| Title | : | Dead Gone (DI Murphy and DS Rossi, #1) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 0007525575 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9780007525577 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 408 |
| Publication | : | First published December 5, 2013 |
A tense, unpredictable crime debut that will not only have you gripped, but will chill you to the bone. Perfect for fans of Stuart MacBride and Mark Billingham.
A serial killer is stalking the streets of Liverpool, gruesomely murdering victims as part of a series of infamous, unethical and deadly psychological experiments.
When it becomes apparent that each victim has ties to the City of Liverpool University, DI David Murphy and DS Laura Rossi realise they're chasing a killer unlike any they've hunted before – one who doesn’t just want his victims’ bodies, but wants their minds too.
With a series of psychological twists Dead Gone will keep you guessing until the very end.
Dead Gone (DI Murphy and DS Rossi, #1) Reviews
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After struggling with this book for a while, I give up. I'm not enjoying anything about this book. DI Murphy blatantly disregards a letter left attached to the victim, stating it's meant to lead the investigation into the wrong direction. DS Rossi has no time for male companionship but sucks up to Murphy constantly. DS Brannon is a sexist and threatens Rossi but she doesn't take it seriously. When Murphy and Rossi are in an elevator making jokes and laughing over a previous murder case, that was my last straw. There's nothing here that grabs my interest.
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Dead Gone is a Brilliant Scouse Thriller
Dead Gone by Luca Veste is a brilliant debut by the scouse author who also happens to be a mature psychology and criminology student and he brings that knowledge to the fore in this book. For a debut novel this is a brilliant psychological and police procedural crime thriller, with more twists and turns than your average game of twister. Dead Gone is a brilliant example of twisted storytelling that keeps you on edge and those pages turning because you are trying to get inside the head of killer and detectives.
We are introduced to Detective Inspector David Murphy and Detective Sergeant Laura Rossi work together on the major incident team for Liverpool North which also covers the City centre of Liverpool. We are introduced to them as they start to investigate a murder the victim of which is found in Sefton Park with a letter which is the beginning of a chase for which they rarely get clues or that lucky break. But we start with the abduction of Jemma from a night out in Liverpool and we see how it all ties together towards the end.
As the bodies start appearing all over Liverpool City centre each one comes with a letter telling them that this body is part of an ongoing experiment but leaves them no clues. We do get the occasional hint that this is an experiment referring back to historic and very controversial psychological experiments, such as those by the CIA and the use of LSD. Dead Gone takes these old experiments and brings them to life in Liverpool and at the same time is poking sticks at Murphy and Rossi. The only real clues that they have is that somehow these murders all centre round the City of Liverpool University and first they must work out how this link falls into place before they can make progress with the murder investigations.
What I like about Dead Gone is that as well as being given the back story of DI Murphy and DS Rossi they are rounded characters, scousers who love their city even if one is now a woolly back. We see how this investigation impacts upon Murphy and all the skeletons in his cupboards and how some involved in the investigation are not afraid to point them out to him. Even in the depths of despair Murphy realises he has his issues to deal with but he has the murders to clear up first. We are able to see how this impacts upon his mental health and is torture to him.
Veste has written a brilliant thriller where there are no clear clues to who is actually committing the murders and the real reason why. I do hope that we get another chance to meet Murphy and Rossi and see how these detectives develop as a pairing. Right now though I cannot recommend Dead Gone highly enough. -
A serial killer is on the loose .... not so much different from other serial killers we've all read. They're all on the loose until they are caught.
This one is different. He is taking young university students and in his words .. experimenting ... on them. He is using a template of previous psychological experiments that were recorded years earlier. He is just 'improving' the tests.
DI David Murphy and DS Laura Rossi are called upon to investigate. Murphy is still trying to come to terms with finding his parents both brutally murdered. Rossi is ..in our country .. a rookie who looks to Murphy as a mentor. When the bodies, horribly mutilated, start piling up, Rossi fears for her supervisor's sanity.
I love the interaction between the characters. I feel sympathy for Murphy, who wonders if his loss of family will ever allow him to act normally. Rossi is young, ambitious, willing to do those things that bother her most ... like watching an autopsy. DS Tony Brannon is like a small puppy, so anxiously wanting all the big dogs to play with him but instead, they ignore him as much as possible.
There are lots of secondary people roaming around the perimeter of the plot line ...which is necessary in a who-dun-it. But they added intrigue rather than become distracting.
It was the cover of the book and the author's interesting name that drew me in ... but it was the book itself that kept me reading. -
5 Words: dark, scary, thriller, whodunnit, psychology.
More like 3.75 stars, but that's close enough to four.
This book reminded me an awful lot of another book I've read this year;
Mercy by
Jussi Adler-Olsen. There was a similar plot to both, what with the isolation. But I enjoyed this one far more. Maybe it was just that I could pronounce all of the names or that it was told in a very British way.
Rossi was my favourite character - I liked how real she came across as. I loved that she turned to her family and allowed herself to be mothered - goodness knows you'd need a cuddle after that.
Murphy was introduced slowly, and there is so much to learn about him - I was still learning as I read the last pages.
I liked the twist at the end, although I did see it coming from the very first moment that character was introduced. There was definitely something fishy about him.
The imagery is quite vivid without being overpowering. I didn't cringe away but I still felt the full horror of the occurrences.
I would love to read more about Murphy and Rossi, so fingers crossed for more books in the future!
I received a copy of this for free via NetGalley for review purposes. -
I bought Dead Gone as a Kindle Daily Deal on the basis that I liked the sound of it and it got so many good reviews. Well, it took me 11 days to read which is quite a long time for me considering that it's not a particularly long novel. The reason for that is that I didn't really enjoy it.
As a Crime/Murder/Mystery, Dead Gone is set up well, with a damaged cop(!) and his sidekick investigating the murder of a student in Liverpool. Another strand to the plot tells of a university worker whose girlfriend has gone missing... although it's not the first time. Is there a link?
I didn't really take to Veste's writing style. I'm not sure why that is, but for whatever reason I found it got in the way of the story to the point where I didn't care much for any of the characters. One thing that I'm not a fan of is the overuse of short sentences at the end of scenes/chapters in an attempt to convey tension. Then everything changed. And that was a mistake. That's when things got worse. You get the idea.
I should have got more out of Dead Gone more than I did. I usually enjoy British crime novels with their baggage laden heroes and incompetent investigations. But it just didn't do it for me. I guess the writing style is a matter of taste and it appears that the vast majority like it, so maybe I'm being too picky. A fascinating plot though, and I may try Veste again in the future. -
This is an outstanding crime read. Set in Merseyside, Murphy is on the hunt for a killer linked to the Psychology department at the local university. This is the first crime novel for Luca Veste, but it doesn't show. It reads beautifully and fluently, and it has my favourite element, the serial killer. I absolutely recommend this to anyone dying for a good intelligent killer read.
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Coming 2nd December from Avon.
First of all thank you so much for the advance copy of this book from the author. Who is a lovely chap!
In Dead Gone we meet DI David Murphy - a man who has suffered a terrible loss - as he attempts to track down a killer. Not unusual you might think. But actually it is. This is a new breed of serial killer and David, alongside his partner in crime DS Laura Rossi will find themselves entering the darkest recesses of the human mind.
So lets talk for a moment about that group of books commonly known as "serial killer thrillers". There are many out there - good ones, bad ones, scary ones...go into a bookshop and you will find plenty. To my mind the best ones have been written by Thomas Harris, John Connolly and more recently Joe Conlan. I would also like to give a nod to The 50/50 Killer by Steve Mosby - a fairly stunning example of its genre. Now you can happily add Luca Veste to that list...This I can say with certainty. Its not easy to avoid cliche when writing a book of this kind, its also not easy to give it a new "voice" but this is what Mr Veste has managed to do and with terrific success. Engaging, frightening, genuinely shocking in places it will grip you to the last. Flowing storyline, terrific writing and a nod to those that have come before, this is an amazing debut.
So. Characters. You all know I love great characters yes? You will find a fair few in the pages of this novel. David Murphy, haunted, searching for reasons, has great depth to his character. I loved that he often set off down the wrong path - made assumptions then had to correct - not the perfect policeman who you are always sure will eventually solve the case but a realistic nod to investigative technique. He is open to development - a great thing especially when you know that this is the start of a series. Laura is intriguing also, especially in her background and ties to family. I look forward to finding out more about them.
The mystery elements are well imagined and will keep you guessing - the very heart of any crime read. Its complex - no easy trail to follow here but always intriguing and never dull. The resolution will not disappoint. This is going to be a terrific addition to the genre. And if this is the first book, gosh, what is to come? I will wait to find out. Impatiently.
Happy Reading Folks! -
It's difficult to believe this is a debut novel, as the writing is so assured and accomplished. I noted that Luca was studying psychology and criminology when he wrote this, and I wonder if that's where the idea originated. If you enjoy books with a good dollop of psychology, you'll love this. His detectives, DI David Hardy and DS Laura Rossi, make a likeable pair and revisiting them will be a pleasure. My only complaint? That I waited so long to read this! Still, it means I've three more (so far) to enjoy. Thanks to Christine at Northern Crime who keeps me right when it comes to what Brit authors I should be reading! I'll be putting a more detailed review on crimeworm.WordPress.com. But definitely not an author to miss!
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I was desperate to read this book as it had been recommended it back in December and as it's based in Liverpool, my second favourite city in England, started it with relish.
The plot doesn't need to be gone over as this has been covered many times by other reviewers except to say that the disappearance of Jemma Barnes at the start of the book had me hooked and was terrifying in the extreme. A female body is found soon after her kidnapping (albeit her family think Jemma has just up and left, as she has done a few times in the past, and have no idea of the terror she is experiencing or danger she is in) but this turns out to be someone else and from a note found on the body this one is is 'Experiment Three'. The scary stuff starts there as we have no idea who or what experiments One and Two are.
