Open to Death: A DI Rena Hunt Mystery

by Sophie Mattis

Home was supposed to be the safest place…

In the small picturesque town of Rucklesby, peace is shattered when a young woman is found brutally murdered in her home. Detective Inspector Serena “Rena” Hunt is called to the scene, still haunted by her last case and questioning her instincts.

The victim, Sicily Avery—a wife and mother—has been stabbed through the heart with chilling precision. When another woman is killed in the same gruesome way, Rena realises a calculated murderer is on the loose, leaving cryptic notes on the victims as part of a twisted agenda.

With the body count rising, Rena and her team race to stop the killer before they strike again. Tensions mount with the arrival of new forensic pathologist Dr. Lucas Mann—bringing both friction and unexpected chemistry—as they work together to outwit a murderer who always seems one step ahead.

Open to Death intricately combines themes of murder, betrayal, and the unyielding quest for justice, all while subtly developing a slow-burn romance.


REVIEWS FOR OPEN TO DEATH

“If you like thrillers that whisper before they scream, Open to Death belongs on your shelf.”

“A detective who’s battling grief, gut instinct, and a killer who won’t quit? That’s where Open to Death stands apart. If you like your mysteries smart, tense, and just a little unhinged - this one’s for you.”

“Classic police procedure? Check. Psychological twist? Absolutely.

Genres: Mystery

298 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 16, 2025

About the author

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Sophie Mattis is a British mystery novelist who enjoys crafting suspenseful tales set in the English countryside. Blending intricate plot twists and vividly drawn characters, she delves into the hidden facets of modern life, often focusing on the intersections between family, relationships, and the human psyche.

When she’s not writing, she enjoys travelling, cycling in the woods, and exploring England’s hidden treasures.

Reviews

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

I truly enjoyed Book 1 of this series with DI Rena Hunt, a determined investigator with grit, wit, and just the right amount of vulnerability to make her both relatable and compelling. I loved following the murd3r investigation with her, but it was also nice to dive into her personal life into her complex family dynamics.

The mystery itself is layered with twists that keep you turning pages, as the story immediately dives into a complicated investigation when a young mother is found dead. When a second young lady is found, Rena’s world is shook as she feels she has the weight of the world on her shoulders & determined to solve these cases.

Overall a great read and if you enjoy mysteries with suspenseful tones that keep you guessing, with a strong female lead, this one’s perfect. I’m excited to read book 2! Thank you Sophie Mathis for an advanced reader copy. #LiteraryInspiredARCs

[Vicki · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a suspenseful and mid paced mystery that kept me turning the pages wanting to know who the killer was.
Detective Rena Hunt is a strong and relatable lead, and I enjoyed seeing both her determination and her personal struggles come through in the story.
The murders were creepy, and the cryptic notes added a clever twist that kept me guessing until the end. I definitely guessed wrong!
While the romance could have been a bit stronger, the tension, atmosphere, and character development were excellent.
A solid 3.5 stars
I'm definitely looking forward to seeing where the next book takes Rena and her team.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Open to death by Sophie Mattis

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ stars


This book follows DI Rena Hunt who is called to investigate the murder of a woman who was stabbed in the heart in front of her 10 month old daughter.

I really loved the main character Rena, she was a strong main character but we get to know her vulnerable side as we learn her tragic back story and I enjoyed this aspect of her character and her family dynamics.

This was a real page turner, I read it in three sittings as I couldn’t put it down and it kept you gripped with so many suspects and motives and really getting to know the victims.

I would have liked to have learnt a bit more about the rest of the team especially Jack who is Rena’s partner as I think that he could be a great character but we learnt nothing about them. I’m hoping that this is a series so that we can get to know them better in future books.

This was a great first book in a series and I will be picking up whatever Sophie brings out next as her writing style is just so easy to read . I would highly recommend.

Thank you to @sophiemattisbooks for gifting me a free copy of this book and @hyggebooktours for letting me be a part of this

[Charlie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book - ‘Open To Death’ I’ve read by Sophie Mattis. 📖
The story started with a mum, Sicily, who went on to do her usual housework while looking after her 10 month old daughter. She got killed in the kitchen in front of her daughter in the town of Rucklesby… 😩 That’s how DI Rena Hunt came on the scene to investigate the case and Melody (Sicily’s babysitter) was killed in same way as Sicily few days later. 🔪
Rena kept finding suspects with motives to kill both Sicily and her babysitter, Melody which kept me guessing but the ending… wow, that was unexpected!! I never thought that this person was behind all this!! 🤯

Sophie, please write more books about DI Rena Hunt and make this into series! 😍📚 And I would love to know what will happen with Rena and the forensic pathologist, Lucas Mann - would they hook up?! 🤪🫢

Thank you to Net Gallery for letting me read this ARC in exchange for my honest review. 📱♥️

✨ Pub date - 16th September 2025 ✨

[Roz Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was full of twists and turns. Every time I thought I had it figured out, something else happened. I enjoyed the story and liked how it all tied up in the end.


I really liked Rena and her team and the relationship between them all. The romance between Rena and Lucas was also a nice touch.


I thought this was well written and I was invested from the start. The author created a great backdrop to the main story and everyone was a suspect! I am definitely going to keep up with the series as it has everything I like, police procedural,  relationships, crimes to solve and lot of shady goings on!


Huge thanks to the author and Hygge Book Tours for providing a copy of the book to review. 

[SkyeWake · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 rounded up to 3. An OK read, nice enough detectives and story but nothing exciting about any of it. Quite a few missing words in places and too much description in others - we don’t need to know what Rena is wearing twice in the same day for example. Also it felt skewed to an American market despite being set in a fictional English county.

[Karolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here is my review for Open To Death by Sophie Mattis

I absolutely loved this crime mystery with DI Rena Hunt tackling a case where a young mum is horribly stabbed in her home, then a few days later another young woman is found stabbed in the same way. Rena finds her and her team have a calculated murderer on their hands and a new forensic pathologist to deal with as well but he seems happy to work with them. This is a superb police procedural thriller that kept me hooked from start to finish and I just couldn’t put the book down, I had to know what happened next. I liked the way the author set the scene and her writing was so clear and concise. It was terrific descriptive writing with everything described in detail. The story was brilliantly written with a superb plot that kept me guessing all the way through. The characters were well described, written with realism and seemed to come to life on the page. I felt like I could visualise this story as I was reading it and it made it so much more enjoyable for me. The synopsis drew me to read this book as it’s full of details that drew me in and I most certainly wasn’t disappointed with the story. This is the first book in the series which I’m pleased to say has hit my radar and I look forward to reading the instalment of this series. Also, I look forward to reading other books by this author.

Blurb :

Home was supposed to be the safest place…

In the small picturesque town of Rucklesby, peace is shattered when a young woman is found brutally murdered in her home. Detective Inspector Serena “Rena” Hunt is called to the scene, still haunted by her last case and questioning her instincts.

The victim, Sicily Avery—a wife and mother—has been stabbed through the heart with chilling precision. When another woman is killed in the same gruesome way, Rena realises a calculated murderer is on the loose, leaving cryptic notes on the victims as part of a twisted agenda.

With the body count rising, Rena and her team race to stop the killer before they strike again. Tensions mount with the arrival of new forensic pathologist Dr. Lucas Mann—bringing both friction and unexpected chemistry—as they work together to outwit a murderer who always seems one step ahead.

Open to Death intricately combines themes of murder, betrayal, and the unyielding quest for justice, all while subtly developing a slow-burn romance.

[Meg Pearson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Home was supposed to be the safest place… but in Rucklesby, a quiet English town, that illusion is shattered when wife and mother Sicily Avery is found stabbed through the heart in her own home. DI Serena “Rena” Hunt takes the lead on the investigation, still carrying the weight of her last case. When another woman is killed in the same way, it becomes clear a calculated murderer is on the loose—leaving cryptic notes as part of a chilling agenda.

