Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. I have read a few books by this author and have enjoyed them all. This had great storyline and great characters and kept me hooked from the beginning to the end. Enjoyed it.

A good solid read with an interesting story line and well developed characters.

For me, personally, I probably should have read the previous books in the series but nevertheless I enjoyed this book but for me it didn't keep me on the edge of my seat.

Thank you to Netgalley and Amazon Publishing for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

A Reign Of Terror....
Detective Karen Hart returns in the fifth of the series. A gruesome murder in Lincoln Cathedral begins a reign of terror from a twisted killer. Well constructed crime procedural with well drawn and credible characters. Could be read as a standalone although threads from earlier books in the series are tied up here not to mention backstory detail. Engaging reading.

Detective Karen Hart is walking past a cathedral with her partner when her attention is drawn to a murder victim inside the Cathedral. A note is soon sent to the police calling themselves The Cleanser. A new senior officer is brought in to oversee the case who is very abrasive and arises Karen's suspicions as she is dealing with corruption in the force and this new officer's name was mentioned in connection with the corruption. Also someone is watching her but who and why?

It's part five of a crime series. I'd not read any of the others but really enjoyed this book. Detective Hart's backstory was revealed but I felt I needed to read the others which isn't a criticism at all. Far from it, I would regard this as how a character is supposed to develop as a book series goes on. I'm a big fan of crime dramas on tv so from me this is a massive compliment but I imagined her as a tv detective in the manner of Vera. I didn't see the twist in the story until the author revealed it which to me and I'm sure this is true of any other crime fiction fan is a really good thing. I'd not heard of the author before this but considering how good a book this was is to my shame.

If any of the other books in the series are as good as this one then this could be a classic series. I will be seeking out the other books in this series as I enjoyed this one so much. This can be read as a standalone story but to understand the characters better I would recommend going back and reading the others. The psychological motivations of the villainy were believable and plausible.

If you're a fan of crime fiction, buy this book.

A twisty turning plot which grips the reader.
Several times characters seem to be involved as the plot twists and turns till the end.
Previous events are referred to so it maybe prudent to read previous book series.
Likable characters. Unsure a little on if the changing characters perspective works from Karen to Sophie later on.
Well written overall with a good plot flow.

Another solid instalment in this well established series that continues and concludes on going plotlines from previous books. Best read as part of the series

OMG WOW WOW WOW i really didnt want this book to end. Fabulous story loving the karen hart series. Twists and turns . Gritty. Without spoiling it i kept saying noooooo you cant do that. Noooo never........ is dci churchill really corrupt???? As he takes over as dci in the latest murder case as morgan steps down after he received a letter hand delivered. The team are in a race to find out the truth...... If i could give this more than 5 stars i most definately would. A must read

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC. One of the better ones in the series although it took a while to build momentum. Good story and I am glad the author wrapped up the corruption backstory - lets see where the character goes next now that thats over

Wow an absolutely fantastic story! Tense and full of twists and surprises, this had me hanging on to every word, I literally couldn’t put it down. It had me sucked in from the first chapter and kept me engaged the whole way through. There is nothing negative to say at all about this book, it totally deserves 5 great big fat stars!

Another excellent book by D.S. Butler which carries on from her previous novel. Would thoroughly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good thriller. Features Detective Karen Hart who has to solve the murders of The Cleanser. Keeps you guessing until the end.

Excellent book loved it Detective Karen Hart is book and this book doesn't disappoint as karen and the team have to find a killer before the death count rises.Brilliant read i can highly recommend this book 5*

Thank you NetGalley and Amazon Publishing for the eARC.
This is the fifth in the DS Karen Hart series and probably my least favorite. Karen is out with Mike when she's stopped by a woman's horrific scream. She had just stumbled on the body of a strangled and mutilated man. Karen is now on the case and more bodies follow with the same M.O.
She is still grieving for her lost husband and child, but has entered in a, so far, happy relationship with Mike. The case is taking it's toll, she's baffled, how does the killer know so much about her and the team and has it to do with another officer on the take?
I wasn't totally gripped by the book, I found Karen a bit OCD about finding another bent copper and the ending was familiar, not in identifying the killer and his handler, but in the set up. I did like Sophie as a character, though.

Karen Hart's off duty when she hears a scream coming from the cathedral. A dead man has been discovered with a cross carved into his head.

Soon there's a note - from The Cleanser

With the internal corruption & conspiracy case still ongoing, a serial killer is all Karen needs.

An excellent addition to the series

Karen Hart is beginning to move on after the untimely deaths of her husband and daughter, and has begun a new relationship. She's on a date with the new man when a scream from the cathedral draws her to the scene of a murder. After her current DI is threatened, the Karen's major suspect in the ongoing corruption investigation in the police is put in command of her team. Solid police procedural that keeps the twists and turns coming.

Thanks to Amazon Publishing UK for access to a digital ARC via NetGalley..

Detective Karen Hart is near Lincoln Cathedral when a man is found dead, a cross carved into his forehead. A note is received from the killer, calling themselves "The Cleanser". When another murder occurs, it becomes clear that someone is carrying out these killings, possible in a ritualistic way. When links to conspiracy surface, Karen begins to wonder if it all comes down to corruption within the police and sets about trying to solve the crimes. Could 'The Cleanser' be closer than she could have imagined? Could Karen's life be at risk?

Another brilliant addition to the Detective Karen Hart series. A thrilling and tense plot full of murder, suspicion, shocks, heartbreak and corruption, the book will keep you guessing until the end. As usual I loved seeing how Karen and her team were getting on and loved how everything came together in the story. You should definitely read this series!!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of the book in return for my honest feedback.

I really liked this book. Believable characters and storylines. I haven't read others in the series but it worked as a standalone and left me wanting to read more. Have now downloaded others in the series to read!
Because I haven't read any others in the series yet, I don't know how much of the back story to the characters is already out there, so I look forward to finding out more.
Very readable and recommended if you like police procedurals / crime books.

Karen Hart is still reeling from personal loss, when she is first on the scene of a brutal murder at Lincoln Cathedral - a man was found there having been strangled and with a bloody cross etched into his forehead. When the crime gets more personal, and the Police receive a note signed by "The Cleanser", another team are brought in to help, one led by someone who Karen has been told to be careful around.

This is a really good book, and I am pleased to say I only spotted the twist when it was just about to happen! I will say that there are a few loose threads left at the end of the book due to the resolution - Karen's story seems to be wrapped up, but a few other characters seem to be forgotten a little in the conclusion.

This is the 5th book in the Detective Karen Hart Series by author DS Butler. I discovered this series at the end of last year and it was an instant hit for me. Great characters, exciting plots and so well written make this a must read for all fans of police procedurals.

Detective Karen Hart is first on the scene of a murder when she hears a scream and goes to investigate. A man’s murdered body lies in a chapel with a bloody cross carved into his forehead. A murderer known as ‘The Cleanser’ is on the loose and starts a series of brutal killings that appear to be a sadistic mission. Detective Karen Hart is on the case and there are hints and rumours that point to a police conspiracy within her colleagues. The case is a tough one with the added disruption of a very annoying senior officer.

This was an excellent read and had me reading late into the night unable to put it down. Exciting plot and the dialogue between the regular characters made this an enjoyable read.

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