Secret Crimes (DCI Sophie Allen #3) by Michael Hambling

Secret Crimes (DCI Sophie Allen #3) Reviews

• 
  Andrew

  Having recently read and really enjoyed Michael Hambling's first two DI Sophie Allen story, 'Dark Crimes' and 'Deadly Crimes, I was keen to read this when offered the chance.
  
  I really enjoyed this book. It is a well-crafted crime story which delivers the pace and cast of strong characters which I have grown to like in Michael Hambling's novels.
  
  I liked the way Hambling has developed the character of DS Barry Marsh in this story. I also like the introduction of an interesting new Dc to the team; Rae Gregson.
  
  Once again the police procedural aspects of the story are well developed in this book. It maintains the now well established sense real geographical location for those who have followed the series.
  
  The way the story builds on the police characters from the earlier book is clever. I'm sure it is worth reading in its own right, but if you can, read the books in order.
  
  My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher, Joffe Books for a copy in exchange for an honest review.
• 
  Carla

  I am glad I stuck with this series as each book has gotten better, with this one being the best so far. I like Sophie as she is a pleasant and competent senior police detective without too much turmoil in her private life. Her husband and children so seem to be somewhat unworried about her line of work, but there were some hints in this book that they are concerned abou ther. She is becoming more human with each story as we have gotten to know more about her past and her home life.
  
  During a weekend blue's festival at the seaside town of Swanage the body of a woman is found on the beach. She had been attending the festival with a girlfriend but had spent the night with a man in their hotel room. Police soon discover that the victim, Sarah Sheldon,had some secrets and was a bit of a swinger often having sex with more than one partner at a time. Sarah and her friend, Rosemary, had met a couple of men on the Friday night, but while Sarah and Derek were hot and heavy, Rosemary was not keen on the other man, Brian. She ended up spending the night with an old aquaintance, Ed and his daughter in their apartment. A few days later Derek's body is found at the base of some cliffs and Brian has not been located. Another anomaly is that the hotel where the women were staying had a booking for a John Renton, and after staying the Friday night he, too, was unaccounted for. Every piece of evidence turned up, added another twist and question to this case.
  
  The characters in this case are not very likeable. Everyone seems to have secrets, be a bit surly and does not want to answer questions. Rosemary and Ed, while seeming to be innocent, have suspicions thrown on them by the police as well. Rae Greyson, is a new member of Sophie's team. She is a transgender woman and I did like the way this was handled by the author. Rae turns out to be an excellent detective who shows a lot of initiative and drive. This police procedural was well done. I like that Sophie does not worry about who finds the information or where it came from if it helps to solve the crime. She does not hog the limelight and easily hands out praise to her co-workers. There was not a lot of suspense, it was more of a mystery with a lot of drama. This crime was solved by good old fashioned police work, not luck. I continue to listen to the audio version of this series and am enjoying the narration with each addition to the series.
• 
  Bookish

  Another wonderful read from Michael Hambling. I absolutely love this series, Sophie Allen has grown more as a character since the last book and talks about her breakdown and illness because of it and even though she's still vulnerable the team she has around her and the support for her family help her through the transition back to work.
  
  It's wonderful to see a transgender character introduced as not everyone is usually included in a crime/mystery book and if they do they don't end up in the best light or it doesn't end well for them.
  
  These books just keep getting better and better and I eagerly await book 4 which, I believe, is coming out later this year!! Cannot wait!
  
