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David Hodges
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KILLER ON THE LEVELS a gripping crime thriller full of suspense (Detective Kate Hamblin Mystery Book 4) Kindle Edition

by DAVID HODGES (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.2 out of 5 stars 3,556 ratings
MEET DETECTIVE KATE HAMBLIN IN THIS PAGE-TURNING NEW SERIES FROM A FORMER POLICE OFFICER.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS BOOK WAS ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED AS SANDMAN.

“If you like a crime thriller that you can't put down, try this one.” R.K.M.F.

THE TOUGHEST CASE OF KATE’S CAREER.

Missing journalist Ellie Landy is found in the River Parrett by a news crew covering the worst floods the Somerset Levels have suffered in living memory.

A paperback is found by the woman’s bed with a mysterious inscription mentioning “Sandman” and a time of day.

Police assume it is an accidental drowning. Kate disobeys orders from the top and probes the death, as she suspects this was no accident.

When another woman dies in suspicious circumstances, Kate finds herself drawn ever deeper into a nightmare of murder, treachery and perversion.

SHE WILL RISK EVERYTHING TO STOP A SERIAL KILLER, BEFORE THE SANDMAN PUTS ANYONE ELSE TO SLEEP.

DISCOVER A BREATHTAKING NEW SERIES OF MYSTERIES THAT YOU WON’T WANT TO PUT DOWN.

Perfect for fans of Rachel Abbott, Robert Bryndza, Mel Sherratt, Angela Marsons, Colin Dexter, or Ruth Rendell.

THE DETECTIVES
Kate is a feisty, young police detective, with a dynamic approach to her job. She is plucky and tenacious, but prone to being impetuous and headstrong, which often lands her in tight spots and does not exactly endear her to her crusty boss, DI Ted Roscoe.

In stark contrast to Kate, her detective partner, Hayden, is an overweight, untidy ex-public schoolboy, with a pompous, laid-back attitude, which drives her to distraction. But he is also highly intelligent, with a keen, analytical mind and a practical, reasoned approach to everything, which, with a prevailing wind, can sometimes act as a brake on his partner’s more impulsive actions.

THE SETTING
A patchwork of fields, peat moor and marshland, dotted with picturesque villages and criss-crossed by man-made irrigation ditches or rhynes, the Somerset Levels covers an area of about 160,000 acres between the Mendips and Quantock Hills, in the County of Somerset. Sparsely populated outside the local towns of Bridgwater, Glastonbury and Street and prone to flooding, it is a haven for wild life, a wild, secret place with an atmospheric brooding stillness, which creeps into the very soul; a place where the booming call of a bittern or the beating of an owl’s wings in the mist is bound to fire the imagination of any self-respecting crime novelist, whose thoughts will invariably turn to . . . murder.

THE AUTHOR
A former police superintendent, with thirty years’ service. Since ‘turning to crime’, he has received critical media acclaim, including a welcome accolade from Inspector Morse’s creator, the late great, Colin Dexter, and he is now a prolific novelist with eleven published crime novels and an autobiography on his police career to his credit. His previous police experience has enabled him to provide a gritty realism to his thrillers and his Somerset Murder Series, featuring feisty female detective, Kate, and her partner, Hayden, has gone from strength to strength, attracting interest in the United States as well as in the UK.

DETECTIVE KATE HAMBLIN MYSTERY SERIES
Book 1: MURDER ON THE LEVELS
Book 2: REVENGE ON THE LEVELS
Book 3: FEAR ON THE LEVELS
Book 4: KILLER ON THE LEVELS
Book 5: SECRETS ON THE LEVELS
Book 6: DEATH ON THE LEVELS
Book 7: POISON ON THE LEVELS
Book 8: WITCH FIRE ON THE LEVELS
Book 9: STALKER ON THE LEVELS
Book 10: VENOM ON THE LEVELS
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  1. Book 4 of 14
    Detective Kate Hamblin Mystery
  2. Print length
    218 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Accessibility
    Learn more
  5. Publication date
    May 15, 2019
  6. File size
    930 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07RWKB1D5
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Joffe Books Mystery and Crime
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 15, 2019
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 930 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 218 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1789311198
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Book 4 of 14 ‏ : ‎ Detective Kate Hamblin Mystery
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 out of 5 stars 3,556 ratings

