This one is AMAZING! Thank goodness it is the first in a series because I was not ready for this one to end! We don’t ease in to anything, right off the bat body parts are found on the banks of the River Thames, and DI Angelica Henley is called in to start her investigation. Once she gets going, she realizes this looks a lot like the prior crimes of Peter Olivier, aka The Jigsaw Killer, who is currently serving a life sentence for several horrific murders. More murders occur that are similar to the one above, and when a severed head is delivered to her door, DI Henley realizes there is a copycat in town, and the victims are all connected somehow. Time is running out to solve the case, and then oopsies, Olivier escapes from prison, and DI Henley has a real mess on her hands when there are now TWO serial killers on the loose…

I was hooked from the beginning and thought the pacing was just right, with the ending picking up all the speed and left me on the edge of my seat. This is a procedural thriller so it gets a bit detailed at times, but I do not mind that at all. I do have to note that this one is a little disturbing and has trigger warnings (murder, etc.), but I think that is to be expected with serial killers. If you can handle it, it is SO worth it. I have to also note that the audio for this is fantastic, and I recommend it if you can do it that way.

I will be talking about this one for a while, The Jigsaw Man is firmly in my top reads for the year. Loved, loved, loved.

Thank you to @NetGalley and @hanoversquarepress for the e-galley to review.

More than the identity of a copycat serial killer, The Jigsaw Man, the debut novel by criminal attorney Nadine Matheson, is about the psychological and personal journey of the inspector and about the almost competitive relationship between her and the original jigsaw killer. These facets keep me turning the pages until the very gruesome ending that clearly indicates more to come. Given that this is a debut novel, I look forward to seeing what the author's style develops into.

Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2021/03/the-jigsaw-man.html

Reviewed for NetGalley and a publisher's blog tour.

A copy-cat serial killer is on the loose and the detective who put away The Jigsaw Man goes back to talk to him to see if he’s involved. She can tell he’s upset someone is not only using his “techniques” but doing them poorly and using his branding too.
I really enjoyed the psychological aspects of this thriller and the dive into the history between DI Henley and the killer Olivier. But I wish there had been a deeper dive into the relationships between the officers, between DI Henley and her husband, and her trainee's family dynamic a little more thoroughly since this looks to be the first in a series.
Thank you to Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the opportunity to read this in exchange for my honest opinions.

The Jigsaw Man is a deliciously dark and intense beginning to a new crime series and it certainly packs a punch.
Inspector Anjelica Henley has been on desk duty following an investigation that almost got her killed but when body parts begin showing up around Deptford, Anjelica is forced back into the field to investigate a killer.
I loved the character of Anjelica. She’s real! She’s juggling a demanding and exhausting job, a husband, toddler, friends and her own anxieties and demons. She’s straight talking and down to earth and sometimes a bit of a grump (I can totally relate). Matheson delves into the professional and personal lives of the characters and even the ‘supporting’ characters are well developed and are an integral part of the plot. We learn about their traits, professional endeavours and personal lives and struggles.
Deptford is an unusual setting for any novel and it’s not a place I have really experienced before. Despite being the scene for gruesome murders and showing the less glamourous side of the capital city, I really felt a vibe that showed the author has a soft spot for this area. The way river was almost an additional character and how it was described with honesty but never looked down on. It’s a place I am assuming Nadine knows well and holds something for her.
When I first began reading, I was a little confused and had to keep checking it was book 1 in a new series (It is!). The narrative is focussed on the recent murders but is also used to unfold events surrounding The Jigsaw Man killings investigated by Henley. To begin with it feels as though you have missed something really important but don’t worry – explanations are coming!
The book is a long one but the balance of investigation, police work and the lives of the main characters are well balanced and explored in depth. I love how we get a taste of police work, pathology, and camaraderie. Despite its length, there are no moments where I felt the plot was dragging or could have been shorter. There as always something relevant developing,
Nadine Matheson doesn’t hold back and there are a variety of issues highlighted that I could feel she is passionate about bring into the light. Among them are Dementia, PTSD, misogyny, sexism, racism, and lesser-deaths. The last thing was something I went to look up and was shocked and saddened to learn about. It’s where many serial crimes do not come to the public attention or receive the attention, they deserve due to the nature of the victims e.g. low social class, people of colour etc.
This is a dark and disturbing police novel but here are moments of light hidden within the pages. It’s well written, intense and reads like reality. An excellent start to a new series and I highly recommend.

This is apparently the first book in a series about Detective Inspector Anjelica Henley, but there’s something of a problem in that way too much time is spent talking about a crime she solved five years ago. This very much has the feeling of a second book in the series, and it certainly looks like there would have been plenty to cover telling the story of the original Jigsaw Man, rather than his copycat. Instead we got lots of vague hints and ‘telling’ about what happened back then, rather than the emotional gut punches Henley must have actually had to deal with.

I very much liked reading about Henley, and the author doesn’t shy away from the realism of the life of a Black female detective inspector with the Met: the casual misogyny and racism Henley and other colleagues have to deal with continually feels both painful and extremely realistic. The case itself is intriguing, the way Henley has to deal with the killer she put away to try and get answers about the copycat is chilling. But at the end, I was left a little disappointed that the copycat wasn’t really much of a villain.

I think I would have liked this a lot more if it was Book 2, with Book 1 having been the story of the original killings and Henley’s hunt to catch the Jigsaw Man. The ending left this open for another book featuring the same villain, which makes me think it should actually have been a trilogy, rather like Thomas Harris’ Hannibal series (yes I know that’s now 4 but it should have stopped at 3, in my opinion). Peter Olivier is a scary enough threat to carry through as the villain of a trilogy, with Henley as his nemesis. Maybe that’s the plan, but I do think this has started in the wrong place. I’ll give it 3 stars; the execution is pretty good but I was too frustrated by being ‘told’ all the backstory.

I really enjoyed this twisted serial killer tale that while at times familiar was so filled with action that I flew through this book. The Jigsaw Man starts out with various people finding body parts around Scotland and this gruesome story builds from there. I really enjoyed the investigation of the murders and how we slowly unfolded a possible motive and had a suspect list. Matheson did a great job of creating a very believable world and taking us into the mind of a serial killer. There is a full team of investigators that are trying to solve this crime and I really enjoyed what they all brought to the story. We do follow one main character, DI Henley, for most of the story and as the story progresses we get to know the many elements of her life including her having to work with the Jigsaw Man who she previously tangled with to solve these new sets of crime.

DI Henley is a tough and no nonsense woman but she has way too much going on in her life. I love a complicated and complex hero but there were times when our main story really started to suffer from the constant drama going on in Henley’s life. I know that this is a first book in the Anjelica Henley series but I really wish that Matheson had held some stuff back for future books because it really lessened my enjoyment of the story with the constant interruptions of her overly dramatic life. I really feel like this could have been a five star read for me if the story was more streamlined and focused. This is an own voices story and I really appreciated what that brought to the story. When some of Henley’s challenges were because she was a woman of color those incidents brought a layer of heartbreaking credibility to the book.

I’m excited that this is the first book in a crime thriller series because I really connected with the characters and I look forward to seeing what happens to them in future books. I also really enjoyed how dark and graphic this book was. It doesn’t hold back when it comes to the depravity so if you are someone that enjoys dark crime procedurals then I really think this is a book that you should pick up.

The Jigsaw Man - the very title of the book suggests some dark stuff, and the book doesn't disappoint. The story is both gritty and gripping, and yes, it goes places that the squeamish might want to avoid. As the first in a series, we also get introduced to Detective Inspector Anjelica Henley, who is the star of our show. That means we get her backstory, which can be hit or miss in this genre. Here, it's a hit, and I like the character.
In addition to being introduced to this series, this book is also my introduction to Nadine Matheson, and I'm impressed with her sense of timing - something that is pretty important for a thriller like this one. There are plenty of those edge of your seat, tense moments, and I can't wait to see where this series goes from here.

Dark and twisted, a complicated puzzle with pieces put together with perfect precision.

When I read that this book takes place in the area of London that my daughter used to live, when she was a Nanny, I was immediately intrigued.

The Jigsaw Man was an intriguing read that had me coming back, night after night, to find out more. You know right up front who the JigSaw Killer is – and he’s as twisted as you would expect, and turns out, he doesn’t like that there’s a copycat out there, using his methods.

There are a lot of games being played within the pages of this story and you’re never raeally sure how it’s going to turn out. Anjelica Henley is an imperfect woman with a life that falls apart around her. I think she’s one of my favorite characters that I’ve read in a long time.

If you like crime reads, if you like puzzles and complicatd characters, you’re going to enjoy this story!

Inspector Angelica Henley thought she was fine to go back to working cases on the street after the tragedy she suffered, but when she finds out the case is similar to the one that caused her so much pain professionally and personally, will she be able to keep her focus? One man, Peter Olivier, a serial killer whom she will never forget will be the only key to solving this puzzle.

This is a chilling thriller that will keep you turning pages long into the night. The main character Angelica is written so well that you feel every emotion right along with her as the story progresses. Peter Olivier is also a brilliantly written character that you will not soon forget. The author Nadine Matheson captured the essence of a police team and a serial killer with such passion, that I was drawn into the story right from page one. I am hoping that this becomes a series, as I would love to know more about the characters from the SCU. I would like to thank the author, Nadine Matheson, Harlequin Publishing and NetGalley for an advanced copy of the book to read and review. My opinions expressed for this review are unbiased and entirely my own.

I liked the gore. I didn't know who the copycat was.

I received an ARC from the publisher and NetGalley for an honest review.

Oh Henley! Will you ever learn?

Even though DI Angelica Henley is traumatized and forced to take time off after an encounter with the Jigsaw Man, she is back in the field and in hot pursuit of whoever is leaving body parts throughout the city in a new batch of killings resembling the Jigsaw Man’s MO. To complicate matters, her husband isn’t happy to learn that Angelica isn’t confined to office work and presents her with an ultimatum – your work or your family. But she can’t help herself - she’s haunted and driven by the case, putting herself (and her trainee) in harm’s way.

I loved the description of locations in and around south London; you could almost feel the movement of the water as the tide came in and smell the odor of sewage near the Thames. There was a great balance in the book between telling the story and highlighting the prejudices she encounters as a Black woman of high rank in a field typically dominated by white males. But even in her struggle to maintain her work-life balance, deal with office politics, and the threat of not one, but two serial killers, Angelica maintains her compassion for the victims and her promise to find justice for their families.

Caveat: please do not eat while you read this book. It seems like every time I settled in with the book and a snack, I was reading about horribly grotesque crime scenes! Made for a great short-term diet plan :-)

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin/Hanover Square Press for an advanced reader's copy.

Detective Inspector Anjelica Henley is back on active duty, after undergoing a brutal stabbing by a criminal she put behind bars. Day one, dismembered body parts from two victims are found by the river in London. Far too similar to the MO of the criminal she put behind bars, Henley is also dealing with her own PTSD, her husband's inadequacies, and training the new guy.

Nadine Matheson captures the multiple tiers of not only being a police detective, but being a woman with a spouse trying to force her to make a decision about her family versus career. Matheson lays the ground work for a complicated story, often setting up the reader to think that the case is almost solved, only to add a new or bizarre complication.  I found myself wanting to slap her husband multiple times, but that's besides the point.

The Jigsaw Man is now available from Hanover Square Press.

Investigator Anjelica Henley is back on the field when body parts are found on the banks of the Thames. Henley has been working from behind the desk after being attacked by serial killer Peter Olivier (aka the Jigsaw Killer for how he dismembered his victims), but he is now in prison. When body parts are found throughout South London similar to Olivier's victim, a copy-cat is quickly suspected. This is a great read for fans of <i>Law and Order: Special Victims Unit </i> or <Criminal Minds</i> (so I'm definitely a target audience).

Nadine Matheson takes us through a gritty, violent, and twisty mystery to figure out who is the copycat of the Jigsaw Man. This novel is written in third person perspective sometimes switching focus between Henley, the new murderer, Olivier, and Ramouter (Henley's rookie temporary partner). With Anjelica Henley as the main protagonist/POV, it was interesting to read how PTSD manifests itself for our heroine, but also frustrating to see how self-destructive she is throughout the book. Henley's marriage seems to be crumbling, which I think it emphasized the gravity of her career choices, but left me disliking her and her husband (and not really caring about the stakes in her personal life).

There was a lot of focus on the lives and perspectives of the detectives and the victims rather than on the murderers, which added depth to the layers of mystery around the case(s) for readers--we are, essentially, given the same amount of information as the detectives with a limited omniscient narrator. The procedural was realistic in terms of obtaining evidence to warrant an arrest or further investigation into a suspect rather than "hunches" and circumstantial evidence. Overall, this was a page-turning mystery I couldn't put down because I HAD to know the killer's identity. 3.5, rounded up.

First of all, this was a debut novel and I could tell because of its length and the slow pace at the beginning. Fortunately, the pace picked up as the mystery evolved and more bodies appeared, but I was almost ready to quit reading at some points. The main characters are interesting and add to the story line because of their own personal quirks and backstories. Inspector Anjelica Henley is married and goes into the field to solve multiple murders while her husband Rob is a stay-at-home dad. Her trainee, Ramouter, was the most engaging character to me because he was intuitive and sensitive to Henley’s mood swings and needs. The plot revolves around a copycat serial killer who leaves body parts along the Thames River, much like the imprisoned Olivier had done. There is a backstory to Henley and Olivier and that plays a large part in the story but it isn’t introduced until well along in the plot. This book is a police procedural and a crime thriller. I must say that the gory crime scenes were absolutely revolting at times, again a reason that I almost put the book aside. I enjoyed the book and may read the second in the series, but I wish the book were shorter and think that it could have been without all of the unnecessary gory descriptions and extra plot twists that seemed to circle back on each other.
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.”

Detective Inspector Anjelica Henley thought that nothing could frighten her anymore – until a dismembered body is discovered on the stagnant banks of the Thames. She’s seen this kind of depravity before. It ravaged her both mentally and physically before she put it behind bars for life. It should be impossible that it’s happening all over again. But somehow, it’s not.

Some know Peter Olivier as the polite and charming prisoner serving out his life sentence in relative peace. Henley knows him for the demon that he truly is.

Someone is using his exact modus operandi to kill again – down to the details that were never revealed to the public. So to catch a copycat killer, she’s going to have to come face to face with her nightmares and the man who inspires them all.

“Olivier hates me too,” she said.
“Why? After what he did to you.”
Henley squeezed her eyes shut as the first signs of a migraine surfaced. “I made a promise at the TV conference to catch the monster responsible,” she said. “I called him a pathetic monster and I promised to catch him. He didn’t like the fact that I kept my word.”

With The Jigsaw Man, Nadine Matheson introduces readers to a heroine that is the definition of strength. Anjelica Henley is more than just a cop. She’s as tough as nails and as compassionate as a mother. She’s fragile and human while standing fast against forces that would make most men crumple.

Combined with Matheson’s rich and yet gritty writing style, this is a story that holds you on the edge to the very end. And even then, it refuses to let go…

HOLY GUACAMOLE. This book blew my mind and it holds no punches. Right from the very first page (yup! No kidding, the very first page!) we read about the gruesome crime scene where body parts were found scattered on the river banks in Deptford and Greenwich. DI Anjelica Henley and Trainee Detective Constable Salim Ramouter of Serial Crime Unit are assigned to this case. Further investigations reveal that these murders resemble the MO of Peter Oliver - The Jigsaw Killer - who is now incarcerated in Belmash Prison. A copycat killer perhaps? Things take a turn for the worse when Olivier escapes from prison and Henley and her team must now look for not one but two notorious serial killers.

A gripping page-turner and one of the best police procedurals I've read so far this year! It was so well done and I enjoyed all the details in the story! There were times I thought I was reading a Nordic noir as I definitely get that kind of vibes here - dark and disturbing crimes, astounding police procedurals and flawed characters. I loved it!

I liked Henley a lot! She is a complex, smart and one kick-ass protagonist. Her interactions with Olivier reminds me of Clarice Starling and Hannibal. Reading that part was creepy and intense.

However, I have to say that some parts of the book slowed down a bit before things got wild again.

Overall, I LOVED this book! It is both a plot and character driven story with labyrinthine suspense-filled storytelling and one heck of a phenomenal writing. A MUST READ and the best part is, this is the first book of Inspector Anjelica Henley Thriller! Eeeek! I am a fan! Can't wait to read the next book!


Pub. date: March 16th 2021

***Thank you HARLEQUIN - Trade Publishing (U.S & Canada), Hanover Square Press, author Nadine Matheson and NetGalley for this review copy to read and review.***

Representation in literature matters and it is wonderful to have an educated and skilled author of color with real world insight craft such an enjoyable caper to the canon. I am not usually a big fan of police procedurals but this debut novel hit all the marks: witty and believable dialogue, even and controlled pace, great scenery without overloading the reader; just the correct blend of people, place and plot! Full of accurate and delightful British slang and anachronisms that American readers will love. The Jigsaw Man also handles the realities of juggling family life with a demanding, high profile job such as a homicide detective with perceptive balance. These themes of stress and trauma are nothing new to the genre, but Nadine handles them with such freshness that they do not become trite.

I was really drawn to this one from page 1. I am a fan of serial killer thrillers and police procedurals so I thought I was going to like this one. The fact is, I LOVED IT. You’re drawn into Henley’s life and the case from page 1.

Our detective, Henley is struggling with PTSD following her run in with serial killer the Jig Saw Man, though apprehended he almost killed Henly. Returning to regular duty, her first case seems like a copycat, mimicking The Jigsaw Man’s style and signature. The crime scene spread over several areas was beyond gruesome. Although Henley is glad to be back, she wasn’t expecting this.

Henley’s husband didn’t want her returning to working the field and feels she is putting her family at risk, so he takes their daughter and leaves Henly. It infuriated me how much this woman had to endure. Although she is great at her job, being the only black female detective on the force means she faces ridicule and micro aggressions daily. Add in an unsupportive spouse and missing her daughter, I can’t imagine not falling apart. I was so impressed by her strength and grit. We all know I am here for a strong female protagonist.

Bodies are piling up and Henly is forced to go to the prison to speak to the Jigsaw Man to determine if he is linked to these crimes. Still she remained strong although he only wanted to toy with her. Ultimately, this book becomes a cat and mouse game between two deranged killers, Henly and her unit. This book was excellent, flowed well, made me feel like I was right there at the crime scenes and in London. The crimes were macabre and the search for the killer(s) relentless, this is one book every thriller lover has to read this year!!!! Add it to your TBR, or use the links above to order your copy today.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a free e-arc to review.

This book was great! The action started right away, and didn't let up until the very end. At one point the fitness app on my watch actually gave me a notification "Even a minute of breathing can reduce stress"!

Anjelica Henley is a Detective Inspector with the Serial Crimes Unit. She's been on leave due to a work-related injury, with the man who attacked her serving multiple life sentences. She thinks she's coping - until copycat killings start. Henley and her coworkers at the SCU need to figure out if this is a copycat - and if so, who? And if not, how?

I really enjoyed the way the characters were fleshed out in this story. Henley was phenomenal, and I basically had a panic attack right along with her on one occassion. I had so much sympathy for her husband, Rob, as he battled with dealing with her career and the very real dangers she faces (I'm married to police officer). I loved getting to know Ramouter and his backstory. I hope we learn more about his family in the next book.

There were a few grammatical errors that I noticed, and a couple little errors that made me think "wait, didn't you say XXX earlier?", but I can't remember what they were, so it didn't affect the story too much for me. And very likely these errors will have been corrected before final print!

Overall, great story, great pacing, great characters. I'm looking forward to another one from this author!

For all the crime procedural lovers out there who are okay with the gore, this one's for you. I really enjoyed parts of it and thought the characters and plot were good. There were sections that were too slow in pace for me and overall the book was too long because of this. I would still recommend it to those who want to become invested in a series that tackles hard hitting criminal cases with a team of investigators that they have come to know.
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