What do you think?
Rate this book
Detective Kay Hunter #2
Will to Live
Reputation is everything.
When a packed commuter train runs over a body on a stretch of track known to locals as “Suicide Mile”, it soon transpires that the man was a victim of a calculated murder.
As the investigation evolves and a pattern of murders is uncovered, Detective Sergeant Kay Hunter realises the railway’s recent reputation may be the work of a brutal serial killer.
With a backlog of cold cases to investigate and attempting to uncover who is behind a professional vendetta against her, Kay must keep one step ahead of both the killer and her own adversaries.
When a second murder takes place within a week of the first, she realises the killer’s timetable has changed, and she’s running out of time to stop him…
When a packed commuter train runs over a body on a stretch of track known to locals as “Suicide Mile”, it soon transpires that the man was a victim of a calculated murder.
As the investigation evolves and a pattern of murders is uncovered, Detective Sergeant Kay Hunter realises the railway’s recent reputation may be the work of a brutal serial killer.
With a backlog of cold cases to investigate and attempting to uncover who is behind a professional vendetta against her, Kay must keep one step ahead of both the killer and her own adversaries.
When a second murder takes place within a week of the first, she realises the killer’s timetable has changed, and she’s running out of time to stop him…
320 pages, ebook
First published April 1, 2017
643 people are currently reading
1562 people want to read
About the author
Rachel Amphlett
206 books668 followersBefore turning to writing, USA Today bestselling crime author Rachel Amphlett played guitar in bands, worked as a TV and film extra, dabbled in radio, and worked in publishing as an editorial assistant.
She now wields a pen instead of a plectrum and writes crime fiction with over 30 crime novels and short stories featuring spies, detectives, vigilantes, and assassins.
A keen traveller and accidental private investigator, Rachel has both Australian and British citizenship.
You can find out more about Rachel and her books at www.rachelamphlett.com.
Praise for Rachel Amphlett
“Fast paced with vivid characterisation and clever twists, [None the Wiser] is another winner” Adrian McKinty
“[None the Wiser] is a terrific start to a new series” Jo Spain, With Our Blessing and The Confession
“Quirky, creepy and twisted tales” James Oswald, Sunday Times bestselling author
“Thrilling start to a new series. Scared to Death is a stylish, smart and gripping crime thriller” Robert Bryndza
"Scared to Death… moves along at breakneck speed with twists and turns" Angela Marsons
She now wields a pen instead of a plectrum and writes crime fiction with over 30 crime novels and short stories featuring spies, detectives, vigilantes, and assassins.
A keen traveller and accidental private investigator, Rachel has both Australian and British citizenship.
You can find out more about Rachel and her books at www.rachelamphlett.com.
Praise for Rachel Amphlett
“Fast paced with vivid characterisation and clever twists, [None the Wiser] is another winner” Adrian McKinty
“[None the Wiser] is a terrific start to a new series” Jo Spain, With Our Blessing and The Confession
“Quirky, creepy and twisted tales” James Oswald, Sunday Times bestselling author
“Thrilling start to a new series. Scared to Death is a stylish, smart and gripping crime thriller” Robert Bryndza
"Scared to Death… moves along at breakneck speed with twists and turns" Angela Marsons
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 29 of 171 reviews
February 21, 2018
Well I gave book one Scared to Death four stars and I am giving Will to Live the full five. It was great!
I raced through the book in record time not wanting to put it down at all, despite the fact that people were repeatedly getting gruesomely squashed on railway tracks. The story was really good. There was mystery, suspense, lots of good police work and a twist in the tale.
The characters were all interesting and realistic and I enjoyed the way the different team members worked together. I particularly like Kay Hunter's vet husband. He is a nice little extra to all the police action. In the last book he brought home a sick snake. This time it was a pregnant Great Dane. All good fun!
Nicely written, full of action and practically unputdownable. I am really looking forward to next one:)
I raced through the book in record time not wanting to put it down at all, despite the fact that people were repeatedly getting gruesomely squashed on railway tracks. The story was really good. There was mystery, suspense, lots of good police work and a twist in the tale.
The characters were all interesting and realistic and I enjoyed the way the different team members worked together. I particularly like Kay Hunter's vet husband. He is a nice little extra to all the police action. In the last book he brought home a sick snake. This time it was a pregnant Great Dane. All good fun!
Nicely written, full of action and practically unputdownable. I am really looking forward to next one:)
July 14, 2021
I really enjoyed this second book in Rachel Amphlett's Kay Hunter series. It's a well written police procedural featuring DS Hunter of the Kent Police. Kay is a good police officer, a strong resilient woman with good instincts who enjoys her job and is happily married to a vet. In this episode Kay is called out to a body on the railway track. It looks like a suicide, expect that a witness saw the man struggling and calling for help. This leads Kay's team to take another look at similar suicides on the local train tracks to discover if someone has been getting away with murder.
As well as grappling with this case, Kay is covertly trying to find out who was responsible for her near dismissal in the previous book and even now is still threatening her career. Apart from her DCI, who tries to undermine her whenever possible, she has a good supportive team around her. Particularly fellow detective Ian Barnes, as well as keen new detective, Carys Miles, eager to prove herself and Gavin Piper, a talented PC studying for his detective's exams. Kay's also lucky to have a supportive husband, one who cooks and looks after her. He often brings his patients home from his veterinary practice if they need extra care, so this time she has a very pregnant Great Dane living in her house.
This is a very original plot with the perpetrator and their motive hard to guess. The plot moves at a quick pace and makes for a fast, addictive read as the police race to identify the killer and prevent more deaths. An excellent episode in what is shaping up to be a great series.
As well as grappling with this case, Kay is covertly trying to find out who was responsible for her near dismissal in the previous book and even now is still threatening her career. Apart from her DCI, who tries to undermine her whenever possible, she has a good supportive team around her. Particularly fellow detective Ian Barnes, as well as keen new detective, Carys Miles, eager to prove herself and Gavin Piper, a talented PC studying for his detective's exams. Kay's also lucky to have a supportive husband, one who cooks and looks after her. He often brings his patients home from his veterinary practice if they need extra care, so this time she has a very pregnant Great Dane living in her house.
This is a very original plot with the perpetrator and their motive hard to guess. The plot moves at a quick pace and makes for a fast, addictive read as the police race to identify the killer and prevent more deaths. An excellent episode in what is shaping up to be a great series.
March 21, 2017
Walking her dog by herself in the early dusk was the last thing Elsa wanted to do, but when her husband phoned to say he’d been held up by an accident on the motorway, she knew her old dog needed the walk. So she grabbed her torch and set off – never expecting to witness one of the worst, most traumatic incidents she’d ever seen…
When Detective Sergeant Kay Hunter was notified of another suicide on the railway tracks, she took her colleague Carys along with her. She had no desire to view what she needed to, but knew it had to be done. But she was puzzled as to why they’d been called. A suicide didn’t normally need the homicide squad – but what transpired left Kay in no doubt they had a murder on their hands.
As the investigation deepened, the team realised there was a sadistic serial killer in their midst – they needed to find him fast before he continued his gruesome spree. The suddenness of a second murder on the railway tracks horrified the team – Kay knew the murderer had upped the ante. She needed to find him fast. But was someone out to get Kay as well? She experienced a terrible uneasiness; but she needed to find this killer as a top priority. Could she do it before he murdered again? Or would she be way too late?
Gripping and intense, Will to Live by Aussie author Rachel Amphlett absolutely blew me away! I flew through the pages, unable to put it down. The twists and turns; the side story; the involvement of the team; the camaraderie; the jealousies – all done so extremely well. Will to Live is #2 in the Detective Kay Hunter series and I can’t wait for #3 to be released! This author is firmly on my favourites list – I’ve devoured everything she’s written. Highly recommended.
