Beautiful Death

DCI Jack Hawksworth #2

by Fiona McIntosh

A calculating killer, who ′trophies′ the faces of his victims, is targeting Londoners.

Under enormous pressure from politicians and the public, DCI Jack Hawksworth and his team begin their investigation, which takes them into the murky world of human organ trading.

But when the murderer strikes closer to home than Jack could ever have imagined possible, the case becomes a personal crusade - and a race against time. Can the killer be brought to justice before Jack is removed from the operation?

From London′s backstreets to the dangerous frontiers of medicine, BEAUTIFUL DEATH will keep you reading late into the night.

Genres: Crime, Mystery, Audiobook, Thriller, Fiction, Detective, Murder Mystery

417 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 2009

About the author

Fiona writes best selling historical adventure-romance alongside the heroic-romantic, often brutal, fantasy she built her career upon. She lives in Australia but frequently roams the world meticulously researching the locations and gathering material for her historical novels that have international settings. Her books are published worldwide and in various languages.
Her most recent historical fiction has gathered such a following that she is now hosting a tour in 2014 to Paris and Provence so eager readers can walk in the footsteps of her characters.


Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Reviews

[Helen]

It is two years since Jack Hawksworth headed up operation Danube, he has been working in other areas, but now there appears to be another serial killer loose on the streets of London, mutilating bodies and taking their faces and Jack is called up again to lead operation Panther.

When the fourth body is found this one is a female and Jack arrives for the autopsy, Jack is shocked to realise who the woman is, this case is now a whole lot more personal will he be able to carry on leading the team, without his superior knowing about his personal involvement, he has about ten days to find the killer and put them in jail.

Jack and his team have their work cut out for them but they never give up and push and push finding clues but will they get there before more bodies are found and what is the real reason behind these macabre murders, come along for the ride it is sure to keep you turning the pages.

I did so very much enjoy this book it was hard to put down, so much pressure on Jack and the team, the ending is fabulous, this is one that I would highly recommend, off to read book three now.

[Brenda]

When DCI Jack Hawksworth and his team learned of the discovery of mutilated bodies where their faces had been removed, Jack was immediately put in charge of Panther, the operational group that was set with finding the psychopathic killer. The best of the best were tasked for this case; but the horrific shock Jack received on sitting in on an autopsy of the latest victim would cause much grief, heartache and anger. It was now personal – Jack would put this barbaric killer behind bars if it was the last thing he did.

As the investigation deepened and grew, those involved seemed to multiply – was it human organ trafficking which was at the bottom of these killings? Or was it something much more sinister? Jack was running against the clock – the danger was intensifying; the bodies were mounting. Would Jack and his dedicated team catch this killer before it was too late?

Beautiful Death by Aussie author Fiona McIntosh is a wonderfully, intense and gripping thriller! I hadn’t picked it up sooner because of its length, but I’m so glad I bit the bullet and read it. And though this is #2 in the DCI Jack Hawksworth series, and I haven’t read the first, it quite easily stands alone. I thoroughly enjoyed getting my teeth into this gritty crime thriller and I recommend it highly.

[Gloria (Ms. G's Bookshelf)]

⭐️3.5 Stars⭐️
Beautiful Death

Mutilated bodies are being discovered, dumped alongside the canal, their kidneys and faces removed. Likeable and charming DCI Jack Hawksworth from New Scotland Yard is placed in charge of operation code named 'Panther' to find the killer dubbed the 'Face Thief'.

The latest victim is too close for comfort for Jack and causes him intense grief, heartache and anger, this particular murder victim was personal to him. Worried that he will now be thrown off the case, it's a race against time to find the killer.

This is #2 in the DCI Jack Hawksworth series. Although this book can easily be read as a stand-alone there are a few remnants referring to the latest operation from #1 book Bye Bye Baby.

This is a good read although I didn't find it as gripping as the first instalment but I'm looking forward to a third as the last few words in this book looked to be a lead up to a continuation of Bye Bye Baby, which is exciting for those that loved the first book.

[Lee at ReadWriteWish]

* I just re-read this review and wonder why I gave this book an extra half a star. Think 1 is enough.

I rated the first book in this series (Bye Bye Baby) as average, a 3 out of 5. But I decided, considering as there's only two books in the series, to give Beautiful Death a go. Well, truthfully, I wish I hadn’t bothered.

I’ll start with Jack, our ‘hero’ (in inverted commas). What a prat. Seriously, I can’t think of a book hero who is more unlikeable than Jack at the moment. He wasn't great in book one, but he reaches new lows in this outing. I just wanted to slap him and his pretty face silly. Yes, I know he has a pretty face because McIntosh reminds us that he is movie star handsome EVERY FIVE MINUTES. As such, every female character wants him, even randoms like flight attendants. (Oh, and in one ‘memorable’ scene a potential witness decides she will only offer up a testimony if he’s as attractive in the flesh as she’s been led to believe by the other detectives. W.T.Actual.)

I was about to say his lovelife was complicated but I’m not sure that’s the correct description It's more like he just lets his little policeman lead him around and to hell with the consequences. In the beginning of the book we meet the new love of his life, Lily. Soon, however, poor Lily (who is also the female diversity card character) must be killed by a serial killer to give Jack (the handsome white hero) some depth (don't get me started on this rant). Jack's grief lasts approximately 1.20729385 seconds because he begins to get all tingly around the psychiatrist he’s been forced to see due to his relationship with the serial killer from book one. Yeah, okay, more stupid than complicated.

Of course it’s not only Jack who is fickle. His fellow detective, Kate, is also on the hunt for any man with a pulse. Jack, of course, is the OH SO HANDSOME love of her life and she's set to wallow in her unrequited love alone forever. But wait… There is the attractive surgeon who might be available for dinner. Or Jack’s policeman mate, Geoff, who tells her she’s a twit to her face on their first meeting, but nevermind he’s not bad looking….

And don't go thinking that putting a ring on it changes anything when it comes to Jack and Kate's relationships with the opposite sex. Lily was engaged, the surgeon is engaged, the shrink is married, Geoff was about to spend a week or so away with another woman and Kate's bed is barely cold after calling off her engagement.

Besides the inappropriateness due to cheating aspect, there's also the huge lack of professionalism portrayed by the characters. Yes, Jack, the lead detective on the case was in a sexual relationship with one of the victims. I think I could write a thesis on the inappropriateness of this but McIntosh probably did it for me. Characters thinking or talking about how Jack shouldn’t be leading up the team takes up half the book, I swear. And yet no one ever follows through and removes him from the case. Obviously he’s just so vital to the case and so clever and so nice and so charming and, oh, did McIntosh mention he's so handsome and I CAN’T EVEN.

If this wasn't far-fetched enough, there's also the inappropriate relationship that Jack starts with his shrink. Forget being treated in her offices, they'll be meeting for his sessions at cafes and pubs and her house... I guess Jack is just so gosh-darn handsome, the doc just can't help herself.

While Jack is walking around brooding about sex with Lily and potential sex with the doc and never having sex with Kate and the great sex he had with his girlfriend from book one, his underlings figure out 80% of the mystery plot. The other 20% is resolved by Jack and Kate stumbling over the truth without ever carrying out any real police work/detecting. For the reader, everything is pretty obvious within the first few chapters (or so it seemed -- I certainly don't remember a moment in the book I didn't know who would be kidnapped next, who would be the killer, and who would be the red herring).

I’m trying to think of one positive out of this book and I’m really struggling. The characters are obviously annoying as hell, the plot was stupid, and the big twist at the end was just annoyingly stupid (and, typically, had something to do with Jack and sex). The descriptive passages were nothing special and the dialogue rambling and repetitive. I wouldn’t have continued with this series even if McIntosh hadn’t given it up. It doesn’t make me want to rush out and buy one of her historical offerings, that's for sure.

1 ½ to 2. More deathly boring than beautiful.

[Jacqui]

Fiona McIntosh's main character is a male copper but acts and talks live a woman. No male copper I've ever known (and I worked with police for 10 years)sounds like him. He's a woman in drag. The main female characters is meant to be a brilliant detective but spends her time mooning about the male characters. If she's brilliant, I've yet to see signs of it. I just want to slap her. The plot is off the wall and not believable. Her first 'Bye Bye Baby' (written as Lauren Crow) was okay but this one needs a strong editorial eye.

[Sue Gerhardt Griffiths]

4 ⭐️s

DCI Jack Hawksworth, #2

While book two seems to have a few haters, I found it quite enjoyable. Honestly, any book with Jack is a win for me! It is dark and gruesome, but I’m a huge crime fan and got totally hooked. I cannot wait to start book 3!


