I would like to thank NetGalley for letting me read this advance copy of The Collector by Fiona Cummins. Unfortunately I just couldn’t get into it and gave up a quarter of the way in.

I did not know that this was the second book in a series and maybe in this case it would have made The Collector easier to read and understand. It seems a bit disturbed that the victims are all disabled. I don’t know if we have come that far yet!

2 stars

3.5
This was pretty chilling. I did enjoy this one and it does work as a stand alone but I feel I would have enjoyed it more had I read the first. The premise is quite good and creepy. What Howley is collecting, his background and his decision to take on an apprentice in Saul was horrifying.

I liked Etta, she was a great character, well developed. She is dealing with trying to find that ever elusive balance between her work and home life. She is also frustrated that she almost had Howley and lost him (and victim Clara in the process).

There are twists and shocking moments. This does focus quite a bit on the perspective of the serial killer (and his teachings). That part was good but crazy! I would read the next but I may try to grab the first one in the meantime.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author, and Kensington Books for a copy in exchange for a review.

WOW well who doesn’t love a gruesome serial killer story…. I for one absolutely love them…what that says about me I don’t know… ha ha this is the second in this series, it can be read as a standalone but I need to know the lead up to this second one so will be going back to read it.

Det Etta Fitzroy is reeling, to have caught the serial killer The Bone Collector only for him to escape following a car crash, he is still at large and one of his victims, Clara Foyle a 5 year old girl is still missing, presumed by most as dead given she is missing for over 3 months but not Etta, she is convinced she is still alive and while there is breath left in her body, she is determined to find her. There is another young boy, 6 years old Jakey a surviving victim of the Bone Collector who cannot move on for fear of what will happen to Clara, he also believes that she is still alive and wants to do anything he can to help, but at 6 years old what can he possibly do?

The Bone Collector aka Brian Howley is going under a different alias Mr Silver, passing himself off as Mr. Nice Guy, he befriends with the intention of grooming Saul Anguish, a young teenager who has been looking after his alcoholic mother for years and is ripe for the picking, Mr Silver is looking for a son, an heir, someone to carry on his trade, has he found this in Saul?

This is a chillingly creepy serial killer book, we see the insight as to how the Bone Collector became the bone collector, an insight into his past, what made him what he has become and on the flip side, the dedicated work of the Detectives trying to apprehend him, if you love a good serial killer read, then you must read this one, I would suggest starting with “Rattle” the first in the series where I imagine we get more insight of the Bone Collectors previous victims and an insight into his capture in the first book but this can be read as a standalone, it will have the hairs on your arms sticking up… be prepared!!! Hats off to Fiona Cummins for her dark and disturbing imagination!!! I have added you to my list of authors to keep an eye out for!

Many thanks to Netgalley and Kensington Books for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

I don't regret reading this book, it was enjoyable but doesn't stand out in top favorites of the last year or anything

3.5 stars

The Collector is the second book in the Bone Collector Series. The first book in the series is Rattle. I have not read that one yet but wished that I had while reading this book. Although this book did work quite well as a stand-alone book for me, there were several references to events in the first book and let's face it - Brian Howley a.k.a The Bone Collector a.k.a. Mr. Silver is an interesting, twisted and creepy killer and it would have been nice to have known a little more of his deranged behavior and have known the events of the first book, especially as this book picks up where the first book ended.

DS Etta Fitzroy is busy hunting the Bone Collector while also trying to find missing Clara Foyle, a young girl who most believe may be dead, but Fitzroy is determined to find her and bring her home. The Bone Collector is also busy in this book. He is busy grooming an apprentice. He has his sights on Saul, a teenager who has been caring for his alcoholic mother for years. The Bone Collector hopes Saul will help him carry on his work, rebuilding his museum. What type of museum you ask? Read the book - wait - read Rattle first and then this book!

Plus, a young boy, Jacky once held by the Bone collector. Although he has been reunited with his parents, he is naturally still traumatized by his time with the Bone Collector. He knows that the man has Clara and he worries for her.

It took me a little bit of time to find my footing with this book. As I mentioned, I had not read the first book in the series. I think that is essential to really enjoying this book and knowing what is going on in the beginning of the book. The Author does give readers great insight into Brian/Bone Collector/Mr. Silver. We are shown some events from his childhood and how he was introduced to his macabre obsession and museum.

I enjoyed the writing and the story. I thought the Author did a good job showing us the killer and how deranged he is. This book is lighter on the police procedural part and heavier on the killer, his motivations, those who have had contact with him and their lives. The descriptions and wording create a sense of dread and feels menacing. With such a creepy main character, you really need all those elements to pull off such a book. This book feels creepy and dreary which fit perfectly with the story.

Thank you to Kensington Books - Pinnacle and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. The thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I expected this book to be a story of a dogged detective hunting down a relentless killer. Instead, the book focused too much on the killer's motives and attempted recruitment of an understudy and hardly gave much time to the detective's story. I would not recommend the book.

Keep the light on, and play “happy” music, or risk a night of sleeplessness and bad dreams. Character development is superb, and now I need to go back and read the previous book. Serial killers don’t usually interest me as a reader, but I was compelled to make it through this one, and at the end of each chapter I had to go on.

This was a dark and creepy book that had me pretty much gripped throughout! I found the characters compelling and interesting and am eager to read more from the author.

Dark, creepy, and just as ominous as the first in the series! With having loved Rattle last year... I knew I had to get my hands on The Collector.

Let me tell you! There is a certain creepiness factor here that reminds me of The Silence of the lambs..... Hannibal style. This was such dark and delicious treat!

Fiona Cummins you have quite the talent for dark, creepy, and scary! Yikes.... Howley is someone that you don't want to EVER cross. He will stop at nothing but finding his new "family" of dysfunction and killing for a passion.

Brian has a new nickname for himself "The Bone Collector"... he can't forget how Detective Etta destroyed his dreams in the first novel. He also has a new apprentice that's by his side in "training". The entire grooming aspect and selection of his new victims is straight up CREEEPYYYY!!

Can Etta stop Brian before it's too late? READ this series! It's addicting, scary, and cringeworthy creepy.

4 epic stars!

Thank you to Netgalley and Kensington for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

Pub date: 12/18/18
Published to GR: 11/8/18

The Collector is a follow-up to Rattle and definitely did not disappoint. The demented serial killer is still at large and wants to get even with Etta who had escaped him and ruined his plans. This is a page-turning thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

This second novel by Fiona Cummins is just as good as the first one with the characters evolving and becoming more real. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am looking forward to the next one.

I know if a book has Cummins name on it, I’m in for a dark and delicious treat. DS Etta Fitzroy may have escaped the clutched of serial killer Brian Howley, but he is still at large. Months later, Etta is still suffering from PTSD even as she combs through the creepy “museum” that Howley was living in for clues. The last girl he abducted is still missing and there is no evidence of whether she’s alive or dead. Howley, meanwhile, is not done with Etta. He’s got plans to pull her right back inside her orbit. With finding the missing girl and putting a sick and devious killer behind bars her only objective, Etta will risk everything to bring Howley down. Howley is a nightmare inducing killer, read this with the light on, or better yet during the daytime