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DI Marnie Rome #5
Come and Find Me
Gripping, tense, twisty and full of emotional insight, COME AND FIND ME is Sarah Hilary's Marnie Rome 5 book, for fans of Mick Herron or Clare Mackintosh.
'Hilary belts out a corker of a story, all wrapped up in her vivid, effortless prose. If you're not reading this series of London-set police procedurals then you need to start right away' Observer
On the surface, Lara Chorley and Ruth Hull have nothing in common, other than their infatuation with Michael Vokey. Each is writing to a sadistic inmate, sharing her secrets, whispering her worst fears, craving his attention.
DI Marnie Rome understands obsession. She's finding it hard to give up her own addiction to a dangerous her foster brother, Stephen Keele. She wasn't able to save her parents from Stephen. She lives with that guilt every day.
As the hunt for Vokey gathers pace, Marnie fears one of the women may have found him - and is about to pay the ultimate price.
'Hilary belts out a corker of a story, all wrapped up in her vivid, effortless prose. If you're not reading this series of London-set police procedurals then you need to start right away' Observer
On the surface, Lara Chorley and Ruth Hull have nothing in common, other than their infatuation with Michael Vokey. Each is writing to a sadistic inmate, sharing her secrets, whispering her worst fears, craving his attention.
DI Marnie Rome understands obsession. She's finding it hard to give up her own addiction to a dangerous her foster brother, Stephen Keele. She wasn't able to save her parents from Stephen. She lives with that guilt every day.
As the hunt for Vokey gathers pace, Marnie fears one of the women may have found him - and is about to pay the ultimate price.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published March 22, 2018
About the author
Sarah Hilary
37 books605 followersSarah’s debut, Someone Else's Skin, won Theakstons Crime Novel of the Year and was a World Book Night selection. The Observer's Book of the Month ("superbly disturbing”) and a Richard & Judy Book Club bestseller, it was a Silver Falchion and Macavity Award finalist in the US. No Other Darkness, the second in the series was shortlisted for a Barry Award. Her DI Marnie Rome series continued with Tastes Like Fear (longlisted for Theakstons Crime Novel of the Year 2017) and Quieter Than Killing (Observer’s Thriller of the Month). Come and Find Me was published in 2018, with Never Be Broken to come in 2019.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 147 reviews
February 6, 2018
This is a sensational addition to Sarah Hilary's stellar London based series featuring DI Marnie Rome. It all begins with a bang with a fully fledged riot at HMP Cloverton, assumed to be instigated by the dangerous Michael Volkey, who manages to escape. The fallout has Volkey's cellmate, Ted Elms, on life support, experiencing locked in syndrome whilst in a coma. Marnie's foster brother, Stephen Keele, responsible for the murder of her parents, has acquired life threatening injuries in the riot, leaving her in a quandry, if he dies she will never learn what happened and why. As DI Rome, and her team are called in to investigate the riot, they find themselves encountering the intricacies and complications of being a prison inmate, and the fear, threats and lies that underpin prison life, spilling to the outside world too.
Michael Volkey's crimes have attracted a strong fan following from women, including Laura Chorley and Ruth Hull, two apparently different personalities, communicating via letters with their deepest fears and secrets. As Marnie, driven by her demons, leads the hunt, she fears for the women as Volkey is expected to head their way. There is the blackest of humour as the house packed with old items becomes known as the 'Antiques Roadshow Massacre'. The narrative is delivered from a number of characters including Ted Elms, although primarily Marnie and Noah. The multiple story threads slowly begin to connect, leading to the totally out of the blue ending. Along the way, Hilary expertly places a number of twists.
Hilary has done impressive research on prison, the problems of the prison system that exacerbate the lives of inmates, highlighting life inside with authenticity and realism, providing us with her customary social and political commentary. What drives this series is the ongoing character development of DI Marnie Rome, her troubled personal history and obsession with Stephen Keele, mirroring the women who obsess over Michael Volkey. Noah has his own family travails with his mother blaming him for his brother, Sol's problems. If you have not come across this series, I strongly urge you to acquaint yourself with it. A brilliant and compulsive read, cannot wait for the next in the series. Many thanks to Headline for an ARC.
Michael Volkey's crimes have attracted a strong fan following from women, including Laura Chorley and Ruth Hull, two apparently different personalities, communicating via letters with their deepest fears and secrets. As Marnie, driven by her demons, leads the hunt, she fears for the women as Volkey is expected to head their way. There is the blackest of humour as the house packed with old items becomes known as the 'Antiques Roadshow Massacre'. The narrative is delivered from a number of characters including Ted Elms, although primarily Marnie and Noah. The multiple story threads slowly begin to connect, leading to the totally out of the blue ending. Along the way, Hilary expertly places a number of twists.
Hilary has done impressive research on prison, the problems of the prison system that exacerbate the lives of inmates, highlighting life inside with authenticity and realism, providing us with her customary social and political commentary. What drives this series is the ongoing character development of DI Marnie Rome, her troubled personal history and obsession with Stephen Keele, mirroring the women who obsess over Michael Volkey. Noah has his own family travails with his mother blaming him for his brother, Sol's problems. If you have not come across this series, I strongly urge you to acquaint yourself with it. A brilliant and compulsive read, cannot wait for the next in the series. Many thanks to Headline for an ARC.
March 22, 2018
Come and Find Me is the 5th in the Marnie Rome series and my first book by Sarah Hilary.
Needless to say, it is not going to be the last.
A seemingly violent and brutal prisoner escapes during a prison riot, leaving gore and mayhem behind and it is up to DI Rome and her team to find him. But is he really responsible for the bloodshed? Who helped him escape and why the police can’t find him?
This was an enjoyable page-turner. The scenes were excellently described, the writing style was exceptional and the twists and turns had me guessing the identity of the culprit till the end.
Needless to say, it is not going to be the last.
A seemingly violent and brutal prisoner escapes during a prison riot, leaving gore and mayhem behind and it is up to DI Rome and her team to find him. But is he really responsible for the bloodshed? Who helped him escape and why the police can’t find him?
This was an enjoyable page-turner. The scenes were excellently described, the writing style was exceptional and the twists and turns had me guessing the identity of the culprit till the end.
December 24, 2017
Here, Sarah Hilary offers something a little different from the previous books... not only in the type of plot for this novel, but in the possibility of genuinely new information about long running storylines. In fact the revelations within, which may well undermine everything we thought we knew about certain people, give a shocking twist to the series as a whole. Intriguing, to say the very least.
DI Marnie Rome is called in to investigate the escape of prisoner Michael Volkey during a riot at HMP Cloverton, during which her foster brother, and convicted murderer, Stephen Keele was seriously injured. What follows is a blindingly clever look at expectation vs reality- what happens when assumptions are made and evidence is moulded to fit a theory rather than utilised to offer real insights. This theme is layered within both the immediate investigation of Volkey as well as being applied to characters long time readers will know, if not particularly love. It works as an effective means of challenging everything we know about well....everything.
Best read once you’ve hit all the others, just so you know how damn big the shocks are.
ARC via Netgalley.
December 12, 2021
A few of the faces dated back to the last century, stiff collars worn like nooses around the necks of men with rusty whiskers, women with their hair braided, one with her hand to her head as if in pain. Below her, a beautiful young man stared out with sad eyes, a cupid's bow mouth. Both images were black and white but for the red roaring from their eyes, so hot Noah could taste it on his tongue. He smelt earth on some of the square brows flinching from flashbulbs which must have fired as the old cameras captured them. By contrast the Polaroids were ferociously modern, glinting with the knife-edge of light trapped in the room. Women mostly, many young, all in pain of one kind or another. That was just the first wall.
I really enjoy this series, and being able to see the growing confidence of Sarah Hilary as she writes them! The plot in Come and Find Me took me to some unexpected places that I really appreciated.
Following a prison riot, Marnie Rome and her partner Noah are on the lookout for a monster of a man, one with a penchant for terrorising anyone he has the chance to, and with a victim list potentially much greater than they'd known. But as they follow his trail, it starts to become obvious that there's a lot more going on here than they'd initially assumed.
I read so much that I absolutely get details blurred any time I leave a series for too long - but with this one, it's been 9 months, and I had no need to go back and check details of the previous books. Sarah Hilary writes fantastic characters that feel real, that I care about, and combines the case per book with an overall arc in just the right ratio. Plus, her writing's gorgeous, which gives a real solidity to the setting of each book. Come and Find Me is a little more contained than the last novels, with most of the action taking place over a very short space of time and a limited geography - with the plot shenanigans being the main draw, it really worked for me.
One more to go - sadly - in a series that I'd really recommend.
I really enjoy this series, and being able to see the growing confidence of Sarah Hilary as she writes them! The plot in Come and Find Me took me to some unexpected places that I really appreciated.
Following a prison riot, Marnie Rome and her partner Noah are on the lookout for a monster of a man, one with a penchant for terrorising anyone he has the chance to, and with a victim list potentially much greater than they'd known. But as they follow his trail, it starts to become obvious that there's a lot more going on here than they'd initially assumed.
I read so much that I absolutely get details blurred any time I leave a series for too long - but with this one, it's been 9 months, and I had no need to go back and check details of the previous books. Sarah Hilary writes fantastic characters that feel real, that I care about, and combines the case per book with an overall arc in just the right ratio. Plus, her writing's gorgeous, which gives a real solidity to the setting of each book. Come and Find Me is a little more contained than the last novels, with most of the action taking place over a very short space of time and a limited geography - with the plot shenanigans being the main draw, it really worked for me.
One more to go - sadly - in a series that I'd really recommend.
July 1, 2018
What a stunning read from the pen of Sarah Hilary. I've said this before and I will say this again, if you're not reading this series, you're missing out on an absolute treat.
DI Marnie Rome is called in to investigate a prisoner on the run in the shape of violent convict Michael Volkey. A prisoner who happens to be in the same prison as Rome's brother, Stephen Keele. Volkey is a nasty piece of work and so many assumptions are made on his behalf as to the whys and wherefores of his escape. But should the police be making such obvious assumptions? What follows is a brilliantly constructed novel that will have you gripped. The characterizations are cleverly brought to life. Hilary has a wonderful knack of capturing human nuances, I don't know how she does it?! Many a time I would read a line, stop and reread and think to myself 'I wish I could write like that!' Artwork features fairly heavily in this piece and I found myself actually wanting to see the pictures, so brilliant was the descriptive prose.
On a personal level and only readers of the series will understand, I want to see Rome's potential relationship developing elsewhere. I have to remind myself that this is a book series and not real life but heck these characters are so realistic they may as well be!! And it matters .... and I care!! Why oh why these books have not been optioned for tv I don't know. I think I'm someone who knows her crime fiction fairly well and I'm putting it out there .... Rome should be on tv! It's crying out to be!!
Ok, enough gushing. This is a great read from an author that is growing in her craft. Go on buy a copy, you won't be disappointed.
DI Marnie Rome is called in to investigate a prisoner on the run in the shape of violent convict Michael Volkey. A prisoner who happens to be in the same prison as Rome's brother, Stephen Keele. Volkey is a nasty piece of work and so many assumptions are made on his behalf as to the whys and wherefores of his escape. But should the police be making such obvious assumptions? What follows is a brilliantly constructed novel that will have you gripped. The characterizations are cleverly brought to life. Hilary has a wonderful knack of capturing human nuances, I don't know how she does it?! Many a time I would read a line, stop and reread and think to myself 'I wish I could write like that!' Artwork features fairly heavily in this piece and I found myself actually wanting to see the pictures, so brilliant was the descriptive prose.
On a personal level and only readers of the series will understand, I want to see Rome's potential relationship developing elsewhere. I have to remind myself that this is a book series and not real life but heck these characters are so realistic they may as well be!! And it matters .... and I care!! Why oh why these books have not been optioned for tv I don't know. I think I'm someone who knows her crime fiction fairly well and I'm putting it out there .... Rome should be on tv! It's crying out to be!!
Ok, enough gushing. This is a great read from an author that is growing in her craft. Go on buy a copy, you won't be disappointed.
November 22, 2017
So 3 hours and 24 minutes of reading time later and I’m done with Come and Find Me – Marnie Rome book 5 (How the heck did THAT happen, I still have my much loved little proof of a certain book called Someone Else’s Skin) and with this one Sarah Hilary has belted it out of the ballpark and all the way to the moon.
For me this was the best one yet, all the sense and the feeling that you have come to expect with an added darkness that is intriguingly gripping – I devoured it, felt it in my bones from the moment I started reading until the moment I reached the emotionally traumatic end game…
It’s not so much about who did what but about the underneath of everything – how looking at something doesn’t mean you see it, not only within the events of the novel but within the characters. A prison riot, an escapee, an obvious line to follow but even more so than the previous Marnie stories the psychology of it all comes into play with devastating results. Things also move on for our main players, in REALLY TRAUMATIC WAYS and if you are reading this Sarah Hilary we may have to have words about that bit at the end. YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN don’t try and hide. I’m still slightly sobbing.
The writing is divine, having a quietly impacting resonance, the plotting is taut and somewhat terrifying, your sense of the people and the places gaining momentum with each passing chapter. It is addictive, unpredictable and criminally clever, there’s not that many writers writing at this level out there.
I don’t really want to call the Marnie Rome book police procedural’s anymore – although the series seems to generate that genre tag – if I had to describe them, in a vacuum, I’d call them psychological crime drama’s. In fact why WHY this is not a tv show already, I really can’t understand, it would lend itself so well to the screen, almost as well as it does to the page.
(As an aside, I spoke to Chris Whitaker earlier when I was concerned I couldn’t find the words to say how good Come and Find Me is. He said “Just tell Sarah I love her. That’s all she needs to know” I said I’d put that in here and now I have…)
Come and find Sarah Hilary’s novels if you have not already. And if you have and are waiting for this one then batten down the hatches. You ain’t seen nothing yet…
Highly Recommended.
For me this was the best one yet, all the sense and the feeling that you have come to expect with an added darkness that is intriguingly gripping – I devoured it, felt it in my bones from the moment I started reading until the moment I reached the emotionally traumatic end game…
It’s not so much about who did what but about the underneath of everything – how looking at something doesn’t mean you see it, not only within the events of the novel but within the characters. A prison riot, an escapee, an obvious line to follow but even more so than the previous Marnie stories the psychology of it all comes into play with devastating results. Things also move on for our main players, in REALLY TRAUMATIC WAYS and if you are reading this Sarah Hilary we may have to have words about that bit at the end. YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN don’t try and hide. I’m still slightly sobbing.
The writing is divine, having a quietly impacting resonance, the plotting is taut and somewhat terrifying, your sense of the people and the places gaining momentum with each passing chapter. It is addictive, unpredictable and criminally clever, there’s not that many writers writing at this level out there.
I don’t really want to call the Marnie Rome book police procedural’s anymore – although the series seems to generate that genre tag – if I had to describe them, in a vacuum, I’d call them psychological crime drama’s. In fact why WHY this is not a tv show already, I really can’t understand, it would lend itself so well to the screen, almost as well as it does to the page.
(As an aside, I spoke to Chris Whitaker earlier when I was concerned I couldn’t find the words to say how good Come and Find Me is. He said “Just tell Sarah I love her. That’s all she needs to know” I said I’d put that in here and now I have…)
Come and find Sarah Hilary’s novels if you have not already. And if you have and are waiting for this one then batten down the hatches. You ain’t seen nothing yet…
Highly Recommended.
March 20, 2018
Come and Find Me by Sarah Hilary
BLURB
On the surface, Lara Chorley and Ruth Hull have nothing in common, other than their infatuation with Michael Vokey. Each is writing to a sadistic inmate, sharing her secrets, whispering her worst fears, craving his attention.
DI Marnie Rome understands obsession. She's finding it hard to give up her own addiction to a dangerous man: her foster brother, Stephen Keele. She wasn't able to save her parents from Stephen. She lives with that guilt every day.
As the hunt for Vokey gathers pace, Marnie fears one of the women may have found him - and is about to pay the ultimate price.
MY THOUGHTS
I get the exact same feeling when I start a book written by Sarah Hilary. Enhanced anticipation, exited and also slightly nervous. I’m unsure if the nerves are for me or the author – probably a little bit of both. I remember buying Sarah’s first book in the DI Marnie Rome series, Someone Else’s Skin, and Sarah and Marnie had me under their spell – I was hooked. This is the 5th in the series and it doesn’t disappoint at all. Not by a long shot! In my opinion, everything about Sarah’s books has improved, not that they needed improving, but they get better and better!
I read another review of this book which said the authors writing demands attention. For me, that sums a lot of things up. I find Sarah’s writing and storylines immensely enthralling and in some ways hypnotic. I picked up on more detail with the police procedural than in previous books which knitted together so well with the complexed and gritty narrative. And when I say gritty, this is tremendously dark and twisted. But as I’ve found before with previous outings, Sarah manages to pull it off with a degree of eloquence.
I hope this series keeps going as the author has delivered a delight of a crime fiction novel, and one that’s up there with the best!
Full 5*
BLURB
On the surface, Lara Chorley and Ruth Hull have nothing in common, other than their infatuation with Michael Vokey. Each is writing to a sadistic inmate, sharing her secrets, whispering her worst fears, craving his attention.
DI Marnie Rome understands obsession. She's finding it hard to give up her own addiction to a dangerous man: her foster brother, Stephen Keele. She wasn't able to save her parents from Stephen. She lives with that guilt every day.
As the hunt for Vokey gathers pace, Marnie fears one of the women may have found him - and is about to pay the ultimate price.
MY THOUGHTS
I get the exact same feeling when I start a book written by Sarah Hilary. Enhanced anticipation, exited and also slightly nervous. I’m unsure if the nerves are for me or the author – probably a little bit of both. I remember buying Sarah’s first book in the DI Marnie Rome series, Someone Else’s Skin, and Sarah and Marnie had me under their spell – I was hooked. This is the 5th in the series and it doesn’t disappoint at all. Not by a long shot! In my opinion, everything about Sarah’s books has improved, not that they needed improving, but they get better and better!
I read another review of this book which said the authors writing demands attention. For me, that sums a lot of things up. I find Sarah’s writing and storylines immensely enthralling and in some ways hypnotic. I picked up on more detail with the police procedural than in previous books which knitted together so well with the complexed and gritty narrative. And when I say gritty, this is tremendously dark and twisted. But as I’ve found before with previous outings, Sarah manages to pull it off with a degree of eloquence.
I hope this series keeps going as the author has delivered a delight of a crime fiction novel, and one that’s up there with the best!
Full 5*
March 13, 2018
Disappointed
The previous 4 books were decent stories and moved a reasonable pace, but this was a complete waste of time. Very slow disjointed and boring. Nearly DNF a few times, but kept hoping it would pick up... It didn't.
The previous 4 books were decent stories and moved a reasonable pace, but this was a complete waste of time. Very slow disjointed and boring. Nearly DNF a few times, but kept hoping it would pick up... It didn't.
March 22, 2018
Kudos to the audaciously talented Sarah Hilary whom, in the fifth instalment of her exceptional London based DI Marnie Rome series, once again refuses to be pigeonholed. Convincing, dark, topical and plausible, Hilary raises the bar with a dual narrative and catches her audience off guard with an intense and punchy first-person narrator and juxtaposing it against an unfolding police procedural investigation. The result is a powerful and comprehensive view of the manipulation, corruption and survival of the fittest mentality of the prison system all underpinned by a rigorous level of psychological insight.
After an outbreak of serious rioting at HMP Cloverton the fallout has landed with DI Marnie Rome and her MET based team and chief amongst their priorities is tracking down sadistic inmate, Michael Vokey. Imprisoned for aggravated burglary and torturing a young mother, shipped out of HMP Leeds after his detrimental effect on the behaviour of those around him and his cell mates suicide, overcrowding and underfunding has seen him wind up at Cloverton with a cellmate in for mere benefit fraud. Suspected of not only starting the fire in the prison wing but brutally assaulting several inmates as he wreaked havoc, his reputation precedes him. Tracking him down before he can do anymore damage is DI Marnie Rome’s headache and the two infatuated women who correspond and send photos to him is her first port of call. Diametrically opposed, both women share an obsessive fascination with the sadistic Vokey but their motivations differ, from the sanctimonious and blind devotion of the pious Ruth Hull to the lonely and self-loathing mother of two, Lara Chorley. And with both these women just as complicated as the man they profess to believe in, DI Rome and DS Jake can take nothing at face value.
And what of his victim, mother of one Julie Seton who he was jailed for torturing with her young daughter bearing witness to? What lies behind Julie’s bravado and just what light can Alyson, the sister he grew up alongside shed on Britain’s most wanted criminal? As the team uncover the childhood home of Vokey and are repulsed by the wall to wall photos of people in pain they struggle to see through the myth and hearsay to the cold, hard evidence. In order to make any progress into tracking Vokey down DI Rome and DS Jake have to understand the man that they are dealing with and just why so many fall under his thrall. With the CCTV evidence no more than three hours of smoke hiding everything the team have to rely on what they can piece together from inmates and prison officers barely out of their teens such as Darren “Dazza” Quayle. Seeing through the layers of deceit and manipulation into a very complicated truth takes Marnie Rome into close proximity with Stephen Keele, her foster brother who took the lives of her parents so brutally six-years-ago and is imprisoned at Cloverton. As Stephen lies unconscious in hospital, in the bed beside him is Vokey’s cellmate, Ted Elms, whose comatose first-person narration plays out alongside the ongoing investigation.
Sarah Hilary is the indisputable heavyweight of the contemporary thinking man’s police procedural imbued with a level of psychological appreciation and a social conscience. In the fifth novel, perhaps the most emotive of the series to date, she takes her readers closer than ever to an understanding of her lead protagonist, DI Marnie Rome, whose journey over the series has taken her from self-pity to self-awareness. She is one of the most well-realised characters in a repeating series although the compassionate DS Noah Jake, with open-mindedness and engaging, sympathetic manner comes a close second. Having made one of his most difficult personal decisions when he arrested his younger brother, Sol, just six weeks ago to put an end to his descent into gang life he must come to terms with his parents reaction and his brother spending nine months on remand. Some of the most memorable procedural action comes in the form of Marnie and Noah role playing scenarios to get closer to the man they hunt and with her imperturbable demeanour during interviews, Marnie reads characters admirably well and responds individually. Special mention must go to DS Ron Carling with his distinct lack of political correctness, black and white opinions, a good heart and his ‘tell it like it is’ attitude! I adore his character!
More harrowingly for Marnie is her realisation that Lara and Ruth’s obsession with Vokey is mirrored by her own reliance on Stephen Keele. In a brutal self examination Marnie sees her own obsession with Stephen with a greater clarity than ever before and realises how she is tied to him in search of answers and both unwilling and unable to give up on her quest. As she comes to terms with the fact that she alone has the power to make peace with her past her frank discussions with DS Harry Kennedy bring the two colleagues closer together.
Hilary plays by one set of rules however in adhering to plausible police procedures and she grounds her novels with a level of authentic credibility. Likewise the psychology isn’t just back of a fag pack platitudes or theory but in actual evidence and factored into a constantly recalibrating and fluid investigation. Clever stuff indeed with more than a little food for thought. Hilary doesn’t just address the aftermath and mopping up of crime but gets to grips with the motivations, complications and drivers in a honest and realistic examination. A slippery beast for sure, the plot is mired in complexities and a deft Salary Hilary strips away the laters in a manner as satisfying and tantalising as a striptease!
Hilary’s descriptive prose is razor sharp in Come And Find Me and despite a lack of gratuitous violence, her words pack a far more significant punch with their ability to turn readers inside out and leave a distinct chill in the atmosphere. Whilst this fifth novel can easily be read as a stand-alone I would argue that there is much to be gained by seeing the evolution of the partnership between Marnie and Noah.
After an outbreak of serious rioting at HMP Cloverton the fallout has landed with DI Marnie Rome and her MET based team and chief amongst their priorities is tracking down sadistic inmate, Michael Vokey. Imprisoned for aggravated burglary and torturing a young mother, shipped out of HMP Leeds after his detrimental effect on the behaviour of those around him and his cell mates suicide, overcrowding and underfunding has seen him wind up at Cloverton with a cellmate in for mere benefit fraud. Suspected of not only starting the fire in the prison wing but brutally assaulting several inmates as he wreaked havoc, his reputation precedes him. Tracking him down before he can do anymore damage is DI Marnie Rome’s headache and the two infatuated women who correspond and send photos to him is her first port of call. Diametrically opposed, both women share an obsessive fascination with the sadistic Vokey but their motivations differ, from the sanctimonious and blind devotion of the pious Ruth Hull to the lonely and self-loathing mother of two, Lara Chorley. And with both these women just as complicated as the man they profess to believe in, DI Rome and DS Jake can take nothing at face value.
And what of his victim, mother of one Julie Seton who he was jailed for torturing with her young daughter bearing witness to? What lies behind Julie’s bravado and just what light can Alyson, the sister he grew up alongside shed on Britain’s most wanted criminal? As the team uncover the childhood home of Vokey and are repulsed by the wall to wall photos of people in pain they struggle to see through the myth and hearsay to the cold, hard evidence. In order to make any progress into tracking Vokey down DI Rome and DS Jake have to understand the man that they are dealing with and just why so many fall under his thrall. With the CCTV evidence no more than three hours of smoke hiding everything the team have to rely on what they can piece together from inmates and prison officers barely out of their teens such as Darren “Dazza” Quayle. Seeing through the layers of deceit and manipulation into a very complicated truth takes Marnie Rome into close proximity with Stephen Keele, her foster brother who took the lives of her parents so brutally six-years-ago and is imprisoned at Cloverton. As Stephen lies unconscious in hospital, in the bed beside him is Vokey’s cellmate, Ted Elms, whose comatose first-person narration plays out alongside the ongoing investigation.