The hero is one DI David Murphy (known as Murphy) and his DS, Laura Rossi. At this point I have to say I could not take to Murphy who is battling with his own demons from the past year and misses lots of vital clues especially in the early days, ie I thought they would immediately start investigating the previous two experiments, and Murphy comes across as being not really with it, in my opinion. Rossi seems to be more on the ball and I really took to her from the outset; she's a really good DS and I did feel at times that she should be leading the investigation.
Murphy spends more time involved in his own private hell, his parents having been murdered a year before at the same time as the breakdown of his marriage to Sarah. Also a case had gone completely wrong and to say the past year has been a nightmare would be a vast understatement. I did try and be sympathetic to him because of this.
I was absolutely convinced I knew who the killer was but then my opinion kept changing and I didn't know who it could be! Then I went back to my original suspect! It's all absolutely terrifying and I stayed up into the wee small hours this morning to finish it. My heart was absolutely thumping for the last quarter and I was quite breathless with it all.
The pace never let's up but is slightly let down by Police who don't seem to be thoroughly investigating matters. At the outset Murphy discounts the letters left with the bodies and I am not sure his instinct would have made him discount these from so very early on.
One thing that slightly bothered me was the reference to a victim by the name of Julie Ward but this name is never mentioned before or after so I'm not sure about that one.
All in all this is a fantastic debut thriller and the references to Liverpool along the way are just great as I love the Albert Dock and could visualise the area.
This is the start of big things for Luca Veste as this is brilliantly written and I cannot wait for his next book. Hopefully Murphy will come back bigger and better in the next and he will become my new hero!
Highly recommended, very addictive but be warned it's absolutely terrifying and you won't be able to put it down until the final page.
9/10 -
Time taken to read - on and off for 2 weeks
Publisher - AVON
Blurb from Goodreads
DI David Murphy and DC Laura Rossi investigate the murder of a student at the City of Liverpool University. Attached to her is a letter from her killer, which details a famous unethical psychological experiment performed on the victim, resulting in her death. Convinced at first that the murderer is someone close and known to the victim, Murphy dismisses the letter as a bid to throw them off the scent…until more bodies are found, each with their own letter attached.
On the other side of the city, Rob Barker, an admin worker at the university, is dealing with his own loss. His partner has been missing for almost a year, with suspicion from all around her firmly pointed at him.
As the two seemingly unconnected events collide, it becomes apparent Murphy is chasing a killer unlike any he’s faced before.
One who kills to discover more about life..
My Review
A serial killer is loose in Liverpool, using innocent people to conduct horrific experiments on and leaving letters to taunt the police. DI David Murphy and his sidekick DC Laura Rossi are on the case trying to work out the killers motivation and victim selection process. The clock is ticking before another body shows up and another innocent person is snatched, the public wants answers, the press is relentless and the pressure is on the police.
For a debut novel it does quite well to grab and pull you in. Rob Barker is a main feature in this tale, his partner went missing and for a while he was a suspect. Almost a year has passed and he knows she is still around, with the murders being linked to his university the police are soon interested in speaking to him again. The story flips from the detectives, to Rob Barker, to the killer and back to one of the victims that we follow from the beginning. I think that is one of my complaints about the story, the chapters are well labeled so you know who it is talking but it jumps around a bit much for me.
The attacks are quite brutal and the pace goes along fairly quickly to keep the reader interested. DI Murphy has a shadow hanging over him that is referred to during the story but the reader doesn't find out until later what the chat is with that. I also felt it speeded up toward the end with the conclusion although it did have a few surprises along the way. Overall, I quite enjoyed it and would rate it as a 3/5. Thanks so much to AVON publishers for providing me with this ARC, you can buy this title yourself from all good retailers from 16th January, 2014. -
I bought this book on the basis of some very good Goodreads reviews. Unfortunately I can't agree with them. I found the plot lacklustre, there was no sense of drama. No surprises either, the outcome was obvious and the twist was not so twisty. The characters were also lacklustre and, apart from the hapless experiment 2 I couldn't care about any of them. I also found the dialogue pretty lame. I know there is such a thing as survivor's guilt but it was unwarranted and lame in the case of Murphy. All-in-all a waste of my time.
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2.5 stars
On the surface, based on the blurb, this should be up my alley. But it took me almost a week to finish this book and that means that it's not enough to hold my attention. Duly noted I also spent the weekend watching Stranger Things 2 but I had enough time before that if I wanted.
I think maybe it was combination of a number POVs within the book (I always prefer detective/mystery books to focus solely on the detective), and the back-and-forth story format between the police's POV to the experiment victim and the killer can't keep the 'edge' for me. Also, I was a bit miffed with how Murphy dismissed the killer's letter because he was certain that the the victim's friend's boyfriend had something to hide. It was a little bit unprofessional in my opinion.
And that ending was quite a disappointment because let's face it, . Even I was able to figure out the killer *shake heads*.
So it had potential, but I was feeling let down by the way the case ended up. Couldn't round it up to my 'okay' category because of it. -
Well, the author had me fooled. Had me completely believing the killer was someone else. Well done! I did find it dragged on a little bit in the middle so I can only give it 4 stars. But I’d like to read more by Veste. Especially if they take place in Liverpool like this one does. Makes a nice change from all those books based in London.
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ARC Received courtesy of Goodreads.com First Reads Giveaway
This novel is the first in a series featuring DI Murphy and DS Rossi. The reader gradually gets the back story on Murphy and it's complicated! I can't wait to read how he finally comes to terms with his past. We don't learn too much about Rossi but she definitely has Murphy's back.
"Dead Gone" is the story of a serial killer who performs bizarre "experiments" on his victims. Murphy and Rossi are digging deep with no clear answers except that all of the victims are related to the University. I found this novel to be very well-written. The characters, even the serial killer, are deeply drawn and filled out people. I very much look forward to book 2! -
All of my reviews can be found on
www.novelgossip.com
By now most of you know that nothing makes me happier than discovering a new to me author. The only thing better is realizing that there are already three more books in this series! Never mind that for now they’re only available in the U.K., that’s what Book Depository is for. This was crime fiction the way it’s supposed to be with intelligent detectives, an extremely complicated case, and plenty of surprises along the way.
Essentially there are two mysteries going on here, the obvious is the case that Murphy and Rossi are trying to solve, but there is also the murder of David’s parents lingering in the background. Though he knows who is responsible for their deaths, it’s revealed to the reader slowly and precisely. It’s clear that Murphy has had a rough time as of late as he’s estranged from his wife Sarah and has been for the past year and a half. He’s struggled on the job as well as in his personal life and this case is his chance to redeem himself.
I really liked Veste’s writing style, it’s smart and sharp and he juggled various viewpoints and timelines like a pro. There are chapters from eighteen months prior when a woman named Jemma disappears, then present day from Murphy, but there are also some parts told from the point of view of the killer and I love getting to see a peek inside their depraved minds. He’s a ruthless serial killer and he immensely enjoys toying with not only his victims, but also the police. This is violent and at times a bit gory, so it’s definitely not for the faint of heart.
There is great character development with Murphy and I really liked seeing him grow as the book progressed. I liked him individually but the scenes with him and Rossi really shone brightly, she’s younger and fresher than he is and they balance each other out perfectly. I changed my mind about who the killer was several times, and though in the end my hunch was right, Veste still managed to throw me for a loop a few more times. I can’t wait to see where this series takes these two and I’m looking really forward to reading more from Veste. -
»Das Mädchen, das Sie gefunden haben, ist nicht mein erstes Experiment. Und es wird nicht das letzte sein.« In Liverpool wird die Leiche einer Studentin gefunden. Daneben ein Brief, der ein verbotenes psychologisches Experiment beschreibt. DI David Murphy hält den Brief für ein Ablenkungsmanöver – bis weitere Leichen auftauchen.Auf der anderen Seite der Stadt versucht Rob Barker, seinen eigenen Verlust zu verarbeiten. Vor knapp einem Jahr verschwand seine Freundin spurlos. Rob wurde verdächtigt, doch es gab keinerlei Beweise. Und zwischen beiden Fällen scheint es eine erschreckende Verbindung zu geben …(Klappentext)
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"Bereits in jungen Jahren wird uns die Angst vor dem Tod gelehrt - jener unbegreiflichen Macht, auf die wir alle zustreben, einzig und allein, weil wir existieren." (S. 9 - Anfang)
Klappentext und Anfang des Psychothrillers lassen einem Großes erwarten - Psychothrill durch und durch.
Die Thematik, die der Autor gewählt hat, lässt einem auf jeden Fall die Gänsehaut rauf und runter laufen. Ein Serienkiller treibt in Liverpool sein Unwesen und der Grund ist seine ganz spezielle Mission - Forschung und Experimente an Menschen. Er hält sich dabei an Dr. Sigmund Freuds These "Das Ziel allen Lebens ist der Tod" und genau diesen will er erforschen und dafür benötigt er natürlich auch Publikum. Mit Briefen, welche an den Opfern angebracht sind, wendet er sich an die Ermittler und diese haben es in sich.
"Was fühlen wir im Augenblick des Todes? Können wir das Gefühl jemals beschreiben? Ohne die wissenschaftliche Forschung, ohne Experimente werden wir keine dieser Fragen je beantworten können." (S. 51)
Man erhält aber nicht nur anhand der Briefe Einsicht in die kranke Gedankenwelt des Täters, sondern auch durch ein paar wenige Erzählstränge des Killers selbst, welche erkennen lassen, dass bei ihm auf psychologischer Ebene so einiges im Argen liegt.
