This was a brilliant read. As soon as I started reading this book I just knew I was going to love it. Highly recommended

A fabulous fourth instalment featuring DCI Matilda Darke.
‘The Hangman’ carefully selects his victims, people he feels haven’t suffered enough for the wrongs they’ve committed. He then puts a noose around their necks and hangs them, making them aware that he is their executioner.
DCI Matilda Darke has her own demons and then she personally becomes a target of the Hangman making her even more determined to discover his identity before she is removed from the investigation.
The plot is complex, intriguing and well-written. The character depth is fantastic. I was completely gripped from the very first chapter, through each twist and turn, until the climax which was shocking and totally unexpected.
Thank you to Harper Impulse and Killer Reads – 5 stars from me

Sheffield is being terrorised again, this time with a serial killer who is his own judge and jury and executing those that haven’t served their appropriate jail sentence. DCI Matilda Darke and her team are investigating the case but there is some things that are just happening too close to home and Matilda is in danger.
I love Matilda and her team and feel lucky I have been able to binge on this whole series in over a week and enjoy them all. Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

DCI Matilda Darke is in pursuit of a vigilante serial killer that seems to have inside knowledge. Matilda and her team are pushed to their limits trying to catch the killer who is always a step ahead and might be someone far closer than they could have imagined.

The Hangman's Hold is the fourth book in Michael Wood's DCI Matilda Dark series. Interesting characters and solid police work that doesn’t stop until the very end with plenty of twists and turns along the way that are sure to keep the pages turning made it another entertaining read in this solid series.

I would like to thank Harper Impulse and Killer Reads & NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review.

This book was great. Very gripping. I enjoyed every thing about it. The plit was great. I cant wait to read more by this author

A flawed detective, a vigilante killer...what more could you want for the premise if a thriller. And it doesn't disappoint. this will keep you on the edge of your seat.

This is the fourth book in the really good Matilda Darke series. However, this for me is the weakest so far.

There is a hangman on the loose. A serial killer is taking it upon themselves to mete out their own kind of justice. Finding out what crimes have been committed no matter how historically and dealing with it in their own violent way.

DCI Darke is under tremendous pressure as the body count rises. It becomes clear that this killer is going to prove difficult to stop. Darke is still struggling to come to terms with the loss of her husband and again the loss manifests itself during this investigation. The Hangman's Hold is a good read but after being totally dazzled by A Room Full Of Killers, which was an outstanding read, this one couldn't quite get there.

That said nothing would deter me from continuing on with this series. Wood is a seriously good writer and has created a brilliant character in DCI Darke. The way she is dealing with her loss as well as returning to work is totally immersive whilst of course being helped along with her best friend only adds to us fighting Darke's corner.

If you haven't discovered this series yet then you're missing out!! Download book one get ready to whoop for Matila!

Highly recommend.

I've loved this series from the beginning so I was eager to read The Hangman's Hold and I really enjoyed it. I like how Wood can create characters and make them seem so real. An intriguing plot and some shady past secrets made this a really good read.

We’re back in Sheffield where retribution, vigilantism, change, moving forward, anger, justice, narcissism, control, guilt, jealousy, a moral dilemma and an overwhelming need for justice seeps under our skin while we turn the pages.
I have followed this series right from the start and each book gets better and better! I mean, OMG what an opening to this novel! The sense of jeopardy is immediate and immense and I knew instantly that this would be one of those books where nothing would get done for the day! I wasn’t wrong…😉
This was a fast-paced read that really leaves you hanging (excuse the pun!) and I really got the sense that it was all or nothing as I turned the pages to find out what exactly was going on. Michael Wood is a phenomenal writer in my opinion – his characterisation has me invested in the characters 100%, his plot/story-lines are compelling, grab you by the throat and have you desperate for the next book even before you finish the one you are reading! I never have to worry if this author will excel himself with each new book in the series, because he always does – effortlessly it seems (though I am sure he would probably say otherwise! LOL).😜
DCI Matilda Darke is a fantastic character – she has so many layers and with each book in the series, we get to see that little bit more. She struggles daily with things we all might take for granted, but she is determined, loyal and always working to make sure that she deals with things life throws at her rather than burying her hand in the sand. Don’t get me wrong, it is not always an easy journey for her, she is pushed to the absolute limits in this novel – and sometimes she needs a nudge to face the issues – but I really find myself rooting for her as each new novel is released. Matilda also shares a great relationship with her colleagues – even those she may not like so much – there is always something to keep the reader hooked.
What I also enjoyed in this novel is how the tables were slightly turned with Adele – the police pathologist and Matilda’s closest friend. An incident makes her reflect on her life and she hides away a bit. It is Matilda that helps her and reminds her that it is ok to feel vulnerable as long as you don’t let it consume you. Very emotive to see these two women supporting each other.
I really do want to talk about a few others, but I won’t spoil it for readers. Instead, I will just quickly mention The Hangman – bloody brilliant name, for one – but what a creepy character. 😱 It takes a lot to freak me out…this person did…a total narcissist, a vigilante but also easy to sympathise with. 🤔🤷🏼‍♀️ The reader, along with the characters, are left with this moral dilemma – you understand why they did what they did, but you know it’s wrong… BRILLIANTLY written! 👏🏻
So, would I recommend this read? You bet your sweet arse I would! Tense, dark and oh-so-thrillingly-twisted, this has to be the best in the series so far… and I LOVED them all! Highly recommend you grab a copy of each and every one of the Matilda Darke series and I hope Mr Wood is busy writing the next in the series as I can’t wait to read it!

