Savage Moon: Some won’t see the morning…Reviews‘I’ll be downloading more of Chris Simms’ books ASAP. I feel like I’ve found a hidden gem.’ Amazon Reader Review (Pecking Order) Chris Simms has been quietly building one of the best police procedural series in this country. (CATHOLIC HERALD)An atmospheric, psychologically astute and emotionally literate study of the nature of predator and prey, … emotionally literate study of the nature of predator and prey, with an unexpected ending. (THE GUARDIAN)
An intricate plot is enhanced by good writing and human sympathy. Highly recommended. (LITERARY REVIEW)
Simms weaves an ingenious and surprising thriller with a big twist in the tale.’ (BOOK CLUB ASSOCIATES)
The plot has more twists and turns than a rollercoaster…fast-paced, involving, tense and well-written. (SHOTS MAGAZINE)
Simms is getting better and better. A chilling thriller, this will have you leaving the light on when you climb into bed.’ (LOVE READING)
Book description
The body of a woman with her throat ripped out is found on Saddleworth Moor, near Manchester. She is discovered in an area where several sightings of a large black cat have been made.
When analysis shows that hairs caught under the victim’s nails are those of a panther, it’s assumed the animal has killed its first human prey.
Then a man DI Jon Spicer is investigating as part of an entirely different case is murdered in exactly the same way. Only this time the body is found in a secluded car park far closer to the city centre.
Spicer is soon on the trail of a killer dubbed ‘The Monster of the Moor’, a creature whose stealth and savagery strikes terror into the hearts of men and women alike.
About the Author
Chris Simms’ acclaimed first novel in the DI Spicer series, KILLING THE BEASTS was selected as a Best Crime book for 2005 by SHOTS magazine. He was then selected as a Waterstone’s Author for the Future, one of 25 writers tipped by publishers, editors and agents, to produce the most impressive body of work over the next quarter century. Since then he has been nominated several times for the THEAKSTON’S CRIME NOVEL OF THE YEAR and for CRIME WRITERS’ ASSOCIATION DAGGERS. Chris lives in Manchester.
Find out more on his official web site or his Facebook page through an internet search of ‘Chris Simms author’.
more
a completely different perspective on the Mau Mau uprising. Difficult to accept BUT know that injustice breeds anger.
A readable novel with a somewhat far-fetched plot.
Read was a little slow for me.
I really liked this, very dark
I like the DI Spicer series with it’s flawed character hero.
I really liked this book. Spicer reminds me of a civilized Lasser. Can’t wait to read more books in the series.
I give this book 3.6 stars. It was promoted as a thriller/mystery about a woman slashed to death on the moors in England. And it starts off with a bang.
This is my first book by the author and he is quite good in making you feel the fear and panic of a black panther loose and moving onto more deaths. DI Jon Spicer is a new sleep deprived Dad and taking on the case of the dead woman when it collides with his case of a dead predator of gay men. And the dead man is slashed and gutted just like the woman.
Meanwhile, Jon’s wife is struggling with their baby Holly, not going out if the house, or seeing friends, or keeping the house and Holly clean. For a smart cop, Jon is oblivious to his wife’s condition or even checking with their doctor. Because his wife is obsessed with the deaths in Iraq, what he doesn’t see is his own obsession with finding out if the killer is animal or man.
Police procedural, war atrocities, depression, and the civil unrest earlier between England and Africa all play a part in this book. It was interesting but so much history and little on the murders except when a new person is slashed and the people worry about a panther while the cops worry it may be a man with a particular grudge.
I wished more time on the wars could have been edited to keep the pace of the book moving or perhaps easing up on the adoptions and friendships as it made for tough reading and keeping everything straight.
It was a mystery with historical truths, thrills, postpartum, and revenge……if he’d dropped just one area to keep the story moving at a better pace. Excellent at describing scenes and feelings but confusing as it deepened into relationships/adoptions and the past. Perhaps read this during the day for easier concentration and know this is not a thriller but a very involved mystery.
Powerful and complex British police procedural. Interesting characters, complete with human foibles. Story gets deeper and darker the further you read. The ending makes you think.
The beleaguered DI engages the reader as he exorcises his personal demons, while tenaciously following the clues to solve the crimes. The dark plot twists will leave you guessing ‘til the end! A good read—couldn’t put it down.
I liked it a good story
Great plot, excellent characters, compelling storyline.
The best kind of reading there is! Non-stop action that keeps you suspended until the very satisfying end….
very good reading. looking forward to reading more of his books
Started reading but did not like content. Liked nothing about it.
Can’t wait to get to the next chapter.