I consider myself very lucky at the moment that I seem to be on a roll reading some truly fantastic reads. I think this is a mixture of knowing the sort of books I like to read and authors everywhere upping their game.

​This is one of those fantastic reads.  I was looking forward to starting this book, a new series is always exciting. Exciting to see what the book is all about and if we are going to like getting to know new characters and so forth. Well what an exciting read this turned into.

​Meet Detective Kate Matthews. Matthews is out to prove herself. She has history that seems to have followed her to her new station. Proving she has still got what it takes to solve a case is high on her priority list.
​The thing is, has she still got it and can she find a very sick and twisted killer before it's to late.
​I have to say I really did like Kate Matthews, I've enjoyed getting to know her a little through this book, but I feel there is still a lot more to learn about her. I am certainly looking forward to that in future books. I like how we not only learn of her as a detective but her personal life plays a big part in things, I have really enjoyed meeting a new character.
​A seriously tense nail biting read, will have you hooked from the word go. 
​A fantastic twist an ending I really didn't see coming. I thought at one stage I had it sussed but OMG how wrong was I. I love the way the author twisted things, and wow that ending was just first class. 
​I have been trying to have a Bookouture binge recently catching up with some of the backlog of books I seem to have, one thing I can certainly say is they seem to have some of the best crime writers around at the moment. And Stephen Edger has firmly added himself to that list with this book.
​Outstanding read, and a brilliant start to a new series.

Detective Kate Matthews is in a bad place. After a glorious career in the Met she makes a fatal error and transfers to Southampton in disgrace. But her instinct had left her and she hasn't made a conviction since moving. Now there’s three murders in a short space of time to solve. As she tries to pull the pieces together she begins to realise they are linked – now she just needs to convince her so far unimpressed bosses and colleagues she’s on to something.

This is very promising. I began the first quarter really disliking Kate. Maybe because she's introduced fairly early on as the mother of a six year old she barely thinks about, and as a mother myself (of a six year old funnily enough) that jarred. But then there’s a softening to the character and a bit of her background is revealed – just enough to keep us interested. The crimes themselves a sufficiently gory to keep my grisly crime passion ignited but not so graphic that it seems gratuitous. There were a few leaps in logic that made my raise an eyebrow and one strange moment when a young detective asked if it could be murder when viewing a headless body, without any apparent irony! Maybe I missed it but it was weird. But leaps in logic are the lifeblood of books like this (let’s face it genuine crime investigation is probably as boring as hell!) and this was an enjoyable fast paced crime thriller.

Great story, great characters and brilliant twists but it sadly doesn't ring true! The main character is the problem, a lone wolf only ever goes so far, certainly not as far as in this book. Sadly this disbelief overrides the great plotting in this novel, but ultimately leads the reader to a state of disenfranchisement. As I was reading, without checking the author, it occurred to me that women don't think along these lines. Yep, the author is a guy! Note to author: you have a great storyline that pulses and drives the reader forward so please don't loose it by making your protagonist a female! Sadly you don't have any understanding of how the femal psyche works. If your 'hero' had been male then all the 'don't know how to look after my own child' stuff may have rung a little truer. Sorry if it appears that I didn't enjoy the book. I did. It's flaws however should be easily corrected by the next instalment. Please, speak to mothers, ask them what they would do to keep their children with them!

This is the first book I have read by the author and indeed the first in the series about Detective Kate Matthews.
I absolutely loved the book! I was hooked from the very start and although a complicated character, i soon warmed to Kate. The pace of the story was steady, it kept my interest and I was eager to keep reading to find out what was coming next.
The book was quite graphic in parts ( which I absolutely love) when describing the bodies found. It was full of twists and turns which kept me guessing who the suspect was and at the end I was completely wrong. I'm looking forward to the next Kate Matthews instalment.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher's for my copy of the book in return for my honest review.

This is the first in a new series by Stephen Edger, featuring DI Kate Matthews and set in Southampton. Kate is a very interesting creation, having newly arrived in Hampshire after a case she was involved in in London ended badly. She has a daughter who lives with her ex-husband and her mother is in a home suffering from dementia. When three seemingly unconnected murders occur on her patch, Matthews is tasked, along with two colleagues who are less than well-disposed to her, to find the perpetrator, a job which imperils her life and that of her closest family. This is a tremendous read, tense and taut throughout, and I can't wait for more!

I was very keen to read Dead to Me, Stephen Edger’s first release under the Bookouture banner. In all honesty, I’ve been wanting to read Edger’s books for a while now as a highly thought of blogger friend of mine is a rather large fan of his books. And seeing as I only get to read blog tour books at the moment, this seemed like the perfect opportunity.

We meet DI Kate Matthews who is soon to be divorced (once she signs the papers!), mother to one and recently transferred from the Met to Southampton due to a previous case gone wrong. So wrong it ended in the death of a young DC colleague. The kind of wrong that you find it impossible to walk away from. Kate is a mess; she’s not making her name in Southampton, colleagues have already turned against her and she’s a disastrous mother. All in all, I couldn’t find a lot to like about her. I like my detectives to be a little, shall we say ‘damaged’ by the job. I like them to have flaws but oh my, Kate is something else altogether. I felt there was room for improvement though, that she could grow on me as the story progressed…but then her ex-husband was called away and Kate’s daughter, Chloe was left in her ‘care’. Chloe is six years old and was the standout character in the book for me. It may be because I also have a six-year-old but Kate’s decision to leave her child with her ex-husband hit a bit of a raw nerve with me. Instead of growing to like her, I went the opposite way and my dislike grew dramatically. However, that doesn’t take away from the fact that I did enjoy this book. Just because you don’t warm to, or like a lead character, that doesn’t mean you will end up hating the book. This is certainly the case for me, anyway.

The plot was pacy and I appreciated the very different way the author had of killing off one of his victims. There is also another gory death towards the start which appealed to my darker side. I really enjoyed Kate’s perseverance, her desire to figure out if and how three very different cases fitted together. I also really liked her DC, Laura Trotter who felt very real and relatable. Other members of the team were a little too distant from the main storyline for me to be able to make a judgment. Although I will say, at one point, I suspected two totally innocent key characters as the murderer. I was very, very wrong.

This is a good book and I really enjoyed Edger’s story (if not so much his lead protagonist). However, what I found very hard to digest was the ending of this book and the big reveal. I really can’t say much as I don’t want to spoil it for future readers. So I will say that yes, the big reveal came like a bolt out of the blue but it was a little…unbelievable. It had me sat there for a few minutes, shaking my head and muttering ‘what…?!’ under my breath.

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. I would, without a doubt, read another book written by Stephen Edger. It’s a great story and others may be able to warm to Kate in a way I wasn’t able to. And of course, I may be being overly critical of that ending. After all, it is fiction and if you can’t do the odd out of left field twist, then when can you?

Three and a half stars out of five.

I chose to read and review an eARC of Dead to Me. The above review is my own unbiased opinion.

Thank you netgalley and bookouture for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

Detective Kate Matthews is trying to prove herself in a new station after moving from a different division. Presented with three murder cases can she solve one to solve the other two when she is up against other detectives who don't play fair and to top it a stalker who wants to help in the worst way!

The underlying story of Kate's personal failures as a police officer and as a mother were a brilliant twist as too often we read of mothers juggling and this showed a mother who couldn't cope!

Look forward to book 2

All work and no play makes Kate a dull girl.”

Having read a couple of Stephen Edger’s Johnson Carmichael books, I was rather excited to see what he had to offer with a more police procedural novel. And to be frank, I was not disappointed!!

