The Keeper

Antonia Hawkins #3

by Alastair Gunn

Let the games begin. A man is found buried in a secluded wood on the outskirts of London. Naked, beaten and bruised; forensics also show that he hasn't eaten in the 24 hours before his murder. To DCI Antonia Hawkins it looks like a vicious, targeted attack. The hunt is on. But as more bodies are unearthed in the same state, Hawkins struggles to find a pattern in the seemingly random killings as the body count continues to climb. But who is the hunter? unique kind of serial killer. One that is playing a twisted game. And so far the killer is one winning . . .

Genres: Crime, Thriller, Fiction, Mystery

432 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2016

About the author

Librarian note:
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name

Alastair Gunn is an experienced magazine journalist. The Advent Killer was his first novel in a series featuring DCI Antonia Hawkins, and My Bloody Valentine was his second bestselling thriller. Alastair's next DCI Antonia Hawkins thriller, The Keeper, will be published in October 2016.

Alastair lives in Hertfordshire with his fiancée, Anna.

Biography taken from author's Penguin profile.

Reviews

[Paromjit · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a police procedural set in London and is the third in the series. This is the first one I have read and it worked remarkably well as a standalone. DCI Antonia Hawkins is an abrasive woman who lives solely for her job. She has a long suffering boyfriend, DI Mike Maguire, who works on her team. She is struggling to come to terms with an attack that almost killed her, and due to a greater focus on mental health in the police service, is being forced to see a counsellor, Sturridge. She is going through the motions of complying but is avoiding talking about the attack or the effects it has had on her. To her horror, her boss, Detective Chief Superintendent Vaughn is having none of it and forces her hand. He threatens to suspend her from her team unless she takes the counselling seriously. A good thing, given that it preys on her mind and gives her nightmares.

Two metal detectorists discover a recently deceased male in a shallow grave in a wooded area on a farm. The murdered man turns out to be Peter Barnes who has been seeing a married woman, Lauren Coleman, who just happens to have a disgruntled, violent and vengeful husband. The team think they have their perpetrator until it becomes clear that there are other bodies buried in the vicinity. Instead, they have a serial killer on their hands. The police frantically search for connections between the victims, but are coming up empty handed. The evidence they have suggests the victims are being hunted. Eventually they get a break as a victim is left barely alive after an attack. Antonia and her team are homing in on a deadly killer who has no plans of surrendering.

I really enjoyed reading this novel. I liked the protagonist, DCI Antonia Hawkins, and her team. This is not a case that is cracked because of one person, it is a team effort. It is a well constructed story with a number of twists. A book I am happy to recommend. Many thanks to Penguin Michael Joseph for an ARC.

[Emma · Rating 2 out of 5]

In all honesty, this book was just ok. It opens with a well worn scene, that of the detective avoiding talking about their post traumatic stress after being attacked by a killer in a previous book. Yawn. This set the scene for the rest of the story. It's all been done before. And better. Don't get me wrong, it's not outright bad, just unremarkable.


Thanks in any case to Penguin and Netgalley for this copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Claire Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Keeper by Alastair Gunn is the 3rd in the DCI Antonia Hawkins series and the first one I have read. It was a police procedural centering around dead bodies being recovered in London. I enjoyed it, but didn't find that it gripped me as much as others I have read recently

[Zuky the BookBum · Rating 4 out of 5]

Also read it here: http://bookbum.weebly.com/book-review...

NOW AVAILABLE IN THE UK!

No interesting quote for this book I'm afraid...

This started badly, for me. There’s nothing like starting a new detective book and being planted in the middle of a therapy session. Who would have thought a senior police officer who has enough baggage to need therapy? Well I never! That’s something I’ve only seen done 1 million times before… sigh. Thank God it picked up with the excitement afterwards because I wasn’t interested in Hawkins’ anxiety or love life.

This was by no means unique to other detective novels out there. They all have the same sort of plot and characters and themes, but this one did keep me more interested than some of the others I’ve read, purely because there was a humorous side to it as well as the serious side too.

This had some really exciting moments and it had some really drawn out, drab moments where we were repeatedly updated on how the case was going, even though we already knew… cause we were reading the book… so I think a lot of this novel could have been cut down to make a shorter novel. 400 pages is quite a lot for a detective series novel, especially one where there’s not a lot of evidence or leads to the case. This really was up and down, up and down, the whole way through. I lost interest so much in some places that I was completely distracted while reading it but then when we got onto a big reveal or breakthrough part, I rushed through it to know what happened next! There were some really great edge of the seat, nail biting moments! It was quite the hit and miss story.

As far as characters go, there weren’t any that I really connected with very well, but none of them were dislikable people. It could get a bit confusing to remember who was who because they’d go from their first name to their last name, back to their first name and then their last name again etc etc. It would have been nice to have some consistency with what the author called them.

This was by far a 3 star read until the twist at the end. I mean, really, I should have seen it coming, I’ve read a million crime thrillers before, but I just hadn’t suspected this one! Really, there were two twists at the end of this, the first one shocked me and then the second one I was expecting because of the first. The ending of this novel was really thrilling and nerve-wracking, it was a great way to finish it off.

Also, considering this is the third novel in a series (something Netgalley hadn’t made me aware of when I requested it!) this did really well as a standalone novel. I didn’t feel like I was missing any part of the characters stories, even when it came to the subject of Hawkins’ therapy sessions.

Thanks to Netgalley and Penguin UK - Michael Joseph for giving me the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

When a body is found buried in the woods, it leads to the revelation that there's a killer hunting people for sport. DCI Antonia Hawkins is on the case. Brilliant thriller with plenty of action and twists to keep you guessing.

[Pili · Rating 3 out of 5]

Le tenía muchas ganas, pero no acabó de convencerme. A pesar de todo, fue un buen compañero de viaje en un vuelo trasatlántico.

[Vicki - I Love Reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

Back with Antonia Hawkins in this book 3 in the series. A series i'm really enjoying. Currently playing catch up means i've managed to read books 2, 3 and next book 4 in a short time. Being behind in a series does have some advantages, as I've enjoyed reading these books pretty much back to back.
I'm slowly slowly growing to love the character of Antonia. I think the author has done a great job in creating her.
Antonia has many flaws, and doesn't seem to be able to get through a case without injury to herself. She is also suffering mentally from injuries incurred in a previous case.
At times she is a little bit to stubborn and things could be so much easier for her if she could just open up and let some of her guards downs.
Antonia and her team certainly have their hands full with the hunt for this killer. When a body is found buried in local woods, its down to the team to find out first, who the body belongs to and why he is buried in the woods.
As more bodies seem to start turning up, the book ramps up a gear and it's all systems go for the team, working flat out to find the killer before anyone else is killed.
Another very well written book with a great story line that will keep you wanting to read on.

For me, it's right onto book 4 because I need more.

[ShanLouVicxo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brilliant mix of home life and work life makes the Hawkins seem more relatable.
Bit slow to start but once in the swing of things had me hooked!

[Clare · Rating 3 out of 5]

With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an open and honest review. This the 3rd book in the DCI. Antonia Hawkins series. I am sorry this was the first story without a seasonal theme for e.g. The Advent Killer or Bloody Valentine. Maybe Mr Gunn could of written Halloween Horror of The Easter Death Spree (just an idea).

Antonia is back at work and now permanently promoted to DCI. She is suffering from PTSD and has been forced to see a psychologist by her boss. Antonia and her boyfriend/colleague DI Mike Maguire are now living together. However Antonia's sister has split up with her husband with her two children and is living with them.

The story starts when a body is discovered in the woods by a couple of metal detectorists. The body is identified as Peter Barnes who was having an affair with Lauren Coleman. The police discover that Lauren's husband knew about the affair and he is arrested. However the corpse of a unknown man is found then the body of a teenage girl is found.

Antonia realise they have a serial killer on the loose and where will they strike next?

I have to admit this story did not grab me at first. The Advent Killer and Bloody Valentine had me hooked from the beginning. However once I understood why the victims were chosen the story turned itself round. Then there was another discovery about the murderer which I was not expecting. Although this book dragged a bit the last 60% of the story made it worth reading.

