Spite Your Face

DI Carol Wren #1

by Emmy Ellis

Please note this book was previously published as Biding Their Time.

Meet Detective Carol Wren. She has abandonment issues — but she never gives up on a case. Yorkshire born and bred, and backed up by her sergeant Dave Waite. His wife has left him — but Carol is fiercely loyal to her partner.

The call comes early on Saturday morning. Devoted wife and mother-of-two Sue Cuttersby has been brutally hacked to death in her pretty suburban garden.

Detective Carol Wren can’t find anyone with a bad word to say about Sue. But someone hated the unassuming housewife enough to hit her three times on the back of the head with a claw hammer, leaving her to die in agony.

This murder was personal — and unusually vicious.

Sue’s marriage to Gary, a wealthy businessman, appears to have been happy. But Carol discovers that appearances can be deceptive.

The following day, a second body is found. Dumped on the premises of the local vet.

Carol finds herself on the trail of a depraved serial killer, the last person you’d expect . . .

Genres: Fiction

289 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 21, 2023

About the author

Author of these series:
•  DI Tracy Collier
•  DI Carol Wren
•  DI Bethany Smith
•  DI Helena Stratton
•  The Cardigan Estate
•  DI Morgan Yeoman
•  Detective Anna James

Reviews

[Dobby · Rating 4 out of 5]

While the writing, pacing, and character-building was well done, the book was a bit too gruesome for my taste. The author absolutely dived into and explored her characters, without a doubt.

I wavered in the rating of the book between a 3.5 and 4, finally deciding on a hesitant 4 stars. I'll probably continue with the series, but I'll wait a bit before I read Book 2.

TW:
One instance of animal abuse and death, referred to a few times as the story progressed. It helped define the character, but I found it to be too haunting. It took too much away from the story for me.

[KAY BOSHIER · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mixed feelings

Mixed feelings about this book. There is quite a lot of psychological background and twisted characters. The main character of Carol develops well. However, the use of a collective noun "they" to describe a singular person central to the plot, rankled throughout the story.

[Onia Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Biding Their Time by Emmy Ellis certainly starts as it means to continue! Menacing Martine is the first character to draw-in the reader with her unsavoury motivations.
The Cuttersby’s suburban home life may not be as wholesome as it first appears to the casual observer, but you have to feel some sympathy for errant Gary and toxic Flora, as things go from terrible to worse. And their plight is just the beginning.
I love Carol, felt a bit nervous watching my dog stare at the bushes when I let him out at midnight, and will be downloading the series for my next holiday reading list - if I can wait that long! Highly recommended

[Karen Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

The murderer in Spite Your Face is known to the reader very early in the book, and we follow DI Carol Wren as she and her team puzzle through every clue as it turns up. The body count mounts rapidly as Bad Boy and Bad Girl bring death to the list of people involved in the Bad Time. The gore quotient is quite high as the story progresses, and it is apparent there are multiple people with mental deficiencies that impede the detectives’ investigations. Carol Wren herself has old issues to deal with, but we didn’t see any major breakthroughs in her own struggles. Well written, the author keeps the pace moving, and introduces a couple of twists along the way. On to Book #2 - Hold Your Breath.

[Kim J · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good read for a 1st in a series!

I've always said, the first in a new series is usually the worst. There is a lot to do to get your characters in place, a history for them, and to start their development. But this one was actually pretty good. Drawn out a bit, which is normal for this author I've found, but if you trudge through those spots you have gold! An interesting and original plot, lots of twists and turns, some I didn't see coming. I think this is going to be another winning series!

[Khurshid Ali · Rating 5 out of 5]

Welcome to another new DI with an abusive past.

With Emmy Ellis knack of creating surprises in her crime scenes this first introduction to DI Wren is no different.

An accident committed years ago leads to the death of many victims.

We see into the mind of the murderer and as per Emmy Ellis unique style of writing we feel for.

We have all heard of see no evil, speak to evil, see no evil. This books shows a deadly, macabre version of all 3.

This book was a great read

[Kate Charlton · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Excellent Read

Definite not a book for the faint of heart or weak of stomach, but an excellent read. This book sticks in your head and actually gave me strange dreams from it. I think that’s definitely a compliment to Emmy Ellis’ writing. I’ll definitely be reading more from the Carol Wren series.

[Graham Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great freebie!

Joffe gave me this for free. I wasn't expecting anything good as other freebies have been poor. This had me gripped from start to finish! Good characters,good storyline and good ending. The ending was a slight surprise for the identity of one of the perpetrators! But heyho I've been wrong before!!

[Jody Wheeler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not bad

I do like this author so thought i try this one. There was a lot going on and didn't think i was going to enjoy out butt i did it was a very good book and i will be reading the next one

[Eirlys · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read

Carol Wren is a strong woman with an abusive childhood behind her. A series of strange murders occur, close together, and with twists and turns galore. Very well crafted characters and storyline.

[Lorraine Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant

It kept my interest from start to end,looking forward to more.so please keep writing, I will keep reading I promise

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

A new series from one of my favourite authors.
Where Emmy gets these ideas from is anyone's guess.
DCI Carol Wren is one to read.

[T A FERRIS · Rating 4 out of 5]

How a mind can be twisted

A story of a father s sad Accident and how sad blaming people can be I wouldn't want to live near that family you might end up dead.

[Trisha Russell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book and do enjoy the easy at which she writes. I have read a few of Emmy's books and not disappointed yet.

[Graham Chesman · Rating 5 out of 5]

good book

A good book from Emmy Ellis trying to find the others in this series lots of twists and turns can’t wait for others wish there was more di bethney smith