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Outside Looking In

DCI Matilda Darke, Book 2

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About this listen

‘DCI Matilda Darke is the perfect heroine’ Elly Griffiths

The second book in Michael Wood’s darkly compelling new crime series featuring DCI Matilda Darke. Perfect for fans of Stuart MacBride, Mark Billingham and Val McDermid.

When elderly George Rainsford goes to investigate a suspicious noise one night, the last thing he expects to find is a bloodbath. A man has been killed and a woman brutally beaten, left for dead.

The victims are Lois Craven and Kevin Hardaker – both married, but not to each other. Their spouses swear they knew nothing of the affair and, besides, they both have alibis for the attack. With nothing else to link the victims, the investigation hits a dead end.

The pressure is on for investigating officer, DCI Matilda Darke: there’s a violent killer on the loose, and it looks like her team members are the new targets. With no leads and no suspects, it’s going to take all Matilda’s wits to catch him, before he strikes again.

©2019 Michael Wood (P)2019 HarperCollins Publishers Limited Crime Crime Thrillers Detective Fiction Genre Fiction Modern Detectives Mystery Police Procedural Thriller Thriller & Suspense Urban Women Sleuths Women's Fiction Exciting Scary

Critic reviews

‘At one point in this tense thriller, the endearing protagonist reflects that the investigation is like having “all the pieces of the jigsaw but…from different boxes”. Matilda Darke is right – and only in the final pages is the full picture revealed…’ Chris Simms

‘Crackling dialogue, dark wit and an exciting ending. Recommended if you liked Happy Valley’ Mark Edwards

‘DCI Matilda Darke is going places’ James Oswald

‘A compelling, addictive read, it’s hard to put down. I really enjoyed getting to know DCI Matilda Darke. She's strong character with real depth’ Robert Bryndza, bestselling author of THE GIRL IN THE ICE
All stars
Most relevant
Book one was good, (read on the kindle) book three was superb, book two, this one, is still a damned good story, hugely entertaining, the narration is great (I am British so I do love a great British narrator especially when it's a book based in Britain), the story is rather convoluted, but that basically translates into 'twists and turns', so that should be a good thing, I certainly thought so, it's a great story and I was gobsmacked by the ending, yes, I said gobsmacked, anyone who claims to 'know who the killer is by page 5'' is lying or just made a very good guess. This is a great second book in the series which is shaping up to be one of my new favourites.

Damned good book

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I sort of enjoyed the second story in this series. Most of the characters are well rounded and the plot is complicated. But Matilda as a police officer is verging on incompetent, and as such would surely never be given the leeway she’s received so far. I found the subplot with the journalist was unbelievable. Matilda’s grief is very well drawn. However, the narration is excellent, and makes this a decent listen.

My, but she’s irritating

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I really had many suspicions about who did what but up till it was revealed i had no clue. i mean, some tiny clues were dropped but then smoothly covered with convincing counterparts so it was gripping and i enjoyed it! will read thr next ons!

filled with stories all in one

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This wasn't my favourite story in the series, a bit slow at times, but still worthy of 5 stars

Another solid book

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A good storyline however the narration lacked the gravitas to convey the horror of the events … too light in tone. The storyline kept me listening.

A 2-4-1 read

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