DI Sheridan Holler is used to solving crimes on Liverpool’s streets, but after a decayed corpse turns up in a cemetery, she finds herself reopening not one but two cold cases. Seven years earlier, two women were gunned down and the only suspect, small-time drug dealer John Lively, was never seen again. Case closed. Until the body in the cemetery is identified as his.
Holler needs to work out if Lively was killed out of revenge, or was just a victim of the criminal world he inhabited. When shocking evidence is revealed about the murder weapon, Holler’s cold case starts to look hopeless once more.
But defeat is not an option. Driven by the unsolved and traumatic murder of her brother when they were children, DI Holler’s pursuit of justice is relentless. As old wounds are reopened, the police close in on the killer, but the threat of them striking again is all too real. Can DI Holler put the pieces of the puzzle together before anyone else winds up dead?
Long Time Dead is T.M. Payne's debut novel and the first book in her DI Sheridan Holler series, which is just as well as otherwise I'd be forced to pester her to write more! I love discovering new authors, especially when their books are as satisfying as Long Time Dead – I already know I'm going to be a long-time fan of this brilliant series!
I was hooked right from the prologue, which opens in December 1997, with an amusing conversation between a mother and her young daughter. However, their outing is suddenly shattered by an event which will rip apart several lives, as a gunman roars into the supermarket car park on his motorbike and opens fire. As the shoppers flee in abject panic, two women are left for dead, and seven years later, DI Sheridan Holler is going to have to reinvestigate a case which had seemed cut and dried.
We're introduced to Sheridan in the courtroom as she faces the defence barrister in a domestic violence case. It's immediately clear that she isn't averse to bending the rules to secure a conviction but she is evidently motivated by compassion and a desire to protect the vulnerable; Sheridan is far from being a corrupt cop. Detective Sergeant Anna Markinson obviously has her back, and one of the strengths of this novel is the relationship Sheridan has with her colleagues. There's a real sense of camaraderie between them, from top to bottom, and I particularly enjoyed her interactions with her boss, DCI Max Hall. T.M. Payne's own experience in the criminal justice system shows and the workplace banter flows naturally and is believable throughout.
Their hopes for a quiet Christmas are scuppered when a body is discovered in a cemetery. Of course, that in itself isn't unexpected – but this body is a murder victim found in somebody else's grave. He is soon identified as being John Lively, the man suspected of the shooting seven years ago, which resulted in the death of a police officer and left another woman with a life-changing brain injury. Lively had been a small-time drug addict, and with apparently strong evidence linking him to the death of PC Kate Armitage, there are a number of people who could have wanted him dead. However, it becomes clear that things are quite so straightforward and the gripping plot is full of twists and turns before the truth is finally revealed.
As Sheridan and her team examine this hot again cold case, they are desperate to find out whether the other victim of the shooting, Ellie Sands can shed any light on what happened. Unfortunately, Ellie's brain injury has rendered her unable to communicate and she now resides in The Gables Nursing Home. The scenes set within the home introduce some more characters who become integral to the storyline; most notably the kind, perceptive Joni, who takes a special interest in Ellie. Away from the home, Joni's friend Sam moves in with her and I loved their friendship. It would be remiss of me not to mention Sam's cat, Maud here too – I adored Maud and I'm sure I won't be the only one, she really is quite the character! Sam herself is fabulous too and without giving too much away, I was thrilled by what develops here and look forward to seeing her return in the next book.
While Long Time Dead is a compulsive, gritty mystery, it is also infused throughout with genuine warmth. The empathetic portrayal of the characters' personal lives adds a further layer of richness to the story, ensuring I became invested in them as well as intrigued by the investigation into both John Lively and Kate Armitage's deaths. Sheridan joined the police after a tragedy in her own childhood and she is still haunted by her brother's murder. There's a fascinating subplot here which promises to be expanded upon further as the series progresses. In the meantime, it gives us the opportunity to understand a little more about what drives her to so resolutely strive for justice.
The sense of place is impeccable and although never rose-tinted, is a real love letter to Liverpool. Dark, twisty and poignant yet imbued with humour and full of heart, Long Time Dead is a superbly absorbing debut from an exciting new talent. I loved it and I can't wait for more!
Long Time Dead is published by Thomas & Mercer, it can be purchased from Amazon, bookshop.org, Hive, Waterstones or ordered from your favourite independent bookshop.
About the Author
Her debut novel, LONG TIME DEAD, was published on 1st April 2024 and became an Amazon #1 bestseller in the UK and Germany under the title SCHON LANGE TOT.
The second in the DI Sheridan Holler series, THIS ENDS NOW, is out on 15th October 2024 and is available to pre-order now.
T. M. Payne was born in Lee-On-Solent, Hampshire and now lives on the Wirral with her wonderful partner Susie, who works very closely with her on her novels, but takes little credit!!!
Having worked in the criminal justice system for most of her working life, she spent 18 years in Norfolk police, the last 14 of which, she was a Police Case Investigator within the Domestic Violence Unit.
Her previous jobs include: a Store Detective (she once got thrown in a river), a Prisoner Custody Officer in all the London courts including the Old Bailey (yes, she's been handcuffed to a few dangerous characters, including murderers, rapists and a cannibal), and a Detention Officer (where, during night shifts, she was known for playing practical jokes on her colleagues)
She has now taken a break to concentrate on her passion for writing crime novels.
She is crazy about animals and if you walk past her with your dog, she will probably ask if she can pat it on the head. Or take it home with her. Or both.
She loves laughing, Christmas, playing golf (badly), walking along New Brighton beach (not walking her dog because she hasn’t got one) snow, sunsets, family, friends and cats. She is also partial to tea (not tea) and Jaffa Cakes (actual Jaffa Cakes)
She dislikes beetroot.
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