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J.F. Burgess
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The Missing And The Dead: A tense crime thriller with a shocking twist (Detective Tom Blake Book 4) Kindle Edition

by J.F. Burgess (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.3 out of 5 stars 394 ratings

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "An engrossing detective thriller, with a shocking twist that will leave readers breathless." Former Detective and crime author, John Pye.

A forty-two-year-old murder...
When Detective Tom Blake is called to investigate the alarming discovery of human remains on a demolition site in Stoke-on-Trent city centre. The bones confront him with a cold case from 1978.

Was the murder of a notorious gangster linked to the disappearance of a vulnerable young man with gambling debts? Or is there an even darker story to uncover?

Missing children...
Six-year-old Daisy Ellis went missing the night her house burned down in 1978, killing both her parents. Two days later, Lorna Atwood, thirteen, caught a bus into town and was never seen again.

Can Blake link the missing girls to the cold case and finally provide their heartbroken parents with closure?

A killer who has never been caught...
Blake's hunt for the killer strikes fear into the hearts of the witnesses as it takes him back in time to a derelict children's home: a place with a disturbing history.

As past collides perilously with present, Blake finds himself part of a terrifying investigation that will lead to a chilling realisation of the killer’s identity…


Set within a gritty midlands town with dark secrets: this tense British detective novel is a murder mystery that will keep you on edge until the final shocking twist is revealed.


What Readers Are Saying:

Mark Fern Bookmark Facebook readers group ★★★★★

"Very well written, with great characters and twists. A page-turner that kept me reading and I was keen to see what happened: the ending was very unexpected, with a shocking twist!"

Audrey Gibson Goodreads ★★★★★

"A brilliant story with engaging characters; it flowed well and kept me wondering what happened all those years ago. Everything tied up nicely at the end with a very clever ending, I must say."

James Facey ★★★★★

Just read "The Missing And The Dead." I really couldn't put it down. This really is a 5* + book.


MEET THE DETECTIVES

Tom Blake is a forty-six-old widowed detective inspector. His wife and ten-year-old son were tragically killed in a fatal hit and run car crash ten years ago. He was driving at the time and his daughter Isabel was also in the car - they both miraculously escaped with minor cuts and bruises, but he still suffers from emotional flashbacks and neck pain. His team never caught the joyrider who killed his family and he vows to bring the perpetrator to justice one day.

John Murphy is Blake's loyal Seargent and closest friend who always has his back. Together, they have solved several disturbing cases and put multiple killers behind bars for life.


THE SETTING

The gritty, post-industrial five towns of Stoke on Trent and hauntingly beautiful Staffordshire Moorlands: derelict pottery factories, bone mills, disused deep mines, numerous crime addled council estates, and barren moorland peaks; make North Staffordshire a tough area to police due to its problems with unemployment, poverty and lack of meaningful investment since the late eighties. It's a unique place that is both scarred, ugly, deprived and beautiful at the same time. Ironic, since the tiles and pots it once produced on a grand scale adorn the walls, floors and tables in some of the most iconic buildings in history. From Buckingham Palace to the cathedrals and gothic civic buildings of the UK's best-known towns and cities.

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  1. Book 4 of 7
    Detective Tom Blake
  2. Print length
    202 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Accessibility
    Learn more
  5. Publication date
    February 8, 2021
  6. File size
    701 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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There are 7 books in this series.

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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08W59LGB8
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ February 8, 2021
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ 1st
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 701 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 202 pages
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Book 4 of 7 ‏ : ‎ Detective Tom Blake
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 out of 5 stars 394 ratings

About the author

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J.F. Burgess

J.F. Burgess

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Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

J.F. Burgess is a popular crime novelist, both in the UK and the US.

The gripping DI Tom Blake murder mystery books are set across the gritty, industrial five towns of Stoke on Trent and the hauntingly beautiful Staffordshire Moorland Peaks.

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Your *FREE* DI Tom Blake short stories are waiting for you. Sign up for my V.I.P. newsletter here:

https://www.jfburgess.co.uk/ and I'll send you DEADLY RETRIBUTION and DISCO INFERNO for signing up!

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Tom Blake and his faithful Sergeant, John Murphy, investigate local crimes often, with connections to national and international criminal networks, including people trafficking, murder, prostitution, high-stakes robberies, and domestic abuse.

The first book, ‘The Killer Shadow Thieves,’ has been downloaded over 10,000 times, hitting the top 100 of several Amazon UK crime categories since publication.

His four subsequent novels in the DI Tom Blake Murder Mystery Thriller Series, regularly feature in the top 100 of Amazon’s crime categories and currently have over *410,000* Kindle Unlimited page reads.

Readers have described his books as:

‘Page-turning, tense, crime mysteries with shocking twists that take readers deep inside the criminal mind.’

Join his VIP Readers Club to receive exclusive discounts, FREE books and signed copies of his breathtaking crime thrillers that will have you on edge of your seat... https://www.jfburgess.co.uk/vipclub

Jonathan lives in Stoke on Trent, England, with his wife and two kids.

You can get in touch with him here — info@jfburgess.co.uk

Author website — https://www.jfburgess.co.uk/

Twitter — https://twitter.com/burgess1012

Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100019097594198

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
394 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book engaging, with one mentioning it's a nonstop read. Moreover, they appreciate the suspenseful plot, with one review highlighting the new mysteries at every turn. Additionally, customers enjoy the character development, with one noting the interesting portrayal of Blake.

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ReadabilitySuspenseCharacter development
5 customers mention "Readability"5 positive0 negative

Customers find the book to be an excellent read, with one describing it as a nonstop read and another noting it's part of a wonderful series.

"156 pages 4 and 1 / 2 stars What a great little novella...." Read more

"...It is well written and held my interest all the way through...." Read more

"...This is a nonstop read with excellent characters, vicious and appalling crimes, and new mysteries at every turn. Enjoy the action and suspense." Read more

"...Seemingly a cliffhanger could start another book in this wonderful series." Read more

4 customers mention "Suspense"4 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the suspenseful plot of the book, with one customer highlighting the new mysteries at every turn and another noting the action-packed story and violence.

"...What a great little novella. This book has it all: violence, child abduction, arson, murder, blackmail, sex trafficking, a crooked cop and child..." Read more

"...This is a nonstop read with excellent characters, vicious and appalling crimes, and new mysteries at every turn. Enjoy the action and suspense." Read more

"I really enjoy his characters and storyline in this series...." Read more

"...a dark, gritty, action-packed story dealing with difficult topics - violence, child abduction, arson, murder, blackmail, sex trafficking, a crooked..." Read more

3 customers mention "Character development"3 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the characters in the book, with one mentioning that Blake is an interesting character.

"...Blake is an interesting character, and I’d like to learn what makes him tick." Read more

"...This is a nonstop read with excellent characters, vicious and appalling crimes, and new mysteries at every turn. Enjoy the action and suspense." Read more

"I really enjoy his characters and storyline in this series...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Tripower53
    5.0 out of 5 stars Can't wait to read author's other books!
    Reviewed in the United States on April 1, 2021
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    156 pages

    4 and 1 / 2 stars

    What a great little novella. This book has it all: violence, child abduction, arson, murder, blackmail, sex trafficking, a crooked cop and child sexual abuse.

    DI Tom Blake talks a man down off a roof. Almost immediately, he receives a request to attend a body found at a demolition site. It's just bones, boots and a leather jacket. The pathologist's estimate of the time of death is the late 1970's. A matchbook leads the detectives to a retired man who owned the store that had those matches.

    DNA proves the identity of the murdered man. He was a gangster involved in prostitution and blackmail. He also beat people up. His brother is still alive and is still a very nasty person.

    The web of people involved in the crime – and others – grows. Following several interviews with people who are either not telling the truth or hiding something, the cops begin to get an idea of what happened.

    There are several characters to keep an eye on in this book. They are a seriously messed up group of people.

    I really like the way Mr. Burgess tells a story. While he pretty much leaves out the character development (something I always look forward to in a novel), he hits the nail right on the head with his story. I am reminded of the old television show Dragnet: “Just the facts m'am.” He does discuss the relationship between Blake and his daughter a little.

    I truly enjoyed this book and am very much looking forward to reading Mr. Burgess' other books.
    One person found this helpful
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  • D. Zendel
    4.0 out of 5 stars Well written
    Reviewed in the United States on May 24, 2025
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    The past and present collide for Detective Inspector Tom Blake when he is called to investigate the discovery of human remains on a demolition site in Stoke-on-Trent. The bones have ties to a cold case from 42 years ago. The remains belong to a notorious gangster and may tie to the disappearance of a vulnerable young man, but they could also have ties to a case involving the disappearance of children from a care home with a dark history.

    This is a dark, gritty, action-packed story dealing with difficult topics - violence, child abduction, arson, murder, blackmail, sex trafficking, a crooked cop and child sexual abuse. It is well written and held my interest all the way through. It wasn’t until the end that I realized I started this series mid-stream, but the author did such a good job of conveying backstory that I didn’t feel lost or left out. I enjoyed following along with Blake and his team as they solved the cases.

    I will read more in this series – and I’m kind of excited I get to catch up by reading books 1-3. Blake is an interesting character, and I’d like to learn what makes him tick.
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  • T. Browne
    5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent police procedural
    Reviewed in the United States on September 20, 2022
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Follow Detective Tom Blake and his team as they attempt to solve the murder of man found 40 years after his death. This is a nonstop read with excellent characters, vicious and appalling crimes, and new mysteries at every turn. Enjoy the action and suspense.
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  • runread
    5.0 out of 5 stars Dishonor and Disgrace
    Reviewed in the United States on December 30, 2022
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    The discovery of the skeletal remains of a murder victim triggered an investigation that kept finding links to crimes that had been long buried and forgotten. The twists and revelations kept me intrigued to the end.
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  • Jo Wade
    5.0 out of 5 stars another excellent read
    Reviewed in the United States on September 25, 2022
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Blake and Murphy figure out how to solve old crimes with incredible brain power. Seemingly a cliffhanger could start another book in this wonderful series.
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  • Teresa
    5.0 out of 5 stars Good read
    Reviewed in the United States on March 1, 2021
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    I really enjoy his characters and storyline in this series. I read a lot and it’s hard to get excited with some of the characters out there and the Authors writing but found a series I enjoy.
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  • booklover
    4.0 out of 5 stars Page-Turning Action
    Reviewed in the United States on February 9, 2021
    Format: Kindle
    DI Tom Blake is called on to investigate the discovery of decades old human bones. When finally identified, the bones are found to belong to a gangster linked to another murder... of a man over a possible gambling debt.

    A six-year old girl goes missing the night her house caught on fire and both parents perished. Who saved her ... and why? She's never been seen since. The sane night, a 13-year-old girl caught a bus ... and disappeared.

    Blake stumbles upon these mysterious disappearances when delving into his cold-case murder: could there be a link? Opening up this cold-case strikes fear into the hearts of witnesses, and takes Blake back in time to a derelict children’s home: a place with a disturbing history.

    This is well written with tons of page-turning action. Deftly drawn characters appear in the midst of twists and turns. It's an intricate plot with plenty of suspects to watch. All are leading to an unexpected, surprising conclusion.

    Many thanks to the author for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Christmas Angel
    5.0 out of 5 stars 10 Stars
    Reviewed in the United States on February 8, 2021
    Format: Kindle
    A superbly written novel about gangsters, murders, and child abuse. Disturbing and twisted, heart-breaking and
    tragic - not all fiction is fiction. A 10 Star Book. Brilliantly written and Very Highly Recommended.
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Top reviews from other countries

