I'm not a long-time reader of this series and have only read one before, so I had no idea this revisited a case Adam Fawley solved in the first in the series. Another team is already working on a recent murder when DNA found (on tape on the victim) is discovered to be that of Daisy Mason thought to have been murdered eight years earlier, one solved by Fawley and his team, despite not finding the child's body.

The new murder is moved to DI Fawley's team despite a clear conflict of interest, but because it's believed the evidence against Daisy's mother (at the time) was so damning that it had to have been planted by those involved in her disappearance.

I liked that Hunter employs a stack of story-telling mediums (media?!) here, interspersing emails, transcripts and journal entries through the book. It's clear that Daisy survived and the team soon learn the pivotal role the (then) eight-year old played... and the way in which she 'groomed' her saviour.

It's ironic therefore that the better life she'd expected to live is far from it. Thank god for karma. Or something.

It's been six years since the previous book in this series so Hunter remarks that the brief summary she includes in the front of the book listing Fawley's team members (and other key players) to be more useful than normal. Although quite frankly I found the sheer number of bl**dy characters overwhelming. Is there an oversupply of police officers in England or something?! I really do not see the reason behind including so many players and it meant a lot of the plot seemed to revolve around the officers, making the pacing of this a little slow. At least until the end when I got lost. Hunter does throw in a little 'who-does-what-and-survives?' moment, but it missed the mark for me as they've already identified the 'last one standing'. (Apologies for the inverted commas, but I'm being vague to avoid spoilers!)

I confess I also didn't understand exactly why the crime/s hadn't been solved or some details made public, so the whole lack of closure frustrated me.

I know stacks of readers who've loved this book however so I may be alone in my confusion. (Again!)

3.5 stars

With this latest novel, Cara Hunter takes us back to the first episode in her in her DI Adam Fawley series. In 2016, a woman was convicted of murdering her eight year old daughter, Daisy Mason, a child who disappeared but whose body was never found. Adam was the investigating officer on that case and turned up sufficient incriminating evidence to charge her mother, even though she has always maintained that she is her innocent. Now a true crime TV series has received explosive new information about the case and Adam has discovered a link to Daisy in the murder of a woman found buried in the woods. Adam, now a DCI, and most of his original team are brought back together to liase with the team investigating the new murder.

This is one of those books that you don’t want to put down as twists, false turns and cliff hangers keep you totally engaged in trying to work out what is going on. It’s a multilayered plot, expertly woven together, and one you could never have predicted. It’s definitely good to have read the rest of the series before this, especially the first book dealing with Daisy’s disappearance, although the author does well recapping that for us. As usual, Hunter’s use of media reports, emails, phone transcripts and interview notes all adds to the richness of the text and the depiction of the characters. The intriguing ending was perfect. 4.5&#9733

Thanks NetGalley for my advanced copy.
I enjoyed the storyline but really struggled with the format. It was told from multiple voices and places with events happening at the same time. There were also different format of writing, including interview transcripts, emails and journaling. If you can get through these various items, it is a great mystery and group of colleagues.

Cara Hunter's latest installment in the DI Adam Fawley series offers a satisfying return to the familiar world of Oxford.

While the twist may not be as shocking as in previous books, the engaging characters and well-paced plot kept me hooked.

It's a pleasure to reconnect with Fawley and his team as they navigate a complex case. While the predictability of the plot might disappoint some long-time fans, the overall experience is still a delightful read.

Who killed eight-year-old Daisy Mason in 2016? Although Daisy’s body was never found, her mother, Sharon, was convicted of her murder and sentenced to life in prison. Her husband, Barry, believed jealousy drove Sharon to kill their beautiful daughter, and DI Adam Fawley, the original investigating officer, was certain justice had been served. But when journalist Nick Vincent uncovers new evidence, and a grisly discovery in the Cotswolds links a victim’s remains to Daisy, Fawley is drawn back into the case. Could the original investigation have gotten it wrong?

This latest installment in the Adam Fawley series more than lives up to expectations. Cara Hunter masterfully weaves a complex, multi-layered plot, using her signature mixed-media style to create a seamless and engrossing narrative. The twists and revelations are staggering, the psychological insights razor-sharp, and the suspense relentless. As always, the characterisation is excellent—Fawley remains one of the most compelling detectives in the genre, supported by a strong, diverse team and his entertaining daughter, Lily. With a shocking conclusion and plenty of unanswered questions, this is a gripping read that leaves you eager for the next book.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

I have enjoyed the DI Fawley series and this one is no exception but I feel like he didn’t really have a lot of input and was mostly in the background.
This continues the Daisy Mason case from an earlier volume. What a conniving little madam she is! Wouldn’t want to cross her path. Although I enjoyed it I didn’t like the ‘open to your own interpretation’ ending.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The continuation of the Daisy Mason case I didn't know I wanted! This was fantastic - I went back to skim the epilogue of book 1 and it all came back to me, but Cara Hunter also sprinkles some really good reminders throughout too. A horrific story, a very fascinating dark main character and very much a hard to put down read. Keen to see what Hunter writes for us next!

As always, fantastic mixed media in this one. She does it like no other author I've ever read and I love it every time.

Wouldn't work well without having read book 1 in the series, but could skip from reading book 1 straight to book 7.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for my eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Cara Hunter has always been a favourite author and once I see a book from her, I grab it without bothering about the blurb, I know I am going to be entertained and again I was with this book.

This is book seven in the DI Adam Fawley series and once again another great instalment. This is a series that you need to have read the other books as time frames jump around and if you do not have the background from t he previous books you may struggle to follow what is happening.

In 2016 an eight-year-old young girl was murdered in the town of Oxford. Now a producer of true crime shows Nick Vincent sets out to explore this tragic case. Nick sends an investigator out to try and get more information and soon we have a whole new kettle of fish going on and a new dead body to contend with.

This is the kind of book that one you start you may find it hard to put down as I did, I read it in one setting. Expertly crafted the story moves a long at a great pace with a fabulous plot to take the reader in and I am now relay looking forward to another in the series, a terrific book and highly recommended.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for an advanced copy of the book, all opinions expressed are my own.