I hadn’t read the first book - which did put me at a slight disadvantage as I truly believe little things get missed. I loved carol Wyers previous procedural series and felt I had to give this a whirl.
Katie is a great lead - amongst many great leads at the moment as there does seem to be a plethora of crime series featuring bad ass strong female leads.
Most of the book kept me gripped and it was so well written, I just didn’t like the conversations she had with her dead husband - was a bit distracting for me!
Recommend for fans or Gina Harte and Katie Scott.

I wanted to read this book when I read the. It sounded just up my alley. But I didn't consider this book being the second book in a series. When I hadn’t read the first book I found myself missing some pieces of the story even though I got the basic relationships and what had happened told in this one as well. But it was a solid story but I had wished I had read the first one to feel more engaged with the story and the characters.

This is the 2nd book in the detective Kate young series and this series keeps getter better and better .i recommend you read the first book so you get her background . This is an action packed book that had my pulse racing and devouring every page .A great police procedural that will have you hooked . If you haven't read this series I recommend you do . You won't be disappointed. I can't wait for the next one in the series

The long and the short of it: Kate Young is a badass!
This book played out like an episode of criminal minds and I was here for every second of it. Although this is the second book in a series, Wyers strong writing makes it so you do not need to read the first to understand and love this book (although after reading this you’re gonna want to!) I will be buying this book!

A serial murderer and rapist is raping and killing women and leaving the word ‘MINE’ carved into his victims. DI Kate Young is investigating these cases as well as clandestinely looking into corruption on the force which possibly resulted in the death of her husband, a journalist. Really a lot for one person to deal with. Carol Wyer is an author who is new to me and I'm very impressed. Oh, and I love this cover! I also have to comment on the name of the village where this novel takes place, Abbots Bromley - such an unusual (to my Canadian way of thinking at least) name but it sounds idyllic and I would very much like to attend the Horn Dance!

It took me a while to get into this book but I don't think it was a fault with the book. Too much on my mind and too many books on my plate! This book was very well written and easy to read but I thought all the conversations Kate was having with her dead husband were a bit much, with him even going so far as to supply her with a contact name. Whaaat?! It really made me question her mental health, especially when she mentioned having these conversations out loud. And the closing line! Very weird. I haven't read the first book in the series but didn't feel at a disadvantage and I may go back and read Book 1 if I ever get caught up on my other books. I'd give this book 3-1/2 stars if that was a choice but I'll round it up to 4.

Thank you to Netgalley and Amazon Publishing UK for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book.
Publication Date: June 29, 2021

My thanks to NetGalley, publisher Amazon Publishing UK: Thomas & Mercer, and author Carol Wyer for the electronic review copy.

This is Book #2 in the DI Kate Young series - and very good it is too!

Returning from leave after the murder of her investigate journalist husband Chris, Superintendent John Dickson has refused to allow Kate to head up her previous large team, instead she now has a team of 4. Dickson makes it known that he doesn't think she's ready to be back, but Kate knows he keeping an eye on her as he's suspicious of connections she may be making regarding his involvement with a paedophile ring - let alone having a hand in her husband's death - Chris was investigating that ring and especially Dickson. Indeed, Kate is continuing to pursue Chris's investigation.

In a sleepy village of Abbots Bromley Laura Dean is attacked on her way home from her yoga class; she's dumped in a waste bin on a restaurant car park The word "MINE" has been cut into her back. Kate and her team are called in to investigate. Then Heather Gault, a civilian working with the police, is similarly attacked on leaving her office - this is one of their own - what's the connection?
With each attack Kate can't help but dredge up memories of her step-sister Tilly's attack when she was fourteen - and these new victims all look very similar. Tilly and son Daniel have returned from Australia after marital troubles and Kate is gradually catching up with her.

Another attack takes place on Olivia Sandman - only this time she is left alive - just. With the investigation hitting nothing but dead ends, and with still no clue as to any connection between the victims, the team have to redouble their efforts. The killer knows his victims' routines and habits so must spend time stalking them before striking.

We intermittently have narrative from the point of view of the killer and his chilling motivations, but delightful moments as Kate continues to talk to her dead husband.

Can't wait for Book #3..

*4.5 Stars*

Copy kindly received via NetGalley for an honest review.

This was a very interesting read with good characters. I like enjoy books by this author. Would recommend.