  *Huge thanks to Michael Hambling, Joffe Books and NetGalley for this copy in exchange for an honest review*
• 
  Kathy

  Rather a mixed bag for me on this third DCI Sophie entry. I would like to think that Swanage is somewhat calmer than one might think after reading these books? Looking at it on a map it has nothing that says: Murdering Creeps Against Group Sex Gather Here, or at least to my eyes.
  I know not what the dear folk of Dorset think of this series, but it does feature some offbeat crimes. And then the crimes are so thoroughly investigated by Sophie's ever changing team.
  This tale included a few normal people who were swept up in the dragnet simply for being at a blues festival where dead bodies turned up. We get updated rather too frequently on Sophie's fragility, but she seems just fine to me and I do hope there are no further references to her wellness. Particularly by those who raise eyebrows when she expresses her admiration for a good ale. What could be more healthy/normal?!
  In the end, the deceiving murderer is finally captured, but I must say the sentencing Sophie threatens him with is extraordinarily lenient for one who is guilty of taking two lives and attempting another. ("You're looking at thirty years at least. How old will you be when you get out? Eighty? Eighty-five? Ninety? Is it likely, really, that you'll ever get out?")
• 
  Tony Hisgett

  Another interesting and enjoyable read. One of the things I have become bored with in many similar books, is the main character has a home life that is dysfunctional and they are so ‘damaged’ as to be almost incapable. DCI Sophie Allen on the other hand, has a great family, especially her daughter Jade, and even though she had some problems in the last book, she is highly capable. This certainly makes an interesting change.
  There were a few minor irritations, sometimes it felt like the book was set at least a couple of decades ago. Also although I don’t like it when the perpetrator is too obvious, I don’t like it when they just appear from nowhere right at the end of the book.
  If possible I would have given 3.5 stars.
  
• 
  Marsha

  Although I did really like this book, I was somewhat disappointed with the conclusion; a seemingly minor character was suddenly promoted to being extremely important! My own thought is that the conclusion could've been made significantly more palatable and believable. On the other hand, _I_ did not and could not write the book! My own solution was wrong, although I really would've preferred it – other than the fact that could have made it predictable – but I really like the character of Sophie Allen! She is able to see and use the different strengths and weaknesses of individuals on her team, and she encourages and promotes thought and action. Another good book…
• 
  Pamela

  I would like to thank Netgalley and Joffe Books for allowing me to review this book. It was my first time reading a book by this author. I found the book a little slow at first. Not sure if it was because I discovered it was part of a series, or just couldn't get into it at first.It wasn't hard to follow it tho as a stand alone,and once I got into the book, I found it to be a nice mystery book. I found the author writes really good plots. not alot of graphic scenes, not alot of intimate scenes either. there is a transgender detective however in the story and I found that to be an interesting concept to the book. while I was reading it. I actually forgot that character was that way. Not going to spoil the book and go into details about the story line but if you like nice mystery books this is a good one to read. It also takes place in the UK as well. Looking forward to reading the other books in the series .
• 
  sslyb

  Best story of the first three Sophia Allen books but at the murderer’s reveal my response was, “Who?”
• 
  Pat

  This was another excellent instalment in the Sophie Allen series. I like Sophie as she is a pleasant and competent senior police detective without too much turmoil in her private life. She is married with two teenage daughters. Anyway, about the story...
  
  During a weekend blues music festival at the seaside town of Swanage the body of a woman is found on the beach. She had been attending the festival with a girlfriend but had spent the night with a man in their hotel room. Police soon discover that the victim, Sarah Sheldon, was a bit of a swinger and enjoyed no strings sex, sometimes with a group. Sarah and her friend, Rosemary, had hooked up with a couple of men on the Friday night. Sarah was soon into it with Derek but Rosemary was not keen on Brian so left the hotel with another man, Ed Wilton, just for somewhere to kip for the night. Yeah, I know, it got a bit convoluted. A few days later Derek's body is found at the base of some cliffs and Brian has not been located. Another anomaly is that the hotel where the women were staying had a booking for a John Renton, and after staying the Friday night he, too, was unaccounted for.
  
  Twisty - much. Meanwhile Sophie is breaking in a new member of the team, Rae Greyson, a transgender woman. Rae turns out to be an excellent detective who shows a lot of initiative and drive. It was pretty much a police procedural but really well done. Not a lot of suspense but plenty of drama and good police work. A good series.
• 
  Sue Wallace

  Good read.
  
  Secret Crimes by Michael Hambling.
  This is book 3 of the dci Sophie Allen series.
  This is my first book by this author and it won't be the last. I really enjoyed it. Great story. Some good characters. 4*.
• 
  Jean

  I have been enjoying the DCI Sophie Allen series. Police procedurals are my current read of choice. Secret Crimes had plenty of possible murderers and that makes it especially interesting.
• 
  Samantha Curtis

  This series just gets better and better. I love a read where you cant guess who the suspect is! I read the 2nd book and then had to go and read this 3rd book of the Sophie Allen series. I have to say i think this one is the best of the 3 ive read so far!
  
  Full of fast paced read where you just want to keep reading. New members to the team which you just instantly love! I love how the team have banter and can joke with each other.
  
  Top notch from me and look forward to reading the next book
• 
  Ted Tayler

  "Effective police procedural"
  
  I enjoy the cut and thrust of a good police procedural. The tempo in this series is what makes the stories so easy to read. The characters aren't as fully-developed and rounded as I would like. Even after three books that aspect doesn't seem to have been advanced. I can't fault the plots though, nor the mystery of whodunnit in this one. Sometimes the 'reveal' has been sign-posted so often in other thrillers that it's an anti-climax. Not on this occasion.
  I've read several books by another writer who had a traditionally-published career and had now been picked up by someone who encouraged them to 'refresh' the earlier titles for an assault on the kindle market. I don't know when 'Killer Blues' was originally written (now Secret Crimes 2016) but some aspects felt awry. When discussing the imminent closure of the Swanage police station it was stated that rural crime had been falling for years and modern policing was centering on the major conurbations. If only that were so in 2019 and although the new DC Rae Gregson is a welcome addition to the team, was this representative of the situation at the time. or has this been shoehorned into the story to reflect a hot news topic from late 2018 onwards? Sometimes it might be best to leave the stories as they were written and not tinker with the text to make a book more up-to-date. I
• 
  Robert Crouch

  This is fast becoming one of my favourite crime series. DCI Sophie Allen is a terrific character. Smart, gutsy and charismatic, she’s a world away from the trauma-ridden cops that seem to be everywhere in crime fiction. She’s had her fair share of troubles and she has her vulnerabilities, but she’s also a breath of fresh air.
  
  The story starts with the death of a woman at a local jazz festival in Swanage. A few days later, a man is found on the rocks by the sea. He was also at the festival. While the motive for the murders is unclear, the team find a connection between the two deaths and the investigation gathers momentum. But as it spreads wider, the investigation becomes a long, slow slog that tests the members of the team. But you get to know the characters and the relationships better, revealing yet another strong point of the novels.
  
  There are a few challenges along the way, but solid detection eventually yields a suspect and the pieces start to fit together as the story picks up pace to an exciting climax.
  
  While the crimes and investigations are always intriguing, it’s the balance between the plot, the main characters and their relationships that lifts this series to a different level.
  
  If you haven’t read the Sophie Allen series yet, start with the first novel and enjoy!
• 
  Sheila Knight

  Good Read
  
  Michael Hambling has done it again. This series just keeps on getting better. I thought the first two books were good but this one was even better. Good Storyline which flowed easily. Believable characters, I really lived the story with them. Excellent book, one I could not put down and yet was sorry when I fInished it. Can't wait to read the rest in the series.
• 
  Sheila Joyner

  I quite enjoyed the book though I was irritated that Sophie had 2 possible suspects round to her house for supper! Also on a couple of occasions she hugged a co-worker! Don’t think that would happen in real life. Sophie is a bit too goody-goody for my liking and didn’t half whinge on at times. As for her daughter - what a pain!
• 
  Grace Johnsey

  Secret crimes
  
  I very much enjoyed this suspension the entire book kept me in Other than a few words used that could have been just as well said with something else it was a very good boook.