Sam, all the while dealing with the grief of loosing his wife in a climbing accident which he holds himself responsible for.

After some background story about the tragic climbing accident six years ago, the writing turns to present day when Ford is called to investigate a brutal killing of a mother and her young son. After a second body is found, where the killer has left a similar “signature” to the first killing, Ford finds himself in charge of his first major case in the hunt for the serial killer. As more bodies stack up, Ford has a gut feeling he knows who the killer is but has a hard time proving this and comes under increasing pressure to hand the case over to more experienced officers. He’s determined not to let this happen and enlists the help of Dr Hannah Fellowes, a recent addition to the forensic department, with an interesting background and an interesting personality.

I really enjoyed this book, the characters were well introduced with just enough background information to make you want to keep reading to discover more about them. The pace of the writing was great, and kept me engaged throughout. There were chapters written from the POV of the killer, which I always find fascinating and kept me guessing as to who the killer might be. Overall, a great book which I hope will become a great series where we learn more about the characters, especially how the relationships between them develop as we follow Ford in future cases.

Highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy police crime. If the series continues to be as good as the first book, I think it will deserve a place up there with the likes of Peter James, Ian Rankin and Peter Robinson.
Many thanks to Amazon Publishing UK and NetGalley UK for the free review copy in exchange for an honest review.

The plot for this first volume in a new series is interesting, the murders gruesome and innovative but, unfortunately, I found the characters too unnatural to be believable. It’s not easy to give a low rating to a book, because I can imagine how hard it must be to write a novel, but I never connected with the characters and the dialogues were repetitive and didn’t sound organic. Funnily enough, my favorite character was Hannah, a CSI with Asperger’s. Her dialogues are supposed to be stilted so they seemed more natural. Maybe the sequel will improve once the exposition is out of the way.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/Amazon Publishing UK!

A MUST for your TBR list! Fast-paced! Riveting! Exciting! Addictive! Not only is this a very well-written book with wonderfully-interesting characters, but the suspense builds at just the right pace as the story unfolds. It was an artful melding of twisted psychological thrills and nail-biting suspense that kept me hooked the whole way!

*I received a complimentary ARC of this book in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.

#ShallowGround #NetGalley

Will keep you reading.

DI Ford’s first real case after his promotion is the investigation into the murder of a mother and child. With nothing much to go on, he has to try to find the killer with his wits and instincts. His colleagues are supportive fir the most part, but he also has his hands full because he manages to antagonise some powerful people.

I would recommend the book for those who enjoy a good thriller and a good detective story. There are some unusual plot devices, which take the book out of a true linear plot, and create odd tensions, but overall a well written and enjoyable story.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for this ARC.

Having enjoyed some of the authors other books I looked forward to reading this one. It didn’t disappoint, and I was drawn in right from the start. I thought it had very likeable, believable characters, it was well written, held my attention all the way through and had a good plot line. There were plenty of twists to keep me guessing. A very enjoyable read and a good start to a new series. I look forward to the next book.

Book Review: Shallow Ground (Detective Ford Book 1) by Andy Maslen
(Published by Amazon Publishing UK on November 10, 2020)

4.25 Stars.

. "Exercitatio Anatomica de Motu Cordis et Sanguinis in Animalibus"
. by William Harvey, circa 1628

"De Motu Cordis". With his mind at times still straddling a living nightmare on the sudden death of his wife in a climbing accident at Pen-y-Holt Bay, Pembroke, six years prior, little did the single dad of still-grieving 15-year old Sam and newly-promoted Salisbury DI, Detective Inspector "Henry" Ford know that a 17th Century book from Europe's early modern period on "...an anatomical exercise on the motion of the heart and blood in living beings..." could prove to be a lynchpin that would unlock his first major case in a supervisory role at the Salisbury PD under the aegis of Detective Superintendent Sandra Monroe - the pursuit of a suspected devil-worshipping, blood thirsty serial killer.

Indeed, that early modern age manuscript, along with the fortuitous entry of a team "rookie" as deputy manager, Dr. Hannah Fellowes, a sharp, stunning senior CSI with a PhD in cognitive neuroscience and expert in forensic psychology - the psychology of lying - on top of her adjunct teaching experience at no less than the FBI Academy in Quantico.

So, whodunit?

Author Andy Maslen assembles a cast of earnest players in a neatly-pieced, well-researched police procedural murder mystery set in a modern Southern English city, with just the right touch of science and math, a dose of devilry, gore, ingenuity and poignancy in equal measures, spiced with a dash of that ubiquitous spite and arrogance de rigueur in UK novels of late, displayed by patently miserable British upper-class pretenders boasting status above suspicion and protection from administrative cronies in social circles.

Can't wait for the Maslen sequel of the Ford, Hannah, Sam and Sandra show!

Review based on an ARC from Amazon Publishing UK and NetGalley.

I really enjoyed this book reading it cover to cover in one sitting. A good police procedural crime story that had some very good characters and an interesting plot.

Newly promoted DI Ford is a single parent having lost his wife in a climbing accident six years ago. He caused the accident and bears the pain of keeping his guilt from his teenage son Sam. DI Ford is called in to investigate the murder of a young nurse and her son in a small flat in Salisbury. With minimal clues available, Ford senses a serial killer at may be at work. Together with his new Dr Hannah Fellowes, a crime scene investigator they are determined to uncover the murderer.

