This book is #12 in the ‘Calladine and Bayliss’ series but can easily be read as a standalone.

DI Tom and DS Ruth work really well together, and the partnership is believable. There’s enough of their private lives to be interesting without detracting from the main storyline.

On their patch is the Hobfield estate, known well to the local police force. A new tenant’s cat presents her with a human foot which turns out to belong to Noah Crosby, the rest of whom is discovered in an alley. He wasn’t killed for his possessions, as there are expensive trainers, a gold watch, and a high-end mobile still with him. But how could a 16-year-old from a sink estate own them?

The post-mortem reveals a cross cut into Noah’s body, which was the signature left by a murderer from years ago called The Shadow. Is The Shadow back after a long break?

This book hooked me in and kept me guessing, and I’ll definitely be reading more from this series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Joffe Books for an advance reader copy in return for an honest review.

The twelfth book in the DI Calladine and DS Ruth Baylis series gets off to a gruesome start when a woman’s cat brings home a foot, a decomposing human foot. The foot belongs to 16 year old Noah Crosby, a local lad making a living on the housing estate selling stolen goods. When he’s found, he’s wearing expensive new trainers, a very pricey watch and has had a letter X carved into him, the signature of a long ago, never apprehended serial killer. Is the killer back, or is this a case of Noah poaching on another’s territory. No one’s talking including Calladine’s private investigator girlfriend.
It’s a good book but I didn’t find the murder that interesting. This is only the second of this series I’ve read and I felt I really needed to have read earlier books in order to get a handle on the recurring characters and their interpersonal relationships.

Thank you to #NetGalley and #JoffeBooks for my advance copy of #DeadReal by #HelenHDurrant.
Another great instalment in the Calladine and Bayliss Series.
When a body of a young lad is found decomposing on the notorious estate Calladine knows no one will talk to them.
No one ever does. Then Calladine’s girlfriend Kitty is shot at in her office. Is this all connected ? More deaths will happen as the duo and their team try to solve the puzzle.

A really good mystery that kept me guessing.
Her characters are well written and she’s a great author.

DEAD REAL by author Helen H. Durrant is book 12 of a new series of detective thrillers featuring D.S. Ruth Bayliss and D.I. Tom Calladine. Having read all the previous books in this series and really enjoyed them and the characters, it was like old home week, touching base with some of my old friends. I looked forward to starting the next crime thriller in the series. The books work great as a standalone, but I would recommend reading the complete series to really get the most out of them.

This book will have you turning the pages until the shocking conclusion. This is a crime thriller with an ending with a huge twist.

The Detectives

Detective inspector Tom Calladine is a workaholic, totally devoted to his job. He is a hands-on copper that does investigations and solves crimes. He is back at work full-time now, after two months ago he collapsed at work, a possible heart attack. But his personal life has not been so rewarding, being married and divorced before he was twenty-one. He now has a girlfriend, Kitty, and an old flame, Amy, that has just moved back to town, wanting to get back together.

Ruth Bayliss is in her mid-thirties, plain-speaking but loyal. She is balancing her professional life with looking after a small child.

The setting is the fictional village of Leesdon on the outskirts of an industrial northern English city. There is little work and a lot of crime. The curse of Calladine’s life is the Hobfield housing estate, breeding ground to all that is wrong with the area that he calls home.

THE CALLADINE & BAYLISS MYSTERY SERIES
Book 1: DEAD WRONG
Book 2: DEAD SILENT
Book 3: DEAD LIST
Book 4: DEAD LOST
Book 5: DEAD & BURIED
Book 6: DEAD NASTY
Book 7: DEAD JEALOUS
Book 8: DEAD BAD
Book 9: DEAD GUILTY
Book 10: DEAD WICKED
BOOK 11: DEAD SORRY
Book 12: DEAD REAL

This is my review of Dead Real.

A single mum and a new Hobfield estate tenant, is disturbed when her cat returns home with a human foot in its mouth.

The foot belongs to 16-year-old Noah Crosby, who had been dumped in the alleyway on the grounds of the Hobfield estate, among bags of discarded rubbish. He was wearing an
expensive gold watch, high-end trainers and an expensive cell phone on him when he died. How could he have afforded these items? There is currently a battle going on between two different gangs dealing dope on the estate…one run by a newcomer, Ricky Spooner, aka “Spook”, and the other, a local, Luke Barton.

The post-mortem reveals that the letter X has been carved into Noah’s skin. The signature of a killer known as the Shadow, from twenty years before…a killer who was never caught.

But no one is willing to talk to Detective Tom Calladine and his partner DS Ruth Bayliss.

Also. Tom’s new girlfriend’s business shop is attacked, and even Kitty is not talking. What does she know?

This is a great series to follow, and in this novel the focus is on murder and robberies of high-end trainers, expensive watches and bags. Lots of action, and great relatable detectives. I will continue to follow this series. Highly recommend!

Many thanks to the author, Joffe Books and Netgalley for my digital copy.

Another great instalment in this series. A great storyline that gripped me from the first page and held my interest until the end. Likeable characters and the several people who seem like victims are all not so innocent either. It’s nice to see the personal side to the characters as well as the work side. Although this book can be read as a standalone it’s a good idea to read them all in the series as they are all so good!!

Book 12 in the Calladine and Bayliss series and it's still as fresh as the first one. I really like the writing style in this fast paced and cleverly plotted thriller, and the plot topic is bang up to date. The characterisation is excellent and apart from Kitty, I could empathise with them! Tom can certainly pick the girlfriends! It's an easy 5* from me for this read and I can recommend the series. Thanks to Net Galley, Joffe Books and the author for my ARC.

