Member Reviews
absolutely love these books and author. a fantastic example of a police procedural thriller. i look forward to more in the series of DI Kelly Porter and her team.
many thanks to netgalley and the publishers for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Action packed and utterly gripping police procedural.
"And much it grieved my heart to think, what man has made of man."
In this second thriller featuring Detective Inspector Kelly Porter of the Cumbria Constabulary, a serial killer uses The Lake District in the United Kingdom as a dumping ground. This is not the typical psychopath but a fiendishly clever tormentor who leaves handwritten poems with the bodies and is thought to be engaged in "punishing" the victims. The victimology indicates that each of the dead women was held to account for some kind of sin. No spoilers! Can the detectives find the killer and save the last victim in time? The "Teacher" might have outsmarted them all!
The gang is all here and it was great to "see" Kelly's team back in action in pursuit of this heinous criminal mastermind. I could not put this book down and was fascinated by all the detail of the investigation and by the locale described. Having never been to the area of the Lakes or Lakeland, I had to Google it and spent some time looking at the images of that beautiful mountainous scenery. (It's now on my list of places that I must see in my lifetime). I love it when the setting becomes an essential part of a narrative, and this place certainly does.
Kelly Porter is a great character -- complex and interesting, multidimensional and smart. She can be tough but she also has good insight into herself and others and can show a compassionate side. I like the interaction between the team members and always love finding out more about them as the series develops. Can't wait to read the next book!
Thank you to NetGalley and Canelo for the e-book ARC to read and review.
Deep Fear by Rachel Lynch is book 2 in the DI Kelly Porter series and what a fantastic read it is!
Lots of words spring to mind but bloody brilliant comes first closely followed by thrilling, captivating and unputdownable (is that even a word!). This book is my first back reading after my corneal transplant so I was painfully slow at reading. My mind was telling me to read, read, read and my eyes were telling me to stop. Well I didn’t stop because quite honestly I couldn’t put it down.
I like Kelly because she is real, she has issues, a sister that she wants to beat the crap out of and a sick mother, but like a lot of us with issues she dusts herself off each morning and goes to work and does a bloody good job. There is nothing fake about this book it is down to earth and the characters are likable and the plot believable.
This is shaping up to be a really good series, I really can’t wait for the next book!
As you realise by now I don’t like giving away spoilers so I am not going to go in to the plot of the book but you can read a precis below from the publisher. I highly recommend this series and don’t hesitate in giving Deep Fear 5 stars, Rachel Lynch is on to a winner with this series.
With thanks to Netgalley and Canelo for this ARC in exchange for an open and honest review.
DI Kelly Porter is called to the murder of a Moira Tait found in the grounds of a church. Moira had been viciously attacked, the tips of her fingers sliced off. There was a poem by Shelley under her body and a roll of bank notes between her legs. Moira was not a nice woman and caused her husband to be estranged from his grown up children. At the time of her murder she was having an affair with a surgeon at the hospital treating her elderly mother.
Then the body of drug addict and criminal. Brandy Carter was found in Aira Force in the National Park, her tongue had been cut out and a poem from Wordsworth was placed in her mouth.
When the press linked the murders they dubbed the killer The Teacher because he was punishing his victim's of their sins. Brandy for being a bully and Moira for greed. Whilst Kelly and her team investigated another two woman were found murdered with terrible injuries. Aileen a 14 year old disabled girl and a nurse who was overweight and spoke too much.
Kelly was put under impression from her bosses to find the killer, then shockingly someone close to Kelly is taken by The Teacher, can she find the killer before it is too late?
On a personal level Kelly's Mother was diagnosed with cancer, which left Kelly struggling to visit her Mum whilst conducting a murder enquiry. Kelly and her sister Nikki were at each throats and decided to visit separately to stop quarelling. Kelly bought a house but felt guilty about moving out and leaving her mum.
Deep Fear is the second book in the DI Kelly Porter Series and this series is just getting better. I like Kelly who is no nonsense but has a genuine empathy for her victims and even the bystanders who find the victim. I liked new Detective D.C. Rob Shawcross who was in awe of her and wants to be her protege.
I enjoyed the story and sped through the book. The storyline was fast paced with never a dull moment. I have mention though the story was dark and not for the faint hearted. I did suspect the twist in the tale but not the eventual culprit so I was definitely kept on my toes.
I look forward to reading about the aftermath of this investigation in book 3.