I really enjoyed the two main characters DI Ford and Dr Hannah Fellowes and there is definitely the making of a series with all the baggage they carry. Really enjoyable read from an author I had no prior knowledge of.

I would like to thank both Netgalley and Amazon Publishing UK for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Silent Ground is an excellent crime thriller which grips you from the start and doesn’t let go throughout.
D.I. Ford, newly promoted and still grieving from the loss of his wife six years previously and left with a now 15 year old son has much to prove he is up to his new role. A young nurse has been murdered by having all her blood drained and her young son is also found dead in her arms. As more bodies are found also by exsanguination they realise a serial killer is on the loose and speed is of the essence to stop him.
The political interference in modern day policing indicates how some people in power try to influence cases and Ford and his boss have to navigate through this minefield as well.
Ford is convinced who the murderer is, he has an uncanny instinct in finding the guilty but proving it turns out to be a lot more difficult particularly when this is brought into question by his superiors.
Aided by Hannah a CSI who has worked with the FBI, diagnosed with Asperger syndrome she is high functioning with an analytical mind that adds much to the case, they have a good relationship which I hope will develop into more over time.
As the case the continues the tension mounts, the action is restless and exciting. An immensely readable story that is gripping and intelligent. I hope this is the start of a series that will continue for a long time to come.
My thanks to net galley and publisher for the opportunity to review this book.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Amazon Publishing UK for an advance copy of Shallow Ground, the first novel to feature DI “Henry” Ford of the Salisbury Police.

Ford gets his first murder case as a newly promoted detective inspector and it’s complicated. He has to solve the murder of a young nurse and her son. She’s been bled to death and he’s untouched, suggesting something out of the ordinary and then there are more bodies.

Shallow Ground is a well plotted novel with an interesting premise and likeable characters. Unfortunately it didn’t really hold my interest as I didn’t see any uniqueness in it.

The novel is mostly told from Ford’s point of view with the killer chipping in from time to time with tales of childhood abuse and current thoughts. New appointed CSI Dr Hannah Fellowes also gets her point of view aired. The killer’s point of view is fairly standard, something I’ve read ad nauseum in this genre. Ford is like Morse, no first name required, hence “Henry” as in Henry T. and Hannah is on the spectrum, so likely to blurt out her thoughts at any minute. That gels with her FBI training in psychology.

The plot revolves around the hunt for a serial killer and concentrates mostly on Ford’s gut recognising the killer. This is based on his survivor’s guilt after his wife died in a climbing accident he initiated and he sees himself as a killer. This insistence on one prime suspect without concrete evidence is not my kind of reading. I prefer a wider ranging investigation where there are several suspects of equal probability that can engage the reader in their own speculation.

Shallow Ground is a solid read.

A great crime story. Slow to get going but about a third in I couldn't put thebook down. Crimes are sad , but well thought out . The detective, Ford, has his own problems which added authenticity to the story. I didn't like his instant judgements about suspects though. Definitely a good team for a series, plenty more possibilities within the team. I liked the new CSI, Hannah & the son Sam . Other characters could have done with a little more explanation for me. I did like the location (Salisbury in Wiltshire), an area that I don't know.
I don't get the title, totally unrelated to the story in my eyes . Otherwise, I look forward to reading more about Ford and his son and the team
Thank you to Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

First encounter with newly promoted D I Henry Ford and his team all with their interesting nicknames and lifestyles. A gripping storyline with Two main suspects for the multiple murders, read it and find out which one for yourself.

An excellent read that keeps you guessing who is responsible for the dreadful murders. The cast of characters is steadily introduced and easy to relate to. The excitement and thrill in the story are addictive.

Newly-appointed Inspector DI Ford is faced with the challenging task of tracking down the person who is responsible for a series of murders. The serial killer is deadly and ruthless and leaves subtle clues at every crime scene.

When DI Ford's instincts lead him towards a high profile suspect, he is more determined to solve the case. But can Ford find the killer before another murder takes place ?? suspense heightens as we find out ........

Summary:
Great story, one that was difficult to put down.

DI Ford has just been promoted to Inspector. His first case is the murder of a widowed nurse and her young son. Then a murdered man is found. And then another. Ford wonders how many more bodies will be found before he and his team can find the killer; and not just any killer. This person uses a unique method, and it will take Ford using his skills and experiences and the help of new CSI Hannah Fellowes to catch the killer soon or Ford could be demoted before he even gets started.

I really hope this is the first of many books where we see DI Ford in action, Ford is still grieving his wife's death who he blames himself for when he has his first real case which turns out to be a serial killer.
Hannah a crime scene officer comes to work with the team and likes Henry, but he's not ready to move on.
He feels in his gut who the murderer is but it's a race against time to prove it.
I hope we see more of him and Hannah

What a great read. Pulls you in from the moment you start reading. I like books like this that build the characters and this book certainly does that. Great story and I didn't want to put it down. Looking forward to reading the next book by this author

Well written with an interesting cast of characters. While Ford is clearly suffering from survivor guilt being reminded of the fact every second chapter is unnecessary and tedious. Otherwise a decent read