Audiobook via BorrowBox
Published by: Penguin Random House Australia Audio
Read by Jerome Pride
Duration: 13 hrs 23 min 1.25x Speed

[Donna McEachran]

I hope this isn't the last we see of the DCI Hawksworth books... especially with that ending!!

[N]

Second reading 2024: Interestingly back in 2019, I thought Book 1 was a slow burn. I find Book 1 to be more fast paced than this book; in fact this was so slow and the sessions with Dr Jane seemed unnecessary and a little out of character? Still stand by the fact that I have no idea why he is infatuated with every female instantly.

First reading 2019: Hope that the series continues. Enjoyed the story however I found that the characters were a little trite. Especially Jack who seems to fall in love with every woman within a few hours of the first encounter?!

[Diana Hockley]

Detective Jack Hawksworth of New Scotland Yard has been the main feature in a previous novel, Bye Bye Baby, remnants of which are referred to in this excellently written and exciting second appearance of the character.

Someone has been taking the faces of corpses - and kidneys as well - and dumping the bodies at the side of the canal. The inevitable nosy dog turns up and uncovers the first of the deaths, but then a catastrophe.

Jack is having an affair with the beautiful Lily whose traditional Chinese family is pushing her to marry an eminent surgeon who just happens to be a "plastic" specialist...

Hawksworth's team is well depicted, the characters finely drawn and believable. The tension mounts as the crooks decide to jump ship, and Jack is presented with an interesting surprise at the end, one which neither he nor I saw coming.

No spoilers!

This book is well worth reading and is a credit to its author, whom I sincerely hope is spinning the next "Jack" saga!

[beccabeccabooks]

It's been two years since DCI Jack Hawksworth led Operation Danube. Since then, he's taken a well deserved trip to Australia to see his sister and policed in different areas. Now, he's called back to Scotland Yard to lead yet another serial killer case, Operation Panther.

All over London, people have been snatched, drugged and then grievously removed of their face. So far, no-one has been able to be identified, until Jack recognises one of the victims. Then it becomes personal. Not only did Jack know the latest victim, he was in an intimate relationship with her.

Soon it's concluded that the perp they're looking for is a plastic surgeon. All eyes is on Dr James Chan: a renowned public figure in the field. He also happens to be Lily Wu's fiance in all pomp and circumstances. Did the doctor find out about Lily and Jacks affair, ordered her murder and tried to cover his steps by killing other nameless victims? And what does the Hasidic Jewish community and working girls have to do with the case? Still, Jack must keep a cool, professional head to remain working on Panther, otherwise he's OUT.

It's going to be extremely difficult to catch the Face Thief, before he strikes again. No-one in London is safe- not even Jack's colleagues as it turns out...

Beautiful Death is a sensational sequel to Bye Bye Baby. Jack has a talent for getting too personally involved with his cases, doesn't he, especially soon after bringing down Anne McEvoy. Not to worry: the vigilante makes a shocking return here! I'm so glad Fiona decided to keep this series going because if she didn't, I would've been so frustrated at such an abrupt ending!!

4.75 🌟

[Ros Hayes]

3.5 stars rounded up to 4. Another solid detective story. Second in this series. I guessed the culprit pretty quickly tho. Still a good read.

[Ed Napiorkowski]

I enjoyed the earlier book in this series (Bye Bye Baby) but sad to say I didn't enjoy this one and hence I'm only rating it at two stars.
In this book the main character DCI Jack Hawksworth very quickly became a character I just couldn't stand. Sleeping with another person's fiancee, then upon her murder discovers she was pregnant to him and barely batters an eyelid. Fixated on her fiancee as the prime suspect. Vocal about how because he has an emotional attachment to her, one of the murder victims, that makes him the best person to lead the investigation but a few days later seeking to slip between the sheets with his married treating Psychologist because 'he has needs'. What a tosser! The sexual innuendos between multiple characters throughout this book becomes tiresome and stale. It's probably done very deliberately by the author as for some it may sell the book but to me it was shallow and repetitive (as by the way were some other phrases overly repeated in the book e.g. people running their hands through their hair).
If there is another in the series, and I am assuming from the finish of this one where DCI Hawksworth's sexual and criminal relationship from the previous book returns and is revealed to be pregnant there will be, well I will not be reading them. Personal choice but I think there are better crime novels than the recipe this one is following. As I said only two stars from me.

