Intrigue abounds in Lethal Vengeance, the eighth book in the Detective Erika Foster series by Robert Bryndza.
Once again the author presents a complex mystery, but this time detective Foster is seemingly blocked at every turn by higher-ups who should be helping her determine the identity of a disturbing serial killer. Instead, there are secrets that those on a higher pay grade will do everything they can to protect, even if it hinders the investigation. This sets up some interesting possibilities for future books, as Foster may face repercussions for her actions in solving the case; or will she go after those who stood in her way?
Lethal Vengeance is superbly written, with the point of view changing from the detective to that of the killer she seeks, giving an extra depth to the story. It is a fast-paced, complex thriller that will keep you turning the pages until the very end.
I was thrilled to receive an ARC of #LethalVengeance from #NetGalley.

📖 BOOK REVIEW 📖
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#LethalVengeance by @robertbryndza #ravenstreetpublishing

➡️synopsis

This one could be my favourite yet… As always reading Robert’s books are just a joy - while they have enough originality to be a new, interesting and addictive murder mysteries, there is just enough familiarity in returning characters and format to make them feel like a warm hug of read; you can settle down and trust your in for a good ride!

I thought this was an excellent and clever read; your introduced to the killers voice/story quite early on but rather than hate them, I found myself empathic and interested in their plight. Even with the knowledge of who the killer was, I still thought the police investigation side was detailed, full and a great chase to the end (sorta 😉)

Erika’s character continued to develop as did the side characters to her story and I thought there was just enough of the domestic side added in to make it a fully rounded book. I can’t imagine not getting a new instalment from this series! Loved every second of it!

With thanks to author #RobertBryndza, #ravenstreetpublishing and @netgalley for allowing us to read this one early!

RELEASING: Feb 8th

-EMILY

@the_book_girls_1

Robert Bryndza first gained attention with his series of books about London detective Erika Foster, before shifting his attention in recent years to a new lead character in the form of former police detective Kate Marshall, who is eking out an existence as a PI and lecturer at a small coastal English university. I tend to prefer the Kate Marshall books over those featuring Erika Foster, but I was quite taken with the last Foster book, Fatal Witness.

With Lethal Vengeance Bryndza turns once more to Erika Foster, in what turns out to be a very entertaining tale.

In order to avoid an awkward moment at a restaurant, Erika takes charge at a recently established murder scene. What she discovers shocks her. Prominent, notorious politician Neville Lomas is found naked and hog-tied, with some incriminating photographs, in his own bed in an exclusive residential apartment. Erika's skittish seniors, and some shadowy civil servant types, quickly move to take Erika off the case and arrange for the death to be classified as being from natural causes. The case is closed, until two months later when a star footballer is found murdered and tied with the same knots in his apartment, and there is also a link to another recent death. Erika is pulled back onto the case, and as her team investigate, things take a strange turn when CCTV footage turns up five female suspects, and they’re all identical.

This is a well plotted and very enjoyable detective novel. The pacing is good and Erika is a very engaging character who has grown and matured with the series, and is now a leading figure in the British crime fiction scene. Her private life is complex, but it does not interfere too much with the flow of the story, and Erika ably guides the reader through the various twists and turns. The other characters are also well crafted and credible, particularly the killer, and add good depth to the story. The story goes down some interesting avenues, and builds to a spurt of bloody excitement at a lonely farm. The tension wanes a little in the end, but not enough to undermine what is a very good crime thriller.

This was a good detective story with a shocking ending. With a cover up, multiple murders, and a master criminal…this one is sure to please fans of murder mysteries!

DCI Erika Foster #8

The man lay on his front, his arms and legs bound and pulled up with a rope connecting the two. His head was arched back, so he faced the curtains, and there was masking tape over his mouth. Erika gingerly reached out and checked his pulse. Yep. Dead all right.

I love this series that introduced me to the fabulous author Robert Bryndza. Although this is book eight in the series, it still has all the redeeming qualities I like.

A naked man has been murdered, hog-tied, he was a high-profile politician. A serial killer is on the prowl in London. The victims are all high-profile. Erika Foster was first on the scene, but the case taken away from Erika, and his death was ruled as natural causes. Then a popular footballer was found dead in similar circumstances.

This book is action-packed, twisted, with a fast moving pace. It's a fantastic chase of cat and mouse. It's also quite a dark read that's been well-plotted. The characters are well-developed, and we learn more of Erika's backstory. The conclusion is thrilling. This book could be read as a standalone.

I would like to thank #NrtGalley #RavenStreetPublishing and the author #RobertBryndza for my ARC of #LethalVengence in exchange for an honest review.

This is the eighth book in the excellent Erika Foster series. This can easily be read as a stand alone but it is such a great series that I recommend you start with the first book, "Girl in the Ice" and read them all in order. This is a British police procedural series with a heavy emphasis on the politics involved in policing. Great characters, fast paced plot, and some unexpected twists. Highly recommended

I like Robert Bryndza’s style of writing police procedurals, and I really like Erika Foster. I’ve enjoyed every book in this series. The book is set 4 years after the last one, which means that Erika recently turned 50. She is still her brilliant and authentic self, however, who speaks her mind no matter who she is talking to. In Lethal Vengeance, Erika and her team investigate a couple of murders of high-profile individuals found naked and hog-tied. Lots of twists and turns, lots of backstabbing characters. Even though this book is part of a series, it can be easily read as a standalone. Recommended read.

Thanks to netgalley for providing this advanced copy for the purpose of review.

I have read all the previous in the series so was happy to see this latest addition. I found it to be a well written mystery which kept me hooked from start to finish.

Oh yes. Erika Foster is back, and what a case. I really love this series and love how Robert Bryndza finds new, and equally twisted ways of creating mystery, tension and intrigue with every fresh case. With brilliant characters in her lead team, a clever and cunning foe to pit herself against and a crime which is set to mislead and misdirect, this book had me hooked from start to finish.

It really does seem that, when it comes to work, Erika is just not going to switch off. Whilst on a fancy night out with her partner, Erika slips away from her partner for a few moments of quiet. It a meal she is never destined to finish. On her way back to the restaurant, she finds herself caught up in a murder scene, the victim a prominent politician. Now it is fair to say that, as with most politicians, the suspect pool is likely to be huge, and there are those in certain quarters who have reason to want to keep the conditions surrounding his death quiet. That may be okay with one victim, but as the body count rises, it's clear that this is not simply a case of a disgruntled voter. It's a case that has Erika and the team stumped, and one that had me turning the pages at speed.

One of the real draws for me about this series are the characters. Robert Bryndza has created such a cast around Erika, from her team of Peterson, Moss and McGorry, her bosses, Superintendent Melanie Hudson and Commander Marsh, through to her wider circle, Forensic Pathologist, Isaac Strong, and her parter Igor. Each adds life and texture to the story, creating the camaraderie and challenge that is needed for a character as head strong as Erika. I have loved her since book one and whilst she has settled more into her role in the Met Police over the years, she is still somewhat of a thorn in the side of her senior officers. No doubting her talents in catching her man, nor her ability to ruffle feathers along the way. It was nice to also see more of her personal situation explored, away from her colleagues, and the progression of her relationship with Igor, whilst hesitant, is lovely to watch. The author has a real knack for creating a bond between the reader and the team, and in allowing us to feel all of the emotions with them, be it joy or trepidation.

This is a book teaming with tension. Most of the story follows the investigation and that deep dive into the private lives of the victims that may just hold the key to the whole case. But there are scenes also told from the point of view of the killer, giving us insight into their character and a slow building picture of the reasons for their actions. The final reveals, when they come, are perhaps not really a surprise as the story has been building from the start, and given the nature of the murders, the motive is perhaps expected. But the author still manages to hide the killer from view until the perfect moment for the reveal, and whilst we know and understand more about their story than the police, the suspense is maintained right to the end of the book. As we near the conclusion of the book, the pace and tension escalate as the team face a race against time to apprehend their killer. Will they make it? Well, you'll have to read the book to find out, won't you?

Another absolute cracker of a case. Definitely recommended.

What an addictive book, page after page, chapter after chapter, Robert is truly talented. I particularly enjoyed the way it reminded me of the 'Night Stalker' in the sense that we have both the perspective of Detective Erika and the villain/criminal. Absolutely fantastic, I think I will never tire of this character.

Regarding the story itself, I was left speechless at the end. What unfolds during the trial? What's the verdict?

Concerning Erika's future, I find it intriguing to envision her collaborating with Kate in investigations due to their big personalities. Another intriguing possibility could be Erika conducting an investigation alongside the Slovak police, offering readers a glimpse of her in her home country. This could evoke a sense of nostalgia and prompt her to contemplate returning, perhaps even just for one book.

This is book #8 in the Detective Erika Foster series. While I have not read them all, the author provides enough background for you to just jump into the series and enjoy it right away.
The story begins with Erika finding a dead body, politician Neville Lomas. His death is ruled that of natural causes but two months later a prominent footballer is found murdered in the same fashion and they must face the possibility a serial killer is on the loose. The case becomes even more strange when CCTV reveals five female suspects, all look alikes and one of them could be the killer.

As usual, this one was fast moving with lots of action and twists. Erika is such an interesting character who likes to veer off script and I enjoyed the second POV running through this one too. Thanks so much to NetGalley and Raven Street Publishing for this gifted review copy.

What a clever plot and storyline that had Erica totally flummoxed. It was really quite ingenious how they knew who the killer was, but they didn’t have and idea how to identify them. Along with the action there was also police and government intervention which hampered Erica’s investigations. The ending was pure genius, and I can’t wait for the next book. Hopefully we will see more of Igor and Tom in the next book.