"Die Erste hatte nicht annähernd so sehr geschrien. Dieser nutzlose Haufen Haut und Knochen hatte mit seinem Geheul schier die Wände eingerissen.[...] Die hatte vielleicht Nerven." (S. 134)
Ebenso erhält man Einblick in die Sicht des Opfers "Experiment 2", welches schon seit längerem in seinem Keller sein Dasein fristet, der ganze Stolz des "Wissenschaftlers" ist und mit dem er noch viel vor hat.
Erzählt wird in zwei Handlungssträngen.
Der eine betrifft die Gegenwart und wird hauptsächlich aus der Sicht des leitenden Ermittlers Murphy erzählt, aber zu ihm kommen wir später.
Der zweite Handlungsstrang ist ca. ein Jahr zuvor angesiedelt und enthält die Sichtweise von Rob Barker. Dessen Freundin verschwand nach einem Mädelsabend spurlos, doch keiner will ihm glauben, dass ihr etwas zugestossen sein könnte, da sie in der Vergangenheit schon mehrmals für Monate einfach abgehauen ist. Schließlich gerät er selbst ins Visier der Ermittler.
Bis hierher erscheint der vorliegende Psychothriller ein wahres Goldstück unter den Psychothrillern zu sein - interessante Thematik, der Schreib- und Erzählstil ist durchaus fesselnd und auch der Plot in diesen Bereichen geht einem unter die Haut. Hier erkennt man, dass der Autor, welcher ein Studium in Psychologie und Kriminologie absolvierte, durchaus Ahnung von der Materie hat. Doch leider fällt das Ganze durch den Hauptprotagonisten, den Ermittler Murphy, in sich zusammen.
Dieser hat private Probleme ohne Ende und diese sind wirklich gewaltig. Private Probleme bei Ermittlern sind derzeit ja sehr modern. Kein Krimi/Thriller scheint mehr ohne persönliches Ermittler-Drama auszukommen, aber Luca Veste treibt dies hier wirklich an die Spitze. DI David Murphy hat gleich 3 private Baustellen:
er hat den letzten Mordfall versemmelt. Hier wird jedoch keineswegs darauf eingegangen welchen Mist er gebaut hat. Es wird nur immerzu erwähnt.
Massive Probleme mit seiner Noch-Ehefrau, einer Junkie-Braut, von der er getrennt lebt
..und das ist fast schon ein eigenständiger Fall...seine Eltern wurden auf bestialische Weise ermordet
und als wäre das nicht schon genug, nimmt ihn dann auch noch der Serienkiller ins Visier. Sorry, aber das ist wirklich absolutely too much! Kein Wunder flennt DI Murphy, ist völlig von der Rolle und kann sich nicht wirklich auf den Fall konzentrieren und dieser dann in dem Ganzen Tohuwabohu und Rumgejammere untergeht..und natürlich immer dann wenn es gerade spannend wird.
"Jeder lauerte nur darauf, dass er irgendeine Schwäche zeigte. Doch er hatte sich daran gewöhnt, die Fassade zu wahren - niemandem gegenüber irgendetwas preiszugeben oder zu teilen." (S. 62)
Tja, hätte sich auch nur der Autor etwas daran gehalten, so wäre der Spannungsbogen auf hohem Niveau geblieben und nicht ständig in sich zusammengesackt, aber da wäre das Buch wohl auch nur halb so dick geworden.
Die Auflösung enthält zwar eine große Überraschung, mit dem Ende bin ich trotzdem nicht zufrieden. Hier wird nämlich keineswegs darauf eingegangen, weshalb der Täter so wurde wie er ist, wieso ihn der Tod so fasziniert oder warum er sich für Experimente an Menschen entschieden hat. Man könnte meinen er macht das Ganze einfach nur, weil er gerade lustig ist und nichts besseres zu tun hat.
Mir fehlt hier der Bezug zur Pathopsychologie und bei einem Autor der ein abgeschlossenes Studium in Psychologie und Kriminologie hat, hätte ich mir eigentlich genau das erwartet.
Fazit:
Dieser Psychothriller hätte durchaus ein richtiggehendes Schmankerl werden können. Thematik top, Plot durchaus spannend (wenn das Zwischendrin-Gejammere nicht gewesen wäre) und toller Schreib- und Erzählstil. Leider wird hier jedoch das persönliche Drama des Ermittlers immer wieder in den Vordergrund gerückt und die Menge und Intensität dieser Schicksalsschläge sind einfach zu viel und zu dramatisch. Mich wundert, dass mir von dem ewigen Augenüberdrehen die selbigen nicht steckengeblieben sind.
Auch das Ende konnte mich nicht gänzlich zufriedenstellen.
Für Leser, welche sich für kaputte Ermittler interessieren und erwärmen können, ist dies sicher ein durchaus empfehlenswerter Psychothriller. Ebenso für Leser bei denen das Weshalb und Warum nicht so sehr im Vordergrund stehen.
