This is book five in the Kate Marshall series but can easily be read as a stand alone.
When Kate and Tristan are approached by a media agency to look into a cold case of the disappearance of Janey Macklin from 1988 in the Kings Cross area of London, all is not as clear cut as it seems.
Especially as the person convicted of her disappearance has been acquitted and released from prison.
Now the focus is on the notorious Nine Elms Killer Peter Conway, a sadistic individual that enjoyed torturing his victims by biting them but there is history between Kate and Peter, not only was he her boss when she was in the police force but the father of her child and she was the one who caught him and put him in prison.

This case is extremely complex with little evidence to go on but when they uncover some disturbing evidence, it could lead them to losing their much needed contract.
With so many plot twists the story unfolds effortlessly with Robert's unique writing skills.
Another fantastic read by one of the world's best thriller authors.

Another brilliant crime thriller from Robert Bryndza.
Kate and Tristan are asked to investigate a cold case from 1988 when a young girl went missing.
A man was charged with her murder, despite no body being found, but he was released a few years later when he appealed the conviction.
The people who have asked for Kate to investigate think the girl was murdered by Peter Conway, who Kate had a relationship with before realising he had murdered several young girls.
They take on the case but it’s clear not everyone linked to the company who hired them are telling the truth.
This is a gripping crime thriller with a few surprises in store and I really enjoyed it.
Thanks to Raven Street Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

This is quite an intense thriller centered on Kate and Tristain's investigation of a cold case involving the disappearance of young Janey Makin in 1988. A podcast producer has hired their private detective agency to delve into the old case at quite a lucrative fee. But Kate has a past history with one of the suspects, Peter Conway, currently incarcerated for life. Robert Bryndza has brilliantly woven both the past and present investigations into a whirlwind of long buried secrets, changed identities, and the current ability to use DNA testing. I found the character of Kate to be a strong, determined and quite admirable female character, and enjoyed the interactions between Kate and her partner Tristian, as well as her son Jake. The book has an intricate, complex plot that kept my attention from beginning to end. I thoroughly enjoyed the book. Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for my advance copy of the book.

When an agency wants private detectives kate and Tristen, to do some research for them on a project involving serial killer Peter Conway and Kates former boss, they take on the case. The body of Janey Macklin was never found........ she went to the corner shop to get some cigarettes for her mom and never returned.. can kate and tristen find out what happened to janey? To give her mother and sister closure.. Peter Conway is also Kates son Jakes father.. lots of twists in this, it was great,there were also things I didnt see coming which I liked a highly recommended read.

Kate and Tristan's small private investigation firm is cash strapped and looking for work when they get contacted about a long-time missing person's case. Kate's ex, who is the father of her her grown son, may be implicated in the disappearance of a girl.

Some people want to do a program on the case so they want more information dug up by Kate and Tristan. They travel to London to get more of an idea of what they be required to do. The case sounds troubling, but the money is good and they have a flat to use during the investigation. In addition to the assignment, Kate would like to close this case for the family of the missing girl.

The pair of them do some good digging. They turn up some formerly missing individuals, many different clues, and are fed some red herrings. Working with the police, they have the case reopened.

This is a great story with some interestingly personal leads for Kate. Through good detective work, they pull together some great leads. It's a great mystery story with a satisfying conclusion.

‘Do you want a lift?’

On 23 December 1988, schoolgirl Janey Macklin disappeared from the King’s Cross area of London. She’d been sent by her mother to purchase a packet of cigarettes, and never returned to the pub where her mother was waiting. She was seen getting into a van belonging to Robert Driscoll. And, while Robert Driscoll was tried, convicted and then ultimately acquitted of Janey’s murder, her body has never been found.

