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Twisted
DS Lasser knows time is running out, two women assaulted within the space of a week and now the 'crazy' is carrying a knife.

When Sarah Palmer is attacked on her way home from a night on the tiles, she knows she is seconds away from death. She can feel the cold sliver of the blade at her throat; his hot sour breath on her neck as he whispers his vicious promises. So when a passing stranger appears out of the drizzle mist to save her, Sarah feels a cataclysmic sense of relief that soon turns to despair as she realises her savior has vanished into the downpour.

All his life Robert Flynn has heard voices in his head, his mother used to call them his imaginary friends that was until the man with the bright smile opened her throat with the shiny blade. Now he can hear only one and it's telling him to do things that make him feel bad. Trouble is without his medication he becomes confused and the voice inside will only allow him sanctuary if he does exactly as he's told.

As Sarah becomes obsessed with finding the man who came to her aid, she decides to take drastic measures that rebound with horrific consequences.

As Lasser's worst fears are brought to life, he finds himself hunting a man who has no moral compass, but when the true nature of the killer is revealed Lasser realises that someone else laid the seeds that grew and festered someone beyond reproach who wears a bright smile to cover his identity.

As the killer runs amok, Lasser must try to second-guess his intentions before more innocents are killed. Though he soon comes to realise it's not only the police hunting the killer, someone else has a stake in putting an end to his reign of terror.

360 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 15, 2014

72 people are currently reading
52 people want to read

About the author

Robin Roughley

47 books152 followers
Rob Roughley lives in the North West of England (God's coal bunker,the land of the wedding cake made by placing three meat pies on top of one another and whippets on lengths of string)
He is the author of eight crime/thriller novels featuring DS Lasser. The novels are set between the run down streets of a northern town and the beautiful yet desolate west Pennine moors.
If you love your crime fiction crammed with square jawed heroes driving flash cars and glorious women who shimmer with inner light, then the DS Lasser novels are not for you.
However, if you prefer your characters to be flawed, with a sprinkling of dandruff and old acne scars,the plots to be laced with dark humour, then give them a try.
1 The Needle House
2 The Way that it Falls
3 Tethered to the Dead.
4 Twisted
Coming soon:
5 More Equal than Others
6 Vanished Beneath
7 Riven
8 Bad Self

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5 stars
376 (65%)
4 stars
154 (26%)
3 stars
36 (6%)
2 stars
5 (<1%)
1 star
2 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
Profile Image for David Gilchrist.
434 reviews48 followers
January 19, 2016
This author is a great find for me this year. There is sadness and parts that make you smile. A man with mental health issue causes DS Lasser and the police massive problems, also an ex- soldier with PTSD.The proverbial edge of the seat thriller, with an unexpected twist at the end. This writer is at the top of his game,
Profile Image for Mark Williams.
104 reviews3 followers
March 22, 2021
Every book I read of Robin Roughley he just keeps getting better and better.
Profile Image for Robert Crouch.
Author 14 books16 followers
June 29, 2018
Twisted is the fourth DS Lasser novel and like its predecessors it’s fast paced, tense and thrilling in equal measures, though it seemed more violent and graphic.

While you could read this as a standalone, you’d miss the development of the characters and the relationships that add colour and humour to the gritty storylines. The fractious relationship between Lasser and Bannister, his boss, is a joy at times, picking up from where they left off in the previous novel. Lasser’s relationship with Medea is also a delight, especially when it exposes his self-doubt and hang ups.

With plenty of twists and turns, the story alternates between Lasser and the killer. The author always manages to get inside the minds of his characters, so you know and understand them quickly. His portrayal of the killer is chilling, but tempered with empathy as the tragic reasons that created him are revealed.

Lasser is bolshie, driven and relentless in his pursuit of killers, and almost perpetually soaked to the skin in this novel as the rain over Wigan never lets up. But that’s what makes this series compelling – the strong, sharply drawn characters, the evocative setting with its seedy underbelly, the dark humour, and plots that drag you all over the place and back again. The story started to drag a little towards the end, perhaps because of one too many twists, but it remains another enjoyable and compulsive read.

Looking forward to the next in the series.
Profile Image for Suzanne.
53 reviews
December 29, 2017
WARNING: NO EDITING

The books are engaging and so I have kept buying them despite the fact that they lack even rudimentary punctuation. I believe this is one of the most egregious offenders in the self-published category that I have ever waded through.
PLEASE GET AN EDITOR. PLEASE.
83 reviews2 followers
September 27, 2021
Best one yet

I absolutely adore this book series. And this has to be my favourite so far. Brilliant storyline and vivid character. I’m so hooked. I can’t put it down. I’m so excited for for the next one.
Profile Image for David.
1,767 reviews2 followers
May 30, 2017
Four books read and four very enjoyable reads. Hope the series carries on like this because I have the next 7 in the series.
922 reviews
November 20, 2018
Soo glad i came across this author never a dull moment characters are great as well as the banter with Lasser and his boss lot of depth with mental health and the PDSA
Profile Image for Mr Bill Dunn.
109 reviews
March 2, 2020
Another cracking tale

Really enjoying the Lasser series, good story content, plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing, keep up the good work.
Profile Image for Biff meechan.
360 reviews5 followers
July 14, 2020
Twisted ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I really enjoyed this book & I love the DS Lasser series & the more I read I love it more.I never want it to end⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
10 reviews
June 26, 2021
Not for the faint hearted. Very graphic but a real page turner!
Profile Image for dee~.
293 reviews3 followers
June 24, 2023
I might come back to this series later, but for now I'm done. Unfortunately the editing isn't getting any better despite people mentioning it time and again.
Profile Image for Misfits farm.
2,083 reviews86 followers
May 16, 2016
Another brilliant book from the stable of Robin and DS Lasser. Lasser who has a trick or two up his sleeve from past experiences and his boss the acerbic Bannister.
Women are being attacked and this then becomes murder as the attacks get more violent. Then some men are thrown into the mix- why? The perpetrator becomes identified but keeps the detectives more than on their toes and why is a veteran and recently bereaved husband and father involved?
As always the pages keep on turning easily and you can’t wait to find out how/who/when/where why. Some of Lasser’s home life (or lack of) comes to light and the person he is off duty (when is he ever off duty I hear you ask?!). Humour, pathos, substantial characters, wonderful scenic descriptions and that magic flow keep this at an enjoyable pace.
This is my 5th Lasser (yes I read one out of synch when asked to review) and I will happily read the rest. Keep going Robin!
Profile Image for Tom Elder.
327 reviews7 followers
August 13, 2015
Robin Roughley.
Book 4.
TWISTED.
This is book 4 in the brilliant DS Lasser series.
I said book 3 was possibly the best book I've read this year well book 4 is right up there as well. Lasser and his boss DCI Brannigan are trying to find out who is responsible for carrying out a series of murders in the area, but they are being given the runaround by the the man. This is fast moving thriller that will keep your attention to the very end. Highly recommended read.
5* 13 August 2015.
Profile Image for Jackie Roche.
538 reviews19 followers
September 8, 2015
Every time I start a new book by Robin Roughley I say this can't be as good as the last one, but I'm always wrong. His books get better and better. They are positively addictive!
There are quite a few OMG I didn't expect that to happen moments in this.
As each book progresses we learn more about Lasser and his relationship with Medea.
I am already reading book 5 and intend to download the rest of the books in this series.
84 reviews3 followers
January 21, 2017
Fourth in series

Having read the previous three books I was looking forward to this one but was a bit disappointed. The plot was over complicated and not very plausible. Still like the characters and will try the next one, maybe some of the unanswered questions from this one will become clearer.
Profile Image for Rhonda Mayorga.
18 reviews2 followers
December 11, 2016
This one is aptly named and also filled with enough twists and turns to keep you guessing. A thoroughly entertaining read from start to finish! I enjoyed it and will definitely read more books written by this author.
195 reviews2 followers
January 8, 2017
Another tense tale with DS lasser going from to strength them many twists and turns you get dizzy reading this book I don't won't to give any spoilers but the death of one of the team came as a shock don't know how robin roughley does it but I seem to be getting addicted to this series
1 review
January 10, 2016
Intriguing Thriller

Great characters, very gritty and will leave you wanting more. I was surprised how good this book was considering it was free.
9 reviews1 follower
April 24, 2016
Curate's egg

I love the storytelling. I like the characters. The punctuation needs some work and that is the major weakness. It would put a lot of readers off.
Profile Image for Sarah.
934 reviews5 followers
gave-up-on
December 9, 2016
I think I just need to accept that I don't get on with the DS Lasser series. They don't do anything for me..
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews

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