The Killer Smile
By RC Bridgestock

The Killer Smile is a great book to sink your teeth into. It’s got great characters and plotting that will keep readers involved to the end. RC Bridgestock, well, you can find out more about them at the bottom of this post, after the blurb and review. These are authors who definitely know all the ins and outs of the policing world and they are consultants on hit series such as Happy Valley, Scott and Bailey and The Beast Must Die and more. Find out about their charitable works too. Amazingly, they have time to write readers great crime fiction as well. I bought this and I was not disappointed! I would read more… Even their books would make an involving tv series themselves…

Blurb

A killer with a macabre passion for human teeth stalks 
the residents of Harrowfield.

Three linked murders means Assistant Chief Constable Wendy Smythe is brought in to take ultimate charge of the serial murder investigation, and she is adamant on managing the task akin to a drama. Dylan has to dig deep to remain professional.

Chilling, ultimate and full of menace. There is dark suspicion that nobody is safe until the perpetrator is apprehended. Will the ring of steel wrapped around Harrowfield bring the psychopath to justice?

Coupled with the fact Dylan and Jen’s daughter Maisy is hospitalised with an undiagnosed serious illness; Jack is under pressure on all fronts.

On a happier note Jen’s dad Ralph, introduces the pair to his new lady friend but all is not as rosy as it seems three hundred miles away on the Isle of Wight, when her son brings the police to their door.

Dylan shares intelligence with The National Crime Agency which brings back a deep seated anguish of fallen colleague DS Larry Banks. Can he help them capture the boss of an international drugs cartel, and if so will it bring Dylan closure?

Review

It starts off with one of the most chilling poems I’ve ever read!!! Later on, you’ll come across it again. It makes my spine shudder! It’s clever, gives a certain creepy tone of voice, rhymes and totally fits the plot, the title in an unexpected way. As I sit baking on a hot day, this book takes readers straight to the opposite – a deluge of rain and more rain and DI Jack Dylan is on the case to establish what happened at a domestic incident. He is lucky to have an understanding wife, when murder cases need to be taken priority. It makes interesting reading about how they got together and her personality too. There seems a real respect between Jack and Jen, which is nice to see in such a story.

There’s a murder committed and it doesn’t take long for DI Dylan and his team to be on the case. Readers are taken to possible crime scenes and meet some of the deceased neighbours. The people who make up the police force are likeable, especially as there is a sense of responsibility and care in how they break the news of a murder to the victim’s family. There’s also great insight to family liaison officers, in this book, it’s in the form of PC Bullock.

This is expertly woven together, this novel has a real sense of place, a few spots of humour, atmosphere and of course, murder. It’s a police procedural you can really relax into and will feed curious minds very well, indeed!

As the case goes on, there are real insights into crime scenes, such as some turns of phrases to describe certain looks, which adds richness. The authors really have used their wealth of knowledge and experience for creating a story that is both interesting and compelling, including a few historical facts here and there about the ways and means of how the victim was killed, right to the forensics, without being heavy in any area.

Aside from crime scenes, there’s other panic setting in that’s closer to home for Jen, which causes some heartache and will give any reader cause to sympathise and hope things are well again soon. It’s mixed in well with the excitement that ensues of Operation Walnut. It shows how both policing and having a family are both full on at times and collide. There is also Operation Saturn and twists and turns and more than meets the eye as more bodies appear, so the force are busier than they thought they would be, then it also gets intriguing as the psychology of suspects is delved into.

This is the first book I’ve read, but if the rest of the series is so detailed, tightly plotted, then I could certainly imagine it being a tv series.

About the Author

RC Bridgestock is the name that husband and wife co-authors Robert (Bob) and Carol Bridgestock write under. Between them they have nearly 50 years of police experience, offering an authentic edge to their stories. The writing duo created the character DI Jack Dylan, a down-to- earth detective, written with warmth and humour. The ninth book in the series, the prequel ‘Poetic Justice’ will be published by The Dome Press in 2019, along with fully revised editions of their backlist.