Sophie Mattis delivers a strong start to this new detective series. The plot is layered with suspects, secrets, and betrayals, and I appreciated the mix of police procedural detail with a more psychological undercurrent. The prologue pulls you in immediately, and the tension remains steady throughout. I also enjoyed the dynamic between Rena and her team, especially with new forensic pathologist Dr. Lucas Mann, whose friction and chemistry with Rena adds an intriguing dimension to the story.

Rena Hunt herself is a compelling lead—sharp, determined, but also haunted and vulnerable, which makes her both relatable and unpredictable. The setting of Rucklesby is vividly drawn, its picturesque charm contrasting sharply with the brutality of the crimes.

The mystery kept me engaged, with plenty of red herrings and an ending I did not fully see coming. At times the pacing slowed slightly with character background, but this feels intentional as the groundwork for a longer-running series.

Open to Death is a promising debut for DI Rena Hunt, balancing suspense, character depth, and a touch of slow-burn romance. I look forward to following Rena in future installments and seeing how both she and her world continue to develop.

Thank you to Sophie Mattis, Victory Editing, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Sian Morant · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a new author for me and the start of a new series featuring Detective Inspector Rena Hunt.
This book was quite a quick read, which I enjoyed. There is, however, a lot of supplementary information on characters that are destined to appear in later books in the series, plus their backstories.

Rena Hunt is ok as a protagonist, and I liked the working relationship she has with her partner, Detective Sergeant Jack Orly. The story centres on the brutal murder of Sicily Avery, who is found brutally stabbed in front of her unharmed baby daughter. It soon becomes clear that Sicily’s outward show of an ordinary wife and mother is not at all correct. She actually was leading a very complicated life. Unfortunately, before the detectives can unpick this, there is a second murder which has links to Sicily, and the race is on to outwit and catch a determined murderer.

I liked the intriguing story, even though I had reservations about the perpetrator as soon as they were introduced. There are many characters and suspects, perhaps a couple too many. This is especially true as the personal stories of some of the characters seem to be interspersed with the story a bit too often. Hopefully, this will be resolved in later books in the series. I also found the descriptions of the possible romantic lead, Lucas Mann, a little immature. My only other reservation was the fictional town and county names, as I couldn’t see the reason for them.
3.5 stars rounded up.
Sincere thanks to NetGalley, Sophie Mattis and especially to Victory Editing for the much-appreciated ARC in exchange for an open and honest review.

[Veronika Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It was a quick read, but with plenty of information and initial back story about the characters, particularly DI Rena Hunt, who is going to be our strong female lead going forwards. This is book one in a new series.

Rena is a great protagonist, and I also really like her sidekick Jack Orly, I even like his name. Unlike our first victim Sicily Avery – is anyone really called Sicily? What were her parents thinking? Then a second woman is killed in the same way, but I can’t say who as that would give it away.

The story becomes more and more complicated as new characters and suspects are introduced, and they all seem to be left-handed (statistically unlikely), which is what our attractive pathologist Lucas Mann believes about the killer, looking at the angle of the knife wounds. The stabbings are particularly gruesome, though I’m not sure why, having read far worse, but there is something so visceral and direct about them, delivered at such close quarters. This just didn’t seem like random killings.

I used to belong to an online book club, which was like a buddy read, but we all read the same section of a book at the same time, and crime fiction was our favourite, as we could all play amateur detective and try and work out who dunnit. We often got it hopelessly wrong. Open To Death would have been perfect. Not just who the killer is, but finding a link between the victims and a motive.

My only reservation is the made up county and towns, as usually it’s a fictional town or village, but I don’t think I’ve ever come across a fictional county in a book before, at least not in a crime novel.

However, as this is the first in the series, I think it will get better and better and hopefully a romance will blossom between Rena and Lucas.

Many thanks to Hygge Book Tours for inviting me to be part of the #blogtour

[Shree G · Rating 3 out of 5]

Open to Death starts with a sensational murder, which leads Detective Inspector Serena (Rena) Hunt to begin investigating the case. The book was slow-burning, as is the case with cozy mysteries. However, the plot development was sandwiched between the daily goings-on in the characters' lives, and the amount of time dedicated to it made many parts difficult to digest owing to the constant digression.

I thank NetGalley for allowing me to review this ARC prior to publishing. I found the cover really interesting, as well as the description. The book somehow disappoints. I cannot pinpoint the exact reasons, but it appears to be too many. Too many characters, too many digressions, and too many loose ends. The sleuthing was too predictable, and the protagonist was made to appear more like a superhero, when in reality the deduction and unravelling of the mystery was too easy for veteran readers of the crime/mystery/thriller genre.

I really wish the story was more tightly knit. The first chapter was excellent, but then the book became increasingly cumbersome as the pages turned. I did love the beautiful descriptions of the countryside, and the author painted a beautiful setting where some ghastly events occurred.

[Leanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sophie Mattis paints a haunting picture of rural England in Open to Death, where the warmth of home is upended by a series of brutal murders. DI Rena Hunt is a striking lead—haunted yet sharp, navigating grief and instinct as she unravels a killer’s twisted motives. Each victim is pierced with calculated cruelty, each scene eerily intimate. It’s a thriller that whispers before it screams.

What sets this apart is the simmering tension between Hunt and forensic pathologist Dr. Lucas Mann. Their uneasy alliance adds depth—and a flicker of slow-burn spark—to the already taut atmosphere. Rucklesby itself feels vividly alive: picturesque, yes, but edged with shadows that stretch further than expected.

Mattis writes with precision and emotional intelligence. The pacing allows room for suspense to settle into the bones before ramping toward its conclusion, and the result is a debut that’s equal parts clever and unsettling.

Perfect for fans of classic police procedurals with a psychological twist, and for anyone who enjoys their mysteries layered with human complexity.

Thank you to Sophie Mattis, the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm reviewing this as part of a tour with Hygge Book Tours.

This is a DI Rena Hunt mystery, and we meet our main character, Serena “Rena” Hunt, who is called upon to investigate the murder of Sicily, a young wife and mother. I'm a big reader of crime and mystery, but this was the first police procedural I'd read in a while, and it suited my reading mood perfectly. I took a liking to Rena and wanted to know more about her, and I liked Jack too.

I found that in general, the book felt a little bit cosier than I expected, maybe due to the small town setting. That was something that worked well for me though, as I like cosy mysteries. When it came to solving the case, there were some characters that I initially felt couldn't be trusted, and I wondered if my opinion might change later on. I found this quite an easy read, and it was an entertaining mystery that kept me guessing.

Thank you to Hygge Book Tours, and to the author and publisher, for the opportunity to read and review this.

[bichwithwifi · Rating 4 out of 5]

When the safest place becomes a crime scene, who can you trust?
Two women are dead, identical notes left behind, and a detective haunted by her past is running out of time.

I loved getting back into a crime fiction again after being knee deep in some hockey romance. Sophie Mattis did a fantastic job keeping me engaged, guessing, wanting more! This is my first book by this author and so far, she's done a good job keeping me engaged.

Rena Kent was a character we all can relate to at some level and her relationship with Jack, Dr. Mann, and her other colleagues, but I'd like to see more of who they are. We barely touch on their backstories but hopefully, in the books to come, we'll see more of it.

Tropes You’ll Find Inside:
Female Detective
Small Town Mystery
Multiple Suspects
Hidden Past
Medical Thriller
Vengeful Murderer

Thanks to @sophiemattisbooks and @literaryinspired for the ARC!! I can't wait to see what the next installments have to offer!

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I voluntarily reviewed "OPEN TO DEATH"
This was interesting, intriguing, creepy murder mystery with crazy twists, tension, fear, grief, betrayal, crptic notes, steam, you'll be turning the pages.
Detective Rena Hunt is called to a murder scene which was gruesome, Sicily Avery a wife & mother of 10 mo. old baby girl had been stabbed the same way as her babysitter Melody a few days earlier.
Lucas Mann new forensic pathologist arrives on scene to check out stab wounds which are quite gruesome it didn't seem like a random killing, looking for links between the murders & why it happened.
Rena Hunt & Dr. Luca Mann had chemistry they were fighting wanting to find the crazy killer before he strikes again.
Will things develope between Rena & Luca will they figure out who the killer is & why the murders happened, maybe in the next book things will happen between them my first read by this author & I thoroughly enjoyed it.

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

DI Rena Hunt is called to a gruesome, seemingly senseless murder of a woman in her home.
Soon, there is another murder, with the same MO, and Rena has to find the link between the victims and the murderer.

I love a female lead, a strong female character, and Rena is definitely a strong person.
She has a sad background, and I am sure this is why she took a path in life that will help her solve crimes of the past as well.

I noticed that the murders were solved with gut feelings, more than evidence found, which is quite unusual, in my opinion. There were many suspects.
However, I found this a little slow, but intriguing. I would like to read the next book in the series. Rena is headstrong and brave, and should perhaps realise that police work in teams, rather than going into situations alone.

[Lynsey Spedding · Rating 3 out of 5]

Open to Death begins with a shocking murder that DI Rena Hunt is determined to solve. I liked Rena as a strong, complex lead whose past adds depth to her character. The setting was beautifully described, especially the countryside, which contrasted well with the darker events.

That said, the pacing felt slow at times, with too many digressions and reliance on instinct rather than solid evidence. The investigation occasionally came across as predictable, and Rena’s headstrong tendency to work alone made her seem more like a lone superhero than a team player.

Overall, it was intriguing enough to keep me reading, though I wished the story was more tightly focused. Still, I’d be interested in seeing how Rena develops in the next book.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publishers for the ARC in exchange for a honest review.

[Tami Wylie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was drawn straight into this book from the very beginning. The opening showed me to the core and kept me riveted the whole time. The setting of a small, sleepy town where everyone feels safe until the murder of a young Mom was a great choice as it added to the atmosphere of the story. DI Rena Hunt is at the centre of the investigation into the murder. She is a great main character; tough, strong and thorough. Yet she is also vulnerable and haunted by her past. There were lots of twists in the form of the cryptic notes left at the scene of the killings. I couldn’t work this one out so the ending was a complete surprise. The book moved along and a steady pace that kept me eager to turn the pages. On the whole, this book is a mix of suspense, crime and excellent storytelling. I’m so glad this book is part of a series.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a gut wrenching police procedural at it's finest- a brutal murder at the very start followed by twists and turns and it showed the sheer intellect and tenacity of Rena who, even though the killer managed to allude her at the start she used her gut instincts as well as her police training and experience to find the killer and stop the murders once and for all.
It was sad regarding the two victims however Rena didn't give up until she had justice for their awful murders- both of which could have been avoided.
The plot was strong, the characters all added perfectly to the story and the setting matched well with the foreboding atmosphere for this thriller book. I look forward to reading more books in this series.
Thankyou to Netgalley and the publisher for an arc of this book.

[Nicola Richardson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first in a new series so there was a bit of getting to know the characters needed, but in places it felt repetitive and in others not enough. Rena obviously has sadness in her past, but we never really got the full circumstances behind that, so presumably that will develop in future books. The book starts with the death of Sicily Avery, murdered in front of her baby daughter, and the investigation has hardly begun when the next victim is murdered, someone with close links to Sicily. I found the investigation parts pretty basic, with lots of emphasis on gut instincts.
I would read a follow up in this series to see how it develops the regular characters and to see if the investigations go deeper.

[Joanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars for me. Detective Inspector Rena Hunt have a murder case to resolve. Sicily Avery was stabbed in the heart, with a note left ,and Rena must resolve it before killer strike's again. It's not easy when investigation shows that Sicily Avery was not so perfect mother and wife,she had quite few secrets and list of suspects are growing.

Will there be another body?
Will Rena get the killer before someone else end up dead?

It was nice and quick mystery read, I was expecting little more in the investigation questions and tension ,but it's first book in the series and I still think it was good. I hope to read author other further work.
I really want to find out what happened with Rena sister.

