Knock Knock was for me intriguing..... a very well thought out plan and executed really well.....complex and sometimes quite subtle but the elements for a good read were in there.......
It linked the two people who became the main characters in the search for the Throat Ripper, and how they became involved together on the hunt for the serial killer.........
Clever psychological interpretation and good grounding in detective work, gave Dan and Lexi the necessary skill sets to use to find the evasive killer..
a lot of ideas of how one would kill a person and the perverse reasoning behind it all is for me is unique.... as i have never heard of this type of use for the plot....
There was a sense of fear as i read this book as he restrains them and leaves them totally vulnerable to whatever he wanted to do to them
and i could almost find myself in an inner struggle to get away...... but the link to the mentality of why this is done, is for me a great insight in to psychology.... I loved it ... as it is always that there is a reason behind our actions and the way we do them.......even the ring was significant

The detail and the online research which Lexi did was also eye opening and it goes without saying that there is hope that our children are never able to access any of this material that is out there on the web........ but it is there, and it is also very scary that there could be people that we know would be dealing with any of this

Dan and Lexi seem to have the two elements to crime solving wrapped up......... and it would be nice to read another book from the author based on these two characters.

The detail of Dan's background also gave a great understanding of this man and how he operated and what motivated him .....he seemed to be a person that would be strong and gives a sense of being there for his own and people he liked.....
Lexi gave the impression of being young and still finding her niche in life and building on it ....but also finding love in her life..... but i would say that these two have the ingredients for a successful career in crime detection and possibly love.....

Thank you for a great read... i loved it and it did keep me guessing right up to the end...... and i have to say. how it was connected in all the different ways had me thinking and guessing...... a very good and in depth crime thriller...............slow in the beginning as the two start to come together and begin a joint effort to catch this killer .....but well worth the wait

I did enjoy this book, I liked the main 2 characters, but I found the pace of the book to be too slow for me, and I think if it had been sharper and faster it would have held my interest more.I was also confused by the American references for instance they referred to The Subway instead of The Tube ,and they threw their litter into a trash can instead of a bin maybe i am being picky but it seemed odd to me. I do wish the book had been sharper and faster in pace, I kept reading because I wanted to find out who the killer was and I hadn't got a clue, so I guess that was good.I would like to see the two main characters again so would probably read the next book in the series, and I did think this one had good points as well as things I wasn't keen on. .

I was thrilled when I saw this book. I have read some of this authors other work and got a little giddy when I noticed this was the start of a new series. I feel this introduction to Detective Dan Lockhart and Dr Green was brilliant. I love getting to know new characters. These are 2 characters I can really see building through futer books. I think they have a lot to offer us readers and I cant wait to see what Chris Merritt decideds for them.
I found that i needed to keep reading that I wanted to know the who, why etc. A few times I thought I had the answers, but clearly I didn't which was a great way of putting those twists in there, making you feel you know what s coming. You don't so you then have to continue.
It was interesting getting to know our new characters as I said, Dan Lockhart is a married man, but his wife went missing and he hasn't seen her since. This is always at the back of his mind when he's going about his work and everyday life, it will be interesting to see how that part of the story develops, i'm just hoping it's not something that is going to go on forever like another crime authors books.
I do feel this was certainly a well written book with a story to keep you hooked, and I really do look forward to what will come in future books.
Now is the time to treat yourself and order this book, start a new series and enjoy your reading

Oh wow. Psychological thriller is right. This book kept me interested and guessing the whole time, I honestly couldn’t put it down.

The book does have a lot of narrators and at the beginning which I wasn’t a fan of, just a lot of people to keep up with. However, as you get closer to the end of the book the multiple narrators is key with keeping the suspense up. I was on the edge of my seat and needed to finish the book.

Definitely recommend and have added his previous books to my TBR. Can to wait for another one in this series.

Arrrrgggh... I was so looking forward to this one. You know that book that you wait to read because you have ot in your head that it's going to consume you? Yep, well this is it... AND IT DIDN'T!

This is the first in the new Detectives Lockhart & Green series... Right from the start I struggled. I couldn't connect with any of the characters and it was just so slow going.

I found myself skimming through so much which isnt a good thing at all.

I'm still giving 2 stars because despite my negativity the book is well written and the author has obviously done his research but it's just not for me.

2*

Thanks to netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC.