The first book in a further crime series has been scripted by the pair which has a strong, Yorkshire female character Charley Mann, at the helm, and book two is being penned at this moment in time along with two stand a lone crime thrillers.

Bob was a highly commended career detective of 30 years, retiring at the rank of Detective Superintendent. During his last three years he took charge of 26 murders, 23 major incidents, over 50 suspicious deaths and numerous sexual assaults. He was also a trained hostage negotiator dealing with suicide interventions, kidnap, terrorism and extortion. As a Detective Inspector he spent three years at the internationally acclaimed West Yorkshire Police Force Training School where he taught Detectives from all over the world in the whole spectrum of investigative skills and the law. On promotion to Detective Superintendent Bob was seconded to a protracted enquiry investigating alleged police corruption in another force. He worked on the Yorkshire Ripper and Sarah Harper murder, and received praise from Crown Court Judges and Chief Constables alike for outstanding work at all ranks, including winning the much coveted Dennis Hoban Trophy.

As a police civilian supervisor Carol also received a Chief Constable’s commendation for outstanding work.

The couple are the storyline police procedural/storyline consultants on BAFTA winning BBC1 police drama Happy Valley, series 3 of ITV’s Scott & Bailey and Britbox original The Beast Must Die. The couple are presently working with Scott Free Productions/Regency as scriptwriters on a further TV drama series.

Carol & Bob are co owners of Walking The Line.

Walking The Line is a brand new TV consultancy company based in West Yorkshire, primarily specialising in crime, founded by Bob & Carol Bridgestock and Sarah Jarvis.
With nearly 50 years police experience between them, husband and wife team Carol & Bob Bridgestock have used their knowledge to
become best selling crime authors. With 12 books in two Yorkshire crime fiction series, and were voted by WHS Readers #8 Best Crime Authors of All Time. The couple are mentors, as well as script to screen police procedural and storyline consultants, for the likes of BAFTA winning BBC1 police drama Happy Valley, Scott & Bailey, and the first original five part drama for Britbox ‘The Beast Must Die’ 2021, amongst others.
Sarah Jarvis founded a TV commercial production company in Manchester in 1997 which she successfully ran for over 20 years. A TV
Commercial Producer by trade, Sarah runs her own Production Consultancy C-SAJ, works as a consultant for S.Media UK and also co-runs WTL working as an Access Producer to police, fire service, victims of crime as well as having a keen nose for seeking out new talent, and great ideas.
Due to the background of the founders, they have a wealth of resources, and profession- als from which to draw upon, this new company is much in demand by production companies, authors, actors, scriptwriters etc. who are passionate about getting the facts, and tone right in their work.
Together we are Walking the Line.

Carol started and chaired the Wight Fair Writers’ Circle in 2008, along with Bob where the group created an annual charitable community writing competition to inspire others of all ages. This event has raised over ten thousand of pounds for Island charities, so far.

The couple pride themselves on being up-to-date on past and present day UK police procedures, and as a result Bob is regularly sought by UK television, radio and national and local newspapers for comment on developing major crime incidents etc.

# Voted by WHS Readers #8 Best Crime Authors of All Time.
# CBS Reality – Written In Blood – 1st series 2018 – 2nd most watched Episode 7.
# Radio 4 (Steve) PUNT P.I. – series 7 – Episode 1 – 2014.
‘The Mysterious Death of Flying Millionaire Alfred Lowenstein.’
# Long list – CWA Dagger In The Library 2016
# Nominated in the Yorkshire Choice Awards 2017 #YCA17
# Nominated in the Yorkshire Choice Awards 2019 #YCA19

Together the couple can be regularly seen as speakers at a variety of events in the literary world and work with colleges and schools in providing writing seminars and workshops.
They also work with International TV/Film make-up artist Pamela Clare, to help inspire the students at the White Rose Colleges.

Eight annual RC Bridgestock trophies are annually awarded to students.

Carol and Bob are also patrons and ambassadors for several charities.