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Steps to Heaven : A chilling and gripping British serial killer thriller (Sgt Major Crane Crime Thrillers Book 1) Kindle Edition

3.9 3.9 out of 5 stars 1,474 ratings

This #1 Amazon crime thriller has over 1,000 4 and 5* ratings.

A family lie dead in their army quarter. Can a military detective keep a mystery from becoming a blood bath?

Aldershot, England. Sgt Major Tom Crane carries his IED scars on his face and in his heart, but he’s determined not to let his experiences in Helmand stop him from getting the dead justice. He made it back. Others didn’t. And he owes them a debt of gratitude.

Well acquainted with the minds of soldiers, Crane fears more families could die, if an evil man continues to spread his terrible message. But the upper army leadership aren’t keen. They don’t want Crane to rock the boat.

But rocking the boat is Crane’s speciality and he is determined to leave no stone unturned in his quest for justice for the dead.

Will the hard-nosed investigator capture his prey, and stop more innocents dying?

Steps to Heaven is the gripping first book in the Sgt Major Crane crime fiction series. If you like flawed but appealing heroes, British urban settings, and a peek into the workings of the British Army military police, then you’ll love Wendy Cartmell’s serial killer suspense,

Perfect for fans of L. J. Ross, J. D. Kirk, Adam Croft, Simon McCleave, Alex Smith, J. M. Dalgliesh, J. E. Mayhew, and J. R. Ellis.

Praise for Sgt Major Crane...

'This is genre fiction at its best, suspense that rivets and mystery that keeps you guessing.' - Goodreads review
"Join Crane in what can only be described as one of the most gripping novels I have read in a long time!" Amazon Customer
"She is on a par with the literary giants of the genre" Zen Cherry author and reviewer
"Superbly written military mystery" Hayley Sale The Kindle Book Review
"I heartily recommend Steps to Heaven to fans of crime thrillers, police procedurals and whodunnits." R R Gordon
"Crane is a charismatic leading man and is one of the more interesting new genre protagonists I've encountered in quite a while!" Chris Algernon.
"Fast paced crime thrillers for lovers of the police procedural and whodunnits!" Keith Thomas International Broadcaster
"A dark and twisted thriller" Indie Book Spot
"A roller coaster ride story." Readers Favourite.

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Editorial Reviews

Review

Steps to Heaven e-thriller of the month!
"This is an absorbing story, with a well-constructed plot assembled on the foundations of a strong basic theme. The characters are believable and likeable and the backdrop to the story - the army garrison -
provides an interesting glimpse of life in the forces. Producers of television shows are always looking for new detective characters and I imagine that the army investigator, Sgt Major Crane, would be right up their street. I heartily recommend Steps To Heaven to fans of crime thrillers, police procedurals and whodunnits."
R R Gordon

"She is on a par with the literary giants of the genre"
Zen Cherry author and reviewer
"Superbly written military mystery"
Hayley Sale The Kindle Book Review

From the Author

The Sgt Major Crane crime thrillers:
Steps to Heaven - is the church offering salvation or slaughter? A dark twisted crime thriller.
40 Days 40 Nights - can Crane find the terrorist determined to play a deadly game with Team GB?
Honour Bound - someone is drugging young girls, then raping and murdering them. How many must die before Crane finds the rapist?
Cordon of lies - Can Crane get justice for two murdered army wives?
Regenerate - What can grief can do to the mind?
Hijack - can the hostages make it out alive?
Glass Cutter - when a hidden diary is found, that's when people start to die.
Solid Proof -a red stiletto shoe is the only clue in what turns out to be Crane's strangest murder mystery to date!
Crane and Anderson crime series:
Death Rites - two lost girls and an out of control detective.Is anyone safe?
Death Element - the papers call him the Choker, but can Crane and Anderson catch him before he kills again?Death Call - calling 999 are you making a life saving call, or a death call?A Grave Death - someone is killing your family. Will you be next?
A Cold Death - there is a murderer in your family. It's your son. Could you turn him into the police?
Emma Harrison Mysteries:
Past Judgement - an escaped prisoner battles to prove his innocence. Can Emma help him and rescue her mother at the same time?
Mortal Judgement - the Whisperer is trying to get young men to commit suicide. Is Emma the only one who notices, and can she stop him before more inmates die?
Joint Judgement - Emma calls Billy in when a teacher is killed in the Education Block. Can he find the killer and stop a riot?

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B005U9T20A
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Costa Press; 3rd edition (December 10, 2013)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ December 10, 2013
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 952 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 368 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    3.9 3.9 out of 5 stars 1,474 ratings

About the author

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Wendy Cartmell
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Wendy Cartmell is the author of the Amazon #1 Bestseller STEPS TO HEAVEN. Her page reads run into the millions and she has sold over half a million books, with something for everyone in her crime thrillers.

There are 8 Sgt Major Crane serial killers thrillers, as well as the Crane and Anderson crime thrillers and Crane's cold cases.

Several of her books have ghostly and physic elements and wanting to develop these themes further, she decided it was time she wrote a series about a psychic detective. Touching the Dead is the first in a new series following Jo Wolfe, a detective who developed psychic abilities after a riding accident.

If you prefer cozy, then the Muddlebay Mysteries is the series for you.

What ever you choose, happy reading!

Customer reviews

3.9 out of 5 stars
1,474 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the storyline interesting and well-thought-out. They describe the book as an enjoyable read with a captivating plot that holds their interest. However, opinions differ on the character development, writing quality, and pacing. Some readers find the characters believable and ethical, while others consider them rude, brash, and obnoxious.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

45 customers mention "Storyline"33 positive12 negative

Customers enjoy the storyline. They find it interesting, with believable characters and twists. The narrative flows well from start to finish, making it an engaging thriller with plenty of action. Readers appreciate the surprise ending and the author's style.

"...The surprise ending totally caught me off guard! I especially enjoyed the character of Padre Symonds...." Read more

"...the book becomes predictable or stagnant, and the narrative flows well from start to finish...." Read more

"...Author WENDY CARTMELL has hatched a first rate plot and she does a credible job of laying it all out, holding it together and keeping us guessing to..." Read more

"...While this does give the action a sense of immediacy it does cause its own problems with establishing chronology...." Read more

28 customers mention "Readability"28 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's readability. They find it interesting, a page-turner, and an enjoyable quick read that keeps their attention until the end. Many reviewers say the book is better than expected and keeps their interest until the end.

"...STEPS TO HEAVEN is a crisp, engrossing page-turner which handles its sensitive subject matter with dignity and precision, and makes the reader feel..." Read more

"...to admit I was caught off guard with this one - it was even better than I had expected...." Read more

"This is a great book by Wendy Cartmell...." Read more

"This was a good escape book. I was able to relax easily follow the story. It gained my attention immediately and could not wait to finish it...." Read more

18 customers mention "Interest"18 positive0 negative

Customers find the book interesting and thought-provoking. They describe it as a well-told story that holds their attention and makes their brain work. The book offers an intriguing mix of mystery, religion, and military elements that grabs their attention immediately.

"...HEAVEN is a crisp, engrossing page-turner which handles its sensitive subject matter with dignity and precision, and makes the reader feel for its..." Read more

"...unusual approach, and it is overall a rather well told and captivating story. BUT -there are a few buts!..." Read more

"...She obviously knows her subject matter as she methodically walks the reader through the investigation in which Sgt...." Read more

"Once it got started, it pulled you in, needs a little more suspense to grab you and pull you in." Read more

25 customers mention "Writing quality"17 positive8 negative

Customers have different opinions about the writing quality. Some find it well-written and engaging, with a gripping mystery. Others mention poor editing, grammatical and spelling errors that make it difficult to read.

"...STEPS TO HEAVEN is a crisp, engrossing page-turner which handles its sensitive subject matter with dignity and precision, and makes the reader feel..." Read more

"...This was a nice solid relatively quick read and I'll certainly read the next, 40 DAYS 40 NIGHTS set in the leadup to the 2012 Olympics" Read more

"...The book's text editing was quite shoddy, with passages moving from the past tense to present tense in some really awkward ways; in a few places..." Read more

"...A truly terrific read and I for one, am going to be buying the two next novels featuring Tom and his team." Read more

24 customers mention "Character development"15 positive9 negative

Customers have mixed views on the character development. Some find the characters great and the plot interesting, with an ethical main character. Others feel the main character is unlikable and lacks development.

"...I especially enjoyed the character of Padre Symonds...." Read more

"...Another significant drawback for me are characters that are flat. Everyone here is more or less a cliché -- the prim, proper Sgt. Kim Weston...." Read more

"...subject matter with dignity and precision, and makes the reader feel for its characters, and, most importantly, interested in the lead character's..." Read more

"...The villain's context is interesting, but the actual villain is somewhat stereotyped...." Read more

8 customers mention "Pacing"3 positive5 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the pacing. Some find it engaging and keep their interest throughout the book. Others feel the character is rude, obnoxious, and grumpy, making them frustrated and impatient.

