Gripping and suspenseful! A very well-written book with wonderfully-interesting characters. The tension builds at just the right pace as the story unfolds. Will keep you swiping the pages furiously. Worthy of your TBR list.

*I received a complimentary ARC of this book from in order to read and provide a voluntary and honest review, should I choose to do so.

Great story, thrilling plot that I could not put down. Well worth a read, and would recommend to others.

I wasn't fond of this book just wasn't able to get on with the characters though they did have a great premise. Didn't enjoy the story much.

This book sounded great but unfortunately I just couldn’t take to it. I persevered with it but sadly it wasn’t for me.

Thanks to netgalley for the opportunity to have read my first Chris Merritt offering. This is the beginning of a new series, and I can really see it going places. It was a gripping read, from beginning to end and really well written. Worth your time and effort!

This is a great read which drew me in immediately and kept me gripped throughout. I am always happy to find new authors who write police procedural books and this one promises to be the start of a great series. I can’t wait to see what the author brings us next.

Many thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for providing a copy.

I thoroughly enjoyed this, the flawed yet basically good at heart character of our 'herro'. The tortuous back story, all combined to make a well written, well thought out thriller.

Thanks to Netgalley for my copy.

It took quite a few chapters for me to warm up to this book but I am glad I persevered. A promising beginning to a series by this author.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley. Previously titled The Murder List

Set in London, the reader begins on a journey where grief, loss, retribution, a need for closure, the drive for justice, corruption, mistrust and blurred lines are just a few of the paths crossed.

🚨 Debut author alert 🚨 Well holy bejesus! The prologue takes us back to 2012 when our protagonist – Zac Boateng relives the moment his life changed forever – and it was emotive, intriguing and absolutely had that #killerhook that made me desperate for more! The story-line was well developed and for me, it felt like this book was more plot driven than character driven. However, we get glimpses of character development, hinting that there is more to come…and I for one can’t wait! The story was pretty on point in terms of procedure, so it was clear that the author pays attention to detail as well as doing his research. It was not overdone, which is always a risk and something that can turn a great story into a manual. Not in this case! This is a tense, page-turning, action packed read that really had me gunning for the bad guys and cheering the “by any means necessary” chant for the hero! #MyBad

A fabulously diverse mix of characters are presented with a relatable and believable narrative. Rather than go into each and every one of them, I just want to highlight a few of the characters who had me turning the pages! I know, I know …makes a change, eh? I usually drone on about characters 🤣

The main character, Zac Boateng is a DI who is living with a tragedy he just can’t escape from and this drives his desire for justice. Unfortunately, this drive often sees his wife and son paying for the time away from home. I’ve seen many people compare this book/character to Luther and in some sense, I can understand why, however Boateng is unique in his own right and I think this should be the focus because it is clear he has so much to offer! Tenacious, somewhat stubborn and a hell of a risk-taker, his intelligence is a weapon that is no match for feeble offenders! Seriously cannot wait to see how Mr Merritt develops this character further in the next book!

Darian Wallace was another fabulous character – I won’t go into too much detail, except to say that his cunning way of avoiding a breach of his tag made me laugh as I’m an ex Probation Officer and have come across a few people who tried … and failed that same trick 🤣 He is devious, twisted and mistakes fear for respect – a huge downfall for so-called criminal masterminds!

I also loved Kate Jones, who leaves the cyber crime unit to get into the thick of things. I think that she worked well with Boateng and hope that we see more interaction between this pair, in the professional sense, in the next book!

Would I recommend this read? You bet your sweet arse I would! A stellar debut filled with every element of crime fiction I love, Bring Her Back has placed Mr Merritt on this #crimebookjunkie’s radar! And guess what, peeps! #ZacIsBack in LAST WITNESS this July! #Bonus

3.5 Stars

I wanted to read this book after i saw many interesting reviews from Goodreads friends and i was not disappointed.
The story was interesting enough, Detective Zac Boateng was investigating some rather gruesome murders, the murderer was no mystery since the beginning, which made the chase the focus point of the story. It would have been simple if it was only about these murders, but it turned out there was somebody else after that criminal and at the same time Boateng was doing some private investigation on who murdered his daughter five years earlier, bringing back the whole story to the beginning point.

I enjoyed reading it, and Zac and his team were rather interesting but all the near miss with the killer were too much and at some point it felt a bit tiresome. However, i liked how the story developped and the end which was not exactly a cliff hanger but more of a something to look forward to in the next book of the series.
One small note about the title, i liked it better when it was "The Murder List".

I just have a bit of criticism to make; i read many of the books published by Bookouture and i really enjoyed most of them, i just don't like so much the type of cover used for the various authors, almost always a silhouette walking away. In my humble opinion that is so imporsonal and does not really reflect what to expect in a book, and usually the cover is the first things that draws me to a book.

A wonderful debut novel. An exciting way to complete the novel and open the door to the next book. I have widely recommended this book. A welcome addition to a well loved genre

I really enjoyed this book. It had me hooked from the first page with its exciting plot. A great read. Highly recommended.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Chris Merritt for the advanced copy of this book. I agreed to give my unbiased opinion voluntarily.

3.5 stars (rounded to 4 stars)

The Murder List is a British debut novel and first book of the Detective Zac Boateng series. It’s a very good effort by new author Chris Merritt.

I have to say it took me a while to get into the story; hence, the 3.5 rating. The writing is good, though not as accomplished as that of fellow Bookouture authors Marsons, Bryndza, and Gibney. The plot is multipronged, but not terribly twisty. That’s okay as the characterization is very good. DI Zacharias Boateng, a man of color from Ghana (finally an African British protagonist!), is a complicated guy. He struggles mightily with the concepts of right, wrong, and justified, as he and his team try to track down a murderer while he goes it alone on another mission close to his heart. To see Boateng tipping off the rails while engaging in endeavors that could well boomerang back on him, his job, and his family is intense. We also know the identity of the murderer (Darian Wallace), and we are privy to his thoughts and actions as he is pursued, not only by the police, but also by an ex-Special Ops thug-for-hire. Wallace too has issues; his conflicts revolve about the bad things he does and the repercussions for the victims’ families. I’m actually not sure ruthless killing and empathy aren’t mutually exclusive in a murderer’s mind, but it did lead me to have a twinge (a very tiny twinge) of sympathy for the baddie. DS Pat Jones, DS Patrick Connelly, and Etta Boateng (Zac’s wife) are other cast members whom I would be happy to see again as they are further developed.

As I mentioned, the plot is fairly straightforward, though it was fun to see how Boateng was going to get out of the mess of his own doing relatively unscathed. It was the characters, however, that moved me to round my rating up to 4 stars.

I think this series has potential. I believe Chris Merritt will continue to grow and take things to the next level. I was impressed enough to get on his mailing list in order to find out when book 2 is coming out. I recommend The Murder List to all crime fiction/thriller fans.

Thank you to Net Galley, Bookouture, and Mr. Chris Merritt for giving me an ARC of this book. Opinions are my own and are unbiased in any way.

"Never give up. You owe it to that person you loved. To the memory you still love, that no one can take away."

Fast-paced police procedural with the theme of revenge. DI Zac Boateng’s 9-year-old daughter, Amelia, was a victim of a stray bullet when they were going on an errand to the local newsagent one morning 5 years ago. The killer was never identified or apprehended. Zac, his wife, and surviving son have not passed a day without remembering Amelia. But Zac wants much more -- he wants the killer behind bars -- or dead. He moonlights on a solo investigation to track down the killer's identity and bring him to justice and meanwhile puts himself in danger because others are looking for the same man for different reasons.

Darian Wallace spent time in prison but is now out. He wants to recover the stolen items that resulted in his imprisonment, but more than that, he wants to punish those who ratted him out after the robbery. The reader sees a glimpse into his twisted psyche as he attempts to rationalize his behavior and life of crime. He can't leave London until he's taken care of business...

An ex-military man named Spike is also looking for Darian Wallace at the behest of Susanna Pym, the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Health. She has her own reasons for finding Wallace. Seems he stole something very valuable from her in the robbery that landed him in prison.

A complicated manhunt as Wallace is determined to complete his tasks and Spike is mission with Zac Boateng right on their heels. The writing is good, the characters well-drawn, and the action almost non-stop. Very enjoyable. I'll definitely want to read the sequel.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the e-book ARC to read and review.

4☆ A Fab first book! Looking forward to next one!

The Murder List is the first book in a new series by Chris Merritt. Featuring Detective Zac Boateng.

It was a nicely paced crime thriller that built up lots of suspense, had juicy twists and kept me guessing.

Zac's daughter was murdered and her killer  was never found.
So when Zac ends up back on the force he is determined to rid the street of the scum.

So when Zac gets embroiled in a Serial killer case will his past stop him doing his job.

I thoroughly enjoyed this new crime thriller.
I think Zac is going to be one exciting detective. Definetly one to watch out for.
He is determined, fierce, and will stop and nothing to get what he wants, has a jaded past that only adds to his determination.
I'm excited to see what's next in store for Zac.

I'm never 100% sure when I start reading a new series. But I think Chris has it spot on. He developed his characters well, created the perfect amount of suspense,
Kept me on a knife edge, created a great back story. Left me excited for the next instalment.

If you enjoy discovering new crime series this one is definitely the book for you!

EXCERPT: This day will change him forever, though he doesn't know it yet. . .

Tilting her head, for a second she's with him. Then lost again. She draws a long breath.

His hands are soaked, slippery. Leaning over, he turns a cheek to her mouth and looks down her chest. Waits. Counts to ten. No air, no movement.

Puts two fingers on her carotid artery.

No pulse.

ABOUT THIS BOOK: The lifeless body sat, hands bound, silver tape over his mouth. Patches of blood had soaked into the cheap carpet around him. Zac had spent years gaining scientific insight into the mind: human motivation and behaviour. And this scene wasn’t right...

It’s been five years since Detective Zac Boateng’s daughter was murdered and her killer was never found. Now Zac is back working for the Metropolitan Police and is more determined than ever to bring the city’s killers to justice.

When a man is found brutally murdered in a rundown south London shop, all fingers point to the highly intelligent and manipulative Darian Wallace. Two years ago, the victim helped send him to prison. And he’s just been released.

Still grieving, Zac knows it will take everything he's got to catch this dangerously clever killer. But just as he feels he’s getting closer, he realises all is not quite as it seems and he makes a devastating personal discovery.

Zac has a choice to make – risk letting this killer escape or watch his daughter’s murderer get away again…

MY THOUGHTS: There are some books that, the moment you start reading them, you know are going to be an excellent read. The Murder List by Chris Merritt is one such book. I have tweeted as I was reading that I was excited to be in right at the beginning of this great new series, and I am. Usually when I discover a really good series, I pick up on it several books in then have to go back and read the earlier installments, but not this time. This time I am in from the very beginning.

This is no bog-standard detective series. It has a depth to both the characters and plot that is unusual, especially from a first time author, but is perhaps explained by the author's background. Chris Merritt is a Psychologist in the NHS who has worked with both the victims and perpetrators of crime. He has taken what he has learned in his work environment and applied it to his writing with great success.

Merritt has created a detective who runs contrary to the "deeply disturbed loner/renegade" that seems to currently be de riguer in detective fiction. That's not to say he doesn't have issues. No man who has seen his daughter gunned down and die in his arms could escape having issues. But Zac has a strong relationship with both his wife and son, with the occasional hiccup of course as happens in real life, and is both liked and respected by his work colleagues. He doesn't always make the best or wisest decisions, but who does? He is a strong and interesting character, and one whose journey I am committed to following.

The cover of this book promises 'An utterly gripping crime thriller with edge of your seat suspense', and believe me, that's exactly what you get. 4.5 very bright stars

Thank you to Bookouture via Netgalley for providing a digital copy of The Murder List by Chris Merritt for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the 'about' page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system.

This review and others are also published on my blog sandysbookaday.wordpress.com https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...

A really good read. If your daughter was murdered would you want revenge? I really liked Zac and his family. The pain they have gone through is unimaginable. This is a well put together story with plenty of action. I read this book in one sitting. I had to know what happened. I would definitely recommend this book and I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

This is a fantastic debut novel from Chris Merritt. Detective Zac Boateng sees his daughter die in his arms. No one is brought to justice for this and 5 years later, Zac is looking for justice. This fast paced novel has it all. An evil protagonist, great plot twists, depth to the characters and a start which will suck you right in.I look forward to more from this author in the near future. Many thanks to Net Galley for my copy. I reviewed on Amazon, Goodreads and Facebook.

I really loved this book! Choices made, consequences faced. If someone harmed my family...I'm not sure what would happen. I can't wait to read the next book.

This has all the symptoms of being a really excellent series. It's a slow burner after a shot-gun start. Zac is such a likable character and although his daughter Amelia was brutally murdered in 2012 he has the backbone and emotional agility to carry on. The novel starts with a violent bang and we move on five years. He's managed to survive after the murder with astonishing stoicism but he is still a "human" detective. The other character I found intriguing was Darian Wallace who is released from prison. A fantastic debut in a new series. Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture.