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  • A Cold Dark Heart

  • An Exciting British Crime Novel (Inspector Drake, Book 8)
  • By: Stephen Puleston
  • Narrated by: Richard Elfyn
  • Length: 10 hrs and 12 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (18 ratings)
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A Cold Dark Heart

By: Stephen Puleston
Narrated by: Richard Elfyn
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Summary

Accident or murder? A dangerous serial killer. Can Drake catch a murderer trusted by everyone?

When 89-year-old Emyr Isaac is found dead in his home, Drake and his team initially suspect a burglary gone wrong. Isaac was old, and his death was a tragedy, but it’s not a murder case...is it? 

But as the investigation develops, Drake uncovers more suspicious deaths - all elderly victims, all seemingly innocent - but with one connection: Each victim received care from the same healthcare professional during their last moments.

If Drake’s suspicions are correct, they have a dangerous serial killer on the loose - someone who should offer help and safety, not a chilling early demise. Soon, the team realize that stopping this killer will require playing a dangerous game. Drake must do all he can to ensure no more lives are lost...even if it means putting members of his own team in harm’s way. 

A Cold Dark Heart is the eighth book in the dynamic Inspector Drake crime series. If you like clever mysteries, great plots, and believable characters, then you’ll love Stephen Puleston’s Ian Drake novels.

Click "buy now" to get A Cold Dark Heart today!

©2020 Stephen Puleston (P)2020 Stephen Puleston

What listeners say about A Cold Dark Heart

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  • VK
  • 25-02-21
Listener received this title free

Another great procedural plot

As usual Stephen Puleston has excelled
The plot is gripping and I found myself drawn along with the wonderful narrator.
Will recommend

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  • NM
  • 23-03-21
Listener received this title free

Excellent as per

An absolutely thrilling 8th instalment. Listened to this on audible and throughly enjoyed it. These never fail to disappoint and Drake’s private life is developed more in this one. Loving the dynamic between him and his partner. She’s a keeper for sure.The character names are always memorable and when delivered in the gorgeous welsh lilt, even more so.

A scary premise for a story as those who are supposed to care for you could be the ones that you should fear the most. The more thrilling part for me, was when a member of his team is put in the lion’s den and then what plays out will keep you on the edge if your seat! Yikes!

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Like coming back to an old friend

I love this series of books so much and it always feels like I am coming back to spend time with an old friend in Blake. This time round we are looking at a possible murder of a lonely pensioner but the story ends up being bigger and more sinister than Drake could ever have expected and this time the people he loves may also get hurt.
It did not disappoint and was a great listen made extra special by the narration by Richard Elfyn. The fact these are set in Wales do not make my bias I promise!

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Another excellent book in a great series

DI Drake is called out to the unexpected death of an elderly man which at first look does not appear to be murder. But then other suspicious deaths come to light and it seems that a serial killer might be prowling the streets of North Wales.

This is a real page-turner with plenty of twists, and an excellent police procedural where we get to follow the case in detail from start to finish. The characters are all skillfully drawn, and it has been great to see how they have evolved from the beginning of the series. Drake is quite a complex character who likes everything neat and tidy, though his OCD isn't quite as severe as it was, possibly due to the fact that his personal life is happier. He does have a new boss, though, which adds to his stress. A Cold Dark Heart is the eight book in one of my favourite series. It could be read as a standalone, but best read in order so that you get to know the characters.

As always Richard Elfyn's voice takes me straight to the gorgeous landscapes of North Wales and makes listening to the book a real pleasure.

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Excellent

Excellent. These just get better & grittier with every book.
Drake is a fab character.
Drakes team get drawn into murder and a dilemma that no one would want to get pulled into.
This book had me on edge more than once and I thoroughly recommend it & the series.
The narrator is just perfect, accent, pronunciations, perfect

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Always a Winner

No: 8 in the Drake series and another winner, as always these books can be read as standalone's, so no problem if you haven't read any or what order you read them in but being a series the characters do carry on as with everyday life, and the author does gloss over the characters so nothing is lost to the new reader, and on this particular day Drake is called out to some poor soul who met his maker before time but by all accounts, it looks like a botched robbery and being 89yrs old Emyr Isaac's wasn't much of a fighter and looks like he hit his head and died, but only a pathologist could get at the truth at autopsy.
While the police wait, Drake has a new boss and for those who don't know Drake, he has some odd foibles and OCD, but now with his new love, he is a lot better. The autopsy does point out a few discrepancies and it gives the team a chance to look into Emyr Isaac's past, but while all is going on Drake's new boss calls him to the office and tells him he is going to be SIO on this particular case, so instantly put Drake's back up, is he checking his work or the way he runs his team? Not good everybody walking on eggshells, but Drake being Drake will leave no stone unturned. Great characters and the area descriptions is brilliant all in Wales and I would say the author has great knowledge of the said area. Well worth a read good crime story and well thought out. I have had the fortune of reading this and listening to this as well Richard Elfyn does a superb job and I do hope he is never replaced.

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Excellent

Another excellent Inspector Drake novel. An elderly man is found dead in his home. It is thought to be a burglary gone wrong but as more elderly people are murdered it becomes obvious that there is a serial killer at work. Healthcare workers come under suspicion and Drake and his team race to identify the killer before another life is lost. A tense but enjoyable read.

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