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Alice Quentin #2
A Killing of Angels
The first death looked like a suicide. But someone had tucked a picture of an angel and a handful of white feathers into the banker's pocket before pushing him in front of a train. A killer is stalking The Square Mile—the financial district in London—an avenging angel intent on punishment. But why these victims? What were their sins?
Psychologist Alice Quentin swore she'd never get involved with police work again. Her duty is to the living, not the dead. But she owes Detective Don Burns a favor. He was the one who would sit for hours when the last case they worked on together had landed her in the hospital. That case had clearly taken its toll on him, and his career, too. So when he comes begging for help, how can she refuse?
In order to find the murderer, Alice and Detective Burns must dig deep into the toxic heart of one of the major financial centers in the world. A place where money means more than life, and no one can be counted innocent.
Psychologist Alice Quentin swore she'd never get involved with police work again. Her duty is to the living, not the dead. But she owes Detective Don Burns a favor. He was the one who would sit for hours when the last case they worked on together had landed her in the hospital. That case had clearly taken its toll on him, and his career, too. So when he comes begging for help, how can she refuse?
In order to find the murderer, Alice and Detective Burns must dig deep into the toxic heart of one of the major financial centers in the world. A place where money means more than life, and no one can be counted innocent.
337 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 25, 2014
66 people are currently reading
456 people want to read
About the author
Kate Rhodes
37 books352 followersKate Rhodes is a bestselling UK crime writer. Her latest books are the acclaimed ISLES OF SCILLY MYSTERIES, which have been optioned for TV. Kate has been nominated for the Crime Novel of the Year award and a Library Dagger.
Kate did many different jobs including working as a theatre usherette, a cocktail waitress, and an English tutor at a liberal arts college in Florida. She was born in London but now lives in Cambridge with her husband Dave, and works part-time at Cambridge University, as a creative writing fellow.
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Kate did many different jobs including working as a theatre usherette, a cocktail waitress, and an English tutor at a liberal arts college in Florida. She was born in London but now lives in Cambridge with her husband Dave, and works part-time at Cambridge University, as a creative writing fellow.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews
February 23, 2025
So far I have read in this order -book four (5 stars), book one (3 stars) and now book two (4 stars). There is a pattern here. The first book was not brilliant but they keep getting better.
Psychologist Alice Quentin teams up again with Detective Don Burns. They are both still recovering from the incidents in the first book and both of them should probably be at home on sick leave! Nevertheless it is an exciting case and the murders keep coming one after another. I was so sure I had picked the killer and I was so wrong. The end was a total shock.
I really enjoyed this book and was pleased to see some of the things I did not like about #1 were on their way to being fixed. Obviously I have to read book three next.
Psychologist Alice Quentin teams up again with Detective Don Burns. They are both still recovering from the incidents in the first book and both of them should probably be at home on sick leave! Nevertheless it is an exciting case and the murders keep coming one after another. I was so sure I had picked the killer and I was so wrong. The end was a total shock.
I really enjoyed this book and was pleased to see some of the things I did not like about #1 were on their way to being fixed. Obviously I have to read book three next.
September 14, 2015
This will be the last Quentin book I will bother to read which is too bad as the author has great plots. Her characterizations are two dimensional and her main character is basically a nitwit. She has a crazy drug addicted brother who she constantly enables. She has a carping, frigid mother who spends her time constantly criticizing and blaming everything the Quentin does. So instead of dealing with this she forces herself every two weeks to meet with her mother so that she can get blamed for everything that is wrong in the world, in her mother's and brother's lives. This is just not normal. She is not great therapist as in each book she is either too hot, too cold, too hung over, too sick, too bored, too headachy, too injured or just too busy with her personal/police life to give a rat's ass about her patients. She managed to get beat up, shot, knifed in every book and after being attacked her first reaction is to go for a run by herself while the attacker is still after her. Still not normal. What she needs is a ten year stay in a good institution with an excellent shrink that can deal with her manifold emotional and mental problems. What I would like to see in the next book is for her to be killed in the first chapter while out running. Lola becomes so incensed by this she takes over helping Burns discover the real killer who turns out to be one of Quentin's patients who is fed up with being ignored and having his sessions cancelled.In the end she joins the police force. She is by far the most interesting entertaining character and I think she would be a dynamite detective. This author has great ideas and great plots pity she has such a lousy protagonist. PS Also Will will die of an overdose and her mother falls off one of her cruise shops and drowns leaving all her money to help abused women and children flee their spouses.
August 13, 2017
This is a 3.5 star book rounded up. I liked the setting, many familiar places from my times in London with my husband and our family. I liked the angel angle. Loss of stars for therapist going back to work too soon, and doing too much, she is a danger to herself and her clients. It was what I think of as "the idjeet factor", writer creates intelligent, strong character, then has her do idiotic & dangerous things for sake of plot. Not organic, full of artificial motivations & circumstances. I enjoyed it less than the first book, but am forgiving enough to try next in series once my mild irritation passes. My husband flew through it, apparently women throwing themselves into dangerous situations before they have recovered from previous dangerous encounters bothers him less.
April 1, 2020
A Killing of Angels is the second book in the Alice Quentin series, and my feelings towards this were much the same as my feelings towards the first book. In fact, I enjoyed the first book more.
Although the crime element of this one was interesting, I once again worked things out easily. I had been hoping for some twists and drama, but I was never really sucked into the personal elements of the story. For me, this was just a case of confirming I was correct.
