Narrated by Richard Elfyn.
Released 13th January 2021.
From the cover:
Accident or murder? A dangerous serial killer. Can Drake catch a murderer trusted by everyone?When 89-year-old Emyr Isaac is found dead in his home, Drake and his team initially suspect a burglary gone wrong. Isaac was old, and his death was a tragedy, but it’s not a murder case...is it?
But as the investigation develops, Drake uncovers more suspicious deaths - all elderly victims, all seemingly innocent - but with one connection: Each victim received care from the same healthcare professional during their last moments.
If Drake’s suspicions are correct, they have a dangerous serial killer on the loose - someone who should offer help and safety, not a chilling early demise. Soon, the team realize that stopping this killer will require playing a dangerous game. Drake must do all he can to ensure no more lives are lost...even if it means putting members of his own team in harm’s way.
A Cold Dark Heart is the eighth book in the dynamic Inspector Drake crime series. If you like clever mysteries, great plots, and believable characters, then you’ll love Stephen Puleston’s Ian Drake novels.
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A Cold Dark Heart is my second Inspector Drake book, following almost seamlessly on from the excellent previous crime thriller, Nowhere To Hide.
This investigation finds DI Drake and his team on the trail of a possible serial killer on their North Wales patch - one who might distressingly be a health professional with easy access the the old and vulnerable. Somewhat hampered by the new Chief Inspector, the boorish Hobbs, who is keen to take any glory for himself by acting as SIO and micromanaging them all, Drake and his team set about narrowing down the field of suspects (and there is a worrying number of them) whilst also trying to prevent any further deaths - and this time, this means one of them being right at the dark heart of the proceedings.
Narrated once again, with the most beautiful Welsh lilt, by Richard Elfyn (you can say 'Morgan' to me anytime Mr Elfyn!) this is the kind of crime story that had me on the edge of my seat from practically the first line to the very last - at times, completely gripped, with my heart in my mouth just listening to the story play out as I was so worried about the safety of the team.
Drake's little foibles are so familiar to me now, as he maintains his inner calm by indulging in his rituals, and he seems a lot more settled in his personal life, which is just as well given his less than easy relationship with Hobbs. There is also some nice character development around the other team members in this latest story - with the hint of a possible romance in the future, Mr Puleston? And while we are on the subject of the team, this has to be my favourite crime series when it comes to the importance of each and every team member. I love the way they all knuckle down to the task in hand, sifting through the evidence and putting in the hours to get the job done in a way that proves police work involves a lot more than the flashy scenes we often see in tv dramas. I am quite fond of them all now - except Hobbs, obviously.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story and cannot wait for the next adventure for DI Drake and the gang!
A Cold Dark Heart is available to buy now from your favourite book retailer in paperback, e-book and audio versions.
About the author:
For many years he worked as a lawyer in a small practice representing clients in the criminal courts and doing divorce work, all of which has given him valuable raw material for his novels. He still lives and works in North Wales where the Inspector Drake novels are set.
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