A great addition to what is fast becoming a great series and whilst this can be read as a standalone, I would recommend reading the first so you get the most out of this and also because it's an excellent read.

Like the first in the series, there is a lot to like about The Silent Dead - the characters, the plot, the twists, the back-stories, the writing style, the pacing - pretty much everything really!

Jackie Cooke is an excellent character; battling with a boss who clearly doesn't like her very much and a soon-to-be ex-husband who's moved on to pastures younger and left her with a new baby and twin boys and having to rely on her mum more than either of them would like all whilst trying to find a heinous murderer who is targeting single mums.

From the very first to the very last word, this book had me hooked and thanks must go to Bookouture and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of The Silent Dead and I am very much looking forward to the next in the series.

Detective Jackie Cooke is back!!! Woohoo!!! In the second book in the fantastic series, she is up against a killer of women whose calling card is leaving a roll of money in the women's throats. Marnie Riches has once again written a gripping page turner that I could not put down! This is the second book in the series and would work nicely as a stand-alone, but I highly recommend reading the first book in the series as it will keep you on the edge of your seat, turning the pages! Plus, you will get more information about Jackie's domestic life.

Jackie was called to the scene of what is initially believed to be a suicide. There is a note on the table which says <i>SORRY</i> and Jackie, *gasp* recognized the victim as someone she attended school with. Jackie suspects foul play and further evidence shows the woman was murdered. Sadly, she was not the first victim.

There have been other victims and the women have similar things in common. Will Jackie and her partner, David/Dave be able to catch a killer before more women die? As the team of detectives dig deeper, they find an online community of Incels who discuss and encourage violence against women.

Jackie is such a great character. She is a dedicated and hardworking detective as well as a single mother with 9-year-old twin boys and a 4 month old daughter. Jackie struggles with childcare issues and a deadbeat ex-husband. She is the perfect blend of tough and vulnerable. She loves her job, and she loves her children.

I was so excited to see that this book was coming out. It was one of my most anticipated reads and I was not disappointed. I loved the balance of home life and work life for Jackie. Marnie Riches showed how single mothers/parents struggle with working and raising their children. The guilt, struggle and joy that comes with it. This was a riveting police procedural which keep me guessing and on my toes. The pacing was spot on. There was never a dull moment and things moved at an enjoyable pace. I was invested in the story and trying to do my own super sleuthing while reading this book.

From cover to cover, this was a breathtaking, engaging, suspenseful and well thought out book. I already have my fingers crossed that book #3 will be out soon as I can't wait to read more about Jackie, her home life, and her detective work.

BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'The Silent Dead' by Marnie Riches.

Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Marnie Riches, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous

Publication date 1st November 2022.

This is the second book I have read by this author. It is also the second book in the 'Detective Jackie Cooke series'. I have also read the first book in this series 'The Lost Ones' which I would also highly recommend.

I was originally drawn to this book by its eye catching cover and intriguing sounding synopsis and title. I absolutely loved the first book in this series 'The Lost Ones' and if this is half as good as that one it is guaranteed to be a page turner. The synopsis stated that this book is 'A completely unputdownable crime thriller that will have you reading long into the night. Perfect for fans of Kendra Elliott, Rachel McLean and Val McDermid. ' I am a huge fan of Kendra Elliott so am looking forward to seeing if this lives up to this statement. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).

This novel consists of a prologue and 37 chapters. The chapters are short to medium in length so easy to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!

This book is based in Manchester, England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿, UK 🇬🇧. The bonus for me of books that are partly or fully based in the UK is that I live in the UK and have sometimes visited places mentioned in the book which makes it easier to picture.

This book is written in third person perspective and main protagonist is Detective Jackie Cooke and the perp. The benefits of third person perspective with multiple protagonists are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything.

This book is extremely well written with vivid descriptions that really set the scene and kept me on the edge of my seat. The cover and synopsis suited the storyline perfectly.

OMG!!! MARNIE DOES IT YET AGAIN!!! I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS SERIES AND YET AGAIN MY MIND IS ABSOLUTELY BLOWN!!!!

Love, LOVE, LOVED this absolute page turner!! I didn't think she could get any better than her absolutely amazing 'The Lost Ones' which is the first book in this explosive series but she absolutely smashed it yet again!! My heart is still pounding hours after reading it and I still haven't shut up talking about it to my partner who actually is interested in it (he is a complete non reader so this in itself is a challenge and a huge success!!!) . The storyline is absolutely ram packed with mystery, deceit, crime, secrets, lies, murder, romance, tension, suspense and OMG the twists just kept on coming again and again!!! Just when I thought everything that could happen had happened BOOM there was another shocker around the corner. Every time I kept telling myself one more chapter the one I was in ended at a point where there was no way I could stop reading so I absolutely devoured it in one sitting!! In this book the danger is even closer to Jackie than before and with a killer who believes women are the enemy she is under threat! I love the complexity of the storyline that doesn't just have you absolutely hooked but continuously guessing on this crime packed roller coaster ride!! I love the fact that although this is a crime thriller there is some light hearted moments throughout so it's not all darkness. I WAS absolutely blown away and considering I read approximately 30 books a month that is certainly no easy feat so a HUGE congratulations on that Marnie. This book will get your adrenalin pumping and keep you on the edge of your seat throughout. I really could not recommend this book any more. If you are looking for something unique, filled with suspense and that will blow your mind then this is definitely the book for you!!

Although this is the second book in the series I would have had absolutely no problems reading it without the others. Any details or events that have previously happened are mentioned in just the right amount of detail to let a new reader know what has happened and yet not too much to bore a previous reader.

DO NOT EVEN THINK ABOUT READING THIS UNTIL YOU HAVE CLEARED YOUR SCHEDULES AS YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PUT IT DOWN!!!

I wasn't just 100% invested in the storyline but also in the characters. I absolutely loved meeting them again after they made such a huge impact on me in 'The Lost Ones' and I have been looking forward to meeting them ever since I closed the last page. Every single one of the characters were well defined, realistic and strong. I absolutely LOVE Jackie who is absolutely kick a## and I cannot wait to meet her again. The fact that she has not long given birth does not stop her from fighting the bad guys. She will not give up regardless of the dangers involved. Jackie is an absolutely amazing protagonist and one who has really stuck in my mind. I really cannot wait to see what she gets up to and involved in in the next book already. Jackie and Dave Tang make an absolutely perfect team and the banter between this is hilarious from start to finish some of which had me laughing out loud and getting some very strange looks!! They may wind each other up but you can see how much they have each others backs and how well they not only work together but know each other makes the team dynamics just right!! Dave makes a fantastic partner and they work perfectly together. The fact that he is there for Jackie at all times is so lovely and I'd love to have a friend like him in my life, Shazla also made a good member of the team and I'm looking forward to getting to know her better. Jackie, Dave and Shazla make an absolutely fantastic team and I cannot wait to meet them all again, hopefully very soon! 😉 I still cannot stand Venables who only cares about fame and good publicity rather than what the right thing to do is. She is constantly on Jackie's back and is a perfect example of what a boss shouldn't be!! Apart from Venables I cannot wait to meet this absolutely fantastic team again and hopefully that wont be too long. Hint, hint 😉 Marnie!!!

A HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to Marnie on what promises to be a massive best seller!!! I WAS absolutely shocked by so many events and yet again you managed to completely blow my theories out the water!!! This is exactly why you are on my favourite author list Marnie and here's to your next explosive success 🥂!!!

Overall an absolutely addictive, mind blowing page turner that will keep you up with a racing heart until you've finished!!!

Genres covered in this book include Thriller, British Detective Stories, Psychological Fiction, British Detective Stories, Police Procedural, Suspense, Thriller, Women's Detective Fiction, Domestic Fiction, Women Sleuths, Psychological Thriller, Domestic Thriller and Mystery amongst others.


I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of Kendra Elliott, Rachel McLean, Val McDermid and anyone looking for a red hot crime thriller!!!

325 pages.

This book is just £1.99 to purchase on kindle via Amazon, free on kindle unlimited and £8.99 in paperback (at time of review) which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!

Rated 5 /5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.

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When the body of a single mother is discovered with a single word note, suicide might be the apparent cause. The discovery of the woman’s body is even more shocking when Detective Jackie Cooke recognizes that it is a friend of hers from school that she has not seen in decades. Oddly enough, the victim has a telltale sign that proves that this was not a case of suicide. This is especially proven when a second body is discovered in a very similar manner. The second victim is also a single mother. This makes it clear that this killer is targeting single mothers, and Jackie is determined to bring this killer to justice before yet another body is discovered.

Jackie soon makes the connection between the two women, and the brings her just a bit closer to discovering the killer. Sadly, before she can hone in on the killer, yet another body is discovered. Jackie is carrying a lot with this current case. Friction with her boss makes things difficult, and things on the homefront are not doing so great either. She is now a single mother with twin ten-year-old boys and a very young infant daughter. She is forced to balance things at home while trying to find out who is killing these women. Little does Jackie know that she herself is in the killer’s sites. With more than one potential suspect, Jackie finds herself rather overwhelmed with the case, all while navigating difficulties at home.

This book brings up something that I have seen in a previous book, and that is incels, and this is how Jackie tries to narrow down who the killer is. I love this book because Jackie is very real, her cases are rather complex and her relationship with her family is difficult at best. She is a hard worker who really cares about the victims and works very hard to bring these killers to justice. While Marnie Riches was new to me with the first book in the series, I am definitely dedicated to read anything by her going forward. She writes with great skill and fabulous character development making this book a very compelling read. I love reading a book where a dedicated police officer successfully balances their family life with their work. I am very much looking forward to the third book in the series.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

Please enjoy my YouTube video review - https://youtu.be/UqTvAgO0z9g

I’m going to cut to the chase – The Silent Dead is terrific. I raced through the story and got totally lost in Jackie Cooke’s life as she finds herself investigating the death of an old school friend.

Readers join the story as a mother drops her young son at nursery for the day. The teary parting from the boy and the heartwrench for his mum will be all too familiar for many parents and it’s an early indication of how Marnie Riches is going to play on our emotions over daily challenges and experiences. Grounding the backdrop to a murder story with elements of daily life, which we can all relate to, made everything seem more personal in The Silent Dead. After leaving her son in the care of his nursery teacher we follow Claire back to her house – it’s the last journey she will make as death awaits her.

When Detective Jackie Cooke responds to the call of a suicide she is shocked to see an old friend from her school days. She finds it hard to believe her friend would take her own life and Jackie has suspicions there may be more to Claire’s death than initially meets the eye. Jackie raises these concerns and finds her combatative boss is less than keen to read too much into matters. The evidence is a single parent with money worries who she left a note to say “sorry”. But Jackie isn’t convinced and wants to dig a little deeper. It turns out she had reason to be suspicious.

The Silent Dead takes Jackie and her colleagues deep into an investigation which will see them bashing heads with objectional ex-husbands, working girls, internet dating sites and facing the problem of the angry incels who live online and seek others who listen to their hateful rantings. Marnie Riches is very good at bringing disturbing and problematic people into her stories and showing the damage they can do when left unchecked. She shines a light on the worst of human nature and weaves compelling crime thrillers around the darker elements many of us choose to ignore (if we even know they are out there).

When not taking on the dark forces Jackie has her work more than cut out for her at home. She is a new mum who also has two older twins causing chaose at home. Returning to work early from her maternity leave, following the sudden breakdown in her marriage, Jackie is juggling work and family commitments. She is stressed, hormonal, frustrated and permanently exhausted – she felt one of the most realistic lead characters I have encountered for some time. Everyday problems ARE problems, not enough hours in the day, missing her kids, unable to get full parental support at parents night – all so relatable to many of us. This recognisable human dynamic of the day to day grind does add to the realism of the story and everyone wants to get behind Jackie and see her pull through and get some respite. If only it were that simple!

As I said at the start of this review – I really enjoyed The Silent Dead. I keep coming back to read more and more of the books Marnie Riches writes as I find them so readable. Pacing is fantastic, characters can be fun, serious and deadly dangerous and the story just flows. More of these will be very welcome.

I really enjoyed The Lost Ones, so I was excited to be back with Jackie Cooke and her team. Jackie is feisty and determined and not afraid to speak her mind, and I love the relationships she has with her colleagues, especially Dave. I have no idea how Jackie fits everything into her day, but I love that Riches has really developed her family life and background situation to make her a really relatable character.

The Silent Dead is set in Manchester and the surrounding area, and it is clear from Riches' writing that she knows the areas about which she writes really well. I'm not familiar with Manchester, but I could still picture all the scenes in the novel clearly and this really helped me to become sucked into the storyline.

Riches' plotting in The Silent Dead is absolutely flawless. The novel is incredibly fast paced and I could not rest until I knew who the killer was. There are several layers to the plot and I was transfixed trying to work out what was going on, trying to crack all the clues and red herrings that the author puts out for us.

This series is definitely one to look out for and I can't wait to see what happens next!

The Silent Dead is the second book in the Detective Jackie Cooke series. Having read and loved the first book (All The Pretty One’s) I was really excited to read this one. It certainly didn’t disappoint. A fast paced and gripping read which will have you on the edge of your seat at times. The development of the characters is getting better and I love the relationship between Jackie and her colleague Dave as they have a great rapport with each other. I did think I knew who the perpetrator was quite early on but kept changing my mind as the story progressed. Another excellent read in what for me is developing into a fantastic detective series with super characters.

Detective Jackie Cooke is back early from Maternity Leave – She is called to a scene that clearly is “suicide” – but as she gets there, she finds an school friend, one she hasn’t seen for years. The Claire Jackie new would never have taken her own life, troubled by the thought Jackie pushes for an investigation. This is sets in motion a whole set of “suicides” as really murders – time is ticking and “Nice Guy” is really not nice.
Looking forward to more in this series.

Detective Jackie Cooke is back, and so is another sensational murderer.

Marnie Riches weaves another brilliant plot, and we have the joy of experiencing Jackie continuing her struggles to balance her personal and work life whilst navigating the complex network of incel communities and workplace politics.

The crime fiction is good, well written, and engaging. And I thoroughly enjoyed Jackie’s character development. Along side Jackie we get to experience the supporting characters a bit more, such as Dave and Hannah, Clever Bob and Zoe, and even Shazia.

However, how many more crimes can Jackie have a coincidental connection with, and how many more psychopath’s profiles can she plausibly fit. All the connections in this book did seem a bit stretched and over the top to me.

Regardless, it was a very enjoyable read.

I received this ARC from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve been waiting for what seems like a long time for this book as I’ve read and reviewed the first in the series and it was absolutely incredible and I couldn’t wait to get my grubby mitts on book 2!.

You can find my review for the first book in this fantastic series here on my ➡️ Blog

Jackie is back at work because she needs the money and she’s trying to parent her twins and look after her newborn baby Alice all on her own but she’s got help from her mum Beryl who lives in the basement but she’s feeling so guilty about going back to work but she’s needs to keep a roof over everyone’s heads.

Then her and Dave uncover a potential serial killer, can she catch him before he strikes again and keep juggling all the plates for her family?

What a fantastic second book in this series, this one takes a little longer to get you hooked but when you are it’s an incredible thrilling book. I enjoyed the real life element of the growing rise of the Incel movement that the author included in the book, it’s both fascinating and scary both in the book and in the real world.

I just love Jackie and everything she stands for and represents I can’t wait for book 3!.

I wanted to read this book as I loved the first in this series and had high expectations. I wasn't disappointed and was hooked since the first pages.
i'm not sure if I would be happy to be friend with Jackie Cooks: she's a clever and strong woman but there's plenty of serial killer ready to kill relatives/friends :)
I found this novel less dark than the first book but more complex. The private life of Jackie is quite complicated, she must juggle career, a new born daughter, the older children, and a divorce.
She's a good team player even if not always on the same page with her boss.
I loved the empathy of the author with the victims. There's sadness, there's a lot of questions, and a list of partners who are terrible mate and fathers.
The plot kept me hooked and turning pages, all the twists surprised me and i couldn't guess the culprit.
I read it in one sitting as it's a page turner.
Strongly recommended.
Many thanks to Bookouture for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Detective Sergeants Jackson Cooke and David Tang (and of course the rest of the team) return in this, the second novel in the latest series from Marnie Riches.

On the hunt of a serial killer who targets divorced single mothers, the team are once again trailing the Greater Manchester area in search of information leading to an arrest.

Following a number of lines of enquiry, leads them in various directions and seem almost diversionary, before finding the correct thread to pull.

The continuing back story of Jackie's home life and the workplace relationship with her superior, work hard at dividing the reader's attention, much like you'd expect it to divert the attention of any detective during murder investigations, making this a compelling read. Although this is the second 'Jackie Cooke' it can easily be read and enjoyed as a standalone.

Many readers will identify with the 'work/life balance' struggle that Jackie, and her team, face on a daily basis. This subject is one that I'm sure is especially relevant to real life 'police families'. However, the team, lead by Jackie is dogged in their investigations and leave no potential thread unpicked.

Ultimately, for anyone who enjoys police procedurals this is definitely a book to be added to your tbr list.

I do love a good but of crime fiction, and one thing you are guaranteed with a Marnie Riches book is that you are going to get and absolutely brilliant bit of crime fiction. I've been reading the author's work for a while now and have yet to find one that even comes close to disappointing. From gritty, urban style fiction to stories that are dotted with subtle and not so subtle humour to balance out the dark deeds being undertaken, Marnie Riches always delivers. That is absolutely the case with The Silent Dead, in which the author takes a look into the very murky waters of the dark web and the thoroughly heinous incel movement. It's a case with a personal connection for Detective Jackie Cooke, but one she is determined to get to the bottom of, no matter what objections she may face from her superiors.

I really like the character of Jackie Cooke. She is not your average Detective, neither bow beaten by the job or young and over enthusiastic to make her mark. She is a seasoned Detective who has put family before career, as much as that is ever possible for a police officer, but who has a steely determination that means she will not give up, not matter what the dangers. And this case is pretty dang dangerous, with a killer who sees women as the enemy. With Jackie front and centre of the investigation, it's not going to be long before the stakes are raised and the tension, and threat start to escalate. But, if you have read book one, you'll know Jackie has form for getting herself into dangerous situations, not always willingly, but that she never gives up. She's a fabulous protagonist, someone you can't help root for and someone it's great to spend a few hours with her and her partner, Dave Tang, who manages, sort of, to keep Jackie in check.

This is a very complex story, one which keeps you guessing right to the end. I love the way that the author slowly pulls us into the story, setting up that very ominous feeling from the beginning. You know that something bad is going to happen, it's the what and when that really takes you by surprise. And the more we learn about the victim, and the murder, the darker and more twisted the case becomes. Despite that fact that you may think you know where Marnie Riches is taking us, she delights in leading us up a number of blind alleys along the way, keeping the killer hidden in plain sight. The further the story goes, the creepier it all gets, without taking readers too far into the darkness, and balancing the more loathsome aspects of the case with that special blend of humour. Who knew Scotch Eggs could make such an impact?

As the story picks up, the broader the case becomes and the faster the pacing as the author takes us ever closer to the edge. And when you read the book you'll note that this statement is every pun intended. It's a really high stakes, tension and action laden ending, with threat levels of the scale, just the way I like it. It's one of those edge of the seats, adrenalin pumping kind of conclusions that Marnie Riches is so good at, and that is guaranteed to keep you turning those pages.

If you like a mixture of police investigation, humour and contemptible antagonists in your fiction, then this is definitely a book you want to be getting your teeth into. Fast, fresh, fun and packed with tension, it is definitely recommended.

Who would be evil enough to be killing divorced moms with kids?
Someone is and it’s up to Jackie and Dave to hunt down the murder. Their search involves trolling online dating sites and a lot of good old fashioned detective work.
Jackie is self confident, competent, but her life is messy. She has to rely on others to mind her kids since her job is so demanding.
I like that she struggles with her juggles because it makes her human. I also like how she’s blunt with her ex, Gus.
Jackie doesn’t quit until she gets the perp, even if it’s expensive on her own physicality and her family.
I do stress alongside the character as she worries about bills, her kids, and how she will get through the next day.

Book 2 in the Jackson Cooke series.

When Jackie and Dave are called out to a suicide, Jackie is shocked to discover she knows the victim. Although they lost contact years previously she's convinced it's not suicide. When, on closer inspection, she's proved right they know they have a sadistic killer on their hands.

Juggling her Mum guilt with trying to find the killer Jackie is desperate to find them before they strike again. And then another body is discovered.

This is a cracking page turner that will keep you reading late into the night. Although I guessed who it was it didn't take anything away from the action packed plot.

I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading number 3.

This is a very topical subject - internet dating and incel. Luckily murder is not usually part of the plan. Jackie is in for a ride with a new case, and it turns out the murder victim, which was made to look like a suicide, used to be a close friend of hers from school. A lot has happened since, and Jackie finds out a lot about the past.

Other women are murdered as well, and there is someone absolutely deranged behind these murders. There are several suspects, and the incel culture is something the whole team gets to know too much about.

Jackie's life is a mess, like so many detectives lives seem to be. Her boss seem to be all about fame and glory, and she keeps a constant eye on what Jackie is doing.

A great sequel to already a really good first book in the series. I hope this series will go on for a long time, and that the characters keep on developing.

I enjoyed the ride, even though it is a really disturbing and creepy subject. That is also why it is important to acknowledge it.

5 Stars! This book kept me up all night reading and checking to see if the doors are locked. Lots of twists will keep you guessing until the end. Our lead detective has come back from maternity leave and a case is immediately dropped on her and her partner. Long hours make it tough for her, as she is still breast-feeding her infant, and the hours make her miss bedtime with the older two boys. Her soon to be ex-husband is of no use with the kids or money. Her mother cares for the kids reluctantly. I can see how being a detective can ruin any hopes of a regular untroubled home life and any chance of home/work balance. The family details and the despair that Jackie feels missing out on her children’s lives add make Jackie Cooke a realistic well-rounded character.

The case appears to be a suicide, and once she recognizes the victim, she is determined to look further. The detectives discover other victims who have been deemed suicides also. But Jackie suspects there is a serial killer at work hunting lonely single mothers. The chase is on. I can see this series as episodic television shows that will have readers and viewers enjoying Detectives Cooke and Tang. I can’t wait to read the next book!

Jackie Cooke is back with another case with her partner Dave.

In this book, a woman was found brutally murdered with notes stashed into her mouth. Jackie recognizes the woman as one of her classmates Claire although at the time of the murder, she had changed her name to Rachel. But as she investigate further, she finds that Claire had been on dating sites and had been in contact with someone named "Nice Guy". Soon she finds out that there are three women, who also met the same fate as Claire. Is there are a serial killer on loose?

I love reading serial killer thrillers so I actually enjoyed reading this book. This was a fast paced thriller that will keep you on the edge, wanting to find out, who would be the murderer, if all the other murders are also connected to Claire's murder. Jackie felt a connection to Claire as they are both single mothers, so it was interesting to read about that point of view. This was also a page turner with the twists and turns, many of them quite unexpected. and the reveal of the killer in the end was mind blowing! Overall, I enjoyed reading this twisty thriller and highly recommend to anyone. Can't wait for the next book in the series--worth five stars!

Many thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Bookouture for an advance copy of The Silent Dead, the second novel to feature DS Jackson Cooke of Manchester Police.

Jackie and her partner, David Tang, are called out to an apparent suicide, which Jackie thinks is suspicious, even more so when she recognises the victim as her friend from her schooldays, Claire. A roll of notes stuffed down Claire’s throat confirms it and the discovery of another victim makes her think that someone is killing single mothers.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Silent Dead, which is an absorbing read with a modern theme. It is told from the investigative point of view, so the reader knows what they know and the killer’s motive and identity are not revealed until the closing chapters.

The plot is fairly standard with Jackie and David trying to establish a motive and a suspect. They run through several possibilities, looking for connections between the victims and trawling the dark net for posts about the murders. Real life connections I can handle, the unearned sense of entitlement on these forums is disturbing and I don’t like reading about it. Still, it was worth wading through this cesspit to get to the denouement. It’s highly improbable but it’s tense and exciting, full of action, danger and fear that they will fail. The author definitely saved the best for last.

The case reverberates for Jackie, not just because Claire was an old friend, but because she, too, is now a single mother, juggling work, her three children and a fairly useless ex husband. There is quite a lot of emphasis on this and it may not suit every reader, but I think it makes her human, although, having said that, I like her verbal jousting with her boss better.

The Silent Dead is a good read that I can recommend.

I loved thus 1st book and this was even vetter. A fantastic story which had me gripped from the start. I would recommend this to everyone