This is the first novel I have read by Katerina Diamond and it will not be the last. I am not sure how I have missed out on this series, which has DS Imogen Grey and DS Adrian Miles as the central police characters. It is a mystery. It is definitely a stand-alone. What a great read.

A professor at Exeter University is found brutally murdered in his private accommodation. The two detectives are called to the scene and as they progress their investigation more bodies turn up although the connection cannot be seen initially. All is not right at this university and when DS Miles is accused of rape there is doubt over the future careers of Imogen and Adrian.

This was an exciting and absorbing read, which I found cleverly plotted with several twists and turns. The relationship between the two was an added bonus, as it seems to be developing into something more than friendship, which makes the reading of the next in the series as a must.

Thank you to NetGalley, Avon Books UK and Katerina Diamond for my ARC in return for my honest review.

Brilliant read, highly recommended.

Set in Exeter, we are thrown into a world of fear, retribution, manipulation, mistrust, relationships, conflict, boundaries, and a search for the truth …but so much more!

Jaysus wept! I absolutely ADORE Katerina Diamond’s books and this one…SU–Bloody–PERB!! That opening knocked me for six – sooooo many questions and when it all became clear, I had to pick my jaw up off the floor – ok, not literally but you get my meaning, right!? NAILED IT!! What I love about this author is her masterful way of weaving doubt in the readers mind – you are just pulled in and then BOOM! She throws a curve ball that really sets your synapses on FIRE!! Great character development, a tight and totally eery storyline and some kickass twists. I was invested and turned those pages so fast, I could not believe how quickly I read this book. I loved the build up of suspense and the tension had me biting my nails. Simply phenomenal!

Character-wise I must talk about Imogen and Adrian…I just MUST! I love how Imogen has some inner turmoil festering and I was on the edge of my seat trying to figure out what she would do…vague, right? Well, I can’t really say what I am on about – read the book! Imogen is determined to crack the case, and is not afraid to push some boundaries if it means protecting those she cares about. However, Adrian really stole the show for me in this. There is a total awkwardness between him and Imogen and he really comes across as quite vulnerable, even when he is trying to hold on to the facade he hopes no one can see through.

And what I absolutely LOVED about this book were the red herrings and the gruesome crimes – goosebumps galore – if you don’t like gritty and absolutely amazing gore – do not pick up this book. Saying that, the author doesn’t sensationalise anything – whatever is written serves its purpose perfectly!

So would I recommend this book? You bet your sweet ‘ol arse I would! Intense, thrilling and oh-so-chilling, I highly recommend you grab a copy of Truth or Die today! Easily read as a stand alone, so don’t worry if you haven’t read anything else in the series!

Truth or Die by Katerina Diamond is the fifth book in this Brilliant D.S. Imogen Grey series.

A University professor is found butchered with his head brutally smashed in, in a private office of the Exeter University.
Who would target a seemingly innocent man, and why?

DS Imogen Grey and DS Adrian Miles are called to investigate. They turn to his students for answers, but their investigation turns up no leads. Someone must know more than they’re letting on…

Other University Professors are found brutally murdered and a number of students have died in mysteriously from accidents or suicide.

But are they suicide?

This is the beginning of a spate of horrific murders that shock the city.

Are they all connected to the first murder?

The body count rises, the police have to look into the past to uncover the person responsible before it’s too late.

Something is familiar with all the murders! Except one!

But are they brave enough to face up to the truth?

WoW what a brilliant book with lots of twists and turns throughout that will leave you guessing who it is and why they murdered these people. I was hooked form the very first few pages and Highly recommend this book. It can be read a stand alone book, however, I would highly recommend you read the previous books to get the history of this team. Every character in this series has a great part to play.

Thanks to Avon Books UK and Netgalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own

3 for neutral! This was not a book I could get into and enjoy. I tried on a few occasions and finally realized I wasn’t going to be in the mood for it; before my three months ended. Will edit my review if able to read at a later date!

