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Joy Ellis
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THE MURDERER'S SON a gripping crime thriller full of twists (JACKMAN & EVANS Book 1) Kindle Edition

by JOY ELLIS (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.3 out of 5 stars 19,564 ratings
"What if your mother was a serial killer?"

A BLOODY KILLER SEEMS TO HAVE RETURNED TO THE LINCOLNSHIRE FENS.

A gripping crime thriller by the bestselling author of the Nikki Galena series.

Twenty years ago: a farmer and his wife are cut to pieces by a ruthless serial killer.

Now: a woman is viciously stabbed to death in the upmarket kitchen of her beautiful house on the edge of the marshes.

Then a man called Daniel Kinder walks into Saltern police station and confesses to the murder.

But DI Rowan Jackman and DS Marie Evans of the Fenland police soon discover that there is a lot more to Daniel than meets the eye. He has no memory of the first five years of his life and is obsessed with who his real mother is.

With no evidence to hold him, Jackman and Evans are forced to let him go, and in a matter of days the lonely Lincolnshire Fens become the stage for more killings and Daniel has disappeared.

In a breathtaking finale, the truth about Daniel’s mother comes to light and DI Jackman and DS Evans race against time to stop more lives being destroyed.

Full of twists and turns, this is a crime thriller that will keep you turning the pages until the shocking ending.

THE DETECTIVES:
DS Marie Evans lost her husband in a motorbike accident and has personal connections to the case.

DI Rowan Jackman leads the investigation. He is extremely smart and has a knack for bringing out the best in his diverse team, which includes the mysterious computer specialist Orac.

WHAT READERS ARE SAYING ABOUT THE MURDERER'S SON:

"This is one of the best books I've read in a very very long time." Cree

"Absolutely spellbinding." KC

"Kept me reading until the wee small hours." Blue and white

"Very hard to put down." Elaine

"Exceptionally well plotted." Handbaglover

DISCOVER JOY ELLIS, THE MILLION-SELLING AUTHOR.

ALSO BY JOY ELLIS
JACKMAN & EVANS
Book 1: THE MURDERER’S SON
Book 2: THEIR LOST DAUGHTERS
Book 3: THE FOURTH FRIEND
Book 4: THE GUILTY ONES
Book 5: THE STOLEN BOYS
Book 6: THE PATIENT MAN
Book 7: THEY DISAPPEARED
Book 8: THE NIGHT THIEF
Book 9: SOLACE HOUSE

THE BESTSELLING NIKKI GALENA SERIES
Book 1: CRIME ON THE FENS
Book 2: SHADOW OVER THE FENS
Book 3: HUNTED ON THE FENS
Book 4: KILLER ON THE FENS
Book 5: STALKER ON THE FENS
Book 6: CAPTIVE ON THE FENS
Book 7: BURIED ON THE FENS
Book 8: THIEVES ON THE FENS
Book 9: FIRE ON THE FENS
Book 10: DARKNESS ON THE FENS
Book 11: HIDDEN ON THE FENS
Book 12: SECRETS ON THE FENS
Book 13: FEAR ON THE FENS

DETECTIVE MATT BALLARD
Book 1: BEWARE THE PAST
Book 2: FIVE BLOODY HEARTS
Book 3: THE DYING LIGHT
Book 4: MARSHLIGHT
Book 5: TRICK OF THE NIGHT

STANDALONES
GUIDE STAR
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  1. Book 1 of 11
    JACKMAN & EVANS
  2. Print length
    333 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Accessibility
    Learn more
  5. Publication date
    September 20, 2016
  6. File size
    3.2 MB
  7. Page Flip
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  8. Word Wise
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  9. Enhanced typesetting
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  1. ‘When fused, head and heart make up something called gut. Listen to what your gut tells you, Sergeant Evans, because it’s rarely wrong.’
    Highlighted by 180 Kindle readers
  2. For a moment she thought he was not going to speak, then in a clear, strong voice he said, ‘My name is Daniel Kinder and I murdered Alison Fleet.’
    Highlighted by 138 Kindle readers
  3. ‘The mind has incredible strength, but on the other hand, it is as fragile as a butterfly wing.’
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Joy Ellis was born in Kent, England but spent most of her working life in London and Surrey. She was an apprentice florist to Constance Spry Ltd, a prestigious Mayfair shop that throughout the Sixties and Seventies teemed with both royalty and ‘real’ celebrities. What an eye-opener for a working-class kid from the Garden of England! She swore then, probably whilst she was scrubbing the floor or making the tea, that she would have a shop of her own one day. It took until the early Eighties, but she did it. Sadly the recession wiped her out, and she embarked on a series of weird and wonderful jobs; the last one being a bookshop manager. Surrounded by books all day, getting to order whatever you liked, and being paid for it! Oh bliss!

