abookwormwithwine's review against another edition
4.0
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5
It's hard to believe, but [b:Murderland|46257409|Murderland|Pamela Murray|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1560247136l/46257409._SX50_.jpg|71243691] is [a:Pamela Murray|1089533|Pamela Murray|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1563474694p2/1089533.jpg]'s first crime fiction novel. If this hadn't been mentioned in the acknowledgments I never would have guessed!
What it's about: DI Joe Burton and DS Sally Fielding have been partners for years when they are called to investigate the grisly deaths of people with playing cards left at the scene. As bodies keep coming and the case gets even more confusing, Fielding and Burton will have to race against time before the next target gets killed.
Murderland is one of the most unique crime novels I have ever read and I really enjoyed it! I usually like it better when each chapter is spoken from a specific point of view, but Murray chose to have both Burton's and Fielding's viewpoints throughout the book, and many times in the same paragraph. That would normally drive me insane, but the voices were so clear in this book and there were enough identifying markers that it didn't bother me at all. Every once and awhile there would be a tiny bit of another POV, but that didn't bother me either! I clearly really like this author's writing style and I don't think it is going to confuse anyone.
I also really liked both Burton and Fielding and was intrigued by the bit of their personal lives that get mentioned in this book. Fielding has 2 cats, so I was completely sold on her just for that reason, but they are also both so smart and gruff and I loved it. The crimes in Murderland did get a little gory, but there isn't a whole lot of detail, so most people won't get grossed out by it. After reading some pretty intense (super gory) books, this felt like a bit of a respite from all that.
Murderland is the first book to a series with the next being [b:Bloodline|47943296|Bloodline|Pamela Murray|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1566914783l/47943296._SX50_.jpg|73108504], and I am really excited to see what is next for this series. Murderland ended on the tiniest bit of a cliffhanger personal-wise, and I can't wait to see how it comes together. This style reminded me a bit of Criminal Minds, which I love, so that made me even happier.
Final Thought: Murderland had an ending that while I did have some suspicions on, I didn't expect the full killer reveal that happened. I love a book that can surprise me, and that is what this book did. It was also incredibly short, and for being just under 200 pages it didn't even take me 3 hours to read. If you are looking for a super unique crime novel that you can read in one sitting (that isn't overly gory), then I highly recommend checking out Murderland!
It's hard to believe, but [b:Murderland|46257409|Murderland|Pamela Murray|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1560247136l/46257409._SX50_.jpg|71243691] is [a:Pamela Murray|1089533|Pamela Murray|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1563474694p2/1089533.jpg]'s first crime fiction novel. If this hadn't been mentioned in the acknowledgments I never would have guessed!
What it's about: DI Joe Burton and DS Sally Fielding have been partners for years when they are called to investigate the grisly deaths of people with playing cards left at the scene. As bodies keep coming and the case gets even more confusing, Fielding and Burton will have to race against time before the next target gets killed.
Murderland is one of the most unique crime novels I have ever read and I really enjoyed it! I usually like it better when each chapter is spoken from a specific point of view, but Murray chose to have both Burton's and Fielding's viewpoints throughout the book, and many times in the same paragraph. That would normally drive me insane, but the voices were so clear in this book and there were enough identifying markers that it didn't bother me at all. Every once and awhile there would be a tiny bit of another POV, but that didn't bother me either! I clearly really like this author's writing style and I don't think it is going to confuse anyone.
I also really liked both Burton and Fielding and was intrigued by the bit of their personal lives that get mentioned in this book. Fielding has 2 cats, so I was completely sold on her just for that reason, but they are also both so smart and gruff and I loved it. The crimes in Murderland did get a little gory, but there isn't a whole lot of detail, so most people won't get grossed out by it. After reading some pretty intense (super gory) books, this felt like a bit of a respite from all that.
Murderland is the first book to a series with the next being [b:Bloodline|47943296|Bloodline|Pamela Murray|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1566914783l/47943296._SX50_.jpg|73108504], and I am really excited to see what is next for this series. Murderland ended on the tiniest bit of a cliffhanger personal-wise, and I can't wait to see how it comes together. This style reminded me a bit of Criminal Minds, which I love, so that made me even happier.
Final Thought: Murderland had an ending that while I did have some suspicions on, I didn't expect the full killer reveal that happened. I love a book that can surprise me, and that is what this book did. It was also incredibly short, and for being just under 200 pages it didn't even take me 3 hours to read. If you are looking for a super unique crime novel that you can read in one sitting (that isn't overly gory), then I highly recommend checking out Murderland!
j_lbrbsblogs's review against another edition
4.0
3.5-4*
I am delighted to be part of the opening day of the BlogTour for Murderland by Pamela Murray.
Set in Manchester and the North East this is a cracking read. Immediately from the tense prologue we are thrown into a murder. Chapter one brings another. They seem unrelated. It is with the death of a care home resident that we get into the story proper. This is no simple, tragic passing of an elderly man. It’s a somewhat bewildering murder – why was Nathaniel Jackson dressed somewhat oddly and is the playing card of significance?
Joe and Sally are DI and DS respectively but more importantly they are a team and have become friends. This is the authors first book but we quickly find it’s a relationship that has worked well in previous investigations making a strong but somewhat precarious bond. They are part of a wider team who also work well together. Still it is Joe and Sally who are the main characters and whose lives we start to learn about as the investigation progresses. I enjoyed getting to know them a little as the story progressed. Other characters are brought in, all who enhance the story in one way or another. This will surely be the first of several books and getting to know the main characters and the others who will be the mainstay of any future stories will surely make them even better.
