I have to admit committing the most heinous crime of reading a series book without reading the previous. For all I pontificate about doing it. But I guess rules are meant to be broken and, on the face of what I read herein, I will definitely be going back and playing catch-up.
If you have read the previous books you'll know that Doug Mullen is a private detective. A conflicted and messy one - bit of a trope but when done well, as here, it works. But he becomes a prime suspect in a murder case when a women he bumped into and offered a drink to is found next day brutally killed. He is arrested, questioned and, with scant evidence that isn't circumstantial, later released.
He tries to get on with his life and arranges to meet a client in a pub. They chat a bit but when he returns from the bar with another drink, she has gone. A book left in her place. He tries to track her down but to no avail.
I think maybe my decision to go in cold with book 4 did mar my enjoyment of this book. Especially the missing backstory that would/could have better explained Mullen's situation and also Det Susan Holden's weird (understatement) behaviour. But I didn't. But I think I managed to just accept a few things along the way. I'm good like that!
The mystery to be solved did hold my attention and kept me going throughout my time with the book. It was interesting and intriguing and kept me on my toes guessing. There were a few things I couldn't work out that I had to just hold onto until the right evidence linking or explaining presented itself. All culminating in a wholly satisfying conclusion.
All in all, the mistake of diving in in the middle of a series was, in hindsight, fortuitous as it has opened my eyes to an author with a bulging back catalogue for me to dive right into. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

Brilliant, I loved it, it had everything and the story kept me entertained throughout, I can’t wait until the next one

Compelling Entry..
The fourth in the Doug Mullen mystery series finds the engaging but flawed private investigator a prime suspect in a murder case. Oxford women are being targeted - could Mullen really be guilty of such appalling crimes? Another compelling entry in this series with a realistic and well drawn backdrop, a solid plot, a credible cast of characters and a well paced narrative.

Murderers always follow the same modus operandi - don't they? Three women turn up dead, each murder distinctly different than the other. The one link between them is PI Doug Mullens - and once he is in prison on remand - his friend Becca Baines. It looks as though Becca could be trying to clear Doug's name by carrying out a murder herself - one that he couldn't possibly have done. The one person who believes them to be innocent has been suspended and then sectioned.

Wonderful, gripping story.

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

Was it someone she knew, maybe a stalker, or the guy at the cinema, she
turned down twice. Doug now a PI police let him go, not enough evidence.
Meeting a new client, he buys her drink, now she is missing.
The police questioning him once again, looking at his life more seriously
Good mystery with plenty of action and twists.
Readers now wonder is he guilty, he wants to leave Becca, tired of
sleeping on the couch, is he looking to move on.
Given ARC by Net Galley and Joffe for my voluntary review

So many crazy twists and turns! Good book! This book had a bit of everything! It had suspense, intrigue, murder, mystery, great detective work and A great who done it, and a few crazy twists and turns! The storyline was very interesting and kept me glued to my Kindle! I definitely recommend reading this book as it was well worth reading! Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!