“Don’t waste your time, he’s just another dead junkie.”That’s what Detective Inspector Solomon Gray is told when the body of a junkie is found. But Gray recognises the junkie’s name – an old school friend of his daughter. The trouble is, drug users are the underclass, who cares about them? Investigations are brief and the deaths ruled accidental, the people are soon forgotten and life moves on.… forgotten and life moves on.
Soon, Gray learns there’s a new gang in town, quietly supplanting the previous channel. Albanians, well known for their brutality. The Albanians, run by the vicious Leka Krisniqi, work by fear and intimidation, making it near impossible for Gray to break in. Word from the street is Krisniqi’s gang are killing anyone remotely suspected of working with the police, spiking drugs with enough contaminant, just the weight of a snowflake, to ensure the user is dead the moment the narcotics enter their body.
And Gray gets a call from an old foe, Sylvia – she was PA to Gray’s deceased and disgraced boss and ex-friend. Sylvia’s husband has gone missing. Early one morning he upped and left with just the clothes on his back and hasn’t been seen since. However, Gray isn’t keen to help, one missing man who’s walked out on someone he doesn’t much like hardly seems important when compared to a spate of murders.
Eventually, Gray finds someone who just may be able to help, a street dealer called E. But she’s afraid for her own life and that of her family. But first Gray must do something for her…
Can Gray bring down the Albanians before more people die?
Set in the once grand town of Margate in the south of England, the now broken and depressed seaside resort becomes its own character in this dark detective thriller, perfect for fans of Ian Rankin, Stuart MacBride, and Peter James.
Pity The Dead is the fifth book in the series featuring Detective Sergeant Solomon Gray. Buy it now to discover if Gray can stop the murders of innocents.
What Others Say
”… deeply emotional, a dark rollercoaster ride.”
Ed James, author of bestselling DI Fenchurch series
“Nixon combines his trademark gritty humour with a flawless police procedural.”
M.W. Craven, author of the Washington Poe series
“Be prepared for everything to resolve in dramatic fashion.”
Crime Fiction Lover
What Readers Say
“I follow a lot of Detective series but this is by far one of the best.”
“You’ve no idea how glad I am to be back in Gray’s world!”
“The author has such an amazing talent for telling tales.”
“Hard to put down and gripping to the very end.”
“There has to be another installment soon!”
“Wow, this series just gets better.”
“Another strong installment in a thoroughly enjoyable series.”
“A fantastic read with brilliant characters.”
“A very entertaining and well-executed thriller. ”
“A compelling murder mystery with a multilayered and engaging new hero. Great read.”
Mason Cross, author of the Carter Blake thriller series
“A dark, uncompromising tale of loss, murder, and revenge. Glorious noir, which takes the police procedural elements and gives them new life. I can’t wait to read the next step in Solomon Gray’s journey for answers …”
Luca Veste, author of the Murphy and Rossi crime series
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The aura of suspense increasingly bumped up my anxiety, notch by excruciatingly-taut notch. The palpable tension held me in thrall. The twists made me audibly gasp in shock. And, the fast pace of the wildly-captivating plot kept me swiping the pages feverishly. I am definitely going to have to go back and catch up on the beginning of this series and am genuinely looking forward to its continuation.
*I received a complimentary ARC of this book in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.
When DI Gray goes to the site of a young person’s death, they all said to “Not worry about it, just a junkie”. But Gray remembers the name of the junkie, he used to be a friend of his daughter. Then another policeman tells him that this isn’t the first time he has seen a death like this. Come to find out, a new drug is in town and it is killing its users. Gray may have found someone who can help him with the Albanians gang, but of course, she wants something in return. Can this gang be stopped before more kids die? This is a wonderful police procedural type of story. I enjoyed it very much. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
I really enjoyed this book. I loved the characters. They had an unique relationship that the author describes well. I liked the mystery and chaos that seemed to keep happening. The plot is wonderful! It describes the problem we have with drugs and how difficult it is to get at the heart of the problem. The author is detailed in his descriptions of everything which makes it easier to imagine what is happening. This is a book to read for sure!
The good news for Detective Solomon Gray and his team ….. the drug trafficking seems to be less these days. The bad news …. junkies all over town are dying of overdoses. Or are they?
There’s a new drug lord in town … the Albanians … who rule with fear and terrorizing those who breathe a word to anyone .. especially the cops .. about their business and they are later found dead. Some of them have families that have been threatened with all kinds of torture, mutilation, and death.
There is also a quiet rumor that someone in the Department is aiding the enemy, another problem the Detective must go against! Who can Gray trust?
Can Gray bring down the dealers before more people die?
This is such a well written addition to a super series. Solomon Gray is a solid character … a man with a history and current issues, but he perseveres in the pursuit of justice. His new team member looks like she will be a keeper for the department … if she can keep her eye on the ball and not on Gray. Secondary characters also offer credibility to the story premise.
It’s an action packed thriller with lots of twists and turns and surprises along the way. Riveting from the very first page. Although 5th in this series, this is easily read as a stand alone, but I highly recommend starting at the very beginning for a great marathon read.
Many thanks to the author / TBC Reviewer Request Group (FB) for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.