And now she live in a village in the Lincolnshire Fens with her partner, Jacqueline, and our three second generation Springer spaniels. Her partner is a highly decorated retired police officer, and her harshest critic when it comes to police and judicial procedure. Joy has set her crime thrillers in the misty fens because she love the remoteness and airy beauty of the marshlands. This area is steeped in superstitions and lends itself so well to murder!

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B01LWY0PUJ
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Joffe Books Mystery, Crime Thriller, Suspense Fiction
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 20, 2016
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 3.2 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 333 pages
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Book 1 of 11 ‏ : ‎ JACKMAN & EVANS
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 out of 5 stars 19,564 ratings

About the author

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Joy Ellis

Joy Ellis

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I was born in Kent but spent most of my working life in London and Surrey. I was an apprentice florist to Constance Spry Ltd, a prestigious Mayfair shop that throughout the Sixties and Seventies teemed with both royalty and ‘real’ celebrities. What an eye-opener for a working-class kid from the Garden of England! I swore then, probably whilst I was scrubbing the floor or making the tea, that I would have a shop of my own one day. It took until the early Eighties, but I did it. Sadly the recession wiped us out, and I embarked on a series of weird and wonderful jobs; the last one being a bookshop manager. Surrounded by books all day, getting to order whatever you liked, and being paid for it! Oh bliss!

And now I live in a village in the Lincolnshire Fens with my partner, Jacqueline, and three Springer spaniels and four little rescue, Breton spaniels. I had been writing mysteries for years but never had the time to take it seriously. Now I write full-time, and as my partner is a highly decorated retired police officer; my choice of genre is a no-brainer! I have an on-tap police and judicial consultant, who makes exceedingly good tea!

I have set my crime thrillers here in the misty fens because I sincerely love the remoteness and airy beauty of the marshlands. This area is steeped in superstitions and lends itself so well to murder!

I am lucky enough to be one of the amazing Joffe Books team of authors and am really enjoying being able to spend time doing what I love... writing!

The series so far:-

DI Nikki Galena, the Fen Series

Book One: Crime on the Fens

Book Two: Shadow over the Fens

Book Three: Hunted on the Fens

Book Four: Killer on the Fens

Book Five: Stalker on the Fens

Book Six: Captive on the Fens

Book Seven: Buried on the Fens

Book Eight: Thieves on the Fens

Book Nine: Fire on the Fens

Book Ten: Darkness on the Fens

Book Eleven: Hidden on the Fens

Book Twelve: Secrets on the Fens

Book Thirteen: Fear on the Fens

Book Fourteen: Graves on the Fens

Book Fifthteen: Echoes on the Fens

Detective Nikki Galena Books 1-3 Boxset

Detective Nikki Galena Books 4-6 Boxset

Detective Nikki Galena Books 7-9 Boxset

Detective Nikki Galena Books 1-5 Boxset

DI Jackman and DS Marie Evans series so far:-

Book One: The Murderer's Son

Book Two: Their Lost Daughters

Book Three: The Fourth Friend

Book Four: The Guilty Ones

Book Five: The Stolen Boys

Book Six: The Patient Man

Book Seven: They Disappeared

Book Eight: The Night Thief

Book Nine: Solace House

Book Ten: The River's Edge

Guide Star. A stand alone novel about love, loss and overcoming adversity.

Beware the Past. Detective Matt Ballard Book 1 A stand alone thriller still set in the Fens, but with new characters and very different feel

Five Bloody Hearts. Detective Mat Ballard Book 2 After overwhelming requests, this is a sequel to Beware the Past, with DCI Matt Ballard.

The Dying Light. Detective Matt Ballard Book 3 Matt Ballard is now retired, but he and Liz still take on difficult cases, but as private detectives.

Marshlight. Detective Matt Ballard Book 4. They might have retired, but things are far from quiet for Matt and Liz!

Trick of the Night. Detective Matt Ballard Book 5. Matt and Liz find themselves needing to work with some of their old colleagues in the Force when they embark on a sinister case that is far more serious than first thought.

The Bag of Secrets. Detective Matt Ballard Book 6. An abandoned carpet bag full of mysterious handwritten notes. A body in a marshy lagoon.

Ellie McEwan mysteries series:-

Book One: An Aura of Mystery

Book Two: The Colour of Mystery

Guard Her With Your Life. A standalone novella.

These are available in both Kindle and paperback and now practically all of my books are available as audio books.

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
19,564 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this crime thriller engaging, with a story that keeps readers intrigued until the end and features a fast-paced narrative that holds attention throughout. The book receives praise for its consistently excellent writing, with one customer noting how it puts readers right in the midst of every event. Customers appreciate the character development, with one review highlighting the realistic portrayal of both villains and victims.

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129 customers mention "Suspenseful story"114 positive15 negative

Customers enjoy the suspenseful story of the book, praising its intriguing twists and well-crafted plot, with one customer noting how the events come alive for the reader.

