No Smoke Without Fire

DCI Warren Jones, Book 2

By: Paul Gitsham

Narrated by: Malk Williams

DCI Warren Jones has a bad feeling when the body of a young woman turns up in Beaconsfield Woods. She’s been raped and strangled but the murderer has been careful to leave no DNA evidence.

There are, of course, suspects – boyfriend, father – to check out but, worryingly, it looks more and more like a stranger murder.

Warren’s worst fears are confirmed when another young woman is killed in the same way.

The MO fits that of Richard Cameron who served twelve years for rape. But Cameron never killed his victims and he has a cast-iron alibi.

Then personal tragedy intervenes and Warren is off the case. But the pressure is mounting and another woman goes missing. Warren is back but will the break he desperately needs come before there’s another victim?

The DCI Warren Jones series
1 The Last Straw
2 No Smoke Without Fire
Blood is Thicker than Water (Novella)
3 Silent as the Grave
A Case Gone Cold (Novella)
4 The Common Enemy
A Deadly Lesson (Novella)
5 Forgive Me Father
At First Glance (Novella)
6 A Price to Pay
7 Out of Sight
8 Time to Kill
9 Web of Lies

©2018 Paul Gitsham (P)2018 HarperCollins Publishers

A reasonable, if somewhat predictable, Police

A reasonable, if somewhat predictable, Police procedural by Paul Gitsham with Malk Williams also doing a reasonable job of narration. Good light entertainment around the top of the second tier in my library.

another great book

I love this series. The writing and the narrator was great as well. I will be getting the next one in this series today.

I’ll read the next in the series

This isn’t a rave review, but overall, this is a serviceable procedural. I like the main characters, and the protagonist is a good guy, which in itself is a pleasant departure from edgy detectives.

Like many procedurals, some obvious leads are neglected. There are dead women, but the descriptions are not overly graphic. All said, I still recommend this to lovers of low key procedurals and of spending time with some likable characters. I appreciate the way the protagonist is shown to mature with experience.

The plot is a little less satisfying than the first; however, I’ll read the next book in the series.

Enjoyable Read

The second book in the DCI Warren series is much better than the first one. The plot takes off from the beginning. There are really two stories running concurrently—the murder mystery and the relationships in Warren’s family which are affected by his work. The latter make Warren very human and real and not just another detective. I look forward to future novels in the series

One of my favourite authors now

Good story line from stat to finish will definitely be listening to more of Paul s books

Great series!

Great continuation of series, but as a stand alone it’ll work as well!
Clever plot

Fantastic Detective Novel!!

Love the characters, the story and the narration!! I have enjoyed books one and two very much. Unfortunately, can't get the 3rd Audible in the U.S.so onto number 4!!

More, please, of this author and narrator

This second book in the DCI Warren Jones series is better than the first, which I also found to be quite enjoyable. The plotting is a bit tighter and the characters are more interesting. I hope Audible will eventually provide us with all of the books in this series.

A hero to take to lunch

I am not yet sure why the characters in this young series appeal to me, but they do. I think it might be the humility of the protagonist, Warren Jones, who really does not take himself very seriously, allowing the reader to respond accordingly. But his sidekick Sutton and his wife Susan and all of the other very real people who make up the world of this novel are completely believable. As much as I secretly enjoy the depressed, substance abusing, sleep deprived, isolated detective hero, Jones is a fresh take. I predict that this series has legs and will satisfy many readers.

Enjoyable, but one caveat

I like this series. I am really enjoying the characters, and appreciated the plot of the first book. Unfortunately in this second installment, by maybe a third of the way in, I knew who the culprit was. That was disappointing. I still listened all the way through, to learn the details and all of the connections, and for the characters. Hoping the next installment won’t be quite as transparent.