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DI Sean Corrigan #2
The Keeper
Thomas Keller knows exactly who he’s looking for…
They tried to keep them apart, but when he finds her, he’s going to keep her. Just like he knows she wants him to.
DI Sean Corrigan is not like other detectives. His dark past has given him the ability to step into a crime scene and see it through the offender’s eyes. He understands what drives a person to commit terrible acts – but sometimes his gift feels more like a curse.
When women start disappearing from their homes in broad daylight, Corrigan’s Murder Investigation Team is reluctant to take on a missing persons case. But then the first body turns up, and Corrigan knows he must quickly get into the mind of the murderer. Because this killer knows exactly who he wants. And he won’t stop until he finds her.
They tried to keep them apart, but when he finds her, he’s going to keep her. Just like he knows she wants him to.
DI Sean Corrigan is not like other detectives. His dark past has given him the ability to step into a crime scene and see it through the offender’s eyes. He understands what drives a person to commit terrible acts – but sometimes his gift feels more like a curse.
When women start disappearing from their homes in broad daylight, Corrigan’s Murder Investigation Team is reluctant to take on a missing persons case. But then the first body turns up, and Corrigan knows he must quickly get into the mind of the murderer. Because this killer knows exactly who he wants. And he won’t stop until he finds her.
486 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2013
67 people are currently reading
1088 people want to read
About the author
Luke Delaney
39 books288 followersLuke Delaney joined the Metropolitan Police Service in the late 1980s and his first posting was to an inner city area of South East London notorious for high levels of crime and extreme violence. He later joined CID where he investigated murders ranging from those committed by fledgling serial killers to gangland assassinations.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 168 reviews
December 5, 2015
The second book in a series can sometimes fall flat, but I think this one was on par with the first. Much time is spent with the antagonist and his victims, and while gruesome and frightening, it got a bit repetitive. Not so much time was spent on the details of the investigation. Progress was made slowly with DI Sean Corrigan relying on his instincts and experience. DS Sally Jones is mentally suffering from a previous case, and she's probably returned to work too soon. While I can understand her fears, that too became a bit repetitive. I think this book could have been shorter but the pace did pick up near the end. I will continue with the series when I get the third book.
July 24, 2013
Luke Delaney published his debut novel Cold Killing back in March 2013. I finally got around to reading it in May of the same year and literally couldn’t put it down. When I received an early copy of the second in this series featuring DI Sean Corrigan I couldn’t resist putting all my other books on hold. Sean Corrigan is a brilliant lead character. It’s hard to describe his ‘gift’ that he has for being able to walk in the killer’s shoes. His imagination lets him think just like the people he is chasing. In this current book, women start disappearing from their homes in broad daylight. Sean and his team need to work around the clock, and possibly against a crazy man’s timetable before women start turning up dead.
The first few chapters re-acquaint the reader with Sean and his team. DS Sally Jones is dealing with her own demons following the last case they worked on, and DS Dave Donnelly is as usual Sean’s right hand man. Both of these characters feature heavily in the book and they have both demanded my attention from book one. This follow up is no different, and each of the characters plays their part extraordinarily well. I’m surprised that this is only Delaney’s second novel. To those that maybe didn’t know you might assume he has been writing years. I think the authors previous years in the force has enabled him to put more experience than research into the book; and it shows!
From the very beginning we know who the killer is, there is no hiding from it. What the reader is treated to is the rather warped and sick world of Thomas Keller. What I really like about this book, is that although there are no surprises as such (like I said we know who the killer is), you instead feel like you are actually in the depth of a huge Murder Investigation. The added bonus about this book is Sean Corrigan himself. His character has a very dark side. Throughout this whole book you have that horrible feeling that he is teetering between good and evil. Is his ability to ‘recreate’ the killer’s thoughts and feelings pushing him closer to their world? From the beginning to the end it’s the pure chase that kept me hooked. It didn’t matter that I knew who was doing what, it still had me reading until late in the night.
The first few chapters re-acquaint the reader with Sean and his team. DS Sally Jones is dealing with her own demons following the last case they worked on, and DS Dave Donnelly is as usual Sean’s right hand man. Both of these characters feature heavily in the book and they have both demanded my attention from book one. This follow up is no different, and each of the characters plays their part extraordinarily well. I’m surprised that this is only Delaney’s second novel. To those that maybe didn’t know you might assume he has been writing years. I think the authors previous years in the force has enabled him to put more experience than research into the book; and it shows!
From the very beginning we know who the killer is, there is no hiding from it. What the reader is treated to is the rather warped and sick world of Thomas Keller. What I really like about this book, is that although there are no surprises as such (like I said we know who the killer is), you instead feel like you are actually in the depth of a huge Murder Investigation. The added bonus about this book is Sean Corrigan himself. His character has a very dark side. Throughout this whole book you have that horrible feeling that he is teetering between good and evil. Is his ability to ‘recreate’ the killer’s thoughts and feelings pushing him closer to their world? From the beginning to the end it’s the pure chase that kept me hooked. It didn’t matter that I knew who was doing what, it still had me reading until late in the night.
August 28, 2013
Having been metaphorically blown away by Delaney’s debut Cold-Killing , I was as keen as mustard to get stuck into the next in the DI Luke Corrigan series, The Keeper, which promised much and delivered even more. Building on the exceptional characterisation in the first, we are further enveloped in the world of this smarter than average police officer with his unique perception of the criminal mind…
Once again drawing on the experience gained in his former life as a police officer, Delaney has constructed a central plot that is both thrilling and chilling in equal measure. Focusing on a random nutter, imprisoning women in the vain and misguided hope of recapturing the magic of a childhood experience, Delaney captures all the nuances of a delusional mind and the inherent fear of his captives, and captures perfectly the claustrophobia and tension of their experience. There is perhaps a little too much repetition of the nefarious goings-on in the psychopath’s tracksuit bottoms, but essentially the strange imaginings and brutality of this particular individual will keep you thoroughly unsettled. Needless to say, I was worried enough by the actions of said nutter to warrant me keeping a much closer eye on my own postman- our killer’s day job- but what really sold this book to me was Delaney’s building on the strong characterisation of the first book in both his regular and new characters.
DI Sean Corrigan is a marvellous creation, and I like the multi-faceted aspects of his character. To all intents and purposes he is a normal copper in terms of his fairly settled home life and utter professionalism in his duty to the job. However, he has a remarkable insight in to the twisted mind, gleaned from the less than harmonious events of his childhood, and his ability to enter the killer’s mind and to effortlessly tap into their motivation. Although his actions arouse the suspicions of his colleagues no-one can deny his powers of perception, and Delaney in introducing the character of criminal psychologist Anna provides an interesting dimension to Corrigan’s unique ability, and the resistance he puts up to others who seek to challenge or get inside his mind. Likewise, the character of DS Sally Jones is explored further after her horrific experiences in the previous book, and her tentative journey back from recovery and the effects these events have had on her are, to me, the most moving aspect of the book, effortlessly gaining the empathy of the reader. So few male writers can really characterise female characters in a believable way, but Delaney has the knack, not only in the personal trials of Jones and the fiercely independent mind of Anna, but also as regards the captive women who find themselves at the mercy of the killer. A rare feat indeed.
So all in all what we have is a great second book, building on and extending the characters of the first, but all wrapped in a gripping plot that will keep any crime fiction fan on the edge of their seat. If you haven’t discovered Delaney yet, go now and seek him out- you won’t regret it!
Once again drawing on the experience gained in his former life as a police officer, Delaney has constructed a central plot that is both thrilling and chilling in equal measure. Focusing on a random nutter, imprisoning women in the vain and misguided hope of recapturing the magic of a childhood experience, Delaney captures all the nuances of a delusional mind and the inherent fear of his captives, and captures perfectly the claustrophobia and tension of their experience. There is perhaps a little too much repetition of the nefarious goings-on in the psychopath’s tracksuit bottoms, but essentially the strange imaginings and brutality of this particular individual will keep you thoroughly unsettled. Needless to say, I was worried enough by the actions of said nutter to warrant me keeping a much closer eye on my own postman- our killer’s day job- but what really sold this book to me was Delaney’s building on the strong characterisation of the first book in both his regular and new characters.
DI Sean Corrigan is a marvellous creation, and I like the multi-faceted aspects of his character. To all intents and purposes he is a normal copper in terms of his fairly settled home life and utter professionalism in his duty to the job. However, he has a remarkable insight in to the twisted mind, gleaned from the less than harmonious events of his childhood, and his ability to enter the killer’s mind and to effortlessly tap into their motivation. Although his actions arouse the suspicions of his colleagues no-one can deny his powers of perception, and Delaney in introducing the character of criminal psychologist Anna provides an interesting dimension to Corrigan’s unique ability, and the resistance he puts up to others who seek to challenge or get inside his mind. Likewise, the character of DS Sally Jones is explored further after her horrific experiences in the previous book, and her tentative journey back from recovery and the effects these events have had on her are, to me, the most moving aspect of the book, effortlessly gaining the empathy of the reader. So few male writers can really characterise female characters in a believable way, but Delaney has the knack, not only in the personal trials of Jones and the fiercely independent mind of Anna, but also as regards the captive women who find themselves at the mercy of the killer. A rare feat indeed.
So all in all what we have is a great second book, building on and extending the characters of the first, but all wrapped in a gripping plot that will keep any crime fiction fan on the edge of their seat. If you haven’t discovered Delaney yet, go now and seek him out- you won’t regret it!
September 10, 2014
Unfortunately, this book and I got off to the wrong foot before I had even begun it! I have a pretty serious OCD specific to reading books in order, and this book’s description never mentioned that this in fact the sequel to Delaney’s earlier Cold Killing. But, without time to track it down, I decided to go against my nature, and just start with this one. I wish, though, that publishers would be more diligent in advertising when a book is a sequel...
But, in this case, I suppose it’s for the best that I started here, because now that I have finished it, I have no plans of tracking down that first one. The book feels clumsily written - the point-of-view frequently shifts mid-paragraph! This continues to distract the reader throughout the course of this rather lengthy thriller. Despite an initial fast-pace, this slows down considerably and remains slow until the quite predictable climax. The reader knows the killer’s identity from almost the very first page, which further seeps out much of the tension and really takes the wind out of main character, D. I. Sean Corrigan, and his “gifted” insight into his criminals. As for the traumatized D.S. Sally Jones, without the full knowledge of the events of the first novel, it’s hard to sympathize with her lack of coping skills. None of the characters are developed enough for the reader to feel a real connection with them and though the writing is heavy on detail, its lack of tension makes even the violent scenes surprisingly dull.
The villain and hero both feel cliched - and in fact, the further into the book, the more unlikable Sean himself becomes. He’s a poor excuse for a hero (though not likable or bad enough to be an anti-hero) who is arrogant and fails to interact with anyone in a positive manner. I wish that I had stopped reading this one a lot earlier rather than pushing through until the end - it never improves. The ending’s dramatics are equally tired and predictable (with some rather gaping holes into the aftermath for the victim we spend so much time with) and though the latter half of the novel sets up a plot that will presumably pick up in the third installment of the series, it is not a big enough hook for me to desire to continue on with this series. All in all, this one’s a disappointment.
But, in this case, I suppose it’s for the best that I started here, because now that I have finished it, I have no plans of tracking down that first one. The book feels clumsily written - the point-of-view frequently shifts mid-paragraph! This continues to distract the reader throughout the course of this rather lengthy thriller. Despite an initial fast-pace, this slows down considerably and remains slow until the quite predictable climax. The reader knows the killer’s identity from almost the very first page, which further seeps out much of the tension and really takes the wind out of main character, D. I. Sean Corrigan, and his “gifted” insight into his criminals. As for the traumatized D.S. Sally Jones, without the full knowledge of the events of the first novel, it’s hard to sympathize with her lack of coping skills. None of the characters are developed enough for the reader to feel a real connection with them and though the writing is heavy on detail, its lack of tension makes even the violent scenes surprisingly dull.
The villain and hero both feel cliched - and in fact, the further into the book, the more unlikable Sean himself becomes. He’s a poor excuse for a hero (though not likable or bad enough to be an anti-hero) who is arrogant and fails to interact with anyone in a positive manner. I wish that I had stopped reading this one a lot earlier rather than pushing through until the end - it never improves. The ending’s dramatics are equally tired and predictable (with some rather gaping holes into the aftermath for the victim we spend so much time with) and though the latter half of the novel sets up a plot that will presumably pick up in the third installment of the series, it is not a big enough hook for me to desire to continue on with this series. All in all, this one’s a disappointment.
July 7, 2013
So we come to the second in the DI Sean Corrigan series from Luke Delaney (Start with Cold Killing) and it was a corker.
This outing finds Sean investigating a missing persons case - not his usual type of case but the powers that be demand and so on he goes. Soon he realises that something sinister is going on, then another woman disappears and a body is found. So begins an emotional and heart stopping roller coaster ride while Sean uses his peculiar and intriguing senses to unearth the villain of the piece.
I liked this a lot. Cold Killing was excellent, but the standard has been raised with "The Keeper" to a very high level. Crime fiction is an overcrowded genre but Luke Delaney is going to fit right in - Sean Corrigan may not be unique but his quirks, his background, what drives him on are all very well imagined and the plotting is tight and realistic. The aftermath of the events of "Cold Killing" are dealt with and with a new addition to the "cast" who I hope we will see again (I really liked Anna) this was an absorbing read. One of the cleverest parts of Mr Delaney's writing comes with the hidden agenda's and the examination of each characters motivation for doing what they do - you will know as much about the criminals as you will about the police officers that hunt them and this makes for a well rounded and complete reading experience.
I am also quite fond of the fact that the author doesnt see the need to rely on dramatic license and there are no plot holes - ok its not one of those books where you will be saying "Never saw THAT coming" but neither is it predictable. In fact what makes it so good IS its unpredictability especially where Sean is concerned - you are never quite sure what he might do next and it can be edge of the seat stuff.
So all in all a brilliant read and one that I would recommend. My thanks to Kate at Harper Collins for sending me an advanced copy of this book - I'm going to have to stay on her good side because I believe there are more to come. Happy Reading folks!
This outing finds Sean investigating a missing persons case - not his usual type of case but the powers that be demand and so on he goes. Soon he realises that something sinister is going on, then another woman disappears and a body is found. So begins an emotional and heart stopping roller coaster ride while Sean uses his peculiar and intriguing senses to unearth the villain of the piece.
I liked this a lot. Cold Killing was excellent, but the standard has been raised with "The Keeper" to a very high level. Crime fiction is an overcrowded genre but Luke Delaney is going to fit right in - Sean Corrigan may not be unique but his quirks, his background, what drives him on are all very well imagined and the plotting is tight and realistic. The aftermath of the events of "Cold Killing" are dealt with and with a new addition to the "cast" who I hope we will see again (I really liked Anna) this was an absorbing read. One of the cleverest parts of Mr Delaney's writing comes with the hidden agenda's and the examination of each characters motivation for doing what they do - you will know as much about the criminals as you will about the police officers that hunt them and this makes for a well rounded and complete reading experience.
I am also quite fond of the fact that the author doesnt see the need to rely on dramatic license and there are no plot holes - ok its not one of those books where you will be saying "Never saw THAT coming" but neither is it predictable. In fact what makes it so good IS its unpredictability especially where Sean is concerned - you are never quite sure what he might do next and it can be edge of the seat stuff.
So all in all a brilliant read and one that I would recommend. My thanks to Kate at Harper Collins for sending me an advanced copy of this book - I'm going to have to stay on her good side because I believe there are more to come. Happy Reading folks!
June 3, 2021
This is the second book featuring DI Sean Corrigan and his murder investigation team, set in London. His DS Sally Jones has just returned to work after nearly losing her life in the previous book and is finding it hard to cope - Sean tries to protect her by keeping her on the fringes of their latest case, which he is reluctant to take as it involves a young woman who has gone missing and no body has yet been found. But the subsequent finding of the body of another young woman in the woods launches a complicated investigation as there are a series of abductions of women of a certain appearance....
Not only do we get the perspective of the police investigation but we also get that of the women who have been abducted and the man carrying out the attacks, giving his 'reasons' for what he is doing, warped as they are. Lots of graphic violence and sexual activity so be warned! - 9/10.
Not only do we get the perspective of the police investigation but we also get that of the women who have been abducted and the man carrying out the attacks, giving his 'reasons' for what he is doing, warped as they are. Lots of graphic violence and sexual activity so be warned! - 9/10.
October 29, 2020
This is an excellent police procedural albeit that the chief investigator, DI Sean Corrigan, is a bit off-the-wall. Like another reviewer I think the book could have been shorter, with a bit less time spent on the protagonist’s treatment of his victims (which was a bit too horrific for my tastes). But the writer builds the tension gradually towards an excellent climax. This author is a “Keeper”
October 19, 2013
Brilliant Crime Novel
The Keeper is an excellent crime novel from the pen of Luke Delaney a former Metropolitan Police Detective in London, who has dealt with a wide range of crimes including murders and gangland assassinations. This novel feels like he has brought some of his experiences to bear especially in the descriptions of the victims and their families as well as with how officers approach and live each case. It is as if the hard learnt experience is laid out for the reader, rather than someone doing research into the police procedures then writing about them.
Detective Inspector Sean Callaghan is the lead of the Murder Investigation Team for the South London division of the Metropolitan Police, experienced dealing with the human detritus and sorting the wheat from the chaff and achieving a successful conviction and another murderer off the streets. His Superintendent gives Callaghan and his team an unusual missing persons’ case to investigate. Women of a certain height and look are being taken in broad daylight but it is not till the dead bodies’ start turning up that they realise they are racing against the clock.
We are introduced Thomas Keller at the beginning of the book as he is looking for someone in particular and knows South London well. He has nobody to call a friend, not at work where he is hated or at home, but he is used to that as his life has always been about being different to others and alone. He knows what he wants knows how and where to get it and has the means and location to suit, but will DI Callaghan be able to find him in time?
This crime story is a compelling read as it unfolds as we get the back story to the main characters as well as what they look and how they feel about life. Delaney is good at getting inside the head of the criminal and the chasing detective. We are not bogged down with irrelevant details but feel as if we are part of the investigation team and under the same pressure as the police. You are able to feel the desperation of the hunt and the exhilaration of discovery from both criminal and police.
