4 Stars from me
Having read and loved The Art of Death I was intrigued to pick up this book and I was delighted to be thrust straight into the dark and gruesome action as the story opened up.
I enjoy DI Grace Archer as a character and the sub plot of the jeopardy in her personal life built even more tension as the story developed and it becomes clear that she is being targeted by a local, ruthless, gangster.
The crimes themselves – much like in The Art of Death – are not your bog standard murders and this adds another level to the story. Seems an odd thing to say but I appreciate the extra thought and creativity that this would have required from the author!
Archer and Quinn are a great detective team and I hope there will be more to come from this duo. My thanks to the author, NetGalley and Bonnier Books for an ARC in return for an honest review.
Blurb: A father is murdered in the dead of night in his London home, his head wrapped tightly in tape, a crude sad face penned over his facial features. But the victim’s only child is left alive and unharmed at the scene.
Met Police detectives Grace Archer and Harry Quinn have more immediate concerns. Notorious gangster Frankie White has placed a target on Archer’s back, and there’s no one he won’t harm to get to her.
Then a second family is murdered, leaving young Uma Whitmore as the only survivor. Once again the victim’s face is found wrapped and inked.
With a serial killer at large, DI Archer and DS Quinn must stay alive long enough to find the connection between these seemingly random victims. Can they do it before another child is made an orphan?
Read and Rated 