Time Is Running Out

DCI Matilda Darke, Book 7

By: Michael Wood

Narrated by: Stephanie Beattie

‘This is a total BOOM BOOM POW! of a book…Budge up Jed Mercurio when you are done working on Line of Duty I think it is time for you to meet Matilda’ LJ, Read and Rated Book Review Blog

‘Excellent plotting. The twists keep on coming making this an irresistible read’ Michael J. Malone, author of A Song of Isolation

You’re a survivor, aren’t you, Matilda? But what’s the point in surviving when everyone around you is dead?

When DCI Matilda Darke receives a mysterious telephone call, she immediately dismisses the threat. Afterall the Homicide and Major Enquiries team are a regular target for prank calls.

But ignoring this warning might soon be the biggest regret of Matilda Darke’s life.

A lone gunman is on a deadly rampage around Sheffield, leaving a bloody trail in his wake. Taking his shots with a sickening precision, he’s about to leave his mark on the world and change Matilda and her team’s lives forever.

The next chilling instalment in the DCI Matilda Darke thriller series, perfect for fans of Patricia Gibney and Angela Marsons.

©2021 Michael Wood (P)2021 HarperCollins Publishers Limited

Not the best in the Matilda Darke series

How I looked forward to this book. I’ve listened to all available in Audible and thoroughly enjoyed them. This, however, does not live up to its reputation. How many mass murders have happened in our lives? I didn’t want to listen to another one in gory detail. Where is the mystery that DCI Matilda Darke solves to show off her police procedural skills? Not here, I assure you. I am happy that I did not waste a treasured credit and spent $9+ instead. I never return books I purchase. Narration, of course, is perfect by Stephanie Beatty (a waste of her pitch-perfect talents). I can’t recommend this one, but I am not giving up Michael Wood’s Matilda Darke series. I fast-forwarded through. Note: I truly was disappointed when listening to “Time Is Running Out,” there was a detailed reference to a previous audiobook that was not Audible-available in listening order. Why? Why? Why would an author give a detailed description and ending? WHY?

Really violent.

This was another good story however the death and destruction was overwhelming. Be aware if you are sensitive.

Wish I’d skipped this one

By far the worst in the Matilda Darke series (so far). Very little actual investigation, just violence and death. Too many deaths even.

I hated every single minute of this book

The reason I listen to British crime thrillers is to AVOID the atrocities of mindless gun deaths. Dozens of people just plowed down for a story. This book was so massively disappointing, it makes me question whether to revisit this series again at all. Why someone would spend years building a team of characters, weaving their stories together, and establishing a foundation for a series, only to then blow it all to smithereens in one single book is beyond me. How an agent and editor would then approve it for publication makes no sense. I listened at 2.0 speed just to get through it, hoping something positive would emerge - and in case I wanted to continue the series. Save yourself the time; it doesn’t.

Don't waste you time - Very Disappointing

This is the latest book in a series that started out well. The characters were well defined and realistic and the crimes they solved were plausible. However this author has slipped into the same whirlpool that many crime writers follow - every book is more extreme than the last, the crime is more violent and the characters unrealistically heroic. The initial crime could well have been used for the entire book with the police tracking down the perpetrator and working through all the motives and the relationships between the criminals. Instead we are lead through a series of totally unrealistic horrific crimes with the police not getting back up from other area and the principles expected to pursue the gunman despite being personally involved with the victims.

Despite having enjoyed all the prior books in the series this was a waste of time and money.