"...Also, the main character is completely unlikeable. He is rude, brash, and obnoxious...." Read more

"...Columbo cop tale--maybe because of the main character, who is brash, persistent, hard-punching and hard-hitting in terms of personality...." Read more

"...the story he is - often without reason - annoyed, irritated, frustrated, impatient and swearing under his breath or speaking through gritted teeth,..." Read more

"...rate plot and she does a credible job of laying it all out, holding it together and keeping us guessing to the end...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on December 21, 2012
    I'm not quite sure why, but Steps to Heaven reminded me of a Columbo cop tale--maybe because of the main character, who is brash, persistent, hard-punching and hard-hitting in terms of personality. The kind of guy that makes a great cop, but not necessarily a nice human being. Fortunately, he has some friends who will point out this latter fault from time to time. Since the author has personally been a wife and occupant of Army facilities and living, the novel allows readers to learn especially about the difficulties as a service wife.

    From my perspective, since I grab a police procedure to see if I can solve the crime along with the officer, his personality is somewhat secondary to his cop characteristics. I liked him and felt comfortable seeing him take command and shoot out orders fast and steadily...

    In fact, I'd say I've had a couple of bosses like him. A couple I didn't personally like, but that's ok if you can respect them, right? The ones you can't respect aren't worth talking about...LOL

    The setting for the novel is the Aldershot Garrison where Sgt Major Crane is an officer in special investigations. So he was immediately called when an apparent murder/suicide happened.

    A soldier who had just come back from Afghanistan had killed his wife, and then, while holding his son close in his arms, he had slit the boy's throat and then his own.

    From a procedural standpoint, it soon became clear that the soldier had done it... Sgt Crane's boss wanted to close the case. But Crane asked him whether he didn't want to know why... Crane, obviously, could not rest until he did! And so he was authorized to continue the investigation exploring what might have occurred on his last stay in Afghanistan, as well as his personal and family life.

    And then another murder/suicide occurred... And another...

    And Crane found himself working with the Aldershot police as well as the police from two other towns. All would have thought the cases could be routinely closed until Crane forced them to see that something had to be "causing" these men to choose to do what they had.

    Slowly, as a result of Crane's having found some religious pamphlets in Crooks' home that had not been noticed, he began to put together the idea that what was happening to these men had started after they were back home, and, possibly, within a church or some type of religious cult leader's influence...

    Fortunately, Sgt Major Crane had no clue of who was behind this--so I didn't feel bad in not figuring it out. LOL But the author certainly had me fully involved in the "why" of these incidents and "how" it was happening. The surprise ending totally caught me off guard! I especially enjoyed the character of Padre Symonds. Once he realized what was happening, he began to research and working with Crane as closely as possible, actually getting caught up too far with the investigation? Still, I think he realized that his position required that he help in any way possible...and he did!

    This debut novel is first in a series with the latest, third book just out! If you're into police procedural, I highly recommend you check out when the police have to work with the army investigators! Enjoyed it!

    GABixlerReviews
    17 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on January 14, 2012
    Sergeant Major Crane, a Special Investigations Branch Detective in the British Army, is on the case of a soldier, who, after having returned from Afghanistan, murders both his young son, and wife. Several similar murders of soldiers and their families occur soon afterwards, and Crane begins to believe that these incidents may be linked to a local church. Is this really the case or, is something else more sinister at work?

    STEPS TO HEAVEN is a crisp, engrossing page-turner which handles its sensitive subject matter with dignity and precision, and makes the reader feel for its characters, and, most importantly, interested in the lead character's trials and travails. The contrast between Crane's tumultuous, dangerous, and at times mentally gruelling working life, and, his domestic situation, is also well handled by the author, and balanced throughout the book. The author's attention to detail, especially in the investigation of the murders, is also commendable, and realistic. There is never a moment where the book becomes predictable or stagnant, and the narrative flows well from start to finish. I look forward to reading more work from this author in the future.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on February 27, 2014
    Sgt. Major Tom Crane is a British military cop with a big problem. Soldiers are turning up dead. Their throats are slit -- and so are the jugulars of their wives and sons -- the crime scenes are a horrid bloody mess.