This is a fantastic novel a great read and feels like you are part of an authentic Murder Investigation Team. To use the oldest cliché of the lot it really is a page turner with a chilling dash of reality. The race is on who will achieve their end game Thomas Keller or Sean Callaghan, the only way to find out is to read the book and enjoy the race to the end.
The Keeper is an excellent crime novel from the pen of Luke Delaney a former Metropolitan Police Detective in London, who has dealt with a wide range of crimes including murders and gangland assassinations. This novel feels like he has brought some of his experiences to bear especially in the descriptions of the victims and their families as well as with how officers approach and live each case. It is as if the hard learnt experience is laid out for the reader, rather than someone doing research into the police procedures then writing about them.
Detective Inspector Sean Callaghan is the lead of the Murder Investigation Team for the South London division of the Metropolitan Police, experienced dealing with the human detritus and sorting the wheat from the chaff and achieving a successful conviction and another murderer off the streets. His Superintendent gives Callaghan and his team an unusual missing persons’ case to investigate. Women of a certain height and look are being taken in broad daylight but it is not till the dead bodies’ start turning up that they realise they are racing against the clock.
We are introduced Thomas Keller at the beginning of the book as he is looking for someone in particular and knows South London well. He has nobody to call a friend, not at work where he is hated or at home, but he is used to that as his life has always been about being different to others and alone. He knows what he wants knows how and where to get it and has the means and location to suit, but will DI Callaghan be able to find him in time?
This crime story is a compelling read as it unfolds as we get the back story to the main characters as well as what they look and how they feel about life. Delaney is good at getting inside the head of the criminal and the chasing detective. We are not bogged down with irrelevant details but feel as if we are part of the investigation team and under the same pressure as the police. You are able to feel the desperation of the hunt and the exhilaration of discovery from both criminal and police.
This is a fantastic novel a great read and feels like you are part of an authentic Murder Investigation Team. To use the oldest cliché of the lot it really is a page turner with a chilling dash of reality. The race is on who will achieve their end game Thomas Keller or Sean Callaghan, the only way to find out is to read the book and enjoy the race to the end.
January 6, 2015
So after being pretty impressed with the first book, Cold Killing, I went straight onto number two and was not disappointed.
The book picks up where number one finished, so it's some time later and we get to hear how the previous case has progressed in court. And what stage our regular characters are at now. As a result of DI Sean Corrigan's previous success he has been assigned to a missing persons case. Unusual for a MIT department but the DI's 'special talents' are just what's needed here, or so he's told!!
Young women are being kidnapped, kept for a few days, murdered and left to be found in remote woods. What's happending here is that the timescale is relatively short, around nine days, and becomes cyclical. The police realises this and the whole premise is for them to reach the kidnapped victims before they're dispensed with coldly and ruthlessly by the perpetrator. Running alongside the narrative of the police, we get to hear from the kidnapper himself and what's going through his tortured soul. It's a different approach in that this is not a whodunnit but an investigation/series of events from the protagonist and perpetrator and how it reaches it's conclusion. Therefore, this becomes far more character driven than you would expect and we really get a much deeper insight into not just lead characters but supporting cast too. All the while, as time goes on, DI Corrigan is trying to get into the mind of and think like the kidnapper. Trying to piece together his past, his present and entering a place where many would fear to tread.
The book is well written, pacy and told in realistic terms of an investigation. Yes, at times I did think it became a little repetitive but I accept that it was the nature of the crimes themselves that deemed it to be so. An enjoyable read that I don't hesitate in recommending, just be careful who you answer your door to and how! Be safe!
The book picks up where number one finished, so it's some time later and we get to hear how the previous case has progressed in court. And what stage our regular characters are at now. As a result of DI Sean Corrigan's previous success he has been assigned to a missing persons case. Unusual for a MIT department but the DI's 'special talents' are just what's needed here, or so he's told!!
Young women are being kidnapped, kept for a few days, murdered and left to be found in remote woods. What's happending here is that the timescale is relatively short, around nine days, and becomes cyclical. The police realises this and the whole premise is for them to reach the kidnapped victims before they're dispensed with coldly and ruthlessly by the perpetrator. Running alongside the narrative of the police, we get to hear from the kidnapper himself and what's going through his tortured soul. It's a different approach in that this is not a whodunnit but an investigation/series of events from the protagonist and perpetrator and how it reaches it's conclusion. Therefore, this becomes far more character driven than you would expect and we really get a much deeper insight into not just lead characters but supporting cast too. All the while, as time goes on, DI Corrigan is trying to get into the mind of and think like the kidnapper. Trying to piece together his past, his present and entering a place where many would fear to tread.
The book is well written, pacy and told in realistic terms of an investigation. Yes, at times I did think it became a little repetitive but I accept that it was the nature of the crimes themselves that deemed it to be so. An enjoyable read that I don't hesitate in recommending, just be careful who you answer your door to and how! Be safe!
September 11, 2013
Oh my goodness. Where do I start. This is one of the best crime novels I have ever read (I've read a lot!).
It all started with the absolutely brilliant Cold Killing, followed by the novella Redemption of the Dead and now this. I didn't think Luke Delaney would be able to ace Cold Killing but I can say, with complete honesty, he certainly has. This is breathtakingly brilliant, scary, very very disturbing, yet remarkable, to say the least. I was absolutely terrified reading it; I was checking all my windows and doors.
My hero, DI Sean Corrigan, is back investigating the abduction of totally innocent females. He is assisted, again, by Dave Donnelly and the traumatised Sally Jones and the other members of his loyal and totally overworked team.
I have to say that the character of Thomas Keller was absolutely terrifying to me and comes from the same mould as the equally horrific Hannibal Lecter.
There was such a disturbing part towards the end of the book that was so utterly moving I was in tears.
It is also a breath of fresh air to have superb Police investigative work without making the Police look like total incompetents as can sometimes be the case; also that Sean has the complete and utter backing of DS Featherstone as, in some crime novels, the main cop is a maverick and works more or less alone.
Luke Delaney is now my favourite crime writer and I have an inkling where the next book will be going which I hope will be out very very soon.
If you like a great crime novel, with superior Police investigations, a fantastic, almost psychic leading Detective Inspector, then this is the book for you. Read it but be prepared to lose sleep as its totally gripping from page one. One word of advice though, I wouldn't recommend reading parts of it whilst eating (like I sadly did) as there are some very graphic details of torture.