I’m sure many will enjoy this, but it seems this series is not for me.
Although the crime element of this one was interesting, I once again worked things out easily. I had been hoping for some twists and drama, but I was never really sucked into the personal elements of the story. For me, this was just a case of confirming I was correct.
I’m sure many will enjoy this, but it seems this series is not for me.
April 27, 2016
A half-decent story set in a really quite bad book.
The story was engaging enough to make me read to the end, but it did end up being a bit skimmy.
Positives - setting up an unusual MO for the crime, and creating a connection, whilst slightly misleading us on the core motive.
The main protagonist, Alice, seems quite real and well-fleshed out most of the time.
Negatives - Alice has a medical degree and works as a psychologist but doesn't seem to understand the difference between psychologist and psychiatrist. As I wrote in my review of Crossbones Yard, all the real psychologists in Guys Psychology department are graduates in psychology or related subjects (eg sports science).
There are several instances where a comment in thrown in that is supposed to make us see Alice as some sort of misfit eg she doesn't like bouquets, she doesn't like the hairdressers. But they seem contrived. The other characters are largely not believable. Lola is just an Act, entirely self-centred and self-serving but somehow kind. We have two instances of Alice rocking up at parties and instantly being treated as best buddies by someone who would instinctively distrust her (Andrew, and then Sophie and Louise). It didn't ring true.
I half liked that it had a sense of place, but then it got really annoying, as if the writer was determined to show how much she knew of every wharf, restaurant and backstreet round Bermondsey and Rotherhithe. There were these sidebar explanations that seemed contrived or forced, and reeked of 'tell, don't show' - just one randomly
There were too many pauses in the action so that the author could insert some post hoc research just to show she'd done some Googling. But, unfortunately, just as she didn't understand the difference between psychiatrist and psychologist, she also was really quite vague about city finance. Conversely, she seemed bogged down in police procedure, again wanting to show how much she'd garnered from police officer friend, it didn't ring true.
And the climax is sort of great and also entirely implausible. It's rendered possible by the contrived meeting at a party, but it lacks credibility. Alice wasn't able to contact Burns on his personal phone number, so, rather than dialling 999 and waiting for the might of the Met, she thought she'd charge into a suspected murder scene alone. Because that's what every pretend psychologist does, right?
And just to cap it all: she drove to West London, Burns gave her a lift back to the police station at St Pancras, and she got in her car at St Pancras in order to drive home.
As I say, the actual story is pretty decent, but I got increasingly annoyed at how bad the writing was. I had my doubts after the first in the series, but, following this, I have no desire to continue with the rest. Book no 3 is a reasonable £3.49 on Kindle, but book 4 and the upcoming one are both priced at £9.99, which is beyond a joke for what is essentially ephemeral disposable fiction.
The story was engaging enough to make me read to the end, but it did end up being a bit skimmy.
Positives - setting up an unusual MO for the crime, and creating a connection, whilst slightly misleading us on the core motive.
The main protagonist, Alice, seems quite real and well-fleshed out most of the time.
Negatives - Alice has a medical degree and works as a psychologist but doesn't seem to understand the difference between psychologist and psychiatrist. As I wrote in my review of Crossbones Yard, all the real psychologists in Guys Psychology department are graduates in psychology or related subjects (eg sports science).
There are several instances where a comment in thrown in that is supposed to make us see Alice as some sort of misfit eg she doesn't like bouquets, she doesn't like the hairdressers. But they seem contrived. The other characters are largely not believable. Lola is just an Act, entirely self-centred and self-serving but somehow kind. We have two instances of Alice rocking up at parties and instantly being treated as best buddies by someone who would instinctively distrust her (Andrew, and then Sophie and Louise). It didn't ring true.
I half liked that it had a sense of place, but then it got really annoying, as if the writer was determined to show how much she knew of every wharf, restaurant and backstreet round Bermondsey and Rotherhithe. There were these sidebar explanations that seemed contrived or forced, and reeked of 'tell, don't show' - just one randomly
I felt a pang of guilt as I abandoned them in the rubbish bin, but it was part of my coping mechanism.Fairly innocuous in itself but this sort of thing kept cropping up.
There were too many pauses in the action so that the author could insert some post hoc research just to show she'd done some Googling. But, unfortunately, just as she didn't understand the difference between psychiatrist and psychologist, she also was really quite vague about city finance. Conversely, she seemed bogged down in police procedure, again wanting to show how much she'd garnered from police officer friend, it didn't ring true.
And the climax is sort of great and also entirely implausible. It's rendered possible by the contrived meeting at a party, but it lacks credibility. Alice wasn't able to contact Burns on his personal phone number, so, rather than dialling 999 and waiting for the might of the Met, she thought she'd charge into a suspected murder scene alone. Because that's what every pretend psychologist does, right?
And just to cap it all: she drove to West London, Burns gave her a lift back to the police station at St Pancras, and she got in her car at St Pancras in order to drive home.
As I say, the actual story is pretty decent, but I got increasingly annoyed at how bad the writing was. I had my doubts after the first in the series, but, following this, I have no desire to continue with the rest. Book no 3 is a reasonable £3.49 on Kindle, but book 4 and the upcoming one are both priced at £9.99, which is beyond a joke for what is essentially ephemeral disposable fiction.
