I have just read Fatal Witness by Robert Bryndza.

This is the 7th book in the Detective Erika Foster Crime Thriller series.

I really have enjoyed every book in the series, and this one was no exception.

Robert Bryndza has really done a good job with the character development of the main character Erika Foster in this series.

Erika has just moved into a new house in Blackheath, which is a real fixer upper, when she is out to grab a bite and hears a loud scream coming from a house nearby.

A horrific murder has just taken place, the murder victim is Vicky Clarke, a true-crime podcaster.

Thank You to NetGalley, the Author and Raven Street Publishing for my advanced book to read and review.

#ErikaFosterReturns #NetGalley

I am a big fan of Robert Bryndza, and after a four year gap in the Detective Erika Foster series it was like catching up with an old friend who you haven't seen for a while and you just slip into an easy conversation like you have never been apart.
This is a hallmark Bryndza police procedural thriller with enough red herrings to throw you off the scent time and time again and a great cast of characters. The only thing stopping me from giving this five stars was a far fetched account in the final part of the book which detracted from my enjoyment of it.

(This is book number seven in the series and although it is part of a series it can be read as a standalone book, although I would recommend they are read in order to get the backstory.)

This latest episode in the Erika Foster series starts with a violent, sadistic murder. You're hooked from the beginning... Erika finds a young girl brutally murdered, a couple of streets from where she's just bought her new home. A dodgy neighbour, a 'warn-off' from a high-standing police Commissioner, a case of mistaken identity and a whole host of possible suspects - some being quite terrifying! The solution seems impossible, with false starts, false clues, jobsworths and people protecting others. And then there's another murder...

It's very creepy; the crimes are haunting and graphic, and the climax near the end is unbearable! Happy reading crime lovers - freak yourselves out! Brilliant and unputdownable. Loved it.

A very good read, by the time i was half way through, I I could not put it down. This book covered so many emotions and troubled lives that people led and found the characters so realistic. Loved Archie who sometimes found his job so heartbreaking. The ending was sad but also a release, so well written.

I have read and loved, the Erika Foster series, and this instalment was like catching up with old friends! The writing is sharp, the characters well rounded, the plot exciting and the murders suitably gruesome.

This book is highly recommended and worthy of all 5 stars.

Excellent read. The descriptions are as usual very good, making the book very readable. It was good to see Erika Foster’s character continue to develop throughout the storyline. Would thoroughly recommend it.

As usual Robert Bryndza doesn’t fail to surprise his readers with his latest instalment of Erica Foster. The story follows Erica through her role as DI on a murder she stumbles across in her neighbourhood. The story has many twists and turns and unexpected plot lines gripping the reader right to the end. Can’t wait for the next one. Excellent long awaited read.

What an incredible read! Robert Bryndza is back and on top form.

I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw that there was a new DI Erika Foster book. After 4 years, she’s back and it’s just like she never left! I was drawn back into this series instantly. It’s so engaging to read and incredibly hard to put down.

For those that have read the previous books and are thinking: I can’t remember DI Erika that well, it’s been too long! Well you’re in luck, Bryndza feeds in just enough of all the essentials (like back story, notable highlights from other books in the series and a quick re-intro to her colleagues and Erika herself) without it taking over the whole book and ultimately plot. Equally, for new readers to this series, you CAN read this book without ever having picked up a previous novel - but be warned as soon as you do you’ll be buying all the others!

In Erika’s character, Robert has created a very human and very believable woman who is utterly dedicated to her job. She’s not a one-woman vigilante, she doesn’t have any super human strength, she certainly can’t dodge bullets and chase criminals to the ends of the earth. But what she is, is a very good detective, leader and friend. Like everyone, she has her flaws and she makes mistakes but she leads and works closely with her team and even though she’s the main act she doesn’t dominate the plot.

Now, plot-wise this one is a real rollercoaster. At one point I thought it might end up bleeding (no pun intended) into a second, follow up novel. It’s so tense! And there’s so many twists, leads and missing information that I would be surprised if anyone figures it all out before they reach the final pages. I have literally been sat, reading with my mouth open in permanent awe and shock as I ploughed through this book. I know everyone says this but I couldn’t and more to the point, didn’t, want to put this book down!!

