Detective Jack is a classic, hard nosed, “cut corners if you have to” kind of detective and it’s a good thing he has a strong stomach in this case as the crimes are pretty gruesome. I think he has the appeal for long term engagement and was thrilled to find out this is one of a series as I can’t wait to get to know him better. The plot itself is a fast paced, dark and engaging one and I really enjoyed the author’s writing style in bringing the reader to the crime scenes.

The Twelth Floor is a very good read. There is lots of gore which I personally love and I'd say this book probably isn't for those who are squeamish as the murders are horrific and very descriptive. The authors writing is very good, the story flows well and the plot is well thought out. I love that the author gives dates, times and places in her writing which makes this a very fast paced read. I really like the main character, he's rash in his actions, does his own thing, and how he managed to avoid losing his job a few times here is beyond me! There are a lot of threads in the story that certainly kept me interested and entertained which all begin to tie up beautifully towards the end, with one outstanding that I'm guessing will be in next book. I couldn't have been more wrong in guessing who the murderer was! Overall a gory, bloody, very good read that had me lured in quickly and held my attention to the last page.

I'd definitely recommend this although you're best to read the series from the beginning to know the characters and their backgrounds from the start.

4 stars

DI Jack MacIntosh #6

On the twelfth floor, in an empty flat, there was a horrific crime scene, there were dismembered body parts. There were more dismembered body parts discovered the following day. DI Jack MacIntosh and his team are investigating. We also learn of Jack's personal struggles as he tries to find out who the serial killer is.

This is another well-written addition to the series. We get some graphic descriptions to the gory scenes. There were two threads to this story, the other being Jack's personal struggles. This is quite a lengthy read, around 400 pages. The twists kept coming, the characters are well-developed. All the loose ends were tied up by the end.

Published 21st November 2024

I would like to thank #NetGalley #JoffeBooks and the author #MichelleKidd for my ARC of #TheTwelfthFloor in exchange for an honest review.

Gritty police procedural with some good characters. As in many books of this genre the lead detective is a conflicted character. A good read

Law enforcement is tasked with finding and catching the person who is responsible for the murders of woman who are being targeted by someone who dismembers and mutilates his victims.

It was very well written with characters that had interesting back stories but I felt like it was easy to predict who the killer was. At times it felt a bit unrealistic.

Overall this was an ok book.

Thank you so much to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Wow! Definitely not for the faint hearted, this is an intense and all engrossing police proceedural/ serial killer/ thriller that doesn't hold back! I did find muslf skimming some of the more gruesome parts, to me that le el of.detail didn't really add anything to the plot other than making me feel a bit squeamish... and I'm mot the squeamish type! That said sometimes the overload of irrelevant details and repetition makes the plot drag a little! The characters are well written and brought to life, they're humanised and some are very easy to hate lol. The plot is well crafted and the story plays out in a way which kept me guessing throughout

Book Name: The Twelfth Floor (Detective Jack Macintosh Book 6)
Author Name: Michelle Kidd
Publication Date: November 21/2024
My Rating: 3.5 /5

NetGalley Thanks: Thank you to @netgalley and Joffe Books for the ARC.

My Thoughts:
This is the first book I’ve read by Michelle Kidd, and I was immediately pulled into the story. The gruesome, spine-chilling murders and detailed forensic procedures made for a gripping experience. The brutality of the crimes gave me shivers, and the suspense kept me turning pages. The story has two main threads: Detective Jack’s personal struggles and the investigation into the serial killer.

I found the serial killer plot fascinating and terrifying, but the pacing of the book was uneven. There were repetitive scenes that dragged the narrative, and Jack, touted as a “maverick,” often rushed blindly into danger, only to end up wounded. Cooper and Jack were just okay for me, but Amanda stood out. I really liked her character, and she ultimately played a crucial role in catching the killer, which was satisfying.

On the other hand, I disliked Richie and James Quinn; they were infuriating characters who added to my frustrations. The detectives' diet of greasy bacon sandwiches, gallons of coffee, and frequent nausea became excessive and distracting. Still, the forensic procedural elements were fantastic and kept me invested.

Despite some slow parts, the mystery and Amanda's role kept me hooked. If the story had been more streamlined and focused on the main plot, it would have been even more thrilling. The ending’s comparison involving a bacon sandwich was a bit much for me. Despite the flaws, I enjoyed the story enough to want to read more from Michelle Kidd. I loved the serial killer storyline as much as I hated some of the dragging elements.

Recommendation: Perfect for fans of serious crime thrillers who enjoy gritty, forensic-driven mysteries.

The Twelfth Floor by Michelle Kidd is a highly recommended procedural and murder mystery. This is 6th in the series but works well as a standalone novel.

DI Jack Macintosh is back with his team, DS Chris Cooper, DS Amanda Cassidy, and DC Trevor Daniels on the trail of a murderer who left a horrific crime scene which included dismembered body parts at an empty flat on the twelfth floor of a rundown tower block. The following day more dismembered body parts are found at another scene. This case brings the team into the under belly of the city and adds even more stress to Jack's life.

This well-written procedural and murder mystery follows both the police investigation and several suspects as well as potential victims of the fiendish killer in the narrative. The tension remains high throughout the novel as the team is racing against time to solve the murders and prevent any new victims from meeting their demise. The complicated plot is very intriguing, but also descriptive. The details of the crimes are very graphic, so readers may need to consider that beforehand.

Jack Macintosh is a fully realized character and he receives even more development in this installment of the series. It was easy to follow the plot even though this is the first novel in the series that I have read. The ending is heart stopping and very satisfying. Thanks to Joffe Books for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The review will be published on Barnes & Noble and Amazon.

DI Jack MacIntosh is on the case after body parts turn up in a derelict flat. Further parts are found in suitcases on a nearby industrial estate, and finally there's a gruesome find on the upper deck of a bus. The race is on to find the killer or killers before anymore victims. Michelle Kidd is an excellent writer, very descriptive. It wasn't hard to place yourself in the derelict flat and she made it very clear what had been done to the bodies. This might be too much for some readers. Running parallel to dismembered bodies' story is the long running story of Jack's origins and his relationship with family.

Thanks to the author, Joffe Books and NetGalley for the eARC of this book, number 6 in the DI Jack MacIntosh series. For readers new to the series, it's not necessary to read the books before, although they do help explain his releationships with family, friends, and coworkers. It's a very well written book with interesting characters, however, I'm not much into maverick detectives with emotional issues. 3 out of 5 stars.

4* Not necessary to have read the previous books in this series to enjoy this one.

There's enough told/hinted at at the right spots in this tale so that a brand new reader, like myself, won't be lost getting to grips with Jack's world. Although, saying that, I will be picking up the rest, as it's intriguing to know more about his brother Mac and what happened to him and his wife, and also, I think Jack and Mac's childhood habe affected them to the point of influencing Jack's career and somewhat suspect decisions. As a cop, he's been both shortsighted and openhearted, and sadly, a bit blind and in need of some therapy. I don't know if he was mandated therapy in previous tales, but a cop of his level, dealing with the public and press conferences cannot act like he does and still be in the role. That's part of the tale that lost 1* for me. It's just not believable that in 2024 PC UK, he'd get away with what he's done more than once - the second incident being after a severe warning - and not be hauled over the coals, threatened with demotion or mandated to have some kind of training and/or therapy. That small part of the tale didn't work, but goodness, so did the rest!

The storyline made me think there were 2 killers - no spoilers here - so I was thrown by the reveals. Both guys were shady; one had been caught on camera in the middle of something very suspect; and both did a flit. So when the reveal came, it was both very sadly plausible and wtf??? for me. I think it was also an eye opener for Jack, and sadly I also think it showed that his detection skills weren't as hot as they perhaps could've been. So, maybe in the next book, which I'd absolutely read, he's hopefully going/gone through some kind of debrief, some retraining, some therapy, to enable him to be an even better cop.

A tiny criticism is that due to the detail and content, at times the book felt overloaded with TMI in spots, and it dragged a bit. But, the tale was good and it was worth a read.

ARC courtesy of NetGalley and Joffe Books for my reading pleasure.

A very intense book full of suspense. Had me devouring every chapter so quickly
A great edition to the series

The author is at the top of her game with this excellently crafted psychological thriller. There is everything you could want from a book in this read. Jack Macintosh is such a fascinating character, I really like him with his flaws and hidden depths. This is a bit gory in parts but such a brilliant read with a twist at the end which I never saw coming. A 5* read all the way. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

This great read fulfilled every expectation for me as a reader.

It is brutal, complex and intense and with every page a twist and turn that made me forget life for a while.

The authirs writing style is amazing, I felt the reality of the plot and it was as though I had a window seat looking into the drama as it unfolded..

Fabulous..

The Twelfth Floor" is a psychological thriller that will keep you on the edge! Michelle Kid masterfully crafts a suspenseful story filled with twists and turns. The protagonist's struggle to distinguish reality from illusion is both haunting and compelling. The supporting characters add depth, and the claustrophobic setting amplifies the tension. A must-read for fans of psychological thrillers! Kid's writing is captivating, and the pacing is expertly handled, keeping readers guessing until the very end.

Rating: 4.5/5

I really enjoyed how good this crime thriller was in this universe. The plot had me on the edge of my seat and was hooked with this from the description. The characters had that feel that I was looking for and thought everything worked in this world. Michelle Kidd has a strong writing style and that I was wanting from the concept. It had that twist that I was looking for and glad I got to read this.

Intense, gripping, and you won't put it down! Complex and twisty murder investigation with red herrings at every turn, and a strong cast of characters, with the always rule bending Jack, you just have to root for him. Great series!

This was a gripping book from the very beginning for me as anything having to do with children usually is. My emotions were all over the place but I could not put this book down.

Wow! Michelle Kidd, you kept me on pins and needles for this whole book. It was just phenomenal. I loved it! So intense and suspenseful from start to finish.

Jack Macintosh is back!
Fabulous read, full of gore with a real who done it vibe about it.
Well written characters that i could easily visualise.
I sat up till 3 am reading to see if my predictions were correct. (Yes and no.)
This one is not to be mssed.
My thanks to netgalley and the publisher for my copy.

Brutal, gory, suspenseful and heartpounding. These can describe this book. The reader is taken on a journey of red herrings and this dark and twisty police procedural will keep you turning pages well into the night.
It is deceitful, you will think you have identified the killer, but oh - you will be so wrong!
Well crafted and chilling, the reader will be gripped from the first murder to the last.

I recommend 100%