Mystereity Reviews
Written on Jan 14, 2017
I've read the later books in this series, and grabbed this one to see how it all began and right from the grisly first chapter you're thrust into the action. A killer appears to be "taking out the trash" one thug at a time at the run-down housing estate notorious for drugs and desperate people. Calladine's gut instinct tells him there's more to this than just someone trying to get rid of the bad apples, and slowly reveals the back story to the killer's motives. It made for a riveting plot and I loved the plot twist at the end and the action-packed conclusion was definitely one of those can't-read-fast-enough endings.
In addition to the fast paced plot, the characters are realistic and interesting. Calladine, a fine detective grapples with his inability to commit to his relationships and the care of his mother, in a nursing home due to advanced dementia. He is, of course, overwhelmed by everything on his plate, and DS Bayliss does a great job as a sidekick to keep him on an even keel.
Overall, Dead Wrong is a grisly, gripping and unflinching crime thriller and a great start to the Calladine & Bayliss series. I definitely recommend it to Brit Crime fans, or anyone who enjoys a good police procedural.