5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Stars from me
In book 10 of the sensational DCI Matilda Darke series we find Matilda somehow more vulnerable and yet also the strongest she’s ever been as her grit and determination drive her relentless pursuit of a killer.
The timing of the publication day is rather fitting as at times Silent Victim had echoes of an old school slasher movie – perfect to read at Halloween!
Another homage to the classic Scream styley was the sheer number of dead ends and red herrings. If, like me, you read a lot of crime thrillers you accept that most of the time you can guess at ‘whodunnit’, well not when you are pitted against the mastermind of Michael Wood. My advice, give up guessing and enjoy the ride.
I don’t like to give spoilers so I’ll just add that the key witness central to this story was a superb character, who was flawlessly delivered. And the fact that she was named after my cat was an added bonus…
Matilda’s empathy and selfless interactions with Tilly brought a much needed warmth and humanity to this depraved tale. Yet, on the flipside, Matilda seemed to flirt around the edges of fully unhinged at times and her sheer blinkered approach to catching the killer drove her to make some reckless and down right dangerous decisions.
As for that ending, well… As ever, I can’t wait for the next one!
There are a few sensational crime thriller series out there right now and Michael Wood’s Matilda Darke series is right up there – I know that I will see these books televised. I know it. A series this good, this brutal, this exciting, must surely come alive, Matilda simply cannot hide in the pages of a book forever…
Please do yourself a favour, read the DCI Matilda Darke books in order:
For Reasons Unknown
Outside Looking In
A Room Full of Killers
The Hangman’s Hold
Stolen Children
The Murder House
Time Is Running Out
Survivor’s Guilt
The Lost Children
Clearly not one to be bored, Michael has also released some audio books – so if that is more your thing then take a moment to look them up too.
Blurb:
A CENSURED DETECTIVE WITH NO LEADS
DCI Matilda Darke and her team have been restricted under special measures after a series of calamitous scandals nearly brought down the South Yorkshire police force.
A BRUTAL ATTACK WITH NO WITNESSES
Now Matilda is on the trail of another murderer, an expert in avoiding detection with no obvious motive but one obvious method.
A DEPRAVED KILLER WHO LEAVES NO TRACES
When his latest victim survives the attack despite her vocal cords being severed, Matilda is more convinced than ever of the guilt of her key suspect. If only she had a way to prove it…
Read and Rated 