DCI Matilda Darke is called to investigate the suspected suicide of Brian Appleby, who was found hung by the neck in his Essex home. As she and her team piece together the events leading up to his death, they are shocked to discover that mere hours before, Brian Appleby went on a date with Dr Adele Kean, pathologist and Matilda’s best friend after meeting on a dating website. And what is worse, Brian’s grim past comes to light. He was arrested for sexually assaulting several young girls. After he served his lengthy sentence, he settled down in Essex to live a quiet life. Adele is horrified to discover his past, especially as she planned to meet him again, but with Matilda’s support and friendship, she will find a way through it.







But it isn’t over. Brian didn’t commit suicide. He was murdered. Hung by the neck in his own home. Soon the body count rises and a clear modus operandi appears. A serial killer known as The Hangman is targeting old offenders and he is ruthlessly set on his goal. Matilda’s team are in turmoil, with the press on their back, publishing headlines that drive the eye of the public to their door, things are going from bad to worse. When The Hangman sets his sights on Matilda, the case is grows ever more personal.







With her life in danger, Matilda is not only battling to find the killer before he strikes again, she is also battling her own grief. Her beloved husband James passed away and despite the passing of time, she can’t come to terms with his absence. He was a lover and friend, comforter and confidant. I was rooting for Matilda all the way through. She is such a fantastic character. Strong, instinctual, brilliant.







Michael Wood delivers another fabulously gripping, fiendishly clever new thriller. DCI Matilda Darke returns with a bang. What a book this is!





Gripping. Thrilling. Brilliant.

I had a hard time reading this one, as I didn’t read the first books before it. I want to read the others first. But, from what I have heard this book isn’t as good as good as the first 2..

Title was archived before I could review it sadly. Guess I will have to buy it if I would like to read it. I am new to the Galley and was not aware of the fact that the archival date meant that I could not access the title anymore. Too bad

I have several favourite fictional characters. I’m a crime blogger so surprise surprise, they’re all pretty much (give or take a few)….detectives! A large number of those detectives are female as well (which makes me happy for some odd reason). DCI Matilda Darke is very high on my list of favourites. I’ve said this before in my reviews of Michael Wood’s books but she’s so flipping wonderfully normal. If she were real, I could see us being friends (or I would be stalking her from afar wishing she were my bestie and plotting to get rid of Adele. Perfectly normal, right?!). I love how committed to the cause she is, how she frequently berates herself for her past failings, how completely and utterly in love she still is with her deceased husband, James. She is one of those characters who evokes a fondness in me, I’m 100% on Team Matilda and I hope it stays that way for a very long time to come.

DCI Darke and her team are called to investigate a hanging. The victim, having returned home from a delightful first date with a new lady friend, has been strung up and left to slowly die, in agonising amounts of pain. When Matilda arrives at the scene it becomes clear to hear that this murder is closer to home than she first thought. She also discovers the victim is a confirmed paedophile from the south-east; having rellocated to Sheffield with a new name and leaving his past behind. Then, another body is discovered. This time a family man whose wrongdoings from the past have caught up with him. With the Press breathing down her neck and accusations flying, can Matilda and her team stop the Hangman before he kills again…

This is the type of storyline I love to read. Seemingly ordinary people with dark secrets to hide being picked off one by one by a callous, vengeful killer. I was excited to find out what was going to happen next; who was going to fall victim to the Hangman and his deadly form of justice. Reading about Matilda and her team made me feel in the midst of friends (I love Sian too!) and their failed attempts to make any progress in the case left me feeling frustrated for them. I could feel my blood pressure rising as the killer taunted them with text messages and calls to the press. Marvellous stuff!