Lethal Vengeance by Robert Bryndza is book eight in the Erika Foster series, and what a thrilling book it is.
With high profile murders, scandals at ministerial level, a daring killer who leaves no trace, cover-ups and a frustrated investigation team, this book has everything to pull the reader in and keep them reading.
Robert Bryndza knows exactly how to grab the readers attention, and keep them interested. Lethal Vengeance was a truly engrossing read that was hard to put down.
Thanks to Netgalley, Raven Street Publishing and Robert Bryndza for the eARC of this book.

Detective Erika Foster fears that the suspicious death of politician Neville Lomas is being covered up by those higher up the chain after it is ruled as natural causes. When two more deaths are discovered months later bearing all of the same hallmarks, she knows that a serial killer is in operation and that her bosses can no longer ignore what is happening. Erika finds herself on the hunt for a well-prepared killer who covers their tracks with ease. Can the detective force them into making an error or will they manage to evade capture?

A new Erika Foster book always moves to the top of my TBR list as this is a series I have loved since the first novel, The Girl in the Ice, was published in 2016. Erika is a fantastic character who knows her own mind and will stop at nothing to solve a crime. This often pits her against superiors and we see this here when she has to fight to get the chance to investigate the death of Neville Lomas. As she gets older, Erika is starting to see the gap widening between herself and her junior officers and I hope that this doesn’t lead to her retiring any time soon!

The killer is a particularly clever one and Erika certainly has her work cut out trying to figure out who they are. Despite their horrific crimes, Robert Bryndza managed to elicit some sympathy from me when reading about their past as we discover the reasons behind their actions. This sympathy was balanced out by disgust, however, as we read about the methods of killing used by the perpetrator. Robert Bryndza definitely has the knack for drawing you into the story.

Lethal Vengeance is a fast-paced thriller with an engaging plot that kept me gripped right until the end. Hopefully it won’t be too long before the return of Erika.

I stumbled across The Girl in the Ice and became hooked on the series and haven’t stopped reading since. Detective Chief Inspector Erika Foster is a woman still facing obstacles in a male dominated profession. Her tendency is to speak her mind, not play politics or follow directions well. I like to read British Crime stories because I learn about the political climate of country, the differences and similarities in policing practices. The enormity of CCTV they have there is both alarming and useful. Erika lives in London now and a member of Parliament has been found dead in the type of circumstances that would make tabloid headlines. The case soon escalates as more victims are discovered. The bizarre clues lead to the cleverest serial killer I could ever imagine. I couldn’t read fast enough, the twists just kept coming. It sounds cliché but true – Bryndza just keeps getting better! This was a very clever plot, the cast of characters were compelling, interesting, evil, vengeful and some are exceptionally unique. I would give more stars if I could! If you haven’t read this author and love a thrilling mystery, you need to discover his novels!
Thanks to NetGalley for the digital advance reader copy of “Lethal Vengeance” A Detective Erika Foster novel #8, by Robert Bryndza, Raven Street Publishing. Publication date expected Feb 08, 2024. These are all my own honest personal thoughts and opinions given voluntarily without any compensation.

Thank you NetGalley, Raven Street Publishing and Robert Bryndza for the eARC.
Having just finished the book, I am still out of breath! What a fantastic read, I absolutely loved it! I haven't read all of Robert's books, but am in the process of remedying that; he's just become my favorite author.
Erika Foster is a great character and relentless as far as her cases go, even when her senior officers and the establishment try to force her to bend to their wills.
I have to admit that I felt empathy for the serial killer; the killings were brutal, but so were the victims. Hope we won't have to wait too long 'till the next book ... can't wait to see what happens next!

Let me start by saying that this probably the best in the series so far, that is difficult as they have all been outstanding books, definitely one of those just one more chapter book.

As always the plot is well thought out and developed, with the usual twists, As the narrative shifts seamlessly from past to present as the reasons for the crimes are revealed.

This times, Erika must deal not only with the crimes, but pressures from her own bosses and Government departments trying to control what she can and can’t do. All at a time when Erika is querying where her career is going as she turns 50. Plus, developments with Igor and his family.
Erika’s world is complex, but I love being there. I did notice that there seemed to be slightly less involvement with /from her team this time, But only really when you look back at it later on.

As I said earlier this probably the best in this amazing series and I highly recommend reading them all. This may well have been the best book of 2023.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of Lethal Vengeance by Robert Bryndza in return for my honest review.
This is the eighth book in the Erika Foster series and they just keep getting better and better, I love the characters in these books its like meeting up with old friends when you start a new instalment. I recommend Robert Bryndzas’ books to anyone looking to start a new series.

A really good book that hooks you right in. Despite the wait between books the little recaps help to reconnect with the characters. Hopefully the next book will conclude the vague ending in this one.

There is such a long wait between these books but you are able to rejoin the characters with ease due to little recaps here and there. Not sure how I feel about the ending on this. I'm hoping there is more to come.