First encounter with D I Dani Stephens a good interesting, intricate tricky story line, covering two cases of totality different crimes. Thoroughly enjoyable read but found it very difficult to believe that any policewoman could take as many beating as DI Dani Stephens seems to.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for this ARC.

I thought this was a very good, entertaining read and great addition to this series. I love the authors writing style here, it is engaging and had my attention all the way through. DI Stephens and her team investigate a double murder and look closely at the victims family who are hiding secrets of their own, where all is not as it seems. I felt the book flowed really well and moved from past to present times really easily, it had likeable and believable characters, quite a few twists in the plot line and I quickly became engrossed in the story. I loved reading of the working relationships between Stephens and Easton and also the second story thread about another unrelated case Stephens and her team were investigating. I know of some of the areas mentioned in the book as I live in Birmingham and always like books more when they are set in places/areas I’m familiar with. Overall a good, fast paced read that I enjoyed, although it didn’t really wow me. 3.5 stars

DI Dani, and her team, are investigating a grisly double murder of a husband and wife. The investigation reveals family secrets and dirty dealings, as well as domestic violence, infidelity and alcoholism. The book was well written with an interesting plot and good characterisation. I loved the dynamic between Dani and Easton but the conflict between Dani and her partner Jason, was left unresolved by the end of the book. A good story which kept me engrossed until the end. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

A cracking addition to a cracking series
Rob Sinclair uses the diversity of the areas around Birmingham as realistic canvases to paint his stories. In this case he has picked the wealthy area of Sutton Coldfield.
The murder of a successful business man and his wife lead to an investigation that looks at his family and his business partners
The characters ring true.
The crime is realistic
What else do you need.
A great story.

A first for Dani as she's not chasing a serial killer but instead has two domestic murders to solve. Families always mean secrets, lies and jealousy so both cases are complex and challenging. How many of her nine lives has she used up??

Outstanding read, unfortunately i never read the first 3 DI dani stephens books, however what a ROLLERCOASTER of a read. lies, cheating,deception,murder, it has the lot i also found my heart beating a bit quicker to read the next page to see what happens. Highley recommend the whole DI dani stephens if the other 3 are as good as the 4th. Fans of peter james will love this.....

3 stars

I enjoyed watching the dark secrets of the Eccles family unravel as DI Dani hunts down the perpetrator of a grisly double murder. The ending is a bit melodramatic for my tastes, but otherwise the story was a fun read.

[What I liked:]

•The very complex lives & dirty secrets of the whole Eccles family, plus the other case Dani & her team are working simultaneously, make for an interesting plot with many layers for the investigation to uncover, keeping the plot engaging til the end.

•Easton made a good sidekick/partner to Dani. The way they read each other’s cues & handled interviews was interesting to observe.


[What I didn’t like as much:]

•Towards the end, the action gets a bit unrealistic & melodramatic. The last scene at the Kibble house in particular seemed way over the top.

•There are conflicts between Dani & her partner Jason running throughout the entire book that never get fully addressed. I wish there had been at least a confrontation if not a full resolution, but the issue was just left dangling.

CW: murder, on-page violence, racism, islamophobia, alcoholism, drug abuse, domestic violence, infidelity

[I received an ARC ebook copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Thank you for the book!]

While they're sleeping, Terry & Annie Eccles are murdered with an axe in their bed - a brutal attack that leaves DI Dani Stephens shocked and appalled. She's already dealing with another case - one where a young boy is mown down in the street, and the perpetrator was filmed being beaten and killed by the child's father in the street.

Her team are confused - so many people have motives for killing Terry & Annie. As they unravel the relationships, it's clear that someone wants to ensure that their secrets do not get out.

This is an easy 4* book for me. It's well-written and fast-paced. My only slight quibble is that it's quite clear who the axe-wielder was, even in the sea of potential motives.

A cleverly plotted and twisty novel.

DI Dani Stevens is still getting over her brother's betrayal when she is called to the scene of a brutal double murder.

The victims, a property developer and his wife, have been brutally hacked to death, but there seems to be no motive. The police begin to hunt, but the trail quickly becomes very tangled.

A great read for anyone enjoying a good murder mystery and anyone looking for a well done place procedural.

DI Dani is still recovering from brain injury that was cause by her twin brother. She and her partner Easton is called upon when the murder of Annie and Terry are found beaten to death in their home.

As she dives into their lives she learns that not everything is what it seems. While she and her team tries to find what going on we get glimpses of Annie and Terry lives up until their death. Dani is also dealing with a another case that question wether what that person did was justified.

This was a good read with some twist and turns.

I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.