I just could not work it out - fantastic. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a review.

Another riveting read from Tony Kent in this thriller that blends the legal worlds of the police and court systems with a serial killer targeting judges, barristers and the police amongst others using masochistic means of torture upon his victims.

This is the second book in the Killer Intent series but you could read it as a stand alone and you'd still enjoy it. There's definitely scope left for book number three too which is great to see and will definitely be on my must read pile as soon as it is released.

A tense, gripping, and intriguing mystery that kept me on the edge. Well plotted and exciting.
I liked the storytelling and the characters.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Absolutely fantastic book. Highly enjoyed this book. This book had fast paced book, great characters from previous books.
Best Tony Kent book yet

When London’s legal establishment is shaken to its foundation by the grisly crucifixion of a retired Lord Chief Justice, Detective Chief Inspector Joelle Levy is tasked with finding his killer. With fifty years of potential enemies to choose from, only the identical murder of former solicitor Adam Blunt offers a ray of hope: what is it that connects these victims who met such a gruesome end?
Assigned to the story from the start, news reporter Sarah Truman sets out to investigate on her own, not suspecting that the trail will lead straight back to her own front door and her fiancé Michael Devlin. A criminal barrister determined to prove the innocence of his own client, Michael is at first oblivious to the return of the murderous figure from his past – until tragedy strikes closer to home.
Struggling with his grief and guilt, and now caught up in a madman’s terrible quest for revenge, Michael must race to bring the killer to justice – before it’s too late.
A gripping thriller that starts on simmer and builds to a boil. Dazzlingly clever, twisting and constantly surprising. An unputdownable rollercoaster of a read. The opening is atmospheric and completely absorbing. Immersive, pacy and unputdownable. Five stars!

A deadly secret. A chilling game. A past you can’t escape.
When London’s legal establishment is shaken to its foundation by the grisly crucifixion of a retired Lord Chief Justice, Detective Chief Inspector Joelle Levy is tasked with finding his killer. With fifty years of potential enemies to choose from, only the identical murder of former solicitor Adam Blunt offers a ray of hope: what is it that connects these victims who met such a gruesome end?
Assigned to the story from the start, news reporter Sarah Truman sets out to investigate on her own, not suspecting that the trail will lead straight back to her own front door and her fiancé Michael Devlin. A criminal barrister determined to prove the innocence of his own client, Michael is at first oblivious to the return of the murderous figure from his past – until tragedy strikes closer to home.
Struggling with his grief and guilt, and now caught up in a madman’s terrible quest for revenge, Michael must race to bring the killer to justice – before it’s too late.

This is a brilliant read.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great suspense and found myself second guessing every thought I had continuously.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.

I was provided an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher. This is my own honest voluntary review.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I’m a sucker for legal thrillers. The author jumped right into the action and didn’t waste too much time on background. While it is a part of a series, I didn’t read the first book and this didn’t take away from my enjoyment of this book. Yes, some references were made from the first book, but it didn’t seem like it was necessary to read it in order to follow this book. I didn’t give it five stars because I was able to deduce what was happening really early on, though I didn’t figure out how Devlin was involved. I also thought the book was longer than it needed to be as some parts in the middle dragged on a bit. At over 400 pages, something can be cut out. That being said, for anyone that loves legal thrillers, whodunits, police procedurals, this book has it all rolled up into one. I would definitely recommend it.

Absolutely brilliant. I really enjoy this authors books and the Dempsey/Devlin series is really good.

What a brilliant and fast paced thriller this is. Michael Devlin is a young barrister and DCI Joelle Levy of the Metropolitan police become involved in the murder of the former Lord Chief Justice. There are a few different strands in this book, as well as interesting characters and a complex, twisty plot. It gripped me from the beginning and I have no hesitation in giving 5* and a highly recommended. It's a very compelling read. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

BOOM! BOOM BANG! Explosive, edge-of-your-seat happenings from start to finish. This subject--political and government characters--wasn't really my cup of tea but the drama and suspense kept me reading.

I have not the read the first in this series of Killer Intent by Tony Kent, but I really wished I had because this was so good, and whilst there are plentiful references to previous events, it still works well as a standalone. This is a brilliant fast paced thriller which just does not let up on the action front. Michael Devlin is a young QC barrister plagued by insecurites that he has not really earned his silks as he takes the lead as the defending counsel for the young Simon Kash on trial for the brutal murder of two brothers. Michael is convinced he is innocent, a man bullied and threatened, and so unwilling to provide the necessary information that will allow Michael to defend him effectively. Michael's fiance is a Journalist of note, Sarah Truman, and she is covering the explosive story of the elderly Phillip Longman, the former Lord Chief Justice, discovered gruesomely crucified in his bedroom.

DCI Joelle Levy of the London Met is a woman who has previously served with the Israeli security services, a single mother, running the investigation into Longman's murder with her under resourced police team. Pressure increases for her and DI Steven Hale when a gang leader and his close cohorts are killed in what looks like a professional hit. Scrabbling to find any leads, Joelle and her team face the overwhelming task of finding suspects from Longman's long career as a judge. The killer in the meantime has barely just begun, as he targets others in what seems to be a quest for revenge. Joelle and Sarah develop a close personal friendship that allows for them to help each other. Michael is largely oblivious to the killer, absorbed by the trial and his obsession to ensure that Simon Kash is acquitted, that is until it becomes clear that his past is key to what is motivating the deranged and deadly serial killer as tragedy hits close to home.

Tony Kent writes a complex and well plotted story that is intense, and totally gripping that will keep your attention from beginning to end with ease. He expertly ratchets up the suspense and tension whilst juggling the two separate storylines of the criminal trial and a frighteningly scary and menacing serial killer running rampant. The characterisation is well done, Michael is not your usual barrister, his traumatic background and experience ensures he is not going to take the threat to those close to him lying down. Joelle Levy is another character whose background differentiates her from others in the police service, and she too is willing to go over and beyond her role to ensure her own version of justice. This is a fantastic thriller that is both entertaining and compulsive reading. Many thanks to Elliot and Thompson for an ARC.

When I requested this didn’t realise it had already been published, I only looked at the day and the month but not the year of publication. But none of that matters as I thoroughly enjoyed this fast paced book. It was freaking awesome and, while I might not go back and read book 1 I will certainly be looking for book 3. In either case this reads really well as a stand alone.

The story was a clever blend of crime thriller and legal thriller. The main protagonists are newly appointed, at a shockingly young age, Queen’s Counsel Michael Devlin, his fiancé - journalist Sarah Truman and Detective Chief Inspector Joelle Levy.

There is a spate of murders. A former high court judge has been brutally killed in his home, crime boss Leon Ferris and three of his henchmen are swiftly dispatched with a knife in the bosses office. Another former lawyer is killed in the same fashion as the judge. Levy is investigating all these cases and is struggling to find links and motives.

Meanwhile Devlin is trying to keep a young man out of prison for murder. The man is too scared of retribution to dob in the real killers. The case weighs heavily on Devlin and he feels duty bound to help the young man even when it seems that his own life may be on the line, at which point he goes all Rambo

The story was tautly plotted and the pace never let up from the very dramatic first page until the last. There were plenty of red herrings and not all things were as they seemed. It was a rather compulsive story that I couldn’t put down.

The characterisations were really well done. You get a sense of who these people are and what they believe in and value. The real villain of this story (there was more than one) though was a very scary, pitiless dude. I didn’t like being in his head at all. The story flowed really welland the writing was very immersive. All in all a fantastic book!

I had one tiny niggle - the use of “span” when it should be “spun”, as in she span on her heel. Otherwise it close to perfect. Many thanks to Netgalley and Elliott & Thompson for the much appreciated free copy which I reviewed voluntarily and honestly.

4.5 stars.

Good book! Wow! That ending!! I had a feeling, lol this book had suspense, intrigue, lots of action and tons of murder and mayhem!! The storyline was very interesting and had all kinds of twists and turns! It definitely kept me glued to my kindle! I definitely enjoyed reading this book! I will recommend reading this book as it was well worth reading! Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!