Dead Real by author Helen H. Durrant is number twelve in the Calladine & Bayliss mystery series. The book starts with sixteen-year-old Noah Crosby of the Hobfield estates being questioned and intimidated by an unknown male. Later Noah's remains are found in a trash pile at a local dumping area. His phone and watch were found so his death was not due to robbery. There is one clue left on the body that refers to a person from the past who is called Shadow. DI Tom Calladine and his partner DS Ruth Bayliss are investigating the case and trying to figure out who would want to kill Noah. It is hard to solve a case when there seem to be no witnesses and no one in the neighborhood will talk to the investigators. The case takes a twist when Tom's girlfriend becomes a target for danger. Read and Enjoy!
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.
Publication date: July 26, 2022

This is the twelfth installment in the author’s gritty DI Tom Calladine and DS Ruth Bayliss police procedural series. It can be read as a stand-alone, but is more enjoyable if you have read prior entries in the series and have some familiarity with the characters and their personal growth.

In this outing, the detectives are investigating the gruesome murder of a sixteen year old boy in the crime-ridden Hobfield housing estate. The boy was living in poverty yet was wearing an expensive watch and trainers and had the latest phone. Upon examining the corpse that has been decomposing for weeks, it is discovered that an “X” into the body. This is the signature of a serial killer called “The Shadow”, who has been dormant for 20 years. Is the killer back?

I also enjoyed that side plot dealing with Calladine’s personal life and his relationship with Kitty. Her shop has been attacked and it’s clear that she is not being truthful. Is yet another one of his relationships about to hit the dust?

This is a fast-paced mystery with twists and a satisfying conclusion, and well-written and fleshed-out characters.

Helen Durrant never disappoints with her superb characters and plotting. I like her realistic writing style. Everything is so believable and down to earth. Murder and robberies of designer sportswear, watches and bags. It all happens at a gripping pace.
I love how its all set within two tightly knit communities - that of the police alongside the one of the residents living on the Hobfield estate.
Well worth reading, I thoroughly enjoyed it..

Yet another great book from this author.
Was a gripping tale. Kept me wanting more. And just to say I LOVE this author

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read and review this book.
This is the 12th book in the series and it was great.
I was able to finish this book in less than two days. It held my interest and was a page turner for sure.
The other books in this series are very good as well. Don’t miss this one or this series.

IA real page-turner, I read this book in one night. The two detectives have a choice of suspects for their crimes, and the victims are not all innocent either. Lots of twists and turns, and the description of the area and the people are true to life.

Another complex case for Callendine and Bayliss. This series stays strong, with great characters and plots. I really enjoy the personal lives of the police characters and was happy to see the return of Amy.

This ARC was provided to me via Kindle, from Joffe Books and #NetGalley. Thank you for the opportunity to preview and review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

The twelfth in the Calladine & Bayliss Mystery Series. A gritty, addictive series that you won’t want to put down.

Dead real by Helen H Durrant.
Calladine and Bayliss book 12.
One of the Hobfield estate’s newest tenants is horrified when her cat returns home with a human foot in its mouth.
The foot belongs to 16-year-old Noah Crosby, whose decomposing remains are found in a rubbish-strewn alleyway. He was wearing an expensive gold watch, high-end trainers and had a top-of-the-range mobile phone on him when he died. The motive clearly isn’t robbery.But how could a young lad from the wrong side of the tracks afford such expensive gear?The post-mortem reveals that the letter X has been carved into Noah’s skin. The signature of a killer known as the Shadow, who plagued the estate more than twenty years before. A killer who was never caught.Could the Shadow be back at large?
Detective Tom Calladine and his partner DS Ruth Bayliss are finding it difficult to make headway. People are scared. No one will talk. At the same time, Tom’s new girlfriend’s shop is targeted — and it’s clear she’s not telling him the whole truth about the attack. Just what is Kitty hiding? And when an old flame returns to Leesdon, Tom senses trouble ahead . . .
Another brilliant read in this non stop series. I loved it. Couldn't put it down. Had my theory. Partly right. Definitely recommend. 5*.

Fantastic read I love this series of books and characters.
Tom Calladine and Ruth Bayliss are back with a dead real book Twelve.
Sixteen years old Noah Crosby is found on the Hobfield estate after Lisa Woodley complains of a awful smell and her cat Bobbin brings home a human foot, the poor lad has been in the alley for three weeks with his throat slit, is this anything to do with Spooner and Barton gangs running a drug ring who was Noah working for.
Oh my this is full of twisted chapters, that you wont want to leave behind or put down, with a whirl of catching the killer it a race against time for the two detectives. As always this clever authors mind has been working over time to thrill her readers, with another cracking end, then BOOM it left me satisfied, just never expect a straight forward chapter. 5 stars from me

Thank you NetGalley and Joffe Books for the eARC.
Another good read in this series.
DI Tom Calladine and his partner DS Ruth Bayliss are working the case of a 16-year old murdered, found when a woman calls about her cat coming home with a human foot in its mouth!
Everyone is afraid to talk, so it's a tough case for the two detectives.
Tom is living with his new girlfriend, but things aren't as good as he thought. Will this be another of his failed romances?

Good book! This book had a bit of everything! It had suspense, intrigue, action, and great police work! The storyline was very interesting and kept me glued to my kindle! I will recommend reading this book as it was well worth reading! Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

Firstly I would like to thank netgalley, and Joffe books,and the author of this book Helen Durrant for a copy of her book to read.

This is a fantastic series, Noah lives on a rough estate Hobfield,he only 16 years old,and found murdered in a brutal way.no one wants to talk to the police he was wearing expensive gear how can he afford these items.is he involved with drugs?on his body was the letter x in the past a killer left that mark.was he still at large,known as the shadow. Detective Tom Calladine and DS Ruth Bayliss on the case.This was a fast paced read and exciting book.Highly recommend this series.

This book will be reviewed on goodreads and Amazon UK.