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Detective Somerset #3
The Killing Code
Don’t miss this brand-new, suspense-filled police procedural crime thriller, perfect for fans of Harlan Coben & David Baldacci. Pre-order now!THE POWERFUL ARE DYING ONE BY ONE
In the heart of Atlanta, a shadowy figure emerges, targeting the city's most powerful tech and healthcare billionaires, each with a dark past of unethical practices.
THE KILLER HAS A LIST
As bodies pile up, Detective Meredith Somerset is thrust into a high-stakes game of cat and mouse. Amidst the chaos, she grapples with her own personal demons, haunted by anonymous emails from her sister's abductor.
AND HE'S JUST GETTING STARTED
With the clock ticking and pressure mounting from both the media and the elite, Meredith must unravel a web of corruption, betrayal, and hidden agendas. As she delves deeper, she discovers that justice and vengeance may be intertwined in ways she never expected.
Readers LOVE Steve Frech!‘Great book! It had suspense, intrigue, action and so many twists and turns! I can’t wait for more!’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘An intriguing thriller that will keep you guessing… his best yet! Looking forward to the next installment… highly recommend!’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Had all the great elements you want in a detective book… Couldn’t put it down at all. Can’t wait for the next one.’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Wow!!! Marvelous.’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Prepare yourself for a totally immersive story that you won’t soon forget.’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘As well as the intrigue that begins on the very first page this book really tugs at the heartstrings… A great start to what I hope will be a really exciting series.’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Steve Frech does it again!… A gripping, chilling, intense, thrilling and absorbing story that I didn’t want to put down!’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Fast-paced… I can't stop thinking about the ending.’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Another great read by Steve Frech!… I could barely put this book down… There were so many twists and turns… I highly recommend this thrilling detective series to all fans of thrillers. You won't be disappointed!’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Awesome… I loved it very much.’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘A twisty road of lies, deception, and vengeance… One of the very best parts of Frech’s books are the characters. They are perfectly flawed and each fighting their own demons.’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
In the heart of Atlanta, a shadowy figure emerges, targeting the city's most powerful tech and healthcare billionaires, each with a dark past of unethical practices.
THE KILLER HAS A LIST
As bodies pile up, Detective Meredith Somerset is thrust into a high-stakes game of cat and mouse. Amidst the chaos, she grapples with her own personal demons, haunted by anonymous emails from her sister's abductor.
AND HE'S JUST GETTING STARTED
With the clock ticking and pressure mounting from both the media and the elite, Meredith must unravel a web of corruption, betrayal, and hidden agendas. As she delves deeper, she discovers that justice and vengeance may be intertwined in ways she never expected.
Readers LOVE Steve Frech!‘Great book! It had suspense, intrigue, action and so many twists and turns! I can’t wait for more!’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘An intriguing thriller that will keep you guessing… his best yet! Looking forward to the next installment… highly recommend!’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Had all the great elements you want in a detective book… Couldn’t put it down at all. Can’t wait for the next one.’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Wow!!! Marvelous.’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Prepare yourself for a totally immersive story that you won’t soon forget.’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘As well as the intrigue that begins on the very first page this book really tugs at the heartstrings… A great start to what I hope will be a really exciting series.’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Steve Frech does it again!… A gripping, chilling, intense, thrilling and absorbing story that I didn’t want to put down!’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Fast-paced… I can't stop thinking about the ending.’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Another great read by Steve Frech!… I could barely put this book down… There were so many twists and turns… I highly recommend this thrilling detective series to all fans of thrillers. You won't be disappointed!’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Awesome… I loved it very much.’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘A twisty road of lies, deception, and vengeance… One of the very best parts of Frech’s books are the characters. They are perfectly flawed and each fighting their own demons.’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
414 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 7, 2026
About the author
Steve Frech
13 books328 followersSteve Frech lives in Los Angeles. His best-selling thrillers, DARK HOLLOWS, NIGHTINGALE HOUSE, and DEADLY GAMES, are available in all e-book formats and paperback from HQ Stories & Harper Collins.
SECRETS TO THE GRAVE (Book 1 in the Detective Meredith Somerset series) is now available.
In addition to writing, he is the co-creator of 'Sports? with Jessimae Peluso' for Comedy Central.
He is phenomenal at bar trivia, enjoys cooking, and is a frustrated Chicago Bears fan.
SECRETS TO THE GRAVE (Book 1 in the Detective Meredith Somerset series) is now available.
In addition to writing, he is the co-creator of 'Sports? with Jessimae Peluso' for Comedy Central.
He is phenomenal at bar trivia, enjoys cooking, and is a frustrated Chicago Bears fan.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
May 8, 2026
Another fast paced, action packed story from Steve Frech!
This case was certainly unusual, but packed with lots of suspense and potential real life situations, like civil unrest and lack of confidence with the police.
I love the dynamic and banter between Meredith and Tyler and the humour from Tyler throughout.
As well as the new case, there is so much more going on. There is still the uncertainty around what happened to Meredith’s sister when they were young and also Tyler’s sister and the care she needs.
It was great to get back into those story lines and to see just what happens next.
So I definitely recommend this one, if you haven’t read the previous books I recommend them too, however you could read this as a stand alone, but would miss some of the backstory surrounding Meredith and Tyler.
This case was certainly unusual, but packed with lots of suspense and potential real life situations, like civil unrest and lack of confidence with the police.
I love the dynamic and banter between Meredith and Tyler and the humour from Tyler throughout.
As well as the new case, there is so much more going on. There is still the uncertainty around what happened to Meredith’s sister when they were young and also Tyler’s sister and the care she needs.
It was great to get back into those story lines and to see just what happens next.
So I definitely recommend this one, if you haven’t read the previous books I recommend them too, however you could read this as a stand alone, but would miss some of the backstory surrounding Meredith and Tyler.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
"𝐓𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐦𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥 𝐢𝐭 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐂𝐄𝐎 𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐬 𝐚 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐚 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐩𝐚𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐞𝐥𝐬𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐬𝐡*𝐭 𝐨𝐧...𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐦𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐝𝐫𝐨𝐩 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐚𝐥𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠."
THE KILLING CODE drops you straight into the heart of Atlanta, where a shadowy figure begins targeting the city’s most powerful tech and healthcare billionaires, each one carrying a past steeped in unethical choices. As the bodies stack up, Detective Meredith Somerset is pulled into a relentless game of cat and mouse, racing to uncover what connects these victims before the killer strikes again. At the same time, Meredith is barely holding herself together, haunted by the ongoing nightmare of anonymous emails tied to her long-missing sister’s abductor, a thread that continues to tighten with every book.
What made this one such a standout for me was the ripped-from-the-headlines energy pulsing through the plot. There’s something chillingly believable about the idea of corrupt powerhouses finally being forced to face consequences, and the story leans hard into that uncomfortable moral ambiguity. You’re left asking yourself where the line really is between justice and vengeance, and whether a killer with a “code” is still just a monster or something far more complicated. That constant unease gives the entire book a sharp, addictive edge.
This installment was everything I had hoped for. It was gripping and morally messy in the best way, with stakes that felt both personal and societal. Meredith remains such a compelling anchor, especially with the concurrent storyline of her sister’s disappearance building toward what feels like an inevitable explosion. Knowing this arc is only one book away from its end made everything here feel even more urgent. I’m not saying I’ve been gently bullying the author on social media to write faster, but if he sees this, please know that I'll be the Annie to your Paul. If you love thrillers that feel timely and intense, this series is an absolute win. Thank you to HQ/HQ Digital for the early copy. This one will release May 7, 2026.
THE KILLING CODE drops you straight into the heart of Atlanta, where a shadowy figure begins targeting the city’s most powerful tech and healthcare billionaires, each one carrying a past steeped in unethical choices. As the bodies stack up, Detective Meredith Somerset is pulled into a relentless game of cat and mouse, racing to uncover what connects these victims before the killer strikes again. At the same time, Meredith is barely holding herself together, haunted by the ongoing nightmare of anonymous emails tied to her long-missing sister’s abductor, a thread that continues to tighten with every book.
What made this one such a standout for me was the ripped-from-the-headlines energy pulsing through the plot. There’s something chillingly believable about the idea of corrupt powerhouses finally being forced to face consequences, and the story leans hard into that uncomfortable moral ambiguity. You’re left asking yourself where the line really is between justice and vengeance, and whether a killer with a “code” is still just a monster or something far more complicated. That constant unease gives the entire book a sharp, addictive edge.
This installment was everything I had hoped for. It was gripping and morally messy in the best way, with stakes that felt both personal and societal. Meredith remains such a compelling anchor, especially with the concurrent storyline of her sister’s disappearance building toward what feels like an inevitable explosion. Knowing this arc is only one book away from its end made everything here feel even more urgent. I’m not saying I’ve been gently bullying the author on social media to write faster, but if he sees this, please know that I'll be the Annie to your Paul. If you love thrillers that feel timely and intense, this series is an absolute win. Thank you to HQ/HQ Digital for the early copy. This one will release May 7, 2026.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is a brilliant crime thriller.