Mein Highlight war dieser Psychothriller nicht wirklich. Aufgrund des tollen Schreibstils bleibt der Autor trotzdem auf meinem Radar. Vielleicht macht er es beim nächsten Mal ja besser.
© Pink Anemone -
Breathtaking, thrilling & utterly compelling! Dead Gone is one of the best crime reads I have ever read. Review to come...
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Sigh. DNF @ 40%
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I enjoy a good police procedural and this was no exception. With the flawed characterization of Murphy and his feisty partner Rossi, this was a great way to start a series. I’m onto the next!
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I liked it, but I didn't love it.
It was dark and leaned heavy on the psychological aspect of the plot, which was definitely twisted. But, I like more description - whether it's scenery or the gore or the characters. I felt like Luca Veste beat around the bush, letting you kind of know what was going on but never quite taking me into this world. It's hard for me to feel like I'm a part of the puzzle if I don't get all the pieces the way the characters do.
The main character of DI David Murphy was extremely unlikeable. Just a brooding, sad man-baby with no sense of humour. Not even interactions with other characters - his wife, his best friend or his partner - made him interesting. Everything he said was flat and when he did show emotion, it was an unnecessary explosion of anger. He seemed unhinged, as opposed to damaged.
The saving grace for me was his partner, DS Laura Rossi, who didn't get nearly enough page time. She was funny and spunky and I could have used more of her to save me from Murphy's ever-hovering dark cloud.
I always enjoy a good UK crime thriller with a damaged main character, but this one was missing the mark. Murphy just didn't do it for me. His back story seemed disjointed and his personality nearly non-existent. But the plot was intriguing, almost philosophical, and DS Rossi was a silver lining.
⭐⭐½ | 2.5 stars rounded up -
With a solid recommendation from Mark Billingham resplendent on the jacket, I can only echo his words as Veste being a writer to watch, as this debut kept me hooked throughout and I loved the way Veste so neatly draws on his Liverpudlian and Italian roots, both in terms of the setting of the book and in the characterisation of his protagonists. With an assured touch, the reader is quickly immersed in a tautly plotted and psychologically dark tale of missing girls and a slippery killer that plumbs the depths of the psychotic mind, against the backdrop of academia. In much the same way as David Mark depicts Hull and Craig Robertson, Glasgow, Veste presents the reader with a vivid portrait of Liverpool- both good and bad- with the affections and frustrations of his home town presented in equal measure through the eyes and natural humour of his police characters, DI David Murphy and the feisty DS Laura Rossi. I think it’s worth saying at this point, that they make one hell of a team, and I found both characters extremely believable and loved the interplay between them- a partnership that has the propensity to run and run in future investigations I hope. A great debut- more please!
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This is a debut novel by the writer and centres around two main detectives working a serial killer case in Liverpool. The references to Liverpool makes this book for anyone who has knowledge of the area.
This book is well written and the story premise is thrilling and terrifying all in one. I however, found this a little slow to start. Personally I like my crime novels to start with a bang and include a little more gore and description. There are parts later on that clearly make up for the lack of gore at the beginning. Although this was a well written book I found that I never got in to the 'I can't put this down stage.' Although I enjoyed reading it I had to make myself pick it back up once I had put it down. I believe my main problem with this book was that I did not really relate to the main character in the book.
I found this slow in places and hard to get into although I am sure that as the writer develops his lead detectives this may change and result in a good crime series. At present I will reserve judgement on this until I read the next in the series. -
For a debut book this is a really good book.I loved Di David Murphy and Ds Laura Rossi and look forward to reading other books with them in.The story did keep me guessing although i did work out who one of the bad guys was quite early in the book.Maybe i read too many thrillers and watch too much CSI....lol
The reason behind the murders was well thought out and original and you felt the fear and isolation that Jemma was being put through and felt yourself really hoping that she would escape or be found before it was too late.
I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more by this author. -
Ok. So, in doing up this post, I’ve learned two things. A) I’ve had Dead Gone on my kindle since 2014!!!!!! and b) I have been seriously missing out on what looks to be a really solid crime series!
Dead Gone is the first in the Liverpool-based Murphy and Rossi series. It follows their investigation into a psychopathic serial killer who seems to be targeting people who have ties to the City of Liverpool University.
I have to say, I was gripped early on thanks to Luca Veste’s writing style. There’s something there that just hooks the reader and keeps them turning the pages and I was no exception.
I loved the characterisation too. Murphy sounds like an absolute giant of a man, but he’s been through a lot, so there a level of vulnerability there that makes him very endearing. He’s not your typical male lead that you read so often in books, and I really likes him as a character. Rossi also seems like the perfect equaliser for him. A strong woman and capable of picking up even the subtlest of nuances in her partners demeanour.
I’m not going to go into the plot. As per. I thought I had it all figured out, more than once. And I was wrong. Prove me wrong and you have a reader for life! The serial-killer/ antagonist in Dead Gone is twisted. The experiments they carry out are dark, and creepy and oddly compelling in their reasoning.
