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The Shadow Carver
Not yet published
Expected 12 Feb 26****
A killer who cuts straight to the bone …
A CHILLING MURDER
When a convicted killer is released and later found brutally murdered, DI Henley and the Serial Crimes Unit are pulled into a deadly investigation with links to other recent attacks – all the victims are connected by the vicious signature left behind by the killer.
A KILLER LURKS
Henley and her team begin to connect the dots between the killings, and realise the murders are part of something more sinister. Each victim has been chosen with a deadly precision, their deaths carved out with a shocking cruelty.
THE HUNT IS ON …
As the rampage continues and the stakes are raised with each new attack, the case spirals into a terrifying hunt for a killer who is always one step ahead. Can Henley and the SCU outsmart a monster before they strike again?
****
Praise for Nadine
‘A story that’s dark, tense, action-packed, and so, so clever’ Andrea Mara, number one Sunday Times bestselling author
‘Gruesome and gritty’ Liz Nugent, Sunday Times bestselling author
‘Matheson writes sharply [and] with a light, witty touch’ The Telegraph
A killer who cuts straight to the bone …
A CHILLING MURDER
When a convicted killer is released and later found brutally murdered, DI Henley and the Serial Crimes Unit are pulled into a deadly investigation with links to other recent attacks – all the victims are connected by the vicious signature left behind by the killer.
A KILLER LURKS
Henley and her team begin to connect the dots between the killings, and realise the murders are part of something more sinister. Each victim has been chosen with a deadly precision, their deaths carved out with a shocking cruelty.
THE HUNT IS ON …
As the rampage continues and the stakes are raised with each new attack, the case spirals into a terrifying hunt for a killer who is always one step ahead. Can Henley and the SCU outsmart a monster before they strike again?
****
Praise for Nadine
‘A story that’s dark, tense, action-packed, and so, so clever’ Andrea Mara, number one Sunday Times bestselling author
‘Gruesome and gritty’ Liz Nugent, Sunday Times bestselling author
‘Matheson writes sharply [and] with a light, witty touch’ The Telegraph
431 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication February 12, 2026
1 person is currently reading
37 people want to read
About the author
Nadine Matheson
15 books1,145 followersNadine Matheson lives in London. She began her working life at the BBC and now practices as a criminal defence lawyer. In 2016, she won the City University Crime Writing Competition and has a MA in Creative Writing.
Her crime fiction novel, The Jigsaw Man, was published by HQ in 2021. The Jigsaw Man has been sold in 15 territories to date and will be translated into 15 languages.
Praise For The Jigsaw Man
"Matheson has a keen instinct for keeping the pages turning." New York Times
"This modern and multilayered take on the high-octane thriller keeps the pages turning" Oprah Daily
‘The Jigsaw Man ranks amongst the very best debut thrillers – we’re talking top-ten territory here – I’ve read this past decade… It evokes, vibrantly and indelibly, a world I’ve never even glimpsed, much less entered – neither in literature nor in life… Matheson’s voice is exciting, urgent… and, now more than ever, vital’ A.J. Finn
*Shortlisted for the 2022 Diverse Book Award*
*Shortlisted for the Dead Good Reads Award- 'Cold as Ice Award for most Chilling Read
*A Crime Reads Most Anticipated Book of 2021*
*The Best Crime Novels To Read in 2022 - The Evening Standard
Nadine Matheson is also the host of 'The Conversation Podcast with Nadine Matheson'. Her third novel in the Detective Inspector Henley series, The Kill List, will be released in May 2024.
Nadine Matheson is represented by Oli Munson of A.M. Heath Literary Agents.
www.nadinematheson.com
Her crime fiction novel, The Jigsaw Man, was published by HQ in 2021. The Jigsaw Man has been sold in 15 territories to date and will be translated into 15 languages.