Thank you author for arc.

[Cathryn Melani (cat.inspired) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. It was told, mainly from the POV of DI Rena Hunt, but also a few chapters from the killers POV.

I also liked that there seems to be a tragic backstory to our FMCs life, which I'm wondering whether it will pop up in another book.

The book follows Rena as she seeks to find a murderer, and interestingly its one of those mysteries that is difficult to guess the outcome as the culprit is a sudden reveal with the next few chapters explaining the way. This is a good book for those of us who usually get frustrated when they guess the killer at the starg. Definitely none of that here.

I liked the characters in this. And hints of romance to come maybe?

Overall, this was an interesting read, and a great start to a new series. One I'm excited to follow.

Thanks to Hygge Book Tours for my gifted copy. All thoughts are my own.

[Fleur · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this first book in the series that follows DI Rena and her team work a case that slowly gets more complex and the suspect pool expands. Trying to work out the connection and why was fun and seeing Rena pull the threads apart to find the answers was a great way to get to know her and oh my gosh I never would have guest due to the great wrists!
I can't wait for the next book not only for what the case will be but so I can get to know Rena and those around her more and see if things will change with her family.

[Staceywh_17 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Open to Death is the first I've read from Mattis, and it's also the first in what appears to be a promising new series featuring DI Rena Hunt.

It flowed at a great pace and the plot was engaging. I guessed, guessed, and guessed again as to who the killer was...AND I STILL GOT IT WRONG!!

I can't wait to get to know Rena more in future books. I thought she was a great female lead...strong, determined and so likeable too...and she wasn't without her own problems in life either, making her character more relatable and real.

A suspenseful and satisfying rea

[Alyce Gibson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and the the author, Sophie Mattis for the opportunity to read this eARC. This is the first book featuring DI Rena Hunt and I really hope this will become a series.

DI Hunt is called in to investigate the murder of a mum in her own home, and in front of her child. Soon a second murder in the same manner rocks the community. Excellent storytelling and skillful weaving of the plot. Like most first books, there's lots of detail necessary to flesh out Rena, her background, team dynamics and her world. It's all well done. I highly recommend this book. 4 out of 5 stars.

[Martha Brindley · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book in a new series opens with a bang but the pace soon slowed with the introduction of too many characters. It quickly became a bit repetitive, which took away from the plotline but there is plenty of room for improvement in a follow up. I like DI Hunt and I would be curious to see how her character develops in the next book, which I would definitely like to read. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

[Christina Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Open to Death is the first in a new series about DI Rena Hunt set in the glorious english countryside.
It starts off with a brutal murder closely followed by another. We are introduced to Rena and her team as they try to solve the case.
Rena seems to be a bit of a lone wolf character (another one) who races into danger but I’ll see how the series progresses.
I did finish the book and will read the next one.
#NetGalley #OpenToDeath #SophieMatlis #DIRenaHart

[Donna Morfett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rena Hunt gets called to a horrific murder. A young mum is brutally murdered in front of her baby daughter. The couples nanny is then murdered the same way a few days later.
Rena knows she has to find this killer quickly. She has issues of her own in the background.
I liked Rena and I liked her team. I hope there is more to come from them.
The story was really engaging and I read it quickly wanting to know who the killer was. It had a great ending and I never guessed who the killer was.

[Claire Ball · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this! I liked the plot and thought it was well thought out and well paced. I’m not usually a romance fan but I did enjoy reading the growing relationship between Rena and Lucas. I thought the notes were a good inclusion and I did try to piece them together with little success. This book is perfect for anyone who loves a mystery which is difficult to work out and I thoroughly recommend it!

[Jade Potter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review:

So I've not long finished Open to Death and honestly, it was a pretty good read, and highly recommended. The detective’s flawed but in a relatable way, the mystery kept me sitting on the edge of my chair and turning pages frantically to see what happened next, and the glimpse of small town drama gave us some extra juciness.
Definitely the kind of book you need to breeze through a busy weekday/weekend.