Blood is thicker than water, unless you stab a relative, then it needs to be washed off with water.

Tess and Po have stumbled upon a potential murder victim and are all set to investigate this puzzling crime when Po receives a call. His dying mother wants to see him. His mother's husband swore an oath to kill him. The rest of the family is ready to help. Except his sister, who has just gone missing near a new oil pipeline development, who Po has just been tasked to find.

Having been a long time fan of the Joe Hunter series by Matt Hilton, I was keen to read this new series from Matt. Much like the Hunter series, Matt has given us a solid crime thriller with plenty of action. The hard moulded Po is a lived in character, and Tess feeling like someone who is still trying to adjust to her new life as an ex-cop. They feel like good characters to follow for more adventures.

I received a review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Another great addition to the Hilton stable, man can this guy write good action thrillers. Great characterisation and a well balanced. narrative. Plenty of baddies to loathe and protagonists to love. Tess, Pinky and Po (not to be confused as three new tellytubby characters) hold their own once again and the relationships wonderfully written. You can't help but side with our heroes and long may they continue!

A rip-roaring action yarn

Ex-con Nicolas Po Villere has no love for the mother who abandoned him as a child and yet when she asks to see him on her deathbed, he returns home to Louisiana with his partner Tess Grey to try to reconcile their troubled past. But Po is not prepared for the news his mother gives him: he has a younger sister, Emilia, whom he has never met and she is missing. Tess and Po must track her down before it is too late, but they aren't the only ones looking for Emilia. As they are to discover, Emilia has disappeared for a very good reason and if Po has any chance of finding her alive, he must join forces with his most hated enemy in order to prevent his little sister becoming the next victim of a deranged, cannibalistic killer.

This is the third in this series and I loved it as much as the first two I read last year. The two main characters are beautifully drawn; Po an ex-con and Tess an ex-cop, chalk and cheese but they are great together. There is no frustrated romance angle either which I am quite happy about really. I was utterly drawn into the story from the very beginning until the 254th and final page. The book is full of villains I loved to hate and has plenty of action, but it also reveals a lot more on Po's history and cements the relationship with Tess, as well as building on the strong bond that he has with his best friend Pinky.

I have read all this author's books and they have a no-nonsense style and are not overly long for the sake of filling out pages. This story tugs at the heart strings a bit with the arrival of Po's unknown long lost sibling and I found myself desperately turning pages to find out when they would finally meet and would it be a Nicky Campbell/Davina McCall moment! There is no unnecessary gratuitous violence in the pages, just good old fashioned action sets interwoven with a simple and effective story line. I am told that the fourth book in the series, Worst Fear, will be out later this year and I shall be requesting a copy of this from Breakaway Reviewers!

Digger 95

Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.

This is 3rd in a series featuring Tess Grey, an ex-cop, now a Private Investigator. Her partner is Nicolas Villere, better known as 'Po'. These two are like the odd couple. Tess has always wanted to be in law enforcement, but an on-the-job injury obliged her to leave the force. Po is an ex-con. He served several years for murder. He has served his time and now is on the right side of the law. Tess and Po are also partners outside of their work.

In this adventure, the reader gets the whole story of Nicholas 'Po' Villere. In the first two books of this series, we learn a little of his background, but in RAW WOUNDS, we learn the truth, the whole truth and what has shaped him into the man he is today.

His mother abandoned him and his father when he was young, but she sends a message that she is dying and would like to see him before she passes. He and Tess make their way back to his home in Louisiana.

Much to his surprise, he learns that he has a full blooded younger sister that he never knew about and has never met. But Emilia is missing and Po and Tess must find her fast ... there are others who are looking for her, as well. But they aren't planning a happy reunion.

Emilia has seen and heard things she was never meant to see. Her life is on the line and all she knows is to run ....

Po must face his old enemies if he wants any chance to find his sister before she becomes the victim of a cannibalistic killer.

This is an excellent addition to this series! Tess and Po are terrific characters ... both are strong individuals that are working through their personal issues. The books contains a whole lot of action that keeps the reader glued to their favorite chairs and rapidly turning pages.

I have it on really good authority that the 4th book in this series ..... WORST FEAR ... will be out later this year.

Many thanks to the author / Severn House / Netgalley for the advance digital copy of this book. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

I really enjoyed the story line and also the main characters.

Thanks to netgalley for the opportunity to have read this book. The book wss thrilling.from.beginning.to end and thoroughly entertaining!!! Recommended for anyome that loves a great read!!!!!

I absolutely love the characters in these books and although the two lead characters are Tess Grey and Nicholas 'Po' Villere I have to say that Po is the start of the show. In addition their friend Pinky is an absolute corker of a character and he has to feature in this series on as permanent a basis as the main two characters. I think part of my attraction to these characters is that they are original and reading about them and the way they talk and their background is so refreshing. Po is an ex-con and Tess is an ex-cop and somehow they just make a perfect team. Not only are they a team they are also partners. Thankfully not in that 'romance gets in the way of a good story' kinda' way!

Po receives a phone call from his estranged mother who is on her deathbed but is reluctant to disclose what she needs to see him about. With a bounty on Po's head if he returns to the area, he of course...returns to the area. Alongside him is Tess and Pinky. What he didn't account for was the revelation that he has a sister Emilia he has never met before. Unfortunately she also happens to be missing. What ensures is an absolutely brilliant and captivating story line which sees Po Tess and Pinky all fighting against more than one group for the safe retrieval of Emilia.

I was totally and utterly absorbed in the story and it caught me from the very first chapter. Full of villains you love to loathe as well as plenty of action. I have grown to love this series and think this is the best one so far. It reveals a lot more on Po's history and cements both his and Tess relationship as well as the strong bond he and his friend Pinky have. I think having read this 3rd book I need a friend like Pinky in my life!

There are a number of 'bad guys' featuring but the way that Cleary was written literally had me shivering. The last quarter of the book is packed full of action and I read the last part of the book in one sitting. I had read for so long I didn't realise my room was in complete darkness as I hadn't moved. An outstanding read and a series that is original and fresh feeling, I absolutely loved it and cannot WAIT for the next book in the series.

To say that ex-con Po Villere didn’t have a happy childhood would be putting it mildly. Still, when his dying mother wants to see him, he returns to Louisiana with his partner Tess to say goodbye. His mother does not want to make amends, she wants him to find his missing younger sister, Emilia, who until now, Po never knew even existed. This is more than a missing persons case, Emilia stands to be the next victim of a sick and sadistic killer if Po and Tess don’t work fast. Po is the perfect anti-hero, and the steamy Southern backdrop brings this thriller to life