I’ve read the other books in the series, but this can be read as a standalone.
Meredith and Tyler are both at a friend’s wedding when they are called out to a crime scene. When they arrive they’re told the victim is high profile so the media will soon be all over this case.
Both Detectives know of this person but when they find out the method used to kill him, they realise they’re dealing with a sick individual.
Soon another high profile person is murdered and the pressure is on Meredith and Tyler to find the killer.
Both of them are also dealing with some challenges in their personal lives and it was good to see this side of their characters as well.
I really enjoyed this story and can’t wait to find out what the next book has in store.
Thanks to HQ for the opportunity to read this book.
I’ve read the other books in the series, but this can be read as a standalone.
Meredith and Tyler are both at a friend’s wedding when they are called out to a crime scene. When they arrive they’re told the victim is high profile so the media will soon be all over this case.
Both Detectives know of this person but when they find out the method used to kill him, they realise they’re dealing with a sick individual.
Soon another high profile person is murdered and the pressure is on Meredith and Tyler to find the killer.
Both of them are also dealing with some challenges in their personal lives and it was good to see this side of their characters as well.
I really enjoyed this story and can’t wait to find out what the next book has in store.
Thanks to HQ for the opportunity to read this book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The third in the Meredith Somerset series sees the Atlanta detective leading the hunt for a killer who targets the most powerful men in the city. The public soon get involved, many supporting his campaign of murdering those who have abused positions of power.
Somerset and the team track the shadowy figure, who seems to leave no evidence behind him after his well planned killings. But clues inevitably emerge and the hunt is on. But the case is complicated by the Mayor's involvement, intent on making himself the hero.
This is a good police procedural with some interesting characters. The use of social media and its impact on the case forms a good sub plot and the overall theme of the rich abusing power is topical.
Somerset and the team track the shadowy figure, who seems to leave no evidence behind him after his well planned killings. But clues inevitably emerge and the hunt is on. But the case is complicated by the Mayor's involvement, intent on making himself the hero.
This is a good police procedural with some interesting characters. The use of social media and its impact on the case forms a good sub plot and the overall theme of the rich abusing power is topical.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you, HQ for providing the copy of The Killing Code by Steve Frech. This is the third book in the Meredith/Tyler series, but can be read as a standalone. This book drew me in right away, with a shocking crime ripped from the headlines. I loved how public opinion was divided between people who thought the murderer was a hero and those who considered him the villain. I enjoyed the amount of Tyler and Meredith’s personal lives mixed in with the police work, just enough to get to know them better. As usual, Frech’s writing style kept me glued to the pages. 5 stars
May 17, 2026
Incredibly good
I have been anxiously waiting for this third book in the Detective Somerset series ever since I finished the first two. Meredith Somerset and her partner Tyler Foley are such great characters. The author has a very good balance between their personal lives and their work.
This story is so well done bringing today's political, social and ethical problems right into the story.
Please don't make me wait another four years for the next book.
I have been anxiously waiting for this third book in the Detective Somerset series ever since I finished the first two. Meredith Somerset and her partner Tyler Foley are such great characters. The author has a very good balance between their personal lives and their work.
This story is so well done bringing today's political, social and ethical problems right into the story.
Please don't make me wait another four years for the next book.
May 30, 2026
I really enjoyed both of the mysteries that were happening in The Killing Code. We have the first major case that Merideth and her partner are working on together, and another that is from Merideth's past.
I also think maybe things were a little too drawn out, but altogether the mysteries kept me on the edge of my seat, and I really enjoyed following Merideth and her partner as they dove into this crazy case.
I also think maybe things were a little too drawn out, but altogether the mysteries kept me on the edge of my seat, and I really enjoyed following Merideth and her partner as they dove into this crazy case.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I really loved this book. There were so many parallels to current news events, political unrest and cultural decay that it felt like this book was ripped from the headlines. Complex characters, gripping procedural crime solving and correlation to current events and you have a winner. 5 of 5 stars all day long!
May 20, 2026
What an amazing book loved it so easy to get lost into and relate with the characters, it made me cry and had me shocked can’t wait for more
May 22, 2026
Really enjoyed. A great addition to the series, can't wait for the next one!
June 18, 2026
Frech succeeds again in keeping the reader invested with a fast pace and characters that draw you into their lives both personal and professional. Really enjoy his writing style.
June 10, 2026
I am looking forward to the next one.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews