I feel so incredibly lucky to have read an advance copy. This book is amazing.
The author has grown so much and this is just the best. It totally caught me out!!
Full review at publication where I'll be shouting from the rooftops about it.

After reading her DI Natalie Ward series, I didn’t think Carol Wyer could surpass herself but with her new heroine DI Kate Young she has reached new heights. For lovers of British detective thrillers this is a must read but it is certainly not for the squeamish. The story line is both clever and intricate, with new threads being woven in as the book progresses. You think you’ve solved it and another twist. One of Carol’s many skills is writing a story within a story and bringing her main characters to life. In this book, aside from finding out who is responsible for the gruesome murders and why, you have the story of Kate. From the beginning you realise that Kate Young has been damaged by a trauma from her past and you are willing her to overcome her demons and succeed. By the end it is as important to find out what happens to Kate as it is to find the killer. And what an ending. It certainly left me wanting more and desperate to read book two in what I hope will be a long series involving Carol’s new heroine. I can’t wait for the next instalment in her life.

The trouble with giving star ratings is there is always the odd book that is so much better than others you have already given the top rating to. This is a definite 6 out of 5
The start of a new series, the introduction of DI Kate Young who is suffering from serious PTSD having responded to a horrific shooting in a train carriage
She’s been off work for months but now there’s a sensitive murder that her bosses want investigating. But is she being set up to fail, and if so by who and why
This story has an emotional strand that sneaks up on you until the sudden realisation of the truth hits you.
Without it it would be a great story but with it, it gets elevated to one of those books that will live with you for a long time
I really hope this turns into a long series. I can’t wait to see where Young goes from here.

When this author announces there is a new book coming out, I get excited. When she announces it is the start of a new series, I can barely contain myself! I have read every crime book which this author has written, and all the series are guaranteed to pack a punch every single time!

Our new female lead is Detective Inspector Kate Young. Right from the first page, it’s obvious that she is a tormented woman, and something troubling had happened in her recent past. We aren’t told what this is initially, but we are drip-fed little flashbacks as Kate’s story progresses, which leaves us in no doubt that Kate has been witness to an unspeakable horror and has since been on leave from her job. Being the best detective in the force she is asked to return to work by her Chief Superintendent, John Dickson to help solve the murder of a prominent businessman. Is she ready for the pressures of a high-profile case?

The book was fantastic! To be honest, I had no doubt it wouldn’t be, but I was totally unprepared for just how good it actually was! I loved Kate Young’s character. She begins nervous, edgy and unsure of herself, but despite all the flashbacks and memory triggers she gets back into the swing of her role and begins to show us why she’s considered to be the best in the force! I found myself asking though, through the first half of the book, so many questions about Kate – why is she taking pills? are they really doing her any good? are her team really on her side? and what happened to her so that she’s ended up like she is now? Of course, good things come to those that wait, and all these questions (and more!!) are answered as the book moves on!

The writing was wonderfully descriptive, adding to the tension which is running through every page. I loved how she described her husband Chris and how she ‘loved the very bones of him’, showing how devoted she was to him. But then, seeing how she was obviously a shadow of her former self due to whatever had happened saddened me terribly. Back at work, Kate is tenacious, gritty and determined to get to the truth. When the body count begins to rise, Kate and her team work well together to find a link between the victims, despite her team appearing to show some mistrust in Kate’s abilities. Her two handpicked team members, DS Emma Donaldson and DS Morgan Meredith are interesting characters and I look forward to seeing how they continue to all work as a team.

There is only so much more I can say about how the storyline pans out for fear of giving away any spoilers. The ‘killer’ storyline is fast paced, twisted and keeps you on your toes trying to work out who it may be. There are lots of suspects thrown into the mix, and by the half way point I had a list as long as my arm of who I thought it could be! Of course, this author is far to clever with her writing to give anything away too early into the book, and you are left waiting for when she feels it’s the right time to give you a bit more! There were points in the book where bits of the story slot into place, and I have to admit to giving a silent little cheer every now and then, confirming I’d worked it out right, or a small groan because I’d got it wrong!

The cover of the book portrays perfectly the dark and tense nature of the book. The plot is upsetting at times, but dealt with sensitively. It is heart-breaking and heart-stopping in equal measures, sometimes both together! Emotionally charged and suspense filled, this book ensured that once I’d started it, I wouldn’t be able to put it down until I’d finished. There are only a handful of crime authors whose books leave me feeling this way – Carol Wyer is one of them! A fantastic start to a series with an unbelievably amazing leading character, I am left on tenterhooks now while I wait for the next book in the series to carry on Kate Young’s story. Fab, fab, fab, fab, fab!!

DI Kate Young experienced unspeakable horror on the job which led to severe trauma. After months on leave after the difficult incident, Kate was asked by one of her bosses to return to work. She is their best detective and there is a case that he feels only she can handle. Despite still dealing with the effects of the trauma which forced her to go on leave, including severe anxiety attacks and nightmares, adding to the fact that Kate is still on medication, she agrees. The pressure is certainly on. Even though experiencing major symptoms of PTSD, Kate made the decision on the spot.

Ever the consummate professional, Kate soldiers on in what proves to be a very difficult case, that of being on the trail for a vicious serial killer. Not only are bodies dropping, the the killer is leaving clues, clues that are teasing the police. What is more is that Kate begins to see a pattern that things aren't quite the way they should be in another respect. Encouraged the entire way through by her husband Chris, Kate works hard to discover answers. Kate finds that the lies and secrets along the way that prove that the murderer is closer that she could have ever thought.

Kate and her handpicked team of DS Emma Donaldson and DS Morgan Meredith interview a long list of suspects and use whatever means that are available to them to stop the killer before another victim is brutally murdered. Meanwhile, Kate's suspicions begin to grow in a new direction all while she is striving to keep evidence of her anxiety from everyone working around her.

As a stalwart fan of Carol Wyer's writing and having read both her Robyn Carter and Natalie Ward series, it is exciting to meet another character in the first of what most certainly will be another exciting series. I love the fact that Kate has the issues she has yet proves more than adept at her job, thus making her completely relatable. I also enjoyed meeting her team members as well as they worked along with Kate.

One thing that makes a story work for me is character development. The way Kate was written was marvelous and I also loved the supporting characters in this book. To add to this a strong plot with convincing conflicts and this book hit it out of the park. I really loved this book and the twists and turns that kept coming at me. including well-placed red herrings. Then considering the fact that my heart was in my throat more than once, this book captured my attention, and while trying to keep my tears at bay, I powered through this fabulous book.

Lastly, I will mention how invested I was in the Natalie Ward series so for Ms. Wyer to develop a new character was a very nice change. It truly was a chance well played. I am certain that fans of her previous series and standalone novels will feel as I do. The fact that she could weave this wonderful first book in a new series makes me more pleased than words can say. I cannot wait to see more of Kate and hope that she gets stronger and stronger as time goes on.

Many thanks to Amazon Publishing UK and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.