Deep Fear is the second book in the DI Kelly Porter series. The story starts when an elderly man walking his dog, discovers the naked and brutal mutilated body of Moira Tate in the church grave yard. DI Kelly Porter leads the investigation. At first they think that it’s a robbery gone wrong but, she still wearing her jewellery. After trying to discover more clues to what happened to her, other bodies turn up. So we that knowledge and Kelly’s experience with the Met Police Kelly knows that she has a serial killer on her hands. They nickname the killer ‘The teacher’, as with their bodies the killer leaves excerpts of poetry sewn into their bodies.
The story also concludes about Kelly and her sister Nikki and her relationship with their mother. Nikki blurts out over the phone that her mother has Cancer and the way DI Kelly has to juggle her life with that outburst and the complexity of the case.
I read the first in the book in this series (Dark game) which I really enjoyed and I didn’t think it could get any better but Deep fear is just as good. I have good feeling about Rachel Lynch I think she is an author to watch, she will go far. From the very first page this story gripped me. I thought the plot was very well planned out and researched and we got to know more of each character. I liked the descriptions of the lake district it made me want to go there. More please. I can’t wait for book three.
Thank you Netgalley and Canelo for a copy of this book.
What an explosive detective thriller. From the very first chapter this book grabs you with the suspense and the action. A fast paced book with likeable, believable characters and edge of the seat drama. I read this book in 24 hours and loved it. I had not read the first book where DI Kelly Porter was introduced but this did not matter - there were subtle references to the first book but nothing that stopped me understanding or enjoying this book. Set in the wild beauty of the Lake District was an added bonus as I recognized many places I have visited before. The ending was brilliant and I did not guess the identity of the killer until it was revealed. I look forward to more in this series.
I thoroughly enjoyed this second book in the series of DI Kelly Porter. The story takes place in the Lake District which I have become so familiar with from this and other books that I feel at home there. While assigned to a major case of what turns out to be a case of a serial killer, Kelly also is taking care of her sick mother who is dying of cancer. Her relationship with her sister Nikki is rapidly deteriorating with the sisters constantly bickering over who should do what for their mom. The bodies at first don’t seem to have much in common other than they are all posed in beautiful spots around the Lake District with a line or two from the poets famous for their poetry from the District. The story races to the end with Kelly finally catching the murderer whom she has actually come across several times. I highly recommend this book and its predecessor and sincerely hope there are more coming. Thanks to #NetGalley for letting me read this book in exchange for my unbiased review. Easy 5 stars.
I would like to thank Canelo and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘Deep Fear’ written by Rachel Lynch in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.
DI Kelly Porter of Cumbria Police’s Serious Crime Unit is back in action, this time investigating the murders of women disposed in beauty spots around the Lake District, all of them mutilated and with a sheet of poetry left inside the wound. Kelly faces the most dangerous situation of her life but can the killer be caught before it’s too late?
Rachel Lynch has given us another exciting police novel which has kept me hooked from the beginning. It has a taut and suspenseful storyline, a growing number of suspects which kept me guessing, and finishes with a thrilling and unexpected conclusion. ‘Deep Fear’ is a book that’s well worth reading and I can definitely recommend it.
Kelly Porter is back in a second instalment and luckily it was just as good as the first . It was pacey and well written and i really like Kelly , she is a really hard working police woman and she has a great relationship with her team !! when the body of a woman is discovered with a poem on her body Kelly quickly realises she is dealing with a serial killer . Lots more bodies , lots of red herrings and a really satisfying conclusion . Brilliant . I loved it
DI Kelly Porter is back and someone is killing women in order to make them pay for their sins. Can she stop the killer before it reaches too close to home ? Awesome story and the only problem I had was a bit too many characters to keep up with. Four stars!
DI Kelly Porter on the ball again. Very interesting story line a page turner all the way. An insight to the Lake District a place I’ve never visited but she brings it alive, and makes me feel that I should visit
4 stars
DI Kelly Porter late of the Met responds to a call of a dead body in a grave yard outside a church. The woman appears to be in her fifties, is naked and brutalized. She is still wearing expensive jewelry, so it is not a case of robbery. Kelly fears they may have a serial killer on their hands, as the killer didn’t get this expert without leaving a trail of bodies somewhere. Later killings bear out her suspicions.
Kelly is almost hyperactive in her work; she jiggles, can’t seem to sit still and talks fast. She is also dealing with her mother’s terminal illness and a sister who blames her for everything. Just as her police officer father was.
This book traces the detailed and painstaking police investigation into the killer who becomes known as “The Teacher.” He is elusive and very good at his “work.” He thinks that he is ridding society of the undesirables; making the world a better place, as it were.
The victim is finally identified as Moira Tate. As more bodies are discovered, the tension in the story picks up. The reader is kept guessing as to the identity of the murderer. When they are finally identified, it comes as a surprise – at least to me it was.
I like Rachel Lynch as an author. Her books are well written and plotted. The suspense begins immediately with the discovery of Moira Tate by an elderly man out walking his dog. It continues throughout the story and reaches a crescendo at the denouement. I liked DI Kelly Porter, except for her non-stop action. There was sufficient information given about her background so as to flesh her out, but not so much that it intruded on the story. In fact, it added a degree of richness to the tale. This novel is filled with colorful well-drawn characters. Very well done, Ms. Lynch.
I want to thank NetGalley and Canelo for forwarding to me a copy of this great book to read, enjoy and review.
I was looking forward to reading this book, having read the author's previous book...it did not disappoint! Set in the Lake District, we see DCI Kelly Porter investigate an increasing amount of Dead Bodies. If you like Rachel Abbott and Elizabeth Haynes, you will love this. Be prepared for a shocking ending!
Deep Fear Rachel Lynch
Earlier this year I reviewed Dark Game by Rachel Lynch. The book in which she introduced us to DI Kelly Porter. It was one of the best debut crime thrillers I had read for a while so when I saw the second one was about to be published I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it.
Deep fear see’s the unassuming DI Kelly Porter still living at home with her mom and suffering harassment from her sister, who has her perfect life of Husband and family. But things are about to change Kelly’s Mom is ill, and spending a lot of time in hospital.
Meanwhile somebody is killing people in the Lake District and the pressure is on Kelly and her team to find the murderer.
People are being targeted then killed. The killer is posing their bodies to suggest the failings that lead them to be killed. Along with the murder, mutilation, and posing of the bodies, the killer is leaving cryptic clues in the form of quotes from the Lakes poets.
As the body count rises, in a very short period of time, the team struggle to find the connection between the victims which would help them identify the killer.
All the time Kelly is working hard on investigating the murders the pressure is on at home as her sister and her argue constantly bout their mothers care.
Will the duel pressure of work and home life be too much for Kelly? Can she devote enough time to both?
The story rattles along and has a terrific ending that left me open mouthed for a good few minutes after I’d finished it.
I have often heard the expression “the difficult second” usually attached to music artist and records, or actors and TV series. I always wonder if the second book in a series will live up to the promise of the first.
Well this one has, and more. This is a cracking book and I can’t wait to see what happens in the next one after the trauma of the end of this one.
A book that brings together the beauty of the fells in the Lake District with murder story. Description of the Lakes made me feel I was there, a riveting read that heads you off in different directions. Kelly Porter a police officer returned recently from the MET leads the investigation. The bodies mount up as we read, the differing characters whom fall victim to the unknown perpetrator.
Having already read the first book with kelly porter as the primary character I was thrilled to be able to receive an advance copy of the next instalment in this thrilling series!
Rachel lynch writes with great flair and makes it easy to become engrossed in her books. She creates characters that you can really understand and get to grips with.
Descriptive details of scenes really allow you to imagine what it would be like if you were stood with the characters.
The storyline is full of twists and turns and keeps you gripped throughout.
Even when kelly has sussed out who the culprit is the author has you guessing and desperate to read on then BAM! Another twist in the tale!
Great read would highly recommend this for a great beach read!
I wonder if anyone can read these books without being left with the desire to visit the Lake District? In this second outing for DI Kelly Porter she is leading the hunt for a serial killer with an unusual MO. Her personal life has its challenges too and you definitely feel the push and pull of her work life balance. I won’t say too much about the killer but I definitely didn’t work it out. I trust that Detective Porter (as she repeatedly refers to herself) will be back for another instalment as there is definitely unfinished business here.
Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for this arc in exchange for my honest review.
DI Kelly Porter is back on the case of a vicious killer named The Teacher, ridding society of those they feel unworthy of life. Kelly is struggling with her mum’s illness and her sister’s argumentative nature and then the case hits too close to home.
I was on a high after reading the first one and this one was as good, if not better, as I knew the characters and their attitudes. Book 3 please
A really good book. Well written with interesting characters and a gripping storyline. Looking forward to reading the next one in the series
A police procedural/mystery type book with a great main character of DI Kelly Porter. Is there a serial killer at work that Kelly must uncover? Someone is murdering young woman in horrible ways and leaving strange poetry with the dead bodies. Kelly must work quickly especially when her own sister goes missing to find the suspect and prevent any more bodies from turning up. Kelly Porter is a very likeable character and the back story of her relationships with her sister, mother dying from cancer, and boyfriend Johnny make for enjoyable reading.