Review: The Necessary Deaths (The Dominic Delingpole Mysteries #1) by David C. Dawson

A young journalism student lies unconscious in a hospital bed in Brighton, England. His life hangs in the balance after a drug overdose. But was it attempted suicide or attempted murder? The student’s mother persuades British lawyer Dominic Delingpole to investigate, and Dominic enlists the aid of his outspoken opera singer partner, Jonathan McFadden.

The student’s boyfriend discovers compromising photographs hidden in his lover’s room. The photographs not only feature senior politicians and business chiefs, but the young journalist himself. Is he being blackmailed, or is he the blackmailer?

As Dominic and Jonathan investigate further, their lives are threatened and three people are murdered. They uncover a conspiracy that reaches into the highest levels of government and powerful corporations. The people behind it are ruthless, and no one can be trusted. The bond between Dominic and Jonathan deepens as they struggle not only for answers, but for their very survival.

I had really high hopes for this mystery. Love the cover and the blurb. The story didn't quite live up to the expectation.

The mystery starts right from the beginning after the young student, Simon, OD'ed. But his friends and family know Simon didn't do this to himself and someone was trying to kill him. Dominic finds himself wrapped up in this attempted murder investigation after the victim's mother asks for his help.

Dominic is a lawyer, so I kept waiting for his cop boyfriend to show up. But... no. There is no cop boyfriend. But this is a murder mystery? Surely there's a cop boyfriend somewhere. (I've been reading way too much Josh Lanyon (<- said no one ever.)) I know... I read the blurb. Opera singer boyfriend. Anyway, I guess I was just confused about how much Dominic got involved in all of this. I mean, why? He just kind of fumbled through everything, making dumb decisions and put people in danger. While there were some interesting aspects to the mystery, I had a hard time sticking with it. I found myself skimming here and there.

Dominic and Jonathan were an... interesting... couple. They have an open relationship and I don't know how I feel about that. Mostly because it seemed like a one-sided decision. Something that Dominic went along with in order to keep Jonathan around. Jonathan was loud, flirty, and, frankly, obnoxious. He was like a caricature of a person. Someone I didn't particularly like or want to get to know.

I'm mildly curious to know where they go from here, given the way things ended with Dominic and Jonathan. We'll see if I read the next one.

A copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.

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Trivia Question of the Day

What book features high class alien rent boys that work on a planet designed purely for pleasure? (worth 10 pts)