Body in the Woods

Carlos Jacobi Book 1

Fiction - Crime
627 Pages
Reviewed on 04/27/2021
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Author Biography

I always loved to read and write, but working as a nurse for the best part of thirty-nine years took all my energy. I rediscovered a love for writing when I was laid up after breaking my foot in 2016 and haven't looked back since. I live in beautiful Derbyshire, England and in 2020 completed an MA in Creative Writing with Distinction. I author the Rachel Prince Mystery series, a hugely popular cozy mystery series combining a unique blend of murder, cruising and medicine with a touch of romance. My latest venture is the Carlos Jacobi series. Carlos is a doggedly determined PI and his sidekick is Fiona Cook is a troubled, but likeable detective sergeant. Carlos owns a quirky ex-police dog who unearths a body in the first book in this new series.

    Book Review

Reviewed by Christian Sia for Readers' Favorite

Body in the Woods is the first book in the Carlos Jacobi series by Dawn Brookes and a perfect read for fans of crime thrillers. It is supposed to be a quiet Christmas at his sister’s place. At least, that is what private investigator Carlos Jacobi wanted, but everything changes when his ex-police dog discovers a body in the woods. The old man’s widow hires Carlos to investigate in this seemingly peaceful town with dangerous secrets. As he begins his investigation, he runs into someone he hoped he would never see again, and their experience in Afghanistan, characteristic of bad blood, makes it hard for the two to work together. Someone wants him out of the investigation, but when his dog makes another discovery, the conflict escalates. Can Carlos get to the bottom of the mystery?

I love it when an author takes time to develop characters that have depth, and Dawn Brookes does just that. Carlos is not just a strong character with a military background. Exploring his experiences in Afghanistan and the animosity between him and a mate that he runs into adds a deeper layer to the plot, and while this detail builds suspense and deepens character, it helps in moving the plot forward. DCI Terry Masters is a well-written character as well as DS Fiona Cook and many others. The setting is detailed and I enjoyed how descriptive the author is when exploring the features of the natural environment in which the story takes place. Dawn Brookes not only poignantly captures a sense of mystery and raw emotions in a quiet small town, but creates such relatable characters that any reader will want to follow on their journey. Body in the Woods is a bold and haunting story of murder and suspense.

Pikasho Deka

Body in the Woods is a murder mystery novel and the first installment of Dawn Brookes' Carlos Jacobi series. On a visit to his sister Sophie Cole's home in the sleepy village of Peaks Hollow, Private Investigator Carlos Jacobi finds himself embroiled in a murder mystery when his canine companion Lady unearths a dead body in the local woods. The victim is identified as Sophie's neighbor Harold Sissons, whose wife Meg and estranged daughter Caroline waste no time in recruiting the services of Carlos to solve the case. After finding out that the lead detective assigned to the investigation is none other than his old rival Terry Masters, Carlos is left with no choice but to try to solve the murder on his own. But things get complicated further when Lady discovers the body of Harold's long-missing son, Matthew.

Body in the Woods is a flying start to the Carlos Jacobi series. Filled with mystery, suspense, and intrigue, Dawn Brookes' absorbing investigative tale hooks you in from the start and refuses to let go. The plot moves at a fast pace, and the twists and turns seem genuinely surprising. I thought the characters were compelling and found them to be well-crafted and developed. I enjoyed all of them, but I found Carlos, Sophie, Caroline, and Fiona to be my personal favorites out of the bunch. Body in the Woods was a thoroughly enjoyable reading experience for me, and I look forward to more novels in the Carlos Jacobi series. I would recommend it to fans of murder mysteries.

Anne-Marie Reynolds

Body in the Woods by Dawn Brookes is the first book in the Carlos Jacobi series. Carlos Jacobi is a private investigator. Visiting his sister in the Peak District for Christmas, he is shocked when his ex-police dog unearths a body in the woods. Hired by the victim’s wife, Carlos discovers that the police ignored her when she reported him missing. His investigation begins to uncover secrets the village would prefer to stay buried; people with things to hide. Then Carlos meets someone he hoped never to see again – the man heading the investigation. The bad blood between the two gets in the way of the investigation and DCI Masters does all he can to thwart Carlos. Plugging on, Carlos gets closer to the truth and the stakes are raised when his dog makes another discovery. Carlos and DS Fiona Cook team up but can they get to the bottom of the mystery or will Masters keep getting in the way?

Body in the Woods (Carlos Jacobi Book 1) by Dawn Brookes is a promising start to what looks like being a great new series. A gripping story brought alive by a storyteller with a gift, this book will hold your attention from start to finish. A fantastic cast of characters teams with a twisty dark plot full of secrets and lies in a story that flows seamlessly from one chapter to the next. Packed with suspense and plenty of action, this story will have you guessing all the way through. The characters are developed enough for you to get a real sense of who they are – including Lady, the Springer Spaniel – and they are relatable and likable too. The only thing I wanted was more information about the bad blood between two of the main characters but, given that this is the first book in a series, perhaps we will learn more about this later on. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Highly recommended for those who love a good murder mystery they can fully immerse themselves in.