This book is absolutely amazing and makes me now want to go back and read the series from the start. Robert Bryndza is an excellent author and whilst both his DI Erika Foster and Kate Marshall series are both still in their fledgling phases - he is a guaranteed good writer! You will love everything this man churns out and be absolutely devastated when, like me, you have to wait for more. C’mon Robert, stop the promotions and sit back down. I need more!

Thanks, as ever, to NetGalley for my advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Another great Erika Foster book. The death of a true crime podcaster leads to an investigation into historic stalker cases. As the death toll mounts Erika needs to find the victims of earlier crimes in an effort to unmask the killer. A gripping read.

I am new to this series but now having read 1 book I intend to read them all!, Fast paced page turner that from the first page I could not put down. I love a good mystery that keeps you questing and questioning right down to the last page! Highly recommended.

This was a very welcome addition to my reading list , I have been waiting for the next instalment in the Erika Foster series and I'm pleased to report that this was worth the wait . After moving into her new house Erika is out for a late night stroll when she hears a scream , when she runs to investigate she finds the brutal murder of a young woman , it soon becomes apparent that she was working on a true crime podcast about a serial attacker of young women , with all her notes missing it is soon assumed they have been taken by her killer , the plot thickens when a case of mistaken identity is thrown into the mix and as expected lots of twist and turns as we follow the investigation with Erika and her team . Brilliant , fast paced and entertaining . Welcome back Erika . 5 stars

I would like to thank Netgalley and Raven Street Publishing for an advance copy of Fatal Witness, the seventh novel to feature DCI Erika Foster of the Met.

Erica is walking home to her new house in Blackheath when she hears screams. Tess Clarke has just found the brutally murdered body of her sister, Vickie, a true crime podcaster. All her notes for her latest investigation, historical attacks on local students, are missing. When a second body is found it becomes clear that Erika and her team are hunting a ruthless killer.

I thoroughly enjoyed Fatal Witness, which is an engrossing police procedural with some excellent twists. Firstly I would like to say that I have rated it at 5* because it held my attention throughout and I read it in one sitting. This is a rare occurrence for me nowadays as I am suffering from poor concentration and some health issues, so I want to note how exceptional the novel is for me.

There is nothing particularly outstanding about the novel in terms of novelty or all guns blazing action scenes, but it is quietly relentless because author has great skill in his writing. The prose is clear and concise so the reader understands exactly what is happening and why, there is a steady drip of reveals and well placed twists that move the plot in new directions and finally Erika is a realistic protagonist with whom the reader can identify. It adds up to a novel that compels the reader to keep turning the pages from first to last.

I am pleased to see Erika finally moving on after 4 years of mourning her husband. She has a new house, euphemistically referred to as a fixer upper, and the possibility of romance. It’s all change, hopefully for the better, although her propensity for landing in trouble (and hospital) remain the same.

Fatal Witness is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

Five superb stars for the next instalment in the Erika Foster series. The story starts with a bang and takes us on the usual roller coaster ride of red herrings and clues until the final reveal. One of my absolutely favourite authors . Can’t wait for the next instalment.

'That's the problem when you run to the end of the earth, there's nowheren else to run but over the edge'

'Fatal Witness', book #7 in the Erika Foster series.
Robert Bryndza manages to put me, as a reader, nearly into the action. As from the very first sentence, my attention is being captured. And even though it has been quite a while and suite some books since my last Erika Foster, it feels like it has not been that long. The most important facts of the past are mentioned, so I am quickly back into how the characters interact. This link between books and thus characters is a plus to me, putting depth into the story and the main characters.
Robert Bryndza includes a bit of humour into this serious police business when a copy of 'no son of mine' is found on the victim's bookshelves, in this way referring to the Nine Elms Cannibal well known to Bryndza fans.
Even thoug English is not my mother tongue, and I haven't read English books in years, I must admit I find it very pleasant to do so, and when necesarry, I can get some help from the built-in dictionary in the e-reader, this way I can enjoy reading 'Fatal witness' to the maximum.
By referring to Erika's past we continue to getting to know her even better, and the person behind the pro is being revealed.
By visiting the location of one of the previous Erika Foster books and by referring to this particular case, once again a connection between books is established. However, this does not mean you would not be able to read 'Fatal Witness' without having read the prior ones, on the contrary.
Step by step the plot thickens to a fairly unexpected end. This is quite an original closure, and thanks to the epilogue it doesn't feel like an anticlimax. On the contrary, it opens perspectives for more Erika books!
A big thank you to Robert Bryndza and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to already read this great book !