About the author

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David Hodges

David Hodges

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A former superintendent with Thames Valley Police, with thirty years experience in the force, David Hodges is a prolific crime writer and author of eighteen crime novels plus an autobiography on his life in the police service. His debut crime novel received critical media acclaim and a welcome accolade from Inspector Morse’s creator, the late great Colin Dexter, and since then he has become the author of several successful stand-alone thrillers, including FLASHPOINT (now out of print) BURNOUT, SLICE, BLAST and TARGET.

In particular, his Somerset murder novel series, published by Joffe Books, which is set on the mist-shrouded Somerset Levels in England and features the exploits of feisty detective, Kate, and her easy-going partner, Hayden, has gone from strength to strength. It has attracted keen interest in Europe, the USA, Canada and Australia as well as in Britain. The first six previously published thrillers in the series are also available on Audible for sight challenged readers and those who prefer the spoken word, though all Joffe Books are available on amazon in paperback and Kindle format.

David's latest novel in the Somerset Murder Series, SHADOWS ON THE LEVELS (Book 14), was published by Joffe Books on 1 January 2025.

David has two married daughters and four grandchildren and lives in the UK with his wife, Elizabeth, where he continues to indulge his passion for thriller writing and to pursue his keen interest in wild life and the countryside.

He is a member of the Society of Authors, the Crime Writers and Crime Readers Associations and International Thriller Writers Inc.

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
3,556 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book to be a very good read with engaging plots full of action. They appreciate the likable characters in the story.

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ReadabilityPlot qualityCharacter development
10 customers mention "Readability"10 positive0 negative

Customers find the book to be a very good read, with one customer noting it can be enjoyed as a stand-alone.

"...the cantankerous boss, and the persistent sergeant makes for an entertaining and exciting tale. The author obviously has a great sense of humour." Read more

"...This is the 4th book in this particular series, and is easily read as a stand alone, as are each of the others...." Read more

"These Levels books are are absolutely great reading! I’ve certainly enjoyed them. Being who I am, I struggled with character of the husband...." Read more

"Well written, full of action, likable characters, excellent plots Good plots, full of action, likable characters..." Read more

4 customers mention "Plot quality"4 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the plot of the book, which is full of action and suspense.

"...boss, and the persistent sergeant makes for an entertaining and exciting tale. The author obviously has a great sense of humour." Read more

"...Filled with action, twists and turns, this story will take you in deep dark places hiding murder, illegal drugs, and a man with no heart, no soul,..." Read more

"Well written, full of action, likable characters, excellent plots Good plots, full of action, likable characters..." Read more

"Lots of suspense. Love the relationship between Kate and her husband! I can hardly wait until the one is out!" Read more

3 customers mention "Character development"3 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the characters in the book.

"...30 years of experience embedding this story and the finely drawn characters with credibility." Read more

"Well written, full of action, likable characters, excellent plots Good plots, full of action, likable characters..." Read more

"The bad is terrifying, the lead characters are unique & quirky-LOVED IT" Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • BillL41
    5.0 out of 5 stars Murder, drugs, and surprises.
    Reviewed in the United States on October 4, 2019
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    The eccentric husband, the cantankerous boss, and the persistent sergeant makes for an entertaining and exciting tale. The author obviously has a great sense of humour.
    Helpful
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  • booklover
    4.0 out of 5 stars Beware The Sandman
    Reviewed in the United States on May 21, 2019
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Many thanks to the author / Joffe Books / Books 'n All Book Promotions for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

    PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS BOOK WAS ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED AS SANDMAN

    The Sandman is a mythical character in Western and Northern European folklore who puts people to sleep and brings good dreams by sprinkling magical sand onto the eyes of people while they sleep at night.