Sarah Hilary is the indisputable heavyweight of the contemporary thinking man’s police procedural imbued with a level of psychological appreciation and a social conscience. In the fifth novel, perhaps the most emotive of the series to date, she takes her readers closer than ever to an understanding of her lead protagonist, DI Marnie Rome, whose journey over the series has taken her from self-pity to self-awareness. She is one of the most well-realised characters in a repeating series although the compassionate DS Noah Jake, with open-mindedness and engaging, sympathetic manner comes a close second. Having made one of his most difficult personal decisions when he arrested his younger brother, Sol, just six weeks ago to put an end to his descent into gang life he must come to terms with his parents reaction and his brother spending nine months on remand. Some of the most memorable procedural action comes in the form of Marnie and Noah role playing scenarios to get closer to the man they hunt and with her imperturbable demeanour during interviews, Marnie reads characters admirably well and responds individually. Special mention must go to DS Ron Carling with his distinct lack of political correctness, black and white opinions, a good heart and his ‘tell it like it is’ attitude! I adore his character!
More harrowingly for Marnie is her realisation that Lara and Ruth’s obsession with Vokey is mirrored by her own reliance on Stephen Keele. In a brutal self examination Marnie sees her own obsession with Stephen with a greater clarity than ever before and realises how she is tied to him in search of answers and both unwilling and unable to give up on her quest. As she comes to terms with the fact that she alone has the power to make peace with her past her frank discussions with DS Harry Kennedy bring the two colleagues closer together.
Hilary plays by one set of rules however in adhering to plausible police procedures and she grounds her novels with a level of authentic credibility. Likewise the psychology isn’t just back of a fag pack platitudes or theory but in actual evidence and factored into a constantly recalibrating and fluid investigation. Clever stuff indeed with more than a little food for thought. Hilary doesn’t just address the aftermath and mopping up of crime but gets to grips with the motivations, complications and drivers in a honest and realistic examination. A slippery beast for sure, the plot is mired in complexities and a deft Salary Hilary strips away the laters in a manner as satisfying and tantalising as a striptease!
Hilary’s descriptive prose is razor sharp in Come And Find Me and despite a lack of gratuitous violence, her words pack a far more significant punch with their ability to turn readers inside out and leave a distinct chill in the atmosphere. Whilst this fifth novel can easily be read as a stand-alone I would argue that there is much to be gained by seeing the evolution of the partnership between Marnie and Noah.
March 20, 2018
Thank you Sarah Hilary for sleepless nights and early wall-staring days, patience and panic. aching wrist that had paid off to another brilliant novel. No Other Darkness was my favourite novel, but now Come And Find Me has become a favourite of mine too. I liked Come And Find Me as it's a completely different type of story. It's a well known fact that riots do take place in prisons and unfortunately convicts do escape from prison. Sarah Hilary has added quite a few surprises in this new novel that I won't spoil. The scene starts off with a prison riot. During the riot Michael John Vokey escaped from prison of course he must of had an escape plan. The reason Michael Vokey was in prison was because he tortutred a young mother. Three convicts are in hospital after the riot, it's believed that Michael Vokey attacked them to escape. DI Marnie Rome is searching through the prison questioning everyone who knew Michael John Vokey. His cell and letters are investigated in hope of finding where Vokey has disappeared to. Come And Find Me is made up of many things twists, tension, pain, loss and grief.
March 15, 2018
Deep breath. It has taken me weeks to write this review. What a struggle it’s been and I’m pretty sure I haven’t managed to do this book or the author any justice whatsoever.
During a riot at the prison, dangerous convict Michael Vokey escapes. It quickly transpires Michael has been in regular contact with two women, Lara and Ruth, who are completely infatuated with him. Did they somehow help him escape? Is he hiding out in their homes? Someone is surely in danger but who?
Sarah Hilary has been one of my go-to authors since the start of this series and with every book, I’ll say “this is her best one yet”. Well, guess what? Come and Find Me is her best one yet! I don’t know how she manages to raise the bar time and time again but she does. It’s in the writing, which just keeps getting stronger, and it’s in the fantastic character development. Not only where the main characters are concerned but each and every side character gets the same treatment and it brings this series to a whole other level.
There is some incredibly fascinating psychology behind the acts and motivations of these characters. It’s intensely gripping all on its own without even getting started on the investigation into the prison riot and Michael Vokey’s escape. What makes a woman get in touch with a convict? Why would any woman choose to share her secrets with someone so dangerous or even send him pictures? And then, there are the prisoners. No stereotypes here and nothing or nobody is what it seems. I must also mention that while Marnie has always been of one my favourite characters, Noah Jake’s voice seems to be getting stronger with each book, his presence keeps growing and I feel like he is beginning to steal the spotlight from Marnie. I can’t wait to see how he develops in the future.
Come and Find Me is intensely gripping, full of suspense and has an incredibly intelligent and well-crafted plot. It had me glued to the pages and I couldn’t read fast enough to see how it would end, completely unable to guess where things were going. Utterly absorbing, addictive and a fantastic page-turner and as always, it leaves me wanting more so very desperately.
If you are not reading this series, then really, I’m incredibly sorry but I just don’t think we can be friends anymore. 😄. The Marnie Rome series is one of the best ones out there so do yourself a humongous favour and pick these up right now. I can’t recommend these books highly enough and can’t even begin to say how much I’m looking forward to the next one.
During a riot at the prison, dangerous convict Michael Vokey escapes. It quickly transpires Michael has been in regular contact with two women, Lara and Ruth, who are completely infatuated with him. Did they somehow help him escape? Is he hiding out in their homes? Someone is surely in danger but who?
Sarah Hilary has been one of my go-to authors since the start of this series and with every book, I’ll say “this is her best one yet”. Well, guess what? Come and Find Me is her best one yet! I don’t know how she manages to raise the bar time and time again but she does. It’s in the writing, which just keeps getting stronger, and it’s in the fantastic character development. Not only where the main characters are concerned but each and every side character gets the same treatment and it brings this series to a whole other level.
There is some incredibly fascinating psychology behind the acts and motivations of these characters. It’s intensely gripping all on its own without even getting started on the investigation into the prison riot and Michael Vokey’s escape. What makes a woman get in touch with a convict? Why would any woman choose to share her secrets with someone so dangerous or even send him pictures? And then, there are the prisoners. No stereotypes here and nothing or nobody is what it seems. I must also mention that while Marnie has always been of one my favourite characters, Noah Jake’s voice seems to be getting stronger with each book, his presence keeps growing and I feel like he is beginning to steal the spotlight from Marnie. I can’t wait to see how he develops in the future.
Come and Find Me is intensely gripping, full of suspense and has an incredibly intelligent and well-crafted plot. It had me glued to the pages and I couldn’t read fast enough to see how it would end, completely unable to guess where things were going. Utterly absorbing, addictive and a fantastic page-turner and as always, it leaves me wanting more so very desperately.
If you are not reading this series, then really, I’m incredibly sorry but I just don’t think we can be friends anymore. 😄. The Marnie Rome series is one of the best ones out there so do yourself a humongous favour and pick these up right now. I can’t recommend these books highly enough and can’t even begin to say how much I’m looking forward to the next one.
April 2, 2019
Come And Find Me begins with Ted Elms, critically ill on life support, but expressing through thoughts his first hand experience of what provoked a prison riot at HMP Cloverton—how a dangerous prisoner, Mickey Vokey, escaped during the ensuing confusion and violence as a fire broke out. Several men died and others were taken to hospital, including Vokey’s cell mate, Elms, and DI Marnie Rome’s nemesis, her foster brother Stephen Keele. His injuries are life threatening and leave Marnie trying to separate personal feelings from her professional involvement. However, she still needs to understand why Stephen did what he did and if he dies she’ll never know.
Following on from the storyline in the previous book, Noah is also struggling with his own family problems concerning his brother and the now fragile relationship with his parents. I really enjoy the continuing development of the main characters’ lives as a backdrop to the plot, and there are some shocks in this one.
It becomes apparent as the man hunt escalates that Vokey had been corresponding with two women who wrote to him regularly, and appear to harbour an obsession with him. The more Marnie and her partner, DS Noah Jake, learn about Vokey, and the letters that were exchanged, their concern for the safety of the two women grows.
The investigation reveals more of Stephen’s back story and uncovers several leads, including the location of Vokey’s now empty family house, but nothing is straightforward or as it seems. Unusually Vokey is only ever seen through the eyes of others which adds to the uncertainty of what really happened. The story is plausible and compelling, told mainly from Marnie and Noah’s perspective with sections from the coma patient. The twists are thought provoking and unexpected, the narrative including a real understanding of human emotions.