"...The story line was entertaining, believable, likable, interesting and mysterious...." Read more

"...Storyline kept me interested and guessing as to “who done it.”" Read more

"Oh my what an intense book. Without spoilers, people in general do through a lot of stuff in their lives. It affects each person differently...." Read more

"...Additionally, there were some interesting twists, but some seemed contrived in order to wrap things up neatly...." Read more

119 customers mention "Readability"117 positive2 negative

Customers find the book to be an amazing and entertaining read, with several noting it's one of the author's most consistently excellent works.

"This is one of the best books I've read in a very very long time. I often like to read the murder mystery / police procedural / thriller type books...." Read more

"...It affects each person differently. I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more books by this author. Happy Reading." Read more

"...between the characters in the police department, and they were well described...." Read more

"...Having said that; I do think the book was very good, had interesting characters and a good plot...." Read more

63 customers mention "Character development"56 positive7 negative

Customers love the characters in the book, with one customer particularly appreciating the interactions between them in the police department, and another noting that the villains and victims are not typical whitewashed stereotypes.

"...The unique characters throughout made for great interactions and conflicts. Possibly the greatest feat - the editing was superb!..." Read more

"The author had good character development and likable characters. Storyline kept me interested and guessing as to “who done it.”" Read more

"...Enjoyed the interaction between the characters in the police department, and they were well described...." Read more

"...The story was well written with interesting characters, but you don’t really get to know a lot about them...." Read more

36 customers mention "Pacing"28 positive8 negative

Customers enjoy the pacing of the book, describing it as a fast-paced story that holds their attention throughout the entire read.

"...The pace of the story kept moving and never felt like it was dragging just to fill pages...." Read more

"...It was a quick read and one that once you start to read you don’t want to put down." Read more

"...People recreating their lives. Various scenarios within the police station environment; loyalties and disloyalties; individuals overcoming their..." Read more

"This was a good book, however I felt it was a little slow in the beginning...." Read more

7 customers mention "Grip"7 positive0 negative

Customers find the book gripping from start to finish, with one mentioning it kept them rooted in their chair and another noting it kept them on the edge of their seat.

"Gripping! By the end I did figure out who was the killer but it was right at the climax of the story. Worth the read 👌..." Read more

"Gripping, incredibly believable and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The twist wasn't obvious and the supporting story line kept it interesting." Read more

"Fast paced story that kept me on the edge of my seat. I couldn't wait to have time to get back to reading it." Read more

"...This particular story was gripping from start to the end." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • cree
    5.0 out of 5 stars ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS I'VE READ IN YEARS!
    Reviewed in the United States on November 2, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    This is one of the best books I've read in a very very long time. I often like to read the murder mystery / police procedural / thriller type books. I'm not usually too picky, and I try to find whatever I can that's a free Kindle download. They're usually what I call 'airport books' - entertaining, but not necessarily great. This book, even though it was a free Kindle download, was ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC.

    The story line was entertaining, believable, likable, interesting and mysterious. The characters were complex without having too much unnecessary backstory. The pace of the story kept moving and never felt like it was dragging just to fill pages. The unique characters throughout made for great interactions and conflicts. Possibly the greatest feat - the editing was superb! Bad editing is usually my biggest pet peeve with Kindle books. I noticed zero errors in this book.

    The story starts quickly with a murdered woman in a farm house. The police come to investigate, and from then on there are twists and turns throughout. You're never completely certain who the bad guy/girl is until it's revealed near the end.

    I cannot wait to read more from this author. I've already downloaded 2 more of Joy Ellis's books...I hope they live up to the standard this one set! If you enjoy this type of mystery you won't be sorry with this one!
    83 people found this helpful
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  • Vicky J. Tecce
    4.0 out of 5 stars quality read
    Reviewed in the United States on January 7, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    The author had good character development and likable characters. Storyline kept me interested and guessing as to “who done it.”
    Helpful
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  • K. P. Mann
    5.0 out of 5 stars Intense read! Kept me guessing!
    Reviewed in the United States on May 16, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Oh my what an intense book. Without spoilers, people in general do through a lot of stuff in their lives. It affects each person differently. I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more books by this author. Happy Reading.
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  • Jt
    3.0 out of 5 stars So so read
    Reviewed in the United States on February 18, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    This book could have been great but missed the mark on several fronts. Enjoyed the interaction between the characters in the police department, and they were well described. There also were multiple story lines, all but one fitting in seamlessly with the main idea. Additionally, there were some interesting twists, but some seemed contrived in order to wrap things up neatly. However, the identity of the murderer was fairly evident shortly after he was introduced, as the idea was familiar to me from other stories I've read. Once the identity was known, the other events seemed superfluous, as the reader was just waiting for him to be discovered by the police. Just finished two novels where the identity of the murderer was revealed almost at the end of the story, and a surprise, so was very disappointed in this novel. When some clues were overlooked by the police, it didn't seem plausible given the intelligence of the investigators. This just seemed to be a familiar plot in a television series about the police. Would not recommend this author.
    8 people found this helpful
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  • Fritz
    4.0 out of 5 stars Great Crime Thriller
    Reviewed in the United States on August 14, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    The Murderer’s Son was a great crime thriller that caught your attention from the beginning and kept it until the somewhat surprising end. A young man is convinced that his mother was a famous, blood-thirsty serial killer and that he too is a serial killer. He surrenders himself to the police claiming to be the murderer of two young women but lacks any memory of how and when he murdered them. His girlfriend is sure he isn’t a murderer and tries to help the young man by proving to him that he isn’t one. That’s when things really begin to take off and things become complicated.