August 30, 2013
A Killing of Angels is the second book in the Alice Quentin series from Kate Rhodes, stupidly I missed the first, that being Crossbones Yard but that is an error I shall rectify shortly.
In this instalment, Alice, a psychologist, is once again asked by the police to consult on the case of a killer…this killer is targeting banking executives from a very particular bank. As Alice sorts out the truth from the lies she may well place herself in very real danger…
Even though I had not met Alice in her previous incarnation I grew fond of her really quickly…it certainly caused me no issues whatsoever that I had missed the first novel in the series – there are mentions in this story to give me enough information without actually giving anything away that would spoil it. So I quickly settled into this intriguing crime mystery.
Alice is a great protagonist to follow…flawlessly flawed is how I would like to describe her – her life may be messy but her work ethic most certainly is not. Surrounded by a great cast of supporting characters, the story ebbs and flows, throwing the odd red herring into the mix before finally resolving itself in a most satisfactory way.
We all know I love my crime fiction – well this is definitely a great addition to the genre. I hope for many more adventures for Alice, a character who is aptly named as she tends to drop down all the nearest rabbit holes to find some rather twisted individuals. Kate Rhodes has now been added to my “must read” list and as soon as time allows I shall head back and investigate the origins of Alice and co.
Happy Reading Folks!
In this instalment, Alice, a psychologist, is once again asked by the police to consult on the case of a killer…this killer is targeting banking executives from a very particular bank. As Alice sorts out the truth from the lies she may well place herself in very real danger…
Even though I had not met Alice in her previous incarnation I grew fond of her really quickly…it certainly caused me no issues whatsoever that I had missed the first novel in the series – there are mentions in this story to give me enough information without actually giving anything away that would spoil it. So I quickly settled into this intriguing crime mystery.
Alice is a great protagonist to follow…flawlessly flawed is how I would like to describe her – her life may be messy but her work ethic most certainly is not. Surrounded by a great cast of supporting characters, the story ebbs and flows, throwing the odd red herring into the mix before finally resolving itself in a most satisfactory way.
We all know I love my crime fiction – well this is definitely a great addition to the genre. I hope for many more adventures for Alice, a character who is aptly named as she tends to drop down all the nearest rabbit holes to find some rather twisted individuals. Kate Rhodes has now been added to my “must read” list and as soon as time allows I shall head back and investigate the origins of Alice and co.
Happy Reading Folks!
February 16, 2014
I like the novel but it felt at times to be more about the main character than the actual crime itself.
She (the character) does get a little angst-y at times and that distracts me from the flow of the plot.
I would have liked it if there was actually more exposition of the crime and less interior monologue.
She (the character) does get a little angst-y at times and that distracts me from the flow of the plot.
I would have liked it if there was actually more exposition of the crime and less interior monologue.
January 27, 2014
It was lovely to find a contemporary crime author who is simply a fine writer at the end of last year, and it wasn’t too long after finishing he first novel, Crossbones Yard, that I ordered this, her second.
The opening scene is perfectly executed.
A man is waiting for his train home on the London Underground. The platform is crowded, and he is pleased that he is at the front of the crowd, that he will be one of the first to board the next train. He can’t react when he feels a hand near his pocket, but he is pleased that he had the wisdom to keep his wallet in his inside pocket, leaving nothing for the pickpocket to find. But then he is pushed, hard, from behind and he falls onto the line, in the path of an oncoming train.
It might have been assumed to be suicide, or a horrible action, but the man survives, horribly mutilated, for long enough to say that he was pushed. And a postcard, reproducing a painting of and angel, and several white feathers are found in his pocket …..
The investigation falls to Don Burns. Twelve months on from events at Crossbones Yard his personal life has suffered, and he has been transferred, to work for a boss who doesn’t want him and with an ambitious and resentful assistant who had wanted Don’s job. It wasn’t a good situation, but it was horrible believable.
Don asked Alice Quentin, as psychologist who was also licenced to work as a forensic psychologist, to consult on the case. She didn’t really want to get involved, but she felt that she owed Don a favour, and she could see that he needed someone in his corner.
There were more murders and the link was clear: the victims were all closely linked with the Angel Bank, the most successful, the more notorious bank in the City of London.
Alice could build a profile, she could use a friend who worked with the Angel bank, and her new boyfriend who had connections there, to find things out. But the killer seemed to be uncatchable.
The story follows Alice as she works with the police, meeting and evaluating key figures; as she carries out her other professional duties, especially the case of a troubled young man who may have become a little too attached to her; and as life goes on, supporting her bipolar brother, managing her difficult mother, being encouraged to be a little more sociable by her wonderful Lola, and running through the streets of London, to prepare for a marathon and to leave the stresses of daily life behind.
She’s a wonderful, three-dimensional character, and I was pleased to see her character growing a little. There was a setback though, and I do hope that her creator won’t let her get trapped in a loop. Or become one of these superwomen, who always knows – especially when the rest of the world thinks otherwise – and who has to go that extra mile, and put herself in danger, to sort out every last thing herself. I can’t say that’s a problem yet, but two books in I’ve seen a couple of things repeat that I hope won’t be the start of a continuing pattern.
What I did appreciate is that Alice’s personal life was the backdrop, rather than the main story. The balance was right, and that is something that goes wrong far too often in crime fiction series.
The characterisation – of the city and its people – was wonderful. And the story was compelling. There was a startling twist near the end, then a wonderful red herring, and the end itself – and the identity of the killer – was a complete surprise. It made sense, and, though I do have one or two unanswered questions, I do think that they are answerable.
And now I think about it the plot worked beautifully, with my only real issue being the authors occasional use of crime fiction cliché. Some crime writers need them, but crime writers who write as well and understand psychology as well as Kate Rhodes don’t. Though it didn’t spoil the story at all.
And now I’m eagerly anticipating the next story ……
The opening scene is perfectly executed.
A man is waiting for his train home on the London Underground. The platform is crowded, and he is pleased that he is at the front of the crowd, that he will be one of the first to board the next train. He can’t react when he feels a hand near his pocket, but he is pleased that he had the wisdom to keep his wallet in his inside pocket, leaving nothing for the pickpocket to find. But then he is pushed, hard, from behind and he falls onto the line, in the path of an oncoming train.
It might have been assumed to be suicide, or a horrible action, but the man survives, horribly mutilated, for long enough to say that he was pushed. And a postcard, reproducing a painting of and angel, and several white feathers are found in his pocket …..
The investigation falls to Don Burns. Twelve months on from events at Crossbones Yard his personal life has suffered, and he has been transferred, to work for a boss who doesn’t want him and with an ambitious and resentful assistant who had wanted Don’s job. It wasn’t a good situation, but it was horrible believable.
Don asked Alice Quentin, as psychologist who was also licenced to work as a forensic psychologist, to consult on the case. She didn’t really want to get involved, but she felt that she owed Don a favour, and she could see that he needed someone in his corner.
There were more murders and the link was clear: the victims were all closely linked with the Angel Bank, the most successful, the more notorious bank in the City of London.
Alice could build a profile, she could use a friend who worked with the Angel bank, and her new boyfriend who had connections there, to find things out. But the killer seemed to be uncatchable.
The story follows Alice as she works with the police, meeting and evaluating key figures; as she carries out her other professional duties, especially the case of a troubled young man who may have become a little too attached to her; and as life goes on, supporting her bipolar brother, managing her difficult mother, being encouraged to be a little more sociable by her wonderful Lola, and running through the streets of London, to prepare for a marathon and to leave the stresses of daily life behind.
She’s a wonderful, three-dimensional character, and I was pleased to see her character growing a little. There was a setback though, and I do hope that her creator won’t let her get trapped in a loop. Or become one of these superwomen, who always knows – especially when the rest of the world thinks otherwise – and who has to go that extra mile, and put herself in danger, to sort out every last thing herself. I can’t say that’s a problem yet, but two books in I’ve seen a couple of things repeat that I hope won’t be the start of a continuing pattern.
What I did appreciate is that Alice’s personal life was the backdrop, rather than the main story. The balance was right, and that is something that goes wrong far too often in crime fiction series.
The characterisation – of the city and its people – was wonderful. And the story was compelling. There was a startling twist near the end, then a wonderful red herring, and the end itself – and the identity of the killer – was a complete surprise. It made sense, and, though I do have one or two unanswered questions, I do think that they are answerable.
And now I think about it the plot worked beautifully, with my only real issue being the authors occasional use of crime fiction cliché. Some crime writers need them, but crime writers who write as well and understand psychology as well as Kate Rhodes don’t. Though it didn’t spoil the story at all.
And now I’m eagerly anticipating the next story ……
June 8, 2015
A Killing of Angels is the second book in the Alice Quentin series but I have previously read the others in the series. You can see my review for the latest in the series, A River of Souls on the 18th June. This is a now a must read series for me, and one that I very highly recommend.
In A River of Souls a killer is stalking the Square Mile, killing bankers and leaving behind a mysterious calling card, becoming known as the Avenging Angel. Alice's expertise is called upon by the police to help them solve this quite mystifying case. Bankers are assumed to be a shady bunch, the majority of the public having a dislike for them but still, murder is murder and Alice must use her knowledge as a psychologist to somehow build a profile of the kind of person that could be carrying out these murders, the calling card giving off the air of somebody with great intelligence but the sometimes brutal manner of the murders giving the air that it is personal. Kate Rhodes writes in a way that certainly keeps you guessing, and has enough going on in the story to make sure the twists come when you least expect them. There's a brilliant atmospheric edge to Kate's stories, and I always love seeing London through her eyes because she completely brings it to life in her writing - warts and all.
Alice Quentin is such a brilliant character to read about. In A Killing of Angels she is still damaged from the previous case, and part of me wishes I could climb into the book and warn her about what's to come in the future, but then that would make the other two books pretty boring! Alice is reluctant to take on the case and once again help the police out, but the somewhat enigmatic - and this time around physically different - detective Don Burns is difficult for Alice to say no to and she soon finds herself having to juggle her job as a psychologist, her bipolar brother and her work for the police. It was interesting to see this almost less confident Alice, somebody who actually makes mistakes, but still as that person who will always go that extra mile for those that she cares about. I really enjoy witnessing crime and the way she goes about solving crime through Alice's eyes as a psychologist.
I think it can sometimes be difficult for an author to achieve that balance between the actual story of the book, and the continuing development of our main character with those scenes of normality but Alice Quentin is a character I actually care about and so those scenes where she's away from the case; with best friend Lola, her brother, or just at home by herself add real depth to the story itself because they really give the reader a greater understanding and a real sense of the type of person that Alice is, which ultimately serves to make sure we are with her every step of the way when things get tough or when she once again finds her life in danger.
A River of Souls doesn't disappoint, and I'm so glad that I have already read the other books in the series as having to wait to read the next after this one would have been torturous. If you are yet to discover this author or series than I recommend you do so straightaway.
In A River of Souls a killer is stalking the Square Mile, killing bankers and leaving behind a mysterious calling card, becoming known as the Avenging Angel. Alice's expertise is called upon by the police to help them solve this quite mystifying case. Bankers are assumed to be a shady bunch, the majority of the public having a dislike for them but still, murder is murder and Alice must use her knowledge as a psychologist to somehow build a profile of the kind of person that could be carrying out these murders, the calling card giving off the air of somebody with great intelligence but the sometimes brutal manner of the murders giving the air that it is personal. Kate Rhodes writes in a way that certainly keeps you guessing, and has enough going on in the story to make sure the twists come when you least expect them. There's a brilliant atmospheric edge to Kate's stories, and I always love seeing London through her eyes because she completely brings it to life in her writing - warts and all.
Alice Quentin is such a brilliant character to read about. In A Killing of Angels she is still damaged from the previous case, and part of me wishes I could climb into the book and warn her about what's to come in the future, but then that would make the other two books pretty boring! Alice is reluctant to take on the case and once again help the police out, but the somewhat enigmatic - and this time around physically different - detective Don Burns is difficult for Alice to say no to and she soon finds herself having to juggle her job as a psychologist, her bipolar brother and her work for the police. It was interesting to see this almost less confident Alice, somebody who actually makes mistakes, but still as that person who will always go that extra mile for those that she cares about. I really enjoy witnessing crime and the way she goes about solving crime through Alice's eyes as a psychologist.
I think it can sometimes be difficult for an author to achieve that balance between the actual story of the book, and the continuing development of our main character with those scenes of normality but Alice Quentin is a character I actually care about and so those scenes where she's away from the case; with best friend Lola, her brother, or just at home by herself add real depth to the story itself because they really give the reader a greater understanding and a real sense of the type of person that Alice is, which ultimately serves to make sure we are with her every step of the way when things get tough or when she once again finds her life in danger.
A River of Souls doesn't disappoint, and I'm so glad that I have already read the other books in the series as having to wait to read the next after this one would have been torturous. If you are yet to discover this author or series than I recommend you do so straightaway.
August 9, 2014
Alice Quentin, a psychologist, is back in A Killing of Angels, the second book in this series, the first being Crossbones Yard.
In the middle of a stifling summer in London a banker from Angel Bank is killed, and with his body is found a white feather and a picture of an angel. Detective Inspector Don Burns, now in a new position following his previous case, calls on Alice for assistance in profiling the killer as he fears the perpetrator is not going to stop at one killing; he is right. Alice is reluctant what happened previously had put her off working with the police, but Don Burns is persuasive, and she relents.
This book is firmly rooted in the banking crisis where money means more than life. The pictures of angels also introduces the reader to renaissance art, the juxtaposition of biblical angels with more modern aspects of the media is exceptionally well executed which just adds a feeling of reality to the complexity of the plot.
Kate Rhodes handles the pace of the book with aplomb. The twists are brutal and compelling. Alice’s personal life living with her bi-polar brother gives the story a domestic edge as the realities of her relationship with her mother and brother are explored without detracting from the main plot. As well as her work with the police Alice has a case-load of patients which just adds to her stress levels which she relieves by running through London. There is no doubt in the books setting, the author brings the streets of London to life with her descriptions.
This is a very satisfying sequel where the protagonist is struggling with the aftermath of the previous case. The change is noticeable and it is interesting to have a story arc where events have a profound effect on the character, this isn’t the case for Alice and she makes some errors of judgement which to me only served to feel that she is ‘real.’
I am looking forward to the next in this series, The Winter Foundlings published later this month.
In the middle of a stifling summer in London a banker from Angel Bank is killed, and with his body is found a white feather and a picture of an angel. Detective Inspector Don Burns, now in a new position following his previous case, calls on Alice for assistance in profiling the killer as he fears the perpetrator is not going to stop at one killing; he is right. Alice is reluctant what happened previously had put her off working with the police, but Don Burns is persuasive, and she relents.
This book is firmly rooted in the banking crisis where money means more than life. The pictures of angels also introduces the reader to renaissance art, the juxtaposition of biblical angels with more modern aspects of the media is exceptionally well executed which just adds a feeling of reality to the complexity of the plot.
Kate Rhodes handles the pace of the book with aplomb. The twists are brutal and compelling. Alice’s personal life living with her bi-polar brother gives the story a domestic edge as the realities of her relationship with her mother and brother are explored without detracting from the main plot. As well as her work with the police Alice has a case-load of patients which just adds to her stress levels which she relieves by running through London. There is no doubt in the books setting, the author brings the streets of London to life with her descriptions.
This is a very satisfying sequel where the protagonist is struggling with the aftermath of the previous case. The change is noticeable and it is interesting to have a story arc where events have a profound effect on the character, this isn’t the case for Alice and she makes some errors of judgement which to me only served to feel that she is ‘real.’
I am looking forward to the next in this series, The Winter Foundlings published later this month.
April 14, 2015
Book 2 in the Alice Quentin series.
"At the height of a summer heatwave, a killer stalks the City of London.
