The Domino Man: A Kendall Institute Cold Case

by Helen Jones

‘A brilliantly fresh take on a cold case mystery. I adored the characters, the wit and the specificity of the work . . . An extremely accomplished debut’ Holly Seddon
‘[A] fresh new voice in crime fiction . . . . Procedural fans will love this confident and assured debut’ Jane Casey
'A complex and gritty debut’ Vaseem Khan

Cardiff, 1972:
A series of killings holds the city in fear. Six bodies have been discovered, posed, around the city – and each corpse consists of a decapitated body with a different head sewn on.
Only one body has never been identified and has become known as The Domino Man.
The case is never solved.

Cardiff, 2022:
The Kendall Institute is responsible for looking into cold cases when the police cannot afford the time or the money to investigate. Founded by Wales scrum half Wyn Davies, the team comprises forensic scientist Lydia Beynon; ex-Gwent Constabulary Dave Hopkins; and the digital team of twins Ariadne and Osian Thomas.

Anna Edwards, their newest recruit, arrives as the Domino Man case is re-opened. Anna is starting her life afresh, having escaped from a coercively controlling husband.

As the Domino Man case unfurls in all its intriguing psychological complexity, Anna is at the heart of the investigation, helping her new colleagues to piece together the clues and solve the most challenging and satisfying brainteaser of a crime. But all the while her past is coming to catch up with her . . .

Kindle Edition

Expected publication January 14, 2027

About the author

Hi, I’m Helen!

I’m a Welsh author of crime fiction and psychological thrillers, although I also dabble in flash fiction and somewhat obscure poetry. Born and raised in South Wales, I studied Astrophysics at Cardiff University before moving to Devon to work at the Met Office. I enjoyed writing stories as a child, but it was only after taking a career break from my job as a Project and Programme Manager in 2019 that I began writing fiction as an adult. I now write full time, and live in Gloucestershire with my husband and our very cute, but slightly chaotic cavapoo.

My debut novel, The Domino Man, will be published on 14 January 2027.

Reviews

[Ceecee · Rating 4 out of 5]

4-5 stars

The Kendall Institute in Cardiff Bay, is set up by Wyn Davies to investigate cold cases and find missing people and it’s Anna Edwards first day as project manager. She’s stepping into a difficult cold case from 1972 when six bodies are found in and around Cardiff. It’s a very dark series of murders and the team of six will utilise their varied skills to try to uncover the mystery of the identity of perpetrator known as The Domino Man.

What an excellent debut and I can’t wait to read the follow-up! The author effortlessly pulls me into the storytelling and keeps me engaged throughout the novel. The characters at Kendall Institute are fantastic, they are so well portrayed and credible and all very likeable especially the twins Osian and Ri (Ariadne) who are both switched on and funny with great dialogue between them. The central character of Anna, from whose perspective the novel is written, has quite the backstory but there’s a perfect balance between the cold case and her issues. The novel ends on quite a cliffhanger with things in her life that she believes she has dealt with, are going to continue to be problematic. At least now she has a very good backup team in her colleagues and friends at work.

The cold case makes for fascinating reading. I so enjoy the way the team unravel the evidence and it feels very authentic and believable. Taking a case as far back as 1972 presents great difficulties forensically but with modern technology, a team with many skills and Anna‘s gifts combining the sift out the truth.

The book is very well written, the plot goes in different directions which keeps me interested, it’s tense at times and has good twists. Aspects of the storyline are dark but are handled well. It’s an impressive debut and one I can recommend fans of the genre.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Simon and Schuster for the much appreciated early copy in return for an honest review.

Publishing in the U.K. on 13th April 2027

[Louise Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cardiff, 1972: A series of killings hold the city in fear. Six bodies have been discovered, posed, around the city - and each corpse consists of a decapitated body with a different head sewn on. Only one body has never been identified and has become known as the Domino Man. The case was never solved.

Cardiff, 2022: The Kendall Institute is responsible for looking into cold cases when the police cannot afford the time or the money to investigate. Founded by Wales scrum half Wyn Davies, the team comprises forensic scientist Lydia Beynon; ex-Gwent Constabulary Dave Hopkins; and the digital team of twins Ariadane and Osian Thomas.