With thanks to the author for my digital copy to read and review.
When Detective Sergeant Kay Hunter was notified of another suicide on the railway tracks, she took her colleague Carys along with her. She had no desire to view what she needed to, but knew it had to be done. But she was puzzled as to why they’d been called. A suicide didn’t normally need the homicide squad – but what transpired left Kay in no doubt they had a murder on their hands.
As the investigation deepened, the team realised there was a sadistic serial killer in their midst – they needed to find him fast before he continued his gruesome spree. The suddenness of a second murder on the railway tracks horrified the team – Kay knew the murderer had upped the ante. She needed to find him fast. But was someone out to get Kay as well? She experienced a terrible uneasiness; but she needed to find this killer as a top priority. Could she do it before he murdered again? Or would she be way too late?
Gripping and intense, Will to Live by Aussie author Rachel Amphlett absolutely blew me away! I flew through the pages, unable to put it down. The twists and turns; the side story; the involvement of the team; the camaraderie; the jealousies – all done so extremely well. Will to Live is #2 in the Detective Kay Hunter series and I can’t wait for #3 to be released! This author is firmly on my favourites list – I’ve devoured everything she’s written. Highly recommended.
With thanks to the author for my digital copy to read and review.
![Profile Image for Terence M [on a brief semi-hiatus].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1712357414i%2F6658001._UY200_CR4%2C0%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
June 9, 2024
2.5-Stars (but somewhat reluctantly ^^ to) 3-Stars
Rachel Amphlett - Detective Kay Hunter #2 - Will To Live
Audiobook: 08:26 Hours - Narrator: Alison Campbell
Review to follow (possibly😒), but in the meantime:
From my Listening Activity:
May 10, '24 @ 01% "#1 'Scared to Death' earned a 3-Stars rating, but I had anticipated better. Now to see whether #2 'Will to Live' meets my expectations."
May 22, '24 @ 31% "A reasonably sedate 2.5+ hours to start, but hopefully some energy will appear soon."
May 25, '24 @ 99% "Regrettably, I thought the story/plot was quite energetic, but fairly uninteresting, and the murders were simply implausible. Sorry to use the *imp...* word again, but if the bad actor's tactics seem unlikely, the credibility of the whole story suffers."
Rachel Amphlett - Detective Kay Hunter #2 - Will To Live
Audiobook: 08:26 Hours - Narrator: Alison Campbell
Review to follow (possibly😒), but in the meantime:
From my Listening Activity:
May 10, '24 @ 01% "#1 'Scared to Death' earned a 3-Stars rating, but I had anticipated better. Now to see whether #2 'Will to Live' meets my expectations."
May 22, '24 @ 31% "A reasonably sedate 2.5+ hours to start, but hopefully some energy will appear soon."
May 25, '24 @ 99% "Regrettably, I thought the story/plot was quite energetic, but fairly uninteresting, and the murders were simply implausible. Sorry to use the *imp...* word again, but if the bad actor's tactics seem unlikely, the credibility of the whole story suffers."
May 9, 2020
Rachel Amphlett is one of my go to authors when I want a riveting crime read. She delivers time and time again. Will To Live is no exception.
The second novel in the Kay Hunter series is an engrossing, fast read. The plot is easy to follow and never becomes bogged down.
Kay oversees a case involving a murder made to look like a suicide. As her team look for links they reopen old suicide cases re-interviewing family members. They are now concerned there may be a serial killer out there.
This is a well crafted police procedural which sees Kay Hunter running the murder investigation but her previous professional standards investigation, of which she was cleared, is still on her mind. Kay is sure she was framed and is doing her own out of work hours investigation.
Will To Live is fast paced and suspenseful. There is plenty of danger and the hint of a sinister element from within her own workforce.
The second novel in the Kay Hunter series is an engrossing, fast read. The plot is easy to follow and never becomes bogged down.
Kay oversees a case involving a murder made to look like a suicide. As her team look for links they reopen old suicide cases re-interviewing family members. They are now concerned there may be a serial killer out there.
This is a well crafted police procedural which sees Kay Hunter running the murder investigation but her previous professional standards investigation, of which she was cleared, is still on her mind. Kay is sure she was framed and is doing her own out of work hours investigation.
Will To Live is fast paced and suspenseful. There is plenty of danger and the hint of a sinister element from within her own workforce.
December 10, 2017
Will to Live is book two of the Detective Kay Hunter series by Rachel Amphlett. Detective Kay Hunter and her partner caught a case of a man killed by a train. At first, Detective Kay Hunter and her partner thought at first that it was a suicide. However, this was not the case. The readers of Will to Live will continue to follow Detective Kay Hunter investigation into the death of the man on the rail line.
Will to LIve is my second book I have read of Rachel Amphlett, and I am impressed with her books. I love Rachel Amphlett portrayal of her characters especially Kay Hunter. Rachel Amphlett does an excellent job of making Kay Hunter a strong personality at work however at home soft and supportive of her husband. I like the way, Rachel Amphlett, describes her setting and outline the plot of the book to her readers. From the first page, of Will To Live engaged me with the plot and the characters. I also laugh at the way Rachel Amphlett includes Adam's animals in her stories.
The readers of Will to Live will learn about problems and consequences when management do not like you. Also, the readers of Will to will learn about law enforcement in the UK.
I recommend this book.
Will to LIve is my second book I have read of Rachel Amphlett, and I am impressed with her books. I love Rachel Amphlett portrayal of her characters especially Kay Hunter. Rachel Amphlett does an excellent job of making Kay Hunter a strong personality at work however at home soft and supportive of her husband. I like the way, Rachel Amphlett, describes her setting and outline the plot of the book to her readers. From the first page, of Will To Live engaged me with the plot and the characters. I also laugh at the way Rachel Amphlett includes Adam's animals in her stories.
The readers of Will to Live will learn about problems and consequences when management do not like you. Also, the readers of Will to will learn about law enforcement in the UK.
I recommend this book.
April 10, 2017
All of my reviews can be found on www.novelgossip.com
This is the second book in the Kay Hunter series, I reviewed the first one last year and really enjoyed it. I would recommend starting with the first book as it’s really good and they’re also quick reads, plus you’ll be all caught up and aware of the relevant backstories.
This had a really gripping opening, a woman is out one evening walking her dog and finds a man tied to train tracks and he’s desperate for her to help him. She can’t save him in time, and soon Kay and team discover this was no suicide, it’s a cold blooded murder. I loved the originality of the killer’s method, it was terrifying and so unique. Can you even imagine waking up tied to a train track and unable to get free? Then you look up and see lights and a train barreling towards you. So scary!!
There is a lot going on here, there’s obviously the investigation into the train track murders, but Kay is also looking into something on the side, a case she has a personal interest in. It seems someone within her department has a vendetta against her, but why? As she digs deeper to try and find answers it’s clear whoever is behind this is willing to take some extreme measures to keep secrets buried. This was such a great bonus to an already interesting story, things regarding this part were still left very much up in the air and I’m absolutely dying to find out where this is all going.
This is super fast paced, with short chapters and many end with mini cliffhangers. It just begs to be read in one sitting and that’s exactly what I did. No way could I put this one down, it had me totally absorbed. I totally thought I had this one figured out, then Amphlett turned everything upside down and pulled one over on me. It’s another great addition to this series and I can’t wait for book three.
This is the second book in the Kay Hunter series, I reviewed the first one last year and really enjoyed it. I would recommend starting with the first book as it’s really good and they’re also quick reads, plus you’ll be all caught up and aware of the relevant backstories.
This had a really gripping opening, a woman is out one evening walking her dog and finds a man tied to train tracks and he’s desperate for her to help him. She can’t save him in time, and soon Kay and team discover this was no suicide, it’s a cold blooded murder. I loved the originality of the killer’s method, it was terrifying and so unique. Can you even imagine waking up tied to a train track and unable to get free? Then you look up and see lights and a train barreling towards you. So scary!!
There is a lot going on here, there’s obviously the investigation into the train track murders, but Kay is also looking into something on the side, a case she has a personal interest in. It seems someone within her department has a vendetta against her, but why? As she digs deeper to try and find answers it’s clear whoever is behind this is willing to take some extreme measures to keep secrets buried. This was such a great bonus to an already interesting story, things regarding this part were still left very much up in the air and I’m absolutely dying to find out where this is all going.
This is super fast paced, with short chapters and many end with mini cliffhangers. It just begs to be read in one sitting and that’s exactly what I did. No way could I put this one down, it had me totally absorbed. I totally thought I had this one figured out, then Amphlett turned everything upside down and pulled one over on me. It’s another great addition to this series and I can’t wait for book three.
April 4, 2017
Will To Live is the second novel in the Detective Kay Hunter crime series. I would recommend reading Scared To Death which is the first in the series before reading this one for full enjoyment, plus it’s a great book.
The start of this novel has to be one of the best starts to a story that I have read in a long while. Boy did the author grab me by the collar and send me hurdling through the novel. In other words, from that point on I was well and truly hooked and couldn’t put the book down.
Reading of someone being killed by a train is probably not for the faint hearted, but boy does it make for a shocking and gripping read. At times I was literally terrified to read on as to what was going to happen next. It’s like a horror film when you know what’s coming and as much as you want to turn your head away, your eyes are fully glued to what’s happening. Loved it!
Kay and her team seriously have their work cut out to try and find out who is behind the very sinister going on’s. I have to say Cary’s, as much as she does Kay’s head in trying to prove herself, really steps up in the novel and at one my point my heart was literally in my mouth.
Will To Live is a fabulous follow up to what is already set out to be a brilliant crime series. Definitely one for crime readers that love to be thriller.
My thanks to the author for an advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
The start of this novel has to be one of the best starts to a story that I have read in a long while. Boy did the author grab me by the collar and send me hurdling through the novel. In other words, from that point on I was well and truly hooked and couldn’t put the book down.
Reading of someone being killed by a train is probably not for the faint hearted, but boy does it make for a shocking and gripping read. At times I was literally terrified to read on as to what was going to happen next. It’s like a horror film when you know what’s coming and as much as you want to turn your head away, your eyes are fully glued to what’s happening. Loved it!
Kay and her team seriously have their work cut out to try and find out who is behind the very sinister going on’s. I have to say Cary’s, as much as she does Kay’s head in trying to prove herself, really steps up in the novel and at one my point my heart was literally in my mouth.
Will To Live is a fabulous follow up to what is already set out to be a brilliant crime series. Definitely one for crime readers that love to be thriller.
My thanks to the author for an advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
March 31, 2017
Will to Live is the second book in the Kay Hunter series following Kay after the tragic events of the first book in the series “Scared to Death”. And after that fantastic introduction to Detective Kay Hunter I was so excited to read this second book which is, I have to say, even better than the first one!
The first chapter grabs the reader straight away, unusually with an everyday occurrence, as a woman is out walking her dog. But when the dog goes off track, it leads its owner to the railway line and a man who seems to have changed his mind about committing suicide. It’s too late for him despite the best efforts of the poor lady who finds him but was it really suicide? The post mortem seems to suggest otherwise as do the other deaths that follow. And these deaths are rather grim! There’s not much left of these victims once they’ve been hit by a train.
I’ve read a lot of police procedural thrillers recently with varying degrees of success and I’ve discovered that, for me, they work best when the author has created a protagonist that I can really relate to and LIKE! And I absolutely love Kay Hunter! She has just the right mix of professionalism and dedication but with a vulnerability that draws you to her. I find her very charismatic and I’m as interested in her private life as I am in the cases she becomes involved in. This crime was as twisty and turny as the last one and again, although I thought I had worked out what was going on, I wasn’t quite on the mark!
I really, really love this series! Rachel Amphlett has such an easy but engrossing writing style that I could honestly read her books for hours. I’m always gripped from the very first few pages and with Will to Live, I actually read it in one session as I couldn’t put it down. It has a fast paced, intense storyline and I loved it! I will be waiting (not very!) patiently until Kay Hunter is back solving crimes again.
Many thanks to the Rachel Amphlett and Emma Mitchell for my review copy of Will to Live
The first chapter grabs the reader straight away, unusually with an everyday occurrence, as a woman is out walking her dog. But when the dog goes off track, it leads its owner to the railway line and a man who seems to have changed his mind about committing suicide. It’s too late for him despite the best efforts of the poor lady who finds him but was it really suicide? The post mortem seems to suggest otherwise as do the other deaths that follow. And these deaths are rather grim! There’s not much left of these victims once they’ve been hit by a train.
I’ve read a lot of police procedural thrillers recently with varying degrees of success and I’ve discovered that, for me, they work best when the author has created a protagonist that I can really relate to and LIKE! And I absolutely love Kay Hunter! She has just the right mix of professionalism and dedication but with a vulnerability that draws you to her. I find her very charismatic and I’m as interested in her private life as I am in the cases she becomes involved in. This crime was as twisty and turny as the last one and again, although I thought I had worked out what was going on, I wasn’t quite on the mark!
I really, really love this series! Rachel Amphlett has such an easy but engrossing writing style that I could honestly read her books for hours. I’m always gripped from the very first few pages and with Will to Live, I actually read it in one session as I couldn’t put it down. It has a fast paced, intense storyline and I loved it! I will be waiting (not very!) patiently until Kay Hunter is back solving crimes again.
Many thanks to the Rachel Amphlett and Emma Mitchell for my review copy of Will to Live
May 17, 2021
*4.5 stars ✨
June 5, 2017
Will To Live follows Scared To Death in this crime thriller series. For maximum enjoyment, I recommend starting with book one; while the cases in each book are not linked, the backstory is continuous. And if you haven’t read book one yet, it’s awesome – so you’ve got two exciting meetings with Kay Hunter awaiting you!
There’s a stretch of track called ‘Suicide Mile,’ but in Will To Live, the cause of death is anything but suicide. Amphlett has plotted an exciting mystery; can Kay track down the killer before there’s a third body? And what a terrifying way to go….you’re tied to the tracks and a train is hurtling towards you – the train isn’t the only thing that moves at a fast pace, with short, exciting chapters, you’ll fly through this novel!
As I mentioned earlier, there’s an ongoing storyline in this book that follows on from book one, in which Kay is looking for the person responsible for her ending up in front of the Professional Standards Committee with her career on the line. In Will To Live Kay begins her own covert investigation into who framed her and things are really heating up. I probably enjoyed this sub plot, the same as, if not more, that the main case. We get to see some of the fallout from Kay working in secret and Amphlett knows how to build suspense; I’m so excited for book three – whose name was on the deleted file Kay!? Who’s trying to blacklist you!?
As in book one, I enjoyed reading Kay’s interactions with her husband, Adam, they make a great fictional couple – I love that they actually like each other and he doesn’t resent the long hours she puts in at work. Adam is a vet so it’s always fun to see which animal he’s going to bring home to look after.
Will To Live is fast-paced, thrilling and thoroughly enjoyable – a crime thriller series worth investing in!
There’s a stretch of track called ‘Suicide Mile,’ but in Will To Live, the cause of death is anything but suicide. Amphlett has plotted an exciting mystery; can Kay track down the killer before there’s a third body? And what a terrifying way to go….you’re tied to the tracks and a train is hurtling towards you – the train isn’t the only thing that moves at a fast pace, with short, exciting chapters, you’ll fly through this novel!
