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Ripley Hayes
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Undermined: A Gay Mystery (Daniel Owen Welsh Mysteries) Paperback – September 10, 2021

by Ripley Hayes (Author)
4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 863 ratings
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Why don’t the local police want to find out who dumped the body in the woods?

Just how unpopular will Daniel be if he investigates the murder himself? Why is DCI Kent always there when Daniel needs rescuing, and why is he so hostile the rest of the time?

The abandoned mine shafts give Daniel the creeps, especially when he finds another dumped body. No one wants Daniel around. And no one wants DCI Kent around either.

Unless the two men work together the murderer will go free.

“Classic detective novel...unique twists and turns...a wonderful book” (Justene Adamec, Queer Writers of Crime Podcast)

“This is a refreshing and new series that I look forward to reading in other books to follow.” (Amazon.com review).

Undermined is the first book in a series featuring Daniel Owen, a DI in the fictional Clwyd Police.
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Previous page
  1. Book 1 of 8
    Daniel Owen Welsh Mysteries
  2. Print length
    106 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publication date
    September 10, 2021
  5. Dimensions
    5.5 x 0.27 x 8.5 inches
  6. ISBN-13
    979-8474509471
  7. See all details
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Undermined: A Gay Mystery (Daniel Owen Welsh Mysteries)
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Dark Water: A Gay Mystery (Daniel Owen Welsh Mysteries)
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Leavings: A Gay Mystery Daniel Owen Book 3 (Daniel Owen Welsh Mysteries)
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B09FRZZP9M
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Independently published (September 10, 2021)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 106 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8474509471
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 5.1 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.27 x 8.5 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 863 ratings

About the author

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Ripley Hayes

Ripley Hayes

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I’m a lifelong mystery reader, and I write complex, fast-paced books with real-world characters (according to the reviews).

My characters are often from the LGBTQ+ community, because that’s where I’m from. Pronouns she/her.

I live in Wales, and Wales is a part of all my stories. It’s a little country, it rains a lot, but it’s very beautiful. And very low-crime.

Find out more at ripleyhayes.com.

Undermined - the first book in the Daniel Owen series is described as “A classic detective novel... with unique twists and turns ... a wonderful book” by Justene Adamec on the Queer Writers of Crime podcast.

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
4.2 out of 5
863 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

C. B.
5.0 out of 5 stars There is a lot afoot!
Reviewed in the United States on April 8, 2024
Verified Purchase
I want to visit Wales. DI Daniel is a small town cop, relatively content with the slow pace of law enforcement. Then his boss loans him to another jurisdiction where the body of a friend of the boss is found. DCI Kent is in charge of the investigation and fellow local police are reluctant to team with DI Daniel. DCI Kent and DI Daniel team up and find many difficulties that seem to complicate their progress. The investigation becomes more sinister when the primary suspect also ends up dead. Good story more about the mystery than the relationship. The mystery is good and does keep you glued to your kindle. Nicely done. I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving a review.
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M Marshall
4.0 out of 5 stars great MC, great location and murder, problem romance
Reviewed in the United States on May 23, 2023
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Rating: 3.75🌈

Undermined is the first book in a mystery series Ripley Hayes based in Wales. Actually steeped in Wales to a level that’s almost cellular. I love this aspect of the story.

Don’t miss out on the author’s forward where Hayes describes which towns are fictional, the fact that the Welsh language spoken and written as its natural language, English being its second language. And the weather and lack of industry that plays into the town’s narrative.

More about this intimate knowledge of the land, and it’s people that plays so effortlessly into making their story more grounded and realistic.

DI Daniel Owen, a tall, thin policeman, from a small town, has been sent to another county to assist in a murder investigation, whether that unit wants him or not.

It’s not.

The murder victim is related to Owen’s boss so he wants Owen there. Nobody else does. Especially the DCI Mal Kent who is outright hostile along with a tense, uncomfortable atmosphere inside the station.

Almost everything about this story works. The murder mystery, the victim, the investigation? Realistic, rich in details, well plotted, with characters that come across as believable and compelling. Through dialogue that fits each person’s personality so smoothly, I could see each one so clearly in my mind and gather together a picture of one as the story continues. And the woods, damp, with the threat of the tunnels crumbling beneath? Terrifying.

Daniel Owens is a wonder. A beanpole of emotions! He’s one with a drive to see that the investigation is done correctly, and that the culprit (s) are apprehended. Daniel someone who’s a twin with a deep love of trees and his sister who he talks to daily. Fascinating? You bet.

Then there’s Maldwyn Kent DCI. The hostile officer already on the case. For me, I find this character to be problematic.

I’m never sure why author’s create main characters like him and expect readers to connect with him. Is it cultural? Because as an American, I find him controlling, non communicative, disrespectful, and , outright offensive. His attitude, especially towards Daniel, rates from dismissive to hostile.

On a near constant basis.

And Daniel does the stiff upper lip thing, and takes it. While admitting how handsome Mal is.

Oh pls stop. Highly intelligent, great man written as a doormat for emotionally unavailable hot supervisor.

There is a romantic relationship that develops between them but most of it remains “off page” . Not the sex, but the conversations and connections that would have us buying into them as a couple.

The murder mystery turns into a real life story that keeps us involved. It’s the best thing here , aside from Daniel , and the descriptions of the Welsh people, language, and countryside.

But that romance just doesn’t make sense.

Daniel Owen Welsh Mysteries:
- [x] Undermined #1
- [ ] Dark Water #2
- [ ] Leavings #3
- [ ] A Man #4
- [ ] Too Many Fires #5
- [ ] An Allotment of Time #6
- [ ] A Teachable Moment #7
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alias11
3.0 out of 5 stars A quick, harmless diversion
Reviewed in the United States on March 29, 2024
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I enjoyed this story as a quick harmless diversion, but if you are looking for serious investigation of the crime and complex characters, this may not be your book. It seemed like the characters spent more time driving from place to place than anything else. I had several issues and things that took me out of the story. First were the Welsh names. I spent time trying figure out how to pronounce them before just giving up and skipping over them. A pronunciation guide would have been helpful. I also felt the background and character development of Daniel and Mal were deficient. Then, the 'long-lost' brother of one of the characters shows up...a brother we never heard anything about prior to his appearance...and Daniel doesn't bat an eye. There were so many incongruous moments. The ending was a bit disappointing, too. The book felt like it just ended, with the two characters going on their way (with the hint of a final hook-up coming.) Not really even a HFN. It was light entertainment, with a few twists and turns, and red herrings, although there is some PG-13 violence and some sex scenes. I think this is a rewrite of a previous version, as I see reviews dated 2021. I did not see the typos those reviews reference, nor any reference to sexual assault in the book.
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BooksRlife
5.0 out of 5 stars Mining gold!
Reviewed in the United States on April 3, 2024
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This was a fantastic, riveting and fast read. I thoroughly enjoyed it. It gets moving from the get go. It's funny that the characters were so insane, I mean, I know there's a thin line between love and hate but this guys sure got the hate part right at first. Damn! Glad they found the love part. This is a really enjoyable story and I'm glad I had the opportunity to read it. Now I'm hooked! On to book two. Enjoy!
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avid reader 1
4.0 out of 5 stars Nice start to the series
Reviewed in the United States on March 24, 2024
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Undermined is the first I've read by this author.
It is a quick read, but I enjoyed spending time with these guys. The premise is sound, but the flow was, to me, a little choppy.
The investigation has some good scenes, and I was glad to see I was right about the bad guy. There are a few action scenes that I thoroughly enjoyed, and I felt concerned for the well-being of the characters.
I wish I had gotten a better read on Daniel and Mal. I liked what I learned about them, but hopefully, subsequent books will showcase more character development.
All in all, I enjoyed the book.
I look forward to more from this author.
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Vols77
5.0 out of 5 stars Good Start
Reviewed in the United States on March 25, 2024
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A good start to a new series. This one took me a bit to get into but once I did I enjoyed it much. It is satin Wales and I really felt like I was there from the vivid description and language used. The main characters er Daniel and Mal who suddenly are linked to solve a murder. Of course adding to this is the Mal has no need for out of town Daniel's help, even thought the murder victim is connected to Daniel's boss. A quick easy fast pace read, but really is more about romance than mystery. The mastery is easy to figure out and almost secondary to the romance that starts with these two characters. Book two hopefully will take this series to he next level as this one felt like it was all about setting up the characters and plot. I will read book two. I did receive an ARC and leave this honest review.
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Scott Weaver
4.0 out of 5 stars I really enjoyed this book!
Reviewed in the United States on March 31, 2024
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I read this entire book in 2 days. Interesting story and I am planning to read more of them.
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Top reviews from other countries

Anne Marie
5.0 out of 5 stars Very good read
Reviewed in Canada on April 26, 2021
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Really good start to a new murder mystery series. Daniel Owen is a really intelligent and likable character and Mal Kent is complex and interesting.
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Sharon
4.0 out of 5 stars A promising start by a promising author
Reviewed in Australia on December 26, 2020
Verified Purchase
This is book 1 of a new series by a new author and both the author and the book show a lot of promise. It's a murder mystery with the hint of a romance which is yet to come. I'm saying yet to come although our main characters do have a couple of sexual encounters in this short book. I will definitely be reading book 2 when it is published.
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John Tough
4.0 out of 5 stars Good, Fun, Quick Read
Reviewed in Canada on October 11, 2021
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Well-plotted, good character development, excellent world-building. Highly recommend. I am looking forward to reading the other books in the series.
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Chelle
4.0 out of 5 stars 4 Stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 31, 2024
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For a book so short, this kept me guessing. It's definitely got me interested in reading more in this series.
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choccygrl
3.0 out of 5 stars A police procedural but make it gay
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 10, 2024
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I was looking forward to a new police procedural but made gay. And to a degree this fit the bill, but I had issues.
Daniel is possibly the most inept policeman ever. He's meant to be a Detective Inspector but he defies the lead detective at almost every turn, searches a suspect's house without a warrant while he's passed out drunk, and arrests a dying woman based on purely circumstantial evidence and puts her in a cell. He bumbles about falling down pits, getting knocked over by cars, and beaten by a cricket bat. He's almost TSTL.
Considering this was a prequel to the main series and the animosity between the MCs, I was expecting a slow burn on the relationship front but they went from curt dismissal to shagging in the blink of an eye.
I guessed the murderer from the outset, although we never got a real reason for the murders.
But I did like Mal even though he was gruff and somewhat standoffish at first, but we find the reason for that and it's understandable.
I'd be inclined to continue on to the next book for Mal alone.
On a side note, the version I read was a new edition, however the author didn't take the time to go back over the manuscript and check for errors, so there was a slew of missing or superfluous words, and a lack of commas or speech marks.
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