Today I’m excited to be able to share my review of Dead Lands by Lloyd Otis. This is a police procedural/ crime novel with a retro twist which is available to buy in paperback and ebook from Amazon or directly from Urbane Publications website. On Amazon the ebook is currently only £1.99.
Book Description:
Dead Lands is a thrilling crime story set in the 1970s. When a woman’s body is found a special team is called in to investigate and prime suspect Alex Troy is arrested for the murder. Desperate to remain a free man, Troy protests his innocence, but refuses to use his alibi. Trying to protect the woman he loves becomes a dangerous game – questions are asked and suspicions deepen. When the prime suspect completes a daring escape from custody, DI Breck and DS Kearns begin the hunt. Breck wants out of the force while Kearns has her own agenda and seeks revenge. Breck has his suspicions and she wants to keep it from him, and a right-wing march provides an explosive backdrop to their hunt for Troy. Lloyd Otis brings a startling account of the past back to life over a burgeoning ’70s landscape, and delivers a thrilling piece of crime fiction that will excite any fan of the genre.
My Review
Firstly I think Deadlands has possibly the strongest opening I’ve read in a book. It’s very hard hitting, immediately grabbing the reader and drawing them into the story. It also helps set the scene perfectly for what is a very intriguing and complicated story.
Lloyd Otis has obviously done his research as the 1970’s are perfectly evoked throughout the book. From the language used by the characters through to the descriptions of hairstyles and clothing the reader feels taken back in time to a completely different era. The attitudes of the time are also present with casual racism and sexism on display in the character’s language and actions.
My favourite character was Becks as I liked how normal he was and that he made mistakes in his work and wasn’t perfect. He seemed to have a conscious and wanted to do right by everyone even suspects that he was interviewing after arresting them. I felt sorry for him regarding his complicated personal life and felt for him when he didn’t get the results he wanted, a sure sign that a character has got under your skin! I also liked Kearns and the way she was determined to prove herself in what was a male dominated job. I did find at times that she did try to get her point across a little aggressively which i found a little annoying but on the whole I admired the way she conducted herself. She also seemed to try and help some of the other females in the station which was nice to read about, although again, I felt that she went about this the wrong way at times.
Deadland is quite a complicated story that features lot of different story threads and lots of twist and turns, particularly at the beginning which I found a little difficult to keep track of. Do keep reading though as it all comes clear and it is worth persevering.
This novel gets under your skin quite quickly, almost without you realising and I found myself reading quicker and quicker as I tried to solve the mystery. The ending was brilliant and took me completely by surprise which I loved. It is always great when you think a situation will be solved one way and it goes completely the other way!
This is Lloyd Otis’s debut novel and I look forward to reading more from him. If you like well written, intriguing crime stories that are well plotted and researched, then you will love Deadlands.
Huge thanks to Matt from Urbane Publications and Abby Fairbrother for my copy of this book and for inviting me on the blog tour.
About The Author:
Lloyd is no stranger tot he world of publishing and writing. Currently working as an editor, Lloyd haas interviewed a host of bestselling authors, such as Mark Billingham, Hugh Howey, Kerry Hudson and Lawrence Block, and has blogged for The Bookseller and The Huffington Post. He also wrote a regular book review column for WUWO Magazine, and two of his short stories were selected for publication in the ‘Out of My Window’ anthology. He has also had articles appear on the Crime Readers Association website and in the Writers’ Forum magazine.
Lloyd was selected for the Crime in the Spotlight event at this September’s Bloody Scotland Festival.
You can connect with Lloyd Otis on Twitter- @LloydOtisWriter or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LloydOtisDeadLands/
Over The Rainbow Blog 
Brilliant review hunny! 💖📚
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