Detective Kate Hamblin Mystery #14
Five old friends. One guilty secret. A crime that won’t stay buried.
Detective Kate and her husband Hayden are hoping to ease in gently after a year-long sabbatical.
But on Kate’s first day back in the job, she’s called out to Pagan’s Clump, an isolated, eerie spot on the Somerset Levels. Human remains have been discovered.
Kate races to the scene. Only to learn the bones have been there for many years. This cold case is going nowhere.
Then Kate’s called out to a break-in at bestselling novelist Lizzie Johnson’s stunning country home. Another false alarm. Lizzie contacted the police with wild tales of a nightmarish face at her window. Now she thinks she was mistaken.
Two days later, Lizzie Johnson is dead. An accidental overdose, it would appear.
Kate is not convinced. She doesn’t believe in ghosts and ghouls — but the dead woman was clearly terrified of something.
Then Kate uncovers a link between Lizzie Johnson and the bones at Pagan’s Clump — and the case takes a shocking twist . .
Shadows on the Levels by David Hodges | #14 in Detective Kate Hamblin Mystery series
Published 7 January 2025 by Joffe Books
About the Author
A former superintendent with Thames Valley Police, with thirty years experience in the force, David Hodges is a prolific crime writer and author of eighteen crime novels plus an autobiography on his life in the police service. His debut crime novel received critical media acclaim and a welcome accolade from Inspector Morse’s creator, the late great Colin Dexter, and since then he has become the author of several successful stand-alone thrillers, including FLASHPOINT (now out of print) BURNOUT, SLICE, BLAST and TARGET.
David has two married daughters and four grandchildren and lives in the UK with his wife, Elizabeth, where he continues to indulge his passion for thriller writing and to pursue his keen interest in wild life and the countryside.
He is a member of the Society of Authors, the Crime Writers and Crime Readers Associations and International Thriller Writers Inc.
David Hodges is not on social media.
About the Series
The Somerset murder novel series, published by Joffe Books, which is set on the mist-shrouded Somerset Levels in England and features the exploits of feisty detective, Kate, and her easy-going partner, Hayden, has gone from strength to strength. It has attracted keen interest in Europe, the USA, Canada and Australia as well as in Britain.
Joffe Books have recently, November 2024, republished the first 8 Detective Kate Hamblin novels in this series as a box set for kindle readers:
Get eight compelling crime mysteries in one great-value box set — hours of quality reading at your fingertips! (also available on Kindle Unlimited) – of course I bought them!
Book 1: MURDER ON THE LEVELS
Book 2: REVENGE ON THE LEVELS
Book 3: FEAR ON THE LEVELS
Book 4: KILLER ON THE LEVELS
Book 5: SECRETS ON THE LEVELS
Book 6: DEATH ON THE LEVELS
Book 7: POISON ON THE LEVELS
Book 8: WITCH FIRE ON THE LEVELS
My Review
Shadows on the Levels was my first introduction to Detective Kate Hamblin and, despite being the fourteenth book in the series, I never once felt as though I had missed out by not reading the earlier novels. David Hodges provides just enough background to allow new readers to settle in quickly, while leaving me curious to discover everything that had come before.
From the opening chapters I found myself completely absorbed in the investigation. The mystery surrounding the discovery on Pagan’s Clump immediately captured my attention and, as the case unfolded, I found myself reading faster and faster, almost convinced that if I could just keep up with Kate then the case might be solved sooner and perhaps even prevent further casualties — which I know is completely irrational, but it’s exactly how this kind of story makes you feel. Just when I thought I had a handle on where the story was heading, another twist would send me back to square one.
What really stood out for me was the atmosphere. The Somerset Levels provide the perfect backdrop for a story filled with secrets, suspicion and long-buried truths. There is an unsettling quality running throughout the novel that quietly builds the tension, making it one of those books where every unexpected sound around the house suddenly seems that little bit louder. More than once I found myself glancing over my shoulder while reading late into the evening.
The pacing is excellent, balancing the investigation with enough surprises to keep the story moving without ever feeling rushed. I enjoyed following the different strands of the mystery as they gradually came together, and the final revelations were well earned, tying everything together in a satisfying conclusion.
After finishing Shadows on the Levels, I was left wanting to know more about Kate Hamblin and her previous investigations. That’s always a good sign for a long-running series, and I have no doubt I’ll be returning to discover the books I’ve missed. EDIT: I have already snapped up the first eight novels after discovering they’ve been reissued on Kindle and now have them waiting to be read.
If you enjoy atmospheric crime fiction, clever mysteries and detective novels that keep you guessing while steadily building the tension, Shadows on the Levels is well worth adding to your reading list.
I’m incredibly thankful to have been included on the blog tour for Shadows on the Levels by David Hodges. The tour runs 7th to 13th January 2025 and is being hosted by ZooLoo’sBookTours. A huge thanks to ZooLoo’s Book Tours, Joffe Books, and David Hodges for the opportunity to be involved.
#ShadowsOnTheLevels #DavidHodges #JoffeBooks #ZooLoosBookTours #VirtualBookTour #CrimeThriller #BookReview
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