Killing the Beasts: Death Moves Among Us

By Chris Simms

Book Overview

First book in the critically-acclaimed Jon Spicer series, also includes the opening of the second novel in the series, Shifting Skin.Reviews

'I'll be downloading more of Chris Simms' books ASAP. I feel like I've found a hidden gem.' (Amazon Reader Review - Pecking Order)

Chris Simms has been quietly building one of the best police procedural series in this country. (CATHOLIC HERALD)

Pacy, gripping and original storytelling (YORKSHIRE POST)

This highly polished study of madness and murder shows how well Simms' talent is maturing. (SHOTS MAGAZINE)

A must-read for those who like their crime fiction psychological (DEADLY PLEASURES MAGAZINE)

The story's dramatic events are drawn out, gradually building to a page-turning, heart-stopping - and totally unexpected - ending. (THE BOOK PLACE)

The novel's high-quality storytelling has an authentic, documentary feel' (CITY LIFE MAGAZINE)

Book description

The Commonwealth Games have come to Manchester and the city is buzzing.

Caught up in the commercial feeding frenzy is Tom Benwell, an advertising executive. But the pressure is getting to Tom - too many deals to make and lies to tell. Meanwhile his friend, DI Jon Spicer, is on the fast track, showing a love for the job that borders on obsession, according to his girlfriend, Alice.

Then, in the aftermath of the Games, a string of brutal murders shatters the city's new-found spirit. Spicer gets the case. Each victim has been murdered in the same bizarre and grotesque manner, yet the lack of motive leaves the police utterly baffled.

With the race on to catch the killer, both men find themselves caught up in a nightmare where the most innocent action can cost the highest price.

About the Author

Chris Simms' acclaimed first novel in the DI Spicer series, KILLING THE BEASTS was selected as a Best Crime book for 2005 by SHOTS magazine. He was then selected as a Waterstone's Author for the Future, one of 25 writers tipped by publishers, editors and agents, to produce the most impressive body of work over the next quarter century. Since then he has been nominated several times for the THEAKSTON'S CRIME NOVEL OF THE YEAR and for CRIME WRITERS' ASSOCIATION DAGGERS. Chris lives in Manchester.

Find out more on his official web site, www.chrissimms.info or, for regular postings, see his Facebook page at www.facebook.com/AuthorChrisSimms

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1544064861
• ISBN13: 9781544064864
• Release Date: April 2017
• Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
• Length: 354 Pages
• Weight: 0.92 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.0" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

A perceptive and absorbing whodunnit

Jon Spicer is pulled off a long running car theft operation to lead the hunt for the killer of Polly Mather. His chance to prove he can cut the mustard. Soon more bodies are discovered and Jon is desperate to find a link between the murders. Meanwhile he wonders about his old friend Tom Benwell. Tom works for an advertising agency and is unexpectedly promoted as the pressure builds for advertising opportunities around Manchester city centre during the run up to The Commonwealth Games. The story all takes place in 2002 but the chapters swap between the Autumn (the present) and earlier in the year. Although it took me a few chapters to get used to the time swapping, once I had, it worked really well and is very necessary to the story. Simms specialises in damaged and disturbed characters and whether you're creeped out, sympathetic to, or repulsed by them...he certainly makes them realistic. His 'normal' characters are well written too. I liked DI Jon Spicer. A rugby man (Spicer the Slicer) who enjoys his job, loves his girlfriend, but isn't infallible. A story that gives you a disturbing but very believable glimpse of madness alongside an engrossing crime investigation.