Utterly brilliant and highly recommended,
It all started with the absolutely brilliant Cold Killing, followed by the novella Redemption of the Dead and now this. I didn't think Luke Delaney would be able to ace Cold Killing but I can say, with complete honesty, he certainly has. This is breathtakingly brilliant, scary, very very disturbing, yet remarkable, to say the least. I was absolutely terrified reading it; I was checking all my windows and doors.
My hero, DI Sean Corrigan, is back investigating the abduction of totally innocent females. He is assisted, again, by Dave Donnelly and the traumatised Sally Jones and the other members of his loyal and totally overworked team.
I have to say that the character of Thomas Keller was absolutely terrifying to me and comes from the same mould as the equally horrific Hannibal Lecter.
There was such a disturbing part towards the end of the book that was so utterly moving I was in tears.
It is also a breath of fresh air to have superb Police investigative work without making the Police look like total incompetents as can sometimes be the case; also that Sean has the complete and utter backing of DS Featherstone as, in some crime novels, the main cop is a maverick and works more or less alone.
Luke Delaney is now my favourite crime writer and I have an inkling where the next book will be going which I hope will be out very very soon.
If you like a great crime novel, with superior Police investigations, a fantastic, almost psychic leading Detective Inspector, then this is the book for you. Read it but be prepared to lose sleep as its totally gripping from page one. One word of advice though, I wouldn't recommend reading parts of it whilst eating (like I sadly did) as there are some very graphic details of torture.
Utterly brilliant and highly recommended,
August 17, 2014
I raced through this fat book. My advanced reader's copy is 553 pages and I read it in a very short time because I couldn't stand not knowing what would happen next. I was so scared for the victims.
You know from the beginning that a man with a psychosis of some sort is keeping two women in cages in a cellar. He seems to be fixated on women who have a similar appearance and he keeps calling the current favorite Sam. When she tries to tell him that isn't her name, he gets enraged and takes it out on the other one. When he takes a woman he is armed with a stun gun and chloroform, so she's aware she is being kidnapped but unable to do anything about it. Can you imagine how terrifying that is?
The cop heading the investigation is D.I. Sean Corrigan from the Murder Investigation Unit in South London. His own past history gives him intuitive insight into the motives of psychotic murderers. He is quite a strange investigator as he tries to get into the mind of such people to solve the case and catch the killer. Thankfully he is married to a doctor who loves him enough to bear with him during his cases, keep up with her own job, and care for their three children. His family is what saves him from going off the deep end himself.
Ordinarily a story featuring a mentally ill villain is tough for me to read, but I was so caught up in this one that I just couldn't put it aside without finishing it. If you read this one, and I encourage you to do so, brace yourself for a tense time. You might also want to lock your doors.
Highly recommended
Source: HarperCollins
You know from the beginning that a man with a psychosis of some sort is keeping two women in cages in a cellar. He seems to be fixated on women who have a similar appearance and he keeps calling the current favorite Sam. When she tries to tell him that isn't her name, he gets enraged and takes it out on the other one. When he takes a woman he is armed with a stun gun and chloroform, so she's aware she is being kidnapped but unable to do anything about it. Can you imagine how terrifying that is?
The cop heading the investigation is D.I. Sean Corrigan from the Murder Investigation Unit in South London. His own past history gives him intuitive insight into the motives of psychotic murderers. He is quite a strange investigator as he tries to get into the mind of such people to solve the case and catch the killer. Thankfully he is married to a doctor who loves him enough to bear with him during his cases, keep up with her own job, and care for their three children. His family is what saves him from going off the deep end himself.
Ordinarily a story featuring a mentally ill villain is tough for me to read, but I was so caught up in this one that I just couldn't put it aside without finishing it. If you read this one, and I encourage you to do so, brace yourself for a tense time. You might also want to lock your doors.
Highly recommended
Source: HarperCollins
August 5, 2016
I really wanted to love this book. It's the first Luke Delaney I've read and I was ready to discover a new British crime thriller series to loyally work my way through. Alas I just couldn't get on with this. Something about the writing style jarred, with long unwieldy sentences amongst stilted dialogue with characters whose voices sound the same.
I also must echo what some other reviewers have said about the descriptions of sexual violence being often rather unpalatable. Yes it's a crime author's job to shock, thrill, appall - but this is just disturbing in it's clumsiness. As I have a proof copy I can't quote directly to demonstrate but it's shocking in a bad way, rather than a thriller way, how suddenly things clang onto the page like a rapist's swollen genitals. It jars and disrupts the flow.
So I'm back to authors like David Mark and Jane Casey for my crime fix who deliver characterful British cops, violence, abduction, murder and even sexual assault with such fantastic style.
I also must echo what some other reviewers have said about the descriptions of sexual violence being often rather unpalatable. Yes it's a crime author's job to shock, thrill, appall - but this is just disturbing in it's clumsiness. As I have a proof copy I can't quote directly to demonstrate but it's shocking in a bad way, rather than a thriller way, how suddenly things clang onto the page like a rapist's swollen genitals. It jars and disrupts the flow.
So I'm back to authors like David Mark and Jane Casey for my crime fix who deliver characterful British cops, violence, abduction, murder and even sexual assault with such fantastic style.
February 5, 2022
Spannende Story, gut umgesetzt, passende Charaktere und sehr angenehm geschrieben.
Punktabzug gab es aber dafür, dass mir persönlich einfach zu viel pornografische Szenen drin sind. Klar, einiges davon ist wichtig, um die Geschichte zu erklären, aber leider wird hier, wie auch in vielen anderen Büchern, immer etwas zu sehr auf so etwas gesetzt.
Punktabzug gab es aber dafür, dass mir persönlich einfach zu viel pornografische Szenen drin sind. Klar, einiges davon ist wichtig, um die Geschichte zu erklären, aber leider wird hier, wie auch in vielen anderen Büchern, immer etwas zu sehr auf so etwas gesetzt.
October 15, 2018
4.5 stars!!!
For those that follow me on social media you will be aware that I have been raving about this new serial killer series that I have been reading at the rate of knots. I am absolutely addicted to this series, and although most of the books are near or over the 500-page mark, I have devoured nearly four of the books in as many days. As I said, addicted!!
It is refreshing that Luke Delaney is an ex-detective with the Metropolitan Police. The attention to detail and the insider knowledge certainly reflects extremely well through procedures and the inside mind and workings of an active officer. I love Criminal Minds, CSI etc so am an avid fan of anything psychological and forensic and this series certainly melds both together perfectly. I loved how this author shows the police as real people, the effects their jobs have on their family and the pressures of what is expected and the little time that leaves for them to have a social life and more importantly family life. However, this is just a very small part of this book. This was a fantastic psychological thriller, one that leaves you guessing at every turn as you become so embroiled in the investigation you almost become a copper yourself.
DI Sean Corrigan is a complex character and one that I came to respect. He is unconventional in how he tackles an investigation from the very beginning and I am hoping to learn a lot more about his past as this series progresses. Sean Corrigan has a knack of being able to put himself in the minds of the killers, he can think like them and can often predict their next move. This is not a gift he enjoys possessing, however, he loves the fact that it enables him to get results, despite the pain and mental suffering it can often inflict on him. Sean Corrigan immerses himself 100%, becomes tunnel visioned in his quest to succeed, he can be unfiltered, emotionally detached but this only enamours him all the more.
For those that follow me on social media you will be aware that I have been raving about this new serial killer series that I have been reading at the rate of knots. I am absolutely addicted to this series, and although most of the books are near or over the 500-page mark, I have devoured nearly four of the books in as many days. As I said, addicted!!
It is refreshing that Luke Delaney is an ex-detective with the Metropolitan Police. The attention to detail and the insider knowledge certainly reflects extremely well through procedures and the inside mind and workings of an active officer. I love Criminal Minds, CSI etc so am an avid fan of anything psychological and forensic and this series certainly melds both together perfectly. I loved how this author shows the police as real people, the effects their jobs have on their family and the pressures of what is expected and the little time that leaves for them to have a social life and more importantly family life. However, this is just a very small part of this book. This was a fantastic psychological thriller, one that leaves you guessing at every turn as you become so embroiled in the investigation you almost become a copper yourself.
DI Sean Corrigan is a complex character and one that I came to respect. He is unconventional in how he tackles an investigation from the very beginning and I am hoping to learn a lot more about his past as this series progresses. Sean Corrigan has a knack of being able to put himself in the minds of the killers, he can think like them and can often predict their next move. This is not a gift he enjoys possessing, however, he loves the fact that it enables him to get results, despite the pain and mental suffering it can often inflict on him. Sean Corrigan immerses himself 100%, becomes tunnel visioned in his quest to succeed, he can be unfiltered, emotionally detached but this only enamours him all the more.
“What policeman on the face of God’s earth could ever understand this madman enough to find him? If there is such a man, then may God pity his soul.”
January 28, 2021
Very difficult to be positive about this book. The storyline was the best bit with women being abducted from there homes and held captive until the police catch up with the perpetrator which incidentally we are introduced to in the opening page. The characters were not so good, for me at least, they border from the incompetent (Donnelly) who fails to pass on important information, through the not quite fit for duty (Sally), who runs away from the witnesses to (Corrigan) who is a bully and solves the cases through ESP or clairvoyance or just luck. Then there are the much too graphic sexually and violent scenes which for me were just over the top and perhaps a better storyteller might be able to convey the happenings and the seriousness in a less graphic manner.
Not a series for me. 2 stars only.
Not a series for me. 2 stars only.
June 23, 2020
A heart stopping crime novel with a criminal that you'll love to hate! The character of DI Corrigan continues to develop along with his cohorts.
February 27, 2022
TW: rape, child abuse
This was intense and violent. While I did enjoy the thriller overall, it's hard to stomach the vivid descriptions of sexual violence that permeate this novel. It's borderline gratuitous. Also, I didn't care about the characters as I found them to be flat. And lastly, this was about 100 pages too long.
This was intense and violent. While I did enjoy the thriller overall, it's hard to stomach the vivid descriptions of sexual violence that permeate this novel. It's borderline gratuitous. Also, I didn't care about the characters as I found them to be flat. And lastly, this was about 100 pages too long.
July 17, 2020
Almost as good and thrilling as the first one, but the ending not as good. 2.5 stars
August 29, 2013
I first discovered Luke Delaney when I read his debut novel Cold Killing. I just need to talk quickly about Cold Killing – it is FANTASTIC, and if you haven’t read it yet then please do because it is a stunning debut! So following on from the brilliant Cold Killing, The Keeper – the next book in the series – is back with a bang!
DI Sean Corrigan is back once again in The Keeper. When women start disappearing in broad daylight Di Corrigan is convinced he is just dealing with a missing persons case. But after a body is discovered, Corrigan knows that the investigation must be stepped up, and he must act quickly to find the killer.
I LOVE DI Corrigan’s ability to understand the thoughts of a killer – I enjoyed how he could walk into a crime scene and be able to see it from the viewpoint of the criminal. This is genuinely one of the best parts of the story – I am so fascinated by the way that he works and I was hooked to the pages because I was keen to see him back in action, and I wanted to know how he would cope with his next case. I would recommend Luke Delaney’s books based on Corrigan alone, he is such a strong, very-well written character and for me he makes the book exceptional.
We are also introduced to the characters of Thomas – our killer. I found these scenes particularly terrifying and thy van be quite intense, which only pulled me in further and had me racing through the pages. I liked that we were opened to the killer’s world, it made the story so much more interesting and added extra suspense to this dark story.
Luke Delaney has written a sequel that more than measures up to the first – I feel that Luke really stepped up a notch with The Keeper. It was thrilling from the first sentence – as I soon as I sat down to read it I didn’t move until I finished, I was so gripped by the events and I just had to read on to follow Corrigan as he tried to solve the case. The amount of tension in the book is fantastic, it made me feel alert and I was gasping at every new turn of event, I felt so involved in the case that I almost felt as though I was part of Corrigan’s investigation team.
I can’t give anything away but The Keeper is terrifying, chilling and it will have you desperate to know what it is going to happen next. My heart was racing as I read the novel and I constantly was on the edge of my seat. If you are a fan of crime books or are just looking for something different to try then please read Luke Delaney’s books – they are dark, chilling and like me you’ll be looking over your shoulder!
