Title:	Dark Houses
	Author:	Helen H. Durrant
	Published:	2016, Joffe Books
	No. of Pages:	218
	Cover Price:	$9.99 Paperback, $2.99 Kindle

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Neville Dakin has a bad case of schizophrenia, but it is controlled somewhat with meds. However, when a killer targets him to carry out his gruesome murders, Dakin’s meds are switched to something that makes his voices worse, and the mild mannered Dakin is turned into a serial killer.

InDark Houses , the second installment in the DI Greco series, a woman is found brutally murdered in a vacant house. DI Greco and his team must investigate; as the story unfolds, there are more murders, exactly like the first, and the police department is under scrutiny for a fast solve due to an overzealous reporter who is giving them unwarranted bad press.

DI Greco is an interesting protagonist – he is divorced, but living with his ex-wife Suzy, who understands his OCD. The problems in their relationship are wearing on Greco and they cause him to rely on his team of detectives to solve the case. He is not at the top of his game, and his problems definitely hinder the progress of the investigation.

While the book is a fast read, and is fairly short, there are plenty of twists and turns, as well as palpable suspense. The events keep readers on the edge of their seats, and the book, which is set in the small town of Oldston, located in northern England, is quite fascinating. The English charm is evident in the book, and it’s fun to see the differences in how law enforcement operates in the US as opposed to their practices in the UK. Durrant has done a good job of her characterization, as well as storytelling, so everyone can understand and enjoy the novel.

One helpful thing for readers who are not from the UK is a glossary at the end of the book containing phrases, idioms, and English slang that make it much easier to understand. Durrant has also included a list of characters with descriptions.

Although the subject matter is quite serious, the book is light on graphic violence, although the descriptions of the murders are a bit shocking. The book is recommended for anyone who likes a good thriller with a foreign setting. Readers will most-likely enjoy this book and want to read the others in the series.

Special thanks to NetGalley for supplying a review copy of this novel.

This book may be purchased at Amazon:
DARK HOUSES, Paperback
DARK HOUSES, Kindle