  • ALYSON R
    5.0 out of 5 stars The dark and gripping third book in this excellent series.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 19, 2021
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    This is the third book in this series and although this is a novella, it really feels more like a full length story with absolutely loads in it to grip the reader right from the start to the fantastic ending! The story begins in 1978 where a fire quickly takes hold on a suburban house. As her parents die, six year old Daisy Ellis is rescued and is never seen again. The story switches forward forty two years to the present day. DI Tom Blake and his partner DS John Murphy are trying to grab a quiet coffee in Hanley when Tom ends up dramatically saving a man threatening to throw himself from the top of a disused multi storey car park. The man is off his head on a nasty synthetic drug and can’t get to see his young son. Life is never quiet for Tom and he is next called to the scene of the discovery of a skeleton in an old drain under the demolition site of the old sixties shopping precinct. All that’s left is bones, boots and his leather jacket. His fractured skull indicates it could be murder. When the news is made public, it stirs up some very bad memories for quite a few people as they remember the arcade that stood on the site and the Wilder brothers, a pair of brutal local gangsters that used to run it. They were into allsorts and there was even talk of prostitutes and drugs. Forensic tests and other evidence date the remains to 1978 and lead the detectives to a former café owner. The bones are identified as Lenny Wilder who disappeared in 1978, leaving his brother Johnny to run their empire. Lenny wasn’t the only person who disappeared from that scene in 1978. A thirteen year old girl called Lorna Atwood was also never seen again, and a young Italian man vanished from that area. Could there be a connection between all these disappearances? There are plenty of suspects for Lenny’s murder and the lives of all concerned start to converge horrifically again as the detectives start to dig into the past. Soon it looks like someone is trying to silence any potential witnesses, and the pressure is really on the detectives to solve this case.
    Including murder and assaults, missing children, hard men gangsters and arson, this story really has everything going on and is chillingly dark in places as the detectives start to unearth grim and disturbing secrets that have been buried for decades. The story is very well written with a gripping plot that kept me guessing almost to the end, as the detectives discover more dreadful crimes that had been buried in a web of conspiracy and silence. The pace and tension are kept up throughout the story with lots of great action as Blake and Murphy, part of an excellent team of good solid detectives, race to save lives with gruesome findings and a shocking ending with some superb twists and revelations. Each book in this series has got better and better, and I am eagerly awaiting the next one! Highly recommended. 5*
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  • Alex Black
    5.0 out of 5 stars Gritty, disturbing, brilliant!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 1, 2021
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    This is my second DI Tom Blake mystery and it did not disappoint.
    When a skeleton is discovered on a building site, Blake starts investigating a cold murder case. At first it appears fairly straightforward with links to two nasty gangsters from the 1970s, although one of them is missing. There are twists and turns aplenty, leaving the reader wondering just how twisted this can get with five possible witnesses who may suspects. And all of whom have secrets relating to the past, missing children and murders.
    The story is set in and around Stoke on Trent and is full of gritty realism, often missing from standard police procedurals. I love the way Burgess doesn't follow the typical formula with his plotting. It's a police procedural, a whodunit, that is fresh and stimulating... albeit very dark with tales of child abuse and abduction.
    At one point, the people we know have been lying (although not what the lies are yet) are called to a meeting by someone. It's a very clever way of upping the ante and tension. Especially when no one is sure who called them together and where one disappears to.
    And as for the ending... a final disturbing twist, that unsettled me for a couple of nights afterwards. However I can say no more without spoiling the mystery.
    It's a mid-length novel that I found whipped along at pace. The only criticism I have is that there was little personal development of Blake and the team. There were none of the usual subplots that provide a breather from the main plot and provide more depth to the protagonists. So that was another departure from the formula. Did it matter? Not really, although I would recommend you read books 1 or 2 beforehand so that you have a fuller picture of Blake in particular.
    "Only the living tell lies" is a perfect strap line for this gritty, hard hitting crime mystery. It deserves five black daggers and I look forward to the next instalment from this fascinating author.
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  • BOOK MARK!
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great Adventure
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 1, 2021
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    D.I. Tom Blake is back for his 3rd outing and this time this novella is all about nasty buried secrets from the past coming back to haunt the present
    A body is found,it’s of a man,a notorious man who disappeared in the 70’s and the finger points at many characters who it could have been and as the investigation starts Blake is faced with a past riddled with drugs,pedophiles,murderers and prostitution.......and a man everyone was terrified of,known only as ‘The Gatekeeper’
    As the investigation continues we learn not everyone who was supposed to be good back in those days was and the story takes many twists and turns as we find out who was behind it all
    A real adventure,well written and paced,full of characters to dislike and makes you very keen to find out the ending,a great mystery read
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  • paddy Hayward
    5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 1, 2023
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Great author, I have read many of his books, brilliantly written, once I start reading them I can't put them down, great stories.
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  • M A D
    5.0 out of 5 stars Very clever.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 17, 2022
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    You will not be disappointed.
    A brilliant narrative, which starts from the first page and spits you out on the last page. A very detailed read enhanced by great characters. Fast paced and highly recommended.
    Report

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