I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Wow...just plain wow. Absolutely gripping from page one. Robert Bryndza is a brilliant and gritty writer and this book is just another example of his amazing talent.

Great premise and interesting characters but far too long.

New series are tough to review. The details have to set the stage where you get insight to the characters but leave things to build upon. That is handled well here. But I don’t think I care enough to revisit them.

I laughed when I read other reviews that said this was a “quick, easy read” or “I read it in one sitting”. God bless them. I was thrilled at the beginning and then found myself itching for this to wrap up. There were far too many unnecessary details and descriptions. It merely added to the page count, not the story.

There were a large number of ridiculous things that happened to wrap up this story, in both actions and coincidences. It was hard to swallow at times.

I haven’t read anything else by this author but I have heard good things. I think this series may get there but this was a tough one for me.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and Thomas & Mercer for a copy in exchange for a review.

I love the Erika Foster series by this author and was totally disappointed with this book. The main characters are indifferent and it took me forever to finish the book. Sorry I can’t recommend it.
Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

If you've ever read the Erika Foster series, you will know the sheer brilliance that is Robert Bryndza. Those were the books that got me hooked and proper in the genre and there was no looking back! So when I saw Nine Elms up for request on NetGalley, I just knew I had to have it! Nine Elms is the first book in the Kate Marshall series. It's gripping, twisted and what some might say extremely disturbing. I enjoyed every minute of this read and has left me wanting to read more.

Kate Marshall was an up and coming intelligent young detective when a chance encounter led her in the cross-hairs of the the Nine Elms killer. Capturing him, took a physical and emotional toll on Kate leaving her unable to cope with her job and the case coverage from the unforgiving press, ultimately ending it prematurely. Now, older and wiser Kate works at a University lecturing students about serial killers. An instant hit, Kate finally seems to have found something that makes her happy when the unthinkable happens. Someone is ruthlessly killing girls around town and every case has multiple similarities with the original Nine Elms case. Unable to stay away from the senselessness of the crime and wanting to put an end to this once and for all has Kate focused on bringing the killer to justice. To do this she must re-open healed wounds and delve into the past to find the answer before its too late.

I loved the plot of this book, it was smart, compelling and generously peppered with those OMG nail-biting moments that'll have worked up and all worried for the characters. I really loved all the characters in this book, but I'd have liked to see the secondary characters like Jake in more detail.The book focuses entirely on Kate and the Nine Elms case. Very little is shown about her family, how she came about to be a detective, her ex-teammates etc. For example, growing up, Jake probably wondered about his ancestry. Given that he's a teenager, having an absent father figure (& for that matter an absent mother too) surely must have caused some emotional issues and some friction with the adults in his life. I'd have liked to see that struggle with emotions.That being said, since this is only the first book, and I'm sure there'll be more, I'm not worried. This only makes me more eager to read the next one! So I'll rub my hands in anticipation and keep obsessively checking for when the next book comes out!

Thank you, NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer & Robert Bryndza for an arc!

This book had me from the very beginning. If you haven't already read other reviews and teasers just ignore them (because they inadvertently contain a huge spoiler!) and jump right into Nine Elms. That said, I will not go into much of the plot because it all hinges on that startling opener.

Kate Marshall is a young police detective and rising star assigned to the Nine Elms serial killer case. Even though she breaks the case, her career ends in scandal. Years later, Kate is a lecturer in criminology who branches out as a private investigator when it seems the Nine Elms case may not be resolved after all.

Not having read any of Robert Bryndza's previous mystery/crime/thrillers, I was impressed enough with this new series to give it four stars. After the initial bombshell, this was pretty much an investigation/police procedural. It had interesting twists to hold the reader's attention and characters worthy of further development. Although it was a bit of an uneven read as far as keeping me engaged, there were some very stellar moments that will have me on the look out for Kate Marshall's next appearance.


FYI - I received a copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this thriller. It was an enjoyable reading experience and it held my attention. I would recommend it.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read complimentary copy of this book in return for review based upon my honest opinion.

I really like everything that this author has written, this book is no exception. This could be my next detective series to follow. I really liked the character of Kate Marshall, and her relationship with her assistant Tristan had some really interesting dynamics and tension. This is the first book I’ve read in this series and I hope it’s a long series. There was lots of action lots of twists, and a great storyline.