Sarah Hilary paints a grim and disturbing picture of life behind bars with an emphasis on manipulation between inmates and staff, and the fall out from lack of funding. It’s easy to see how things could escalate into violence. Come and Find Me is an extremely well written, fascinating police procedural with a surprising ending, as well as an insightful look into the characters’ reactions and responses as dictated by their situations.
Following on from the storyline in the previous book, Noah is also struggling with his own family problems concerning his brother and the now fragile relationship with his parents. I really enjoy the continuing development of the main characters’ lives as a backdrop to the plot, and there are some shocks in this one.
It becomes apparent as the man hunt escalates that Vokey had been corresponding with two women who wrote to him regularly, and appear to harbour an obsession with him. The more Marnie and her partner, DS Noah Jake, learn about Vokey, and the letters that were exchanged, their concern for the safety of the two women grows.
The investigation reveals more of Stephen’s back story and uncovers several leads, including the location of Vokey’s now empty family house, but nothing is straightforward or as it seems. Unusually Vokey is only ever seen through the eyes of others which adds to the uncertainty of what really happened. The story is plausible and compelling, told mainly from Marnie and Noah’s perspective with sections from the coma patient. The twists are thought provoking and unexpected, the narrative including a real understanding of human emotions.
Sarah Hilary paints a grim and disturbing picture of life behind bars with an emphasis on manipulation between inmates and staff, and the fall out from lack of funding. It’s easy to see how things could escalate into violence. Come and Find Me is an extremely well written, fascinating police procedural with a surprising ending, as well as an insightful look into the characters’ reactions and responses as dictated by their situations.
March 19, 2018
Sarah Hilary is one of the finest writers of crime about and a new Marnie Rome novel is always cause for celebration. Come and Find Me is quite possibly the best of the series, which is no small feat as I love them all. Brilliantly written and plotted - how I love this story, very clever. Review to follow shortly on For Winter Nights.
January 21, 2018
This is the 5th book in the DI Marnie Rome series by author Sarah Hilary and can be read as a standalone.
The novel centres on the hunt for an escaped prisoner, Michael Vokey, who has escaped from prison during a riot. Two women Lara Chorley and Ruth Hull are infatuation with Michael Vokey and have been writing letters to him while he was in prison. Now Marnie leads the hunt for Vokey and fears that one of the women may have found him and is about to pay the ultimate price.
This novel started with a prison riot and continued at this breakneck pace throughout. A very good read and I look forward to reading other books in this series.
I would like to thank Net Galley and Headline for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
The novel centres on the hunt for an escaped prisoner, Michael Vokey, who has escaped from prison during a riot. Two women Lara Chorley and Ruth Hull are infatuation with Michael Vokey and have been writing letters to him while he was in prison. Now Marnie leads the hunt for Vokey and fears that one of the women may have found him and is about to pay the ultimate price.
This novel started with a prison riot and continued at this breakneck pace throughout. A very good read and I look forward to reading other books in this series.
I would like to thank Net Galley and Headline for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
March 21, 2018
It is no secret that I am a Sarah Hilary mega-fan. The DI Marnie Rome series is probably my favourite crime series, and it really seems as though it has been such a long wait for this one.
Crime Fiction fans are well served at the moment. There's such an array of titles available, spanning a wide range of type within the genre, from cosy crime to psychological thrillers - the choice is vast. However, I do think that good, intelligent police series are sometimes difficult to find and if you haven't yet met Marnie Rome and her colleagues then I really do urge you to read this series.
As we've come to expect from this author, Come And Find Me is beautifully written, Sarah Hilary's descriptive prose; whether describing a room in a house, or the face of a convict is just sublime. The reader really sees everything and at times, can smell everything too, it's the brilliance of this incredible scene setting that raises this series above the bar.
Opening with a prison riot, the tension begins from page one. There's a animalistic savageness to these characters as the prison beats from the sound of tin trays banging on walls, and smoke engulfs the cells. The aftermath of the riot brings the central plot line; one prisoner has disappeared. A violent man who has been corresponding with women and whose letters and drawings are depraved and dangerous.
Marnie and her partner Noah are no strangers to the darker side of humanity, having been police officers for years, but also having personal experiences that are woven throughout the story. These two characters are absolutely made to work together, their instincts are in tune and the reader is treated to some emotional personal moments alongside their desperate desire to find the escaped man.
I have a desire to go on and on and on about this book. However, if I say much more about this thrilling and intelligent plot, I'll just spoil it for everyone else, so I'll shut up. Do be prepared to use your brain, don't expect Sarah Hilary to do all of the work for you. The reader needs to make a real investment in this one because nothing is quite as expected and there are themes within the story that really do smack a hard emotional punch.
This is the finest of writing. It's clever and thrilling and populated by incredible characters and follows an amazing plot. The structure is perfect, the voice is beautiful. Quite frankly, a triumph.
https://randomthingsthroughmyletterbo...
Crime Fiction fans are well served at the moment. There's such an array of titles available, spanning a wide range of type within the genre, from cosy crime to psychological thrillers - the choice is vast. However, I do think that good, intelligent police series are sometimes difficult to find and if you haven't yet met Marnie Rome and her colleagues then I really do urge you to read this series.
As we've come to expect from this author, Come And Find Me is beautifully written, Sarah Hilary's descriptive prose; whether describing a room in a house, or the face of a convict is just sublime. The reader really sees everything and at times, can smell everything too, it's the brilliance of this incredible scene setting that raises this series above the bar.
Opening with a prison riot, the tension begins from page one. There's a animalistic savageness to these characters as the prison beats from the sound of tin trays banging on walls, and smoke engulfs the cells. The aftermath of the riot brings the central plot line; one prisoner has disappeared. A violent man who has been corresponding with women and whose letters and drawings are depraved and dangerous.
Marnie and her partner Noah are no strangers to the darker side of humanity, having been police officers for years, but also having personal experiences that are woven throughout the story. These two characters are absolutely made to work together, their instincts are in tune and the reader is treated to some emotional personal moments alongside their desperate desire to find the escaped man.
I have a desire to go on and on and on about this book. However, if I say much more about this thrilling and intelligent plot, I'll just spoil it for everyone else, so I'll shut up. Do be prepared to use your brain, don't expect Sarah Hilary to do all of the work for you. The reader needs to make a real investment in this one because nothing is quite as expected and there are themes within the story that really do smack a hard emotional punch.
This is the finest of writing. It's clever and thrilling and populated by incredible characters and follows an amazing plot. The structure is perfect, the voice is beautiful. Quite frankly, a triumph.
https://randomthingsthroughmyletterbo...
September 25, 2019
8/10.The weakest of the series,but still pretty good.
March 13, 2019
Michael Vokey has to be the strangest baddie I've ever encountered in fiction. At some point in the book I think someone says of him "He's everything and he's nothing". When you get to the end of the book you understand what that means.
Vokey escapes from prison during a riot where a fire is lit and a couple of inmates are horribly mutilated. He had been corresponding with a couple of women while he was inside and the police are now concerned for the women's safety. But as everyone is interviewed - the women, Vokey's sister, prison guards and others the whole scenario makes less and less sense. DI Marnie Rome starts to think they might be looking at the whole case back to front. As more puzzle pieces come to light it becomes clear that there is more than one baddie and there are no winners.
This was a great story with a pretty unique plot and a very unique baddie. Marine does a lot of soul searching and reaches some new conclusions about Stephen Keele - the boy, now man, who killed her parents six years ago. But there is more soul searching ahead for Marnie (a lot of this is covered in previous books). This is a series not to be missed.
Vokey escapes from prison during a riot where a fire is lit and a couple of inmates are horribly mutilated. He had been corresponding with a couple of women while he was inside and the police are now concerned for the women's safety. But as everyone is interviewed - the women, Vokey's sister, prison guards and others the whole scenario makes less and less sense. DI Marnie Rome starts to think they might be looking at the whole case back to front. As more puzzle pieces come to light it becomes clear that there is more than one baddie and there are no winners.
This was a great story with a pretty unique plot and a very unique baddie. Marine does a lot of soul searching and reaches some new conclusions about Stephen Keele - the boy, now man, who killed her parents six years ago. But there is more soul searching ahead for Marnie (a lot of this is covered in previous books). This is a series not to be missed.
May 5, 2018
My Review: This is the 5th book in the successful Marnie Rome series, and whilst it can be read as a stand-alone, several of the main characters do have back stories that play an integral part in the series.
I personally found Come Find Me slightly slower than the previous 4 books and less crime/police procedural. However what I did realise whilst reading this book is what a phenomenal author Sarah Hilary is. This book has incredible character depth and enables the reader to feel and breath each characters emotions, fears and actually hear their voices. (Note: I don’t actually hear voices in my head).