In 2018 private detective Kate Marshall is approached by the Stafford-Clarke Creative Agency. They are researching Janey’s disappearance with a view to making a true crime podcast. Could Janey have been killed by Peter Conway, the notorious Nine Elms Cannibal, who is now in gaol and in very poor health? Kate is offered a lucrative contract at a time when she really needs the money, but taking the job means revisiting a painful aspect of her past. Peter Conway is an ex-police detective serving multiple life sentences for the murder and mutilation of five young women. Kate, who was then a young police detective in a relationship with Peter Conway, cracked the case.

Kate and her partner Tristan scour King’s Cross for clues. Those who remember the case provide conflicting information. Peter Conway doesn’t have long left to live, and the agency who has contracted Kate seems to be hiding information. There are others in this story as well, some have things to hide, others see an opportunity to negotiate an advantage.

Cleverly done, Mr Bryndza! There’s plenty of suspense in this fast-moving story and you had me guessing until close to the end. Yes, this novel could be read as a standalone, but I am intrigued and while I’ve read the last three books in this series, I really want to read the first two books.

Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Raven Street Publishing for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

A Compelling Case

The Lost Victim is the 5th book in the Kate Marshall series, focusing on the mystery of a girl who went missing without a trace in 1988. 30 years later, Private Detective Kate Marshall and her partner Tristan are hired to solve the case, leading to an intriguing connection between the girl and a notorious serial killer whom Kate knows intimately.

In addition to the case of the missing girl, serial killer Peter Conway is making waves from prison, adding another layer to the mystery. Kate and Tristan travel to London as part of the investigation, and it was fun seeing them in a different environment from the norm.

Not only is the case a page-turner, Kate's character is also compelling. Her character has grown immensely since book #1. The events of this installment make way for further growth in the future as her past demons are finally put to rest. My one gripe is that there was way too little of Tristan.

The plot moves at a slow but steady pace. Tension and suspense build as details of the mystery come to light. The ending is satisfying and sad, opening many possibilities for Kate and Tristan in the future.

Overall, this is a well-plotted, riveting mystery that kept me turning the pages. I can't wait to see what's next for Kate and Tristan. Bryndza hints at a Kate Marshall and Erika Foster crossover, which would blow my mind!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and Raven Street Publishing in exchange for an honest review.

I love this series. Wonderful to be reacquainted with Kate and Tristan. Kate is asked to look into the disappearance of a girl in 1988.

Was Janey the missing girl killed by the Nine Elms serial killer?

Can't wait for the next book. Thanks Robert.

Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for an advanced copy for an unbiased review.

The Lost Victim, the fifth title in the Kate Marshall series, doesn't disappoint. I couldn't put it down.

This time Kate and Tristan have been approached by a true crime podcast producer to look into a 30 year old cold case where schoolgirl Janey Macklin disappeared without trace. There was no body and no witnesses. The last person to see her was tried, convicted and later acquitted of her murder. Their big question is, could Janey have been another victim of Peter Conway, the notorious Nine Elms cannibal who is in jail and in failing health, who also happens to be Kate's former boss, and father of her son Jake.

Although the investigation is likely to take Kate to places she doesn't want to return to, it's hard to turn down the very lucrative fee, and so she faces personal challenges and finds herself in dark and dangerous situations. It's a dark thriller mainly set in the seedier parts of London and full of twists and turns.

Robert is one of these writers who hooks you in right from the start. I love how he sets the scene. He describes locations and atmosphere brilliantly. His books contain several strands that interweave and come together, throwing up the occasional red herring along the way. His characters are believable and he writes great dialogue. I like that there is some continuity from book to book showing the principal characters developing and growing but with new characters introduced.

In the case of Kate Marshall, she is an ex police detective turned criminology lecturer turned private investigator. She has had her issues. She has a great working relationship with her assistant Tristan and sometimes calls on former colleagues and contacts for information.

Although The Lost Victim can be enjoyed as a stand alone read, the series is so good, I would recommend reading it from book 1 (The Nine Elms Cannibal).

Just brilliant!!

Thirty years after schoolgirl Janey went missing, private detective Kate Marshall is approached by a creative agency seeking to turn the story into a lucrative true crime book or podcast. While the money would be helpful, it comes with a price: Kate's complex past could be thrust back into the mainstream press.

The last person seen with Janey spent years in prison before his acquittal; her body was never found. With decades-old evidence, the chance of solving the case seems slim; but this is Kate and Tristan we’re talking about ..

Reuniting with Kate and Tristan was a joy. They make such a great pair, and their relationship and character evolution are evident throughout the series. Kate’s son Jake and his father Peter add real depth and humanity to the story. Their complex and authentic relationships complement the main plot rather than distract from it.

Red herrings and false leads kept me guessing until the end. I read this from start to finish in 24 hours; the short chapters and gripping storyline were addictive. Even when I put it down, I couldn’t stop thinking about it. It’s complex and cleverly written. Bryndza’s wonderfully descriptive writing made it easy to picture London, both now and back in 1988.

The story features a motley crew of sketchy and unreliable characters, each with a strong voice, ensuring none got muddled in my head. Each one is like a jigsaw piece from different puzzles, never quite fitting the theories they developed. Some characters I liked, while others I wanted to punch.

This was my 21st book by Robert Bryndza, and it's incredibly rare to find an author whose every book I’ve loved, especially one who crosses genres. I read my first Bryndza back in 2013 and have thoroughly enjoyed the journey. He’s also a lovely chap 😊

The Lost Victim is the fifth book in the Kate Marshall Private Investigator series, and I wholeheartedly recommend it. While it can be read as a standalone, I wonder why you’d want to limit your enjoyment to just one book!

A huge thanks to Raven St Publishing and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book for review consideration.  All opinions are my own.

Robert Bryndza returns with the fifth in the Kate Marshall series, The Lost Victim. Kate and Tristan have been asked to investigate a cold case for a creative agency looking to do a book or podcast about Janey Macklin’s disappearance thirty years ago. Her body was never discovered. A man was found guilty of her murder, but acquitted about a decade later. Now, there is a link to Peter Conway, whom Kate has an unfortunate history with. As the story progresses, Kate’s son Jake returns to England. There’s a strong personal element to this story which worked well.
The story moves along at a steady pace and Bryndza throws plenty of red herrings into the mix. There was one question that didn’t get resolved.
The writing is clear and scenes are easy to see play out. The plot was believable and didn’t need an OTT ending to tie it all together.
Despite the past history between Kate and Peter, there’s enough backstory provided that it could be read as a standalone. Although, having read this, I’m sure most new readers will want to go back and play catch up with the prior four books.
My thanks to Netgalley and Raven Street Publishing for an advance copy of this book.

Kate Marshall is low on funds and high on bills. So when she is approached with a too good to be true offer that includes asking her to talk to her ex-lover, the Nine Elms Cannibal, she decides to take it. Looking into a cold case where the convicted suspect was later acquitted, the thought is Peter Conway might have committed the crime. Kate and Tristan quickly get farther in the case than anyone, including the people that hired them, expected. And what they find is very unexpected. I loved not only the mystery at hand, but how Kate and her son Jake got closer through the course of the book. I am really enjoying this series and glad to see it continuing!

I always look forward to books by this author, and am never disappointed. Nice change of pace for this one, set mainly in London instead of Cornwall. Very satisfying twists and turns, with suspects including serial killers. I don’t know if I missed something, but was there any significance to the air fresheners in the basement? Red herrings aplenty here, so lots to keep you guessing; also very ‘now’ with true crime podcasts being made.

What a good read. Yet another winner.I love that they were looking into a cold case which always adds an extra dimension, especially when their clients are quite secretive. Kate and Tristan get on and work so well together it’s always makes for a stimulating read. Peter Conway and Jake also feature quite heavily which always add emotion, especially around Peter. This is a stand alone but I would strongly recommend anyone to read the series in order, because they are all such strong storylines. (I would love to have amnesia just so I could read them all again!)

This time it Is about a missing girl, but the thrill is there as usual when I read Bryndza's books. Thank you Netgalley for this opportunity.

Thanks to Raven Street Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC! I have been a fan of Robert Bryndza's detective series for years now, and this new one is a favorite. I was drawn in originally by his Erica Foster series, and now the Kate Marshall books are coming close to eclypsing Erica!

Kate and her detective agency partner Tristan are hired to look into an old missing person case where a young girl disappeared while running a quick errand for her mother. Their clients are a podcasting company who want to do an episode on the case. One man was convicted and jailed for the girl's disappearance, even though there was no body, and he was later released. It's great fun to see how Kate and Tristan go about gathering information, interviewing witnesses and locating suspects. There is a personal connection to Kate, as well. Recommended for a suspenseful read that kept me guessing to the end.

Thank you very much for the ARC. I have published my review on goodreads (see link below). The book was amazing as always. I really loved the true crime podcast angle. It made the story feel very current. I also loved how the author gave a voice to people who live on a council estate without looking down on them. Each character had depth and a story. The Peter Conway Ark was a very good read and i love how the author went into the complicated relationship between mother, son, and father.
I hope Jake will keep playing a role in the books.

This is another booking by the brilliant Robert Bryndza! I love all his books and I was very happy to have a chance to read another book with his heroine Kate Marshall. Kate is approached by a media agency about a true crime podcast. She has to go back to the past, to the Nine Elms Cannibal beginning. I couldn't put it down, brilliant!

Again, thanks to NetGalley and Raven Street Publishing for offering this ARC of another great Robert Bryndza book in the Kate Marshall Series .I can’t recall how I got started reading Robert’s work, whether it was through Amazon First Reads or Kindle Unlimited, but it’s been a great journey. I love both Kate Marshall and Erika Foster characters.

In #5 of the Kate Marshall series, Kate and Tristan contract with a sketchy production company to investigate the very cold case of a missing girl, Janey Macklin. It seems there ‘s much more to this than a simple investigation, as it may involve The Nine Elms Killer, Peter Conway, (Kate’s son’s father). This investigation drags up a lot of mixed emotions for Kate and her son, Jake, and puts all three of them in danger.

Again, R. B. has written a great keep-you-guessing, turn-the-pages-as-fast-as-you can book. I am so glad that Conway has finally passed away, ending this avenue of both Kate and Jake’s lives. Their relationship, and the Kate/Tristan partnership, has matured so much in this book it makes me anxious to see where they go from here.

I’m not fond of the star review process, but I will give The Last Victim two huge thumbs up! I think you will too.

Kate Marshall Series Book 5

When schoolgirl Janey Macklin disappeared from the seedy side of London in 1988, her case went cold, with no body and no witnesses. Now, thirty years later, private detective Kate Marshall has been approached by a true-crime podcast producer with an intriguing question they need her help answering. What if Janey was killed by Peter Conway, the notorious Nine Elms Cannibal? The contract would be the most lucrative of Kate's career, but it comes with a price of its own, dredging up a sordid, complicated past she would sooner forget.... one that the paparazzi are determined to keep in the headlines. As Kate and her partner Tristan scour Kings Cross for clues, no two leads seem to point in the same direction. The last person to see Janey alive has already been tried, convicted, and acquitted of her murder. Peter Conway is in poor health and fading fast, and the line between their clients and their suspects is blurring with each new revelation about the case.

Private Investigator Kate Marshall has been asked to look into the cold case of the disappearance of Janey Macklin. Janey disappeared when her mother sent her to the local shop to get her cigarettes, But the question is, was she one of Peter Conway's last murder victims?

This is a cleverly crafted story. I was hooked, as Peter Conway's behaviour has always intrigued me. We get snippets of what had taken place in 1988. A podcast company had asked Kate to look into the cold case. The pace is fast in this twisted, and well-written story that is a complicated case to solve. I like Kate and her partner Tristan, they work well together. I hope there's more to come in this series.

Published 11th July 2024

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