Synopsis:

A killer running rings around the police. A detective spiralling out of control.

DI Kate Young is on leave. She’s the force’s best detective, but her bosses know she’s under pressure, on medication and overcoming trauma. So after her bad judgement call leads to a narrowly averted public disaster, they’re sure all she needs is a rest.

But when Staffordshire Police summon her back to work on a murder case, it’s a harder, more suspicious Kate Young who returns. With a new ruthlessness, she sets about tracking down a clinical, calculating serial killer who is torturing victims and leaving clues to taunt the police. Spurred on by her reporter husband, Young begins to suspect that the murderer might be closer than she ever imagined.

As she works to uncover the truth, Young unravels a network of secrets and lies, with even those closest to her having something to hide. But with her own competence—and her grip on reality—called into question, can she unmask the killer before they strike again?

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Expected publication date: 1st February 2021

Introducing a new detective – Kate Young. She’s a deliciously complex character, trying her best to put herself back together following an unspeakable trauma that’s hinted at in snippets until all is revealed near the end of the book. I figured out the basics within a couple of chapters, so it’s not too secret but having to work for the details makes it all the more powerful a read.
Kate is investigating what is a rapidly growing series of nasty murders (there are murders, and then there are ‘having your eye removed and left on someone’s doorstep’ murders) while under intense scrutiny from her colleagues – it’s claustrophobic knowing that she’s in such an awful position and there’s very little support to be had from those around her.

The first half of the book is steady in terms of police procedure, questioning the family members and nearest and dearest of the victims, before the plot thickens and the book reveals that not a single thing is as it appears to be. To the point that I sat with a goldfish expression for a solid five minutes when some of the secrets are uncovered.

As always, Wyer’s writing is perfection but it’s her characters that set her apart – our lead detective has been fully introduced with a few peripheral characters that may have the chance to step up in the future.

The end of this book leads neatly on to a sequel that I cannot wait to get my book grabbing mitts on!