Anna Edwards, their newest recruit, arrives as the Domino Man case re-opened. Anna is starting her life afresh, having escaped from a coercively controlling husband.

This story covers: coercive control, domestic abuse, and it's about a case in 1972 about someone they named the Domino Man, who decapitated six bodies, then restitched a different head onto the body. Only one person was ever identified. The Kendall Institute, responsible for looking into cold cases, is now looking into the Domino Man.

Wow! What a fabulous debut novel. The plot is dark, complex, gripping and I did not want to put it down. We get clues and twists along the way. There is some character development. I liked the main character, Anna Edwards, and I hope we get more from her and her team in the future.

Published 13th April 2027

I would like to thank #NetGalley #SimonandSchuster and the author #HelenJones for my ARC of #TheDominoMan in exchange for an honest review.

[Nicola Whyte · Rating 5 out of 5]

In 1972, six bodies were discovered around the city of Cardiff, each corpse a decapitated body with a different head sewn on. One of the victims was never identified and the killer was never caught. In 2022, cold case specialists, The Kendall Institute, re-open the investigation. Their new recruit, Anna Edwards, is seeking a fresh start and brings a fresh perspective to the established team. Together, they unpick the lives of the victims and retrace the steps of the killer, hoping to close the case once and for all.

I heard the author read out an extract at Harrogate this summer, and there was an audible gasp as she described The Domino Man. The book is every bit as hooky as it promised to be, and the central mystery disturbing and gripping in equal measure. The book’s themes explore the legacy of crime on the families of victims as well as domestic abuse and coercive control, and includes representation of chronic illness, which you don’t often see. The city of Cardiff is also very much a character in the book, and I loved discovering how it had changed over the last 50 years. It’s tough to make cold case investigations compelling in the written form, but the author does it so well, weaving the old case details in with new insights, evidence, and discoveries - once you pick it, you won’t want to put it down again! Based on the ending, I think this is the first in a new series and I can’t wait to find out what case the Kendall Institute investigate next.

Thanks to the author and publisher for the ARC.

[Dani · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this advance copy.

I loved the premise of The Domino Man. The idea of the Kendall Institute, a team dedicated to reopening cold cases that everyone else has given up on, felt like such a fresh take on the crime genre and immediately drew me in.

The Domino Man case itself is dark, unsettling and brilliantly constructed. I really enjoyed following the team as they slowly pieced together a case that had remained unsolved for decades. The clues are revealed at just the right pace, and I was completely invested in seeing how it would all fit together.

Anna was a really likeable lead. She’s rebuilding her life after escaping an abusive marriage, and that vulnerability made her easy to root for. I also loved the rest of the Kendall Institute team. Each member brings something different to the investigation, and together they make a believable and engaging cast that I hope to spend more time with.

The mix of historical mystery, forensic investigation and character development worked really well, and I genuinely didn’t work out where it was heading until the final stages.

A really impressive start to what I hope becomes a long-running series. Original, intelligent and packed with characters I can’t wait to meet again.

[Meg Pearson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy of The Domino Man before publication. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

I really enjoyed The Domino Man. The premise immediately grabbed me because the original crime is so unusual and disturbing. In Cardiff in 1972, six bodies are discovered around the city, each one decapitated and given somebody else’s head. One victim is never identified and becomes known as the Domino Man. Fifty years later, the case remains unsolved.

What I particularly loved was the setup of the Kendall Institute, a civilian team that takes on cold cases the police no longer have the time or resources to investigate. It gave the story a refreshing twist on the traditional police procedural. With forensic, investigative and digital expertise all working together, it was fascinating watching the team approach a fifty-year-old mystery from completely different angles.

Anna Edwards was probably my favourite part of the story. She has moved to Cardiff to rebuild her life after escaping a coercively controlling husband, and while she becomes increasingly immersed in this incredibly complicated investigation, there is always the feeling that her own past hasn't quite finished with her yet. I thought this storyline added another layer of tension without taking over the cold case itself, and Anna is a character I would happily follow into another book.

The investigation was incredibly satisfying. There are decades-old clues, unidentified victims, buried secrets and seemingly disconnected pieces of information, and I loved watching the team gradually work out how everything fits together. The case is dark and occasionally gruesome, but there is also a surprising amount of humour and warmth among the Kendall Institute team, which gave the story a really enjoyable balance.

