279 pages

4 and 1 / 2 stars

A serial killer named Neville Rollason is being released. Literally everyone wants to know where he is being resettled. However, with a new identity and not looking at all like he did when he was first incarcerated years earlier, it is going to be tough to figure out where he is. Special Branch and the probation service are being tight-lipped and nothing is written down. The “reformed” serial killer has already made his plans – for revenge.

People who are connected to Rollason's murders are getting threatening phone calls...

At the same time a man of Asian extraction is murdered and thrown in the Thames. He has very unusual markings on his body. Who is he? How did he get the odd markings on his body? Witness report a white BMW and three people on the bridge, but the police officers can't get a straight answer from two of the people who say they were the only ones there.

There is much more to this story than the blurb would lead one to believe. There are several characters and sub-plots of which to keep track. The witnesses and involved individuals are beautifully drawn and very life like. The reader certainly gets a grasp on who they are.

I had not a clue who the murderer was. And the method – oh my! This book has several surprises in it just waiting to ambush the reader. It is a great story on all levels. The writing and plotting are most certainly well done. Mr. Louth is a remarkable writer who has cooked up a very original plot line for this book. I have enjoyed his previous books as well. I am looking forward to the next in this series.

I want to thank NetGalley and Canelo for forwarding to me a copy of this very good book for me to read, enjoy and review.

This is the 6th book in the DCI Craig Gillard series by author Nick Lough. Yet another series I have started reading and once again starting at book 6. Well although I am sure plenty has happened in the previous 5 books in the series to the lead characters it didn't hinder my enjoyment of this excellent crime thriller. There are some excellent characters in this and I am pretty sure they will only get better on reading the previous novels, adding more flesh to the bone.
A body is discovered in the river Thames asphyxiated and laced with strange markings. The police are left scratching their heads, the victims identity is unknown and there are few clues to go on. Also one of Britain’s deadliest serial killers is finally up for parole after a deal to reveal the location of two missing bodies. With a new identity the convicted serial killer is planning a revenge attack on witnesses, accusers and the officer who caught him thirty years before. The young officer who caught him was no other than Craig Gillard. Thirty years on and it is now up to DCI Craig Willard to investigate the baffling body found in the Thames.

I really enjoyed this novel and will look to read the other books in the series.

I would like to thank both Netgalley and Canelo for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.