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James D Mortain
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Dead By Design: A gripping serial killer thriller with unexpected & shocking twists (A Detective Deans Mystery Book 2) Kindle Edition

by James D Mortain (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 632 ratings
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Detective Andrew Deans is caught in a living nightmare—his pregnant wife has vanished, and every pair of eyes seems to bear a silent judgment, waiting for him to crack. As Deans wrestles with unspoken truths, the case around his wife's disappearance grows chillingly cold.

Amid this web of deceit and suspicion, a sinister force lures him back to his last unsolved murder case—an eerie property ominously dubbed the 'haunted house.'

Hidden within its weather-beaten shell lies a terrifying mystery that could hold the key to his wife's disappearance. But as Deans teeters on the edge of despair, he must confront the fear that haunts him—is he brave enough to uncover the grim secrets that lie in the shadows of the abandoned manor house?

Enter a chilling world of crime, mystery, and the supernatural as Detective Andrew Deans is pushed to the limits in this spine-tingling series.

DEAD BY DESIGN is the second book in the Detective Deans Mystery series of police procedure and paranormal intrigue, expertly woven by a former CID detective.

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  1. Book 2 of 3
    A Detective Deans Mystery
  2. Print length
    322 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  5. Publication date
    November 19, 2017
  6. File size
    644 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  10. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"This is an excellent addition to this British crime thriller." Booklover

From the Author

James began writing in 2012, following a chance encounter in a Bath bar with ex-SAS legend and bestselling author of the Danny Black thrillers Chris Ryan. Inspired by the meeting, James set about writing STORM LOG-0505 the very next day.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B077MW2GYM
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Manvers Publishing (November 19, 2017)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 19, 2017
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 644 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 322 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 632 ratings

About the author

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James D Mortain

James D Mortain

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James' life before the pen was as thrilling as the stories he now tells. After two decades working inside the UK criminal justice system, James has lived a life many authors can only research. From the beating heart of CID investigations to the solemn echoes of the courtroom, his deep well of personal experience breathes authenticity into his fast-paced mysteries, filled with realistic characters and complex narratives.

His venture into the literary world is as intriguing as his novels. It all began in 2012, following a chance meeting with SAS legend, TV personality, and fellow author Chris Ryan in a busy Bath bar. This serendipitous encounter ignited a passion for storytelling that has since become James' calling.

James' novels offer readers a gripping escape into worlds exploring the darkness of human nature and the relentless pursuit of justice. Join him on this nail-biting journey where each page promises another secret waiting to be uncovered.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
632 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Kim J.
5.0 out of 5 stars Ummmm, wow!
Reviewed in the United States on February 27, 2022
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I will say, I don't normally read books of the paranormal type. But this little series has wrapped itself around me and I don't want to stop! The writing is great, the plot and subplots are amazing and so very original. Just when you think its a bit farfetched it grabs on!. I am open to all sorts of things, and you have to be to read this trilogy! Its so very worth it!
One person found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars I need more Deano in my life!
Reviewed in the United States on November 25, 2017
Verified Purchase
After reading the excellent Storm Log-0505 when it was first published, I simply couldn’t wait for the sequel.
Dead By Design was greatly anticipated and I’m pleased to say it didn’t disappoint me!
Another thrilling Detective Deans page-turner with enough realism to satisfy those who have walked the thin blue line, but without ever becoming bogged-down in legal process or police terminology. Fans of the paranormal will also find something to enjoy here.
This book kept me awake at night (I just wanted to keep on reading) and the twist towards the end blew me away. The actual ending was truly chilling and left me desperate for the next installment, but I don’t want to give anything away here.
If you haven’t read Storm Log 0505 yet, DO IT and then read this!
One person found this helpful
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Kindle Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars Most Unusual
Reviewed in the United States on October 26, 2018
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Several times I was going to stop reading this book. However, I figured I'd give it more time. I'm glad I did. Extremely interesting twist and turns. I look forward to the next book.
One person found this helpful
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Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent
Reviewed in the United States on April 8, 2021
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A very well done story and a great sequel. This one continues the mystery of the first book while telling a story all its own. Enough suspense and mystery to keep the pages turning. Well worth reading.
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Denise
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Read
Reviewed in the United States on June 29, 2018
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Great read! Story flows along at a great pace. No waffling, only descriptive story telling with memorable characters. Waiting for book 3. Reccomend this to anyone who enjoys criminal/ Murder mysteries with a good dose of psychic thrown in.
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Karen Rist
5.0 out of 5 stars dead by design
Reviewed in the United States on October 11, 2022
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Well we found what happened to Deans gifts, his wife and child.

The final outcome to Ash Babbage is discover among some other inter string page turning event.
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booklover
4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent British Crime Thriller
Reviewed in the United States on November 21, 2017
Many thanks to the author for the advance copy of this most interesting book. Opinions expressed here are unsolicited, unbiased, and entirely my own.

This is second in a series featuring Detective Andrew Deans.. the first being STORM LOG-5050.

Detective Downs is looking into the deaths of a young couple. Local law enforcement is calling it a double suicide, but Deans is having one of his gut feelings and fears there will be more deaths.

Denise Moon, a psychic, has helped Deans realize his own special gifts, but there are few that really understand and he is constantly being watched and evaluated by his superiors.

He's tired of playing by the rules and decides that he and Moon must face the evil that exists, even knowing the risk of death to do so.

This is an excellent addition to this British crime thriller. The characters are credible, even if you don't believe in the paranormal. It's well written with a few twists and turns along the way. I highly recommend reading these books in order.

WARNING: Cliff hanger ahead!
3 people found this helpful
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Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars More than one
Reviewed in the United States on March 13, 2021
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It seems like the psychopath is going to get away with murder. Someone or something is opening an escape route. So who is on the side of the devil?

Enjoy!!
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Top reviews from other countries

Mme Hustwayte
5.0 out of 5 stars OMG!!!
Reviewed in France on September 4, 2018
Verified Purchase
What an absolutely gripping shocker of a book! Edge of the seat detail and terrifying characters. Well done indeed James!
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Sedgewick
5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous, again !!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 1, 2018
Verified Purchase
I can’t recommend this book and the author enough, I’d fallen out of love of reading, as nothing I started grabbed me, well, after reading Jame’s first book in just a couple of days, I couldn’t wait to start this one, it had me captivated as much as the first one, I also read this one within a couple of days, and, now i’m eager for book three, if you want something that is easy to read, grips you and is exciting, look no further, plus, an added bonus for me, I live in the area of North Devon that has been written about, so, is even more gripping for me, fabulous James, hurry up with the next one please !!
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Alan
5.0 out of 5 stars Detective Deans unlocks The Psychic World of Crime
Reviewed in Australia on September 3, 2018
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I really liked the book. I’m not a great believer in the psychic world but I’m open to be proven wrong. However, Deans brings a new twist to detective mysteries and it adds greatly to the plot. Looking forward to the next book.
One person found this helpful
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Mrs Patricia A Gornall
4.0 out of 5 stars I really enjoyed this book
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 22, 2017
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I really enjoyed this book, the second in the series featuring Detective Andy Deans. it was a real page-turner in which the author skilfully interwove the previous storyline and characters to make this suitable as a standalone novel. Westward Ho! was again featured in detail, such a joy for a fan of this North Devon village. Moving at a fast pace, the gritty yet sensitive Deano struggled to find answers whilst facing desperate worries of his own. Here’s hoping author James Mortain is already working on novel number 3 starring Andy Deans!
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karen Campbell
5.0 out of 5 stars Dead by Design
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 17, 2022
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BRILLIANT YET AGAIN… This is the second in this series by this talented author .. It’s totally gripping and I read it in one sitting. The characters are amazing and the plot is chilling .. I really couldn’t turn the pages fast enough . I’m going into the last one . Excellent
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