Preview
  • Bad Dog

  • A Gripping British Crime Thriller (DCI Kett Crime Thrillers, Book 2)
  • By: Alex Smith
  • Narrated by: Tim Bruce
  • Length: 7 hrs and 53 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (151 ratings)

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Bad Dog

By: Alex Smith
Narrated by: Tim Bruce
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Publisher's summary

Some legends can kill you.

When a young woman is brutally murdered in the Norfolk countryside, the locals blame Black Shuck - a legendary wild dog.

There’s only one problem: The wounds weren’t made by an animal.

DCI Robert Kett is battling a black dog of his own. With his wife still missing, and the injuries from his last case leaving him in constant pain, everything seems impossible - not least looking after his three young children.

But when a second body appears, even bloodier than the last, Kett finds himself on a hunt for one of the most ruthless serial killers the country has ever seen.

A killer who may be hunting him, too.

Full of death and dark humour, you won't be able to put down this fast-paced British crime thriller from million-selling author Alex Smith. Perfect for fans of JD Kirk, LJ Ross, Val McDermid, and Ian Rankin.

Binge the series now:
PAPER GIRLS
BAD DOG
THREE LITTLE PIGS
WHIP CRACK
RUN RABBIT RUN
STONE COLD DEAD (coming soon)

Alex Smith wrote his first book when he was six. It wasn’t particularly good, but it did have some supernatural monsters in it. His DCI Robert Kett thrillers have monsters in too, although these monsters are very human, and all the more terrifying for it. In between, he has published 12 novels for children and teenagers under his full name, Alexander Gordon Smith - including the award-winning Escape from Furnace series, which is loved by millions of readers worldwide and which is soon to become a motion picture. He lives in Norwich with his wife and three young daughters.

©2020 Alex Smith (P)2021 Alexander Gordon Smith
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What listeners say about Bad Dog

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Gripping

As the second in the series I was already invested in the back story of the kidnapped wife.
The twists and turns of this keep me listening at any opportunity I could get.
Narrator is great also.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

the description of the scene of where ken was

i appreciated the story line but hate when describing claustropic enclosures, I want to turn it off.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Enjoyable and Entertaining

JD Kirk recommended the author and I jumped to listen. I enjoyed his first book, Paper Girls and this was just as pleasing. Reading comments online on how the villains are a bit of a fantastic stretch left me wondering how it would turn out but this book left me feeling like under the right/wrong circumstances it could happen. The book isn't overly cerebral but is quite enjoyable. For someone doing a 4-hour round trip 1x weekly, this was a great book to sink my ears into. The reading was well done and overall, very satisfying. I look forward to future audible releases of the series and to see how the characters develop. I already have hopes for Savage, I have concerns about his eldest daughter emotional/mental health/technology usage and seriously think the DCI will spend 3/4 of his time healing from injuries more than working at the rate he's going. Thank you and...next, please!

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Great murder mystery

Great murder mystery set in England. Will read next one in series. Narrator did great job.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Almost Good

The story is creative and the suspense good. The main character, though, is a terrible parent and the children are feral. I don’t know why the author thinks horrendous children with no manners are boundaries are amusing. They make me cringe. He also presents the main character as sympathetic because his wife is missing. Women raise children all the time without allowing them to turn into screaming banshees. The storyline is distracting.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

it was ok

started off pretty slowly, didnt get good until the end. maybe it was the subject.
narrator is amazing.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

a good story and nice plot line and well narrated

this is the second book in the series and it has a lot of interesting twists and turns some that you really don't expect and that's hard to do when you read as many mysteries as I do. it is more contemporary dealing with modern family issues but it doesn't allow those issues to interfere with the plot and the twist and turns of the story. the narration is good and is well worth the listen

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Unbelievable

Very disappointed. I won’t be continuing this series. Hero isn’t heroic as manic. Monster is impossible. The amount of abuse he endured is impossible at his age over 5 years. Starved and beaten? Not believable he could have been so strong with a diet of only meat and no vitamin supplements.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent--the Best....but...

These series of books are excellent. The combination of Alex Smith and Tim Bruce is one of the best I have ever heard. The story is interesting, heartwarming, sad, funny. I love the children--they are so cute. It successfully shows a father who is dealing with loss but still trying to be there for his children.

As with most crime stories, there is the violence. I don't like hearing about it but it was done in the best way possble.

Tim Bruce's voice is awesome. There was no big distinction between each of the characters, but yet, at the same time, there was a huge, clear distinction. The storyline was really awesome too, and so were the inter-relationshsips between characters and their vividness. Amazing author and narrator combo.

The only criticism is the swearing--there was a lot of it. I would have taken 2 stars off normally for this much, or returned the book, but it does in fact accurately depict people in law enforcement, and it is understandable due to what they have to see and deal with, But--I don't want to hear it in my books. There is enough of it in real life and it is not necessary! But due to the above, I am kind of sort of trying to get by it. It would have been perfect without.

Please authors, you lose many listeners if you include swearing--you'd increase your listeners if you did not.

Such a talented author Alex Smith is and such a talented narrator is Tim Bruce.


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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Another entertaining story!

Very glad JD Kirk promoted Alex as his stories are going interesting and well presented. I've enjoyed both books that I've listened to so far and look forward to the next one.

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