The pacing is fairly measured in places, and there are a lot of characters and information to keep track of initially, but once the investigation gets moving, I found it increasingly difficult to put down. I also appreciated that the final solution wasn't something I easily saw coming.

Overall, The Domino Man is a clever, original and extremely enjoyable debut. I loved the Cardiff setting, the unusual cold case, the investigative team and especially Anna. Helen Jones has created a cast with plenty of potential, and the ending makes it very clear that there is more to come.

For a debut crime novel, this felt impressively confident and well constructed. I'm already looking forward to seeing where the Kendall Institute — and Anna — go next!

4.5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐½

[Mona Sami · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy of *The Domino Man* before publication. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

I really enjoyed *The Domino Man*. The premise immediately grabbed me because the original crime is so unusual and disturbing. In Cardiff in 1972, six bodies are discovered around the city, each one decapitated and given somebody else’s head. One victim is never identified and becomes known as the Domino Man. Fifty years later, the case is still unsolved.

The modern investigation is led by the Kendall Institute, a team that takes on cold cases the police no longer have the time or resources to investigate. I loved this setup because it gave the book a different feel from the usual police procedural. The team includes forensic, investigative and digital expertise, and their newest member, Anna Edwards, arrives just as the Domino Man case is reopened.

Anna was probably my favourite part of the story. She is trying to rebuild her life after escaping a coercively controlling husband, so while she is becoming more involved in this incredibly complicated investigation, there is also this constant sense that her own past has not finished with her yet. I liked that the personal storyline added tension without completely taking over the cold case.

The investigation itself was very satisfying. There are decades-old clues, questions around the unidentified victim and so many details that initially seem impossible to connect. I enjoyed watching the team gradually piece everything together, and the unusual nature of the murders made me genuinely curious about what could possibly explain them.

There is also more humour and warmth between the characters than I expected from such a dark premise, which helped balance the story. The pacing is fairly measured in parts, and there are a lot of characters and pieces of information to keep track of, but once the investigation really gets moving I found it very difficult to put down.

Overall, *The Domino Man* was clever, original and extremely enjoyable. I loved the cold-case team, the Cardiff setting and the strange central mystery, and Anna is definitely a character I would like to follow again. For a debut crime novel, this felt impressively confident and well constructed. I’m already interested in seeing where the Kendall Institute series goes next.

[janine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book in a very long time that had me positively gagging for more. This was a series that I seriously wished I'd jumped into 6 books in, just so there were more I could go back and binge on! If you can't tell by now, I absolutely loved this book and everything about it!

Now, I adore cold case storylines and series, there's something about them that always feels quite ominous and this was no exception but with a completely fresh take.

Located in Cardiff Bay, The Kendall Institute is lead by Wyn Davies. Set up to work alongside the police force to investigate cold cases as well as finding missing people.

It's Anna Edwards first day as Project Manager for the team. She's recently moved to Cardiff but has left everything behind *no spoilers* so it is a completely new start for her.

Thrown straight into the deep end, the team are tasked with investigating a cold case that goes back to 1972. Six bodies, six locations, all posed and all distinctly by the same killer. Only one of the bodies was never identified and the taskforce gave him the name The Domino Man.

Anna, with her role, is at the heart of the investigation and jumps straight in, not shying away from the gory details, alongside her colleagues, who have taken her straight into their fold, especially twins Ariadne & Osian... who I want to be friends with!

I was completely hooked not only with the case but with the complexity and the unravelling of the case as they gather more information. The research the author must have gone into really showed, it felt so tangible and authentic. I thoroughly enjoyed the intricacies given by each of the team members roles and how they so obviously gelled as a unit.

There wasn't any point that it didn’t hold my interest and the way the story swerved in different directions just gripped me even more.

The location, the characters, the plot, the ending.... perfection!

Helen Jones is an author I will most definitely be looking out for. What a debut!

Huge thanks to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Leanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Domino Man is a gripping, atmospheric cold‑case thriller that blends past and present with real finesse. The opening chapters set an unforgettable tone: Cardiff, 1972, a city rattled by a series of macabre killings, each victim posed with a mismatched head sewn onto a different body. It’s disturbing, strange, and instantly compelling — and the fact that one victim was never identified gives the case an eerie permanence.