Just as DI Kate Young is settling in a new relationship with her estranged sister and nephew of many years, Kate and her team are called in on a brutal new murder case involving a young woman horribly sexually assaulted with the word MINE carved into her flesh below her shoulder. The murder was perpetrated in a lovely area smaller than a village where crimes rarely take place and never a murder. Unfortunately this case has all the markings of of a possible serial killer on the loose because the very next day another young woman's body turns up in similar surroundings as well as the same details as the first killing. Kate takes this case personally and wants the vicious murderer found right away before other woman can be attacked or killed. Sadly, she only has a team of three with a new constable (Jaime) finally added to her team who seems to be a hard worker but does not get along well. with Sgt Morgan Meredith who is the only.one on the force that she feels she can really trust and confide in. Kate is still emotionally fragile from the devastating murders that occurred several months ago which included her husband and a large part of her is always trying to figure out how to bring the killers to justice because she knows who is truly responsible .but with his high ranking profile he is an untouchable. Will Kate finally realize that this is a battle she can't win or will she even survive through these new murders when there is someone possibly tracking her every move and wanting to see her permanent downfall in shame from the police department or does that someone just want to see Kate dead?

This is the second book in the DI Kate Young police procedural series and I am so hooked. I just love Carol Where's writing and storylines and can't get enough. Now I'm disappointed (kidding) that I'll have to wait a long time for a new book to be written in this series and I want to continue reading immediately! I really enjoyed the new characters that have been added but love the continuation. of some of the others from Book one and they get intertwined seamlessly within this new story. This book could be read as a stand-alone but I feel you would be doing yourself an injustice without reading the book "Eye For An Eye" first since there are so many details that are very relevant to to how this current story plays out and also giving the reader a clear understanding of who detective Kate Young really is and also any of the other major characters that were involved in the first book (IMO), although for some readers this may not be a necessity since the book will give brief updates on any events that are mentioned from the first story so a person won't feel lost while reading this story so.please don't overlook this book if you haven't read the first one. ( Apologies for being redundant ). I'm just trying to emphasize what a great series writer "Carol Wyer" is and just a fantastic author period! As anyone can see I'm a big fan of this author and can hardly wait for the next book release
and I highly recommend these terrific books to any and all readers who enjoy detective/mysteries and thrillers.

I want to thank the publisher "Amazon Publishing UK"/ Thomas & 38 Mercer" and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this fast-paced story and any thoughts and opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!

II have given this book a rating of 4 1/2 Intriguing 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌠 Stars!!

A Cut for a Cut by @carolwyer
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After reading an Eye for an Eye at the beginning of this year I was left with so many questions. I was so pleased to be given this ARC so I could read the second book in the trilogy.
The story sees us back with DI Kate Young who has recently been joined by stepsister Tilly who has moved back from Australia. But their bonding time is cut short when Kate is called into work following the rape and murder of a young woman. This is shortly followed by further victims and Kate is under pressure to find the killer before he strikes again.
This book was fast- paced and gripping. The writing style is fantastic at telling the story, giving just the right amount of information to the reader. I developed a good image in my head throughout. I love a story that keeps me guessing and shocks me with a ‘twist’ unfortunately this book didn’t have this for me which is why I have given it 4 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and Carol Wyer for this fantastic e-ARC

Having read and been intrigued by An Eye for An Eye by Carol Wyer, featuring Detective Kate Young), I was delighted to have the opportunity to read and review book 2 in the series.

I am glad to say that the niggles I had from the last book were completely gone in this one.

Kate is now a more confident and clearly defined character. Still flawed and still grieving but in a much more believable way. In my view, Kate from book 1 almost certainly shouldn't have been a serving officer. However, Kate in book 2 was a  great character to get to know and I really enjoyed following her and the team.

The focus in A Cut for a Cut is on the pursuit of a serial killer who has been targeting women for years - his assaults are brutal and Kate and her team work tirelessly to track him down. There are plenty of suspects around and the whodunnit aspect of the book was great. As was the air of intrigue surrounding the whiff of corruption that floats throughout the story.

I liked the back story with Kate and her stepsister, it is good to get to know a character rather than them just being a detective - Kate Young is very human and this definitely adds tot he story.

Overall, this series is shaping up very nicely and I look forward to reading more from Carol Wyer.

This is the second book in the Detective Kate Young series. If you haven’t read the first then this could be read as a stand-alone book but in my opinion you would lose some of the story if you don’t know the background from the first book.

DI Kate Young is called in to investigate when a woman’s body is found in an industrial bin, with the words MINE carved into her shoulder. The team are trying to find clues when another body is discovered. The team suddenly have a serial murderer an their patch.

As well as the case, Kate is also running her own secret investigation into her boss, who she thinks could be involved in, not only, an underage prostitution ring but also the murder of Kate’s husband. Can Kate finally find some evidence that backs her claim and can she also find the serial murderer ?

This is a great addition to the Detective Kate Young series and in my opinion this one was a little better than the first, even though the first was a great read !! I am looking forward to the next book to see what happens to Kate and her team next.

Thank you to Amazon Publishing UK and NetGalley for a digital copy of this book.

As I continue the DI Kate Young series I’m happy to see Kate continue her mission to bring down the dirty cops in her department even though those same cops are doing everything possible to push her out. For example, they are relegating her to lead an undermanned task force to find a serial murder/rapist and bypassing her authority to see all evidence in the case.

DI Kate Young has been through a lot. After a traumatic case that almost cost her her job and the murder of her journalist husband that may involve a dirty cop, Kate is holding on to her sanity…just barely. Being pulled two directions and living on little sleep, she is determined to find evidence on the man she suspects murdered her husband and she is working on a serial rapist/murder case with victims piling up and pressure from above to solve the case. Her career is on the line and the chips are stacked. Will she be able to keep it together enough to find her killers?

Kate is tough and vulnerable at the same time. She is keeping secrets from her team and her family as she singlehandedly seeks justice on her own for the only man who knew her best. Her sister Tilly and nephew Daniel are the only family she has left and she wants to keep them safe from the horrors of her job, but the deeper she dives into the present case, the more her past comes back to haunt them. In addition, the more Kate digs around in the past, the more her life is threatened by the people she once trusted.

Even though I guessed the rapist from the beginning, I still enjoyed the fast-paced investigation to implicate the killer. The story is told in Kate’s and the killer’s voices and there is nothing more creepy than the mind of a psycho.

I recommend this action-packed mystery full of unexpected twists and turns, a driven protagonist, and a number of treacherous and shady antagonists. I can’t wait for the next book in the series.

Thank you to Ms. Wyer for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.

I love everything that Carol Wyer writes and A Cut for a Cut, the second book in the DI Kate Young series, is no exception. It's absolutely brilliant: fast-paced, gripping, tense and fraught with danger. As it summarises the main plot points from book 1 (An Eye for an Eye), A Cut for a Cut can be read as a standalone, but it is so much richer and impressive when read in series order. Whichever order you read the books in, the Detective Kate Young series is a must-read for crime fiction fans.

Kate Young and her team are on the hunt for a serial rapist but Kate has one eye off the ball as she strives to bring her husband's killer to justice. With corruption in the force, Kate's every move is watched and reported back to dodgy Superintendent John Dickson. As Dickson works feverishly to cover his tracks, Kate is slowly gathering evidence against him but time is running out unless Kate delivers on the rapist case.

Ooh this series is SO good and Carol Wyer's plotting in A Cut for a Cut is dazzling. I was on the edge of my seat and feeling suspicious of pretty much everyone throughout this fantastic novel. With so much going on, it really kept me on my toes and I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. As much as I wanted to find out who the rapist was, I was equally intrigued by Dickson's cover up as this is the thread that binds the series together.

Simply brilliant! A Cut for a Cut is outstanding from start to finish. It's a stunning addition to a marvellous series and I can't wait to see what's next in store for Kate. Very highly recommended.

I received an ARC to read and review for the blog tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

The second Detective Kate Young novel, A Cut For A Cut, takes readers on a painful journey. Once again, Carol Wyer brings a full range of emotions to her writing. The unspeakable acts taking place in these sleepy little villages break your heart.

After Kate wraps up one murder investigation, another one falls in her lap. Though she is more stable mentally with help from her sister, her fragile mind seeks answers. She has trouble putting her husband’s murder to rest, but she must in order to solve the newest case in her care. A rapist is loose with no sign of stopping. Instead, his actions begin coming closer and closer together. Kate and her team feel pressured to solve this case fast but meet nothing but dead ends. Kate knows that the blocks come from the top of the police chain, and she knows why, but she can’t prove it yet.

I love the character of Kate. Her spunk is enough to get me to enjoy reading about her. Her mental instability makes her more endearing. She isn’t perfect, yet she gets things done. Morgan, Emma, and Jamie make up Kate’s team. Jamie is new in this novel, and I can’t stand him. There is more to him than meets the eye, and his mannerisms make me cringe. Morgan and Emma support Kate with every movement. When you add in Ervin, Felicity, and Harvey, you get an incredible support system for Kate’s work. I wasn’t sure how to feel about Tilly, but I am glad she got a bigger role in this novel. Getting to know her helped me like her.

