John Dean – Crime Writer

Book reviewer Lars Walker, of Brandywine Books, has been steadily working his way through my DCI Jack Harris novels, published by The Book Folks, for which I thank him.

He’s an honest reviewer who says what he likes and what he does not like and I am pleased to report that so far the verdict of the books has been positive.

This month has seen him produce two reviews. One is The Girl in The Meadow. In its isolated spot on the slopes of a windswept hill, Meadowview House has been vacant for decades. Yet now that it has been earmarked for redevelopment by a wildlife trust, a man turns up claiming it should be part of his inheritance.
After causing a scene, the police intervene but with no evidence, Geoffrey Haynes’ demands are curtly dismissed. DCI Jack Harris has more than a passing interest in the property. During his errant youth, it was one of the places where he got up to no end of mischief.
But another spanner is thrown in the works when builders uncover the skeleton of a woman under the floorboards.
Now DCI Jack Harris is interested in what Haynes has to say. Yet the veteran cop might have questions to answer of his own. You can find the review at The Girl In the Meadow | Brandywine Books

The second review is for To Honour the Dead. Are the defacing of a town’s war memorial and the death of a WWII veteran connected? DCI Jack Harris investigates.

The small town of Levton Bridge is beset by a spate of vandalism against its war memorials. Uniformed police believe it is just kids, but DCI Jack Harris is not so sure. And when a local WWII veteran is found brutally murdered, his suspicions are confirmed.

With anti-war activists causing trouble in the lead up to Remembrance Sunday, top brass want the case wrapped up to avoid further bad publicity. But the obvious suspects have strong alibis and Harris’ instincts tell him there is something serious afoot. The wildlife-loving detective is increasingly exasperated. Preferring his beloved dogs to his colleagues and having little patience for humans in general, Harris becomes more aggressive and unforgiving as the murder investigation fails to progress.

Someone in the town knows something, but the clues point to outside the region. Will a return to Harris’ old stomping ground of Manchester help him finger the murderer? Or will the investigation draw a blank and Harris blow a fuse that will get him fired. The review is at ‘To Honour the Dead,’ by John Dean | Brandywine Books