Last year I was on a sort of personal mission to read as many FIRST books where a detective makes his/ her first appearance as possible. While I enjoyed most of the books I picked last year and had intended to continue reading more of those this year I wasn't really being very successful till I picked Knock Knock.

Knock Knock by Chris Merritt is the first book in the Detective Lockhart and psychologist Dr Lexi Green police procedural series. These two characters belong to different worlds, one is American and other British, one is a psychologist trying to help the other, a policeman with a troubled personal life and so are brought together on a single platform - a spine chilling murder where the detective brings in the expertise of Dr Green to help his team crack the gruesome murder of a woman.

As the detective and his team try various approaches to identifying the killer, he strikes again, and no one seems to be able to make any sense of what he is doing and the why of it. The book does follow the working of a police procedural but also takes you through the developing relation between Lockhart and Green who seem to become a formidable team by the end of the book after doubting and wondering about each other's abilities and capabilities.

I do wish the book was shorter though Merritt writes a gripping and fear inducing tale (I am going to be very wary of delivery people calling at odd hours) which keeps you glued for hours on end.

Review featured at www.books-n-kisses.com

3.5 Hearts This is the first in a new series. Because of that a good amount of time was spent getting to know the characters. Detective Lockhart and Dr Green are introduced in this series chasing down a murderer.

I am hoping this is a good series as I liked the characters and the suspense was very well written.

I do have to say one of the best parts to me was I couldn’t figure it out. I thought I knew who it was a couple of times but I was wrong and honestly that is good writing if it doesn’t give it away.

A good start to hopefully a good series.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

This author was new to me but I liked the character development and depth of the storyline that contained some surprising developments. I'm looking forward to the next Lockhart and Green book to see where those two characters go and if they continue working together. For those that like a fast paced serial killer thriller, this book is for you!

This story was good and kept me guessing. Did they have a serial killer? Dan Lockhart seems like a pretty good guy to me. What happened to Natasha? This book was gripping and I did enjoy it. I think I would be excited to read book 2. *This book was given to me for free at my request from NetGalley and I provided this voluntary review.*

This is the first book I’ve read by Chris and it didn’t disappoint.
D I Dan Lockhart is an ex soldier with a missing wife and works in the Major Investigation Team in London.
Dan is called to scene of a wealthy street to find Natasha Mayston dead he believes he’s got a serial killer on the loose as a sex worker Kim Hardy was murdered in the same way but someone else was charged with that murder.
Dan calls Psycologist Dr Lexi Green in to help on the case ( Dan is also seeing Lexi in private)
Thanks NetGalley

Detective Dan Lockhart is SIO of his first major investigation called out to the murder of Natasha Mayston. Despite this being a new investigation Dan is sure this murder has the exact same elements as one earlier in the year, however that murder has been solved. Dan is suffering from PTSD and is privately seeing a therapist Dr Lexi Green who is really helping him come to terms with his life and the loss of his wife Jess, who disappeared whilst he was abroad on a tour of duty with the army. In quick succession another young girl is murdered in the same exact way and Dan decides to use Dr Green to create a psychological profile, only her profile falls fowl of the team’s lacklustre attitude and Lexi is deeply embarrassed. As the case begins to flounder and leads dry up Lexi decides to try her own theories out, joining a mysoginist online chat room under an assumed identity. Meanwhile the murderer continues his deadly acts and Dan is getting no nearer to discovering a suspect.
This new police procedural series first novel was excellent. From start to finish the writing was engrossing and the characters engaging, I was hooked from start to finish. The combination of Lockhart and Green is one I look forward to meeting again

I describe this book as shocking, engrossing, and moving novel. This is my first book from the author i did love it! Not disappointed to the story, well in fact i can't move on after reading this. Highly recommended. So twisty and chilling. I am now a fan of crime/detective novels!

Always good to read the start of a new series! This was intriguing and I really enjoyed it. Fast paced and I can't wait to read the next one

A powerful fusion of police procedural and psychological suspense underpins this story to good effect.
The beginning draws the reader into an unknown killer's world. The killer's on a crusade against women determined to impress their protector. The sense of menace felt from the start builds with the suspense, as the investigation continues and the deaths escalate.

Lockhart is a complex protagonist with emotional and mental health issues which he tries to address through therapy where he meets psychologist Lexi Green. The two characters make a connection that draws them together, on a professional level, and given the right circumstances, personally too.

Calculated grisly crimes make detection difficult. The impactful ending resonates.

I received a copy of this book from Bookouture via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

This is the first book that I have read by this author and it is the first book in a new detective series. I would classify it as a combination of mystery, suspense and police procedural. Detective Dan Lockhart is called to investigate a murder in a high-class London neighborhood. He immediately recognizes that Natasha Mayston was killed in the same way as Kim Hardy months before. Now he has to find out if the wrong man is in prison or if there is a copycat killer on the loose. He asks psychologist Lexi Green for help getting into the killer’s mind. The two of them are flawed characters with a background that compels them to find the killer before he kills more. For the most part, I enjoyed the story, but I must say that there were sections that I skimmed quickly because they seemed repetitive or unnecessarily wordy. The good news is that I enjoyed the twists and the ending with the reveal of the murderer was a total surprise to me. I liked all of the characters and was rooting for them to follow the clues before the killer struck again. I found out some of their backstory and that did make the story more enjoyable to me. Fans of the mystery and suspense genre will enjoy this book, but I think the police procedural parts were a little ho-hum and lengthy.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

Knock Knock is the first in the new Lockhart and Green series by Chris Merritt, and author who lives in London and sets this series in that city. Lockhart is a police detective whose wife has been missing for years, and finding her is first on his agenda unless he is working on a case. Lockhart has been seeing Green, who is a psychologist and is treating him for PTSD. He invites her to help with the case as soon as the first murder, that of Natasha Mayston, is discovered. She has been killed by having someone shove a ball down her throat until she chokes to death, and Lockhart is familiar with another similar murder where the police think they have the suspect in custody. Lockhart, it seems, is an alcoholic, albeit a good detective, and will stop at nothing to find the perpetrator. Several murders are committed after Mayston, and all are women who fight for women. It takes a while for clues, since the murderer is good at leaving no evidence at the murder scenes.

Merritt does a good job of developing his characters, and they seem viable, even the murder victims. He introduces readers to them, then someone kills them off. The murderer is also quite well-developed, although readers won’t have any idea who he is until the very end; several other suspects are out there, and Lockhart and his team have reasons for suspecting all of them.

One thing Merritt is especially good at is building suspense. It starts at the beginning of the novel, and builds throughout. There are parts that are unputdownable, and as the dénouement nears, the suspense is palatable. It seems that this is a good series to follow for those who like good writing, interesting characters, and plenty of suspense. Hopefully the second installment will be out soon.

Special thanks to NetGalley for supplying a review copy of this book.

This is the first in what promises to be a really good crime series. There are some really solid characters who could be expanded on such as DS Maxine Smith and DC Mo Khan. The reader is also dying to know more about DI Lockhart, why is he attending a counsellor and what is the story with his missing wife. The case here is one of a particularly sadistic killer whose victims seem to have nothing in common. There were plenty of suspects and until the very last moment I had no idea who the killer was. I will be looking out for the next book in this series.

Natasha Mayston wasn’t expecting anyone to knock on her door so late at night. And she has no idea that the face staring back at her is the last one she’ll ever see…

So first i must say when someone knock on your door late at night just don't open it if you don't know who is it!!
Absolutely brilliant, couldn't put it down.
I love love it ❤️
Let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Bookouture, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A brilliant new series with a fine team leading the way! Whenever I pick up a new book belonging to series, I am very eager to see if the lead detective/team makes it to my list of favorites. I'd like to think I have set my standards very high with the likes of Kim Stone, Erika Foster, Callanach, and the likes. This series with just its first installment was such a compelling read. Knock Knock did not just make it to my favorites' list, it also left me with a bad case of needing to read the next book in the series asap! Detective Lockhart & Green are a dynamic duo hunting down an unhinged killer killing innocent women leaving behind a gruesome signature. I loved this book for all it is - Its a gripping page-turner for sure!

Detective Dan Lockhart is called to the scene of a grisly murder. Natasha Mayston lies dead in her own home restrained, strangulated & with scratches to her ring finger. Taking in the scene before him, Dan already knows what forensics will find inside Natasha's mouth. Months earlier, one of Dan's informants Kim Hardy a local prostitute was found dead in the same way as Natasha. With Kim's killer already in jail, Dan wonders if the police got the right man? Soon another woman is found dead, restrained, choked & bruises to her ring finger. Fearing of dealing with a serial killer, Dan brings in his psychologist Dr. Lexi Green to help get inside the mind of the killer & narrow down suspects. Eager to help Dan, Lexi works hard at developing a profile for the killer. However, Dan's team is unconvinced about Lexi & her skills leading Lexi to research on her own time pushing her into the crazy killer's crosshairs. Can Dan piece together the clues and identify the killer before it’s too late?

I absolutely loved all the characters in this book. Dan with his past & missing wife makes for a very interesting read. I hope Chris Merritt addresses this mystery in the sequels to this book. Each & every one of Dan's officers' characters was also written in a very descriptive way. The end of the book seriously left me hoping the next book is out soon!! There is so much more to know & I love how this book turned out to be. Knock knock has set the bar very high for the subsequent books in this series & I hope to read all of them (soon).

Thank you NetGalley, Bookouture & Chris Merritt for an arc!

Thankyou to NetGalley, Bookouture and the author, Chris Merritt, for the opportunity to read a digital copy of Knock Knock in exchange for an honest and unbiased opinion.
I really enjoyed reading this book. The imagery, the narrative and the well developed characters draw you into this story and keeps you hooked until the last page. Will certainly be reading more from this author .
Well worth a read.

Women are being murdered with metal balls in their throats. Detective Inspector Dan  Lockhart is convinced he is dealing with a serial killer but is battling his superiors to make the links. He asks his psychologist Lexi Green for her input.
Dan is dealing with his own demons from the army and the mysterious disappearance of his wife. Lexi is a busy woman, dedicated to her patients but with human concerns of paying the bills. This case pushes them both in terms of their professional lives but also has a very personal undertone.
The main focus of the narrative is on the police investigation but we also get to see the murderer's perspective which is deeply disturbing. The truly horrifying thing is that it is easy to imagine the web being full of hatred and people in a vulnerable mental state who could act on their proclivities. Some of the murders are seen from the victim's viewpoint and these are very difficult to read as the terror is absolutely realistic.
I suspected everyone in Knock Knock as author Chris Merritt cleverly makes all the characters potential killers in terms of motive and opportunity. It is easy for the reader to pick up clues from the case and the murderer and make the wrong assumptions!
This was an incredibly good book: fast paced but with plenty of detail about the police investigation, likeable lead characters and a chilling serial killer. I believe this is the first in a new series and it is definitely one that I'll keep up with!

This is the first book in the series featuring Detective Dan Lockhart and psychologist Dr Lexi Green. Dan is an ex army man and whilst abroad his wife went missing. Dan is now working in the Major Investigation Team in Putney. He is suffering from PTSD and is having therapy sessions with Dr Lexi Green, who is an American psychologist living in London. During one such session Dan is informed of the murder of Natasha Mayston, who has been found choked to death. When he sees her body he immediately connects it to a similar death a few months previously but someone has already been charged with that murder. Did they make a wrong conviction and is the real killer still at large? Dan decides to call in Dr Green to help them penetrate the killer’s mind, but his team aren’t convinced with her findings so she decides to carry on the investigation on her own. Before long her own life is in danger, can Dan identify the killer before it’s too late? I found this book a gripping start to a new series. It is fast paced and I enjoyed learning about all of Dan’s team in the hunt for the killer and it kept me guessing right until the end. I look forward to the next book in the series.
Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

Review for 'Knock Knock' by Chris Merritt

Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Bookouture publishers

This is the first book that I have read by this author. It is also the first book in the 'Detectives Lockhart and Green' series. I would be interested in reading more of this series.

THE main characters were well rounded and compelling with flaws which is nice to see as it makes them more realistic. I also enjoyed reading about the other characters in the book who were also all well defined.

An explosive start to a new series as it starts straight into the action. However throughout the book it seemed like a bit of a roller-coaster with some lulls which made my mind wander off on a few occasions. At its best the plot was filled with action, drama, murder and mystery which kept me on the edge of my seat.

THE book is based in the UK which is always a bonus for me, being a resident. I also love the fact that I never even had an inkling who the killer was. There were so many red herrings that at a few points I was like 'Yep that's got to be him' just to be proven completely wrong!!! So top marks for that!!

I did find the name changes confusing at times, sometimes with their title, sometimes surnames and sometimes first names which made it difficult to follow at a few points which is a shame.

THE book was very well written and flowed smoothly and as it was told from several character perspectives I felt I was 'seeing' more of what was going on which is another bonus for me.

It was obvious the author has done some very good research, especially into the crime system which is always nice to see, especially after reading books there the opposite is blatant and the author has done no research whatsoever.

Overall this is a very well written British police procedural that has an excellent plot and great characters, very well written with a surprise ending. I am looking forward to reading more from the characters.

I would recommend this book to fans of crime, murder, suspense, thrillers and action.

392 pages

Free on kindle unlimited or 99p to purchase. I think this is a bargain for this book.

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I thoroughly enjoyed this book and struggled it put it down. It was tense, gripping and engaging. A great start to a new crime series. The characters were likeable and believable. I enjoyed the story of his wife which was running in the background and can't wait to see how the story unfolds. I can't wait to read more of his books.

This book was right up my street and I can't wait to read other releases in the series a solid start !

Told from several points of view, the main characters were introduced well and I look forward to seeing how they develop over the series.

A gripping tense dark read that had me hooked from beginning to end, non stop action a plenty.