Loose Tongues

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Pub Date 3 Sep 2019 | Archive Date 10 Oct 2019

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Description

What’s wrong, killer got your tongue?

It’s DC Sean Blake’s first week on the job, but already he faces a series of brutal and bizarre killings: women are being strangled in their homes, each with a mobile phone forced down their throat. There are never any signs of a struggle or forced entry. The Greater Manchester Police have no leads.

Blake can’t afford to waste any time—even as he picks apart the disturbing motive behind the murders, the case takes a turn for the personal. Can he stop the killer before another woman is silenced forever?

What’s wrong, killer got your tongue?

It’s DC Sean Blake’s first week on the job, but already he faces a series of brutal and bizarre killings: women are being strangled in their homes, each with a...


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Available Editions

EDITION Other Format
ISBN 9781786894922
PRICE US$14.00 (USD)
PAGES 240

Average rating from 29 members


Featured Reviews

❗️❗️❗️Beep Beep Beep ❗️❗️❗️
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ARC Book Review in full swing from publisher BlackThorn and @netgalley❣️#Loosetongues
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If you love a good crime detective serial killer mystery- this is an intriguing story and case to follow. Author, Chris Simms has a writing style that will keep the page turning, keep your mind engaged, and keep you shushing your kids from needing to EAT...AGAIN❗️
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You will want to shut the world out, fold yourself into cocoon of clues, plots turns, and rapidly moving case advancements all while downing a pour of whiskey 🥃 and checking to make sure your doors are 🔒 .
I didn’t want to put the book 📖 down...uh, so I didn’t? And let all responsibilities slide...YOU should NOT do that, but you SHOULD read this if serial killers wanting to right the world of unruly women are your thing...I could have been next on his list, if not for that fast moving, hardworking newby Detective Sean Blake!
Loved it⁉️💕
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Comes out September 5 if that’s your thing-you know, fast paced, nail biting, pee your pants thrill seeking, but whatevs 🤷🏽‍♀️I am obviously SICK
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#lockyourdoors #dontreadatnight #orreadatnight #bookreviews #bookblogging #bookity #bookstagram #booklady #thrillerbooks #crimenovel #arc #blackthornpublishing

IG handle Janicedoesbooks

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Really good read. A great story with plenty of action. I hope that there is more Sean Blake to come.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

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I never repeat the blurb. Easy, easy read this one, no pretension, no 'obscure' for the sake of it - very refreshing. Goodies v. a baddie, no big reveal, good characters and well considered plot. Can't ask much more than that. Will be reading more from this author.

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Thoroughly enjoyed the first of what i hope to be a new police procedural series

Who would guess that on the first day in your new role as Detective you would be plunged into a bizarre and complex murder case... this is the first day for Sean Blake in the serious crime unit and what a way to immerse youself into a new role

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I loved this book a real one sitting read all the action and twists and turns the action ramps up and up get it when you can

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Thank you to Netgalley for letting me have this as a ARC.

Had read books by this author before and found I really enjoyed the book. It was fast paced and a good police procedural book with mostly likeable characters. Thought it was a bit unrealistic in one part, this didn’t put me off though and it was still a good read. The ending was sad and perhaps not unexpected and if there was a second book featuring DC Blake I would want to read that too.

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An excellent thriller that kept me on the edge.
I appreciated the well written cast of characters and the engrossing and entertaining plot.
It's the first book I read by this author and won't surely be the last.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

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Many of us have empathy for Sean in this book. Whether it be his career, home life or lack of a social life, we love Sean for his courage. He has lived with and assisted his disabled mom (who had been a cop) for 12 years. Now, a detective just out of training, Sean tastes the bitter reality of the streets (and the paperwork).

Five female murder victims have been found - all with cell phones stuck in their mouth - only one still had a tongue left. Due to Sean's first outing with the squad, he is relegated to desk duty.

Many theories for the killer of these women are batted around until...

Superb character development ! A great story with feeling. I honestly could not put it down.

Many Thanks to Black Thorn Books / Severn House and NetGalley for an excellent read

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This is a cleverly orchestrated murder investigation with a brilliant storyline.

Newly appointed Detective Constable Sean Blake heads to work for his first day, to find the office is buzzing with news of a murder. What is extraordinary about this, is that a woman's body was found in her own home, dead and with her mobile phone inserted into her mouth. In quick succession, more bodies are found.

Whilst chasing a suspect, DC Blake and fellow newbie PC Mark Wheeler try to corner a man dropping out of a window. In the scuffle PC, Wheeler is badly hurt, Blake tries to stem the bleeding and the suspect escapes. It is not the best start in the job with Wheeler in hospital and Blake on desk duty.

Janet Blake, once in the police herself, has always had great expectations of her son Sean. She was invalided out of the force after being run over by a man running away. Her brain is astute and she likes to discuss details with Sean, even though it is against all the rules. Janet begins to piece it all together.

The author keeps up the pace of the investigation and keeps the reader guessing. A very good read and a well deserved 5***** from me.

