‘Dark Shadow’ by Simon Dinsdale

Published by Sharpe Books,
1 December 2023.  
ISBN: 979-887041399-0 (PB)

The opening of this story is set on a bitter cold night in Northern Island at the time of The Troubles. An undercover agent code name ‘Alpha’ is following orders against his better judgment which results in him nearly losing his life, and the death of a young man. 

Twenty-five years later we meet Detective Superintendent Christian Dane, an ex-army man who is now a police detective. Dane has an ex-wife who has whisked his 8-year-old daughter to another country, and he is unable to visit her. The fact that he writes to her regularly but keeps the letters in a file, I found rather endearing. He also has elderly parents. But his father who is a retired vicar barely speaks to him.   

Although an experienced officer, when he is called to the brutal slaying of three petty criminals, it is the most vicious crime scene he has come across. Two of the victims are identified as the Corper twins Billy and Benny, of B&B Holdings. Known as unpleasant bits of work.  Both had been shot in their legs and heads. 

He calls in Detective Constable Hayley Cross, a talented young officer, to assist him.  But whoever the killer is he/she has left little to explain why these three were murdered. With very little forensic evidence to go on Dane is puzzled. 

As the investigation proceeds two more bodies are discovered, and a French fisherman is shot on a Dorset beach. Also, with same MO a cocaine dealer in Cambridge. Putting it slowly together Dane realises, that whoever is orchestrating this is no ordinary drug dealer. None of the people who buy their drugs from him can identify him. 

Dane is under increasing pressure to apprehend the killer. When he finally realises who the killer is he turns to his old Army commander, General Smith, for help. 

Cleverly plotted this is an intriguing mystery that I could not put down.  There is also a surprise ending I certainly didn’t see coming.  I can’t wait to read the next book in this series. Highly recommended.
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Reviewer: Lizzie Sirett 

Simon Dinsdale served twelve years with the British army in the 1970’s before joining Essex police in 1980. He spent 30 years in the police eventually achieving the rank of Detective Superintendent. Over his career he led over a hundred major investigations. He now writes, travels and speaks about his experiences. He lives in Essex.