Come Find Me is more than a crime novel, it’s a perfect example of bringing characters to life, weaving a beautifully constructed plot, keeping the reader emotionally hooked and leaving us in tears.
I personally found Come Find Me slightly slower than the previous 4 books and less crime/police procedural. However what I did realise whilst reading this book is what a phenomenal author Sarah Hilary is. This book has incredible character depth and enables the reader to feel and breath each characters emotions, fears and actually hear their voices. (Note: I don’t actually hear voices in my head).
Come Find Me is more than a crime novel, it’s a perfect example of bringing characters to life, weaving a beautifully constructed plot, keeping the reader emotionally hooked and leaving us in tears.
March 22, 2018
Visit the locations in the book
Whoah Marnie Rome! This is one humdinger of a case! Talk about getting close to the action and entering into your nightmare all over again!
The first scene explodes onto the page – a scene as quite frankly, this and Sarah’s other books need to be on the TV. They’ve got that frenetic punchy energy that sizzles as you read. The language here was even more brilliantly delicious than in other books and when practically the whole book is set between a prison and a hospital ward with a few visits to see victims, that’s no mean feat.
This case – looking for an escaped prisoner – is described as not looking for a needle in a haystack but “looking for a clean needle in a crackhouse”. Pure Hilary genius right there. A crime scene in a house stuffed with old things becomes the “Antiques Roadshow massacre” So much evoked in three words. Horror wrapped up in humour. And there’s a likeness of a victim to a sheep on the side of the road I’ll never forget.
Come and Find me deserves to devour the most readers possible. It grabs you and if that ending doesn’t kick you in the place the sun don’t shine, then I don’t know what will. This really gets into the terrifying psyche of being in a prison, being in a cell with a nutter or two, at the centre of a riot when things get really ugly. What happens to those on the outside looking in. The women who write to these prisoners. The whole shebang.
Horrifyingly good. This is the Queen of the crime thriller which messes with your mind and lets you in to the darkness areas of the human mine.
Come and Find Me should be not just the title but the sign outside bookshops, libraries and, heck, anywhere signs exist so you are directed to a crime writer you really need to be reading if you aren’t already.
October 3, 2018
How did we get to Book 5! I’ve been reading this series since the beginning and I’m going to say it again, it just gets better.
Come and Find Me is set 7 weeks after the end of the previous story, Marnie and her team are called in following a violent riot at Cloverton prison which has left many casualties – including Stephen Keele, Marnie’s foster brother. Those of you following the series will know all about him. The man suspected of carrying out the violence and starting the subsequent fire, Michael Vokey, has escaped.
Some of the chapters are narrated by one of the inmates in hospital and it is through his voice that we learn about Michael Vokey. Vokey is an dangerous individual. Transferred from another prison for being implicated in a cellmate’s death, he has been imprisoned for terrorising a young mother at her home. He seems to become a legend within the prison with people in his thrall. In addition, he has acquired two ‘groupies’. Two women, both in different parts of the country are writing him letters, some quite explicit. Why are these women so enamoured with him – and are one or both involved somehow in his escape.
Some of the violence inflicted is at times graphically described – not gratuitously by any means but after reading about the batteries, any mention of cactus made me extremely nervous!
This book, whilst just as riveting as the others, in my opinion has a more introspective feel to it with much soul searching, especially on Marnie’s part about her parents and Stephen, and in particular something she was given at the end of the previous story is playing on her mind. The working relationship she has with DS Noah Jake is as close as ever – in fact they seem more like friends than DI and DS – something which does concern me a little now. I get that he always has her back but I feel that the lines between their working partnership and friendship have become a little blurred and she seems to rely on his judgement a little more than she should.
It’s always good to see new characters arrive in a series and DS Harry Kennedy makes a welcome return. I sensed a little spark of something between Harry and Marnie and I’m really keen to see if that is explored further in the series. In addition DCI Lorna Ferguson, Marnie’s boss is still in charge. She’s still a ballbreaker and doesn’t suffer fools but I actually really liked her in this book. She appeared in the previous story and I felt she was depicted as Marnie’s nemesis, however following those events, the two of them seemed to have found a way to tolerate each other and I really liked Ferguson’s dry sense of humour and the way she kept the team on their toes.
The pace of Come and Find Me felt a bit slower than previous books, although that isn’t a criticism. This story was more about a manhunt and was probably more character focused than one of constant action. The issue of prison overcrowding is a big factor of this story and it does make you realise how easy it is for petty irritations to escalate into a full blown incendiary situation.
As ever, Sarah Hilary has created an addictive and utterly engrossing read. There is tension and suspense where there needs to be whilst at other times, you can get to know the characters and how they fit in to the story as a whole. There are of course some surprises along the way – and the team themselves eventually realise that they may need to look at the case in a different way.
If you haven’t started this series yet, why not? I think you could perhaps jump in with this one as sufficient backstory is given to make it a meaningful read, although as with all series, you do get the most enjoyment following the characters from the very beginning.
This is still one of my favourite crime series. Waiting for Book number 6 now. No pressure Sarah!
Come and Find Me is set 7 weeks after the end of the previous story, Marnie and her team are called in following a violent riot at Cloverton prison which has left many casualties – including Stephen Keele, Marnie’s foster brother. Those of you following the series will know all about him. The man suspected of carrying out the violence and starting the subsequent fire, Michael Vokey, has escaped.
Some of the chapters are narrated by one of the inmates in hospital and it is through his voice that we learn about Michael Vokey. Vokey is an dangerous individual. Transferred from another prison for being implicated in a cellmate’s death, he has been imprisoned for terrorising a young mother at her home. He seems to become a legend within the prison with people in his thrall. In addition, he has acquired two ‘groupies’. Two women, both in different parts of the country are writing him letters, some quite explicit. Why are these women so enamoured with him – and are one or both involved somehow in his escape.
Some of the violence inflicted is at times graphically described – not gratuitously by any means but after reading about the batteries, any mention of cactus made me extremely nervous!
This book, whilst just as riveting as the others, in my opinion has a more introspective feel to it with much soul searching, especially on Marnie’s part about her parents and Stephen, and in particular something she was given at the end of the previous story is playing on her mind. The working relationship she has with DS Noah Jake is as close as ever – in fact they seem more like friends than DI and DS – something which does concern me a little now. I get that he always has her back but I feel that the lines between their working partnership and friendship have become a little blurred and she seems to rely on his judgement a little more than she should.
It’s always good to see new characters arrive in a series and DS Harry Kennedy makes a welcome return. I sensed a little spark of something between Harry and Marnie and I’m really keen to see if that is explored further in the series. In addition DCI Lorna Ferguson, Marnie’s boss is still in charge. She’s still a ballbreaker and doesn’t suffer fools but I actually really liked her in this book. She appeared in the previous story and I felt she was depicted as Marnie’s nemesis, however following those events, the two of them seemed to have found a way to tolerate each other and I really liked Ferguson’s dry sense of humour and the way she kept the team on their toes.
The pace of Come and Find Me felt a bit slower than previous books, although that isn’t a criticism. This story was more about a manhunt and was probably more character focused than one of constant action. The issue of prison overcrowding is a big factor of this story and it does make you realise how easy it is for petty irritations to escalate into a full blown incendiary situation.
As ever, Sarah Hilary has created an addictive and utterly engrossing read. There is tension and suspense where there needs to be whilst at other times, you can get to know the characters and how they fit in to the story as a whole. There are of course some surprises along the way – and the team themselves eventually realise that they may need to look at the case in a different way.
If you haven’t started this series yet, why not? I think you could perhaps jump in with this one as sufficient backstory is given to make it a meaningful read, although as with all series, you do get the most enjoyment following the characters from the very beginning.
This is still one of my favourite crime series. Waiting for Book number 6 now. No pressure Sarah!
August 16, 2018
Well I am a little bit surprised by how I feel having finished this book. I am a huge Sarah Hilary fan and have loved the previous 4 books, however...yes you guessed it, I wasn't overly keen on this one. Sometimes no matter how much a fan you are, some story lines you just can't get into and this book was one such case.
For a start I picked up and started this book 3 times which is unusual for me, but every time I got the first couple of chapters in I found I didn't want to read on. So on my third attempt I ploughed on and as with most books before you know it you are halfway through. The premise involves a riot at Cloverton Prison and a prisoner escapes, which leaves all sorts of problems in its wake and some of these problems involve Marnie Rome's foster brother, Stephen Keele. Marnie's sidekick Noah (who I love by the way) is back again and he and Marnie must find the escapee Michael Vokey before he does more damage.