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DC Sean Blake #1

Sean Blake is confined to his desk after botching up his first job which left his partner seriously wounded. It was his first day in the Serious Crime Department. The rest of the team are trying to find and arrest the man responsible for strangling women and stuffing their mobile phones into their mouths. Sean's mum is disabled, she an ex-policewoman. She tries her best to help her son solve this crime but Sean does not like her interference.

This series is set in Manchester. This story is told mostly from Sean's point of view but we also get snippets from the killer. I really liked Sean who is a bit of a mummy's boy. The characters are well rounded and easy identifiable. The plotline is engaging and i was willing Sean all the way to solving this case from his desk before the rest of the team could solve it. The ending was a bit predictable but that did not make me like this book any less. A great start to a new series that I look forward to reading more from.

I would like to thank Netgalley, Black Thorn and the author Chris Simms for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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Interesting storyline, a new constable, recently promoted to Detective albeit through outside influence. He gets involved with a bit of a comic tragedy on his first investigation which leads to him being shunned by his colleagues. Alls well that ends well a good read

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Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC in return for an unbiased review.
First publication I have read by Chris Simms and will certainly be accessing his back catalogue after this.
Main character is on his first day in the job and things certainly don't start well.
Story centres around a serial killer who cuts his victims tongues out.
Extremely well written and very enjoyable read.
Thanks again.

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When DC Sean Blake starts his new job things go a little wrong for him. Ostracised from the team he is given basic admin to do while the rest of the team are involved in the hunt for a murderer. Soon his admin leads to decent breaks and a result!

Loved the characters and the heart in this book. Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

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This is the first book to feature DC Sean Blake and it's a very promising start by Chris Simms. Sean is a newly promoted DC with the Serious Crime Unit and he has a baptism of fire on his first day on the job. Set in Manchester, the characters are convincing,there are plenty surprises and the pace is steady throughout. Beautiful writing with an interesting plot, I would recommend this book to lovers of police procedurals and I look forward to the next in the series. My thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

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Good police procedural story with a young DC who only got his job due to his mother's connections is involved with the hunt for what turns out to be a serial killer. Initially blamed for an arrest gone wrong he is confined to a desk but with mum's assistance he naturally solves the case. Somewhat far fetched but despite some violent blood soaked scenes a good solid entertaining read.

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This is the first time I have read anything by this author but I will look out for his other books.

The first in a new series and it's a great read.

It gives you pause for thought when you find out how the killer is choosing his victims.

I really enjoyed the plot and Sean is a great character. I loved his relationship with his Mum.

An easy read that will keep you hooked til the last page.

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Loved this book, read it in a day and couldn't put it down. A serial killer is calling on women, gaining access to their homes, killing them and cutting out their tongues. Young Dc Sean Blake has just started out in the department dealing with the murders and goes on to play a vital role in finding the killer.

The author gives us good insight into both the killer and the young detective, which really helps the story along and gives the book depth. You discover what motives lead to the killings and a lot of background into Sean's life and why he joined the police. Good detailed descriptions of locations, settings and conversations make this a real page turner.

Thank you to Net Galley for my copy.

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This is quite good. I like DC Blake and his struggles and his talent. Well written characters and an interesting plot made this a fun (very British) read. I'm new to this author, but I'll check out some of this other work. Recommended.

Thanks for the copy for review!!

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New DC Sean Blake, it's his first week on the job in Manchester. And he is caught up in the middle of a series of bizarre killings - women found dead in their own homes, strangled and with their mobile phone in their mouth.

Sean is caught between the need to solve the case, to prove himself and to win round his colleagues after a truly horrendous first day

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Loose Tongues is an excellent and page clicking thriller from Chris Simms that kept me entertained throughout.

The book is very easy to read and all the better for that.

Hopefully this is the start of a new series

Thoroughly recommended

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Many thanks to the author / Black Thorn / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime drama. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

DC Sean Blake, a rookie with the Serious Crime Unit, has an inauspicious first day. Included with a group of detectives, he is sent to pick up a murder suspect. Unfortunately, the suspect gets away leaving Blake's partner severely injured and Blake being blamed for not doing more to help his partner.

Now confined to a desk job, he is investigating for a string of murders that have no rhyme or reason. Women are being found dead in their homes, their cell phone rammed down their throat and in all but the first woman found, they also are found without their tongues.

The women seem to have willingly let the killer into their homes. There are no defensive cuts or bruises, no one has seen anyone come or go, there is no motive. Even the victims themselves have nothing in common ... old, young, blonde, brunette .. it seems that no woman is safe. Why were these women targeted?

Feeling like he doesn't quite belong, Blake nevertheless puts in the hours needed to pour through CCTV video, looking at telephone records, making endless phone calls. What he finds might be the lead everyone is looking for.

I really enjoy the character of Sean Blake. He's young, but so ambitious. He's been the carer of his mother for many years. She was a policewoman before an accident put her in a wheelchair. He loves his mom and doesn't resent having to take care of her ... BUT ... he also wishes she wouldn't interfere with everything he does .. or doesn't do. Watching their relationship is like peeking through a neighbor's window.

This is a terrific police procedural, convincingly depicting the activities of the Serious Crime Unit. The characters are credible, pacing is steady from the very first page to the explosive ending. I look forward to seeing more of DC Blake in the future.

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