[Gordon Johnston · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pretty average, standard police thriller really. Fairly well written but with a series of main characters we've all sees before. The driven female detective, her politician boss, the supportive boyfriend who worries about her and the strains of the job etc. He's American for no apparent reason and keeps referencing Big Macs or bucks just to remind us.

The plot is interesting with a series of bodies found in a wood on the outskirts of London. The Keeper's back story is woven through the novel and it all seems fairly obvious what is going on. So obvious in fact that it cannot be that simple and the twist, when it comes, is long overdue.

[Tracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the publishers and netgalley for the arc of this book
This really was a nail biter of a thriller, it kept me intrigued until the bitter end. There were plenty of twists and turns. Each time I thought I knew what the ending would be, another little gem would be right around the corner waiting to get my mind whizzing around even more.

This really is a thought provoking gripping thriller, so much so…

I rate this book 5/5

[Roman Clodia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a mix of realistic procedural and a really (really) silly serial killer plot. Gunn writes well but honestly, the ludicrousness of the perpetrator is almost like a pastiche - more realism, less cod psychology would have raised the rating. Gunn seems better as a writer than this book overall shows.

[michelle Simons · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gripping, intense thriller, that twists and turns to it's very clever, unexpected conclusion. I got very absorbed in this book, to the point I did not want it to end. An easy five stars in my opinion.

[Katie Pankhurst · Rating 2 out of 5]

Got through it, eventually

Slow to catch my interest - the storyline was buried beneath too many words. I persevered, since I wanted to know the outcome - but it was pretty hard going. First I've read from this author. Won't be hurrying back. Disappointing.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Back with Antonia for the third novel in the series the book begins with the discovery of a body buried in a shallow grave. Antonia and her team work to identify the victim and the killer and try to understand just why the killer keeps the victim for 24 hours before killing them. The case becomes more urgent as more bodies are discovered, the killer is playing a game and the police are losing.

Another great crime novel from Alastair Gunn, the case kept me gripped but one of the things I think I enjoy most about this series is the realism – Antonia was brutally attacked at the end of the first novel and while some series would have seen their main character brush it off and move on by the next book this series shows Antonia still struggling and being forced to take her counselling sessions seriously.

Once again Alastair Gunn finishes the story with a bang, he really is fantastic at the final act twist!

[Jo Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Proper Page Turner

I think I downloaded this ebook when it was on sale ages ago and finally got round to reading it when I randomly selected it from my kindle library. Having read the novel, this author is going from a chance selection to one to follow as I read it in just under two days, begrudgingly putting it down every now and then.

I enjoyed the plot twists and red herrings DI Hawkins and her teams encountered, along with the palpable frustration of an investigation with a rising body count and little evidence to go on.

I’d recommend this to anyone who likes fast paced police procedural or just a good page turner to keep you up into the small hours.

[Peter Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I Didn't have many thoughts going into this book, but i thought it was a very good story, which had me moving from suspect to suspect, i never saw the final suspect coming, so for that this book gets a 4 rating, i look forward to the next book, but i have just one question, has Alastair Gunn, thought about trying to get these on TV ?

because i would watch them as i am sure others would.

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

When a body turns up which forensics reveals has bee. Starved for 24 hours before his murder DCI Antonia Hawkins can’t find out why the killer is acting in this way. Someone is treating humans like animals and killing then for fun. This was a gripping read which I really enjoyed. Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for this arc:

[Hamster · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unfortunately not what I expected, people in this book are not likeable, especially the women, still read to end but will not read another one from this author. The hostages, the escapes repeatedly written many times, 3 young healthy men alone couldn’t escape the predator but a women in her almost 50, very convincing 🤣

[Mandy Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some good twists and an interesting story. I felt sorry for Rupert and Ash was a nasty piece of work. Antonia was ok but I didn’t warm to her as much as some other detectives I’ve read. The author did switch between first names and second names which confused me at times.

[Rach · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic!

