City of Sinners by A.A.Dhand

Val Penny ♦ April 17, 2020 ♦ Leave a comment

Amit Dhand is an author I discovered a couple of years ago when he spoke at Swanwick Writers’ Summer School. He writes very dark, violent crime novels set in Bradford, England. He also weaves in very interesting personal back stories for his characters.

City of Sinners is the third book in his Harry Virdee series. Each book would work as a stand alone, but why would you deny yourself the pleasure of reading the series?

This story starts on a cold Bradford morning. Police cars hurriedly pull up in the centre of town, but none of their lights are flashing but the sirens are silent because a body has been found, elaborately and painstakingly positioned to send a message. It is DI Harry Virdee’s job to find out what that message is. But Harry does not know that the killer is watching him, that the killer is coming for him because this is personal.

I found City of Sinners even more gripping than the previous two novels (Although these were also excellent). The reader is taken to the Asian community in Bradford; and there is a series of murders, interspersed with family issues that Harry has to contend with. This time Harry is specifically targeted by the killer.

I have to admit to guessing the reason for this targeting long before it was finally revealed, but this did not spoil the story in any way. City of Sinners is a thoroughly gripping read that I could not put down.

Some of the descriptions are gruesome, but if you can cope with that, I highly recommend it.

The Author

A.A. Dhand was raised in Bradford and spent his youth observing the city from behind the counter of a small convenience store. After qualifying as a pharmacist, he worked in London and travelled extensively before returning to Bradford to start his own business and begin writing. The history, diversity and darkness of the city have inspired his Harry Virdee novels.

Val Penny