Detective Inspector Nick Dixon · #13
Death Message
Graffiti is a dying art in this thriller from the bestselling DI Nick Dixon crime series.
A routine missing person enquiry takes a grisly turn when a young couple drag a box containing human remains out of a Somerset river. The victim was a surveillance expert investigating an exaggerated injury claim—a murder with an obvious motive, until a police officer is implicated and suspended.
Still brooding after his recent brush with police Professional Standards, Detective Chief Inspector Nick Dixon is on extended leave, helping his pregnant fiancée, Detective Sergeant Jane Winter, fight for her place on the major investigation team.
Convinced that the death of an art student is connected, Dixon returns to duty, and when graffiti depicting the murders starts to appear, the race is on to find the artist and the murderer. But, why the paintings? Could an infamous street artist be involved?
With colleagues questioning his every move, Dixon must stop a sadistic killer before another life is taken. Then a second art student is reported missing…
The series
The Detective Inspector Nick Dixon series is a relentless dive into the darker side of human nature, where each investigation uncovers not just criminals, but the hidden depths of the characters involved. Led by Detective Inspector Nick Dixon, a seasoned investigator with a sharp mind and a heavy heart, the series weaves suspense and emotional complexity into every case. Boyd’s writing takes readers deep into the complexities of crime and its impact, balancing intricate detective work with deeply personal stakes.
Read full series description
Set against the backdrop of rural England, the Detective Inspector Nick Dixon series is as much about atmosphere as it is about plot. The quiet, seemingly idyllic landscape often becomes the perfect setting for sinister events that stir beneath the surface. Boyd’s ability to build tension within these environments pulls readers into a world where nothing is as simple as it seems. Each case presents a fresh challenge, yet Dixon’s struggles, both professionally and personally, create a continuous thread that ties the series together, making each book a natural progression from the last.
What sets this series apart is its focus on Dixon as a fully realized character, whose dedication to his work is tempered by his own vulnerabilities. He’s not just a detective solving puzzles—he’s a man wrestling with his past and constantly questioning his role in the world around him. This emotional depth, paired with Boyd’s knack for creating high-stakes, twist-filled mysteries, makes the Detective Inspector Nick Dixon series an exhilarating journey that lingers long after the final page.
For readers who crave gripping crime fiction with complex characters, unpredictable twists, and a haunting atmosphere, the Detective Inspector Nick Dixon series offers a thrilling escape into the shadows of the human psyche.
#1 · 2013As the Crow Flies 
#2 · 2013Head in the Sand 
#3 · 2014Kickback 
#4 · 2015Swansong 
#5 · 2016Dead Level 
#6 · 2016Death Sentence 
#7 · 2017Heads or Tails 
#8 · 2018Dead Lock 
#9 · 2019Beyond the Point 
#10 · 2020Down Among the Dead 
#11 · 2021Dying Inside 
#12 · 2022Carnival Blues 
#13 · 2023Death Message 
#14 · 2024From The Ashes 
#15 · 2025Blue Blood 
#16 · 2026Seeing Red 
#17 · 2027Detective Inspector Nick Dixon Book 17 Be the first reviewer
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