“Sometimes murder is the only way to get even…

Four friends with dark secrets. One killer out for revenge.

DI Frank Farrell and DS McLeod are tasked with investigating the brutal murder of a defence solicitor’s wife in Dumfries.

It’s been over a year since they left the town after an investigation robbed them of a dear friend. But now they’re back and must find a way to move on.

When the son of another defence solicitor is murdered, a strange tattoo etched on his body, the case takes them into darker, more disturbing territory.

It leads them back into the past – to a horrific fire in a cottage that took a woman’s life, to four friends harbouring dark secrets – and finally to a killer waiting patiently for revenge.”

Hello and a very warm welcome to the blog. I am delighted to be sharing my review of the third book in one of my favourite must-read crime series with you today, Avenge the Dead by Jackie Baldwin. Jackie’s series features ex-priest turned troubled detective, Frank Farrell and the entire series is brilliant! I received a free eARC of Avenge the Dead but that has in no way influenced my review.

Following the traumatic events of book two, Perfect Dead, DI Farrell and DS McLeod (along with DC Thomson) have relocated to Glasgow. Farrell is a mess, with a capital M. Having lost his faith (he’s an ex-priest so that’s kinda major!) and keeping a constant vigil at the bedside of his friend and DCI, John Lind, he turns to alcohol and prescription drugs to get through the day. When a violent murder calls the team back to Dumfries, Farrell is loathed to go. Not only because of the memories but because he doesn’t want to leave Lind’s side. Begrudgingly the team pack up and head back to their own stomping ground to try and solve one of the most frustrating cases they’ve ever had to deal with. Struggling to come up with any suspects or motives for the murder, they’re shocked when a second body is found. The victims are both relatives of a group of defence solicitors, a tight-knit group of friends who go way back. Can Farrell and McLeod discover who the killer is before another life is snuffed out…?

I’ve mentioned it before but it’s worth mentioning it again, I LOVE this series. I was so excited to hear a third book was being released. Avenge the Dead can easily be read as a standalone but if you want the full impact of these brilliant books then it’s worth going back to the beginning and starting from book one. I love the way the characters have really grown into themselves over the three books; particularly the wonderful Mhairi McLeod who is always as important to the story as DI Farrell. The way these two characters bounce off each other, their undeniable chemistry, brings a lighter note to an intense and involving case and I can’t get enough of them. In Avenge the Dead, in particular, McLeod often steps up to the plate in Frank’s absence and I thoroughly enjoyed seeing her take more of a leading role. Frank, on the other hand, is on a slippery slope having lost his faith and turned to drink and drugs to cope with the events of the last couple of years. He’s lost his way and although I’m normally the first person to cheer when a troubled detective makes an appearance, I feel really sorry for Frank. The departure of his faith has left such a large, gaping hole in his life that he’s just not the man he was. It was fascinating to see this side of him. To see Frank Farrell so dejected and lost was tough. So much so that I hope he finds what is missing in future books in the series.

Would I recommend this book? Yes, yes and yes again. Without a moment’s hesitation, I would. I would recommend the entire series as they’re all great books and if you love detective fiction then Baldwin’s DI Farrell series is a must-read. From the very first page I was hooked, and my curiosity was well and truly piqued! I was there with the team as another possible link crumbled to nothing resulting in another dead-end. I was there with the team at the thrilling conclusion, holding my breath, shaking my head and muttering ‘nooooooooo’ under my breath. I loved this book and I lived this book. I cannot wait for book four in the series. Here’s hoping there are many, many more DI Farrell novels to come in the not too distant future.

I chose to read and review an eARC of Avenge the Dead. The above review is my own unbiased opinion.

Avenge the Dead by Jackie Baldwin was published in the UK by One More Chapter on Friday 28th February 2020 and is available in digital format with the paperback to follow in April (please note, the following links are affiliate links which mean I receive a small percentage of the purchase price at no extra cost to you): | amazon.co.uk | amazon.com | Waterstones | Foyles | Book Depository | Goodreads |

© Kim Ayres

Jackie Baldwin is a Scottish crime writer. Her debut crime novel, Dead Man’s Prayer, was published by Killer Reads on 2^nd September 2016. The second in the series, Perfect Dead was published on 15^th June 2018. For most of her working life, she has been a solicitor specialising in Family and Criminal Law. She later retrained as a hypnotherapist. Married with a grown family, she recently moved from Dumfries to East Lothian.

Author Links: | Twitter | Facebook |