All in all, a belter of a start with Dead Gone. This one was on my personal TBR hence it took me so long to read it. I have the others though, and I won’t be waiting years to get to them, that’s for certain!
Safe to say you have a new fan Mr. Veste.
Highly recommended! -
This originally appeared at
The Irresponsible Reader.
---They say you get used to it. One victim becomes another. An endless array of body parts lit up, wounds, scars blood. If you deal with death all the time, you develop a gallows humour, dark jokes passed around.
Murphy knew differently. When it was bad as this, there was no levity to be found. You got on with the job, and hoped to catch whoever did it before it happened again.
In most series, we'd meet DS Laura Rossi as she joins the detectives, probably partners up with DI David Murphy (who we might have known for a book o more already), we get to know her as she gets to know the job and Murphy. Murphy's a good detective with some interesting choices in his personal life, she's an eager (and educated) rookie tied to her family in ways she wouldn't prefer. Then in the next book, we see a mix of tragedy, crime and bad timing wreak havoc on Murphy's personal life and it spills over to his career. Now, in Dead Gone, he's trying to put his life back on track, recovering from whatever career setbacks he's stumbled into with the help of his sometimes partner and boss.
But Veste jumps us right into book 3 without the foundation work -- we get hints (and eventually more than hints) to put it all together -- especially as it Murphy's life becomes fodder for the killer's taunting of the police. Honestly, I liked that approach. Other writers might not be as successful with it, but Veste pulled it off. You get the idea that Murphy was a really good detective, and if he can get his head back in the game, he will be one again. Rossi is well on the way to being a good one -- but she might have hitched her wagon to the wrong mentor.
Oh, yeah, the killer -- bodies are starting to show up in Liverpool. Death by multiple means, but left in similar conditions -- and with letters attached making references to classic psychology studies -- many of which couldn't be replicated today with contemporary ethical standards. But the killer seems to be taking them further than the original studies. And, well, he's a serial killer, so ethical research methods aren't at the height of his concern.
I could've used a bit more of Rossi, I liked her as a character, but I enjoyed what we got. I understand that Murphy's the star of the show, but hopefully she gets a bit more of the focus later on. The rest of the squad is pretty much what you get in any police procedural -- I'd be happy if I don't have to see Det. Bannon ever again, but hopefully he gets what's coming to him -- or a healthy dose of character growth -- soon.
Murphy is dealing with a whole mess of personal issues as he's leading the investigation -- but it doesn't really distract from his work, maybe it even helps it. This is tightly plotted, moves at a good pace -- Veste doesn't waste anything, there's no fluff, no fat to this prose. Probably because I know there's another 3 books so far in the series, I didn't worry about the danger posed to our heroes at any point, but the tension was real. The terror visited upon the victims was more than real -- Veste does an outstanding job of getting into the heads of some of the victims without getting exploitative. Too often in serial killer novels the victims are just corpses (or something that'll be a corpse soon), so no need to really care about them. Not here -- and what a nice change of pace that is -- they're people, not props.
This really isn't a whodunit kind of novel -- Veste pretty much gives it away pretty early on. Not that this stops him from dragging a large red herring across the reader's path. Yeah, it's pretty obviously a red herring -- but he uses it well as such -- and then . . . well, let's just leave it as I didn't see what he'd do with that particular forage fish after it was clear that the killer they're hunting for is someone else.
I literally lost sleep staying up to finish this one -- dragged myself through the next day at work, leaning on coffee just to seem passably competent. And it was worth it. I will be grabbing the next installment, The Dying Place, very soon.
-
Nowadays the start of a book review begins before I even have hold of a copy or bought a download. I pre ordered 'Dead Gone' to Kindle after acquainting with Luca on GoodReads, engaging on social media & reading a collection of stories compiled in books he's edited the proceeds went to a children's literacy charity. Being a fan of Brit Grit Crime fiction especially written in settings close to my home town. Keen to knowing more about the values, beliefs that bind & separate us I looked forward to his book release.
Luca's background is in psychology & criminology inspiration for his book sparked by experiments years ago on people fired my curiosity for his insight. Looking at the book cover I'm thinking here's a best selling international author in the making, I'm looking forward to a good book!
My first impression of 'Dead Gone' is there for the grace of God go we, we're all vulnerable to good & evil, consequences do follow our actions (actions of others) some decisions work for us & ours, others don't.
I'm not going to discus the plot which in my opinion is secondary to getting into mind sets of characters how they think, feel, behave, interact with people & their environment personalities are what I'm interested in.
My favourite character is the stable Detective Inspector Murphy motivated by fear, distracted, confidently skilled in Police thinking with the non verbals to hide away his present insecurities heading up an investigative team. With his own issues to cope with I respected his emotional intelligence & warmed to him.