There's always a worry when you pick up the first book in a new series that you won't enjoy it, won't be able to engage with the character. Worry turns to fear when that new series has been written by one of your favourite authors, and that author has already created one of your favourite female detectives of all time, Erika Foster.
It probably no surprise then to say I was slightly anxious when I picked up Nine Elms, the first in the Kate Marshall series. Thankfully, any worries I had were quickly erased in those first few pages. Once again, Bryndza has created a memorable opening and a great introduction to a strong female protagonist, one I can't wait to get to know better. And what is nice here is that, while that protagonist was once a police officer, now she is a lecturer having had her career ruined by scandal.
It means that a lot of the elements I might have expected, a team of hardened detectives, for example, weren't there. This meant the book felt different and fresh, and I liked that. What wasn't different was Bryndza's way of telling a story with twists, turns and plenty of red herrings. I never quite know whether I'm coming or going - leading to lots of page-turning and late nights. You can't ask for more really, which is why I highly recommend Nine Elms - a great start to what will hopefully be a great series.

I am in the minority once again. I heard so much about the author that when I saw a new series starting, I wanted to get in on it from the very beginning. This (once again) was not for me. I will talk about the story and then point out the reasons it did not work for me and therefore separate myself from the crowd. Seeing my reasoning, you can make up your own minds about it.

Kate is a cop who ends her career because of a miscalculation and the fact that she apprehends a serial killer. The latter is something that should have been advantageous to her career but works out in the utterly opposite fashion due to unforeseen complications. She is now struggling with keeping herself sober (fourteen years later) and is facing reminders of those killings. Then a cat and mouse game is played to a climactic end.

The story itself should have worked but I felt like all the crimes/erratic behaviour were more for shock value. They were pushed into the forefront even before the person committing the crimes became an actual figure in mind. The biggest thing that bothered me was almost inconsequential, at the halfway point, Kate happens to refer to herself as a private investigator and then ends up printing cards with that as a title. She is teaching at a College, and I found this beyond strange. I actually googled to confirm that you need a license to be a Private investigator and that takes at least a couple of days. Nowhere is that fact even acknowledged. In a police procedural of this format, I would assume that is an essential missing step! I could be wrong however and am basing this reaction solely on my google results and certain other books/shows I have read or watched. The criminal is shown to us in the very beginning, and everything that happens next just seemed to want to shock the reader. I did not feel the thrill that should have been part of the chase and the being chased. This review is a personal reaction to the narrative. I would recommend this to readers of the genre who might find it more to their taste than I did.

I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.

After his excellent Erika Foster series, Robert Bryndza has written a new series starring Kate Marshall.

The book starts in 1995 where we see Kate Marshall as a young police detective who catches the notorious Nine Elms serial killer. But her victory turns into nightmare when it gets known that she was in a relationship with the Nine Elms killer and has ended up pregnant. With her reputation in tatters, she has to leave the police force in disgrace.

Fifteen years later, Kate is a criminology lecturer at a university. But she is forced to look at the past when someone starts copying the Nine Elms killer with the ultimate aim to finish what his idol started, the plan which Kate put a stop to when she caught the Nine Elms killer. Kate enlists her research assistant Tristan Harper's help and draws in her skills as an investigator to catch the new monster before he carries his plan to fruition.

This was a great start to a new series. Both Kate and Tristan are interesting characters and I hope to see them being more fleshed out in the next book. Since this was the start to a series, much importance was given to Kate's past and the issues she is facing today due to her past. Thanks to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for providing me with an ARC of this book. Looking forward to reading book 2, Shadow Sands, which is expected to release in November 2020.

This is an absorbing story of a deranged serial killer and his copycat. Right now I still prefer the Erica Foster series but am looking forward to Kate Marshall 2. enjoyed the book but was disappointed that after all the details and twists and turns the book ends rather abruptly without going into much detail about how the case was solved/the protagonist was found

Nine Elms is the next step in the evolution of Mr. Bryndza's writing. From a beginning writing somewhat fluff rom-coms, to the Erika Foster series, Nine Elms holds no punches. Kate Marshall is introduced as a not very strong character. After lamenting having slept with her boss, she is unable to be proactive when a man solicits her for sex. This is not someone we would expect to be the main character in a series. But that quickly changes and the reader is introduced to an older, stronger Kate Marshall who now teaches criminal justice at university and has taken to delving into some cold cases that might be related to her own police history. Frequently I had to remind myself that this was the first book in the series and that I hadn't actually read two different books. That is how strong this book starts off! And it doesn't let up. I wish it had let up in regards to the cannibalism. That was a bit much for me. Now I have two series from Mr. Bryndza to look forward to reading!

Wow, this was a interesting book, it gave us a great understanding of Kate Marshall by starting with going back 15 years when she was a police officer and caught a serial killer. Rather than earning her accolades, it earned her the sack and now, 15 years later, she is now a part time criminology lecturer and part time private investigator. And guess who’s back and wants Kate Marshall again.... A great read, typical of the brilliance of Robert Bryndza.

I enjoyed this page turning book. It was well written. Glad that I read it. Will be checking other books by this author.

RATING 3.5 STARS

My recovery must come first, so that everything I love in life doesn't have to come last.

Kate Marshall is a recovering alcoholic and detective. Solving and overcoming a notorious case of the Nine Elms killing, she almost didn't make it. Emotionally and physically fighting off her boss Peter and boyfriend as the Nine Elms Killer put her over the edge. She is now a mom and Professor of crime along with her young assistant Tristan. She wonders if evil is born from experience or from the parents. Putting Peter behind bars has put her mind at ease but will she ever be free of him and what he is capable of.

When she gets a phone call from a former associate in CSI about another girl murdered, it eerily resembles what Peter did. With several more gruesome murders that take place that coincide with the murders that Peter committed, Kate fears for her son's life and what this copy cat killer's end game is.

There is enough detail to get caught up but not overly to stop reading. I could never watch the movie version of this. It is pretty wicked but the characters are strong and human. Character driven for me.

A Special Thank you to Thomas Mercer and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review

A unique and gripping premise, this book takes you on a wild ride inside the mind of a diabolical killer...one who ends up hitting a bit too close to home. Eye-opening twists keep you engrossed in the story for hours on end, and culminates with a satisfying conclusion. Recommended.

**My sincere thanks to the author and publisher for providing a copy free of charge through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.**

In Nine Elms (Kate Marshall, #1) by Robert Bryndza we meet Kate Marshall. We start out seeing her as a young police officer who catches the Nine Elms Killer. The story then skips to 15 years later when she is a university professor, having lost her position in the police force due to circumstances relating to the case. She believed she had distanced herself from her past but is asked by a grieving family to help them find their daughter, who has been missing for years. As this is going on, she is brought into a copycat case of the Nine Elms Killer.

As Kate and her assistant Tristan work to solve the missing girl’s cold case they run into more than they bargained for and Kate needs to fight for more than her own life this time around.

A nice start to a new series – great characters and the back story is all set up. Looking forward to more of Kate Marshall. I received an ARC of this book through Net Galley and this is my honest review.

Okay but not as good as The Girl in the Ice. I haven't read any of the interim novels, so don't know how it compares to others.

This is the first in a new series featuring Detective Kate Marshall who become an overnight tabloid sensation when she captured an awful serial killer. Now, fifteen years later Kate is suddenly caught up in a copy cat case which she hopes will redeem herself. She discovers the original killer planned to kill her - and needs to stop the copy cat Klimt. Wow, this is an extremely dark and gruesome novel and some parts may be very distressing for some. Had to stop several times while reading and come back to it.

I always feel a slight disappointment when the author of a favourite series produces a new book - and it's not from that series! No! What about Erika?!
Mr Bryndza is a great story-teller, however, so I had no hesitation requesting this when it came up on NetGalley. Unfortunately I was declined the first time (wrong country I suspect) and only approved after publication on the second attempt, so I decided to catch up with my older deadlines and am now finally up to date (until tomorrow, when the next one is due...) Anyhoo, I am happy to report that the start of this new series is just as good as the Erika Foster books but with quite a different kind of heroine.

In 1990, Kate Marshall was a newly promoted DC working in London when she unmasked the twisted Nine Elms Cannibal serial killer, but a serious indiscretion and press hounding cost her her police career. Twenty years on, she lives a quiet life by the sea near Exeter, lecturing in criminology and fighting to keep alcoholism at bay. When a new series of young women are killed in exactly the same way, Kate and her resourceful assistant Tristan are drawn into the case - the original killer is still locked up, so who is the copycat and why is he now targeting victims so close to where she lives?

This was a tense well-written serial killer novel with a heroine who took a while to grow on me. We learn early on that she doesn't have Erika's gumption - her younger self standing by in shock when a kerb-crawler flashes her, rather than arresting his sleazy a**e. The alcoholic detective trope is well-worn but it isn't overplayed here, and Kate's struggles don't take over the narrative. I liked the semi-maternal relationship she has with Tristan, as a surrogate for her actual son, the immature for fourteen Jake. (Do teenagers really want to build sandcastles and look at jellyfish?)

There is some violence and a little gore, but it wasn't excessive for this genre. I felt that some aspects of the police investigation were rather hard to believe, including what Kate and Tristan are allowed to get away with. Perhaps some police forces and secure hospitals really are that incompetent, who knows.
The motivations of the new killer were also a bit thin and the denouement somewhat predictable but overall this was a solid start to the new series and I will definitely want to read about what Kate & Tristan do next. 4 solid stars.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC which allowed me to give an honest review. Nine Elms is available now.