The House in the Woods (Atticus Priest Murder, Mystery and Crime Thrillers) Paperback – March 8, 2020

Love this author and the Atticus character. The twists and turns kept me reading late into the night. Recommend to all Dawson readers.

The House in the Woods is an engaging British crime thriller from the creator of the John Milton series.It was first published in 2020, but has been being rereleased - I bought it a while back, but was happy to have a reason to bump it up the TBR, as I do like this author.Atticus Priest is a former detective with the Salisbury CID, who lost his job for drug use and has now set up as a private investigator. Down on his luck and desperate for work, he’s initially pleased to be asked to assist the defence in a murder investigation - a man accused of shooting his parents and siblings in their remote farmhouse, until he learns he’s up against his ex-boss and former lover, DCI Mack Jones. The evidence against his client seems overwhelming, so Priest must find a new angle to cast reasonable doubt - and now he no longer has to follow the rules…This was cleverly plotted murder mystery featuring two likeably flawed main characters, and I was pleased to discover there are two more in the series to look forward to. I enjoyed the tension between Atticus and Mack as more of what happened between them is revealed. Unfortunately there was a huge Clanger of a clue early on which revealed whodunnit - although not why. It didn’t spoil it completely, as I was still in suspense about how things would turn out, but it keeps it from achieving 5 stars.

I refer to Mark Dawson has done it again, but it was due to Atticus solving a case again! I have read all of Mark's books in three of his series and I continue to be impressed by how satisfying these reads are. The Atticus series keeps getting better, unraveling the onion that is the detective's life and a curious but entertaining plot line along the way. The books are "mind candy" - not too complex that it stresses you out trying to keep up with the plot, and not too simple that you blow through the book unsatisfied. As with many of his readers I started with the Milton series and I still salivate waiting for the latest of those to be delivered to my Kindle app, but I have found with the other series the same sense of longing for the next volume to drop.

A Christmas Eve tragedy: four members of one family found shot to death.A surprise arrest.DCI Mackenzie “Mack” finds herself pitting her wits against Atticus Priest, hired by the accusedʼs wife to find something, anything, to save her husband from life in prison. Trying to pick apart her case.Hired on the eve of the trial; the trial is to last two weeks. Atticus has to work fast. Can he do it? Or is Mack's case so airtight that even Atticus can't find a hole?Mack's character is not yet exactly where I suspect Mr. Dawson intends her to be. She's married, with children. As is the case with any family dynamic as the one Mack faces: her career or her children? She is suddenly faced with making this decision. Why?Atticus is (to me) a combination of Lie to Me, an American TV show about a man named Cal Lightman, a man with an extraordinary ability to sense when a person lies (the adjective extraordinary was the basis of the show, not myself adding the word because I don't know better), and of course, Hercule Pirot, the Belgian detective famous for his denouement of whodunit in Agatha Christie's mysteries. I want more of him now!The plot moves rather quickly. Once Atticus explains his reasoning, the other characters, as well as the readers, think, "of course!" The plot has enough of these to have the reader look for these clues.I am an American reader. Much as our different court system is to readers in other countries, the legal system in Great Britain baffles me. Also, I have read enough British fiction to know what an Aga is (and I want one!) and a boot (what is that called on a Volkswagen?), but there were enough oddities to me to keep a dictionary to hand. I have read enough police procedurals to have jotted down a chartThe ending, while satisfactory, leaves the reader looking for a sequel. Mr. Dawson. Please hurry.

I’ve been a fan of Mark Dawson’s John Milton books so I decided to try this for a change. Same great storytelling and characters but so different from the action-packed Milton books. This story has a “closed room” murder followed by twists and turns that keeps one turning the pages wanting more. Does not disappoint - highly recommended.