This book was just average. The exciting parts of the book were limited in comparison to what felt like filler information. I enjoyed the odd chapter but mainly I felt like this novel was a chore to get through.

I wouldn't recommend it.

really enjoyed this book. great story line and great characters. look forward to reading more from this author.

I've read all of the Imogen Grey/Adrian Miles series, so was looking forward to this new one. It certainly didn't disappoint. In this book Imogen and Adrian are investigating the brutal murders of 2 professors at Exeter university. The trail leads to the possibility that there is a kind of 'dare' game going on, with the stakes getting higher, even as far as murder!! In the meantime, Imogen and Adrian move their relationship from friendship to a different level..... I really enjoyed this book. Thanks to NetGalley for a preview copy.
Copied to Goodreads.

The Imogen Grey & Adrian Miles series by Katerina Diamond is one of my favorite procedurals out there. Although I began reading from #2, I did go back and read the first one as well a few years ago. This is a series that has never disappointed me, in fact, the first book is my least favorite one. And this last entry was another winner in my opinion.

The case was pretty fascinating, and although you knew some of the players, you don’t really know what’s exactly going on until the very end. It was a complex web of lies, evil and cruelty. Of course, I absolutely loved it. Some aspects of the mystery reminded me of Charlie Donlea’s THE GIRL WHO WAS TAKEN.

I really think you should read the other books in the series before you pick up this one. Both the case and the relationship between Miles & Grey are heavily influenced by the previous novels, so you might be a bit lost. Also, I was glad that their relationship had some real development in this book. We caught a glimpse of what it could be in THE PROMISE, but we saw the full potential here.

I want to make clear that I am not a fan of romance and I do not really enjoy romantic suspense either, I always want the focus to be on the mystery and the murders. But I have to admit… I’ve grown to love Imogen and Adrian and I really feel that Katerina Diamond is an excellent writer, so she could sell me anything she wants to write.

I really enjoyed this book and I recommend this series to any crime fans out there. It’s an excellent one and you’re missing out! 💙

My thanks to Sabah for the invitation to take part in the blog tour and for providing the review copy.


I do love this series but am a little out of sync – I’ve read all except for book 3 (The Angel) – we are now on book 5 and here the story appears to refer more to events which I’ve missed, although for anyone else who hasn’t read that one, or indeed other books, don’t worry – this one can be read on its own.

The story begins with a young student’s death and as you would expect from this author, the death toll never lets up! For those that like their crimes a little on the gory side, have no fear, your wish is catered for! The story centres around a university where an increasing amount of murder victims provides Grey and Miles with one of their most baffling and testing cases yet. In addition, Miles is personally implicated in a crime with potentially devastating consequences.

One thing I love about this pairing is the way the working relationship between the two detectives has grown over the series. They are both complex personalities and at their core are damaged, but the trust and reliance they place on each other really comes through. Both are struggling with their own personal losses but they do really care for each other and have each other’s backs. This book focuses more on their personal relationship and it will be interesting to see where the author goes next with this.

Some aspects might take a little more convincing if you want to be really very picky but nonetheless I was absolutely glued to this. The ultimate reasons behind the crimes were absolutely sickening. The dynamics of the investigation team – including Gary, the IT genius makes the police procedural part interesting and, add into the mix possibly one of the most sympathetic serial killers in fiction and you have an engrossing and thoroughly entertaining crime thriller. I can’t wait for the next one and in the meantime I’m going to make sure I catch up with book 3 and see what I’ve missed!

A brilliant and well written thriller that grabs your attention from page one !
Dark, graphic, captivating... well developed and interesting story. Hard to put down!

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for the ARC of this book. This is my honest review. All opinions are my own.

I have not read any of this series before. Quite a complex tale. Probably would have enjoyed it more if I had read the previous novel. That said it was a good premise and I would read this author again. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review it.

