Well Joy Ellis has done it again! Another totally gripping page turner.

This is the sequel to BEWARE THE PAST in the first book we saw Matt Ballard up against evilness personified. It left him physically and emotionally shattered, one of his team with a life threatening injuries and someone close to him dead. So I was intrigued how Joy would build a book from the remains. I was far from disappointed this book just demonstrates what a talented author she is.

Matt's retirement has been delayed as his replacement is tied up in court. He is just overseeing things and wrapping everything up when a case from his past returns to haunt him. Jeremy Reader killed 5 women in a slow, painful way and Matt was the one that caught him. He is in prison serving life but is apparently a reformed character. Matt doesn't believe it but everyone else does. Unable to trust his gut instinct any more Matt goes along with the main feeling that he is a reformed character. Reader is about to marry Grace, a prison visitor. Grace appears to be a well adjusted woman so why would she want to marry a lifer?

When Grace arrives at the station with news of a copycat Matt is thrust straight into a nightmare. As the bodies stack up Matt and the team are struggling to find a lead even with the help of psychologists Laura and Sam.

Bryn takes a leading role in this book as he is left pretty much alone to investigate the murder of migrant workers with only a tattoo to link them. He is helped by Swifty, a uniformed officer and a new character. I loved to see Bryn grow wings and fly as his compassionate character and thoughtful nature help him gain the trust of a very untrusting community. That trust is key to solving the migrant murders.

This is a fast-paced read with many twists and turns as we follow the team down multiple 'dead' ends until towards the end when finally, they find some leads. The clues lead the team in a direction nobody expected and once again Matt finds his past coming back, ot to haunt him but to threaten his life and the lives of people he cares about.

The characters are complex and realistic and I was thrilled to learn of some new psychological conditions that I was previously unaware of. It was also interesting to learn a little of the culture and lives of the migrant community. I have much admiration for their ability to survive abuse and continually struggle to live in difficult circumstances.

An absolutely brilliant read. 5 golden stars from me.

Grace Repton walks into the police station to tell Mattthat she has information that could stop a murder. Her fiancé is the infamous serial killer, Jeremy Reader, has told her he has a disciple who's going to kill using Reader's horrific methods. Reader had murdered five women and had been brought to justice by Detective Matt Ballard. Jeremy Reacher is behind bars, imprisioned in a high secure unit. He's claiming he wants to help,the police. The Fenland police also have another case to solve. A Lithuanian migrant worker is found dead on the Fens. He has no ID on him but he does have a Tree of Life tattoo.

With its dual storyline, this novel pulled me in after the first few pages. As always in this series, the plot line and the characters are believable.. Se as usual in the rural Fenland. When a third body has been found with the Tree of Life tattoo, the police wonder if they are dealing with something more sinister. There are plenty of twists to keep you guessing throughout this book. I really like this series set on the Fens where there are plenty of places you could commit a murder in the fields and countryside that surround the area.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Joffe Books and the author Joy Ellis for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a really good fast paced thriller. I was gripped the whole way through. The plot is well thought out and the characters are believable. I did not see the twist coming. Very well written.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Joffe Books for an advance copy of Five Bloody Hearts, the second novel to feature DCI Matt Ballard of the Fenland Constabulary.

Matt is looking forward to his retirement but it keeps getting deferred until his replacement is free so it’s business not as usual with Fenfleet suddenly becoming the murder capital of the UK. First there is a murdered immigrant, the third in the past few months, and then there is something more sinister. Serial killer Jeremy Reader sends a message from prison to say that he believes one of his admirers, identified only as Alex, is ready to start a copycat spree. A warning that comes true.

I thoroughly enjoyed Five Bloody Hearts which is a pulse pounding read with plenty of twists and turns. It had me hooked from page one and didn’t let go and I was so engrossed I sat up way too late to finish it in one sitting. The novel has two strands with DC Bryn Owen investigating the immigrant case more or less singlehandedly due to a lack of resources and Matt Ballard leading the rest of the team on the copycat murders. Both are equally enjoyable in different ways. Bryan’s investigation is more low key but has a palpable sense of menace and danger and an ingenious solution. Matt’s investigation is more multi-stranded and complicated with plenty of twists and an untrustworthy source in Jeremy - can he really be as remorseful as he says or is it an elaborate con? It is all a bit OTT but in a good way, in the sense that it is absorbing, exciting and addictive if not particularly believable. In other words great entertainment.

DCI Matt Ballard is an interesting protagonist. It is unusual to see a detective longing for and planning his retirement and it is refreshing. It doesn’t mean that he is coasting through his last few weeks as he is as dedicated as ever but it offers a different perspective on “the job”. There are reasons for his longing - his last case took a high toll on both him and his team, both physically and mentally, and he’s burnt out, questioning his judgement and fitness for the job which sometimes seems more like a burden than a calling.

Five Bloody Hearts is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.

What a book!!!
I began reading this without realising it was the second part in a series. However by the time i realised I was too far into this gripping tale to turn back. 2 seemingly unrelated incidents take over the lives of a police team headed by Matt Ballard. One is the threat of a copycat, coming to their attention through a serial killer who Ballard put behind bars several years previously and the other of men's dead bodies appearing seemingly victims of some gangland/ drug crimes.
This boik does relate back to the previous book quite a lot but I didn't feel it was essential to have read it. I have however now purchased it and am aboit to start it.
I read this book in a day and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys police procedural, crime thrillers.