    The story was well written with interesting characters, but you don’t really get to know a lot about them. You do eventually get quite a bit of detail about one of the main characters but many of the other significant characters are very shallowly developed. It wasn’t until I finished the book that I saw at the end there was a character description for each main character. That would have been much more useful at the beginning of the story than after reading it. It would certainly have made understanding the characters a lot better, and the story more enjoyable.

    Having said that; I do think the book was very good, had interesting characters and a good plot. It certainly had a number of twists to the story including the ending. It was a quick read and one that once you start to read you don’t want to put down.
    14 people found this helpful
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  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars This Author is Wonderful!
    Reviewed in the United States on October 30, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    I was immediately hooked by this story and characters, all of whom were quite nicely fleshed out. Wonderful back stories that interweaved with the main murder plot. For once I guessed at who the killer was which was also quite satisfying but of course there were a number of plausible others right to the end. Very well crafted and the Lincolnshire fens sound intriguing. Enticingly played. I look forward to the next in the series and will try her other ones too.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Katherine Dumont
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fast read
    Reviewed in the United States on August 4, 2024
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    Keeps you guessing and turning the pages. Would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a very good mystery and a great start to a series.
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  • Jennifer
    4.0 out of 5 stars Pretty good
    Reviewed in the United States on September 12, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Very good but some parts of the story didn’t quite make sense to me. You either want to kill people or you don’t. You don’t want to kill one minute and change your mind in the next. If your parents are murderers it won’t make you a murderer, and believing that your parents are murderers wouldn’t make you want to kill. Then finding out they weren’t murderers you suddenly don’t want to kill. Crazy.
    3 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Déborah
    5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant!
    Reviewed in France on February 19, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    This is a wonderful book. I did know who was 'guilty' from the moment that character appeared in the story but it didn't matter nor detract from the suspense. Wonderful characterizations of all involved. I can't wait to read the next one.
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  • Mariangela Morfisa
    5.0 out of 5 stars Eccellente / Excellent!
    Reviewed in Italy on July 11, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    Ho solo parole di lode per questo romanzo: un poliziesco molto ben scritto, con una trama emozionante, anche se un po' scontata per me perché sono un'aficionada del genere, ma che presenta motivazioni inusuali per le uccisioni e con un finale che, al contrario, non è così scontato. I personaggi, sia i due protagonisti, i detective Rowan Jackman e Marie Evans, sia i comprimari, sono molto ben descritti nella loro apparenza fisica, la loro psicologia e le loro abitudini. Anche l'ambientazione, le Fensland - le vaste paludi nell'Inghilterra orientale - è peculiare e molto suggestiva.

    I have only words of praise for this novel: a very well written thriller, with a gripping plot that, even if it’s a little bit predictable for me because I’m used to the genre, presents unusual reasons for the killing and an ending that, on the reverse, is not so predictable. The characters, both the two main ones, that is DI Rowan Jackman and DS Marie Evans, and the minor ones, are very well described in their physical appearance, their psychology and their habits. The location, too, the Fenlands – the vast marshes in Eastern England – is peculiar and very evocative.
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  • manny rothman
    5.0 out of 5 stars The Murderer’s Son
    Reviewed in Australia on April 20, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Was a good book with good characters and good action with story and a good ending
    Looking forward to reading the next book thanks 🇦🇺🤠😎🥸🤓💪🍷
    Report
  • Barb
    5.0 out of 5 stars Terrific mysteries!
    Reviewed in Canada on November 19, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    I have read all Ms. Ellis' mysteries. I particularly enjoyed her character DI Nikki Galena and now a new face, DS Marie Evans. I look forward to reading more featuring DS Evans and her boss DI Jackman. The books are all well written and almost HAVE to be read in one sitting! Once started I simply cannot put the books down. I have now become very intrigued with the Fens and hope there are lots more terrific books coming from Joy Ellis.
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  • Parvati
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic
    Reviewed in Spain on September 22, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Until the very end you are guessing who is the guilty one. A real page turner
    Report

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