A bit of a clique to say "another gripping book" by Diamond but that is exactly what this one is. Grips you from the very beginning and you just won't want to put this one down. Had me on edge trying to second guess the next move...

When a professor’s face is bludgeoned to death at their local University campus, DS Imogen Grey and her partner, DS Adrian Miles are put on the case to find the gruesome murderer. Imogen and Adrian get a lead from a local student, but her involvement leads to a false rape accusation toward Adrian, making their case messier than expected.

Then more professors are being picked off one by one, each murder more bloody than the last. And several student suicides are now being examined not as tragic deaths, but cold-blooded murder.

Unexpectedly, this case has a link to one Imogen and Adrian have worked on before. A familiar serial killer is on the loose yet again—but why? He went into hiding after their last encounter and he’s come back to punish truly evil people. But why do these professors deserve death and what are they doing that could be labeled as heinous?

The more Imogen and Adrian investigate this string of murders, the more they realize there’s more at stake than just the faculty and students of the University—their lives are on the line as well.

Truth or Die by Katerina Diamond is the 5th book in the DS Imogen Grey crime series. A lot of detective/crime thriller series can be read as a part of the series, but also as standalones, since each novel usually focuses on separate crimes with one constant (the same detective). Unfortunately, that was not the case with Truth or Die. I felt a bit left out at some points, like maybe I should have read the previous books first. But at the same time, there was just too much going on here. It’s told in the third person, which I find problematic when we’re dealing with a large cast of characters. We are hopping back and forth between each character without a seamless transition. We see the serial killer, both detectives and several other characters. So with that many perspectives, it was hard for me to follow along and connect to each person. The storyline was also extremely unlikely and improbable, which isn't a favorite for me in regard to crime series. I like the murders and circumstances to be realistic, even if extremely gruesome and severe. I don’t think I’ll be going back and reading the first 4 books in this series, but I'm happy I gave this author a try. 2/5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Avon and Katerina Diamond for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The author wrote a thriller that started with a bang and just kept going! The twists kept coming, so I couldn't put it down. I cannot wait to read more from this author!

I was really excited to catch up with the latest instalment in the DS Miles and DS Grey series. I've only read the previous one, The Promise, but as with that one anything that happened in the earlier books is referred to in enough detail so that it's easy to keep up with current events. This time there is a large part of the story that refers to what has gone before and it's made me kick myself even harder for not getting round to books 1-3.

There are murders taking place in the academic world. A university professor is found dead and Imogen Grey and Adrian Miles are tasked with finding out what happened to him. However, as I've come to expect from Katerina Diamond, this is a tangled web of a story with strands taking them off in all manner of directions. There's also a part of the storyline that could really mess up Adrian's career and I really felt for him at this point.

Exciting as the murders are though, the really exciting part for me was the simmering tension between the two colleagues and the way their working relationship is edging over into possibly being something more. It's quite the dilemma really (both for them and for me as a reader) because if they get it together then they can't work together. My lips are sealed though so you'll have to find out for yourself whether they take it to the next level or not.

Truth or Die is a really quick and thoroughly absorbing read. There's some pretty gory scenes in it, one that really made me cringe in horror, but I don't mind that at all! There were a few surprises and more fabulous writing from a talented author. What's going to happen next with Grey and Miles? I can't wait to find out.

Truth or Die
The new crime thriller from the Sunday Times top ten bestseller

by Katerina Diamond

Avon Books UK

Avon

General Fiction (Adult) , Mystery & Thrillers

Pub Date 11 Jul 2019

I am reviewing a copy of Truth or Die through Avon Books and Netgalley:

The body of a professor, who had been butchered was found in a private office of Exeter University. It is the first in a series of gruesome murders that shake the city to its core.

Who would target a man who is seemingly innocent and why was he being targeted? DS Imogen Grey and DS Adrian Miles turn to his students for answers, but their investigation turns up no leads. Someone must know more than they’re saying.

As the body count rises, the police have to look into the past to uncover the person responsible before it’s too late.

Are they brave enough to face up to the truth?

If you are looking for a good suspenseful read then Truth or Die is just the ticket. It’s full of The on the edge of your seat suspense, mystery and thriller buffs are looking for.

Five out of five stars!

Happy Reading!

Heart-pounding, fast paced, romantic, well a little! Great though! College kids, or as they say over the pond, Uni age kids, getting arrested, petty crimes, suicide, murdered? Must read! This will make my top 25, which is very hard to do. Great new Author for me, love the police couple, thrilled the other books are coming! They can't get here fast enough for me!
I highly recommend! Thank you Netgalley! My heart is still pounding!
carolintallahassee.com

The butchered body of a professor is found in a private office of Exeter University. It is the first in a spate of horrific murders that shakes the city to its core.
Who would target a seemingly innocent man, and why? DS Imogen Grey and DS Adrian Miles turn to his students for answers, but their investigation turns up no leads. Someone must know more than they’re letting on…
As the body count rises, the police have to look into the past to uncover the person responsible before it’s too late.But are they brave enough to face up to the truth?

Another dark and twisting book by an amazing author. What happens when secrets are buried so deep it almost leads to a murder getting away? And is the innocent man really innocent or are his secrets yet uncovered?
This book was full of suspense and twists that take the reader into darkness. Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to write about this story.

I was late coming to the Grey and Miles series but have had immense pleasure in catching up with all that I missed. To me, it is the combination of the setting, fantastic characters that you are rooting for - flaws and all - and stories which keep you hooked with their blend of the dark and, sometimes, disturbing. There is a real tension about them, a feeling of being kept on the edge, and the author isn't afraid to challenge the reader with murders that stop short of gratuitous violence but do leave you with enough detail to make you grimace.

Truth or Die is no different, and what may start out as a seemingly simple (by Katerina Diamond standards) murder of a college professor, taking a very unexpected turn, leaving the Detecting duo of Imogen Grey and Adrian Miles with a trail of bodies and series of ever more perplexing clues to unravel. Speaking of unraveling, a serious allegation threatens to derail both the investigation and possibly even Miles' career. With the relationship between the two Detectives heading into uncharted waters, this book will have fans well and truly hooked.

I don't want to say too much about the story itself as I think that you need to read to appreciate it. It's a very complex tale, with many threads being skilfully woven into a slowly emerging picture, one which may not catch you completely unawares but is still absolutely fascinating to watch. I had an inkling as to what might be at stake, but not who was behind it, and it took a while to see how the opening chapter fit into the whole story. It seemed almost completely unrelated, a bit like a piece of a jigsaw puzzle that you sit staring at, unable to tell from the lid where it's meant to fit. It's not until you nearly finish that it all makes sense and that final piece slots in, right where it belongs.

The murder in this range from the simple to the grotesque, and the victims from the manipulative to the spineless. It certainly makes me thankful that my University Professors all seemed relatively normal in comparison. the book also explores the idea of how easy it might be to manipulate young minds, those who have a fractured past or underprivileged upbringing, something which is, regrettably, believable.

I loved the way in which the author explored the ever more complicated relationship between Miles and Grey. It took somewhat of a turn in the last book, both of them seeking solace in each others company, albeit completely platonically. But with the chemistry between them, it makes for a heady mix and it is almost inevitable that a lot of this book is spent examining this dynamic.

It's a kind of coupling that both makes sense but also instills dread in me as a reader as Katerina Diamond isn't the kind of author who seems to do light and fluffy, so a happy ending cannot be on the cards even if they are both due a break. What that would then mean for our intrepid duo I wouldn't like to guess but no doubt it will make the reading very interesting. I can't wait to read the next book in the series to find out!

Thrilling and full of mystery and suspense. This one was enjoyable and it kept me gripped and interested throughout.