    However, this killer called Sandman, does pue people to sleep ...permanently.

    The villages have suffered severe flooding, with some places being inaccessible. Ellie Landy is a journalist sent to the area to report the news. She is later found drowned in the River Parett.

    Police are calling this an accidental drowning, but Kate thinks there is much, much more to the story. Disobeying her supervisors, she investigates on her own, not exactly endearing her to her boss.

    Filled with action, twists and turns, this story will take you in deep dark places hiding murder, illegal drugs, and a man with no heart, no soul, and filled with perversion. It's a real page-turner leading to a horrifying ending.

    This is the 4th book in this particular series, and is easily read as a stand alone, as are each of the others. I highly recommend starting at the beginning to catch all those nuggets that we all find so interesting.

    The author, himself a former police superintendent, brings his 30 years of experience embedding this story and the finely drawn characters with credibility.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Stephanie L Teeter
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great reading!
    Reviewed in the United States on August 18, 2019
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    These Levels books are are absolutely great reading! I’ve certainly enjoyed them. Being who I am, I struggled with character of the husband. Lazy, overweight and doesn’t seem to give a rip about being a policeman.
    Helpful
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  • Rita
    3.0 out of 5 stars Too many unbelievable situations....
    Reviewed in the United States on August 8, 2019
    Format: Kindle
    This is my fourth book in the series and I'm having trouble with this one. The author, a former police officer, keeps having Kate do such incredibly stupid things! I'm only thirty percent through the book and this is the second time she has put herself in a terribly risky situation, without alerting anyone for backup. Just marches off by herself. Does that a lot in books one through three too. Doesn't she ever learn? And her fellow police officer husbsnd? If I read "Old girl" one more time! Perhaps I should move on to another author.
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  • Jackie
    4.0 out of 5 stars Really enjoyed all four level books
    Reviewed in the United States on June 7, 2019
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Well written, full of action, likable characters, excellent plots

    Good plots, full of action, likable characters

    Good plots, likable characters, full of action
    Helpful
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  • Brenda Adams
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great continuation of the series!
    Reviewed in the United States on July 24, 2019
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Lots of suspense. Love the relationship between Kate and her husband! I can hardly wait until the one is out!
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  • snave51
    5.0 out of 5 stars Floods are quite dangerous
    Reviewed in the United States on July 4, 2019
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Empathize with those flooded people when time comes to clean up the debris and mold. One small community is totally surrounded by water . On one of the rhynes, a woman's body is discovered . Who, how, why. Kate feels it is a "sus" death however her boss DI Roscoe is told to treat it as a drowning . No ifs, ands or buts to be allowed .
    Helpful
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  • Kindle
    4.0 out of 5 stars Good story
    Reviewed in the United States on April 29, 2020
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Enjoyed this story, moved along very well from start to finish. Enjoy this author and will definitely read his stories again
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Lynette
    4.0 out of 5 stars nil
    Reviewed in Australia on September 22, 2019
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Brilliant read.
    Report
  • flyingdutchman
    1.0 out of 5 stars Deludente !
    Reviewed in Italy on September 10, 2019
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    La strana coppia di poliziotti non funziona. Lei è impulsiva, stupida, si mette sempre nei guai, fa le cose impensabili.
    Lui è amorfo, dormienti, insulso. Insieme una coppia che non combina nulla. La storia è inesistente, una giornalista trovata morta.....e poi ??
    Sconsiglio questo libro, è noioso. Nonl'ho finito....
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  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars murder mystery
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 20, 2025
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    great read great story line with many twists
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  • John Boyd
    5.0 out of 5 stars Read
    Reviewed in Canada on July 9, 2019
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Great story. Kate survives another try. Can’t wait to read her next adventure in crime fighting. What perils will she face?
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  • manny rothman
    5.0 out of 5 stars Killer ON THE LEVELS
    Reviewed in Australia on September 17, 2020
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Was a great book with great characters and great action with a great story and a great ending looking forward to the next book book thanks 🤠💪🍷
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