This is one of the darkest books I've read for a very long time, but Michael in his usual way handles it brilliantly.

I loved the way the characters appeared in my head as I was reading, it takes skill and talent to write real, believable people and Michael has well and truly cracked it.

This is a compelling story, with lots going on. I also liked the fact I really didn't see the ending coming at all. That was a superb effort.

This is my first novel by Michael Wood and I absolutely loved it, this will not be my last ready by this author.

There are few main characters in this gripping novel, firstly we meet Diane in pain from years of searching for her young son's body; journalist Alex and retired detective Caroline.

Diane's son went missing, presumed to have been murdered by infamous child killer Jonathan. Diane has never given up looking for her son, Zachary and has wrote letters to Jonathan in his prison cell asking for him to tell her where her son's body is without any reply. Upon Jonathan's death, a letter is found in his cell addressed to Diane and when she reads it, he admits to killing all the other boys but not to her son.

This sets off a chain events that see's journalist, Alex, who has written about Jonathan and he is a fairly famous author due to his book The Collector and retired police woman Caroline. All have a past revolving around Jonathan and all come together to try and help find where little Zachary's final resting place is.

This book really weaves a brilliant story and although very sensitive issues are talked about, I think it was dealt with very well.

The ending was fabulous and I never saw it coming. Thanks to Netgalley, Michael Wood and the publishers for allowing me a copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

The Seventh Victim is the new standalone thriller from Michael Wood. It’s billed as dark, twisting and captivating and it certainly lives up to that. During the 1990’s a number of children disappear. Months later their bodies are found, wrapped in a sheet and washed clean of all evidence. The killer, Jonathan Egan-Walsh, is apprehended and imprisoned but for one family, twenty five years later, their son Zachery Marshall still hasn’t been found. Following Jonathan’s death, a letter is discovered where he admits he is guilty of all crimes except that of the murder of Zachery. Zachery’s mother Diane is determined to do all she can to find her son. Dark and intense this book will keep you hooked until the end. Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter and the author for the chance to review.

Michael wood is one of my favourite authors, however this just didnt do it for me. I like his series of novels rather than this stand alone. It seemed to repeat itself rather a lot and felt like it could have been shorter and snappier

What an incredible read! This book took a different approach than usual and kept me engaged throughout. It’s hard to go into detail without giving anything away, but highly recommend! Thanks to NetGalley & the author for the ARC.

I read the DI Matilda Drake Series by this very talented author, however, he may be too talented as this book proves. It grabs you by your heart, mine began pounding in the first three pages, and galloped until the evil monster had been caught; even that was not enough to calm me, I cannot imagine the horror of this happening to anyone, the killer is creepy enough to make you want to leave your lights on! This is so realistic that it truly upset me, Diane Marshall's young son Zachary has been missing for 25 years, and now that the serial killer is caught, she will be able to obtain some measure of closure, if this jerk will tell her where her son's body is, but this blasted man dies in prison unrepentant, and taking the secret with him,, of did he? He left her a letter, he loved killing the little boys, but he says that he was not the killer of Zachary, so who is? What a roller coaster, and trust me, I refuse to read another book so well written that I am still upset by it. If you can take it, I highly recommend this spooky book.I hate giving a 5 to such a gruesome subject, but it is scary, suspenseful, and the killer is creepy, it is well written.
Thank you #Netgalley #MichaelWood #HarperCollinsUK
carolintallahassee

The Seventh Victim is a book that draws you in slowly and methodically from the first to the last page where the ending will have you gasping.

Michael Wood brings to the forefront what happens to the victims, the victim's families after a horrific murder.

The case is closed and the perpetrator is in jail for life and has his own tragic story but no excuses for this low life.

Diane's son is thought to be one of Jonathan's victims but his body has not been recovered. She just wants to bring him home.

She has no answers and now is devastated to learn Zachary is not one of Jonathan's victims.

Families are destroyed, secrets are kept for years

Secrets have a way of coming to the surface.

Michael Wood is a born story teller and The Seventh Victim is no exception. Cant get enough of Michael Wood's books.

Highly recommend your pre order your copy of The Seventh Victim and put it to the top of your TBR pile.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter for another page turning read.

Jonathan Egan Walsh is a child killer, who was caught mid abduction attempt. He was charged with the murders of over a dozen young boys, and convicted on multiple counts. He received a life sentence in prison, where he remains, unrepentant and still relishing in his crimes. All Walsh’s victims were found, weeks or months after their abductions, washed clean, wrapped in a white sheet, and lightly buried, placed so as to be found.

Diane Marshall’s son Zachery has been missing since January 1993, and no body has ever been found. Diane never gave up the search for him. Long suspected to have been a victim of Jonathan Egan Walsh, Diane has pleaded with him in prison over the years to tell her where her son's body is. Walsh refused to respond to any of her entreaties.

