Deadly Dance

by Hilary Bonner

Overview

This compelling novel of psychological suspense is the first in an intriguing new series featuring Bristol detective, DI David Vogel.

The discovery of the partially-clothed body of a teenage girl in the heart of Bristol’s red light district indicates a tragic yet familiar scenario. But this marks the start of a baffling murder investigation where nothing is as it first appears. Fourteen-year-old Melanie Cooke told her mother she was visiting a school friend. Who was she really going to meet?

Detective Inspector David Vogel is led towards three very different principal protagonists, each of whom grows increasingly chilling. But are they what they seem? And is any one of them capable of murder?

A darkly complex secret lies behind Melanie’s death – and its ultimate revelation will shock Vogel and his team to the core.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780727893727
Publisher:	Severn House Publishers
Publication date:	08/31/2018
Series:	A David Vogel Mystery , #1
Edition description:	Large Print
Pages:	384
Product dimensions:	5.55(w) x 8.74(h) x (d)

About the Author

Hilary Bonner is the author of twelve previous crime novels and five non-fiction books. A past Chair of the Crime Writers’ Association, she divides her time between Somerset and London.

Read an Excerpt

I glimpsed him in the twilight

I lost him in the night.

I thought I had him in the daylight.

There he was before me surely

In all his twisted might,

But I never saw him really.

With a pirouette and a prance,

He led me such a deadly dance

I didn’t stand a chance.

* * *

I began to get to know Sonia. Every crazy tale I told her was something I was convinced she would want to hear. And I suppose that was why I eventually told her that I was falling in love with her. Sonia responded with the level of unbridled enthusiasm that I had come to expect.

‘I’m thrilled,’ she wrote. ‘I’ve realised for some time that I am in love with you. To know that this love is reciprocated is probably the best thing that has ever happened to me. When can we meet? Please can it be very soon.’

‘Of course,’ I replied.

And therein lay the problem…

Editorial Reviews

"Fully fleshed characters, a masterfully constructed plot, and a shock ending make for a gripping read"

Booklist

10/16/2017
The hero of this well-crafted series launch from British author Bonner (A Moment of Madness), Det. Insp. David Vogel of the Avon and Somerset Constabulary’s Major Crime Investigation Team, is called in to head the investigation into the murder of 14-year-old Melanie Cook, whose battered body was found in Bristol’s red light district. Vogel and his team delve into the victim’s life and question those who were closest to her. Chapters narrated by three possible suspects—Al, Leo, and Saul, each a distinctive character with his own agenda—help build the tension. Meanwhile, Vogel has a load of personal issues to deal with: a teenage daughter with cerebral palsy, a conflicted relationship with his father and brother (who have moved to Israel), and the need to come to terms with his cultural identity. Vogel’s spare time is spent compiling crosswords for a specialist magazine, a skill that will undoubtedly come in handy when he’s faced with arcane clues in future installments. Some readers may find the action-packed ending a bit forced. Agent: Toby Peake, Peake Associates (U.K.). (Dec.)

Publishers Weekly

"Fully fleshed characters, a masterfully constructed plot, and a shock ending make for a gripping read"

Booklist

Fully fleshed characters, a masterfully constructed plot, and a shock ending make for a gripping read” Booklist

"Gripping . . . will draw in admirers of Peter James and Val McDermid" Library Journal

From the Publisher

10/01/2017
DI David Vogel is the first of his team to arrive at the crime scene in Bristol's red-light district where the body of 14-year-old Melanie Cooke was found. Naturally, the police suspect the girl's father and stepfather and believe they closed the case successfully when they match DNA from Melanie's body. But, something doesn't sit right with David. When two similar murders are reported elsewhere in England, he realizes a serial killer may be at work. How can one suspect be involved with pedophilia, a gay man, and an Asian bride? It's a case that will both haunt and taunt the police. VERDICT The narrative voices of three different suspects add to the creepy atmosphere in the first entry in a new British police procedural series. Bonner (Death Comes First) skillfully uses those voices to build the suspense in this gripping novel that will draw in admirers of Peter James and Val McDermid.—LH

Library Journal