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Tainted: A DI Colin Strong Investigation (The Wakefield Series Book 4) Kindle Edition

4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 214 ratings

A botched attempt to extort money has tragic consequences.
An embarrassing DNA match to an unsolved rape and murder twenty years before means DI Colin Strong has to use his best diplomatic tactics.
Simultaneously, journalist Bob Souter is tasked with writing about that same case to re-focus public attention. Will the newspaper’s actions help or hinder the police?
Meanwhile, Strong’s team has two separate murder enquiries to run.
With their friendship under duress, will Souter and Strong be able to work together?

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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07MF3MN1F
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Orchard View Publications (February 7, 2019)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ February 7, 2019
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 528 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 298 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 214 ratings

About the author

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David Evans
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The Wakefield Series has now been re-published in paperback and ebook formats. The crime fiction series set primarily in Yorkshire, consists of TROPHIES, TORMENT, which was shortlisted in the prestigious Crime Writers Association Debut Dagger in 2013, TALISMAN and TAINTED.

Previously, The Wakefield Series became an International Best Seller in June 2017.

The Tendring Series continues with the second, DISTRESSED, available now in ebook format along with the paperback version. The first in the series, DISPOSAL, is also available in ebook and paperback. The crime series is set in north Essex in the late 1970s.

After a successful career in the construction industry, I began to write seriously and have thoroughly enjoyed the whole process.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
214 global ratings

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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on February 10, 2019
    Tainted is the fourth book in the Wakefield Series. Whilst it isn’t essential to have read the others in the series, I would recommend it to get the most out of this book with there being references to previous events.

    There is quite a lot going on in this novel with two murder cases on the go. I didn’t envy Strong and his team, or Souter for that matter having to stir things up from the past to increase awareness for a cold case.

    The police and press usually don’t have a great relationship so I have to admit to enjoying seeing the great relationship that Strong and Souter have even though it can get strained at times, it really does make for some compelling reading.

    Even though there are two cases on the go, the author ensures that the reader doesn’t get lost and finds the story easy to keep up with. Cold cases always fascinate me so it was great to see how the team work together in solving it.

    Tainted is a compelling read that kept me on my toes. Strong and Souter are both likeable characters and it’s great to see things from not just the police side of things but from a reporters perspective also. Set in Wakefield and Leeds, with knowing the areas very well, it was so easy to visualise plenty of where the story is set. A good and solid crime read.

    My thanks to Caroline Vincent at Bits About Books for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.

Top reviews from other countries

  • P A Burton
    5.0 out of 5 stars I need book #5.....please!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 10, 2019
    It's a joy to meet up once again with DI Colin Strong and his friend newspaper journalist Bob Souter. I absolutely love this series, the storylines and believable well crafted characters make intriguing and compulsive reading.
    Colin Strong is a personality you can't help being drawn to, he's a leader who's moulded his team to perfection and never steals their limelight. Friendships matter to him, which in turn gels and sometimes crosses over into his case work!

    I don't think I need to explain the two storylines running through this book, it's in the blurb and other people's reviews, except to say, the first chapter sets the scene for a compulsion not to put this book down. As I've been waiting (not to patiently, I might add) for this addition to The Wakefield Series, I was determined not to rush it, to sit back take my time, have a few breaks and prolong the story..............didn't work, two sittings and I'd read it. Totally impossible to put down, I devoured every word with relish and every chapter and hungry for the next.

    The storyline and plots are cleverly crossed with intriguing consequences, throwing the ball into another court. I thought I'd worked out the culprit or culprits early on, not so. This is a very cleverly put together police procedural, dead ends, false leads by the bucket load and characters who are not what they appear to be.
    As is the norm for this author, the characters are all exceptionally well thought out with diverse personalities, some easily related to others pushing your patience to its limits.
    Thoroughly enjoyed it, I highly recommend it to all crime novel lovers. Can be read as a stand alone, but would benefit from reading the previous three books if only to get acquainted with the wonderful main characters!

    I think one of the most alluring and nice things about this series, is the characters are all so believable and the storylines are all in-depth and feasible, very clever writing, Mr Evans!
  • Nitty100
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Police Crime Thriller
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 3, 2019
    Another great read in this fantastic series which is set in and around my home city of Wakefield
    . I was holding my breath thinking please don't come down our road, not wanting the property prices to plummet!!! The storyline partly focuses on the historic murder of a young girl but also more up to date cases. It is a great police procedural and I am looking forward to the next in the series
  • C Cowling
    5.0 out of 5 stars Never fails to impress
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 12, 2019
    The 5th book from this author and they keep getting better. The characters evolve from the previous story with new ones added but the best part for me is the change in time and snippets of the past added to the story.
  • pamela head
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great book
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 16, 2019
    I have enjoyed all these books in the Wakefield series and certainly wasn’t disappointed in Tainted. Excellent series and would recommend reading all of David Evans books.

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