[Angela]

4 Stars

Beautiful Death (DCI Jack Hawksworth Book #2) by Fiona McIntosh...
Book Club Reading Challenge.

Review to come...

[Dianne]

Another great read by this very talented author. No. 2 in the series and didn’t disappoint. While gruesome deaths and disfigurement took place it secret it kept Jack and his team on their toes the whole time. Suspenseful, heartbreaking and nail biting at times but they got the main man in the end. Fantastic outcome.

[Susan Kelly]

Most people said this book, #2 wasn't as good as the first. I thought the opposite - I loved it, although the crime was quite gruesome
I love a good crime novel and I got right into this one. Looking forward to #3

[Sheryl]

Brilliant. An excellent read.

[Emily Dunn-Ross]

Decent

[Sarah Johnston]

Beautiful Death is the second book in the DCI Hawksworth series. Corpses are being discovered with kidneys missing and their faces removed. But why? With very few leads or clues Operation Panther must work quickly to track down the murderer before there are more victims. Like the first book in the series this is fast paced crime thriller.

[Alison Lockley]

Pretty awful. I listened to it on audio - the narrator’s monotone did nothing to enhance the plodding storyline. Really unbelievable in terms of police procedurals, psychotherapy professional standards. Protagonists who are more concerned about who they are sexually attracted to than by their investigations.

[Suzy Dominey]

Did get sucked in by one red herring........

[Pam]

Another good Jack Hawksworth read & again Fiona McIntosh excells at crime writing.

[Sunnie]

DCI Jack Hawksworth faces his biggest challenge. Someone is murdering undocumented illegal immigrants. They have had organs removed and no faces. Things go from bad to worse when the body of his secret lover, Lily Chan is found. Lily is a florist and engaged to a well known cosmetic surgeon.

Jack should remove himself from the case but he doesn’t .his hunt for the killer leads him to a narcissistic psychopath whose motive shocks even Jack.

Where to start? I recently took part in a discussion on a Facebook crime fiction group about pet peeves when reading. I’m afraid BEAUTIFUL DEATH ticked every box. Irresistibly attractive man who has women falling for him left right and centre, a team member quietly in love with him. Woman in peril and guess who dashes in and saves her. This was the second in a series and the ending ensured there is another. I didn’t read the first and I won’t be reading the third. The book might appeal to many readers but I’m afraid I wasn’t one of them.

[Aoife]

Enjoyable enough as an audiobook but the story itself is weak. We’re immediately meant to believe the killer is Chan when nothing to date in the book has implied that it is. And it’s pretty clear who the real culprit is as soon as he’s introduced; not due to any real clues just based on the style of the book itself. There is no real depth to the characters and the zero suspense in the story. The last section where Kate is abducted and nearly killed is too boring and drawn out. Overall, this is fine for listening to when walking the dog but if I’d been reading it I suspect that I wouldn’t have bothered finishing it, or else would have skim read to the end.

[Neil]

Beautiful Death. #2 Jack Hawksworth series.

This book certainly gave me a surprise. Usually with crime fiction, the reader is faced with several plot twists and turns that it can be mind boggling. Not this one.
Maybe that is the twist in itself. Early on, you knew where the storyline was heading and it did not stray. Very well written and an easy read. I’m also glad to have read this book after the first in the series… Bye Bye Baby as the references to that made sense. Fiona McIntosh Author of Crime Fiction has become one of my favourites.

[Deborah (debbishdotcom)]

It has to be said, DCI Jack Hawksworth has some seriously bad luck on the romance front. In the first novel in this series Bye Bye Baby he was unlucky in love and this time around he’s dating a young woman (who’s actually kinda engaged to someone else) and, well…. let's just say, she's not around long.
Read my review here: https://www.debbish.com/books-literat...

[Karen]

A quick re-read as a reminder before reading books three and four.

[Lisa Bacon-hall]

A little disappointing...what is it with the main character who falls in love with victims that he later has to investigate! Found it hard to enjoy this story...too silly for me..

[Nicky Mottram]

Audio version of this book 📚- DNF listened to a couple of hours and just couldn’t listen anymore! Narration was dreadful and storyline was very slow and not gripping at all

[Kate thebooklover]

Review to come

[Deborah]

Love loved it.