Detective Inspector Meg Dalton has recently returned to her Peak District roots, when a man's body is found near The Devil's Dice - a vast network of caves and.
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It is an intriguing mystery - kind of old school in the sense of it, with some beautifully done twists and turns and an unexpected and edgy resolution - so there's that too. The relationships between Meg and the "supporting cast" are beautifully done as well, a really compelling start to a new series, laying the groundwork for us readers, I'm dying to know what happens next with Meg in several of the strands left unresolved.
This particular mystery is done but I'm sure there will be consequences, this means that you'll be eager for the next instalment and this one will stay with you. Also - just saying - I'm not going in any caves. Or any houses on the edge of cliffs. Or actually leaving my house at all for a while. Plus I may not play any games involving dice Let's have more Meg Dalton as soon as possible.
Jan 29, Sheila rated it it was amazing. I won an early uncorrected proof copy of this book in a recent competition, and I am so pleased that I did. Very cleverly written and quite believable. I'm assuming that there isn't a vast network of Peak District caves known as The Devil's Dice I actually tried googling to confirm this , but it was incredibly convincing.
For me, a good crime book is one where you feel you really get to know the characters, in conjunction with an interesting story that keeps you wanting to turn the pages. This I won an early uncorrected proof copy of this book in a recent competition, and I am so pleased that I did. This ticked all the boxes. An element of humour during the course of the story is a nice touch too.
The Devil's Dice Review
Here's hoping there will be many more books to follow about DI Meg Dalton. View all 3 comments. Mar 09, Caroline Mitchell rated it it was amazing Shelves: Compelling reading with bags of suspense set against the atmospheric backdrop of the Peak District. It's everything you could want in a crime thriller and more. Mar 03, Kate rated it it was amazing Shelves: I read two thirds of this brilliant debut in one sitting today. The Derbyshire setting is great and so too is Meg, our detective.
I can't wait to meet her again in the next book. Roz Watkins writes so well. It all feels believable. There's a real lightness of touch. Review to follow shortly on For Winter Nights. Feb 18, Phaedra Patrick rated it it was amazing. Suspenseful, intriguing and different.
Roz Watkins brings to life the brooding Derbyshire setting perfectly.
I found it to be a mixture of horror, thriller, mystery and detective novel all rolled into one. I especially liked the humorous banter between Jai and Meg.
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Jan 17, Elaine Tomasso rated it really liked it. Meg Dalton has newly returned to her native Derbyshire when she is called to a murder scene. A man has been found poisoned by a cake laced with cyanide in a supposedly haunted cave beside a carving of the grim reaper and the man's initials. I thoroughly enjoyed The Devil's Dice which is full of twists and turns and I read it in one sitting, desperate to know what was coming next. It seems a very mature novel for a debut with great pacing, plotting and characterisation. Ms Watkins seem to know exactly when to dole out the information that will either push the plot forward or satisfy some of the reader's curiosity.
I must admit that I had an inkling of where the plot was going but with several suspects and and a well hidden motive it was only one of several possibilities. I loved the way Ms Watkins kept me guessing and my mind working out all the possibilities as it makes for a great, absorbing read. Meg Dalton is a great character and very realistic. Outwardly smart and well accomplished with a Cambridge degree inwardly she is a worrier and riddled with guilt.
The reason for the guilt becomes apparent over the course of the novel and while unfounded and irrational it strikes a chord as very realistic. It seems to cast a pall over her personality making her a people pleaser and and always anxious about doing the wrong thing or upsetting people. I found these feelings very easy to identify with and it makes her a very endearing personality. The only thing I found unrealistic in the novel is the level of violence and injuries Meg suffers. She is like a superhero - bruised and battered but still she gets up and continues the good fight. The Devil's Dice is an impressive debut which I have no hesitation in recommending as a good read.
Set in the dramatic and atmospheric Derbyshire countryside this book is not only wonderfully descriptive but it is based around some of my favourite areas in this county and so I could absolutely picture the woods, the caves, the quarries, which was fantastic. There has long been Derbyshire myths, legends, ghost stories and haunting crimes that make this the ideal place to set a book like this and Roz Watkins actually details a number of local sites you can actually visit such as the Nine Ladies Set in the dramatic and atmospheric Derbyshire countryside this book is not only wonderfully descriptive but it is based around some of my favourite areas in this county and so I could absolutely picture the woods, the caves, the quarries, which was fantastic.
There has long been Derbyshire myths, legends, ghost stories and haunting crimes that make this the ideal place to set a book like this and Roz Watkins actually details a number of local sites you can actually visit such as the Nine Ladies Stone Circle on Stanton Moor. Following on from this perfect back drop, a terrible discovery is made within a cave and initial suspicions are thrown in to doubt with a more unnerving discovery and it transpires there's much more than meets the eye well it wouldn't be a very good thriller otherwise!
DI Meg Dalton is a complex character, wracked with guilt and unresolved issues she is starting a new job back in her home county trying to prove to her team, and herself that she is up to the job. Although "damaged detective" is a bit of a crime thriller trope though honestly with the magnitude and demands of the job I'm not convinced anyone can do it in real life without being affected it is not over a man, thank god!
This plot has many red herrings, with subtle twists and a spooky local curse mystery that seems unfathomably at the heart of a tragedy befalling a family in the local area. I found the individual characters written; Meg's family, her colleagues, the suspects, were all fascinating additions to the plot and I definitely look forward to reading more in the series of this talented debut.
I was totally drawn into the story from the beginning; how could you not be when the first body is death by cake! It was a kind of locked room mystery. And then there is the legend of the labyrinth. It gave the whole story a sinister feel. This story centres around secrets — within a community, within a business, within a family. Everywhere there are secrets. Roz Watkins kept me guessing throughout this thoroughly addictive read. Mar 05, Julie Lacey rated it it was amazing.
What a fantastic start to a new series.
The Devil's Dice
When Meg starts to investigate it seems there What a fantastic start to a new series. Soon another life is lost and they have to work out if the deaths were suicides or murders. This is a gripping story that really had me hooked from the first few chapters. Thanks to HQ and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book.
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Jan 27, Abby Slater- Fairbrother rated it it was amazing. It is incredibly well written and expertly plotted out, to keep you guessing the entire way through! There are themes of curses, ghouls, myths and legends. Which are well known in Derbyshire, two I grew up knowing abou,t were hermits cave and the drummer boy! But essentially the novel is about the characters and their relationships with each other. Their development and pasts make for intriguing reading. Every character has a past and that includes DI Meg Dalton……….
The novel opens with a violent scene and I wondered if this would be the pace of the entire novel. But it was much more of a whodunit and the intensity developed as the characters unravelled. The author has only used violence or graphic scenes when necessary with the plot. A male victim has been found, whilst it first appears as a suicide, there are hints of murderous intent. There is an almond aroma in the air and the body is found lying under his carvings of his own initials on the cave wall. But how are the ancient cave markings related to this murder?
Inside the cave is a large chain, still hanging.
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It is thought that back in the day, suspected witches were hung from this chain! There has been a recent young teenage girl, that chose to end her life from the chain. There are cupcakes at the scene that appear to have been laced with cyanide. But who poisons a man in a cave by cupcakes and why? The victim is Peter Hamilton, a patent lawyer. He has a complex family history, with some believing the family is cursed. His business partners Felix Carstairs and Edward Swift, are a huge part of his day to day lives and become early suspects.
They report that Peter had become distracted, the last six months and this had caused him to put their firm at risk! Felix even accusing Peter of alcoholism and marital affairs. But is this enough to kill your business partner? The wives of the partners are also involved in the case. Grace Swift, Edwards wife, is the picture perfect stepford wife. But what secrets does she hold?
At this point I began to struggle with the characters. But this is where I got this novel so wrong! We learn of Peters odd relationship with a known tramp. There are hints of Greek mythology and in particular Tithonus; but how does this tie into the case? The characterisation keeps you guessing. Whilst they seem perfect and innocent on the outside, they are a bunch of oddballs and weirdos, once you scratch the surface. The plot is so cleverly written that every time I felt I had it figured, the author would through in another huge curve ball! The novel also deals with some incredibly complex issues such as suicide and euthanasia.
It is sensitively done and opens up so much room for debate. I think this novel would make an excellent choice for book groups. There are brief themes of mental illness and trust. Feb 09, Rachel Kenning added it. The Devil's Dice is a fast-paced compelling read set in Derbyshire, with many unexpected twists and turns, sinister messages and rumours of a curse.
All characters are relatable, and I like the way in which ethical issues are woven into the story. Jan 29, Tina Pritchard rated it it was amazing. We are introduced to the main character DI Meg Dalton as she attempts, with her sidekick DS Jai Sanghera, to unravel the mystery of the dead body found in mysterious circumstances in a cave system in the Peak District of Derbyshire.
The underlying themes of witchcraft, family secrets and a family curse are explored in forensic detail by Meg, who is struggling with her own demons as she engages in a battle of wits with the murderer. The relationships are finely crafted and Meg is endowed with the precise amounts of independence, prickliness and vulnerability to make her an eminently interesting and likeable character. The links will take you to the Web site's home page. Interest-specific online venues will often provide a book buying opportunity. Click here for a list of interest-specific sites grouped by category.
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Specialty Booksellers Interest-specific online venues will often provide a book buying opportunity. International Customers If you are located outside the U. The murderer is playing games with Meg — and the dice are loaded… A white-knuckle crime debut introducing DI Meg Dalton, perfect for fans of Broadchurch and Happy Valley. More DI Meg Dalton please! The Weaker Sex by Laura Lippman. Hush Hush by Mel Sherratt. Dead in the Dark by Stephen Booth. Beyond the Truth by Bruce Robert Coffin.
The Devil’s Dice
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