As I mentioned earlier, there’s an ongoing storyline in this book that follows on from book one, in which Kay is looking for the person responsible for her ending up in front of the Professional Standards Committee with her career on the line. In Will To Live Kay begins her own covert investigation into who framed her and things are really heating up. I probably enjoyed this sub plot, the same as, if not more, that the main case. We get to see some of the fallout from Kay working in secret and Amphlett knows how to build suspense; I’m so excited for book three – whose name was on the deleted file Kay!? Who’s trying to blacklist you!?
As in book one, I enjoyed reading Kay’s interactions with her husband, Adam, they make a great fictional couple – I love that they actually like each other and he doesn’t resent the long hours she puts in at work. Adam is a vet so it’s always fun to see which animal he’s going to bring home to look after.
Will To Live is fast-paced, thrilling and thoroughly enjoyable – a crime thriller series worth investing in!
August 6, 2020
Fast becoming a favourite series! Love the guess work, false leads, and red herrings. Had me fooled for quite a while! Great read, highly recommend!
4 solid stars and 2 thumbs up!
From the Blurb: As the investigation evolves and a pattern of murders is uncovered, Detective Sergeant Kay Hunter realises the railway’s recent reputation may be the work of a brutal serial killer.
With a backlog of cold cases to investigate and attempting to uncover who is behind a professional vendetta against her, Kay must keep one step ahead of both the killer and her own adversaries.
When a second murder takes place within a week of the first, she realises the killer’s timetable has changed, and she’s running out of time to stop him…
4 solid stars and 2 thumbs up!
From the Blurb: As the investigation evolves and a pattern of murders is uncovered, Detective Sergeant Kay Hunter realises the railway’s recent reputation may be the work of a brutal serial killer.
With a backlog of cold cases to investigate and attempting to uncover who is behind a professional vendetta against her, Kay must keep one step ahead of both the killer and her own adversaries.
When a second murder takes place within a week of the first, she realises the killer’s timetable has changed, and she’s running out of time to stop him…
April 8, 2017
Having read and enjoyed 'Scared to Death', the first DS Kay Hunter thriller by Rachel Amphlett, I was ecstatic when I was offered an advanced copy of her second one, 'Will to Live', to read and review.
This book's cover is beautiful, intriguing and attractive, clearly illustrating the story's theme. Yes, we have trains involved in this book but also a sick mind loving nothing more than seeing helpless victims reduced to pulp on railway tracks.
As for the first book in the series, the author wastes no time in shaking up the reader with a terrifying, heart-in-mouth opening chapter. When a dog walker goes to investigate a cry for help, she's faced with a horrific scene. A man is helplessly sprawled on the train tracks, terrified and shouting for help. He's unable to get up, and from behind the wire fence that runs along the tracks, the woman is unable to do anything to save him from being crushed by the fast-approaching train right in front of her eyes.
When Kay and her team are called to the scene, evidence shows this wasn't a case of a person wanting to commit suicide and changing mind at the last moment. This was murder. Who was this poor man? What monster would do such a thing to another human being?
When another person is murdered in the same grisly way soon after, Kay is sure the killer is working through a list but in order to solve the case, she must find a link between the victims.
Apart from this baffling case, Kay finds herself battling against an unknown enemy within the force. Someone is determined to stop her from further investigating a case that had nearly resulted in her dismissal from the force. Who is this unknown person? Why are they doing this to her?
Well, once again Ms Amphlett didn't disappoint and has written another intriguing, fast-paced book that kept me on my toes and interested throughout. Although second in a series, 'Will to Live' can very well be read as a standalone.
This was the first time I've read a book where a serial killer uses trains as weapons of choice and I think this is a brilliant, original idea and a welcome departure from what we're usually used to expect in such books.
Kay is quickly becoming one of my favourite fictional characters. She's so realistic, interesting and likeable. She's a competent detective who has had her fair share of heartache. But despite this, her incessant hunger for justice keeps her going on. I like the strong camaraderie that exists between her team members. But why does the obnoxious Superintendent Larch hate Kay so much?
'Will to Live' is a hair-raising thriller that made me wince and bite my knuckles numerous times. The author's vivid descriptions give a clear sense of the surroundings, especially around the railway tracks, putting the reader right there, at the scene. But the author's words also bring to life the unspeakable horror experienced by the helpless victims. OMG! Just imagine yourself lying in the path of an oncoming high-speed train and unable to do anything about it other than close your eyes and scream! Luckily, the relaxed atmosphere at Kay's home, where she lives with her vet husband, Adam, serves as a welcome reprieve from the suspense oozing out of the rest of the book.
Amidst the investigation and all the tension and drama, the author skilfully tackles sensitive subjects like depression and suicide. As the plot thickens we're given a hint as to why the killer is doing what they're doing and even though I had my suspicions, there was no way I could have guessed the killer's identity. The author reveals it only in the last heart-pounding scene.
With 'Will to Live', the author has awarded her readers with yet another thrilling, adrenaline-pumping ride. It is a fab, engrossing book full of twists and turns and goosebump-inducing scenes. I really enjoyed it and I highly recommend it. Ms Amphlett, bring on the next one!
With thanks to the author for a review copy of this book that I voluntarily accepted to read and review and to Ms Emma Mitchell for inviting me to take part in the blog tour of this book.
This book's cover is beautiful, intriguing and attractive, clearly illustrating the story's theme. Yes, we have trains involved in this book but also a sick mind loving nothing more than seeing helpless victims reduced to pulp on railway tracks.
As for the first book in the series, the author wastes no time in shaking up the reader with a terrifying, heart-in-mouth opening chapter. When a dog walker goes to investigate a cry for help, she's faced with a horrific scene. A man is helplessly sprawled on the train tracks, terrified and shouting for help. He's unable to get up, and from behind the wire fence that runs along the tracks, the woman is unable to do anything to save him from being crushed by the fast-approaching train right in front of her eyes.
When Kay and her team are called to the scene, evidence shows this wasn't a case of a person wanting to commit suicide and changing mind at the last moment. This was murder. Who was this poor man? What monster would do such a thing to another human being?
When another person is murdered in the same grisly way soon after, Kay is sure the killer is working through a list but in order to solve the case, she must find a link between the victims.
Apart from this baffling case, Kay finds herself battling against an unknown enemy within the force. Someone is determined to stop her from further investigating a case that had nearly resulted in her dismissal from the force. Who is this unknown person? Why are they doing this to her?
Well, once again Ms Amphlett didn't disappoint and has written another intriguing, fast-paced book that kept me on my toes and interested throughout. Although second in a series, 'Will to Live' can very well be read as a standalone.
This was the first time I've read a book where a serial killer uses trains as weapons of choice and I think this is a brilliant, original idea and a welcome departure from what we're usually used to expect in such books.
Kay is quickly becoming one of my favourite fictional characters. She's so realistic, interesting and likeable. She's a competent detective who has had her fair share of heartache. But despite this, her incessant hunger for justice keeps her going on. I like the strong camaraderie that exists between her team members. But why does the obnoxious Superintendent Larch hate Kay so much?
'Will to Live' is a hair-raising thriller that made me wince and bite my knuckles numerous times. The author's vivid descriptions give a clear sense of the surroundings, especially around the railway tracks, putting the reader right there, at the scene. But the author's words also bring to life the unspeakable horror experienced by the helpless victims. OMG! Just imagine yourself lying in the path of an oncoming high-speed train and unable to do anything about it other than close your eyes and scream! Luckily, the relaxed atmosphere at Kay's home, where she lives with her vet husband, Adam, serves as a welcome reprieve from the suspense oozing out of the rest of the book.
Amidst the investigation and all the tension and drama, the author skilfully tackles sensitive subjects like depression and suicide. As the plot thickens we're given a hint as to why the killer is doing what they're doing and even though I had my suspicions, there was no way I could have guessed the killer's identity. The author reveals it only in the last heart-pounding scene.
With 'Will to Live', the author has awarded her readers with yet another thrilling, adrenaline-pumping ride. It is a fab, engrossing book full of twists and turns and goosebump-inducing scenes. I really enjoyed it and I highly recommend it. Ms Amphlett, bring on the next one!
With thanks to the author for a review copy of this book that I voluntarily accepted to read and review and to Ms Emma Mitchell for inviting me to take part in the blog tour of this book.
April 6, 2017
Warning: do not start reading Will to Live while having dinner. In fact, avoid all meal times around this book, because the story hits the ground running and then you'll be so engrossed in the events that whatever dish is on the table will be cold by the time to remember you have a stomach to feed anyway!
Okay, now that this is said, let's go back to the start.
Like many of you, I had seen so much praise for Rachel Amphlett's first book that I bought the story, but the never-ending game of the reading list has prevented me to read it... yet.
The day I saw the cover for Will to Live, I thought “The hell with my plans and my obsessional need to read series in order, I'm getting involved in this!” Was I afraid of missing hints and pieces of the story by jumping on the bandwagon with the second book in the Kay Hunter series? Yes. Did it influence my way of approaching the book? Yes, I did my best to pay even more attention than usual to details, names, personalities. But I shouldn't have worried, because Rachel's vivid and spot-on writing makes it so easy to enter Kay's world that you don't need the extra effort. Open you eyes and make the first step, Rachel has you covered.
As I said earlier, the opening needs a warning. Starting with such a normal action such as walking the dog talked to me, as I do it four times a day! And according to a dear author I love, statistics prove we dog-owners are prone to witness the worst. I must say the stats are right on this one! As a squeamish young lady, I was surprised that instead of grossing me out, the event presented at the beginning pulled me into the story and from this point onward, I was unable to tear myself away from the pages.
Will to Live was devoured in a single sitting. As a slow and busy reader, this rarely happens. Here's what kept me lose all track of time.
The team effort. Yes, Kay Hunter is the main protagonist, but she's thrown into a realistic police precinct with bosses and colleagues, friendships and grudges, things that bring authenticity and more weight to everything Kay does. She is not a super cop working on her own, her actions and the actions of those around her have consequences on everyone and I just loved the attention the author added to make sure everyone felt like a genuine person and not a shop dummy. My mind couldn't help but imagine the team space in Broadchurch and I could clearly see a crowded room, paperwork piling up on desks, telephones ringing every minute and the buzz of people working against the clock!
Kay herself is what makes the book different. First of all, Kay is one of my favorite names. I owe it to Scarpetta and the strong personality I attached to the name because of her. But this Kay is different, in a brilliant way. I know, you might be thinking “another woman detective??” I hear you, but hey, men stole the scene for so long, I am glad to see an array of female in the police force! Especially when they are not robots. Kay is resilient, she has at heart to do her best in her job, she cares about the people around her, but she's also a woman with a personal life which is not as chaotic as what we are used to. I think I was curious about the detective, but I fell for the woman. The more I learned about her through her thoughts and doings, the more I wanted to know and dig deeper. She has her own struggles and issues, but her personal life felt homey and natural and it only made me care more for her as I hoped she could preserve this bubble of safety.
Last but not least, the investigation itself has the perfect balance that every crime story lover expects! I'm not a big fan of grizly murders and gruesome details, remember I'm squeamish and easily freaked out by vivid and accurate descriptions! But Rachel Amphlett tricked me and before I could realize, I was witnessing the worst and chasing a real monster. How did I handle the hard and macabre parts? I only followed Kay and the team, my stomach clenched at the same time as theirs, my eyes averted any unpleasant views as much as possible, just as theirs did. I loved the description and the originality of the case because those genuine characters I was talking about earlier were feeling just as bad as I was, and we were all spurred by the same gut feeling to make the nightmare stop. I really felt I was a part of the team and that's what helped me. Don't let my rambling turn you off, it really isn't that horrific, I'm only very sensitive!
Also, bonus points for real investigation time frame. You don't get results two hours after you sent them to the lab unless you are Horatio Caine. I'm very picky with this kind of things because their accuracy weighs a lot in whether or not I'll care about the plot and investigation itself. And every crime thrillers reader wants to be swept away by a taut and plausible plot, right?
So we have a good team, blood, and a strong sense of time. What finished to convince me was the subplot stemming from the first book, the underlying tension I could feel but not make sense of. Contrary to what I first believed, it was absolutely not frustrating. It only made me wish I could push the stop button, read the first book, and come back! You get enough hints so that the problem keeps niggling you, always in a corner of your mind, just like Kay, and it brings a few surprises that add to the intensity of the already intricate current investigation.
I'll stop by saying I was fooled. I'm not ashamed to say the author had me and it doesn't happen that much. I was looking for twists and red herrings and trying all kinds of theories. In the end, it turned out I was wrong, but it felt just right!
Overall, I was utterly impressed by the unique character created by Rachel Amphlett and the horrendously brilliant investigation masterfully combined with the shadow of old ghosts ready to haunt you, all wrapped in the thin veil of a normal daily life.
Now if you'll excuse me, I need to get back to Kay with the first book!
I would like to thank Emma and Rachel for inviting me to take part in this blog tour.
November 27, 2017
I love this series! Kay Hunter is such a strong and real character. Her and the team really care and will stop at nothing to solve the case.... can't wait for book 3!
November 1, 2024
Sooo intriguing!! High suspense, a bit morbid and overall a good story!!
May 2, 2017
**Four and half stars out of five**
I very much enjoyed DS Kay Hunter’s latest outing. Maybe more so than the first book. I felt this novel gave a lot more information about Kay’s past which I was left wondering about previously. And the other characters seemed to shine through a little more. In the first book one character in particular, DC Ian Barnes, left me a little cold. This completely changed whilst reading Will to Live and I became rather fond of Kay’s sarcastic sidekick.
I absolutely loved the killer’s method of disposing of his victims. What a different and interesting solution, and it fitted beautifully with the rest of the story. Throughout the book I struggled to tie the different threads together and couldn’t predict which way Amphlett was going to take the story. And when it came to the big reveal, I was both surprised and shocked at the outcome. A joy to read.
There are some fairly gory scenes in this book which of course, ticked all the boxes for me but some readers may find them a little hard to stomach. Don’t let that put you off though as this book is worth it even if you’re not one for blood, guts and gore.
Would I recommend this book? Most definitely but make sure you read Scared to Death first. You could read this as standalone but I think it works better if you start with the first book in the series (same with every other series out there really!). A really absorbing plot, great characters who are really coming into their own and a series to watch. I can’t wait to see where Rachel Amphlett takes Kay Hunter and her team next.
Four and a half stars out of five.
I chose to read and review an ARC of Will to Live. The above review is my own unbiased opinion.
I very much enjoyed DS Kay Hunter’s latest outing. Maybe more so than the first book. I felt this novel gave a lot more information about Kay’s past which I was left wondering about previously. And the other characters seemed to shine through a little more. In the first book one character in particular, DC Ian Barnes, left me a little cold. This completely changed whilst reading Will to Live and I became rather fond of Kay’s sarcastic sidekick.
I absolutely loved the killer’s method of disposing of his victims. What a different and interesting solution, and it fitted beautifully with the rest of the story. Throughout the book I struggled to tie the different threads together and couldn’t predict which way Amphlett was going to take the story. And when it came to the big reveal, I was both surprised and shocked at the outcome. A joy to read.
There are some fairly gory scenes in this book which of course, ticked all the boxes for me but some readers may find them a little hard to stomach. Don’t let that put you off though as this book is worth it even if you’re not one for blood, guts and gore.
Would I recommend this book? Most definitely but make sure you read Scared to Death first. You could read this as standalone but I think it works better if you start with the first book in the series (same with every other series out there really!). A really absorbing plot, great characters who are really coming into their own and a series to watch. I can’t wait to see where Rachel Amphlett takes Kay Hunter and her team next.
Four and a half stars out of five.
I chose to read and review an ARC of Will to Live. The above review is my own unbiased opinion.
May 27, 2022
Review to come.
Another gripping instalment in a great series.
Another gripping instalment in a great series.
April 7, 2017
Will To Live is the second book in the Kay Hunter series and it's even better than the first one.
When a train runs over a body on the tracks, it soon becomes clear this wasn't a suicide. It doesn't take long for Kay to realise there may be more victims of this novel way of murdering someone.
Meanwhile, it's also becoming increasingly obvious that someone is raging a personal vendetta against her. But who? And why? Kay continues to investigate but is she putting anyone in danger by doing so?
One of the things I love so much about this series are the various layers and threads. There's the murder investigation, there's the personal investigation and there's Kay's private life. The moments when she's at home with Adam, who keeps bringing animals home (thank goodness not a snake this time!), offer some relief from the dark brutality of the murders. Not just for her, but for us as a reader too. It works like a charm.
This is quite a quick and action-packed read. All the characters in the team work really well together, even though you're left to wonder who Kay can trust. There's something quite natural about the way Rachel Amphlett writes and I can see myself having the kinds of conversation her characters have. Nothing stilted here.
While this can be read as a stand-alone, I suggest you read Scared To Death first. And then get comfortable because I have no doubt there is way more to come from Kay and Rachel Amphlett.
When a train runs over a body on the tracks, it soon becomes clear this wasn't a suicide. It doesn't take long for Kay to realise there may be more victims of this novel way of murdering someone.
Meanwhile, it's also becoming increasingly obvious that someone is raging a personal vendetta against her. But who? And why? Kay continues to investigate but is she putting anyone in danger by doing so?
One of the things I love so much about this series are the various layers and threads. There's the murder investigation, there's the personal investigation and there's Kay's private life. The moments when she's at home with Adam, who keeps bringing animals home (thank goodness not a snake this time!), offer some relief from the dark brutality of the murders. Not just for her, but for us as a reader too. It works like a charm.
This is quite a quick and action-packed read. All the characters in the team work really well together, even though you're left to wonder who Kay can trust. There's something quite natural about the way Rachel Amphlett writes and I can see myself having the kinds of conversation her characters have. Nothing stilted here.
While this can be read as a stand-alone, I suggest you read Scared To Death first. And then get comfortable because I have no doubt there is way more to come from Kay and Rachel Amphlett.
January 18, 2020
I really enjoyed this, and read it in two sittings! The story had me reading "just one more chapter" well into the night. However, one of my pet hates is storylines that don't tie up at the end of the novel. Whilst I plan on carrying on with the series, I was left disappointed that the story that was left unresolved from the first novel was still unresolved - and was very much left with the impression that it will be an ongoing storyline possibly even beyond the next novel.
March 28, 2017
‘Reputation is everything’
Following on from the success of Book 1 'Scared To Death', Will to Live is the second book in a new crime thriller series featuring Kay Hunter – a detective with a hidden past and an uncertain future…
‘Help! Please – somebody help me!’
These are the words Elsa Flanagan hears as she walks her dog one evening near the train tracks close to her home. With a pounding heart and on unsteady legs, Elsa soon finds herself a witness to the most horrific and traumatic event.
On the scene immediately is Detective Sergeant Kay Hunter. A suspected suicide soon develops into something much more, as the evidence at the scene alludes to a very violent and cold-blooded murder.
With the assistance of her colleagues, Kay Hunter discovers that this is a case with the potential of exploding into something a lot bigger. As the team delve into a few more recent and apparent suicides, it soon transpires that this may be the work of a serial killer.
The strategy changes as the team grasp the extent of the challenge ahead of them.
Kay Hunter is fighting on all sides.
Having being embroiled in a case that nearly cost her her career and did result in a personal loss, Kay is convinced there is still a personal vendetta against her. Remaining vigilant at all times, Kay is concerned that this hostility against her could potentially affect the lives of people close to her. She has to deal with a number of unpleasant colleagues and in addition a number of unexplained incidents arise, causing Kay great unease.
As the murder investigation moves up a notch, Kay and her team, are trying to keep one step ahead of a killer. There is something quite personal about the killers choice of victim. This is no random act and Kay is fearful of their ability of stopping the perpetrator before the next move is made.
Will to Live is a race against time.
It is fast and furious with no indication given as to who, what and how until you turn the last few pages.
What I love about the Kay Hunter series from Rachel Amphlett is that these books are not just crime fiction.
The reader gets a peak into the personal life of Kay. We see her interaction with her husband Adam and the intimate secrets they share. We also are introduced to the somewhat fraught relationship she has with her mother and sister. Kay Hunter suffers from the insecurities in life that we all have but yet she is a detective that always strives for justice for the victim and for herself.
I mentioned in my previous review of Scared To Death that this series would transfer very well to film or TV and I still believe that to be the case.
Kay Hunter is the perfect protagonist. She is tough. She is fair. She has a heart…..
Following on from the success of Book 1 'Scared To Death', Will to Live is the second book in a new crime thriller series featuring Kay Hunter – a detective with a hidden past and an uncertain future…
‘Help! Please – somebody help me!’
These are the words Elsa Flanagan hears as she walks her dog one evening near the train tracks close to her home. With a pounding heart and on unsteady legs, Elsa soon finds herself a witness to the most horrific and traumatic event.
On the scene immediately is Detective Sergeant Kay Hunter. A suspected suicide soon develops into something much more, as the evidence at the scene alludes to a very violent and cold-blooded murder.
With the assistance of her colleagues, Kay Hunter discovers that this is a case with the potential of exploding into something a lot bigger. As the team delve into a few more recent and apparent suicides, it soon transpires that this may be the work of a serial killer.
The strategy changes as the team grasp the extent of the challenge ahead of them.
Kay Hunter is fighting on all sides.
Having being embroiled in a case that nearly cost her her career and did result in a personal loss, Kay is convinced there is still a personal vendetta against her. Remaining vigilant at all times, Kay is concerned that this hostility against her could potentially affect the lives of people close to her. She has to deal with a number of unpleasant colleagues and in addition a number of unexplained incidents arise, causing Kay great unease.
As the murder investigation moves up a notch, Kay and her team, are trying to keep one step ahead of a killer. There is something quite personal about the killers choice of victim. This is no random act and Kay is fearful of their ability of stopping the perpetrator before the next move is made.
Will to Live is a race against time.
It is fast and furious with no indication given as to who, what and how until you turn the last few pages.
What I love about the Kay Hunter series from Rachel Amphlett is that these books are not just crime fiction.
The reader gets a peak into the personal life of Kay. We see her interaction with her husband Adam and the intimate secrets they share. We also are introduced to the somewhat fraught relationship she has with her mother and sister. Kay Hunter suffers from the insecurities in life that we all have but yet she is a detective that always strives for justice for the victim and for herself.
I mentioned in my previous review of Scared To Death that this series would transfer very well to film or TV and I still believe that to be the case.
Kay Hunter is the perfect protagonist. She is tough. She is fair. She has a heart…..
May 21, 2017
This is the second book in the DS Kay Hunter series and whilst Will to Live could be read as a standalone, I recommend that you read Scared to Death first as it'll make for a heightened reading experience of this one as there are continuing story lines running through both books. I started reading this with excitement as I loved the first book, but also with a little trepidation as to whether this would be as good - I needn't have worried as this is another fantastic Kay Hunter book!
As with Scared to Death, Amphlett draws the reader in right from the opening chapter. A dog walker is out on a evening stroll with a torch running low on batteries and without her mobile phone. She comes across a man on a railway line who appears to have changed his mind about committing suicide but why won't he move? This is a distressing scene for both the victim in the last moments of life and the woman who comes across him as she cannot get to him to help.
When the pathologist provides evidence against the suicide theory and another body turns up on the railway lines, it is clear they have a murderer on their hands.
Will to Live is a fast paced, gripping story with a unique murder weapon...trains, who'd have thought?! Aside from the murder investigation, Will to Live also tackles a difficult subject with the underlying theme of depression and what can lead people to take their own lives. This is sensitively handled, showing the isolating effects upon those that suffer as well as the impact that it has upon those around them.
Alongside the main investigation, Kay is still haunted by the missed conviction which nearly resulted in her losing her job. She has commenced her own investigation into what happened to the key evidence in that case which puts both her and her colleagues in danger as there is someone trying their very best to stop her from unearthing the truth.
Amphlett has created a very likeable protagonist in Kay who is both determined in her investigations and her progression up the career ladder as well as supportive of her team. She also has a softer side that is shown through her relationship with her partner, Adam and the dog they are looking after who is about to give birth.
I thoroughly enjoyed this second investigation by DS Kay Hunter and her team
As with Scared to Death, Amphlett draws the reader in right from the opening chapter. A dog walker is out on a evening stroll with a torch running low on batteries and without her mobile phone. She comes across a man on a railway line who appears to have changed his mind about committing suicide but why won't he move? This is a distressing scene for both the victim in the last moments of life and the woman who comes across him as she cannot get to him to help.
When the pathologist provides evidence against the suicide theory and another body turns up on the railway lines, it is clear they have a murderer on their hands.
Will to Live is a fast paced, gripping story with a unique murder weapon...trains, who'd have thought?! Aside from the murder investigation, Will to Live also tackles a difficult subject with the underlying theme of depression and what can lead people to take their own lives. This is sensitively handled, showing the isolating effects upon those that suffer as well as the impact that it has upon those around them.
Alongside the main investigation, Kay is still haunted by the missed conviction which nearly resulted in her losing her job. She has commenced her own investigation into what happened to the key evidence in that case which puts both her and her colleagues in danger as there is someone trying their very best to stop her from unearthing the truth.
Amphlett has created a very likeable protagonist in Kay who is both determined in her investigations and her progression up the career ladder as well as supportive of her team. She also has a softer side that is shown through her relationship with her partner, Adam and the dog they are looking after who is about to give birth.
I thoroughly enjoyed this second investigation by DS Kay Hunter and her team
June 23, 2020
A great well paced story. This book kept my interest from beginning to end, with an unexpected twist at the end. Good character development and side stories which enrich the book. Looking forward to reading the next book in the Detective Kay Hunter series.
April 7, 2017
Loved this book, fast becoming addicted to Kay Hunter.
June 21, 2018
Finished reading: June 20th 2018
"He understood grief, all right. It was savage; all-consuming. Every waking moment was spent wondering what it would be like now if she were still alive."
*** A copy of this book was kindly provided to me by the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ***
P.S. Find more of my reviews here.
March 29, 2017
Got to be honest here - after the heart thumping opening to Scared to Death, I didn't think it would be possible to top it. How could Rachel Amphlett possibly recreate such a tense situation or match the growing panic that you could feel emanating from each and every page? Well - you'll have to read Will To Live to find out the answer to that one because, trust me, she did. The opening of this book is dynamite and I loved it.
Damn. Might have given myself a way a little too early in the review there... Ah well. **Spoiler Alert** - This review is going to be a tad on the positive side. And that's the last and only spoiler you're going to get from me today so you're safe to read on.
What a book. Picking up a short time after we left Kay and the team at the end of Scared to Death, she is still trying to find out the truth behind the incident which has cast doubt upon her reliability, led to an irreparable breakdown in her trust of her colleagues and effectively stalled her career. The need to find answers plays constantly on her mind and leads to some real conflict throughout the novel, putting people who Kay cares about at risk as someone sends a very personal message to her to stop digging. But this private investigation, however important, is still secondary to the central theme of the book. The apparent suicides of several men on a notorious stretch of railway in Kent.
I say apparent because, as you can already see from the blurb, at least one of these deaths is not quite as cut and dried as it first appears. After a witness informs them that the victim had changed his mind shortly before his death, and as a result of the crime scene investigators findings, Kay and her team take a closer look at some older cases which leads them to a pretty startling discovery. It then falls to Kay to find out what is really going on and put a stop to it before there are any more deaths. Lord knows commute times are long enough in the South East without unnecessary bodies on the track holding the trains up, and with DCI Larch as against Kay as ever, she finds herself under pressure from all sides. Which is okay because we like pressure and conflict. It makes for good reading.
The pacing in the book is spot on. Moving from the steady pace of an investigation - interviews, postmortem, the agonising wait for forensic evidence - to the more hectic final showdown with the perpetrator, at which point the narrative hurtled along with the break neck speed of an East Coast London to Edinburgh express train, Amphlett creates the perfect balance. I found myself sucked into the story, happily propelled through each page and every second of the action. There wasn't a moment that I wasn't engaged, such is the beauty of the writing here. While the author touches on some very emotive subjects, depression and suicide, they are handled in a very sympathetic way, not graphic or sensationalist, in fact at times poignant as you realise the fragility of the human mind, and the impact tragedy can have on individuals no matter how outwardly strong they may appear.
One of the key things which really makes this story for me is the quality of the characters. There isn't a single one who didn't feel authentic, who didn't add to the story. Kay Hunter and her team are brilliant - each one of them adds a different dimension to the investigation and the private rivalry between Gavin and Carys, or more accurately from Carys towards Gavin, is totally believable. Barnes is back on form after the stresses of the previous story, but it is Kay who really stands out. Her relationship with her partner Adam is brilliant and the chemistry between them jumps off the page. I miss Sid ;) but in fairness Holly was a nice temporary addition to the family. I really do love the way Rachel Amphlett creates characters. Her protagonists always have such fire and determination, such grit, and she really makes them live for me. Just brilliant.
There are enough false starts and red herrings in this book to keep the reader guessing until the end. Although we are treated to chapters told in the killers voice, we never really know who they are. And I love it when that happens, when you can get right to the very end of a novel and think how in the heck did I miss that? This book gave me that. I was so absorbed in everything else that I missed what was right in front of my face. And the ending leaves things wide open for Kay in the next book which I absolutely cannot wait to get my hands on.
A stonking, steaming, I-knew-I-never-trusted-Thomas-the-Tank-Engine 5 stars from me.
Damn. Might have given myself a way a little too early in the review there... Ah well. **Spoiler Alert** - This review is going to be a tad on the positive side. And that's the last and only spoiler you're going to get from me today so you're safe to read on.
What a book. Picking up a short time after we left Kay and the team at the end of Scared to Death, she is still trying to find out the truth behind the incident which has cast doubt upon her reliability, led to an irreparable breakdown in her trust of her colleagues and effectively stalled her career. The need to find answers plays constantly on her mind and leads to some real conflict throughout the novel, putting people who Kay cares about at risk as someone sends a very personal message to her to stop digging. But this private investigation, however important, is still secondary to the central theme of the book. The apparent suicides of several men on a notorious stretch of railway in Kent.
I say apparent because, as you can already see from the blurb, at least one of these deaths is not quite as cut and dried as it first appears. After a witness informs them that the victim had changed his mind shortly before his death, and as a result of the crime scene investigators findings, Kay and her team take a closer look at some older cases which leads them to a pretty startling discovery. It then falls to Kay to find out what is really going on and put a stop to it before there are any more deaths. Lord knows commute times are long enough in the South East without unnecessary bodies on the track holding the trains up, and with DCI Larch as against Kay as ever, she finds herself under pressure from all sides. Which is okay because we like pressure and conflict. It makes for good reading.
The pacing in the book is spot on. Moving from the steady pace of an investigation - interviews, postmortem, the agonising wait for forensic evidence - to the more hectic final showdown with the perpetrator, at which point the narrative hurtled along with the break neck speed of an East Coast London to Edinburgh express train, Amphlett creates the perfect balance. I found myself sucked into the story, happily propelled through each page and every second of the action. There wasn't a moment that I wasn't engaged, such is the beauty of the writing here. While the author touches on some very emotive subjects, depression and suicide, they are handled in a very sympathetic way, not graphic or sensationalist, in fact at times poignant as you realise the fragility of the human mind, and the impact tragedy can have on individuals no matter how outwardly strong they may appear.
One of the key things which really makes this story for me is the quality of the characters. There isn't a single one who didn't feel authentic, who didn't add to the story. Kay Hunter and her team are brilliant - each one of them adds a different dimension to the investigation and the private rivalry between Gavin and Carys, or more accurately from Carys towards Gavin, is totally believable. Barnes is back on form after the stresses of the previous story, but it is Kay who really stands out. Her relationship with her partner Adam is brilliant and the chemistry between them jumps off the page. I miss Sid ;) but in fairness Holly was a nice temporary addition to the family. I really do love the way Rachel Amphlett creates characters. Her protagonists always have such fire and determination, such grit, and she really makes them live for me. Just brilliant.
There are enough false starts and red herrings in this book to keep the reader guessing until the end. Although we are treated to chapters told in the killers voice, we never really know who they are. And I love it when that happens, when you can get right to the very end of a novel and think how in the heck did I miss that? This book gave me that. I was so absorbed in everything else that I missed what was right in front of my face. And the ending leaves things wide open for Kay in the next book which I absolutely cannot wait to get my hands on.
A stonking, steaming, I-knew-I-never-trusted-Thomas-the-Tank-Engine 5 stars from me.
April 9, 2018
Among all the suicides occurred at the railway tracks, Kay discovers that some of them are in fact murders, and the murderer has an agenda. At the same time she is dealing with uncovering the truth over a past investigation that almost destroyed her reputation, and this will be more dangerous than she expected.
After devouring the previous book I was looking forward to this one. I found the main story a little bit less appealing than in the previous one, but it's all balanced because here Amphlett also focuses on what will be the series arc, and I found that part of the story much more intriguing. The book could be read as a standalone, but this piece of the story will get any reader invested. This subject was just mentioned in book one, but there was no development so this book would be valid to start the series. Not that I recommend it since book one was amazing.
The plot was rightly balanced between the story and the series arc, and there was a big twist towards the end, just when I thought the book was predictable!
We learn more details about the characters in this book, and some of the secondaries have started to grow on me. I have the feeling that this is going to be a very enjoyable series.
Alison Campbell brought again the characters to life, and delivered a clear and engaging narration that kept me hooked to the story. There were just a couple of audio edits that distracted me a little bit but nothing too noticeable, I'm just picky with these things having worked on audio and video editing.
I need to start the next book and see where Kay's story takes me. I predict this series to be one of the best this year.
I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by Rachel Amphlett. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.
After devouring the previous book I was looking forward to this one. I found the main story a little bit less appealing than in the previous one, but it's all balanced because here Amphlett also focuses on what will be the series arc, and I found that part of the story much more intriguing. The book could be read as a standalone, but this piece of the story will get any reader invested. This subject was just mentioned in book one, but there was no development so this book would be valid to start the series. Not that I recommend it since book one was amazing.
The plot was rightly balanced between the story and the series arc, and there was a big twist towards the end, just when I thought the book was predictable!
We learn more details about the characters in this book, and some of the secondaries have started to grow on me. I have the feeling that this is going to be a very enjoyable series.
Alison Campbell brought again the characters to life, and delivered a clear and engaging narration that kept me hooked to the story. There were just a couple of audio edits that distracted me a little bit but nothing too noticeable, I'm just picky with these things having worked on audio and video editing.
I need to start the next book and see where Kay's story takes me. I predict this series to be one of the best this year.
I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by Rachel Amphlett. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.
November 30, 2022
This was a super fast and engaging read (read pretty much in one sitting). It is very much on par with book #1 with an engaging mystery that begins and ends with this book and a few more insights into the overarching mystery that stems across all the books in the series.
Kay is a great lead detective and I really like the aspects of the story about her solving the crime, but also those insights into her personal life (love her partner - he better not get killed off!!!). What else can I say, these are just really easy to read books. I am a fan.
There were a few little holes in the overarching mystery that bothered me in this book more than book #1 , but I will wait to see how they play out in later books.
I would have probably devoured this series by now if my library had the books or if they ever went on sale on Kindle. But alas, I am just pacing myself with one or two indulgent purchases a year until then.
Reading Challenge
Aussie Readers 2022 November "Joanna Nell" Challenge: Joanna was born in the UK but lives now in Sydney. Read a book set in the UK
Kay is a great lead detective and I really like the aspects of the story about her solving the crime, but also those insights into her personal life (love her partner - he better not get killed off!!!). What else can I say, these are just really easy to read books. I am a fan.
There were a few little holes in the overarching mystery that bothered me in this book more than book #1 , but I will wait to see how they play out in later books.
I would have probably devoured this series by now if my library had the books or if they ever went on sale on Kindle. But alas, I am just pacing myself with one or two indulgent purchases a year until then.
Reading Challenge
Aussie Readers 2022 November "Joanna Nell" Challenge: Joanna was born in the UK but lives now in Sydney. Read a book set in the UK
April 3, 2017
I was delighted to be asked to review Will to Live, the second book in the Kay Hunter series as I had loved Scared to Death and couldn’t wait to catch up with Kay, her team and the guests that her veterinarian hubby brings home from work!
Will to Live certainly starts with a bang and then the tension gathers momentum as we try to work out who the killer is and what the next stop will be on their murderous journey. The murders are unique in that the killer is disguising them as suicides. The cold and calculating way in which the victims are dispatched is truly chilling; how would you feel if you came around from a drugged stupor to see a train barrelling towards you and there was no way of escape!?
Mental health and depression are a running theme throughout and dealt with very sensitively.
I enjoy these books as they are simple yet effective and engrossing. The cast of characters is minimal and there are no long, drawn out scenes which you find in some police procedurals/crime novels. There is a personal touch in this series; slowly we are getting to know Kay, her marriage, difficult relationship with her family, personal heartache and professional problems. More is revealed about the case that Kay was involved in previously and the backlash that she is still suffering from the events and accusations. As a reader we are still unsure over who she can trust and see that her own private investigations into the case result in consequences for Kay and her colleagues.
I can’t wait for the next in the series, Kay Hunter is a fab lead. She is caring and tenacious and I would love her as my BFF!
Will to Live certainly starts with a bang and then the tension gathers momentum as we try to work out who the killer is and what the next stop will be on their murderous journey. The murders are unique in that the killer is disguising them as suicides. The cold and calculating way in which the victims are dispatched is truly chilling; how would you feel if you came around from a drugged stupor to see a train barrelling towards you and there was no way of escape!?
Mental health and depression are a running theme throughout and dealt with very sensitively.
I enjoy these books as they are simple yet effective and engrossing. The cast of characters is minimal and there are no long, drawn out scenes which you find in some police procedurals/crime novels. There is a personal touch in this series; slowly we are getting to know Kay, her marriage, difficult relationship with her family, personal heartache and professional problems. More is revealed about the case that Kay was involved in previously and the backlash that she is still suffering from the events and accusations. As a reader we are still unsure over who she can trust and see that her own private investigations into the case result in consequences for Kay and her colleagues.
I can’t wait for the next in the series, Kay Hunter is a fab lead. She is caring and tenacious and I would love her as my BFF!
Displaying 1 - 29 of 171 reviews