I'm not going to delve any more into the storyline because the synopsis tells you that but in one way I almost felt like I had read this on its own without knowing who had written it Sarah Hilary would have been the last person I chose. I feel like her writing style is somewhat different to previous books and it almost felt like it could be read as a standalone book, even though there are some things that involve past events. I just can't put my finger on what exactly it was but when you are part way into a series and have loved all 4 books, you have a certain expectation for book 5. I almost feel like having read this, somebody got it wrong and this isn't the correct book by the right author...does that make sense.
If I look at it as a standalone book, yes it's certainly not a bad book and I am sure thousands of people will love this. However, for me I really couldn't move away from a middle of the road rating because it is just too far removed from the others in the series. Having seen many other reviews, I feel like maybe I am in the minority and maybe (sometimes this happens) my head wasn't in the right frame of mind. I think my conclusion would be certainly not a bad book, just not what I was expecting. I think I may we revisit this in a few months just before Book 6 being released and see if I feel differently about it.
For a start I picked up and started this book 3 times which is unusual for me, but every time I got the first couple of chapters in I found I didn't want to read on. So on my third attempt I ploughed on and as with most books before you know it you are halfway through. The premise involves a riot at Cloverton Prison and a prisoner escapes, which leaves all sorts of problems in its wake and some of these problems involve Marnie Rome's foster brother, Stephen Keele. Marnie's sidekick Noah (who I love by the way) is back again and he and Marnie must find the escapee Michael Vokey before he does more damage.
I'm not going to delve any more into the storyline because the synopsis tells you that but in one way I almost felt like I had read this on its own without knowing who had written it Sarah Hilary would have been the last person I chose. I feel like her writing style is somewhat different to previous books and it almost felt like it could be read as a standalone book, even though there are some things that involve past events. I just can't put my finger on what exactly it was but when you are part way into a series and have loved all 4 books, you have a certain expectation for book 5. I almost feel like having read this, somebody got it wrong and this isn't the correct book by the right author...does that make sense.
If I look at it as a standalone book, yes it's certainly not a bad book and I am sure thousands of people will love this. However, for me I really couldn't move away from a middle of the road rating because it is just too far removed from the others in the series. Having seen many other reviews, I feel like maybe I am in the minority and maybe (sometimes this happens) my head wasn't in the right frame of mind. I think my conclusion would be certainly not a bad book, just not what I was expecting. I think I may we revisit this in a few months just before Book 6 being released and see if I feel differently about it.
December 2, 2017
Whoah Marnie Rome! This is one humdinger of a case! Talk about getting close to the action and entering into your nightmare all over again!
The first scene explodes onto the page - a scene as quite frankly, this and Sarah’s other books need to be on the TV. They’ve got that frenetic punchy energy that sizzles as you read. The language here was even more brilliantly delicious than in other books and when practically the whole book is set between a prison and a hospital ward with a few visits to see victims, that’s no mean feat.
This case - looking for an escaped prisoner - is described as not looking for a needle in a haystack but “looking for a clean needle in a crackhouse”. Pure Hilary genius right there. A crime scene in a house stuffed with old things becomes the “Antiques Roadshow massacre” So much evoked in three words. Horror wrapped up in humour. And there’s a likeness of a victim to a sheep on the side of the road I’ll never forget.
Come and Find me deserves to devour the most readers possible. It grabs you and if that ending doesn’t kick you in the place the sun don’t shine, then I don’t know what will. This really gets into the terrifying psyche of being in a prison, being in a cell with a nutter or two, at the centre of a riot when things get really ugly. What happens to those on the outside looking in. The women who write to these prisoners. The whole shebang.
Horrifyingly good. This is the Queen of the crime thriller which messes with your mind and lets you in to the darkness areas of the human mine.
Come and Find Me should be not just the title but the sign outside bookshops, libraries and, heck, anywhere signs exist so you are directed to a crime writer you really need to be reading if you aren’t already.
The first scene explodes onto the page - a scene as quite frankly, this and Sarah’s other books need to be on the TV. They’ve got that frenetic punchy energy that sizzles as you read. The language here was even more brilliantly delicious than in other books and when practically the whole book is set between a prison and a hospital ward with a few visits to see victims, that’s no mean feat.
This case - looking for an escaped prisoner - is described as not looking for a needle in a haystack but “looking for a clean needle in a crackhouse”. Pure Hilary genius right there. A crime scene in a house stuffed with old things becomes the “Antiques Roadshow massacre” So much evoked in three words. Horror wrapped up in humour. And there’s a likeness of a victim to a sheep on the side of the road I’ll never forget.
Come and Find me deserves to devour the most readers possible. It grabs you and if that ending doesn’t kick you in the place the sun don’t shine, then I don’t know what will. This really gets into the terrifying psyche of being in a prison, being in a cell with a nutter or two, at the centre of a riot when things get really ugly. What happens to those on the outside looking in. The women who write to these prisoners. The whole shebang.
Horrifyingly good. This is the Queen of the crime thriller which messes with your mind and lets you in to the darkness areas of the human mine.
Come and Find Me should be not just the title but the sign outside bookshops, libraries and, heck, anywhere signs exist so you are directed to a crime writer you really need to be reading if you aren’t already.
January 19, 2018
I thought Come And Find Me was a good, gripping read. It is a police procedural which has the immense merit that police do actually follow procedure, so it's a pretty plausible story and Sarah Hilary writes very well. It is the fifth in her Marnie Rome series and can be read as a stand-alone, but it's probably best to read at least some of the previous books first.
Marnie, Noah and the team are hunting a dangerous escaped prisoner following a gruesome prison riot which he apparently instigated. We get a third-person narrative from the point of view of various police officers (principally Marnie and Noah) and also the internal voice of another prisoner in hospital after the riot. It's a good story whose surprises actually made sense (which is a very welcome change from those books whose "twists" sacrifice all plausibility of story and character in trying to produce a surprise ending). Hilary develops her characters well and there is some pretty decent psychological insight here, as well as an understanding of the realities of prison life. I became very gripped by the story and the writing.
I do think that Sarah Hilary overdoes the psychologising and backstories of her police characters sometimes. The digressions into the murder of Marnie's parents and Noah's tribulations with his brother - not to mention a lengthy episode involving the dementia of the mother of a minor police character - interrupted the narrative flow. Hilary creates good, rounded characters without all this slightly overblown stuff which was a distraction rather than an enhancement for me.
This small personal reservation aside, I enjoyed Come And Find Me; I can recommend it as a well-written, thoughtful and gripping story.
(I received an ARC via NetGalley.)
Marnie, Noah and the team are hunting a dangerous escaped prisoner following a gruesome prison riot which he apparently instigated. We get a third-person narrative from the point of view of various police officers (principally Marnie and Noah) and also the internal voice of another prisoner in hospital after the riot. It's a good story whose surprises actually made sense (which is a very welcome change from those books whose "twists" sacrifice all plausibility of story and character in trying to produce a surprise ending). Hilary develops her characters well and there is some pretty decent psychological insight here, as well as an understanding of the realities of prison life. I became very gripped by the story and the writing.
I do think that Sarah Hilary overdoes the psychologising and backstories of her police characters sometimes. The digressions into the murder of Marnie's parents and Noah's tribulations with his brother - not to mention a lengthy episode involving the dementia of the mother of a minor police character - interrupted the narrative flow. Hilary creates good, rounded characters without all this slightly overblown stuff which was a distraction rather than an enhancement for me.
This small personal reservation aside, I enjoyed Come And Find Me; I can recommend it as a well-written, thoughtful and gripping story.
(I received an ARC via NetGalley.)
December 25, 2017
Sarah Hilary has another winner on her hands. The best of the series so far. Full review to follow closer to publication day.
April 14, 2018
Woah! Well that was a book completely unlike the rest of this series but utterly compelling, and still completely brilliant.
There is good progress made on some of the overall series story arcs, especially Marnie's feelings towards Stephen Keele, her foster brother. Noah's story continues too, with regular updates on Sol, Noah's brother.
But the main story this time felt like a game of hide and seek. We know what the big chaotic violent event is, but we don't know exactly who did what and why, but the suspicion is the man that escaped must be to be blame for it all.
In amongst the police work, we get chapters from the only person able to give an accurate eye witness account of just what happened at the prison, and the run up to the large amount of chaos, and the story is revealed in small sections. What is apparent early on is that this is being told by someone critically ill who can't speak, and that they are in hospital.
The whole book felt a lot like it was smoke and mirrors, the more you thought you knew about the case and the many they are looking for, the less you really did seem to know. At no point in any of it did I have any suspicions to the truth.
This book pulls you into many different directions, and you are never sure what is a red herring or key evidence. The readers know not much more than the police in this story and I loved the pacing and how the whole book was written.