Things I thought would never happen. Boris telling the truth, UK not coming last in Eurovision and Erika Foster returning. Well two out of three ain't bad!

Because YES!!! Erika is back!! Hang out the banners and bunting because my queen is back. I've really enjoyed Robert Bryndzas other fantastic series based around ex police detective Kate Marshall, but Erika holds a special place as one of the first detective series that I really connected with. And it's been 4 long years. So I'm a very happy reader (you may have picked up on this).

So did it match up to my expectations? Well of course. In this new novel Erika is busy settling into her new home in Blackheath. An evening walk leads her to overhear a woman's scream and for her to stumble across a brutal murder. So not so much a case of taking the work home, but it following instead. Erika discovers that the victim Vicky Clarke had recently been investigating a spate of assaults for her true-crime podcast. Her notes and recording have been taken. Was there a chance that Vicky had uncovered something about the crimes. Could the killer be trying to cover up previous crimes? Nothing is clear-cut in this case.

I read this one late into the night (well morning, it was 4am when I finally put it down). It's a cliche, but this really is a page turner. A great addition to the series. Looking forward to more....I just hope it's not another 4 years!

Now I have another great Detective to follow.
This is the seventh book in the Erika Foster series.
I haven’t read any previous books in this series or by the Author, but I’m about to start.
A really good story line, a very brutal murder, and not a real lot of suspects. A few really good twists, and you’ll be hooked.
Erika is definitely one who lives her job. She has just purchased a new house, cold and virtually unfurnished leaves her sleeping on the floor.
Her character is very likeable. I enjoyed the book, but anything I’d like to jot down will lead to spoilers, and there is nothing worse than spoilers.
Worth reading, and I’m definitely reading the previous six, have already purchased one.
Thanks to Netgalley, Author and publishes for an eARC. I am leaving a voluntary honest review in exchange.

Very enjoyable read with a lot of suspense. Interesting characters with dialogue that held my focus, and a well written plot kept me reading well into the night. I highly recommend for anyone who enjoys police mystery’s.

How does Bryndza do it? I feel like I have been riding the longest and steepest rollercoaster in one day..Yes, one day as I started this thriller in the am and could not rest...repeat...could not rest...until I had finished it. Electrifying, propulsive and peppered with more twists and turns than I could imagine. So many plot points were deftly managed that I couldn't imagine how it was all going to tie together. I swear I will be dizzy for a week.
The reader is again introduced to dear Erika Foster, chief detective, who finds a young woman thought to be a true-crime podcaster dead in her apartment with the most vicious brutal attack. In an attempt to find out who was behind the attack, nothing, I repeat nothing, is as it seems. Neighbors, family, friends, acquaintances are all investigated and just when you think one of them will turn up to be the culprit, the light goes out and it is another guess down mystery lane. Saying more will only deprive you of the opportunity to ride out this wave, so hurry to be swept away!

Another brilliant instalment in this well established with with the return of several characters and a complex case. it's nice to see Erika be a bit more vulnerable.

Fatal Witness is book seven in the Detective Erika Foster series by Robert Bryndza. Detective Chief Inspector Erika Foster was walking home from having dinner when she heard someone scream in a nearby unit block. Detective Chief Inspector Erika Foster rushed in and found a young woman murdered. However, there was a mix up in identifying the victim. When Detective Chief Inspector Erika Foster and the team found out about this mistake, they started a missing person investigation. The readers of Fatal Witness will continue to follow Detective Chief Inspector Erika Foster's investigation to discover what happens.

Fatal Witness is a fantastic addition to this excellent series by Robert Bryndza. I enjoy reading books in this series, and Fatal Witness did not disappoint, and I had no problem engaging with the plot or the characters. I love Robert Bryndza's portrayal of his characters and how they intertwine throughout this book. Fatal Witness is well written and researched by Robert Bryndza. I like Robert Bryndza's description of the settings of Fatal Witness, which allowed me to imagine being part of the plot of this book.

The readers of Fatal Witness will learn about the role of the voice-over artist in the entertainment industry. Also, the readers of Fatal Witness will understand the importance of family at Christmas.