‘Nobody understands the criminal mind better than Noelle Holton’ M. W. Craven, CWA Gold Dagger Award-winning author of The Puppet ShowThe serial killer is behind bars. But the murders are just beginning… DC Maggie Jamieson’s past comes back to haunt her in this dark and gripping serial killer thriller Three missing women running out of time… They were abducted years ago. Notorious serial … time…
They were abducted years ago. Notorious serial killer Bill Raven admitted to killing them and was sentenced to life.
The case was closed – at least DC Maggie Jamieson thought it was…
But now one of them has been found, dismembered and dumped in a bin bag in town.
Forensics reveal that she died just two days ago, when Raven was behind bars, so Maggie has a second killer to find.
Because even if the other missing women are still alive, one thing’s for certain: they don’t have long left to live…
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First, I want to thank Noelle Holton, BOTBSPublicity, One More Chapter and NetGalley for providing this book so I may bring you this review.
Dead Wrong by Noelle Holton is the follow up to her debut novel Dead Inside. These books can be read as a stand-alone or as part of the series. I myself read it as a stand-alone and was able to follow it ok.
I never knew that Noelle had been a Senior/Probation Officer for 18 years. Now I understand why she loves true crime so much. Not to mention is a great true crime writer.
Bill Raven’s story was sick and twisted yet I loved it. However, my heart went out to Maggie who had to deal with this case. Oh boy was he a sick twisted man!!
Love how Noelle uses the same phrase I do- same shit different day!
I liked how well Maggie and Kate worked well together and how much they had to bring to the table.
This was a very interesting book.
After a sleepless night I decided to take the afternoon off and read a book that has been sitting on my Kindle for a few weeks. This is the second book in the Maggie Jamieson thriller series and what a fabulous thriller this was.
I will say one thing, Noelle does enjoy leaving her books with cliffhanger endings. lol
This was an exceptional second book and you can’t help but root for Maggie. She’s tasked with finding a killer who is abducting women and dismembering them but wait, that’s not all. I don’t want to give any spoilers away as others seem to have done in their reviews but I will say that someone she dealt with in the first book crops up again in this one. And what a nasty piece of work they are too.
I loved the introduction of Kate, a kindred spirit to Maggie. She added another dimension to the book which I really enjoyed reading. Along with Nathan, the characters do indeed, jump off the page.
But, oh my, that ending…
Hurry up Noelle, I need book three ASAP.
Highly recommended.
Two years have passed since twisted psychopath Bill Raven had been convicted for the kidnap and murder of three women. Despite the lack of any bodies, the CPS had been happy with the evidence that the police had gathered plus Raven had confessed to the crimes. Only now, his conviction has been thrown into doubt after the discovery of some severed limbs that have been forensically linked to one of his victims. This new evidence gives Raven the opportunity to launch an appeal against his conviction and as each day passes it begins to look increasingly likely that he may be set free. Suddenly DS Maggie Jamieson finds herself thrust into the media spotlight and her competence to do her job being called into question. Did she help to convict an innocent man? But then why would someone confess to crimes that he didn’t commit?
With DCI Hastings on the warpath and putting DI Rutherford under constant pressure for results, Maggie and the team find themselves in a deadly game of cat and mouse with more than one cunning killer. It’s obvious that someone has been holding the women captive for the last two years but the longer it takes the team to find the killer, the less chance they have of finding any of the victims alive.
This gripping thriller is voiced from the perspectives of Maggie, DR Kate Moloney, DI Rutherford and Bill Raven. DC Maggie Jamieson is a very likeable, complex character, she can also be very stubborn and always stands behind her convictions despite the doubts of others. I loved the realistic interactions between Maggie and her brother Andy and her struggles with her feelings for Kate. As well as dealing with the pressures of the case, Maggie also had to deal with her colleague Nathan’s promotion to acting DS. Would his promotion have a detrimental effect on their close working relationship? I had no idea how DI Rutherford dragged herself into work every morning what with the the police being vilified by the press, the case resembling a endless maze with lots of dead ends and no exit signs and a stubborn DC who was constantly coming up with theories and connections that no one else on the team including DI Rutherford were seeing. Kate was also having to deal with her own personal dilemma, she had a stalker who kept sending her mysterious notes and then upped the anti by sending her a parcel. I was a bag of nerves whilst she was opening that parcel due to a thread that was running through the main story. Narcissistic Bill Raven was a seriously unlikable character who made my skin crawl every time he made an appearance. I really really wanted Maggie to get an opportunity to wipe the self satisfied, smug look off his gloating face. Some characters that we were introduced to in the previous book Dead Inside also made an appearance in this book including Mark, Lucy and Sarah Hardy.
Dead Wrong is a extremely well written, intricately plotted, addictive thriller that draws the reader into the characters fictional world and has you frantically turning the pages. It is difficult to believe that this is only Noelle Holten’s second book,her writing is so slick and smart and she is obviously a very talented author. There was some very unexpected twists and turns and as for that ending, I nearly dropped my kindle in shock and ended up sitting in my comfy chair for at least ten minutes doing a very bad impersonation of OMG cat. I mean….talk about mind blowing. I can’t wait for book 3 in this brilliant series. Very very highly recommended
After reading “Dead Inside,” I just had to grab the rest of the books in the series and I certainly wasn’t disappointed! Book two, “Dead Wrong,” is just as suspenseful as the first book, but this time DC Maggie Jamieson finds herself in the thick of it, trying to prove that Bill Raven is rightfully serving his time behind bars even though everyone thinks otherwise. Has she truly made a grave mistake and put an innocent man in prison or is a series of new murders is all a part of an elaborate plan? Or, perhaps, they have a copycat on the loose? Only Maggie’s perseverance and her trust in her investigator’s instincts helped her and her team to finally uncover the truth. I admit, I never saw the twist coming. Charged with tension, rich in details, deeply psychological, this thriller is perfect for all fans of the genre. I already can’t wait to dive into book 3!
“Dead Wrong” hits the ground running picking up right where “Dead Inside” left off! As a back-to-back reader, I appreciated the smooth transition into the depths of DC Maggie Jamieson. Luckily, even if I hadn’t just read book one, book two more than stands for itself. This second novel in Noelle Holten’s debut crime thriller series keeps readers spinning circles around the previously convicted serial killer, Bill Raven.
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While the initial Chopper Case was heavily reliant on Raven’s murder confession, the missing women’s bodies were never found. That is, until recently, when their chopped up, body parts began surfacing all over town. It doesn’t take long for Maggie to suspect that Raven was at the root of these horrific deaths. Yet, seeing as he has was in jail when their bodies were found, how could he have done it? Many are questioning the detective’s objectivity, especially the media. Determining Raven’s involvement is exactly what Maggie aims to find out, even while under strict orders to branch out and scour every possible person of interest, reinterview past connections, and play nice in her on-going prison meetings with said convicted serial killer.
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Maggie is one hell of a character, and I just loved her! She felt real and raw. Sure, she overstepped a few times for the sake of the case, letting her gut feelings guide her, but that didn’t make her any less of a detective. She followed her hunches and accommodated her orders, all while navigating her own life and sexuality. Oh, and let’s not forget her cat, Scrappy!
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The multiple narrations between herself, a few of her teammates, criminal psychologist Dr. Kate Moloney and Bill Raven himself really brought this story full circle. It was interesting to see how Raven’s mind worked, the banter between him and Maggie, and each of the Chopper Case connections along the way. I don’t want to give too much away, though, so I’ll just leave it at that.
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I would recommend this novel to those interested in crime thrillers with a heavy emphasis on the actual police procedural. As stated in my review of “Dead Inside,” it’s important to note that this book is a part of a series and does end with a cliffhanger. Rest assured that all of this individual story’s I’s are dotted, and t’s are crossed; the ending scene purely leaves you wanting and ready for the next installment! If this is your kind of read, then get to chopping at those pages!
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I’d like to take a moment and thank the author, the publishers at One More Chapter, a division of Harper Collins UK, and NetGalley for my complimentary ebook copy of “Dead Wrong.” I enjoyed this ebook right alongside my purchased paperback and audiobook copies. I have voluntarily and honestly reviewed this title.
Wow! ‘Dead Wrong’ is the second book in the series and boy did it start with a bang and a brilliant hook. It is a fantastic serial killer thriller. The crimes grotesque, the pages – turning at lightning speed, the forensics and crime team – brilliant, and the antagonist – creepy as hell.
I love Maggie, the lead character. She’s so gutsy and determined, everything I as the reader want to be from my comfy seat while settling down to read. The police team felt real in the way it was written. I enjoyed the team and the way they worked together.
What really excited me were the chapters between Raven and Maggie. I got this psychological battle vibe going on where he toyed with her from his prison cell. Absolutely fantastic read! This is not a book to miss and definitely another winner by Noelle Holten.
I was not aware this was book two of at least a trilogy. Tough slog for the first half without introduction/background. Very unevenly paced. Second half was much quicker. Won’t be looking for a third volume.
Great read. Unusual twists and turns with a terribly unexpected ending. Could not put down.
The book was long and could have been a little more complicated& interesting. Just something was missing. Excitement and Kaye didn’t share in the beginning. Once they spoke with witness no backup or background check. The serial killer was obsessed with the detective but she ignored obvious clues. Very lax on observation around her neighborhood.
WOW! Another fabulous read from Noelle Holten. Dead Wrong is the second book in the DC Maggie Jamieson series, a firecracker of a read and a solid page-turner. In this second installment, the series starts with DC Maggie Jamieson’s new case involving a serial killer who has a penchant for drugging his victims and using dismemberment as a means to clean up his crime scene. Nicknamed “The Chopper,” his MO is strikingly similar to that of The Raven, someone Jamieson put behind bars a long time ago. But when another victim is found bearing his unforgettable hallmark, she doesn’t understand how he could be responsible.
There is so much wisdom in Holten’s writing. Her 18 years as a probation officer provide a good understanding of procedure and buffs up every twist and cliff hanger available. You feel as if you’re right there with Maggie and her team as she painstakingly pores through evidence, while The Raven, a monster and sadist, is appealing to be set free. You can’t help questioning whether Jamieson did, in fact, put away the right man. There are times when my brain started to work overtime, convinced that something wasn’t right. Who really is the master manipulator and who did commit these recent crimes?
Jamieson isn’t typecast. You can’t categorize her as a run-of-the-mill of crime fighter. She’s an independent, roll up your sleeves and get on with it type, even though there are small cracks in her armour. She is determined to crack a crime no matter what it takes, and with little home life to speak of, she is freer than most to achieve that goal. This characteristic is more common than people think for those working areas of justice and law enforcement. It require long hours and very little sleep, not something that pairs well with raising small children and nurturing a relationship. Without all that to clutter up the narrative, I found no distractions in the plot that other books of this type tend to use as fillers. Holten’s research and experience have given credence to the plot, giving the book the added depth most readers crave.
The support team working with Jamieson were invaluable. A special nod to Bethany, DI Rutherford, and DS Nathan. Although The Raven played Jamieson up to the bitter end, I knew she’d have him in an arm-lock in the nick of time. Kudos to Holten for writing such convincing characters who don’t deviate from their distinctive and arresting personalities. (No pun intended.)
Overall tension is further enhanced by assertive writing, well-plotted twists and a few red herrings along the way. The ending will leaving you gasping for the next book.
Dead Wrong by Noelle Holton
DC Maggie Jamieson #2
You know you put the bad guy behind bars where he will rot forever and have tried to forget all about him only to see him front and center in the latest news appealing his conviction. You know he is not innocent but how to prove it…especially when women he says he killed a few years ago start showing up dismembered. That is DC Maggie Jamieson’s job and she is very good at her job!
This was the first book I have read by this author and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I missed out on the first one but was fully able to read and enjoy this one without having that one first even though I have the feeling that in book one she worked with a different police group than she worked with in this book. I believe I have found a new author that will provide thrills and chills and wonderful police procedurals for me to read and look forward to doing so as soon as she has them written.
What I liked:
* Maggie: focused, intelligent, dedicated, good at what she does – she cares about family, friends and those she seeks justice for.
* Andy: her brother – would like to know more about him
* Her teammates – I have a feeling that as the series progresses more will be learned about each one of them.
* Police procedural sussing out of what the truth of the matter in this case really was
* The potential for romance
* Dialogue between characters
* It seemed believable
* The creep-factor of the crime
* That the perpetrators of the crime, most of them, are brought to justice
What I did not like:
* The evil ones – there were a few
* Knowing that crime exists and that no doubt this story is the tip of the iceberg
* Having to wait for book three
Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more by this author? Yes
Thank you to the author who gifted me a copy of her book through BOTBS Publicity – This is my honest review.
4-5 Stars
What a conundrum! How does he do it? Determined DC Jamieson WILL solve the mystery!
4.5stars
This police procedural with missing victims and a crazed serial killer who disposed of women like they were trash had all the best elements of a murder mystery. Numerous red herrings, press and a defense that demonize the police, a truly unlikable villain and building tension as the victim count rises all came together in a really suspenseful story. How can a confessed killer who’s in prison be involved in a current spate of dismemberment murders? And why fresh murders of the same women he said had been killed two years earlier? The reasoning, motive and execution kept me guessing right through most of the story.
I really liked the writing and format of the story. Short chapters always draw me along at a faster pace. Although some references pop up regarding characters from the previous book in the series (which I did not get the chance to read), you really don’t need to read the previous book to enjoy this one. The police station dynamics, with a police team that worked together like a well-liked machine led by a DI who seems a bit distrustful of Maggie’s ability to maintain professional objectivity, added to the drama. And what a gasp-inducing way to end the book. There has to be a sequel now!
Thanks to publishers Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter and NetGalley for providing an advance complimentary copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.