We first met DI Kelly Porter in Dark Game by Rachel Lynch. In Deep Fear, Kelly begins the investigation of the murder of a woman. The body was found with what appeared to be a symbolic act. Kelly and her team work feverishly to locate and arrest this killer before another senseless murder is committed. Before they can catch the suspect, however, other bodies are found soon after.

Although the bodies continually rack up, and the fact that the evidence points to the murders being connected, the mystery remains bone-deep. This case becomes rather terrifying as things become far too close to home for Kelly. A race against the clock begins as Kelly never could have imagined.

Deep Fear is definitely a one-sitting read! It was impossible to guess who the killer was. Add to this a thrilling conclusion and this makes this book a keeper. I look forward to reading more from Rachel Lynch.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Caneli for this ARC to review.

Kelly Porter is one of my favorite DI's! She comes off very natural and I want to know more about her. The story was thrilling and captivating and I really enjoyed it

I would like to thank Netgalley and Canelo for an advance copy of Deep Fear, the second novel set in the Lake District to feature DI Kelly Porter.

When Moira Tate's naked body is found in a country graveyard the ritual aspects of the murder make DI Kelly Porter suspect that there is a potential serial killer in the area. This is confirmed as more bodies are discovered.

I thoroughly enjoyed Deep Fear which is the straightforward hunt for a serial killer. Obviously the hunt is anything but simple with few forensics and a puzzling motive so straightforward refers to the purpose of the novel, a hunt with few distractions or sidesteps. I like this kind of novel with an almost limitless cast of suspects which gets slowly whittled down as more information becomes available. I also like a novel, like this one, with a well concealed perpetrator and this one is a real puzzle as I was clueless until the reveal. It makes for an absorbing read as the reader tries to work out what is going on an why. It makes a pleasant change nowadays to be able to live the investigation with the police without any extra information.

Kelly Porter is a good protagonist, smart, capable and intuitive. To make her more than just a cardboard cutout Ms Lynch has given her a troubled relationship with her sister and her mother cancer. I find all this strife wearing but her sister, Nikki, is not particularly likeable although there are hints that there is more to her story than simple disagreeability.

Deep Fear is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.