Then, twenty-five years after Zachery’s disappearance, Jonathan Egan Walsh dies in prison. Diane is crushed that she will never learn the truth, until Walsh’s lawyer delivers a letter that was left for her, to be delivered after Walsh died. The contents of the letter shake Diane to the core. Diane reaches out to Caroline Turner, the former Detective Inspector who was in charge of Zachery's case, and shares Walshe’s letter, and convinces her to look into Zachery’s case again. Author and journalist Alex Frost works with former DI Turner to try to get to the bottom of the case. Can they find out what really happened to Zachery all those years ago, or is this another one of Jonathan Egan Walsh’s mind games?

This book deals with some dark subject matter. Child abduction and abuse, loss, grief, despair and how it tears families apart. It looks at the exploits of a child serial killer, and how a cold case can go unsolved on the presumption of guilt. Diane's pain and torment is clearly felt throughout the book, and the impact of loss and trauma on the other characters is also well portrayed. The pace of the story is a little slow at times, but it builds the tension as we follow Caroline and Alex as they try to unravel the sparse threads to try to find out what really happened to Zachery. As we get closer to the end the pace picks up and the plot twists start to come in hard and fast.

The Matilda Darke series by Michael Wood is one of the best in contemporary crime fiction, and this standalone is a welcome addition to his impressive body of work. Not a police procedural this time but crime based and intriguing. As a native Lincolnian, I was delighted to read a story centred on Skegness and Mablethorpe! Great characters, plenty of surprises and an intriguing plot. Very enjoyable.

Review in progress and to come.

I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review

I look forward to Michael Wood books and loved Matilda Drake. I enjoyed this book but it was not one of his best. It was perhaps a little too long. Nevertheless, it is worth the 4 stars I have given it.
Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read this and give my unbiased opinion.

I really enjoy Michael Wood's Matilda Darke series, so when I heard that his Audible Original title, The Seventh Victim, was being released in book format I was very excited to read it. Being told it was twisted and a little dark only added to the anticipation. And dark it is, although not as dark as it could have been given that it is the story of child abduction and murder, and the fall out for one parent, Diane Marshall, who is never told the whereabouts of her son and is never able to move on from his loss. It affects all of her relationships, ending her career and destroying her marriage and the bond she once had with her other son. All she has ever wanted is to bring Zachary home, but with the death of his killer that looks ever unlikely.

Now be prepared - the book opens in skin crawling style as we follow one young boy who becomes the target of child killer, Jonathan Egan-Walsh. You can feel the tension building, have that surety that something dark is going to happen, and yet it might not play out quite as you are expecting. I love the way in which Michael Wood is able to set readers on edge and then keep that suspense, apprehension and energy going right through to the end of the book. It's certainly the case with The Seventh Victim, and the more we become embroiled in the story become invested in Diane's determination to find out what happened to Zachary, the more the tension builds and the uncertainty about just what may have happened. There are many secrets to be revealed, the chief amongst which is Egan-Walshe's final confession to Diane - that he did not kill her son. But if not him, then who?

I really grew to like Diane as a character, bought into her anguish at not knowing where her eldest son was and that sense that all she wanted, all she needed, was to bring her son home. With echoes of the Moors Murders, and still missing victim, Keith Bennett, and it is hard not to draw parallels between the stories, there is a whole heap of emotion tied up in this book, as well as conflict as Diane's inability to move on clashes with the wishes of her ex-husband and younger son, Marcus. It makes for a heady mix at times, but also adds a kind of authenticity to what comes to pass. Helped by writer and journalist Alex Frost, and former Detective, Caroline Turner, whose own lives have been derailed and turned upside down by their connection to Egan-Walsh and the murder case, Diane's determination to seek the truth becomes infectious and I was quickly drawn into this wicked and slightly unpredicatble thriller.

Did the book end the way I was expecting? Not really, if I'm honest. Whilst there is a lot of suspicion, and some very untrustworthy behaviour from several people caught up in the story, it still came as a bit of a surprise and, if anything, more of a tragedy that I anticipated. And the ending, the ultimate 'justice' that is meted out by the finale - well it was satisfying and fitting.

Don't worry that this book may be too dark. In spite of the subject matter any violence is left off the page, even if we are left in no doubt about what happens. it's not necessarily an easy read when taking this into account, but it is not gratuitous or played for a shock factor. If anything it is raw emotion that will hit you hardest, and the desire for answers that will grip you and draw you into the story. If you love Michael Wood's books, you'll definitely love this one too. Recommended.

I love Michael Wood’s books, the Matilda Darke series is so intense and well written I love them so I was a tiny bit disappointed with this book but also think I shouldn’t really compare. If it was wrote by anyone else I don’t think I’d have been disappointed but I feel like it got a bit boring in the middle which I don’t usually get from Michael’s books.

The premise was great, Jonathan Egan Walsh plays a convincing bad guy, Denise makes you feel heartbroken for the victims families, the sub plots with the journalist and ex DI were good. I did guess the ending but would still recommend the book overall.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins for my advanced reading copy.

I love the author’s DCI Matilda Darke series so was very excited to see news of his newest novel and have been desperate to read it.

This has all the elements that I love in a crime thriller. A serial killer, cold cases, likeable protagonists, it ticked every box and more. Jonathan is a vile killer who has abused and murdered multiple young boys. The story delves into what it is like for the grieving families left behind. For Diane her marriage has fallen apart and every minute of the day her thoughts are of her missing son and wanting to know where his body is so she can give him a proper resting place that she can go to visit. It really is heartbreaking at times as the emotions from Diane wash over the reader.