Fast‑forward fifty years, and the Kendall Institute steps in to reopen the investigation. I loved the dynamic of this team: forensic expertise, old‑school policing instincts, and sharp digital minds all working together. Their newest recruit, Anna, adds an emotional layer to the story. She’s rebuilding her life after escaping a controlling marriage, and her determination to prove herself makes her involvement in the case feel personal in a way that really works.

The mystery itself is wonderfully intricate. As the team digs into the old evidence, the psychological complexity of the case becomes clearer, and the book balances forensic detail with character‑driven tension beautifully. The past feels alive, pressing in on the present, and the slow unravelling of the truth behind The Domino Man is deeply satisfying.

What really stands out is how the story intertwines Anna’s past with the investigation. Her vulnerability, resilience, and growing confidence give the book emotional weight, and the sense that danger is circling her adds an extra layer of suspense.

A clever, atmospheric, and absorbing cold‑case thriller with a memorable cast and a mystery that keeps tightening its grip. Perfect for readers who enjoy crime fiction where the past refuses to stay buried — and where solving the case means confronting more than just evidence.

With thanks to Helen Jones, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC

[Mana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cardiff. 1972. Decapitated remains dumped across city corners, heads swapped around like horror props, and one unidentified body left torso-only; only for half a century. Cut to 2022. Enter the Kendall Institute: a broke private cold-case unit set up by Wyn Davies, a former rugby guy who thinks grit replaces funding. Then comes Anna Edwards. Fresh recruit, running hard from a controlling husband who nearly broke her, stepping right into this morbid puzzle with a forensic analyst named Lydia Beynon, an ex-cop called Dave Hopkins, and twin tech addicts, Ariadne and Osian Thomas. Grey Welsh fog. Damp walls. Wet shoes.

Brutal. Helen Jones uses these two timelines to slam institutional violence against personal survival. Anna's internal panic isn't a plot device; it feels like an exposed wire, echoing the main investigation where authority figures chop up human beings into neat, manageable pieces. The team banter lands okay, though Dave's bitter ex-cop posture borders on predictable. But Anna? Her trauma is handled without cheap sentiment; she is twitchy, watchful, rebuilding an identity her ex tried to erase.

The middle section drags under stacks of archive paperwork, slowing down what ought to be a punch in the teeth. Jones pulls a deliberate trick- intercutting technical autopsy notes directly against Anna's sudden anxiety spikes; while it halts the momentum, it effectively proves that cold logic cannot fix hot human dread.

Read this if you want a dark, rain-soaked Welsh procedural that cares about psychological damage. Pass if you need breathless action or hate multi-timeline cold cases.

[Aishah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this.
Anna is starting again. New job, new home in Wales, away from everything and everyone she's known. She's clearly been through something traumatic and from the beginning her anxiety is palpable.

Her new job is at the Kendall Institute, a team dedicated to solving cold cases, and she arrives just as they're thrown into a case dating back to the early 1970s.

This was such a page turner. I was completely invested in the cold case, but I think what made it work so well for me was the people trying to solve it. I loved the Kendall Institute team and how quickly you get a sense that these people genuinely care about each other and the work they're doing.

I also loved watching Anna slowly realise that she might have found somewhere she belongs, and that she has her own unique set of skills that could actually help them break the case.

Alongside the investigation, we get glimpses of an unknown killer and of Anna's past, which she isn't quite as far away from as she'd hoped. Anna's story genuinely had my heart in my throat at times.

I can see this translating SO well to TV. The cold case, the team, the different stories running alongside each other. I'd watch it immediately.

And that ending?! Some things are wrapped up and other things very much ARE NOT. Please tell me there's going to be a second book because I have questions. 😂

A thoroughly enjoyable mystery meets psychological thriller with a cold case I genuinely wanted to solve and, more importantly for me, characters I actually cared about.

I'll absolutely be getting my hands on a physical copy.

ARC received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[JD · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of The Domino Man, by Helen Jones.

Five stars.

This is a great debut novel from Helen Jones, and an exciting start to a new series.