Would I recommend this book? I would. I would recommend this entire series. Michael Wood sure knows how to write a compelling, utterly absorbing crime series and create some of the most memorable characters out there. Personally, I *maybe* need to take a small step back from this series and remind myself that it is indeed fiction, it’s not real life and Matilda isn’t a real person but hey, that’s enough about my issues! Crime fans, this series is a must read and you’re letting the side down if you haven’t read it. Take my advice, download all four books now ;).

Five out of five stars.

I chose to read and review an eARC of The Hangman’s Hold. The above review is my own unbiased opinion.

The Hangman's Hold is the Fourth book in the DCI Matilda Drake series and if you haven't read any of this series I seriously think you should start. It is a series that is well and truly twisted and the author takes you to places to places that you have never been to before. But for me this is one of the reasons I love the series some much.

In this story with catch up with Matilda Drake in a much slower paced start to the story. Where I couldn't help but think this book was very different to the previous three but low and behold the story takes an unexpected turn and I was like OMG where the hell did that come from then I found myself racing to the end to find out what was going to happen. You will not believe the twists and turns in this story just when I thought I had it all worked out BOOM another shocking twist.

What can I say but the suspense and tension build up in this story is out of this world. Now that I have read it I totally get the slower start which has plenty of character build up and you get you ready for another pulsating read which will certainly keep you on the edge of your seat.

Matilda is one of those characters that really jumps out of the pages to me and boy do we see her go through the mill with this twisted story. But she is determined when it comes to her job I always feel she is a unique character, someone that I can relate to.

This is one very clever, dark and well written story. Just when I thought this series couldn't get any better it did just that! It will blow your mind. I cannot recommend it enough giving it all the stars.

The Killer hides in the darkness of their homes and then hangs his victims to make them pay for crimes they have tried to leave in the past. As the vigilante racks up more deaths, Matilda struggles to find any answers. With zero forensics and information being leaked to the press, the pressure is on. When she is personally targeted everyone she knows, including her well-trusted colleagues, fall under suspicion.

The Hangman’s Hold sucked me in from the very first chapter and kept me hooked until the very last one. It’s a fast-paced read with all the nitty gritty gory details. Plenty of suspects are hinted at throughout the book and I was certain I knew who had done it but I was very wrong. The ending is intense, exciting and heartbreaking. I felt so many emotions in the last few chapters.

There are plenty of characters but I didn’t find it overwhelming and I managed to keep everyone straight. I loved how they all interacted and the team is great. Matilda is a great main character and I definitely want to read more about her life.

This is the first book I have read by Michael Woods and I will definitely be adding more to my collection asap. Even though The Hangman’s Hold is the fourth book in the DCI Matilda Darke series it definitely works as a standalone. I didn’t feel like I was missing any vital information.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

Darke by name, dark by nature.

I don’t know where to start with The Hangman’s Hold. This is a case quite close to home for Matilda with her bestie’s new beau found hung only a short time after their first date. As readers, we know what is going on but we don’t know who or why. And the darkness continues from there. What I didn’t expect was for this case to consume me as a reader!

I do love Matilda Darke. She has such a dead pan sense of humour. Her relationship with Adele is pitched perfectly. The girlie nights of wine, chocolate and TV.

This is an unflinching portrayal of vigilantism. Michael Wood made me question whether the justice system does get it right all the time or is what the court dishes out as punishment what is deserved.

Michael Wood’s writing is captivating. I was totally engrossed in the story, I know bits of Sheffield so could picture the story unfolding before my eyes. I had a handful of suspects which I kept jumping between. The subtleties of the red herrings and clues are sublime. My kindle battery died as the story started to climax. Rather than wait for it to charge, I read on my phone which I don’t normally do during the day. As I read the closing chapters, my hand was against my mouth. Mr Wood has written a heart pumping finale!

If you haven’t met Matilda Darke before, you so should! Yes there are references to the previous investigations but they are just references. You don’t need to have read all the previous novels to enjoy The Hangman’s Hold.

