As with all series books, it is better to read in sequence but, if you haven't already read "Wrong Place" then this works OK as a standalone but to really get the best of the ongoing character development then I would recommend you read that first.
It is no secret that I am a big fan of this author's work. I find that she writes exactly the books I want to read and that they tick every box leaving me, at the end, completely satisfied. Whether that is due to her style of writing being easy for me to read, the way she gets on with the story without any unnecessary waffle or, and I suspect this is high on the list, the characters, banter and interaction between them. What they say to each other, the language they use, the insults they trade, what they do, the mannerisms they use and, importantly, the mistakes they make. They are all words I use, phrases I say, insults I sling, things I do, mistakes I make. They could all so very easily be my mates so familiar I feel about all of them. Characterisation is important to me. I don't have to like them to emote with them, in fact some of my favourite characters have been ones I have hated, but I do have to connect with them in some way. And the characters that this author writes are, in my world, spot on.
Characters without a story would be pretty boring but again, as in all her books, the plot is cleverly worked and actioned and moves at a pretty good pace throughout the book. As with the police, I was taken down dead end after dead end, most of the way completely baffled as to what was the truth and then when eventually the killer was revealed my jaw dropped completely and then, when I had recovered my composure, I began to see things I had missed. well done Ms Comley, you got me totally!
All in all, another winner that goes a long way to establishing this new series as being as solid as the Justice series also by the same author.
I received a free ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.