It starts with the death of a doctor in a quite suburban neighbourhood, his body discovered naked and displayed on his bed. It looks like a sexual encounter gone wrong, or at least that is what it is supposed to look like - but DCI Erika Foster is not convinced. especially when a date rape drug is found in his system. All signs point to an accident at first, but when it becomes clear the easy conclusion is that it was a hate crime against a gay man. DCI Erika Foster never goes for the easy option, she wants to actually solve the case, and when a second body is found with the same signature she is the first to reach the conclusion that they are dealing with a serial killer - and she soon discovers that her opinion is not a popular one.
With an oppressive heatwave beating down on London tempers are short and her superiors have little patience for her insistence that a serial killer is on the loose - especially when her opinion differs from that of the pet forensic psychologist. Erika is used to following her gut and it is telling her that the killer not finished with their task, and it is a bitter victory when a third victim is found and the police arrest a suspect. With her personal and professional lives colliding, and with the Night Stalker just out of reach Erika may have no choice but to go rogue to get the job done - a tough choice at the best of times for a police officer, but this time a promotion is on the line too.
The DCI Erika Foster has been a great find, and while the writing is not as polished as some of the more established authors, Bryndza has a knack for creating real characters that are well rounded and feel genuine. Foster is something of an anti-hero, she is flawed and likes to go against the rules, but she is also damaged after the deaths of her husband and team which makes it more understandable. The team around her have personalities and their own little quirks that make them distinct personalities - some are a little on the clichéd side, but you get that with all genres. One of the parts that makes this series seem so real is the politics in the office, you can see the scheming and manoeuvring happening around Erika as things move forward, and it is very clear that at least one of the senior staff doesn't like her - which makes it more realistic when things go wrong.
This has been an interesting series so far and I am currently waiting for book three to arrive so I can find out what is going to happen next. Erika's world has expanded between book one and book two, and from blurbs about the next book it looks as though her personal life is going to expand as well. A very readable series that has short punchy chapters that sucker you in and keep you hooked.
If you like this book then try:
- The girl in the ice by Robert Bryndza
- Pop goes the weasel by M.J. Arlidge
- One step too far by Tina Seskis
- Crimson Lake by Candice Fox
- Now you see her by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge
- Vodka doesn't freeze by Leah Giarratano
- The slaughter man by Tony Parsons
- The postcard killers by James Patterson and Liza Marklund
- The survivors club by Lisa Gardner
- Kill switch by Neal Baer & Jonathan Greene
- The edge of normal by Carla Norton
- I've got you under my skin by Mary Higgins Clark
- City of fear by Alafair Burke
Reviewed by Brilla
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