Half way through & 'Confuscious' prompts me to think about my mortality I don't understand life let alone death! Reminded of my naivety, my vulnerabilities to the evil doers of this world & I'm feeling frightened. The egotistical perpetrator has lost touch with reality obsessed with behaving violently towards vulnerable people in the guise of experimental psychological research. I need reassurance from DI Murphy & Rossi there on the right track to make an arrest & save the day.
All of the characters balance the story out with several possible suspects potentially capable of evil psychological experiments on victims who were in the wrong place at the wrong time. I enjoyed reading this book I highly recommend it you won't be disappointed. -
I was intrigued immediately; after an opening extract about death, then I read of 'Experiment Two', before I reached chapter one of this novel, and I was drawn straight into the story. There is a woman, alone, scared, captive in the dark. I began to wonder who she is, what is this experiment, and if this is number two, what happened to number one? Then the main narrative takes us to 'Day One' of what will be the police procedural element of the tale; a body is found in a park, and DI David Murphy and DS Laura Rossi of Liverpool North division are in charge of leading the investigation. We are then taken back in time to the year before, and there is a man, Rob, whose partner has not returned home, and I was suspicious, it made me wonder again.
There is communication from the killer, he spells out the fact that he is experimenting with death, and is fascinated by the psychological aspect of death, killing his victims in the name of horrible, shocking experiments. The team soon realise that they've got a serial killer on their hands.
This is a tale packed with intrigue; Luca Veste makes the reader suspicious and evokes fear in the reader with his dark plot. DI Murphy in particular has a strong backstory which is slowly revealed to us during the novel; he has difficult memories, disturbing dreams, and is haunted by a terrible loss in his past. DS Rossi is an interesting character too, and I was keen to read on and find out more about her, and see how the two would work together.
I was engrossed by the second strand of the tale about the missing woman and I really liked how this unfolded gradually alongside the narrative involving the current investigation. The narrative structure added interest and involved the reader, and the chilling plot keeps the reader guessing, arousing our suspicions and tempting us to make connections - keeping us turning the pages with eagerness. The author's knowledge of locations in his home city of Liverpool makes for an atmospheric, authentic sense of place, and one that is portrayed roundly, with light and shade. The story skips along at a good pace and is satisfyingly complex and absorbing. This is a dark, original and thrilling debut by a promising new crime writer. -
When a scientist takes his experiments beyond the code of ethics, it leads to a series of gruesome murders.
Detective Inspector David Murphy is assigned a confounding case. A woman's body is found with a note. More than just a note, it is a detailed scientific thesis about the study of huge amounts of LSD used on this victim. The note goes on to explain that this is a continuation of an abandoned government experiment call MK Ultra.
The letter is titled "Experiment Three."
Murphy enlists Detective Laura Rossi as his partner to aid in the investigation. They start off believing this is a case of misdirection until more bodies, each with its own thesis, appear. None of which are "Experiment One" or "Experiment Two."
With the experiments becoming ever more disturbing, and two that may still be ongoing, the detectives find themselves thrown into the murky world of psychological ethics.
This is a book that is equally terrifying and terrific. The science in this story is taken from factual experiments performed in the not so distant past. Luca Veste's use of reality in fiction is captivating and chilling. This book is graphic in its descriptions of the crimes without being unbearable to read.
Detective Inspector Murphy is a tragic character brought to life in the best way imaginable. His back story is revealed piece by piece throughout the book, showing the unraveling of his life.
Detective Rossi adds a voice of reason to the story. She is calm and levelheaded throughout, creating a wonderful balance between the characters.
A story that is disturbing and intense that it leaves you gasping for breath. It ties up like a knot at the end, while making you beg for more. This is the first US release in an already established UK series. Hopefully the next will follow soon!
I received a copy of this book for free thanks to NetGalley.com in exchange for an honest review. -
A veteran detective with a haunted past and an ambitious younger officer track a vicious serial killer with an agenda through the damp streets of Liverpool in this engaging debut by Luca Veste.
I'm not a big fan of serial killer novels since so many tread ground already made too familiar by their predecessors. Veste adds a new twist by introducing a killer whose agenda is based on psychology and his prey centered on students at university.
Psychology is also a factor in the life of Detective Inspector David Murphy who is overwhelmed with grief, blaming himself for the murders of his parents, guilt his superiors believe may be detrimental to his ability to do his job. This latter attitude costs him the respect of his associates save for Detective Sergeant Laura Rossi who worries about him but has implicit faith in his skills. Though not a romantic one, the building relationship between Murphy and Rossi is important to the story.
A good writer can take the reader to a place he's never been and give it a reality it may not, in fact, possess. Veste lives in Liverpool and brings the place to life in such a way you'd swear you feel the wet fog of a cold winter morning on your face as his characters tramp the streets of the city.
We see the case through the eyes of victims, detectives and killer for a well-rounded perspective and that lends a tension that kept this reader turning the pages. The suspense builds to a stunning conclusion. This is a dark, disturbing and intelligent novel well worth reading.
In an essay at the end of the novel, Veste gives his take on the modern fascination with serial killers and that also is interesting.