This is the first book a new series featuring detective Lockhart and Dr Green. I was really looking forward to reading this but from the outset I found it difficult to get into. I couldn't connect with the characters, and found the book quite slow going in places. As another reviewer mentioned you can't help but draw comparisons with Lockhart's missing wife and the Roy Grace series of books (Roy's wife also went missing).

The book was well written but a little bit too long. Not sure yet whether this series is going to be my cup of tea but will definitely give it a chance and will read the next book in the series to see how the characters develop.

Special thanks to Netgalley, Bookouture and the author for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Knock Knock is the chilling start to a new series by Chris Merritt featuring Detective Dan Lockhart and psychologist Lexie Green. There are dark psychological aspects to this novel which I found really fascinating as Chris Merritt explores the mind of the killer. The killer is a terrifying individual who will stop at nothing to achieve his goals. And the worst thing for Dan Lockhart is that this is a killer who is just getting started.

I enjoyed Chris Merrit’s debut when I read it a couple of years ago, but unfortunately, I haven’t yet got round to reading the next two books in that series. When I heard he was releasing a new one I knew I had to read it as soon as possible.

I must admit it did take me a bit of time to get into this one. It started with a bang, and I found Dan Lockhart and his own personal story intriguing. Dan’s wife went missing a few years ago, and he has never been able to move on from her disappearance. Even her family have sadly come to the conclusion that she must be dead, but Dan won’t believe that until he has firm evidence. I also really liked his growing relationship with his psychologist, Lexi Green. Chris Merritt hints from quite early on that perhaps there is something a bit more happening here, and it has made me wonder how this will pan out later on in the series, particularly with the bombshell revelation at the end. The only slight problem I did have with the book was the middle section, and I felt that perhaps it was just slightly too long. But that’s just my opinion. I think I would have liked for there to have been a bit more urgency as I did feel that it lacked in this a little bit.

I thought Smith and Khan were a brilliant duo and I would really like to see more of them as the series progresses. I think it was the wit in their dialogue which really drew me into them; I think Dan is a much more serious character who focuses primarily on getting the job done. Often Dan feels guilty about having even the slightest bit of fun because his wife is missing. Khan comes from a Muslim heritage, and much to his parent’s dismay, he shows more of an interest in bodybuilding than he does with their religion or with their idea of him settling down in an arranged marriage. There is still some room for Smith’s character to grow, but I really like her, and I would hate to see her and Khan split up or to be put on separate teams. I definitely think that the scenes were they were featured were some of the strongest of this book and they were the ones I enjoyed reading the most.

There are some spine chilling scenes in this book that will have you sitting rigid in your seat. As the novel reached its conclusion, the pace really picked up, and I flew through the last few chapters. Overall, I did enjoy it, and I thought it was a good introduction to a new series. I think this is one I will be sticking with.

I was very impressed with this novel from Chris Merritt. I am excited to read more from him! This one was a great start to the series and can’t wait to read the next one. The characters will definitely draw you in!

KNOCK KNOCK by Chris Merritt is the first book in the Detective Lockhart and Green police procedural series. It is also my first book by this author. Detective Inspector Dan Lockhart is a member of a Major Investigation Team (MIT) in London that focuses on murder investigations. On his person time, he is also seeing a psychologist, Dr. Lexi Green to help him deal with several issues including the disappearance of his wife and PTSD related to his military time. When he gets his first assignment as Senior Investigation Officer, the death seems very similar to a case three months ago. As the deaths mount up, Dan brings in Lexi to consult on the case.

Not only do Dan and Lexi’s characters feel compelling, you understand their distinct flaws and virtues. While both have clear and similar goals, the path there is not the same and provides both internal and external conflicts. Their motivations seem believable. Key secondary characters are also well-rounded and enhanced the story. The plot twists and turns keep the reader guessing and there are plenty of suspects.

The title was intriguing and a meaningful representation to the storyline. The prose was well-written, absorbing, and steadily paced. The plot was engrossing, interesting, well-researched, shocking, and ominous.
Overall, this was a well-written British police procedural. I was immediately drawn into the story and the ending was dramatic. I am looking forward to this author’s next book in this series and I also want to read his Detective Zac Boateng series.

Thanks to Bookouture and Chris Merritt for an ARC of this novel via NetGalley and the opportunity to provide an honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way.

DI Dan Lockhart is suffering from PTSD caused whilst in the Army, and has been counselled by psychologist Dr Lexi Green. Dan is working in the Murder Incident Team, and is catches a murder which has similarities to the that of a witness he had been dealing with. Before long there are further murders with no real suspects to check out. He decides that he needs his killer profiling and invites Lexi help. As well as PTSD, his wife Jess disappeared 10 years ago, and Dan hasn’t gotten over her loss, in fact as well as investigating the murders, he is also trying to track down his wife.

This is a well written book, the characters are very believable and likeable. The author has obviously done his research well but for me, there is one twist too many with his missing wife. It’s too reminiscent of the Roy Grace series by Peter James. However, saying that, I quite enjoyed the book and would like to see how the characters of Dan and Lexi develop.

Thanks to netgalley and the publishers for an ARC in return for an honest review.

The first chapter was gripping and I thought oh this is going to be good!!!! Unfortunately that’s the most excitement...... too slow for me. I really wanted to keep going and push through but I found I was skimming so much that I finally just gave up.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Mr. Merritt has written an absolutely gripping and fantastic read that was incredibly hard for me to put down. I just wanted to keep reading to see what would happen. I thought I had the story figured out a few times but in the end it was a shock to see where the book ended up going.

Detective Inspector Dan Lockhart works in the Major Investigation Team (MIT) or the 'murder squad' as some would call it. He's been seeing psychologist Dr. Lexi Green to help him deal with a Prolonged Grief Disorder that he's been dealing with since the disappearance of his wife Jess. Now with a serial killer on the loose he has asked her to assist the police with some profiling.

What do Kim Hardy - a meth addicted, sex worker; Natasha Mayston - a high-flying business woman and philanthropist; Sophie Wright - a legal aid barrister who specializes in domestic abuse and gender based violence; Elena Fernandez - head of the Hermanas charity; Colette (Coco) Adams - an online influencer; what do that they all have in common? They come from different socio-economic backgrounds, they live in different areas, they were killed in the very same way but in different locations - a hotel, at home, in their office.....

There is no shortage of suspects in the case. The one thing that DI Lockhart is sure of is that the wrong man is in prison for the murder of Kim Hardy. He knows there is a link between all these women he just has to find it before there is another killing closer to home.

I'm very excited about this series and I can't wait for book #2! Definitely a book worth more than the 5 stars available.

Knock Knock is the first in the series of the new Detectives Lockhart and Green series. This is a new author for me and based on the synopsis I was eager to read it. It’s the perfect detective/serial killer novel. Lockhart is ex-military and has his own demons to deal with and Green is the psychologist he calls in to assist on the case. The book is well written and the two main characters bounce well off each other. I look forward to reading more in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and the author for the chance to review.

Introducing the start of a new series, featuring Detective Dan Lockhart and psychologist Dr Lexi Green. This is the first book I have read by this author, but certainly won’t be the last.

Detective Inspector Lockhart works for the Major investigation team, he is good at his job, but suffers from PTSD partly to do with his time in service, but more to do with the fact that whilst he was deployed his wife had gone missing 10 years earlier, the not knowing is she was alive or dead, has led him to alcohol, he met Dr Lexi Green whilst having counselling sessions. She is a Psychologist, who Lockhart asks to help on the case they are working on. This is Lockhart's first case as SIO. Other members of the team are DS Smith and her partner Khan, they don’t always agree on the way the investigation is going. It is a tough case, that seems to be going nowhere at the start. Which is bound to cause some friction if Lockhart is right and there is a serial killer on the loose.

Natasha Mayston is found dead in her home, tied to a chair, with a metal ball deep in her mouth, choking her, slowly. The killer is brutal, gruesome. Lockhart had noticed similarities between this case and a previous case he had worked on. That of prostitute Kim Hardy, she also had the silver ball in her mouth, as well as both women had scratches on their ring fingers. The only problem is they caught the person they thought responsible for Kim Hardy’s death, but did they have the wrong person? Lockhart believes they do but his boss disagrees.

When Lexi comes forward with a theory, it is dismissed by the team including Lockhart. So she decides to look into things on her own. Could this lead to a dangerous situation?

I found the beginning of the book a little slow but as things progressed the pace picked up, and had me engrossed. The story is written in the third person narrative, switching between members of the team. Guessing the killer was harder than I thought, I got it wrong. This is a great start to a new series, with great characters, who I can’t wait to see how they develop. Will be watching for book 2.

I would like to thank #netgalley and #Bookouture for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest, fair and unbiased review.

The first in the series to feature Detective Dan Lockhart and Lexi Green. These two first meet when Dan decides to seek therapy after being in the theatre of war, losing friends and then coming home and finding his wife is missing. A solid police procedural which had me engrossed. Lockhart has been made SOI for the first time. A murder and the method is ' manual choking ' as the body count rises Lexi is brought in to develop a profile. Little does she realise her digging will put her life in danger. The characters are well rounded and believable. The story was gripping and packed to the rafters with action with plenty of tension and suspense. As the author says this is his first foray into the serial killer thriller and in my opinion he has done a really good job. I can't wait to read more. Also I had no idea who the killer was which is always a bonus. A MUST READ AND so Highly Recommended.
Thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for the ARC.

It is hard to believe that this is this first book in the Lockhart and Green series, the characters are so well written and seem firmly established. The London locations add to the overall familiarity. When Detective Inspector Dan Lockhart is called to investigate a murder in a wealthy part of the city he is struck by the similarities to an earlier murder in another borough. A man is in custody for the first murder awaiting trial but DI Lockhart thinks they may have arrested the wrong man. He soon calls upon psychologist Lexi Green to help with his investigation but his colleagues are not too impressed with her input. When a second body is discovered DI Lockhart realises a serial killer is at work and the race is on to catch him before there are any more murders. A well thought out and intriguing plot line with a few wrong guesses along the way.

This is the first in a new series starring Detective Lockhart and Dr Green. General premise is there is a serial killer who is getting access to properties before killing the female tenant. Detective Lockhart calls in clinical psychologist to help with a profile.
I struggled with this particularly when a subplot is that Lockhart’s wife has been missing for several years. Unfortunately this immediately made me draw comparisons with the Roy Grace novels who also had a missing wife. I guessed who the killer was and a further twist to the story.
I read a lot of crime novels and just couldn’t get into this as the main character has been done before and better. There were also issues with the building relationship between Lockhart and Green which goes against the boundaries of therapy as she starts as his therapist.
I think I’d you don’t ordinarily read this genre you may find it enjoyable but I did not.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
#KnockKnock #NetGalley

Wow! This is one of best books I have read so far this year. Really incredible! I was hooked from the get go. The method in which this man killed people was horrifying. I loved the characters. It reminded me a little of Cara Hunter's series as its told by different investigating officers throughout. I knocked some points off as at the end I thought I guessed who the bad guy was and I was so shocked and impressed.. and then it turned out not to be them! If you love crime thrillers following the police investigating the crime then add this to your wishlist now. I can't wait for the second installment.

Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture. And Author Chris Merritt for my advanced copy of Knock Knock, in exchange for an honest review

Knock Knock by Author Chris Merritt is the first book in a new series featuring Detective Dan Lockhart

This was a great read, and the series is off to a very good start. I will look forward to see where the author takes this series, and characters.

The storyline takes place in London, with what appears to be a serial killer on the loose. The detective asks for the involvement of a psychologist Dr Lexi Green

Non stop action, and a very enjoyable thriller

A book I would recommend, for readers who enjoy Thrillers, and Mystery books.

What possible reason could anybody have to kill women in such a horrific way? When women are being found dead with a metal ball deep in the back of their mouths, causing them to choke to death, MIT 8 are tasked with solving the murders.

When leaving for Afghanistan 10 years ago, Dan Lockhart kissed his wife goodbye and hasn’t seen her since, she just disappeared and he is still trying to find her. Now a DI with the police, Dan is seeing therapist Lexi Green for help regarding his missing wife.

This is a new author to me and after reading this, I can’t believe I haven’t read any of his other books! This is the first in a new series and I have enjoyed learning about all the team involved in the hunt for the killer. The characters throughout the book were interesting and well developed.
I didn’t guess the killer correctly, even though I thought I knew who it was right up to the end - I was proved wrong!
I was completely immersed in the story, the suspense had my heart pounding at times. This is an unmissable and intense thriller that I would highly recommend.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for an advanced copy in exchange for my unbiased review