Atticus Priest is a disgraced former police detective with a mild case of Asperger‘s. This makes him a very keen detective with enhanced observation skills, but a bit lacking socially. He is a well drawn out character, who is down on his luck, and lives in poverty with his canine friend. He has opened a somewhat ramshackle detective agency. He is also an online chess player, giving us further insight into his intelligence by the moves he makes and the way he is able to think several moves ahead.His newest client is the wife of a man accused of murdering his family of 4. She is desperate to get him acquitted. He takes the case, as his rent is due, and the fun begins. He is being pitted against his former supervisor and lover, Mack. As the case unravels there are many surprises along the way. Even though I had some of it figured out early on, there was still a surprise in the end.This novel was a real page turner. Some UK reviewers mention the book was based on a real case. I hadn’t heard of that case before, but even so, so what? Makes it quite credible, non? Yes, it’s a departure from the John Milton series. Actually, John Milton and Atticus have more things in common than it might appear at first sight. But that‘s neither here nor there.Bottom line is... this is a well written novel. I am very much looking forward to the next Atticus Priest installment.... as well as Milton!Well done, Mr Dawson! And as always, I had to look up a couple of words. ;)A word to the editor: she took one of the only empty chairs available. How in the world did that slip by you?

Very good “who done it” you’ll think the murderer is found, only to blow the decision out of the water! Can you guess the murderer?

The House In The Woods is a great read. Atticus Priest is a wonderful protagonist full of intelligence, wonderful flaws and an innate ability to read people and problem solve in very unique ways. The many twists and turns are riveting while you find yourself wanting to get to know more about what makes Atticus tick. Mark Dawson has a way of grabbing your attention and curiosity right from the first page making it very difficult to put down. I can hardly wait for the next Atticus Priest novel, Mark!

As usual crisp and well put together but whike Atticus is not quite as compelling a character as Milton or Beatrix he is intriguing in his own way

Mark Dawson never fails to please. His books are always filled with interesting if sometimes flawed characters and grabbing story lines. Atticus Priest is definitely both interesting and flawed. So is the main female character Mack (MacKenzie). They reach out and draw you into the thrilling plot. The race is on. Can Atticus find a hole in the prosecution’s case before his client’s husband is convicted of murdering his family and if he really is innocent then who did kill them. Also how will it affect his and Mack’s relationship. It is her investigation that he will have to pull apart to succeed. Be warned. I sat up all night reading the book because I simply couldn’t put it down.

The problem with new series is the book takes longer for it to gel for me as I assume everything I read is important going forward. Not just to build the plot in the story I’m reading but the characters who will continue in the books.Now Atticus Priest is an absorbing but complex character and the main protagonist in this series. His skill set isn’t unique but he is quite unique with the composite intelligence of many detectives who have passed before while having a quite individual back story. Black sheep of the family; high-end functioning person with Aspergers. Yet with poor social skills and unable to adequately demonstrate empathy.Brilliant, creative, a natural problem solver with an inability to let matters rest without solutions. Unfortunately, he has lost his job with the police and is now down on his luck. Low on money, desperate to find something to satisfy his natural talents he opens a detective agency.Like in an American PI novel a beautiful woman enters his office/home with a job offering money he could only dream of and a challenge he could use his skills to bring hope.Her husband is on trial and the case against was brought by his former team and led by his previous boss / “lover”.The court case is just about to start and the evidence seems to point to his guilt. Can he find anything to raise reasonable doubt?A good premise to read on but just too much like hard work when I wanted to be carried away into escapism rather than pore over every word and intellectually relate to a compelling series where the author was working so hard to set the scene in character, back story and locations.So I set the book aside and read other things, less demanding.Trouble is I love the author from his many action thrillers; love his pacing, craft in setting out stories and ability to write 3D characters with real language and fresh ideas.So once my mindset was less escapism I devoured this book.It was worth it and rewarded me with what I anticipated it could be. It’s potential was realised and the series is well set to read on and explore the world of Atticus Prime.So please pick up this book when you have the time to read it; it isn’t a dipper. It is intense at time with high-octane action and covers many dark aspects of family life and the desires that provide motives for murder.Well worth reading. Additive, absorbing and introducing us to the wonderful Atticus Prime.