DI Sean Corrigan is back once again in The Keeper. When women start disappearing in broad daylight Di Corrigan is convinced he is just dealing with a missing persons case. But after a body is discovered, Corrigan knows that the investigation must be stepped up, and he must act quickly to find the killer.
I LOVE DI Corrigan’s ability to understand the thoughts of a killer – I enjoyed how he could walk into a crime scene and be able to see it from the viewpoint of the criminal. This is genuinely one of the best parts of the story – I am so fascinated by the way that he works and I was hooked to the pages because I was keen to see him back in action, and I wanted to know how he would cope with his next case. I would recommend Luke Delaney’s books based on Corrigan alone, he is such a strong, very-well written character and for me he makes the book exceptional.
We are also introduced to the characters of Thomas – our killer. I found these scenes particularly terrifying and thy van be quite intense, which only pulled me in further and had me racing through the pages. I liked that we were opened to the killer’s world, it made the story so much more interesting and added extra suspense to this dark story.
Luke Delaney has written a sequel that more than measures up to the first – I feel that Luke really stepped up a notch with The Keeper. It was thrilling from the first sentence – as I soon as I sat down to read it I didn’t move until I finished, I was so gripped by the events and I just had to read on to follow Corrigan as he tried to solve the case. The amount of tension in the book is fantastic, it made me feel alert and I was gasping at every new turn of event, I felt so involved in the case that I almost felt as though I was part of Corrigan’s investigation team.
I can’t give anything away but The Keeper is terrifying, chilling and it will have you desperate to know what it is going to happen next. My heart was racing as I read the novel and I constantly was on the edge of my seat. If you are a fan of crime books or are just looking for something different to try then please read Luke Delaney’s books – they are dark, chilling and like me you’ll be looking over your shoulder!
June 28, 2015
I enjoyed this book. Some people will object to the graphic scenes of rape depicted, but I felt they were in keeping with the story and were not prurient. In The Keeper, DI Sean Corrigan is tasked with finding a missing person-- a type of case that is usually outside of the purview of his murder squad. Nevertheless they take it on, and as Corrigan becomes more pulled into the case, the more convinced he becomes that the disappearance of Louise Russell is part of a much bigger case, and that time is running very short before they can save her life.
The action is taut, and goes back and forth from Corrigan to Russell to other members of Corrigan's team. I really liked Louise Russell and was rooting for her to get away from the sicko who had captured her.
There's some mumbo jumbo about the muckety mucks at Scotland Yard thinking Corrigan has some psychic ability so they send a "profiler" in obstensibly to help with the case, but really to evaluate Corrigan's psychic abilities. Corrigan has an ability to put himself into the mind of the killers by viewing the scene-- but that doesn't really bother me because Corrigan is a hunter and most god hunters have that ability.
There are also some very nice realistic touches such as one of Corrigan's daughters is named Louise, the same as the victim. And there's some kind of tiresome back and forth between Corrigan and his wife about how the demands of his job keep him away from his family and how they just want to run away to New Zealand.
Never mind all that-- this is a well written book and I will definitely be seeking out more in the series.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from Amazon Vine in exchange for an honest review.
The action is taut, and goes back and forth from Corrigan to Russell to other members of Corrigan's team. I really liked Louise Russell and was rooting for her to get away from the sicko who had captured her.
There's some mumbo jumbo about the muckety mucks at Scotland Yard thinking Corrigan has some psychic ability so they send a "profiler" in obstensibly to help with the case, but really to evaluate Corrigan's psychic abilities. Corrigan has an ability to put himself into the mind of the killers by viewing the scene-- but that doesn't really bother me because Corrigan is a hunter and most god hunters have that ability.
There are also some very nice realistic touches such as one of Corrigan's daughters is named Louise, the same as the victim. And there's some kind of tiresome back and forth between Corrigan and his wife about how the demands of his job keep him away from his family and how they just want to run away to New Zealand.
Never mind all that-- this is a well written book and I will definitely be seeking out more in the series.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from Amazon Vine in exchange for an honest review.
May 31, 2014
Thomas Keller is looking for Sam, the girl of his dreams, a quest that has him kidnapping a string of women as substitutes who, ultimately, must disappoint him and be killed.
Detective Inspector Sean Corrigan, an investigator with an uncanny ability to enter into the minds of serial killers, and his team are trying to find one of these missing women before it’s too late.
The novel, written by a former murder squad detective, didn’t live up to my expectations. Too many shifting viewpoints in the same scene kept me from identifying with any of the characters. I felt Detective Sergeant Sally Jones was more fully developed and sympathetic a character than Corrigan. And Keller comes across as more of a caricature of a serial killer than one I could find believable.
I found it difficult to accept that Keller, having found the real Sam and stole personal items from her house, would then ignore her and devote himself to kidnapping substitutes who failed to satisfy his obsession.
Others have lauded this series. Me, I don’t buy the comparisons with Mark Billingham and Peter James.
Detective Inspector Sean Corrigan, an investigator with an uncanny ability to enter into the minds of serial killers, and his team are trying to find one of these missing women before it’s too late.
The novel, written by a former murder squad detective, didn’t live up to my expectations. Too many shifting viewpoints in the same scene kept me from identifying with any of the characters. I felt Detective Sergeant Sally Jones was more fully developed and sympathetic a character than Corrigan. And Keller comes across as more of a caricature of a serial killer than one I could find believable.
I found it difficult to accept that Keller, having found the real Sam and stole personal items from her house, would then ignore her and devote himself to kidnapping substitutes who failed to satisfy his obsession.
Others have lauded this series. Me, I don’t buy the comparisons with Mark Billingham and Peter James.
March 20, 2017
This is a good read with a clever plot - a man is kidnapping and eventually killing brown haired, green eyed women - which alternates between the killer's and DI Sean Corrigan's points of view. I'm not normally a fan of knowing the perpetrator early on as I like the intensity and uncertainty of the hunt but this is very well done. Sean Corrigan is a very intense person and Mr Delaney does a tremendous job of conveying that intensity and his unswerving commitment and devotion to finding the perpetrator. The supporting characters are also very well drawn as I found most them unlikeable so obviously well enough drawn to elicit a response.
