4 Stars from me
I enjoyed finding out Julia’s back story as this dual time-lined story unraveled and the hunt for a serial killer ramped up.
I found the early days of Julia a little reminiscent of a young Jane Tennison, and her feisty determination to help people drives her head first into undesirable situations which compromise her own safety.
As suggested by the title, the events of 1994 leave retired Gardai Julia Harte with a fear of the dark which still plagues her in 2024. Despite her misgivings she is drawn back from retirement to help out when a current case bears all the hallmarks of serial killer from 1994. Jane’s refusal to be cowed by the modern world of policing is impressive and was an entertaining part of this story. Her no nonsense manner doesn’t go down with everyone but I liked it!
There was a good amount of tension throughout and I didn’t guess who the killer was as there were many threads at play. This and the dynamic between Julia, the team and ‘Small Step’ made for an entertaining read. I would look forward to reading more from this author and I hope Julia comes out of retirement for another case soon.
Blurb: 1994: When Gardaí Julia Harte and Adrian Clancy are called out to a sleepy housing estate in Cork to investigate a noise complaint, they are entirely unprepared for what they find. What happens next will haunt Julia for the rest of her days, leaving her plagued with nightmares and terrified of the dark. There is a serial killer at work in Cork, one as clever as he is deadly. Julia may not be a detective yet, but after the harrowing events of that night, she is determined to be the one to catch him…
2024: Julia Harte has chosen just the right place to disappear. Now a retired detective with an illustrious career behind her, she has moved to a tiny cottage in a remote part of Ireland where she hopes to find peace. But then she receives a phone call from her old Superintendent – two women have been murdered, their bodies marked and staged, just like in ’94.
It’s happening again. Only this time, the stakes are even higher. Julia must return to Cork to face down a vicious killer and the memories that haunt her still. Yet Julia is no longer a naïve junior officer but a seasoned, tough professional who proves more than a match for any murderer…
Read and Rated 