The BloodDimmed Tide Author:Rennie Airth It's about ten years since John Madden investigated the brutal slayings during which he met his future wife and made fast friendships with others in the force working with him. Now retired from the police, Madden is a hands-on farmer. To the dismay of his wife, Dr. Helen Madden, John is drawn in to another gruesome murder spree when he finds... more » the body of a young girl. His old friend at Scotland Yard takes over from local police when it appears a serial killer is at large, and John's insights help his old colleague in his quest to convince his superiors about the dangerous man on the loose, who may have connections to highly placed government officials.« less
This has been one of the best mysteries I have read so far this year. Very well written and will keep you wanting to read more. You get a good feel of the time period that the story takes place in.
The second John Madden book recounts murders just as appalling as the first book. John is no longer a policeman so is not the focus of the story, although he becomes more involved as the investigation proceeds. I thought this book could have used a stricter editor; it's longer than need be, and there were pages of exposition about characters who were really peripheral at best that should have been trimmed. Also, although I don't remember this from the first book, the writer contorts time, starting out a chapter detailing events then going back a little in time to fill in details. It was needlessly confusing and irritating after a while. Still, I managed to finish it.