    The first case seems like a classic double murder suicide, maybe the result of a marriage gone bad, or perhaps a soldier suffering from PTSD. But Sgt. Crane smells a rat. When a second murder suicide turns up on another garrison, Crane becomes a human bloodhound, nose bent to a trail of clues that strangely point to a local church.

    If this sounds like a terrific premise for a thrilling crime novel, well it is. Author WENDY CARTMELL has hatched a first rate plot and she does a credible job of laying it all out, holding it together and keeping us guessing to the end.

    However, STEPS TO HEAVEN is not a great novel; it's merely an average or perhaps a "just ok" offering to the crime fiction genre. There are several reasons why this novel fails to be all it could be.

    Sgt. Crane's methods are procedural, clerical and plodding. The majority of the action plays out far more like a bunch of bored cops sitting around for committee meetings to read reports and compare notes. They analyze computer data and comb through various records -- and then they stay late to go over it all again.

    Granted, this might be the way real police work is actually done -- rather than the high-octane gun-play, car chases, knife fights and narrow escapes of movies or TV -- but this is fiction and we don't want paperwork and reports -- we want our adrenaline to boil through every page.

    Another significant drawback for me are characters that are flat. Everyone here is more or less a cliché -- the prim, proper Sgt. Kim Weston. Her well-starched uniform crackles as much as her obsessive efficiency.

    Kim Weston is set off against Staff Sergeant Billy Williams -- an easy going athletic type who feels more comfortable on a football field than in front of a computer. He's cheerful, happy-go-lucky but sometimes does sloppy work -- which draws the evil eye from the uptight Sgt. Williams.

    But the most bland of all is Tina, the wife of our viewpoint character, Sgt. Major Crane.

    The author makes a valiant effort to flesh out the character of Crane through scenes that show interaction with his wife when he's off duty -- but we get little traction here since Tina Crane is about as vibrant and interesting as a jar of mayonnaise.

    Crane and his wife bicker tediously over her sloppy housekeeping when they aren't mulling over having a baby -- the discussion of which centers around projections of the family budget. Wow! They do everything but get out some spreadsheets. They regale the action-hungry reader with dreary talk about future income potentials which combine the pay of her boring job as bank teller vis-a-vis his military salary.

    GAK! Poor Mrs. Crane! She might have to give up getting a pedicure at the occasional spa outing, or sacrifice carefree jaunts with her gal pals if she has to stay home and wet nurse a freshly minted army brat!

    It's all pretty dull.

    The author almost saves the day by providing some dramatics at the end -- but the biggest story here is a tremendous case of missed literary opportunity, and let me explain:

    For me, the final actions scenes are rendered problematic because of implausibility -- and that implausibility centers around the fact that I don't think the "Bad Guy" could have pulled off what he did in acting alone.

    I'm trying hard to word this in a way without having to issue a spoiler alert by revealing too much about the ending -- but when I say this is a titanic case of missed opportunity -- I am talking about the idea that the "Bad Guy" guy should have had an accomplice -- and that accomplice should have been Mrs. Morrison!

    Let me repeat: If the author would have made Mrs. Morrison an accomplice in the horrible crimes played out in this narrative, it would have saved the day for me, and would have made schlepping through the rest of this novel much more worthwhile.

    But, alas, it was not to be.
    3 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Indy Dog
    4.0 out of 5 stars Different
    Reviewed in France on March 18, 2018
    A good different type of book to those I normally read. Good characters and good descriptions of the army working. Would recommend
  • Ray
    5.0 out of 5 stars entertaining
    Reviewed in Canada on August 27, 2015
    enthralling
  • Sensian
    5.0 out of 5 stars Really Really Enjoyed This Book
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 18, 2012
    I loved this book. This is up there with any of the best known mystery and crime novels I have read. I love the characters and it was easy to get to know them. I found myself wanting to get back to my kindle to read it again as soon as I could to find out what happened next - I wish I had time to read it in full. I will definitely be reading more from the author and if anyone is reading this review I have to say you would be mad to miss out on this book.
  • kathy
    4.0 out of 5 stars steady
    Reviewed in Canada on June 20, 2022
    The plot Carrie’s on very well. I had to finish the book. I personally was not crazy about the main character . He is well developed .
  • carper
    4.0 out of 5 stars Great read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 13, 2024
    Thoroughly enjoyed this. Even though I could predict a lot of what was going on, that didn't stop it from being a real nail biter. I can even forgive the one error - with Cranes "syntaxes firing". Auto correct again. I knew that it meant synapses, so no harm done to the flow of the plot.

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