Joe and Sally are both based with Greater Manchester Police (GMP). Joe joined the Manchester force from London. Sally is from the Northeast. Living in Greater Manchester I enjoyed the setting of the book, some of which was familiar. The book also travels with the investigation into the Northeast and I found this to be rather more lovingly recreated by the author, probably as this is her ‘patch’. Knowing this area a little from travelling and work over the years further enhanced my enjoyment. I do like to be able to picture the setting and when the storyline takes place in familiar areas it does make that easier.
Still it is the investigation into a murder that is the point of the story. So when another murder occurs and there are links Joe and Sally fear they have a serial killer at large. How many will die? Will the duo find the killer? How will it all end?
Pamela Murray has put together a wonderful cast of characters and placed them into a tense, twisty storyline. She has used pace and her characters to bring a well written book to all who enjoy reading crime fiction. The story is well crafted. It is well executed. It brings together the various threads to a terrific climax.
Follow along with the characters and the story in a book that you will surely enjoy as much as I did. I would certainly recommend Murderland and hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.
My thanks to Heather of Bloodhound Books for the invitation to join the Murderland Blog Tour and for an eCopy of the book.
I am delighted to be part of the opening day of the BlogTour for Murderland by Pamela Murray.
Set in Manchester and the North East this is a cracking read. Immediately from the tense prologue we are thrown into a murder. Chapter one brings another. They seem unrelated. It is with the death of a care home resident that we get into the story proper. This is no simple, tragic passing of an elderly man. It’s a somewhat bewildering murder – why was Nathaniel Jackson dressed somewhat oddly and is the playing card of significance?
Joe and Sally are DI and DS respectively but more importantly they are a team and have become friends. This is the authors first book but we quickly find it’s a relationship that has worked well in previous investigations making a strong but somewhat precarious bond. They are part of a wider team who also work well together. Still it is Joe and Sally who are the main characters and whose lives we start to learn about as the investigation progresses. I enjoyed getting to know them a little as the story progressed. Other characters are brought in, all who enhance the story in one way or another. This will surely be the first of several books and getting to know the main characters and the others who will be the mainstay of any future stories will surely make them even better.
Joe and Sally are both based with Greater Manchester Police (GMP). Joe joined the Manchester force from London. Sally is from the Northeast. Living in Greater Manchester I enjoyed the setting of the book, some of which was familiar. The book also travels with the investigation into the Northeast and I found this to be rather more lovingly recreated by the author, probably as this is her ‘patch’. Knowing this area a little from travelling and work over the years further enhanced my enjoyment. I do like to be able to picture the setting and when the storyline takes place in familiar areas it does make that easier.
Still it is the investigation into a murder that is the point of the story. So when another murder occurs and there are links Joe and Sally fear they have a serial killer at large. How many will die? Will the duo find the killer? How will it all end?
Pamela Murray has put together a wonderful cast of characters and placed them into a tense, twisty storyline. She has used pace and her characters to bring a well written book to all who enjoy reading crime fiction. The story is well crafted. It is well executed. It brings together the various threads to a terrific climax.
Follow along with the characters and the story in a book that you will surely enjoy as much as I did. I would certainly recommend Murderland and hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.
My thanks to Heather of Bloodhound Books for the invitation to join the Murderland Blog Tour and for an eCopy of the book.
aseel_reads's review against another edition
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
this was a nice, fast paced crime/mystery novel. I definitely figured out part of it 5 minutes before, but most of it was not given to the reader beforehand, so we couldn't really guess. I liked my narrator and the characters were quite okay (not amazing but not unbearable).
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Bullying, Death, Fatphobia, Injury/injury detail, Kidnapping, Medical content, Murder, and Violence
vesper1931's review against another edition
4.0
A suspicious death at a care home results in DI Joe Burton and DS Sally Fielding being called in to investigate. When another death occurs with links to the first, they and the team need to find the possible motive and suspect. But these two deaths will not be the only ones.
An enjoyable crime story, a good start to a new series.
An enjoyable crime story, a good start to a new series.
nietzschesghost's review
4.0
Murderland is the first book to feature intrepid investigators DI Joe Burton and DS Sally Fielding. Set in Manchester, the pair are called to a local nursing home where everyone believes something foul is at play and not just the natural order of life and death. With three people dead and each being left with a playing card beside their body, what exactly is the killer trying to convey? It is a message or a taunt? The police are at a loss to describe what exactly has been going on and the case becomes a lot more complex when two other bodies are found in Northumberland.
This is a well written and entertaining debut police procedural with plenty of tension and enough to keep you guessing as to the motive and the perpetrator. Burton and Fielding are a force to be reckoned with and have an intriguing dynamic. There is a great cast of characters who are given the right amount of development and the pace is spot on. I only hope this is the first instalment in a series as I can see this evolving into a very readable and nail-biting set of books. Either way, I will look out for more by Ms Murray in the future. Many thanks to Bloodhound Books for an ARC.
This is a well written and entertaining debut police procedural with plenty of tension and enough to keep you guessing as to the motive and the perpetrator. Burton and Fielding are a force to be reckoned with and have an intriguing dynamic. There is a great cast of characters who are given the right amount of development and the pace is spot on. I only hope this is the first instalment in a series as I can see this evolving into a very readable and nail-biting set of books. Either way, I will look out for more by Ms Murray in the future. Many thanks to Bloodhound Books for an ARC.
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