Anna Edwards is starting a new life in Cardiff, fleeing her former life. She starts a job at the Kendall Institute investigating cold cases, and is thrown straight into a case from 1972, when six people were murdered and mutilated in the Cardiff area. The team must re-review the evidence and try and crack the case with modern techniques.

The book is very readable and well written. Sometimes a debut author takes a couple of books to get comfortable in their writing style, but not here. The writing is assured and clear right from the beginning, with a chilling opening in the waters of Cardiff Bay. I love visiting that place, but I might not go swimming!

Anna is a strongly written protagonist, dealing with both professional and personal issues. She's surrounded by a supportive team of characters, each of whom brings something to the story. There is a lot of potential to develop all of these characters in future books.

Overall the story was well plotted, and the final solution is ingenious. I didn't manage to guess it.

The end of the story sets up something for the next book, and I look forward to the series continuing.

You might like this if you like Sarah Yarwood-Lovett, Lynne McEwan, Sarah Lotz or Bill Rogers.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free advance copy for review purposes.

[Roroblu'sMum · Rating 5 out of 5]

5* Well-written, well-researched and utterly engrossing, even without Anna's past. And WOW, this is a debut novel??

I'm not sure what else I can say about the tale other than my title. I'm impressed. Seriously impressed and yes, I went checking for a website and other books but it looks like there'll be a bit of a wait for book 2, given that this one's not out until January 27. This book reads like a seasoned author's work, not a debut.

All the characters are great, and each has a role, with no one being 'carried'. There's a depth of knowledge and expertise and experience in the team, as well as a range of ages. The research, deducing, skills, instincts and Anna's 'superpower' make for an excellent, cohesive, gripping and satisfying tale.

I'm not sure where Anna's back story will go, as as the tale ends, something a bit worrying is happening. Harry is that villain - the coercive, abusive, manipulative former charmer, but Anna's eyes are open wide. That she opened her eyes and made her escape, shows the strength of her character that he tried to break. I suspect there'll be therapy and family reunions in book 2. I think it's far, far, far too early for a new romance for her, but I suspect a new friendship might one day turn to more, despite the indirect "the 'lord' doth protest too much". Can't wait for book 2.

ARC courtesy of NetGalley and Simon and Schuster UK for my reading pleasure.

[Kirsten · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Domino Man is an outstanding debut from Helen Jones. Dark, intricate and tightly constructed, it strikes an excellent balance between delivering a compelling standalone investigation and laying the groundwork for future instalments in the series.

Anna Edwards is the newest recruit at the Kendal Institute, a team dedicated to re-examining cold cases. Their latest investigation revisits a fifty-year-old case in which six bodies were discovered posed around Cardiff.

The novel takes a measured, methodical approach to the investigation, the reader is fully immersed into every stage of the case. At first, I found the number of suspects and team members a little overwhelming, but this ultimately reflected the perimeters of the investigation fantastically. One character compares the case to completing a jigsaw with only ‘the edge pieces’ in place, which perfectly captures the reader's experience as the mystery gradually comes together, at times driven by snippets rather than the bigger picture.

Some really interesting themes are also embedded, institutional sexism and gender perceptions, again I liked the way the author explores these in the context of the historical setting.

The characters are convincingly developed through both their actions and the perceptions of those around them. Per is a particularly strong example of this. An impressive opening to what promises to be a thrilling new series!

[Lovetoread2023 · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cold case detective read with a very original and gruesome premise.
I have to admit, I found this one a little difficult to get into at first, as there are lots of characters, details and storylines introduced quite quickly. However, once I settled into it, I really started to enjoy the story.
Six bodies are discovered around Cardiff, all decapitated and given someone else's head. One victim is never identified and becomes known as The Domino Man. Fifty years later, the Kendall Institute takes on the cold case, and I really enjoyed seeing the investigation unfold from different angles. You can tell a lot of research has gone into the book, particularly the police procedural side, and it was fascinating to see how much investigative technology has progressed over the years.
The staff at the Kendall Institute are all likeable and believable, especially the twins, Ri and Osian, and their banter. Their humour helped balance what is otherwise a very dark, gritty and gruesome story.
I enjoyed watching all the different threads come together, and the storyline is certainly clever and original. The ending leaves us with a definite cliffhanger, and I have a feeling Anna is going to be very important in book two, which has definitely made me curious about where the series will go next.
An enjoyable read for me and I'll definitely be interested in reading the next book.