Wyer’s story kept me guessing. It wasn’t until closer to the end that I guessed who the rapist was. I admit that this novel was hard for me to read. The events hit too close to home for me, yet I found it a bit cathartic. This guy has some major issues that messed with my head.

I enjoyed the book, but it felt like it took me two hundred years to read. The story felt like a bit of a slog, yet I don’t know what I would cut out to make it read easier. There is a lot of information to take in with this series. The reason for the slog could easily be my emotional head spin while reading. I can’t put my finger on the culprit.

I award A Cut For A Cut 4 out of 5 stars. The novel is entertaining, and the action at the end felt intense. If you enjoy crime procedurals, I recommend this series. If you do read it, give Kate a little slack, she’s been through a lot.

This is the second book in the series, and while it can largely be read as a standalone you do lose out on some of the nuance and backstory especially with regards to the overarching plot, and I know for me at least part of the enjoyment was mapping the development between the two books, especially for the titular character. DI Kate Young was one of my favourite aspects of the first book because she was so well-written and as our POV character, she made for a fascinating and sympathetic narrator because of what she had gone through. In A Cut for a Cut, it feels as though Young has grown into herself, or rather that she is coming back to herself and beginning to see the world around her, and the situation she is in – and that her husband was caught up in – more clearly, and I loved how Wyer managed to capture this development making it very human and believable as gradual progress, not free of stumbling blocks, and it was wonderful to see the process of anger and grief being explored as part of life, and having to continue to work and focus on an active case.

This great characterisation is not limited to Young, and Wyer has populated her book with vivid, interesting characters on all sides of the situations that Young is involved in. In particular, though, I have to give a shout out to how Wyer writes her villains – and although I managed to connect the dots about who the killer was, it did not detract from the impact of the character.

As with book one, the plot and the pacing of this book are full-throttle from the very beginning and you can’t help but be swept along for the ride. I think Wyer upped the ante in this one, particularly with regards to atmosphere, because there was a wonderful combination of menace and fear as we are drawn into this case, and follow the course of the investigation. While I did connect the dots, there was a wonderful web of red herrings and clues, both with the investigation into the predator in the active case and within Young’s clandestine investigation. This was combined with a difficult, yet well-executed exploration of the emotional impact related to the rapes and murders being committed- it certainly wasn’t easy to read, and Wyer does not shy away from the brutal reality of these crimes, but nor are they sensationalised and that can be a very hard line to tread.

An engrossing, if not always easy to read continuation to this series. Wyer has taken Young and the subplot to new heights in A Cut for a Cut, while also upping the ante with regards to the ‘main’ investigation. I look forward to seeing where Wyers will take us and Young in the next book, and I would recommend this series and book to anyone who loves crime fiction, especially with a lead detective who stands out from the crowd.

The beginning of this book was tough to get into. The writing didn't grab me, although I liked more the story and the characters. I kept reading to fine out what was going to happen, and I got more engrossed in the story. When things started to come together, I couldn't put the book down. Although I wasn't sure at fist, I will buy the first book, and look forward to the following books.

This is the second book in the DI Kate Young series. I enjoyed the first one an Eye for an Eye and equally enjoyed this one too. It can be read as a stand alone however there is some of the back story going on which is great.
It's well written with a good storyline. I enjoy the short chapters. I enjoyed getting to know the characters better. It had plenty of twists and turns. Can't wait to see what happens in next book after that ending. Would definitely recommend if you enjoy thrillers, crime and fast paced books.
Looking forward to the rest of the series.

Thanks you to Netgalley and Thomas and Mercer for an ARC in exchange for an honest review

The overview:
DI Kate Young can’t trust anybody. Not even herself.

In the bleak countryside around Blithfield Reservoir, a serial murderer and rapist is leaving a trail of bloodshed. His savage calling card: the word ‘MINE’ carved into each of his victims.

DI Kate Young struggles to get the case moving—even when one of the team’s own investigators is found dead in a dumpster. But Kate is battling her own demons. Obsessed with exposing Superintendent John Dickson and convinced there’s a conspiracy running deep in the force, she no longer knows who to trust. Kate’s crusade has already cost her dearly. What will she lose next?

When her stepsister spills a long-buried secret, Kate realises she’s found the missing link—now she must prove it before the killer strikes again. With enemies closing in on all sides, she’s prepared to do whatever it takes to bring them down. But time is running out, and Kate's past has pushed her to the very edge. Can she stop herself from falling?

"You're mine, forever."

All the stars for the latest exciting and addictive thriller from the lady who has rightly been referred to as the Queen of Crime. I personally think that the Kate Young series is Wyer’s best series yet, and I am loving these darker, gritter books.

In the series’ second installment, Kate and her team are trying to find a cold, calculated and controlled killer who stalks his victims before brutally attacking them and branding them by carving the word ‘MINE’ into their back. As the attacks escalate, the clock is ticking and the team races to find this twisted killer before he can claim another victim. But clues are in short supply until Kate’s stepsister Tilly provides the link they’ve been missing. Can they find him before it’s too late?

Propelling you straight into the action, I was hooked from the first pages. Compulsive, suspenseful and unsettling, danger is woven into every page. There is an undercurrent fear as the killer stalks his victims. This ruthless predator who enjoys their anguish and pain could be anyone, and Wyer had me coming up with some wild theories about his identity and suspecting almost every male character. Adding to the sense of mistrust is Kate’s secret investigation into the death of her husband and corruption within the force.

Ms. Wyer is skilled at writing characters who are both relatable and totally unique. They have something different about them, and Kate Young is a perfect example. She helps this series stand out from the glut of other crime series out there because she is original, fresh and compelling. No other protagonist I know of has conversations with their dead husband as if he’s still living. But while she is a little kooky, she is also intelligent, fierce, determined and fractured, making the reader care about her and respect her outlook and decisions, something else that is vital in a protagonist and police detective.

But what I think I love most about Carol is her villains. She has written some brilliantly mencacing antagonists, with this one being another to add to that list. This man is a terrifying creation; a man who is deeply disturbed and unhinged, yet is able to hide it all behind a mask of normality that allows him to walk amongst others unnoticed, those around him unaware they are in the presence of a monster. His chapters were chilling, ominous and searing, the hatred and vengeance seeping from every word.

Wonderfully dark, sinister and exhilarating, A Cut For A Cut is perfect for anyone who loves crime fiction, police procedurals or TV shows such as Line of Duty. This is one not to be missed.

My Thoughts: firstly this is the second book in the series and although I won’t be putting anything that I consider to be spoilers for this book, I may put spoilers for the first book, so if you haven’t read it stop reading now and go buy a copy of An Eye for an Eye btw it’s only £1 on kindle at the moment and is totally worth the read!

As with the first one I found the writing style flowed nicely and was easy to follow, before I knew it I was a few chapters in and I’d only intended to read a few pages before work!

I did find this story and investigation a little slower paced and not quite as gripping as the first one but I appreciated that and at times felt like it may have been intentional because it meant that I had more time to take in the smaller details which ended up being important!

I enjoyed getting to know Kate and her team a little better & found myself still very much mistrusting or certain characters (I won’t spoil which ones, but let me just say they are the ones you should be able to trust the most!

I really don’t want to give even the smallest detail about the story away, I feel like it’s important that you go into this one knowing as little as possible!

I love how not everything has a conclusion yet which has left the series wide open for a third instalment which I CANNOT WAIT to devour when it’s ready!

Laura is attacked while walking home from her Yoga class. The attacker violates her, after rendering her unconscious and then suffocates her to death with a message carved on her back “MINE”.
Detective Kate Young is assigned the case and she starts working on all possible avenues trying to uncover the perpetrator when another woman, one who belongs to the Police Force is found in a similar condition, dumped in a waste bin. DI Kate’s team of three has now to work under double pressure.
Kate’s step-sister Tilly, is in the town, with her son Daniel. Tilly has been a victim of a similar attack and Kate cannot help but imagine how difficult it must be to cope after this kind of an attack. Meanwhile, another woman is attacked but fortunately, she remains breathing, and that sets DI Young on a positive trail of the killer.
Parallel to this case, Kate is working secretly on her husband’s case, trying to uncover evidence to prove her superior Superintendent John Dickson is responsible for the death of her husband and is involved in underage sex acts.
This book is the second book in DI Kate young series. Although the two are connected, you can read this as a standalone novel as the author has discussed the previous case sporadically in this book.
I loved the last book, immensely. And I wasn’t disappointed with the second either. It was packed with action. There was never a moment of dullness throughout the story. My love for crime thrillers just multiplied with this book.
My detective lens swept over all the characters and I kept hoping it wasn’t someone I liked from the story. Kate’s battle with grief and her job were played out flawlessly, and Kate’s last scene in the story spooked me.
And yet I think that the author could’ve done away with some repetitive information about the last case and Dickson. That would’ve made the story shorter and crisper. I rate it 4 out of 5 stars.
It was an exciting, thrilling, and gripping read that ran ahead at full speed.
I look forward to reading the next installment in the series.