As with the previous Gunn offerings this was absorbing and thrilling from start to finish, sincerely hope we have more Antonia Hawkins in the near future

[Jenny L · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it, but perhaps a little implausible that after solving one multiple murderer, another pops up immediately afterwards? Still like the character though.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best of the series so far.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant Twist

Another fabulous and gripping read . Had me thinking I knew the plot all the way through . Then the twist at the end .

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Parts of the book were tedious but overall, a reasonable read.

[Christine South · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is book 3 in the DCI Antonia Hawkins series & I have read the other 2 books (in order) & compared to the other 2 books this story wasn’t as good but was ok & I will continue with the series

[Shevy J · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read, read as a single book as I found it on holiday, you certainly don’t need to have read the ones before it. Would recommend. Good plot, plenty of detail and a page turner.

[Dee-Cee It's all about the books · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third book in the Antonia Hawkins series but the first one I have read and although it can easily be read as a standalone I do feel I would have benefited from reading the first two books. There are quite a few references to things that have happened in previous books but I didn’t let it spoil my enjoyment of the book and I hope I’ll be able to catch up with them soon.

DCI Antonia Hawkins is a great character, she’s a worker and lives for her job but due to a brutal attack that nearly cost her, her life she has been made to see a councillor and although it isn’t through choice and she feels it’s a waste of time you can see she is still troubled by the attack.

Antonia and her partner DI Mike Maguire have a tough case to solve when a body is found buried in the woods and then another turns up. This may sound like something any crime/thriller fan has read before but this wasn’t as straight forward as it sounds and I was intrigued to find out what was going to happen next and with twists along the way, I found this to be quite a unique story line and it was very cleverly written.

I’d definitely recommend this book and I’m looking forward to reading more by Alistair Gunn in the future.

[Eileen Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a well written psychological thriller with strong characters, not least troubled DCI Hawkins, who is leading the investigation into the murder.
It is fast paced with a satisfactory ending.
Not having read the first 2 in this series, I can't comment on those, but this is excellent as a stand alone novel.
I'll get both those also to fill in the blanks.
I was given a digital copy of this book by the publisher Penguin / Michael Joseph via Netgalley in return for an honest unbiased review.

[Elaine Tomasso · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would like to thank Netgalley and Penguin Uk - Michael Joseph for an advance copy of The Keeper, the third police procedural to feature the newly minted DCI Antonia Hawkins and her team.

Antonia Hawkins and her team are called in when two metal detectorists (makes a change from the ubiquitous dog walker) find a body buried in a shallow grave in a wood. Almost as soon as the body is identified they develop a prime suspect but this is thrown into doubt when the CSIs find two more bodies at the same site and they can't link them to the suspect. The hunt is on. The novel is interspersed with someone called Rupert looking back on his childhood with his friend Ash and now apparently waiting for him to turn up.

I really like police procedurals, especially those involving the hunt for a stranger killer and I think Mr Gunn does it well. The Keeper does not have a particularly original premise as many fictional serial killers have been uncovered along with their buried victims but it's where he takes the novel from this inauspicious start that makes it such a good read. I would never have imagined the turns it takes or the outcome, it's clever stuff.

Antonia Hawkins is a great protagonist. She is smart, committed and dedicated but this doesn't stop her having doubts as she struggles with her, I hesitate to say mental health, wellbeing. Physically she has recovered well from her stabbing (see The Advent Killer) but she still has nightmares and is worrying that she may have aggression issues. In the newly touchy-feely Met she is forced to attend counselling who in turn are complaining that she isn't opening up about the attack. From personal experience I too am ambivalent about the process and wary of how any disclosure could be used so these scenes really struck a chord with me and are excellently done. If this isn't enough trauma her sister and her two young children move in. Antonia is not only therapy but child averse so her cup is overrunning. Again her relationship with her family is extremely well done and it may be that we see a more humorous side to Antonia in the future!

I thoroughly enjoyed The Keeper which had me glued to the pages and up much later than planned as I couldn't put it down. It's definitely a one sitting read as Mr Gunn pulls you in and holds you. Therefore I have no hesitation in recommending it as a great read.