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The Domino Man” is the beginning of a new series by Helen Jones that features a cast of characters that make up The Kendall Institute. The Kendall Institute focuses on solving cold cases that the police are not able to spend the time or resources to work on these old cases.

The Institute is tasked with working on a 50-year-old cold case that features a victim known as The Domino Man.

As The Kendall Institute is starting the investigation, they are introduced to a new team member, Anna.

Anna is being haunted by her past and it affects the whole team. But even with all the personal drama, the team stays focused and driven to bring justice to all touched by The Domino Man mystery.

This is a slow and methodical procedural mystery. That is not a bad thing. It’s pretty much real life. I loved this book. So much so that I stayed up till early in the morning on a day that I needed to get up early finishing the book. And it was worth it.

I did check to see if this was translated into English because there were a few times that the sentences just felt off. It didn’t take away from the mystery at all though.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for providing an ARC for an unbiased review.

[Pgchuis · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received a copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley.

Anna is taken on as a project manager at the Kendall Institute, which investigates cold cases, often in co-operation with police forces. The team is working on the 50 year old 'Domino Man' case, in which bodies were decapitated and then the head of another victim sewn onto the torso.

I found this hard going, especially at first. There were Anna's various team members to get to know and then all the victims and there were too many characters to really empathize with anyone fully. Anna has an abusive husband backstory which was quite compelling and gradually the team members came into focus for me, but nevertheless this was quite a cerebral experience. It was very much a procedural and the narrative was very 'this happened and then this happened and then it was the weekend and then on Monday this happened'.

Some of the twists were obvious to me and the team seemed to have a very leisurely approach to time management - multiple people visited the scenes of crime, even though often they had been redeveloped over the last 50 years, for example. I found the crimes under-motivated and the epilogue was a blatant hook for the next in the series.

[Saffy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this debut from Helen Jones in what I hope is the first in a series. It’s set in Cardiff, where Anna joins the Kendall Institute, an organisation that investigates cold cases. They are working with the police on six unsolved murders that took place in Cardiff in 1972. I loved the team at the Kendall Institute and Anna‘s backstory was interesting without it taking over the main cold case plot. Although this isn’t a police investigation, it reads like an excellent police procedural as the team from the Kendall look into each murder victim, their histories and potential suspects. I like the sense of time and place of both modern day and 1970s Cardiff. Initially I found it difficult to differentiate between the murder victims as the author throws the reader in by describing them all at once. However, after this, the novel was well paced and gripping and I raced through it over the course of 24 hours. There was an indication that this will be the first in a series so I really look forward to meeting Anna and the team in the future.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.

[Matthew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley for the Arc copy

For a debut book overall it was very well written, the only think I found jarring g was alot of chapters started with some variation of at the office on Monday morning only a small thing in an otherwise fantastic story.

A detective book always depends on its detectives and this is a great of team they all have a role to play some have more time than others but hopefully this is a series and we can get to know them I’m future books.

The concept of the book is brilliant and cold case books are harder to be entertaining and Helen Jones really.

Anna is a brilliant lead character and it’s interesting as she isn’t a detective so great to have a different lead character. The twins are also great characters and bring some humour

I like how the investigation is explained as it gives good insight.

The strongest point is the end, unlike that we get a good description of what happened and why and the book ends well too and you can see it’s going to be a second book.

If you love Crime thrillers with dark themes this is the book for you.

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cold case mystery fiction, with thriller vibes firmly embedded too. Anna is leaving things behind, escaping. Anna is in a new city, with a new job at a company solving cold cases. In this story a police case from the 70s waiting to be reopened. Not one but multiple murders to be solved.

The story is told from Anna’s perspective. I liked her and the other characters in the book. A mixed team, bringing Anna into the fold with, concern for her and with plenty of humour and fun as we meet the Kendal Institute cast.

The epilogue suggests Anna is going to be very important going forward. I’m going to be first in line to see where this author takes us next. Mysteries to become clear, and cold cases to be solved.

Thank you to Simon and Schuster UK and NetGalley for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.

[Gordon Johnston · Rating 5 out of 5]

An engrossing thriller that begins a new series set in Cardiff. Anna Edwards is fleeing a bad marriage. She get a job at the Kendall Institute investigating cold cases, and is thrown into a fifty year old case , when six people were murdered and mutilated in the Cardiff area. The team must re-review the evidence and try and crack the case with modern techniques.

Anna has to deal with a new job, a difficult case and an ex who won't give up. She fits well into the new team, who are a skilled and varied group, all highly skilled in their fields. The characters all feel well developed, and there is a lot more to come in future novels.

The Domino Man is an excellent debut and sets the scene for what will hopefully be a long series.

[Peter Owen-Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Domino Man is an enjoyable cold-case detective novel set in Cardiff, with a complex plot that's well managed and definitely worth reading.
Using a private institute to take on cold cases, along with its assorted team members, adds a lot of strength to the plot compared to a police procedural - a clever concept!
Overall, I especially liked how the cold case institute was portrayed as separate from the police, while still having the credibility and independence to pursue its own lines of enquiry. The combination of forensic work, digital investigation and more traditional, personal investigative techniques worked particularly well and kept the investigation interesting.
An author to watch out for!
Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC

[Frances · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anna Edwards joins the Kendall Institute, a civilian unit that reviews and investigates cold cases, and with the rest of the team begins to untangle the identity of the Domino Man. What follows is a highly enjoyable, well written, well researched novel. The story grips you from the start and makes it hard to put the book down. The staff at the Kendall are credible, well rounded and likeable. Anna herself has a back story that slowly emerges. I can't praise and recommend this book highly enough. I'm already awaiting the next book.....hopefully soon. Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for an ARC.

[Karen McGrath · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Domino Man is Helen Jones’s debut novel. Anna moves to Wales to escape an abusive husband and she starts a new job with the Kendall Institute, a private company which helps the police solve cold cases. The first case Anna is involved in is about multiple murders 50 years ago.
I was gripped by this novel from the very beginning. It is well written, fast paced with lots of twists and turns. Although the case is solved there is an unexpected cliffhanger at the end which leaves the reader waiting for more. I hope it’s not too long until the next book in the series as the Domino Man is the best book I’ve read for a while.

[Kerry · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC from NetGalley
4.5*
Really enjoyed this book. Although there’s a lot of getting to know the characters it doesn’t lose all its momentum as you might think. The author has managed to weave several plot lines together and come up with a really interesting story. It kept me reading and I wanted to know what was going to happen and felt the characters (especially the female lead) were the kind you’d want to read more about.
Really good book and I’d definitely want more of this, given there’s a hint of another book in the epilogue.

[Celia · Rating 5 out of 5]

A new recruit joins an institute who investigate cold cases. Anna, trying to start a new life in Cardiff after escaping an abusive, controlling husband.

All members of the team have their own speciality, achieving results where police were unable to.

I'm looking forward to a possible sequel!

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read an advance digital copy in return for an honest review.

[Sam Seaton · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic psychological thriller. This follows a cold case from 1972 from the notorious domino killer and the one victim that was never identified. Although the premise of cold case crime novels has been done many times, this has a very gruesome and unique twist. As thrilling as it is dark. Highly recommended.

[Cheryl Bellingham · Rating 5 out of 5]

So pleased to have got the opportunity to read this book. Anna has come to a new city and a new job. There is a cold case that needs looking at and the Kendall institute are tasked with reviewing it.

What a lovely mix of characters make up this small team. and between them the domino man’s secrets reveal themselves

Brilliant read and really hoping for more in this series

[Willie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very enjoyable debut read. A twist on the usual cold case investigations with a private institute working in conjunction with the police. A complex , plot, but weaved well, with lots of twists and also some insight into their private lives which adds to the story. It goes along at a good pace and from the ending it would appear that more is to follow, which I certainly look forward to.

[Fran · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! The characters were likeable and easy to get invested in, and the storyline kept me engaged throughout. It was a good read, and I’d definitely pick up the second book to see where the story goes next.

Review of advance copy received from Netgalley.

[Craig Simons · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this advance reader copy

This was definitely a nice change of pace from the normal crime books I've read but a needed one. One of the best I've read in a while