A clever and well written novel but I found it difficult to like or empathise with any of the main characters which made it a book that for me cells like it's missing something.

I received this book as an ARC from Netgalley and the publisher. Leaving a voluntary and honest review.
This is the start of a series based on DI Dani Stevens, who has been out of work for 2 years. Still suffering from effects of a TBI, caused by her twin brother trying to kill her. On her first day back to work, she is called to the body of a young woman who has been stabbed to death. While investigating, she believes that there is a serial killer at work here, but no one else agrees. Can she get the other investigators to believe her? Some of them doubt her and she starts to wonder if her brain is causing her to do things, see things, is she losing her mind and becoming a monster like her brother. Really got caught up in the book trying to figure it all out. Was a little slow in places and was surprised at the ending. But overall a very good read.

This book started off well for me and just got better and better. It was fast paced and thrilling. I found I couldn’t put it down and read it in just over a day. I liked DI Stephens who returned to work after 2 years off. Good back story explaining why she had been off, what she had gone through and how it affected her. She's tenacious and follows her gut instinct. It’s set in and around Birmingham where I’m from so I knew the areas mentioned in the book which just made it more enjoyable to read. Huge reveal at the end that I wasn’t expecting which just added to the story. Would highly recommend and hope there’s at least another book to follow on,

Rob Sinclair writes a classic who-done-it in Essence of Evil. I believe this will be a series of books about D.I. Dani Stephens. I really look forward to reading more books staring Dani.

Dani, a detective, was attacked and has been out of work for three years. Her brother, her twin brother no less, attacked her and left her for dead. She didn't die, but suffered a traumatic brain injury and is essentially a much different person than she was.

She has changed but her commitment to her job and catching the criminals has not. Dead bodies are piling up and she believes it's the work of a serial killer even if everyone around her thinks she is crazy. Dani doesn't give up and even puts her life on the line to find out who the murder is. Dani has to make peace with her old life and who she is now if she is to come out of this alive.

Great book, great characters that are real and realistic. I did not want to put this book down it was so good. As a reader, I was rooting for Dani to solve the puzzle and also to let herself heal. Five stars and highly recommended.

An amazing read. I Could not put it down. Really draws you in and keeps you hooked from start to finish. Looking forward to more from this amazing author!! Highly recommended book.

A new series featuring Di Dani Stephens of which this is the first

We learn the reasons as to her abscence from her job following a serious injury and her journey to recover emorionally and physically
This story keeps you guessing and is very well thought and written . Highly recommended

I enjoyed this first book in series for DI Dani Stephens and look forward to her next case. Fast paced. Short chapters. Plenty of twists and turns to keep me interested. Would definitely recommend this novel. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review it.

A thrilling read. It's a fast paced story with a fascinating lead with an intriguing back story. This really adds a little something different to the story and as a result I couldn't put it down. There was a lot of depth to the story which really makes it stand out in a crowded genre. Can't wait for more in the series.

This book was so spectacular. The essence of the story was captivating. The intense trauma the main character has been dealt, by the hand and by the hand of her twin, was heart wrenching .It was a fast paced read, the action and drama never stop. This is one of the better crime procedural books I have read in a long time.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy .
#netgalley
#theessenceofevil

his book had me gripped from the beginning. DI Stephens is returning back to work after her twin brother tried to kill her. She is trying to come to terms with the attack whilst dealing with her new life following her traumatic brain injury. Dani is trying to track down the killer whilst having multiple hurdles thrown at her. I don’t want to say anymore as I don’t want to risk any spoilers. There’s lots of twists PLUS a killer ending. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more of his work.

Essence of Evil by Rob Sinclair is first n the series of DI Dani Stephens Books.

I liked that the protagonist was a fiesty female lead who had an intriguing back story. I like books that had short chapters because I tend to read books during my commute or breaks throughout the day. It also meant that the book was quite fast paced and made it hard for me to put down. I look forward to the next book in the series so that I can read more about Dani and how she develops as a Character.

I received this book from Netgalley for an honest review.

I don't repeat the blurb. I did love the 'Enemy' series so leaped on this when I saw it and I wasn't disappointed. Interesting premise and evidently really well researched. The main character, Dani, was not without her flaws, but her backstory was integral to the whole plot. A great read - could not put it down.

The Essence of Evil Rob Sinclair


I loved this book, not because its set in my home city of Birmingham, not even because the main character is wonderfully flawed, or because the story is brilliant, even though all of those are true. I loved this book because it is at least three stories in one, all wonderfully woven together to make a story that will stay with me for quite a while.

DI Dani Stephens, what a character, is returning to work in the Homicide Team of the West Midlands Police after two years off following an injury.

Dani is returning after being attacked by a killer, who nearly took her life, and worse still it was her twin brother.

As she returns to work, she is immediately involved in a murder investigation, one of the strands of the story, but she is teamed up with a friend as joint SIO. Is this part of her rehabilitation into the team, or is she just not trusted?

Talking about rehabilitation, that’s the second thread of the story. In flash-back chapters we find out how she was injured, and are taken through her two years of rehab, the first six months of which were in hospital as she recovered from a Traumatic Brain Injury.

The third strand of the story is how she received the injury, the relationship she now has with her twin brother who is serving a life sentence for murders he committed.

Dani is a great character, fiercely independent to the point of pushing everybody away. Paranoid to the point of hysteria, and mucked up in the head by the medication she is still taking, even though she should be cutting back.

So when she develops a theory about the murder she’s investigating it’s not surprising that nobody takes her seriously.

As Dani carries on her investigation she starts to doubt herself, has the brain injury robbed her of the one thing she loves in life, the ability to do her job; or has she got it all right, and should everybody else actually be listening to her instead of doubting her.

This is a belter of a book.

I love complex, dark stories, that could all so easily be real, and this book sits firmly in that category.

Pages: 394
Publishers: Canelo Hera
Release date: 12th September 2019

Great book will be reading other books by this author.
Will also recommend this book to others.
Great read! 5*****

My thanks to NetGalley and publisher Canelo for the ARC.
This is the first book in a new detective series featuring DI Dani Stephens of Force CID, Homicide, West Midlands Police - and what a cracking start! Well-written, great characterisation, flowing dialogue, mystery, suspense and murder.

Dani has spent 2 years recovering from a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) inflicted upon her by her twin brother Ben when she got in his way trying to prevent him murdering again. Throughout the book we learn of Dani's emotional and physical road to recovery and her relationship with Jason Barnes through her diary excerpts, leading to her return to work. Jason is now a DI and her new assigned partner is DS Aaron Easton whom she meets for the first time following an early morning call to a crime scene on her first day back on duty.
A young semi-naked girl has been murdered in someone's front garden in Moseley. There's evidence the victim had been previously tied-up and had been caught and killed when she escaped.
Trying to identify her Dani searches the list of missing persons and is appalled that several young women have disappeared without trace and without reason. She is convinced that a serial killer is out there somewhere.
During the investigation she becomes aware of, but never sees, someone watching her, but cannot be sure it is real or whether a result of her TBI and the various medications she has to take. During a suspect pursuit a young man dies and Dani is suspended. She slips further into paranoia when she receives notes from the killer.

Professor Steven Grant lectures in Criminology at the university. He once was abducted and tortured by a murderer but survived and wrote a bestseller - The Essence of Evil. Dani had previously interviewed him in connection with his wayward son Ethan being a person of interest in her original murder investigation and whilst suspended discusses the notes she'd been receiving and what the killer may be thinking and how victims could really disappear without trace.
Meanwhile, Grant is obsessed with the nosiness of his opposite neighbour Ed Francis who reports domestic disturbances between Ethan and his parents, resulting in Ethan leaving home.

Things go from bad to worse when a murder weapon with Dani's fingerprints on it is found in a victim's flat and she becomes convinced someone is setting her up. Can they believe she hadn't written the notes herself?
Dani also dwells on the question of 'nature v nurture' - after all, she and Ben are twins - is there such a thing as a born killer? How much has her TBI changed her personality and is The Force just trying to get rid of her?

Dani is a complicated person, courageous and driven; she lives for her job but is finding she perhaps speaks her mind more quickly and forthrightly than would be considered cautious especially to her senior officers.
She's a fantastic new character and I can't wait to read a continuation of her exploits.
Thoroughly recommended.

The Essence of Evil is a fantastic thriller that had great characters and storyline. The book is well written and is entertaining.

This is a thriller that grabs ahold and doesn't let go. Dani is one of the most complex female characters I've read in a long time. I can't wait to see how she develops as the series progresses. She brings out a lot of emotions in the reader. Heavy on the frustration. There were several twists that kept me guessing and going back to check if I was remembering right. Full of action, mystery, and suspense this is an excellent start of s new series. This will definitely not be my last by this author.

"The Essence Of Evil" is the first novel in the DI Dani Stephens series. Our protagonist is a feisty female with an intriguing back story. The chapters are short which keeps the pace up and makes the book very hard to put down. I loved the plot and characters, and I can't wait to see this new series develop.

I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.

Dani returns to her job after a brain injury cause by her twin brother Ben who is murder who went into a killing spree in the first book.

Dani is still recovering from this when she in task to investigate a young woman name Natalya murder as she and her assign partner Easton investigate it leads them to the Grant family we learn the father Robert who is a professor was victim of crime years ago when their son Ethan is a person of interest.

Dani feels like someone is watching her but she doesn't know if it's her brain injury or something else as she pushes her ex boyfriend Jason away and when she runs after a potential suspect that cause his death she suspend and then she get notes from the killer.

This was a good read even though I kinda wish she quit her job at the end and became a private investigator because it's seem like no-one trusts her and she almost get killed again because she knew their was more to this crime was letting on.