Caroline and Alex make a great pairing in trying to find out what really did happen to Zachery. Caroline is a former detective that originally worked on the case. Alex is a journalist who got to interview the killer numerous times for his book. It was interesting to see how this killer has affected both of their lives also over the years. You can imagine how certain cases make such an impact that the people working on them will never forget them in their lifetime.

The Seventh Victim had me gripped from the very first page. All the way through I kept changing my mind as to what had happened to poor Zachery. When all is revealed, well, mind blown is the only way I can describe it. It is such a tense read as the protagonist’s lives come into danger as they get closer to finding out the truth, all in all it makes for a nail-biting read. A brilliant new crime thriller from one of my favourite author’s!

In February 1996, Jonathan Egan – Walsh is caught red-handed mid-abduction of a seven year old boy. He is subsequently convicted and given a whole life tariff for multiple murders. However one mother, Diane Marshall, whose son Zachery has been missing since January 1993, has no body to bury although Egan-Walsh is convicted of his murder. Her life is one of living with the pain of not knowing. She can’t move on because how could she? In 2017 after the death of Jonathan Egan – Walsh, she receives a letter in which he denies the murder of Zachery. If not him, then who? Caroline Turner, the former DI in charge of the case along with author/journalist, Alex Frost, aided and abetted by Diane are determined to get some answers. Can the truth finally emerge, or will it remain forever buried?

First of all, the three main characters are very well portrayed with all of them living in various ways with the fallout of Egan – Walsh’s heinous crimes. Diane’s obvious pain is almost palpable and you are desperate for the poor woman to get an answer. Egan-Walsh’s evil comes across loud and clear either via interviews or his written words.

The setting in and around Skegness is very good and is used effectively in the storytelling. The novel eventually becomes more ominous in tone, there are a couple of good red herrings, and there are some plot twists and turns with feeling of intensity at times. It escalates towards the end which comes somewhat abruptly and I’m sorry to say is absolutely no surprise as I figured it out in the first half.

I love Michael Woods Matilda Darke series but this one is not in that league. It’s very slow especially in the first half where we seem to go via York, Carlisle and Glasgow to get to Skegness! It’s very long winded and has extraneous details that we simply don’t need. This is such a pity as it detracts from a good premise but I can’t get around the pace or the predictability of the ending hence the three stars.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to the publisher for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

You know when you start reading a book and you turn over the first page and inside your heart is screaming nooooo! Yep, that’s exactly what Michael Wood did to me! The blurb tells you that a missing child is involved so no spoilers there but no matter the warning, this subject matter gets me every time and when this author covers this topic then I just know I am in for a severe case of emotional whiplash!
It is a dark subject matter and perhaps not one that all readers can cope with but Michael Wood always writes with great sensitivity while never holding back from reality, he really does nail the impact of this on the immediate and wider families which works to further draw in and engage the readers.
Once again he has created a cast of complex, relatable , multi-layered and deliciously flawed characters. He is an expert in peeling back each individual character’s layers slowly as he reveals the dark and often toxic truth that lies beneath. They step off the page and into your life and it is almost impossible to put his books down once started and The Seventh Victim was no exception.
Once again he has produced a chilling, brutal and raw masterpiece which is carefully executed for maximum impact.

The first standalone novel by Michael Wood lives up to the high standard of his Matilda Darke series.
The subject matter may not be for everyone but it is handled with realism and does not sensationalise and you can see that Michael has carried out his research on the impact on families. The plot is excellent with many twists and turns with relatable characters and the seaside setting works really well. For fans of the Matilda Darke series you will not be disappointed but I would suggest any new readers do review the synopsis before starting. However, for fans of Michael Wood books I'd highly recommend!

I've never read anything by this author, so I wasn't sure what to expect. The premise sounded interesting. Sadly, the pace was too slow, and I had problems staying engaged. The characters were well-crafted and relatable, and while there were a couple unexpected twists, the rest were quite predictable. Other parts of the story seemed mixed up and hard to follow. I did enjoy the ending.

Another really tense book I’ve read all Matilda Drake ones this is a stand-alone story but just as good hope Catherine and Alex feature in another book.

Diane’s son goes missing 25 years ago and needs to know what happened to him as she originally thinks that Jonathan Egan Walsh had taken him as he was convicted of killing 13 boys but received a letter saying he never killed him.

It was hard to put down as couldn’t wait to see who the killer was.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for ARC

This was a book that sounded exciting to me and by an author I had not read before.
The story of a mother trying to find her son, wondering if after 25 years his body may be found and all of this brought on by a letter from the killer.

It sounded interesting, exciting and intriguing and to a point it was though it did start a bit slow for me (I would have liked something at the beginning that really drew me in). The story was set up well with what happened (to a point) all those years ago and then what was happening now.

The characters are what did make this book and I thought they were well balanced and you could relate to them. There are some twists and turns which did help to build some suspense but seemed a bit predictable in the end.

Overall a good book and I thank NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for giving my the opportunity to read and review this book.