There are a couple of downsides to this novel. The sex scenes were repetitive and hence gratuitous and boring after a while and Sean Corrigan's deductive processes, whilst interesting and capable of moving the plot forward, are obviously no where near police procedure so you have to suspend your disbelief a little and just go with the flow.
I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone but the faint of heart as it is rather graphic in parts.
There are a couple of downsides to this novel. The sex scenes were repetitive and hence gratuitous and boring after a while and Sean Corrigan's deductive processes, whilst interesting and capable of moving the plot forward, are obviously no where near police procedure so you have to suspend your disbelief a little and just go with the flow.
I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone but the faint of heart as it is rather graphic in parts.
June 8, 2014
I picked up this book because it was one in the genre that I really liked. I did not know that this was book two in a series. Not that it mattered. This book may be the second one featuring D.I. Sean Corrigan but it can be read as a stand alone novel. This book brings me back to why I love this genre. It is dark, the mystery is high, good investigative research work, a menacing serial killer, and a good ending. Even though the identity of the killer was known right in the beginning of the story, what he did to Louise and his motive was what kept my attention. Than there was Corrigan. He is a complex character. What he brings to the story with his abilities is great. The fact that the author has experience with what he is writing helps to really leads to him and gives the author a upper hand. He made the story come alive. I was right with Corrigan and Louise the whole way until the end. This book is a "Keeper".
November 7, 2015
This book is definitely a "stay up until way too late to finish!" kinda book!! If you like Murder/Mystery this is definitely one to put on your 'to read' shelf. There were times in this book, I was finding myself holding my breath, waiting to see what was coming around the corner. High with expectations of an event - ehhh not so much - a twist in a direction I hadn't even thought of. Luke is an amazing writer, writing in 3rd person, allows us to: view the killer during the events, see the many twists and turns the police create to find the right answers, and the minds of the victims as he keeps them in cages. Ohh yeah Mr. Delaney, I definitely will be reading more of your books - you now have me extremely intrigued - even if you did keep me up well after midnight to see the capture (or not) of the killer!
December 10, 2014
Luke Delaney brings us the sequel to cold killing
D I Sean Corrigan and his murder investigation team ( M.I.T ) are back and assigned to a misper case Louis Russell has vanished with no clues .
A body fitting her description turns up a few days later DEAD.the team are shocked to discover it's not her and another female disappears with the same description is there a serial killer on the M.I.T patch
Can Sean get into the mind of the killer and save the two women in the timescale before another body turns up
Luke Delaney written his breathtaking and brings you into the investigation has if your right there
D I Sean Corrigan and his murder investigation team ( M.I.T ) are back and assigned to a misper case Louis Russell has vanished with no clues .
A body fitting her description turns up a few days later DEAD.the team are shocked to discover it's not her and another female disappears with the same description is there a serial killer on the M.I.T patch
Can Sean get into the mind of the killer and save the two women in the timescale before another body turns up
Luke Delaney written his breathtaking and brings you into the investigation has if your right there
November 10, 2015
Loved it
Thoroughly enjoyed the second instalment of DI Corrigan. In the sequel to Cold Killing you really get a feel for who he is and what makes him tick.
In this book we see DI Sean Corrigan try to get into the depraved mind of abductor and murderer Thomas Keller and what a nasty nasty mind it is too.
DI Corrigan is of course a fantastic lead character, full of mystery and intelligence but it was also great how his sidekick Sally's character is developed. Being a girlie, it's good to have a female character to be able to relate to.
All in all I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a good, gritty crime novel ☺
Thoroughly enjoyed the second instalment of DI Corrigan. In the sequel to Cold Killing you really get a feel for who he is and what makes him tick.
In this book we see DI Sean Corrigan try to get into the depraved mind of abductor and murderer Thomas Keller and what a nasty nasty mind it is too.
DI Corrigan is of course a fantastic lead character, full of mystery and intelligence but it was also great how his sidekick Sally's character is developed. Being a girlie, it's good to have a female character to be able to relate to.
All in all I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a good, gritty crime novel ☺
December 31, 2015
4.5 Stars
This is the second Sean Corrigan book I have now read, and I am starting to come to the conclusion that Luke Delaney must have a sick and twisted mind, to come up with villains as vile in their nature as the one in The Keeper. Again we get both the police and the villain's points of view, and some of the crimes were making me feel a bit ill. The Keeper managed to keep me awake and alert on the flight home and kept me hooked. Really enjoyed this second book and can't wait to read more of this series.
This is the second Sean Corrigan book I have now read, and I am starting to come to the conclusion that Luke Delaney must have a sick and twisted mind, to come up with villains as vile in their nature as the one in The Keeper. Again we get both the police and the villain's points of view, and some of the crimes were making me feel a bit ill. The Keeper managed to keep me awake and alert on the flight home and kept me hooked. Really enjoyed this second book and can't wait to read more of this series.
July 27, 2015
This was a gripping read and I loved how we know who the killer is straight away. It allows the reader to see not only how the police chase is unfolding, but also how the killer is coping under mounting pressure.
I can't even begin to put myself in the victims' shoes. To know what is exactly is going to happen to you after watching it happen to your predecessor is a terrifying thought.
Definitely worth a read.
I can't even begin to put myself in the victims' shoes. To know what is exactly is going to happen to you after watching it happen to your predecessor is a terrifying thought.
Definitely worth a read.
March 9, 2015
While reading this was interesting enough but each time I put this book down I wasn't all that excited to pick it back up.
I do like the character of Sally, she seems realistic and is competent as a police officer. She has grown as a character and I really like her.
Sean Corrigan, the lead, I am not sure about yet. I find him to be intense and likeable enough but something feels off about his character.
The storyline was ok but no surprises or much suspense.
I do like the character of Sally, she seems realistic and is competent as a police officer. She has grown as a character and I really like her.
Sean Corrigan, the lead, I am not sure about yet. I find him to be intense and likeable enough but something feels off about his character.
The storyline was ok but no surprises or much suspense.
March 9, 2018
The author has real talent, but at times I thought that he spent too much time "painting the picture" and I would lose interest in the story. Less could have been more in my humble opinion and then it would be a dynamite book.
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