Taking Pity cover art

Taking Pity

The 4th DS McAvoy Novel

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Taking Pity

By: David Mark
Narrated by: Toby Longworth
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About this listen

Book four in the Hull-based crime series, Taking Pity takes detectives McAvoy, Ray and Pharaoh on their most dangerous case to date.

DS Aector McAvoy's family is in hiding. He has lost his way.

His boss Trish Pharaoh gives him a distraction in the form of an old case. The Winn family was killed 40 years ago: were the police right about who pulled the trigger?

But McAvoy's enemies - the ruthless criminal organisation known as the Headhunters - are pitiless. They plan to take everything from those that stand in their way.

And his cold case is strangely linked with the fire that's about to rain down on Hull....

When McAvoy confronts the worst of killers and sinners, not everyone will escape unscathed.

Hooked on Hull? Then check out the fifth instalment in the DS McAvoy series, Dead Pretty....

©2015 David Mark (P)2015 WF Howes Ltd Crime Crime Thrillers Detective Fiction Modern Detectives Mystery Police Procedural Suspense Thriller & Suspense Traditional Detectives Thriller Pharaoh

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Critic reviews

"Fast-moving and tightly plotted, with strong characterisation and a likeable protagonist." ( Guardian)
"One of the darkest of the new faces in British crime writing, and not one to miss." ( Daily Mail)
"Exceptional... An exciting new talent." (Val McDermid)
"Outstanding." (Peter May)
"David Mark dissects the dark strange underbelly of Hull with a steely precision. The city has found its Rankin." (Stav Sherez)
All stars
Most relevant  
Loved it, brilliant as always. The whole series is brilliant. Great narration, story, characters not to be missed.

Brilliant

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The storyline is engaging and moves with a good pace. At times it can be a little far fetched to be believable even for a crime thriller but the plot in general is well thought out and sound. Background is quite important so read the others in the series first but this is definitely the best so far.

The best yet in this series

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Excellent book, I’m on my third book in the series, I didn’t listen to the first book but soon will.

Addictive listening

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Great idea, great narration but for me there were to many jumps between characters and plots that were poorly signposted.

Good story - poor structure

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Taking Pity is the 4th book in a series. It could be read alone but is much better if read in order.

Life in Hull sounds very exciting and dangerous if you are in the police.

DS Aector McAvoy and DS Trish Pharaoh's partnership is split. McAvoy's family is in danger. And still a dangerous and ruthless criminal network is strengthening its stranglehold on Hull.

Good narration by Toby Longworth

Another exciting story

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Loving these Aector McAvoy stories.
Edge of the seat thrillers, I couldn't stop listening to.
Narration by Toby Longworth is brilliant he can do several different accents and voices perfectly.
Can't wait for the next in the series.
Reccomended.

Edge of the seat thriller.

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It's a pity I ever started to listen to this. Why an author needs to describe barbaric torture in such graphic detail whilst using such foul Medieval English is beyond me. For those listeners who delight in expletives, depravity and detailed torture techniques then you are very welcome to listen. For those of us who enjoy a cleverly written constructive detective story written skilfully then look for a more intelligent author who does not have to resort to this type of boring dialogue. As for the narrator he suits the book, morose, monotonous and exceptionally boring.

This is the first time I have felt the need to write a bad review out of the hundreds of Audible books in my library. If I keep well away from this author it may well be the last. It really should carry a warning.

Thank goodness for Audible and the incredible choice on offer, but in future I shall steer well away from anything carrying this author's name.

It's a pity to give this any star ratings but I am bound by the requirements and give them very reluctantly. In defence of my review I did give it ample opportunity to interest me and listened till the twelfth chapter. That is having fast forwarded past the unlistenable parts, which I hasten to add covered a major percentage of the story.

Taking Pity

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