This is the third book in the series of the National Crime Agency, although it can be read as a stand alone.. It is based in Manchester and is a well written, plot based police procedural. I like the characterisation, especially Jo, and the plotting centred around the murders of prostitutes. The pacing was steady throughout as tension built in the developing investigation and the ending is neatly wrapped up. I would recommend to lovers of the genre. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

I thoroughly enjoy this type of police procedural tales. What stands out in this novel is they way each of the characters work together, as the author builds the characters' development. You begin to think they've got things worked out, and then, WHOOSH, rug pulled...

A serial killer targeting prostitutes is at loose in manchester. Senior investigator Joanne Stuart is under pressure in her personal and professional life to catch the killer before anyone else dies. She is very much part of a team who are interesting characters in their own right. It's a very good police procedural.

Kept me on the edge of my seat. Highly recommended.

I got this as a free review copy from Netgalley and am very pleased I was accepted as a reviewer. First book I have read from the author so was not sure what I was going to get. Not a worry as the book reeled me in from the start and kept me hooked throughout. The police procedural aspects were covered exceptionally well as was the fact that the main character really cared about the victims. I will certainly read more books by the author. In fact I have just found that I have The Falcon Tattoo in my kindle library so my next reading material is sorted. This was book 3 in the series of the Crime Agency books but although probably better to read in order I don't think it is essential.

This is the third book in this series and, although the main story is self-contained, to get the very best from it with regard to character development and backstory, like most series, it is best to start from book one and read in order.
In this book, the NCA is called in to assist with the capture of a serial killer who has been targeting Manchester's working girls. Often victims, several deaths have been lined by the placing of a signature lock of hair in their mouths. The police have been unable to catch the killer and feel they need a bit of Behavioural Analysis help to kick start things again.
This book also marks the return to GMP for SI Jo Stuart; on secondment from them to the NCA, it is her that the DCI requests to assist them. She also has a bit of experience with working girls so, on the face of it, she's the perfect fit. Interesting that the DCI often doesn't always feel the same as he is a bit of a hard task master as far as she is concerned. Maybe a bit of jealousy, maybe sour grapes, or maybe he just wants to push her; who knows.
Anyway, the team get stuck in. And yes, they work as a team. There is the odd 'out on a limb' moment to be found here, but these are definitely in the minority; and refreshingly so. There's enough action and intrigue going on with the crimes in the book to keep me interested so the police side of things can pretty much tick on as it would probably do more in real life than some of this genre which involve themselves more about the lone maverick cop being the focal point. It's definitely reminiscent of the teamwork shown in the TV show Criminal Minds in that respect. Don't get me wrong, there are a few clashes along the way but these are to be expected and add realism to the matter in hand rather than distracting away from it. You definitely get the nitty gritty grunt work in this series.
Plotting is, as always, very good. Information is revealed at just the right times to keep my interest but not too much that I got ahead of things with my guessing. It's a relatively slow start, but that again is more a reflection of realistic police work, and it soon ramps up as more is learned until we do get to the rather frenetic end game. There was also quite a lot of obviously well done research into the lives of the working girls that definitely left me thinking.
As with quite a few other series set in Manchester, the city itself comes across here almost as a character in its own right. The rest of the cast are just as well drawn and it was lovely reconnecting with the old faces from the author's Tom Caton books which are also good if you feel so inclined!
All in all, a good addition to an already great series. More please, soon as you can!
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

I received a free copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

SI Joanne Stuart and her team at The National Crime Agency are back for the third installment of Bill Roger's crime series. This time the team is hunting a serial killer with an odd calling card. The Manchester crime fighting syndicates must work together to track down the killer before more bodies start piling up. This is a good book and series for fans of detective crime thrillers.

Let me begin by saying that I have not read any of the prior novels in this series, and while I don't feel that made this story hard to follow or understand, I do wonder if maybe I would have a better understanding of the main characters had I read the earlier books.

I found this story to be an accurate depiction of police work. Tedious, unfulfilling, big build up for a let down, lucky break and finally action. I'm not saying there is anything wrong with that, merely that parts of this story drag on. So much so that I constantly found myself distracted by other things. Once the investigation actually starts moving however, I was glued to my kindle in an attempt to find out what would happen next. It's just a shame it had to take as long to get there as it did.

Overall, I am sure this story will definitely appeal to those who enjoy a well written police procedural novel. I will read more from this author!

DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.

Thank you Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for this ARC.

This is the first book by Bill Rogers that I have read. While I did enjoy it, perhaps if I'd read his earlier books in this series, I'd have appreciated the characters more. I found The Tangled Lock to be a fast read and from what I know of police procedurals, a realistic read. But overall, it just seemed a re-write of the same old, same old. Oh look! Somebody's killing prostitutes....again. The victims seemed to be better developed characters than the various investigators. Maybe I just need to take a break from crime stories.

4 and 1 / 2 stars

SI Jo Stuart and her team are assigned the case of a murdered sex worker. She was found, possibly strangled, with a lock of hair in her mouth. The Greater Manchester Police and Jo’s National Crime Agency Behavioral Sciences Unit team up once more for this exciting crime drama.

The pathologist confirms that there was a lock of hair in her mouth and that she was strangled. Mandy Madden is only the first of many victims. As the body count goes up, the tension in the story increases as well.

DCI Gordon Holmes in on Jo’s back, as is the press, to solve the case. The team continues their investigation by interviewing possible witnesses, friends and family members.

This is a very good police procedural. I like Jo and she works well with the rest of her team. The novel is both well written and plotted. The tension begins immediately in the story and continues throughout the book, reaching its highest point at the denouement of the novel. It is Bill Rogers at his best. He writes a gritty story with compassion and empathy for the victims. His dialogue is to the point with touches of humor here and there.

I want to thank NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for forwarding to me a copy of this great book to read and enjoy.

This is the 3rd book in the National Crime Agency Series by author Bill Rogers.
The National Crime Agency are called in by the Greater Manchester Police when the body of a strangled prostitute is found and they realise they have a serial killer on their hands. A serial killer haunts the streets of Manchester, targeting vulnerable working girls in the dead of night. His signature: a tangled lock of hair in his victims’ throats..
Some very good characters in this novel, aided by an excellent plot and well written. An excellent police procedural crime novel.
I would like to thank Net Galley and Thomas & Mercer for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for a review copy of The Tangled Lock, the third novel in the Manchester based National Crime Agency series.

Greater Manchester Police call in the National Crime Agency when the third body of a strangled prostitute is found and they realise they have a serial killer on their hands. Senior Investigator Joanne Stuart, on loan to the NCA from GMP is the requested help but the whole team gets involved. It takes more bodies and a lucky break before they can identify the killer and hunt him down.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Tangled Lock which is an extremely good police procedural. It may not be to everyone's taste as it is quite detailed on the procedural aspects and the politics of the investigation but I found it fascinating. It makes a pleasant change to see the inate professionalism and teamwork of the police service emphasised rather than the lone wolf maverick with a total disregard for the rule book. That is not to say that Jo is not capable of disregarding it when she judges it necessary. Apart from the procedure the novel has a good, engrossing plot. Stranger killers are always the most difficult to solve and I found the methodical grind of tracing, identifying and eliminating suspects both fascinating and compelling.

With the victims working in the sex trade there are some moral dilemmas involved so while the team (or syndicate as they are referred to) is no less dedicated to finding the killer Mr Rogers has done his research and does a good job of explaining most sides of the argument and provides some food for thought. It's an added dimension to the novel.

As the novel is plot based the characterisation is as developed as it needs to be. The exception is Jo Stuart who, as the protagonist, is more nuanced. She is a dedicated, smart investigator with a strong sense of justice. In fact she lost her last relationship over her dedication and now with no one to stop her she works constantly and has nothing else in her life. I'm not sure that in real life she'd be particularly likeable but in fiction she's an excellent character.

The Tainted Lock is a great read which I have no hesitation in recommending.

A serial killer on the prowl on the streets of Manchester is preying on the most vulnerable of citizens, sex workers, the “throwaway people” no one looks for or misses. SI Joanne Stuart cares about these women, and she’s determined to do anything to stop him. With help from her colleagues at the National Crime Agency’s Behavioral Sciences Unit, Joanne attempts to stop a mad man in his tracks. Rogers does a fantastic job of playing his characters against each other, with the old-fashioned, traditional cop, Gordon Holmes, hoping to trip up Joanne and her colleagues with their modern policing methods