There are so many adjectives I could use to describe this dark and rather gruesome novel. Parts of it I really shouldn’t have read whilst dealing with poorly children – I love my food but the sections I read made my stomach turn so mixed with events at home, I was off food longer than normal…..

I felt our leading lady, Kate had an air of aloofness about her. I was intrigued to find out whether this was a case of nurture (the events that caused her to leave London) or its part of her natural demeanour. Oh and the events in London….I want to know more!!!!! I implore you Mr Edger to let me find out whether that will be solved in Book 2!!!

There is definitely a different feel to Dead to Me compared to my previous experience of the author’s writing. This is not a bad thing; Stephen Edger is showing his storytelling is stretching into a darker, more twisted place and I like it…. He certainly kept me guessing right to the end and beyond #nospoiler!

I found this one a little hard to get through because I couldn't identify with the main character at all. I didn't like her, I didn't respect her, I didn't find her that interesting. On the bright side, that means there is potentially a lot of character development and growth for her in the future, and she could turn into someone I enjoy reading about more. There's really no where for her to go but up.

Detective Kate Matthews is out to prove herself. Her career took a serious hit some time ago, and she transferred. Most of the other detectives have been less than welcoming, and her supervisor is less than impressed with her. She can't seem to catch a break and solve a case. When she's handed a new file about a female victim murdered in a very bizarre way, she's determined to get back on track.

She becomes convinced that this murder is related to others and they have a serial killer on their hands. She begins to receive photos and tips along with threatening messages, but she doesn't report them. She also has her young daughter staying with her for the first time in a year, in what will go down as the worst timing ever. With most of her co-workers more interested in competition and scrambling over each other to climb the police force ladder, she doesn't have much support... but she has to find out who is sending her messages and stalking her before it's too late and she won't solve a case ever again.

Decent story with an unexpected, if hard to swallow ending. It has potential and I'd be willing to give the next in the series a shot.

I received an ARC of this book from Net Galley and Bookouture, thank you! My review is honest and unbiased.

This is the first book in a new series following Kate Matthews and I found it to be a really solid opening and one that made me eager to see where Edger will take things next. There was A LOT going on here, there were several cases running simultaneously and he managed to keep things tightly plotted and intense throughout.

The start of a new series is always interesting as I see if I’ll gel with the new cast. I didn’t really take to Kate quickly but by the end, I was a fan. She’s a complicated woman with some skeletons in her closest and while I may not agree with the choices she made, I can respect her. The rest of her team were also a finicky bunch and I really only warmed to Laura. Everyone was prickly and hard to like, but I think that’s because there was a ton of inter office politics at play, everyone is out for themselves and seems to have their own agenda. Their workplace had a very tense atmosphere making it hard to see their true disposition but I’m curious to see where everyone is at in the next book.

This has a steady pace that kept me reading and wanting to know more, the chapters were brief and to the point making me do that whole, just one more chapter thing. There was a creepiness lurking as someone is messing with Kate beyond the job while she’s at home that added some menace as well. This had a tricky plot with plenty of misdirection and the conclusion was surprising and unforeseen. Kate’s a strong lead and will carry this series easily, I can’t wait to see the premise for book two!

This book introduced me to author Stephen Edger's work and his writing style intrigued me enough that I plan to read his prior novels.
Detective Kate Matthews, a woman with both personal and professional issues, heads to a warehouse fire where a corpse has been discovered. Kate has been extremely unlucky closing cases lately and she is determined to uncover the murderer and regain some professional respect. Kate becomes convinced that this killer is not yet done and that Kate, herself is in jeopardy.
There were many twists and turns as well as clues pointing to various characters, making me go, "Aha" several times thinking I had figured out the identity of the killer. As for the reveal, nope, not only did I not see it coming but I thought the author was quite clever after the murderer's identity was exposed. I thought Stephen Edger did an outstanding job constructing this mystery thriller, and though Kate was not my favorite character, I liked how the mystery unfolded. I'm curious to see where Kate goes in the future as this was advertised as the first in a series. I think Kate has the potential to grow on me.Without having read any of his other books, I can't say anything about them, but if this is any indication of the overall quality of his work, I just discovered a new author to add to my favorites list.
Thanks to Stephen Edger, Bookouture, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this story, it was set at a great pace and I was intrigued by some of the characters but I wasn’t a massive fan initially of the main character, Kate, she did grow on me luckily as her personality developed as she was rather integral to the story! The plot was good, the story was well written and I loved the twists and turns that were thrown in to try and deter the reader from guessing the end – 4 stars from me for this one and looking forward to more from Stephen as the series continues!

Dead to Me is a rollercoaster ride of a crime thriller. DI Kate Matthews is new to the Southampton police and has a lot to prove. So when there is a series of murders that at first do not appear to be linked she is the investigating officer who has to put a stop to them.

I liked Kate although sometimes I wondered what on earth she was doing! She's a good officer though, feisty and brave and an ace investigator. I also thought Laura Trotter, an officer serving under her, had loads of potential as a character and I hope she will turn up in the next book in the series (yes, Kate and co will be back!).

There are several strands to the storyline in this book and I thought they all came together really well. Nobody else really thinks the murders could be connected so Kate has an uphill struggle on her hands to try and prove it.

The ending was a total surprise and kept well under wraps I thought. It was clever and cunning, if a bit implausible. But I liked it and it worked well.

Overall this is a page turner of a book that kept me interested throughout. There's a lot of these crime series about and I thought this one had an edge that might just see me reading the second one (I'm hopeless at keeping up with series).

there wasn't anything I cam pick out as to why this book didn't resonate with me. I was into it in the beginning but by the time the end came I was having trouble focusing on the characters and they seemed to blur together.

The book didn't really do it for me.

I’ve read a few books by Stephen Edger before and therefore was really looking forward to reading Dead to Me, the start of a new series for him. Detective Kate Matthews sounded a very intriguing new character so I was keen to get to meet her and discover more about her.

The action gets off to a flying start here and its not long before the body count starts to rise. Beware though, this book possibly isn’t one to be reading if you are eating or don’t have a strong stomach! The descriptions of the bodies and how they are discovered is rather graphic but I have to admit in there being a gruesome delight in trying to work out WHY the bodies have been displayed in such a way. I had absolutely no idea who was commiting these heinous crimes (never mind why!!) and Stephen Edger was constantly feeding me red herrings until I was filled to the brim but still without a clue as to what was going on!

Now Kate Matthews was just how I like my protagonists – proactive, fearless but flawed! To begin with I really liked Kate but then we discover a little bit more about her background that made me think…….whoa! I was not expecting that! Now I think this may make some readers dislike Kate, especially if they have young children but I was able to look below the surface and realise that everything you see and feel about Kate is only what she wants you to see. For her, the fierce commitment to her job and her obsessive workaholic nature are her way of not thinking about the choices she has made within her life! It is pure self preservation! And once I understood this, I felt much more of an affinity with her and her lifestyle.

There are shocks galore here, including a jaw dropping finale that made me immediately flick back to see how on earth I had missed all the clues! I had decided on my main suspect (with a reserve just in case!) but was so far off the mark I must have ended up in another book entirely! But what a great unsettling ending and perfect way to set up book 2!

I think that it's safe to say that this book will have you turning the pages until you reach the end of this tension filled story. There was a creepy vibe at times making me wonder if I should go and make sure the doors are locked. The fact that the killer is spying on Kate ramped up the tension even more. A grisly and sadistic killer is on the rampage and I did cringe at a few things wondering if my sensitive stomach could handle it. This just added to the atmosphere of the story and made it even more paramount that Kate capture the killer.

To start with I wasn't sure which direction the story would go in with regards to Kate's character I liked that she had flaws and this gave her a more life like feel. I think that the balance between Kate's personal life and the investigation side was done well. Neither overpowered the other and it actually helped to see that her life wasn't perfect. Kate's family life is pretty complicated but I enjoyed the way it was explored and the way her character developed because of it. I think at times I maybe had to shake my head at some of the things Kate did. However who knows what anyone of us would do in those same situations. I have to admit that I have a soft spot for detectives who maybe bend the rules slightly it definitely makes things all the more interesting.

The investigation into the murders was written well and I love a good mystery so trying to put the clues together was quite fun. Although to be honest I would never make a good detective but it's always worth a try playing the guessing game over who is behind everything.

The overall pacing was pretty good, managing to keep me interested in the story and also connected to the characters. I have to say that there are some good supporting characters in this story too such as Laura who was great as Kate's colleague. She always tried to be helpful and offer some much needed support. I hope that some of these characters will play a role in the next book and I can't wait to get to know these characters even better.

Grisly and tension filled!

With thanks to Bookouture & Netgalley for my copy. This is my honest and unbiased opinion.

This review is written with thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for my copy of Dead To Me.
A burnt body is found in a disused warehouse. A woman is found drowned in her bath. A woman is found dead having been tortured and force fed porridge. They all appear to be separate cases, but DI Kate Matthews, new to the team and determined to prove herself, believes otherwise. When the killer starts leaving photographs and messages in her home, Kate realises her own safety is at risk. Can she discover who is responsible for the murders before she herself is in danger?
Dead To Me is a thriller that doesn't hold back. There are dead bodies that even the police officers are reluctant to look at or discuss, there are gangs in dispute with each other, and a protagonist who finds herself in some hairy situations. With three cases to keep in mind, and a boss who likes to move his officers around, it took me some time to fully get to grips with what was happening, but once I did, I was hooked. There was danger around every corner and sometimes in the unlikeliest of places, and this made it more important that Kate should solve her case, keeping me on tenterhooks until she did.
The first instalment in the series introduces DI Kate Matthews, a maverick who likes to go with her gut instinct and will stop at nothing to find her perpetrator. I enjoyed the determination in her character, particularly as her background suggests that she must work to prove herself, but her single mindedness did make her appear cold at times. Kate has a daughter, Chloe, although she lives with her father, and her working hours prevent her from being able to spend time with her. The relationship between Kate and Chloe begins to develop throughout Dead To Me, and I think there is a lot of potential in it that I hope to see developed as the series continues.
I did not see the twist at the end of Dead To Me coming, and the novel is all the better for the shock factor it delivers.
I look forward to reading more about DI Kate Matthews as the series continues.

I really enjoyed this book, the first in a new series following Kate Mattews, a DI in Southampton. It was fast paced, well written, full of great characters, plenty twists and I did not guess the killer. On a negative note, I could not warm to Kate due to the way she treated her daughter! That aside, a really promising start to a new series. Thank you Net Galley for my copy. I reviewed on Goodreads and Amazon.

Dead to Me is an awesome psychological thriller. Lots of twists and turns in the plot that kept me guessing. I highly recommend this book.

A detective, disgraced in London when someone she put in undercover is killed, tries to redeem herself in her new assignment. But Kate Matthews doesn't follow the rules or use proper procedures. This is what got her in trouble before and is getting her in trouble again. Lucky for her, the person she is tracking down doesn't follow the rules either. I was able to follow the clues and knew early on several things yet to be revealed; however, there was no way I could have determined the killer. For me, I want the opportunity to figure it out and Mr. Edger doesn't do that. In fact, I still don't know how Detective Matthews solved it. I also felt that some things weren't quite explained to my liking. It was as though we were given our killer and shouldn't question how the killer was able to accomplish the crimes. As the first in a series, Mr. Edger did a good job of establishing his characters. I am not sure how Detective Matthews is going to get along with some after the bridges she burnt in this book, but that is what makes a series enjoyable to read!