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First Act: A DI Kelly Porter prequel from the million-copy bestselling author
Old betrayals, new revenge…
It’s 2008, and London is a frenzy of activity as the capital demolishes and rebuilds ready to host the Olympics.
Detective Kelly Porter has landed her dream job in the Met’s Major Investigation Team – the murder squad.
Human remains are unearthed by a bulldozer. The corpse was laid recently enough to warrant investigation. Kelly does some digging of her own and is led to the Museum of Childhood.
But this is only the start. A fresh murder scene bearing a mutilated corpse soon follows. A legacy of horror and a killer determined to punish their victim awaits. They’re setting the stage for a grand finale.
Kelly’s choices will make her a spectator to the gruesome theatre, or even a puppet under the command of another, unless her instinct for the truth can get her one step ahead.
More than one million readers have become hooked on Rachel Lynch’s Detective Kelly Porter novels. Read the story that started it all.
PRAISE FOR FIRST ACT
‘A complex, pacy, thoughtful and deeply moving novel – this is the prequel of all prequels!’ Sheila Bugler
‘A fast-paced, ultra-creepy thriller with a great sense of place and relatable characters’ Catherine Cooper
‘There’s a darkness at the heart of First Act that feeds into our deepest insecurities, turning our fears inwards. I absolutely tore through it’ Marion Todd
‘A fiendish, fast-paced story. I loved it’ Sarah Ward
‘Beautifully written with some genuinely skin-creeping moment’ Daniel Sellers
FIVE STAR READER REVIEWS FOR FIRST ACT
‘This gripped me from the start… A fabulous 5 star prequel!’
‘Jaw dropping! Mind blowing! What an eye opener!’
‘Engrossing, full of twists and turns, fast paced, nail biting, page turning and unputdownable’
‘Enjoyable from the first to last page’
‘A strong introduction to Kelly Porter’s early years and a gripping read in its own right. Clever, tense and engaging’
‘A thoroughly enjoyable novel, plotted with Lynch's usual expert skill’
Mind blowing, a masterclass in suspense and gripping. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it since I sped through all of the chapters!’
‘The tension is thick, the atmosphere ominous, and the twists are genuinely shocking and the ending had my jaw on the floor! 10/10’
‘A wonderful story that deserves all the stars’
‘What an absolute treat to get a look at Kelly’s past life … lots of twists, turns and some shocking character revelations, too’
It’s 2008, and London is a frenzy of activity as the capital demolishes and rebuilds ready to host the Olympics.
Detective Kelly Porter has landed her dream job in the Met’s Major Investigation Team – the murder squad.
Human remains are unearthed by a bulldozer. The corpse was laid recently enough to warrant investigation. Kelly does some digging of her own and is led to the Museum of Childhood.
But this is only the start. A fresh murder scene bearing a mutilated corpse soon follows. A legacy of horror and a killer determined to punish their victim awaits. They’re setting the stage for a grand finale.
Kelly’s choices will make her a spectator to the gruesome theatre, or even a puppet under the command of another, unless her instinct for the truth can get her one step ahead.
More than one million readers have become hooked on Rachel Lynch’s Detective Kelly Porter novels. Read the story that started it all.
PRAISE FOR FIRST ACT
‘A complex, pacy, thoughtful and deeply moving novel – this is the prequel of all prequels!’ Sheila Bugler
‘A fast-paced, ultra-creepy thriller with a great sense of place and relatable characters’ Catherine Cooper
‘There’s a darkness at the heart of First Act that feeds into our deepest insecurities, turning our fears inwards. I absolutely tore through it’ Marion Todd
‘A fiendish, fast-paced story. I loved it’ Sarah Ward
‘Beautifully written with some genuinely skin-creeping moment’ Daniel Sellers
FIVE STAR READER REVIEWS FOR FIRST ACT
‘This gripped me from the start… A fabulous 5 star prequel!’
‘Jaw dropping! Mind blowing! What an eye opener!’
‘Engrossing, full of twists and turns, fast paced, nail biting, page turning and unputdownable’
‘Enjoyable from the first to last page’
‘A strong introduction to Kelly Porter’s early years and a gripping read in its own right. Clever, tense and engaging’
‘A thoroughly enjoyable novel, plotted with Lynch's usual expert skill’
Mind blowing, a masterclass in suspense and gripping. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it since I sped through all of the chapters!’
‘The tension is thick, the atmosphere ominous, and the twists are genuinely shocking and the ending had my jaw on the floor! 10/10’
‘A wonderful story that deserves all the stars’
‘What an absolute treat to get a look at Kelly’s past life … lots of twists, turns and some shocking character revelations, too’
362 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 29, 2026
About the author
Rachel Lynch
75 books453 followersRachel Lynch grew up in Cumbria and the lakes and fells are never far away from her. London pulled her away to teach History and marry an Army Officer, whom she followed around the globe for thirteen years.
A change of career after children led to personal training and sports therapy, but writing was always the overwhelming force driving the future. The human capacity for compassion as well as its descent into the brutal and murky world of crime are fundamental to her work.
A change of career after children led to personal training and sports therapy, but writing was always the overwhelming force driving the future. The human capacity for compassion as well as its descent into the brutal and murky world of crime are fundamental to her work.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
February 17, 2026
Best prequel I've read!
The DI Kelly Porter books are some of the best, but this book brings the whole series together. An insight into her life, the things that took her on her journey. Unputdownable, well paced and a few unexpected turns, it all comes together into a brilliant book.
The DI Kelly Porter books are some of the best, but this book brings the whole series together. An insight into her life, the things that took her on her journey. Unputdownable, well paced and a few unexpected turns, it all comes together into a brilliant book.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This was a prequel to the DI Kelly Porter series and an introduction to her character.
I felt the first part of the book started slower than I like my detective books, but it did pick up in the second half with a good few plot twists.
I enjoyed the partnership between Kelly and Seb would be interesting to see if that is her partner in the rest of the books because they made a good duo.
Overall I enjoyed reading this one and liked the twists, especially the one I never saw coming.
I felt the first part of the book started slower than I like my detective books, but it did pick up in the second half with a good few plot twists.
I enjoyed the partnership between Kelly and Seb would be interesting to see if that is her partner in the rest of the books because they made a good duo.
Overall I enjoyed reading this one and liked the twists, especially the one I never saw coming.
September 19, 2026
A beautiful insight into Kelly Porters early days working in London. A masterful case with the usual twists you expect from the phenomenal Rachel Lynch.
September 26, 2026
Deliciously, intriguing tale of depravity from the past and a great insight into Porter’s earlier career.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews