The Angel of Death by Trevor Wood #BookReview #TheAngelofDeath @TrevorWoodWrite @OrendaBooks @RandomTTours #Newcastle #CrimeFiction #Dementia

 

When a self-styled Angel of Death begins granting the dying a final act of mercy on the streets of Newcastle, DCI Jack Parker is forced to confront both a ruthless killer and his own advancing dementia. The gripping third instalment in Trevor Wood's addictive, gritty DCI Jack Parker series.

DCI Jack Parker is BACK…

Death is stalking the streets of Newcastle. An anonymous killer is offering the terminally ill a dignified escape. Mercy to some. Murder to others.

KILLER

DCI Jack Parker doesn't want the case. He has a secret of his own – an early-onset dementia diagnosis he's desperate to conceal. But the signs are becoming impossible to ignore. As his mind begins to betray him, the city faces its own moral reckoning.

OR

While politicians debate a contentious new law and the self-styled Angel of Death selects another victim, Jack's world is shaken when the killings are traced to a carers' support group – one his wife, Helen, has been attending in secret.

SAINT

Yet his deepest fear is also his darkest temptation. Because when his disease becomes unbearable, Jack can't escape one haunting question:

Could the Angel of Death be the saviour he's been waiting for?

The Angel of Death by Trevor Wood was published by Orenda Books on 16 July 2026 and is the third book in the DCI Jack Parker series. My thanks to the publisher who sent my copy for review as part of this Virtual Book Tour 

I am a HUGE fan of this author and this series. Gritty, northern crime drama - an amazing cast of characters; tense and clever plotting, a terrific sense of place and also an empathetic and caring look at the horrors of early onset dementia. It really is a cracking series. 

I read and reviewed the first two in the series; The Silent Killer, in October 2024, and The Inside Man in July 2025. It has felt like a very long wait for this third book.  However, I have been absolutely blown away by The Angel of Death, the first two books were amazing but this one is incredible. The best yet. 

The Angel of Death is on the streets of Newcastle. It's a strange case for DCI Jack Parker, and his team Leon and Emma. This is no ordinary serial killer, this is a man who appears to offering a dignified and pain free escape to those who are living with life limiting diseases.  A sort of unofficial Dignitas and whilst there are surely arguments that say that this is a blessing, it is still murder and has to be investigated.

What I really love about this series is the intricate creation of the characters and their lives. We have followed Jack from his very first diagnosis of early onset dementia, where he kept it to himself and didn't cope well.  He is now more open about his condition and the author has clearly researched this terrible disease as the reader accompanies Jack on what feels like a very authentic journey. 

However, this doesn't ever take away from the central crime plot at all, in fact, in this story, Jack's own condition enhances his reasoning and determination to track down the 'Angel'.  It's a tense and complex plot which is paced perfectly and totally gripped me. The gentle unravelling of the of the case is splendidly done, with fabulous dialogue, a little humour to lighten the darkness and OMG, that ending! 

Another fabulous novel from one of our finest crime authors.  Perfect plotting, amazing characterisation and totally gripping. Highly recommended. 

Trevor Wood has lived in Newcastle for 30 years and considers himself an adopted
Geordie, though he still can’t speak the language. 

He's a successful playwright who has also worked as a journalist and spin-doctor for the City Council. 

Prior to that he served in the Royal Navy for 16 years joining, presciently, as a Writer. 

Trevor holds an MA in Creative Writing (Crime Fiction) from UEA. 

His first novel, The Man on the Street, won the CWA John Creasey (New Blood) Dagger, the Crimefest Specsavers Best Crime Debut Award and was shortlisted for the Theakston’s Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year. It was followed by two more critically-acclaimed books in the Jimmy Mullen trilogy, One Way Street and Dead End Street. 

His next book, You Can Run, a standalone thriller set in a remote Northumberland village, was also long-listed for the Theakston’s Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year. 

The Angel of Death is the third in a police procedural series featuring Detective Chief Inspector Jack Parker, who is in the first stages of early-onset dementia. The series started with The Silent Killer and was followed by The Inside Man.

Trevor is one of the founding members of the Northern Crime Syndicate.