Praise For The Jigsaw Man
"Matheson has a keen instinct for keeping the pages turning." New York Times
"This modern and multilayered take on the high-octane thriller keeps the pages turning" Oprah Daily
‘The Jigsaw Man ranks amongst the very best debut thrillers – we’re talking top-ten territory here – I’ve read this past decade… It evokes, vibrantly and indelibly, a world I’ve never even glimpsed, much less entered – neither in literature nor in life… Matheson’s voice is exciting, urgent… and, now more than ever, vital’ A.J. Finn
*Shortlisted for the 2022 Diverse Book Award*
*Shortlisted for the Dead Good Reads Award- 'Cold as Ice Award for most Chilling Read
*A Crime Reads Most Anticipated Book of 2021*
*The Best Crime Novels To Read in 2022 - The Evening Standard
Nadine Matheson is also the host of 'The Conversation Podcast with Nadine Matheson'. Her third novel in the Detective Inspector Henley series, The Kill List, will be released in May 2024.
Nadine Matheson is represented by Oli Munson of A.M. Heath Literary Agents.
www.nadinematheson.com
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
December 31, 2025
A five star read to end 2025 on. What a brilliant series this is, so dark and unsettling, certainly not for the faint hearted but right up my alley. This is book 4 in the Angelica Henley police procedural series and it needs to be read in order. A big part of this series is the characters and their relationships and previous cases. You will miss a lot if you don’t read the rest of these incredible books.
Henley is back from her first holiday in ages and is thrown straight back into the deep end when a former collar is released from prison on a technicality. It soon turns into a murder investigation which becomes a serial crime case. It is brutal and violent, these killers are ruthless and sadistic, stopping at nothing to get their victims.
Throw in a. new team member ruffling feathers, a secret investigation and personal lives imploding and this is one hell of a story. The ending though……nooooooooo!! Nadine, we need book 5 already.
Publishes on my birthday, February 12th, you need to get on board with this series. I promise you will not be sorry. Thank you so much HQ for the early copy, it was an absolute blast to read it.
Henley is back from her first holiday in ages and is thrown straight back into the deep end when a former collar is released from prison on a technicality. It soon turns into a murder investigation which becomes a serial crime case. It is brutal and violent, these killers are ruthless and sadistic, stopping at nothing to get their victims.
Throw in a. new team member ruffling feathers, a secret investigation and personal lives imploding and this is one hell of a story. The ending though……nooooooooo!! Nadine, we need book 5 already.
Publishes on my birthday, February 12th, you need to get on board with this series. I promise you will not be sorry. Thank you so much HQ for the early copy, it was an absolute blast to read it.
January 3, 2026
And Nadine Matheson delivers once again. The Shadow Carver is packed with action, brilliant characters, and all the edge of your seat scenes you could wish for. It is a police themed thriller of the darkest order. So, so, good.
This is one of those books that makes you think whilst being totally, sometimes gruesomely, entertaining. The victims in this book are not your typical angelic, butter wouldn't melt kinds of citizens. In fact, whilst one might have viewed themself as an 'angel of mercy', it couldn't be further from the truth. But, even though the first victim is guaranteed to get your dander up, and after reading the opening chapter I had little doubt about their moral code, I still found myself with some sympathy towards them. After all bad things are still bad, even if they only happen to bad people. I love how Nadine Matheson has played on that in this book, addressing the challenges that Police face when investigating crimes against inherently bad people, especially as the case verges on the personal for Henley, a connection to one of the victims that leaves her in a very difficult position.
Nadine Matheson really brings the tension and the chills in her writing. The murders are vicious, the killers signature edging on the grotesque, meant to deliver the utmost pain to their victims. The author pulls together all the various aspects of an intense police investigation, whilst keeping the pacing tight and the detail just the right balance to feel authentic whilst propelling the action forward. The characters in this series are so well developed, and I like the way in which we get to see not just their professional lives, but the personal too, especially with Henley and DC Salim Ramouter.
I love the wider team too, particularly Pallacia, and the team's tech guru, Ezra, who has a really key part to play in the case. They all add to the light and shade of the book, and the sense of camaraderie and kinship really makes this a great team to spend time with. There is a new kid on the block this time around, DC Xania Copeland, who definitely manages to ruffle Henley's feathers. I'm not sure quite what I think of her yet. Tenacious and ambitious, yes, but sometimes at the cost of others. I'm intrigued to see where this leads, as it seems to be a real opportunity for conflict amongst the team.
A pacy, intense, pulse thumping and thought provoking read that had me completely hooked from its shocking start to the jeopardy laden conclusion. Fans of the series will not be disappointed, and after that ending, it's going to be a long and anxious wait for the next book in the series. Absolutely recommended.