The avenging angel leaves behind a scattering of feathers with each body...Psychologist Alice Quentin...finds herself deep in the toxic heart of the Square Mile - a place where money means more than life, and no one can be counted innocent."
Having enjoyed Crossbones Yard I was eagerly looking forward to book 2 in the series and it didn't disappoint. Alice has already become one of my favourite crime series characters and her professional and personal intrigues are as interesting as the crime investigations she's involved with. She really is a breath of fresh air amid the crowds of damaged detectives that populate much of the crime fiction world.
There are some brutal murders in this book and the descriptions are memorable. The prologue especially conjured an image that will stay with me for some time.
As often happens I'm finding it hard to go into any further detail without slipping into spoiler territory so I'll leave it there.
Highly recommended for crime fiction fans who enjoy someone other than the police as their main characters.
My copy was borrowed from Blackburn with Darwen libraries.
"At the height of a summer heatwave, a killer stalks the City of London.
The avenging angel leaves behind a scattering of feathers with each body...Psychologist Alice Quentin...finds herself deep in the toxic heart of the Square Mile - a place where money means more than life, and no one can be counted innocent."
Having enjoyed Crossbones Yard I was eagerly looking forward to book 2 in the series and it didn't disappoint. Alice has already become one of my favourite crime series characters and her professional and personal intrigues are as interesting as the crime investigations she's involved with. She really is a breath of fresh air amid the crowds of damaged detectives that populate much of the crime fiction world.
There are some brutal murders in this book and the descriptions are memorable. The prologue especially conjured an image that will stay with me for some time.
As often happens I'm finding it hard to go into any further detail without slipping into spoiler territory so I'll leave it there.
Highly recommended for crime fiction fans who enjoy someone other than the police as their main characters.
My copy was borrowed from Blackburn with Darwen libraries.
March 25, 2017
I was getting bored with crime fiction but this book has rejuvenated my interest in the genre. My rating of it hovers between 3.5 to 4 stars. Good story but sometimes I feel like I'd be happier if Alice could get murdered or seriously hurt! Because sometimes she's just too unbelievably (and I really mean that her actions are just not credible and in fact, are plain stupid, naive and idiotic) tough. Good plot though and so riveting that I couldn't put the book down till I reached the end. It's 1.5 hrs past my usual bedtime; I am going to be so sleepy at work tomorrow!
March 27, 2015
A serial killer who leaves angel postcards and white feathers at the scene of the murder is never going to be too easy to track down. Psychologist Alice Quentin is again enlisted to help the Met police gain insight into the mind of a warped and dangerous killer.
A strong story, relatable characters and lots of complex twists and turns. I enjoyed it.
A strong story, relatable characters and lots of complex twists and turns. I enjoyed it.
July 11, 2017
Man.... wow.... um well she's having tough love I mean seriously she is like a walking death monitor. Also and this to the author give her a break please for god sake I mean I loved it don't get me wrong but dear god this is really unbelievable bullshit sorry about the swearing but I feel it's justified. Dear god. It's good.... very good but wow
July 23, 2022
Utterly brilliant writing. Kind of satisfying having bankers for victims. (Instead of the well-worn women and girls trope). Borderline too gruesome for me, but am addicted to this clever writer's books. Total immersion in the story.
May 9, 2014
Not a bad attempt to create a flawed protagonist but it's a hopelessly melodramatic plot.
http://opionator.wordpress.com/2014/0...
http://opionator.wordpress.com/2014/0...
September 6, 2014
I was totally thrown by this book. I love the authors style and love how this book built and kept me gripped. A great book
April 28, 2016
Excellent plot, very well done. Yes, the protagonist is batshit crazy, but it works for her! The rest of the family, not so much. I will continue reading this series.
July 26, 2017
Too similar to the first. Talk about unlucky in love. She needs a good therapist to set her straight. Lots of life time damage needs to be sorted. Doubt I will read another
April 15, 2019
Another good read.
July 9, 2025
An improvement on the first book but Alice Quentin is still very bad at keeping herself safe, she puts herself in dangerous situations without thought of the consequences, for her & others around her. The story was interesting & the identity of the antagonist surprising. Both Alice & DCI Don Burns are still recovering from the events in Crossbones Yard, & they both look headed for total burnout if things don't improve soon. I'm not quite sure what to make of DSI Lorraine Brotherton who seems a bit of an odd duck, no doubt partially brought on by the very path to her current position - it can't have been easy for a woman to make DSI.
A good read. I'd give it 3.5★
A good read. I'd give it 3.5★
February 28, 2025
I've been very tired so this book took a little longer than I planned to read, but reading a couple of chapters each nigh4t got me through. It was a good pace and I did want to keep reading each night but had to give into the tired eyes! Anyway this thriller, set in a boiling London summer with rich bankers being murdered on a regular basis, with the murderer leaving photos of Angels and white feathers beside the victim kept me guessing. The plot twisted a few times -and it was a satisfying twist in the end.
March 10, 2023
This was my first read by this author and I really enjoyed this book. It was interesting, descriptive and I was completely surprised when the perp was identified as I had no idea who it was. It was a complete surprise to me. I haven't read many stories that take place in England and I liked reading about the different places and the descriptions of items and people such as the lift, the tube, coppers, fags, etc. A great, great read!! I recommend this book to all mystery lovers and readers.
December 2, 2025
No need for another summary — there are plenty out there. Let’s get straight to what I thought!
From the start of this second title in the Rhodes Alice Quentin series, I could tell I was going to like this one more than the first title. Since we last met up with Alice, it's been almost a full year in her world, and much has changed. It took her quite a while to physically heal from her involvement in the Crossbones Yard case; she's stepped back from the rota to assist the MET with specific cases, and her brother is living with her full-time while trying to get clean. When Detective Burns comes to her seeking help on a new case, Alice reluctantly agrees. A lot has changed with Detective Burns as well, and Alice finds herself worrying about him. It felt like Rhodes spent more time in this title crafting the crime(s) and the trail of clues that would eventually lead to the whodunit. She also gave the reader glimpses into the personal worlds of not just Alice but also other characters, such as Lola and Detective Burns, who play essential roles in Alice's life. Rhodes is also leading Alice to seek therapy for her past. As a trained and licensed psychologist, Alice has, in theory, already been in therapy for her past trauma from childhood, but she clearly needs to meet with someone again. What I'm hoping not to read in the next book is Alice getting romantically involved with someone connected to the case she is consulting on. Rhodes needs to give her a break from mixing business and pleasure. I read this title quickly and am looking forward to book 3. With this title, Rhodes entirely pulled me into her Alice Quentin world.
From the start of this second title in the Rhodes Alice Quentin series, I could tell I was going to like this one more than the first title. Since we last met up with Alice, it's been almost a full year in her world, and much has changed. It took her quite a while to physically heal from her involvement in the Crossbones Yard case; she's stepped back from the rota to assist the MET with specific cases, and her brother is living with her full-time while trying to get clean. When Detective Burns comes to her seeking help on a new case, Alice reluctantly agrees. A lot has changed with Detective Burns as well, and Alice finds herself worrying about him. It felt like Rhodes spent more time in this title crafting the crime(s) and the trail of clues that would eventually lead to the whodunit. She also gave the reader glimpses into the personal worlds of not just Alice but also other characters, such as Lola and Detective Burns, who play essential roles in Alice's life. Rhodes is also leading Alice to seek therapy for her past. As a trained and licensed psychologist, Alice has, in theory, already been in therapy for her past trauma from childhood, but she clearly needs to meet with someone again. What I'm hoping not to read in the next book is Alice getting romantically involved with someone connected to the case she is consulting on. Rhodes needs to give her a break from mixing business and pleasure. I read this title quickly and am looking forward to book 3. With this title, Rhodes entirely pulled me into her Alice Quentin world.
February 20, 2023
For some reason, not so engaging as the first book, but still pretty good.
September 5, 2024
Much preferred to the first in this series although I still find it hard to warm to the main character
February 5, 2025
What a great book. Thoroughly enjoyed this book.
November 20, 2025
Not as compelling as the first in the series, and a bit too farfetched.
September 26, 2021
4-4.5*
This is the second book in the Dr Alice Quentin series following on from the excellent Cross Bones Yard. Here we have a number of Murders all linked to a City of London – specifically the Angel Bank.
Alice is brought in by D I Burns who we met in the first book but has now been moved to another team. He has had work problems which led to a separation from his wife. The new job isn’t going well because he has not been accepted by his team especially his deputy DS Steve Taylor who believes he should have got the job. Alice hardly recognises him since he has changed having become a ‘by the book’ police officer, he’s obviously under a lot of stress and has also, purposely, lost a lot of weight. She’s concerned about the toxic atmosphere he is working in which is compounded by Burns’ boss DSI Lorraine Brotherton.
At first she agrees to working with the police again mainly because of her concern over Burns. She has her ‘day job’ as a psychologist as well.
It’s the middle of a heatwave in London and Kate Rhodes brings not only a great sense of place but of atmosphere to the story. You can feel the claustrophobic heat as Alice pounds the city streets of London or swelters in her office whilst trying to work with clients or catch up with paperwork. The heat also brings an added layer of tension to the book. Alice is attacked by Darren, one of her clients, he seems obsessed with her and he has form having been in prison for GBH. Nevertheless, Alice won’t press charges but rather tries to get Darren the help she feels he needs. This ongoing thread runs alongside the investigation that Alice is called in on. A banker has been murdered. Left at the scene is a postcard of an angel and some white feathers. Alice is convinced that the attack is personal rather than for some financial reason but Burns isn’t sure and wants to keep his options open. This brings another layer of tension in the story as Alice struggles to make Burns see what she means without making him further alienated.
As the murder count increases it is the relationships, or lack of, that is stymying the investigation as Burns and Taylor lead themselves down dead end after dead end. Alice seemingly unable to persuade Burns with her reasoning and finding that Taylor is incapable of doing anything that would support Burns which includes not only being full of himself, capable of going behind Burns’ back to his boss in order to look good but also being downright offensive and antagonist to Alice.
With all this going on and being followed by the obsessive Darren, her project funding being cut Alice is struggling to work out what is happening. Will, her brother, is causing concern and her mother is driving her to distraction. Her social life has become another strand of her job as she gets her friends to help with getting information for her on the Angel Bank and its employees. Then she meets Andrew at a ‘do’ she and Burns went to about the case but encouraged by her good friend Lola to go out with him. Lola’s a great character and some welcome light relief in the story. She’s definitely routing for Alice and Andrew as she really wants to see Alice move on from what happened in the first book and realise that there are still some good guys about. Is Andrew one of them or has his previous life at Angel Bank led him into a dark place?
Who is committing these murders and why? Alice must filter out the distractions. She must work out the misdirections because Burns and Taylor, pressed perhaps by Brotherton or each other or both, are grasping at the easy or perhaps it’s the more obvious options and certainly don’t seem to be listening to Alice. In the meantime, more bodies are found proving them wrong.
It’s a call for help that will not only find Alice in immediate danger but will finally resolve the matter of why and who. In this terrific book which I thoroughly enjoyed.
I like Dr Alice Quentin as a character. She isn’t perfect but she is caring and astute. She has good friends and colleagues who may be on the periphery but are clearly supportive, helpful and give Alice that necessary relief she needs.
This is quite a complex book with so much going on but the murder mystery is fascinating set amongst the fat-cat banking fraternity which, since 2008 if not before, we have come not only to dislike but to distrust. The thread regarding the angels, pictures of which are left with the bodies, is just that extra interest we find in these books and I enjoyed not only what was in the story but looking them up on the internet as I read. The clash of the police also set a different tone – whilst Alice had been brought into the investigation by them she was being more and more isolated, leaving her to follow up on her own – this is not a police procedural. Alice is the main character so we have a different perspective and, perhaps, a little more unorthodox.
I really enjoyed reading this second book in the Dr Alice Quentin series. I very much recommend and look forward to reading more.
Book: Purchased
This is the second book in the Dr Alice Quentin series following on from the excellent Cross Bones Yard. Here we have a number of Murders all linked to a City of London – specifically the Angel Bank.
Alice is brought in by D I Burns who we met in the first book but has now been moved to another team. He has had work problems which led to a separation from his wife. The new job isn’t going well because he has not been accepted by his team especially his deputy DS Steve Taylor who believes he should have got the job. Alice hardly recognises him since he has changed having become a ‘by the book’ police officer, he’s obviously under a lot of stress and has also, purposely, lost a lot of weight. She’s concerned about the toxic atmosphere he is working in which is compounded by Burns’ boss DSI Lorraine Brotherton.
At first she agrees to working with the police again mainly because of her concern over Burns. She has her ‘day job’ as a psychologist as well.
It’s the middle of a heatwave in London and Kate Rhodes brings not only a great sense of place but of atmosphere to the story. You can feel the claustrophobic heat as Alice pounds the city streets of London or swelters in her office whilst trying to work with clients or catch up with paperwork. The heat also brings an added layer of tension to the book. Alice is attacked by Darren, one of her clients, he seems obsessed with her and he has form having been in prison for GBH. Nevertheless, Alice won’t press charges but rather tries to get Darren the help she feels he needs. This ongoing thread runs alongside the investigation that Alice is called in on. A banker has been murdered. Left at the scene is a postcard of an angel and some white feathers. Alice is convinced that the attack is personal rather than for some financial reason but Burns isn’t sure and wants to keep his options open. This brings another layer of tension in the story as Alice struggles to make Burns see what she means without making him further alienated.
As the murder count increases it is the relationships, or lack of, that is stymying the investigation as Burns and Taylor lead themselves down dead end after dead end. Alice seemingly unable to persuade Burns with her reasoning and finding that Taylor is incapable of doing anything that would support Burns which includes not only being full of himself, capable of going behind Burns’ back to his boss in order to look good but also being downright offensive and antagonist to Alice.
With all this going on and being followed by the obsessive Darren, her project funding being cut Alice is struggling to work out what is happening. Will, her brother, is causing concern and her mother is driving her to distraction. Her social life has become another strand of her job as she gets her friends to help with getting information for her on the Angel Bank and its employees. Then she meets Andrew at a ‘do’ she and Burns went to about the case but encouraged by her good friend Lola to go out with him. Lola’s a great character and some welcome light relief in the story. She’s definitely routing for Alice and Andrew as she really wants to see Alice move on from what happened in the first book and realise that there are still some good guys about. Is Andrew one of them or has his previous life at Angel Bank led him into a dark place?
Who is committing these murders and why? Alice must filter out the distractions. She must work out the misdirections because Burns and Taylor, pressed perhaps by Brotherton or each other or both, are grasping at the easy or perhaps it’s the more obvious options and certainly don’t seem to be listening to Alice. In the meantime, more bodies are found proving them wrong.
It’s a call for help that will not only find Alice in immediate danger but will finally resolve the matter of why and who. In this terrific book which I thoroughly enjoyed.
I like Dr Alice Quentin as a character. She isn’t perfect but she is caring and astute. She has good friends and colleagues who may be on the periphery but are clearly supportive, helpful and give Alice that necessary relief she needs.
This is quite a complex book with so much going on but the murder mystery is fascinating set amongst the fat-cat banking fraternity which, since 2008 if not before, we have come not only to dislike but to distrust. The thread regarding the angels, pictures of which are left with the bodies, is just that extra interest we find in these books and I enjoyed not only what was in the story but looking them up on the internet as I read. The clash of the police also set a different tone – whilst Alice had been brought into the investigation by them she was being more and more isolated, leaving her to follow up on her own – this is not a police procedural. Alice is the main character so we have a different perspective and, perhaps, a little more unorthodox.
I really enjoyed reading this second book in the Dr Alice Quentin series. I very much recommend and look forward to reading more.
Book: Purchased
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