Conspiracy on the Levels by David Hodges

Detective Kate Hamblin Mystery #16

DETECTIVE KATE HAMBLIN IS FIGHTING FOR HER CAREER – AND MAYBE HER LIFE – IN THE GRIPPING CRIME THRILLER FROM A FORMER POLICE OFFICER.

Elderly Agnes Everard never stood a chance. The car slams into her at breakneck speed, then vanishes in a cloud of billowing smoke and burned rubber.

Hours later, two officers knock on Detective Kate’s door. A witness swears it was Kate’s vehicle that hit Agnes Everard – and the evidence agrees.

Kate knows it’s a lie. But before she can fight back, she’s suspended, her badge stripped away, her reputation in tatters.

With the help of her loyal husband Hayden – the only person who believes she’s innocent – Kate sets out to investigate. A tip-off leads to a rented flat in Highbridge – and a body at the foot of the stairs, neck snapped, eyes staring. Kate realizes Agnes wasn’t the only target.

Someone is orchestrating this. Someone who’s watching Kate closely.

Someone who knows exactly how to destroy her – and is prepared to kill anyone who gets in the way.

With her career on the line and the net tightening, Kate must uncover who wants her ruined – before she becomes the next body on the floor.

Conspiracy on the Levels by David Hodges | #16 in Detective Kate Hamblin Mystery series

Published 9 July 2026 by Joffe Books

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I’m delighted to be taking part in the Virtual Book Tour for Conspiracy on the Levels, hosted by Zooloo’s Book Toursfrom 9 – 15 July 2026. You can see the full tour schedule here.

My sincere thanks to Joffe Books and Zooloo’s Book Tours for the opportunity to read and review this book, and for providing a digital review copy.

As always, my review is based solely on my own reading experience and reflects my honest opinion.

About the Author

David Hodges served in the Thames Valley Police, from the rank of Constable to Superintendent, retiring after thirty years with the force. During that time, he gained wide experience in numerous operational and management roles, including both urban and rural policing, membership of the tactical Support Group, an authorised firearms and public order unit, and departmental and operational command. Prior to his retirement, he was appointed the force Press, Public Relations Officer and completed his career as the head of Corporate Communication.

A prolific writer, with fifteen crime novels published so far, including ten in his Somerset Murder Series, David is a member of the Society of Authors, the Crime Writers and Crime Readers Associations and International Thriller Writers.

An active supporter of public libraries, and keenly interested in wildlife and the countryside, he is married, with two daughters and four grandchildren, and now lives in beautiful Pembrokeshire, where he can fully indulge his passion for writing.

My Review

Having now read three books in David Hodges’ Detective Kate Hamblin series, I’m becoming increasingly convinced that one of the author’s greatest strengths is knowing exactly how to keep the pages turning. Conspiracy on the Levels is a perfect example of that. From the opening chapters, the story launches straight into the action and simply refuses to slow down. Every chapter seemed to raise the stakes a little higher, making it almost impossible to find a sensible place to stop reading. Having already bought the first eight books in the series, I think it’s about time I went back and discovered how Kate’s journey began.

What made this instalment particularly gripping was the way the story unfolds through alternating points of view. As readers, we’re given glimpses of events unfolding behind the scenes while Kate remains unaware that someone is working against her. Watching her try to piece everything together, knowing she was being manipulated at almost every turn, created a constant sense of anticipation. I found myself silently urging her to catch up before whoever was behind it all could make their next move.

One aspect that I found myself reflecting on was how quickly Kate’s colleagues seemed prepared to accept the allegations against her. While I completely understood the need for the accusations to be taken seriously, I couldn’t help wondering whether a respected senior detective would really find so few people willing to question whether something more complicated might be happening. It didn’t lessen my enjoyment of the story, but it was something I found myself thinking about as the investigation unfolded.

The pace never lets up. Just as one revelation lands, another follows close behind, and each twist only increased my determination to discover who was pulling the strings. Rather than relying on shock value, the tension builds naturally through the investigation, making this one of those books where “just one more chapter” quickly turned into several.

There is, however, one aspect of the series that still doesn’t sit comfortably with me, and that’s the way Hayden is portrayed. While he is clearly Kate’s biggest supporter and remains steadfastly by her side throughout everything she faces, I continue to find the repeated references to his appearance, his eating habits and his reluctance to work unnecessarily dismissive. It feels at odds with the loyalty and support he consistently shows Kate, and I couldn’t help wishing his character was treated with a little more warmth and respect. Having only read three books in the series, I do wonder whether starting from the beginning might give me a better understanding of their relationship, but based on what I’ve read so far, this remains my one recurring reservation.

That aside, Conspiracy on the Levels is another thoroughly absorbing instalment in the Detective Kate Hamblin series. Fast-paced, cleverly plotted and packed with tension from beginning to end, it’s a book that continually kept me on edge and left me eager to see how everything would unfold. If you enjoy crime thrillers that grab your attention from the very first page, keep the tension high throughout, and leave you constantly questioning what might happen next, this is one I would happily recommend.

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