This is an excellent fifth book in this series, and I'm highly curious what direction the author will take her characters in next. One this is for sure if Come and Find Me is anything to go by, there will be more incredibly cunning and twisted villains to come, and be found.
Thank you to Netgalley and Headline for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
There is good progress made on some of the overall series story arcs, especially Marnie's feelings towards Stephen Keele, her foster brother. Noah's story continues too, with regular updates on Sol, Noah's brother.
But the main story this time felt like a game of hide and seek. We know what the big chaotic violent event is, but we don't know exactly who did what and why, but the suspicion is the man that escaped must be to be blame for it all.
In amongst the police work, we get chapters from the only person able to give an accurate eye witness account of just what happened at the prison, and the run up to the large amount of chaos, and the story is revealed in small sections. What is apparent early on is that this is being told by someone critically ill who can't speak, and that they are in hospital.
The whole book felt a lot like it was smoke and mirrors, the more you thought you knew about the case and the many they are looking for, the less you really did seem to know. At no point in any of it did I have any suspicions to the truth.
This book pulls you into many different directions, and you are never sure what is a red herring or key evidence. The readers know not much more than the police in this story and I loved the pacing and how the whole book was written.
This is an excellent fifth book in this series, and I'm highly curious what direction the author will take her characters in next. One this is for sure if Come and Find Me is anything to go by, there will be more incredibly cunning and twisted villains to come, and be found.
Thank you to Netgalley and Headline for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
February 16, 2018
Due to ill health this is my first book of the year, and wow, what a read to kick off 2018 with!
‘Come and Find Me’ by Sarah Hilary is the fifth in her DI Marnie Rome series and is the best one so far. It sets off at a cracking pace and doesn’t slow down right up until the final page has been turned. With twists and turns aplenty, it’s full of everything we’ve come to expect from this series, with some genuinely heart stopping moments along the way.
Although this is the fifth book in the series and does have threads from the previous stories woven throughout, I do feel it would still read well as a stand-alone. I would, however, recommend that you read the entire series from the beginning as it is so good you will not want to miss a thing!
As usual, the wonderful characterisation of all the main players, but especially Marnie Rome and Noah Jake, add layers to the story, making you care about them so much that you feel their pain and heartache right along with them.
A superb psychological thriller that takes you on a rollercoaster of a journey and one that I highly recommend. A very easy 5 stars from me.
Thank you to Headline for giving me the opportunity to read an ARC of this outstanding book.
‘Come and Find Me’ by Sarah Hilary is the fifth in her DI Marnie Rome series and is the best one so far. It sets off at a cracking pace and doesn’t slow down right up until the final page has been turned. With twists and turns aplenty, it’s full of everything we’ve come to expect from this series, with some genuinely heart stopping moments along the way.
Although this is the fifth book in the series and does have threads from the previous stories woven throughout, I do feel it would still read well as a stand-alone. I would, however, recommend that you read the entire series from the beginning as it is so good you will not want to miss a thing!
As usual, the wonderful characterisation of all the main players, but especially Marnie Rome and Noah Jake, add layers to the story, making you care about them so much that you feel their pain and heartache right along with them.
A superb psychological thriller that takes you on a rollercoaster of a journey and one that I highly recommend. A very easy 5 stars from me.
Thank you to Headline for giving me the opportunity to read an ARC of this outstanding book.
March 23, 2018
As per usual, Sarah Hillary has left me wanting more. All I could ask of any book. Absolutely love the duo of Marnie and Noah and began to consider who I would want to play them on a TV drama. Again, such sadness within the duo’s personal lives and even though I want them to be happy, I am sure we would be lost without their pain too, as Marnie seems to thrive on hers and I am not sure where she would be without it. This was a tale of twists, turns and blind alleys and a protagonist we only ever hear about in the third person, which was a fascinating perspective. The ending to this book was almost a step too far for me too, as I felt my heart break. Loved it!
March 22, 2018
I thought that ‘Come and Find Me’ by Sarah Hilary was the best in the Marnie Rome series so far. Each book just gets better and better and the main characters are becoming progressively more realistic with each book.
I read the book via ‘Pigeonhole’ this time and each daily segment made you want to know what would happen next and highlighted segments that you would have missed in your eagerness to read it all as soon as possible.
It was a stunning read and kept you wondering what next and what will happen in the future to Marnie and Noah and all the other recurring characters?
Highly recommended.
I read the book via ‘Pigeonhole’ this time and each daily segment made you want to know what would happen next and highlighted segments that you would have missed in your eagerness to read it all as soon as possible.
It was a stunning read and kept you wondering what next and what will happen in the future to Marnie and Noah and all the other recurring characters?
Highly recommended.
December 27, 2017
Come And Find Me, by Sarah Hilary, is the fifth book in the author’s Marnie Rome series of crime thrillers. It opens with a prison riot during which several inmates are viciously attacked, a fire is started and, in the ensuing mayhem, one escapes. Mickey Vokey was incarcerated after he assaulted a young mother in her home. He has been receiving impassioned fan-mail from women since his conviction, who have provided him with their addresses that he may write back to them. In attempting to locate the felon, the police are spread thin. Cutbacks and the interest of the press add to the pressures the force comes under, that and the consensus from those who knew Vokey that none of the photographs being circulated of the missing person look anything like him.
DI Marnie Rome must once again detach her professional life from her personal demons. Her foster-brother, Stephen Keele, has sustained life-threatening injuries in the riot. Marnie approaches her contacts within the prison but is unsure of the veracity of their testimony. Prisoners know that they must not upset those within the system for fear of direct retaliation. They are also aware that those on the outside maintain control by threatening family members.
Marnie and her team quickly uncover a number of valuable leads, including access to the Vokey family home. Mickey Vokey is a talented artist with a particular interest in capturing the emotions of his subjects. He collected photographs including some of his known victim. The police officers fear that there could be others unaccounted for within his collection, and that now he could strike again.
Interspersed with the details of the ongoing search and investigation are chapters narrating the thoughts of Vokey’s cellmate who is on life-support due to injuries sustained in the riot. Ted Elms was convicted of benefit fraud and is regarded as a model prisoner. He knows what happened during the riot but is now unable to speak. He is, however, more aware of what is going on around him than his carers and visitors realise.
The reader is offered glimpses of past lives that enable empathy with the varied cast of characters despite their obvious flaws. Where there is evil it has been exacerbated by the prison system. Prisons also exist on the outside due to loneliness and societal dislocation. Initial, easy judgements rarely stand up to scrutiny.
The author is a master of suspense – it is almost frightening how good she is at injecting dark, twisted suspicions and changes of direction. Although gruesome in places the prose remains emotive and sensuous. Smells and tastes permeate each tightly constructed scene.
A crime thriller that dives straight into the action and maintains a roller coaster tension through to the unanticipated denouement. It will appeal to fans of the genre but contains sufficient depth and consideration to satisfy any reader. A fiercely assured addition to an unflinching series. This is a recommended read.
My copy of this book was provided gratis by the publisher, Headline.
DI Marnie Rome must once again detach her professional life from her personal demons. Her foster-brother, Stephen Keele, has sustained life-threatening injuries in the riot. Marnie approaches her contacts within the prison but is unsure of the veracity of their testimony. Prisoners know that they must not upset those within the system for fear of direct retaliation. They are also aware that those on the outside maintain control by threatening family members.
Marnie and her team quickly uncover a number of valuable leads, including access to the Vokey family home. Mickey Vokey is a talented artist with a particular interest in capturing the emotions of his subjects. He collected photographs including some of his known victim. The police officers fear that there could be others unaccounted for within his collection, and that now he could strike again.
Interspersed with the details of the ongoing search and investigation are chapters narrating the thoughts of Vokey’s cellmate who is on life-support due to injuries sustained in the riot. Ted Elms was convicted of benefit fraud and is regarded as a model prisoner. He knows what happened during the riot but is now unable to speak. He is, however, more aware of what is going on around him than his carers and visitors realise.
The reader is offered glimpses of past lives that enable empathy with the varied cast of characters despite their obvious flaws. Where there is evil it has been exacerbated by the prison system. Prisons also exist on the outside due to loneliness and societal dislocation. Initial, easy judgements rarely stand up to scrutiny.
The author is a master of suspense – it is almost frightening how good she is at injecting dark, twisted suspicions and changes of direction. Although gruesome in places the prose remains emotive and sensuous. Smells and tastes permeate each tightly constructed scene.
A crime thriller that dives straight into the action and maintains a roller coaster tension through to the unanticipated denouement. It will appeal to fans of the genre but contains sufficient depth and consideration to satisfy any reader. A fiercely assured addition to an unflinching series. This is a recommended read.
My copy of this book was provided gratis by the publisher, Headline.
February 18, 2020
4.5 Excellent series.
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