Black Dog by CF Chapman

I could not put Black Dog down. I loved reading about Daniel and Marcus and can't wait for the next book.


From the blurb:

Detective Sergeant Daniel Taylor moves back home to Norfolk after a tumultuous time spent working with the Metropolitan Police, finding that his transfer down to Rural Crime is a world away from the pulse and grime of the city. With his mysterious black dog in tow, Dan soon discovers that his new role involves much more than traipsing about in muddy fields, avoiding deer and chasing down wayward cattle.

Acting Superintendent Broadmeadow is hounded by grief and the indoctrinated guilt of his Catholic upbringing. With his understaffed team trying to make the best of the resources they have, he jumps at the opportunity of a young Detective Sergeant looking to come and join their plight.

What they eventually find, with the backdrop of the Norfolk countryside behind them, is each other.


kjnrose's review:

This is the first book I've read by this author and I can't wait to read more. This had steam, mystery, a fantastic story and wonderful characters. The black dog that follows Detective Sergeant Daniel is a bit of a mystery and gives elements of supernatural. There is also some mental health elements with Daniel, hopefully meeting Marcus can help with these.


SNik's review:

Standalone. Slow/low burn. Age gap. Hurt/comfort. Found family. Multiple POV’s. There should be content warnings for violence, past emotional and physical abuse, non-consensual drug intoxication, implied past sexual assault, homophobic slurs, and mental health representation. 

Dan is a young detective sergeant that returns to his former county after being transferred from London to help with rural crimes. Along with a black dog (not sure if this is supposed to be an imaginative figure or something more paranormal) that only he can see as his constant companion, he begins new relationships with his friendly coworkers and his supervisor Marcus with whom he shares an immediate attraction. 

This is an interesting story surrounding Dan and an investigation that grows into something more while he tries to navigate his new position and a new possible relationship with the recently divorced and older Marcus. There are constant time jumps which can be confusing, and there are some people in the story that didn’t receive their comeuppance, but there are supportive secondary characters as well with their POV’s which lent depth to the story. Overall a very good debut book.

Black Dog is currently available as an e-book, paperback, hardback, and can be read as part of your Kindle Unlimited Subscription