I read last year A ROOM FULL OF KILLERS, book three in the DCI Matilda Darke Series. And I loved it and I have since then been looking forward to reading the next book. So, I was thrilled when I finally got a copy of THE HANGMAN'S HOLD. I have yet read the first two books, but I hope to remedy that one day.

THE HANGMAN'S HOLD is a thrilling new book, where Matilda and her team has to catch a murderer that is going after people that have previously done something criminal. The case will become very personal for Matilda when she discovers that a close friend knows one of the victims. Matilda has to face the fact that the killer is out to set a score, but who is this person? How do you catch a killer that does seem to be one step ahead all the time and doesn't leave a trace? It will be a hard case to solve.

I'm a latecomer to this series, but one thing I like about the books (that I have read) is how easy it is to get to know the characters. It's been a while since I read A ROOM FULL OF KILLERS and it's not always easy to remember all the characters and past events when you read a lot of books. However, I did feel that the more I read in this book, the more I started to remember. It helps a lot that the characters are so fleshed out and likable.

As for the case. It's a tricky one. Sometimes you have a lot of suspects, but in this case, did it feel like the police had a hard time finding out the identity of the killer. It was a bit of an "oh" moment for me when I started to realize where the story was going when it came to the identity of the killer. I love moments like that.

THE HANGMAN'S HOLD can be read as a stand-alone, however, the risk is that you will feel the need to get the previous books and marathon read them...

I adore Matilda. Definitely one of my favourite Detectives. I look forward to her stories and can't wait for the next one. Very easy read.

Wow, that was quite a story.

Loved this from the beginning. Strong female lead, dark & gritty storyline. This had me hooked & I didn’t want it to end.

I was excited to discover there are more books in the series for me to indulge in too.

When a serial killer is targeting ex-criminals vigilante style, the general public and some members of the police force aren’t in a hurry to catch him. I’m talking about the crimes a lot of people say they should be hung for, well the killer feels the same.
I do love a book that lets me into the mind of a killer and whoa this is a man that enjoys his justice. His research is to be admired, his skill at killing perfection and he leaves no clues behind. But it isn’t just his victims that suffer. These people have paid their dues, as the courts stated and now they have moved on, made a new life and have families themselves. What is left behind is raw and brutal stories in the news papers exposing their seedy pasts again and as they are dead it moves to the next generation to face the hate.
DCI Matilda Darke heads the investigation team to catch this killer, who is playing a game of phoning her and a young local reporter baiting them both. She fears that it may be someone she knows but doesn’t know who. DCI Darke isn’t feeling comfortable with the changes in the department as it isn’t as close knit as before. There is still the core team with new police officers on the fringe that she feels she knows little about.
The case becomes very personal for Matilda as she has too dig round her own past encounters something that will have life changing consequences for her. There are two sides to her. The confident DCI but there is also the woman who crumbles a little more with her fair share of personal knocks. A woman who has trouble letting go of the past and moving on.
This is an intense story with an abundance of characters that are connected to each murder, so very easy to follow. An absolute cracking end and set up for number 5. Superb!When a serial killer is targeting ex-criminals vigilante style, the general public and some members of the police force aren’t in a hurry to catch him. I’m talking about the crimes a lot of people say they should be hung for, well the killer feels the same.
I do love a book that lets me into the mind of a killer and whoa this is a man that enjoys his justice. His research is to be admired, his skill at killing perfection and he leaves no clues behind. But it isn’t just his victims that suffer. These people have paid their dues, as the courts stated and now they have moved on, made a new life and have families themselves. What is left behind is raw and brutal stories in the news papers exposing their seedy pasts again and as they are dead it moves to the next generation to face the hate.
DCI Matilda Darke heads the investigation team to catch this killer, who is playing a game of phoning her and a young local reporter baiting them both. She fears that it may be someone she knows but doesn’t know who. DCI Darke isn’t feeling comfortable with the changes in the department as it isn’t as close knit as before. There is still the core team with new police officers on the fringe that she feels she knows little about.
The case becomes very personal for Matilda as she has too dig round her own past encounters something that will have life changing consequences for her. There are two sides to her. The confident DCI but there is also the woman who crumbles a little more with her fair share of personal knocks. A woman who has trouble letting go of the past and moving on.
This is an intense story with an abundance of characters that are connected to each murder, so very easy to follow. An absolute cracking end and set up for number 5. Superb!