Review: Tell No Tales by Eva Dolan

Title: Tell No Tales
Author: Eva Dolan
Publisher: Harvill Secker

Publication Date: 8th January 2015

Pages: 384
Source: Review Copy
Rating: 4.5/5
Purchase: Amazon

In the second book from a rising star of crime fiction, Detectives Zigic and Ferreira must investigate a hit-and-run that leaves two migrant workers dead and a series of horrific killings, seemingly with a Neo-Nazi motivation, captured on CCTV.

The car that ploughs into the bus stop early one morning leaves a trail of death and destruction behind it.

DS Ferreira and DI Zigic are called in from the Peterborough Hate Crimes Unit to handle the hit-and-run, but with another major case on their hands, one with disturbing Neo-Nazi overtones, they are relieved when there seems to be an obvious suspect. But the case isn't that simple and with tensions erupting in the town leading to more violence, the media are soon hounding them for answers.

Ferreira believes that local politician Richard Shotton, head of a recently established right-wing party, must be involved somehow. Journalists have been quick to acclaim Shotton, with his Brazilian wife and RAF career, as a serious contender for a major political career, despite his extremist views, but is his party a cover for something far more dangerous?

Crime fiction is such a crowded genre, yet sometimes there's a gem hidden away amongst the repetitive and unoriginal books that plague the genre. Tell No Tales is that gem, and I urge all crime fiction fans to read it straightaway. It's original, gripping and authentic with two of the most intriguing and interesting detectives I think I've ever read about in DS Ferreira and DI Zigic. Unfortunately I went into this having not read the first book, Long Way Home and whilst this can easily be read as a standalone, I did find myself thinking a few times that I wish I'd read Long Way Home first.

Ferreira and Zigic are called to the scene of a hit-and-run after a car crashes into a bus stop, leaving two migrant workers dead. It soon becomes clear this was no accident. Add into the mix a series of brutal killings, killings which seem to have a Neo-Nazi motivation behind them and there's a lot going on. I say it in nearly all my reviews and I'll say it again here, it's hard to discuss the plot further than that but this book is a mystery in every sense of the word, and I got completely caught up in trying to work it out and was totally wrong and caught off guard numerous times. Eva has created some unsavoury and very untrustworthy characters and has weaved a tale that even the most seasoned crime fiction reader may not be able to unravel. It's what I call 'clever' crime fiction, Eva writes about subjects that might usually go completely over my head, but writes in an accessible way, I came away from the book with a greater understanding of the subjects tackled here.

I really loved Eva's writing and became hooked on the book pretty much straightaway after an opening which gets you right into the action. Eva does not hold back, with the crimes described in this book being particularly nasty, but necessary as the detectives here are part of the Hate Crimes Unit. Most crime fiction is focused on murder and hunting down a killer, but Eva has certainly changed things up here, and this is where the book gets its originality because it is also very much a human story, a story about people, and a story that is relevant in the world we live in today, one that is all too recognisable as it's on our news daily. There's such a sense of realism with this book that it's almost scary in places, and it drew real and genuine emotion from me, this is a fiction book but you know there's fact mixed in here. It's clear Eva knows what she's talking about, and has a vested interest in the points being put across, there's no sensationalism here.

The book not having conventional chapters but rather being split up into days would be something I would ordinarily find annoying, but Tell No Tales was so good I had it read in just two sittings. Unless you have a free schedule I wouldn't advise starting this book, you'll only end up hating the person or thing that makes you stop reading. Having finished this book I'm already looking at my TBR wondering just what I can start next as I'm unsure I have anything that can compete with this! Crime fiction of a very high standard, I honestly can't recommend this book enough.

Two of my fellow bloggers that also loved Long Way Home are Christine (Northern Crime) and Tracey (Crime Reader) so be sure to check out their reviews! 

4.5/5