This is one of those books that makes you think whilst being totally, sometimes gruesomely, entertaining. The victims in this book are not your typical angelic, butter wouldn't melt kinds of citizens. In fact, whilst one might have viewed themself as an 'angel of mercy', it couldn't be further from the truth. But, even though the first victim is guaranteed to get your dander up, and after reading the opening chapter I had little doubt about their moral code, I still found myself with some sympathy towards them. After all bad things are still bad, even if they only happen to bad people. I love how Nadine Matheson has played on that in this book, addressing the challenges that Police face when investigating crimes against inherently bad people, especially as the case verges on the personal for Henley, a connection to one of the victims that leaves her in a very difficult position.
Nadine Matheson really brings the tension and the chills in her writing. The murders are vicious, the killers signature edging on the grotesque, meant to deliver the utmost pain to their victims. The author pulls together all the various aspects of an intense police investigation, whilst keeping the pacing tight and the detail just the right balance to feel authentic whilst propelling the action forward. The characters in this series are so well developed, and I like the way in which we get to see not just their professional lives, but the personal too, especially with Henley and DC Salim Ramouter.
I love the wider team too, particularly Pallacia, and the team's tech guru, Ezra, who has a really key part to play in the case. They all add to the light and shade of the book, and the sense of camaraderie and kinship really makes this a great team to spend time with. There is a new kid on the block this time around, DC Xania Copeland, who definitely manages to ruffle Henley's feathers. I'm not sure quite what I think of her yet. Tenacious and ambitious, yes, but sometimes at the cost of others. I'm intrigued to see where this leads, as it seems to be a real opportunity for conflict amongst the team.
A pacy, intense, pulse thumping and thought provoking read that had me completely hooked from its shocking start to the jeopardy laden conclusion. Fans of the series will not be disappointed, and after that ending, it's going to be a long and anxious wait for the next book in the series. Absolutely recommended.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Shadow carver is book four in the Inspector Anjelica Henley series by Nadine Matheson.
When former nurse Sian Fox – Carnell is released on bail for am appeal on her case. The nurse killed some of the patients that where in her care. The SCU and Anjelica can’t believe that she has been released. But they are not the only ones as, a few days later she turns up dead. The unit is responsible to find the person or persons responsible. When other people who have been acquitted from the crimes in a similar fashion are dead the unit realises that someone out there are taking things into their own hands and finding them guilty and killing them.
This is another gritty thriller by the author. It’s dark and action packed and the deaths are quite gruesome. It is great hearing about the characters that we have got to know from the previous books. This episode like the others had me hooked from page one. I can’t wait to see what’s next in store for the team. 4 stars from me
When former nurse Sian Fox – Carnell is released on bail for am appeal on her case. The nurse killed some of the patients that where in her care. The SCU and Anjelica can’t believe that she has been released. But they are not the only ones as, a few days later she turns up dead. The unit is responsible to find the person or persons responsible. When other people who have been acquitted from the crimes in a similar fashion are dead the unit realises that someone out there are taking things into their own hands and finding them guilty and killing them.
This is another gritty thriller by the author. It’s dark and action packed and the deaths are quite gruesome. It is great hearing about the characters that we have got to know from the previous books. This episode like the others had me hooked from page one. I can’t wait to see what’s next in store for the team. 4 stars from me
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A decent police procedural but I felt that there wasn’t much jeopardy in it. There weren’t really any twists or misdirections which made it feel a bit formulaic. I haven’t read the previous books in the series which made it a bit difficult to get in to. I also found it a bit tricky to keep up with who was who on the police team even though there weren’t that many of them. A gruesome story that is well told, if a bit drawn out.
December 15, 2025
Nooooo it can’t just finish like that!!!
Brilliant book 4, this series just gets better and better.
Gripping, gory, great storyline, brillianty written - what more could you want.
This is a must read series and 10 🌟 from me - please hurry with number 5.
Brilliant book 4, this series just gets better and better.
Gripping, gory, great storyline, brillianty written - what more could you want.
This is a must read series and 10 🌟 from me - please hurry with number 5.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews