I would like to thank HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for an advance copy of Silent Victim, the tenth novel to feature DCI Matilda Darke of the Sheffield Police.

Matilda is lured back to work to hunt a serial killer who is raping and cutting the throat of his victims. He has managed to kill three young women and so severely injured fourteen year old Tilly that she will never talk again. With no forensics it is up to Matilda to devise a plan that will catch him.

I thoroughly enjoyed Silent Victim, which is an excellent police procedural. It is told mostly from the investigative point of view with the odd chapter describing the unnamed killer’s thoughts and actions. This latter may interest some readers, but it doesn’t add much to the read for me.

The plot mostly consists of Matilda and her team trying to run down the angles and interviewing anyone who crosses their radar in an effort to find an elusive killer. It is a break, not lucky but forced by one of the team, that gives them the answers. This all seems realistic to me, but the strength of the novel, in fact the series, is not just the realism of the investigation but equally the realistic characterisation. The team members have personal trials and tribulations but are close enough that it all gets discussed and hashed out, be it survivor guilt, grief or relationships.

I have to say that Matilda is reckless in this novel. She seems to have shut down the future and can’t see beyond catching this killer. For more detail you’ll have to read the book. On the other hand she is brilliant with the survivor, Tilly, offering sound and empathetic advice.

It is an absorbing read with plenty of activity but not much forward momentum on the investigation, due to a lack of propulsion or, as us oldies call it, clues. The resolution is a flurry and slightly ambiguous, but the job gets done. I have deducted a point from my review due to the epilogue. This is a cliffhanger, setting up the next novel and so what? I would read it anyway and will have no memory of said development when the time comes.

Silent Victim is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

Why was this man killing - butchering - young women. Is he really super intelligent? Why did he take and not kill but give life changing injuries to one victim? Why is there no forensic evidence? These are some of the questions DCI Matilda Darke needs to answer to catch the man she's been brought back on the force for.

Loved it - yet again it was unputdownable.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher I read a free advance review copy of the book. This review is voluntary, honest and my own opinion.

Another excellent chapter in the Matilda Darke series of Sheffield crime stories. Three women murdered in particularly gruesome fashion and one teenager who survives but with life changing injuries The Chief Constable doesn’t know what to do so he turns to Darke who is out of the force after the previous episode. A smaller team are getting nowhere and then an even more gruesome murder victim is found at Christmas. The tale gets darker and darker with several likely suspects in the mix until the breakthrough and the violent ending. As usual with this series the epilogue delivers a shock finish and now the wait to discover what happens next! Excellent!

Prolific writer, Michael Wood’s Silent Victim is the tenth in the DCI Matilda Drake police procedural series. It’s nearly Christmas in 2020 as the pandemic rages and Matilda Drake is enjoying her sabbatical before she is reinstated in the understaffed South Yorkshire police crime investigation team. There is a serial killer at work who leaves no evidence at the crime scene and the police are under pressure. Whilst the fourth victim surprisingly survives the attack, there are no forensic clues or leads. As Matilda’s new team struggles to advance the investigation, the frustration leads to Matilda challenging the killer and resulting in a climactic finale. Warning: some of the forensic descriptions are gruesome and may upset some readers. Although comic in places, the narrative is a first-class tale of a police investigation and a good balance of characters’ lives which makes for an enjoyable standalone crime read, with a four star rating. With thanks to Harper Collins UK and the author, for an uncorrected advanced reader copy for review purposes. As always, the opinions herein are totally my own and freely given.

The next addition in the Matilda Darke series, oh I am a very happy reader. Another nail biting, nerve shredding case that only Matilda can solve. A killer who rapes his victims and the cuts their throats. Matilda is called back after her team was disbanded after the fall out of her last case. But this time the stakes are so much higher, Matilda is putting her life on the line. With an ending I never saw coming and left me speechless. I need the next book now PLEASE!!!!
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for giving an honest review.

This is almost like a horror tale. The killer goes after young women, rapes them and then cuts their throats. But he leaves no evidence behind.
One More Chapter and Net Galley let me read this book for review (thank you). It will be published on October 28th.

One of the cops got shot and is off duty but she is pursuing this case. She feels sorry for the teenagers.

The one victim who survived can't talk. She didn't see who attacked her. But the cop is on his trail.

She taunts him and expects him to come after her. He picks a new victim and she goes after him.

Will she get him or will he get her?

The story is set in the immediate run up to Christmas. It’s a time of year where spirits are usually high due to the upcoming festivities but young women in Sheffield are under threat from a serial killer. This is a very sadistic killer and what they do to the victims is horrific. It is guaranteed to chill you to the bone!

Matilda is one of my favourite detectives and was great to see her back in action trying to stop this killer. Along with a few of my other favourite characters, it was so good to be back with them as I do miss them when I close the pages from the previous novel and wait for the next one. They feel like good friends and I can’t wait to see what is going on in their lives.

The closeness between Matilda and one of the surviving victims was so endearing to read. I love how Matilda having been through what she has, is able to connect with other victims of crime and the empathy she shows really pulls on the heart strings. Tilly is such an admirable character and I would love to see more of her. The author always creates some of the best and worst characters in his books and it always gives the reader food for thought.

Silent Victim is another winning read in the series. Every time I thought I had the killer pegged out, another possibility comes along to throw a spanner in the works so that I was looking at everyone suspiciously. Due to the nature of the attacks, I could hardly sit still as I was desperate for Matilda and the team to put a stop to this vile person’s actions. The pacing was as electrifying as always and with cliff hanger of an ending, I am more than eager to get my hands on the next book in this brilliant series.

This is book 10 in the DCI Matilda Darke series but my first read by this author, as I’m a big fan of police procedurals it was recommended to me and I’m always happy to give a new author a go. I’m glad I did. This is quite a dark (no pun intended) book with some savage and graphic murders and could be uncomfortable for some to read.

Briefly, it is just before Christmas and an utterly ruthless killer is on the loose in Sheffield. So far three women have been raped and brutally murdered and now 14 year old Tilly has been assaulted and left for dead with her throat cut. Luckily (?) she survives but loses her ability to speak. At this point Matilda, who has been on restricted duties following events which I’m guessing took place in the previous book, is asked to rejoin the team and agrees to this one job. The killer has left no evidence and a witness is refusing to help.

This is one seriously evil killer and it really is quite disturbing to read in parts. I loved how Matilda was able to empathise with Tilly, having her own experiences to draw on, and how during the investigation Matilda gets more and more frustrated and decides a more direct tactic is required. The questions are will it work? She is one tough cookie but with a soft centre. Some great red herrings and a shocking climax made for an excellent read and I’ll be seeing more of Matilda in the future. Tense and exciting - I loved it.

Thank you Harper Collins UK/One More Chapter and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. IYKYK, my reviews are always honest.

2.5 rounded down

One second review: It's not you, it's the fact I'm wrong audience

SYNOPSIS

DCI Matilda Drake is called back into action to help find a serial r@pist wreaking havoc around town.

MY OPINION

Ok so essentially all I've read this month are NetGalley arcs and a h0e is STRUGGLING. I've had some gems but I've also had some grade A stankers that seem to implode in the last third. I wouldn't say this one imploded, but I just think I wasn't ... senior enough to enjoy this? Idk how to explain it, but I feel like the older generation would vibe more aggressively with Matilda's character and the storytelling.

The premise was tres juicy. There was a lot of potential here for an absolute banger. You know when you're in the car and the driver has a lead foot so you're jerkin back and forth? That's what this plot was like because of all the long ass chapters about Matilda's Christmas cooking adventures with her female friends. Maybe because I jumped in at the end of the series (you know the vibez) so I wasn't invested in her character enough to really enjoy reading 10 pages about mundane convos with Adele and Pat, but I found myself skimming through these sections just to get back to the case itself.

Unfortunately the writing was basique. Usually this wouldn't bother me because I consider it a staple of the genre (no shade) but the plot wasn't hittin enough for me to overlook it. The number of times I found instances where the author started MULTIPLE sentences in a row with "She (verb)" was appalling. Editor??? Where art thou????

Also, CCTV seemed to be MIA – it wasn't even addressed. And who wants blurays as a 15 yr old? They still exist? In big 2022? I think not. Big cringe when the k!ller literally taped a sign that said "I'm up here" on the door......... cmon now LMAO. But to be fair, Wood does a good job tossing in several red herrings. He did have me second guessing myself.

I really wish I could call this Honda Civic Reliable, but I just can't recommend it in good faith. I would describe it as VERY middle of the road. And since we can't give half stars (lame), I've rounded it down.

PROS AND CONS

Pros: the case itself was juicy, some humour, solid red herrings that kept me second guessing myself

Cons: writing was bleh, didn't care for all the chapters about Matilda's personal life that had NOTHING to do with the plot, ending was trolololol, idk how to explain it but I felt like this was written specifically for senior citizens

When the email hit my inbox asking me to review this book, I jumped for joy! My joy was short lived when I finished it.

I have enjoyed, laughed and wept in all 9 of the other books in this series. Silent Victim did not disappoint. We take of running when Matilda is asked to return to work to help catch a serial killer. One victim survives and Matilda quickly forms a nurturing bound with young survivor Tilly.

I have to say that I really did not expect the killer. I had doubts but it stilled surprised me a bit. I was also really disappointed that the old team wasn't back together, but did appreciate Scott and Finn back. I have high hopes we will have a full team back for #11.

Adele and Matilda's relationship is so good for both of them. The friendship they share is exactly what they both need after all they have been through.

Michael is one of my favorite authors. I cant wait for the next book and have high hopes!

Thank you Netgalley and HarperCollins UK and One More Chapter for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

I have one word to start my review with, and that is WOW! I loved this book, in fact, I love this series, hard to believe we are now on book 10. For me, the author’s writing and storylines have really developed throughout the series, with this latest book being my favourite (so far!).

The pace doesn’t take a breath, the crimes are dreadful, the plot is gripping, and the characters are well developed and believable. It’s fair to say that the author has cemented his place as master of the cliff-hanger with this instalment. Roll on March 2023!

All in all, an excellent read, worthy of all five stars.

I’d like to thank HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘Silent Victim’, the tenth book in the DCI Matilda Darke series written by Michael Wood, in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

When the HMC Unit was closed down and put under special measures DCI Matilda Darke was made redundant. South Yorkshire Police are now short-staffed as they work under the throes of the Covid pandemic so when the bodies of women are found brutally murdered Chief Constable Ridley begs Matilda to return. She accepts but only on the understanding that she can have her old team back working with her.

Michael Wood has yet again written an exceptional thriller that’s kept me gripped from page one as the increasing suspense takes us through each twist and turn and I’ve not been able to stop reading. ‘Silent Victim’ has a riveting plot that makes my spine tingle as the perpetrator continues to take women’s lives purely because he can. I love the character of Matilda who’s determined, dedicated and reliable, and willing to put her own life on the line to save others, but just as Matilda and her amazing team struggle to identify the killer she realises who he is. I foolishly thought that was the end and it was all done and dusted until I reached the last few pages where there’s a shocking conclusion that’s left me feeling completely stunned. I really don’t think I can wait till next March to discover Matilda’s fate.

I've read every single Matilda Dark book and have never been disappointed. Matilda has been to a lot of dark places, and she's managed to come through (barely). She is such a vivid character and the way the author introduces in every book makes you feel like you know her.

This book introduced a more alive Matilda in that during a very light and humorous moment she and her friends talked about the Marvel characters, and she became more real. This book was definitely intense, and it had me going! Matilda's persistence pays off for her and her team. I believe it's time for Matilda to have a love interest. What do you all think?

Thank you #Michael Wood and #NetGalley for A/C.

A brilliant author and series which kept me on the edge of my seat throughout.

A great ending as usual and can't wait to read the next one to see what happens to M.D.

Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Collins OMC.

I can certainly recommend all the series.

Once again, Michael Wood has nailed it, and nailed it big style. In Silent Victim, the tenth in the DCI Matilda Darke series, he takes no prisoners as he puts, both his characters and his readers through the mill. I often wonder is there any limits to this author’s twisted and devious mind? I certainly hope not as every time I pick up one of these books, it ticks all the boxes and then some for me!
Matilda and the team remain under special measures following the scandals that brought them down in The Lost Children (book nine of the series). But when a depraved killer starts haunting the streets of Sheffield, those in charge know there is only one woman they can rely on to bring him down… DCI Matilda Darke! And what follows is a nail biting, brutal and exhilarating race to the finish.
If I am ever found murdered, please for the love of God, get Matilda Darke and her team on my case. She is determined, ruthless and leaves no stone unturned to seek justice for the victims. In Silent Victim, the crimes are despicable, the terror is real and the story is deliciously disturbing. But it’s not all about the shock and horror, Michael Wood is a master at creating the most intriguing and complexly clever plots that left me guessing and second guessing myself all the way through. He ramps up the tension throughout, with those tantalizing teasers, the little hooks at the end of each chapter that keep you turning the page for just one more chapter.
The development of the characters over the series has been simply sublime, if you have followed this series from the start (and if you haven’t then you are seriously missing out!) then you will have come to love, hate and even mourn some of the characters he has created. Matilda’s team gels just perfectly, they have grown with the series and at times I really do believe I am reading about a real live investigation carried out by real people.
Matilda might be a loose cannon at times but she is more than just a character, he has really created a real sense of humanity and justice in this woman who, at times, appears to go out of her way to rub people up the wrong way! There are a few scenes where Matilda and the 14 year old survivor of the latest attack connect through their common survivor experiences, let’s just say those were extremely emotional to read. Matilda has her own ghosts and demons to contend with and in this book it is clear that they have not been laid to rest. Her past, it would appear, is not quite ready to let her go.
Silent Victims is dark, it’s disturbing and it is brutal but it also gives up hope, it shows just how resilient we human beings can be when needed. It’s a humdinger of a read and I urge you to go and buy your copy now!

Thank you to #NetGalley and #OneMoreChapter for the copy of #SilentVictim by #MichaelWood.

WOW WOW WOW

What a book. From the very first sentence you will be hooked and the ending OH MY !!!!!

A killer is stalking the streets of Sheffield and the police are getting nowhere, no clues, no forensics, no idea, where to look next.
So the Chief Constable does the only thing he can and reinstates #DCIMatildaDarke She is the only hope for the young women of the area.
No matter what the risk to herself she will find him and stop him.
A fantastic read with so many twists and turns you will end up suspecting everyone.
Don’t miss out on this, the best book in the series so far.
If I could give it 10 stars I would.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

With South Yorkshire Police under special measures DCI Matilda Darke is taking the time to work through the issues that have been plaguing her.
A brutal killer is on the loose, raping and murdering women at random. With no dedicated major crimes unit to take the case and covid running rampant through the ranks the force is stretched to its limits.
Matilda is asked to come back to work on the case, she pulls together some of her old team but with no forensics or any other clues they have nothing to work on. Matilda meets Tilly, the only victim to survive an attack. Tilly is only fourteen and has been left with serious injuries and will never speak again. Matilda instantly connects with Tilly and vows to find the killer and get justice for all the victims, but this will be easier said than done. How can Matilda keep her promise and what will it cost her and her loved ones.
This absolutely brilliant latest instalment in the Matilda Darke series had me gripped from start to finish. The twists and turns had me guessing and the ending was just outstanding. I’ve already ordered the next one.

Another absolutely brilliant book in this Matilda Dark series. The characters are well crafted, and the plot was gruesome but believable! I can't wait for the next installment.
Thank you Netgalley and Harper Collins for giving me the opportunity to review this book.

Brilliant! The series just gets better and better. That cliff hangar ending had me screaming.... .

This is a rollercoaster of a ride from the author! DCI Matilda Darke is back heading the investigation into the horrific murders of young women. Events take place around Christmas and I loved the description of the turkey! The content is disturbing but the writing and plot are just so clever. There is plenty of suspense throughout, right to the cliffhanger ending. What a finale! I eagerly await the next installment for Matilda, fans will love this one. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.