What do you think?
Rate this book
Detective Kay Hunter #3
One to Watch
Sophie Whittaker shared a terrifying secret. Hours later, she was dead.
Detective Kay Hunter and her colleagues are shocked by the vicious murder of a teenage girl at a private party in the Kentish countryside.
A tangled web of dark secrets is exposed as twisted motives point to a history of greed and corruption within the tight-knit community.
Confronted by a growing number of suspects and her own enemies who are waging a vendetta against her, Kay makes a shocking discovery that will make her question her trust in everyone she knows.
One to Watch is a gripping murder mystery thriller, and the third in the Detective Kay Hunter series:
A page-turning whodunit for fans of Jeffery Deaver, Peter James, David Baldacci and James Patterson.
Detective Kay Hunter and her colleagues are shocked by the vicious murder of a teenage girl at a private party in the Kentish countryside.
A tangled web of dark secrets is exposed as twisted motives point to a history of greed and corruption within the tight-knit community.
Confronted by a growing number of suspects and her own enemies who are waging a vendetta against her, Kay makes a shocking discovery that will make her question her trust in everyone she knows.
One to Watch is a gripping murder mystery thriller, and the third in the Detective Kay Hunter series:
A page-turning whodunit for fans of Jeffery Deaver, Peter James, David Baldacci and James Patterson.
378 pages, Paperback
First published June 3, 2017
339 people are currently reading
1107 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 - 30 of 111 reviews
June 19, 2018
I have read quite a few of this author's books now and I have enjoyed every single one. One to Watch is another one worth the full five stars!
Detective Kay Hunter is an excellent main character. She is talented, smart and refreshingly does not have "issues". She is even happily married to a devoted husband. Of course she has to have problems or there would be no story, but Kay's come from outside, from someone who is determined to bring her down. The who and why of this is a continuing story line always running in the background of each book.
Meanwhile each book in the series tells of a different crime and how Kay and her team work towards solving it. There's lots of good, solid police work and enough clues for the reader to work out what is going on. Amphlett has a good writing style and paces her books well.
This all adds up to another great read and I am looking forward to my next book by this author.
Detective Kay Hunter is an excellent main character. She is talented, smart and refreshingly does not have "issues". She is even happily married to a devoted husband. Of course she has to have problems or there would be no story, but Kay's come from outside, from someone who is determined to bring her down. The who and why of this is a continuing story line always running in the background of each book.
Meanwhile each book in the series tells of a different crime and how Kay and her team work towards solving it. There's lots of good, solid police work and enough clues for the reader to work out what is going on. Amphlett has a good writing style and paces her books well.
This all adds up to another great read and I am looking forward to my next book by this author.
May 25, 2022
DS Kay Hunter has been called to a stately home where sixteen year old Sophie Whittaker has been found dead at her own engagement party. At the party Sophie had taken a purity pledge to remain chaste in front of her parents and friends and then her engagement to Josh Hamilton, the nineteen year old son of a wealthy businessman. The Whittakers and Hamiltons were both members of an elite religious group and the engagement would bring together the families in a business venture even though Sophie would not marry until she was eighteen.
Kay is an excellent detective but needed to tread carefully when dealing with the wealthy and elite families in this case. The dead girl was not as innocent as her parents made out and Kay soon has her hands full with several suspects to investigate but few useful leads. From the beginning of this series, someone has also been trying to destroy Kay’s career and she is determined to find out who it is and why they are so determined to do that. This is an enjoyable, steadily paced investigation with some solid police work, a likeable, happily married lead detective with no obvious flaws or addictions and a murderer who managed to stay under the radar until the end of the book.
Kay is an excellent detective but needed to tread carefully when dealing with the wealthy and elite families in this case. The dead girl was not as innocent as her parents made out and Kay soon has her hands full with several suspects to investigate but few useful leads. From the beginning of this series, someone has also been trying to destroy Kay’s career and she is determined to find out who it is and why they are so determined to do that. This is an enjoyable, steadily paced investigation with some solid police work, a likeable, happily married lead detective with no obvious flaws or addictions and a murderer who managed to stay under the radar until the end of the book.
August 17, 2019
Some secrets should never be shared. Sophie Whittaker shared her secret with a friend ...and a short time later she was brutally murdered.
Detective Kay Hunter and her team will have to dig deep while tiptoeing through the lives of the elite. Sophie had been attending a purity party ... where she was to pledge to remain chaste until she was married. At the same time, her parents were going to announce her engagement to a young man in order to bring two families together in a business proposition.
There are several suspects and they all seem to be hiding something and lying about others. For the 16-year-old victim, she has racked up a lot of people who might have wanted .. or needed ... her dead.
This is third in an engaging series. I highly recommend starting at the very beginning, not only because the characters are finely drawn, but there is an ongoing back story with someone targeting Hunter. Someone is waging a vendetta against her and she doesn't know who to trust ... not her bosses, not her colleagues, not the man she loves.
There are riveting twists and turns that make this one a real page-turner.
Many thanks to the author for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
June 12, 2017
All of my reviews can be found on www.novelgossip.com
4.5/5
This is the third book in the Kay Hunter series and I’ve become such a huge fan of both the protagonist and Amphlett as an author. I highly recommend starting at the beginning of the series as all three books are hugely entertaining and Amphlett has the unique ability to not only come up with an interesting premise for each book, but she also perfectly balances Kay’s personal and professional life providing a well rounded reading experience. This is a solid series and this book was my favorite one thus far.
By now I’m well aware that these books are true page turners that I’ll finish in one sitting so I was well prepared. In her signature style, the author writes short, rapid chapters that add to the fast pacing. This book starts off strong and never lets up, there are no moments of boredom and the pace never lags, right on through to the end where the twists and turns just keep coming, it’s fantastic.
The case Kay is investigating was interesting, especially as the teenager who was murdered had taken a purity pledge, with a twist. Her parents had approved of and even encouraged her to get engaged to another young man from their church which both fascinated and appalled me. Besides the central investigation, Kay is still working on her own to find out who within her department has a vendetta against her. There were a couple of new developments regarding this, but I’m so curious to see where this goes! I hope Amphlett doesn’t make us wait too much longer. Bring on book four!
4.5/5
This is the third book in the Kay Hunter series and I’ve become such a huge fan of both the protagonist and Amphlett as an author. I highly recommend starting at the beginning of the series as all three books are hugely entertaining and Amphlett has the unique ability to not only come up with an interesting premise for each book, but she also perfectly balances Kay’s personal and professional life providing a well rounded reading experience. This is a solid series and this book was my favorite one thus far.
By now I’m well aware that these books are true page turners that I’ll finish in one sitting so I was well prepared. In her signature style, the author writes short, rapid chapters that add to the fast pacing. This book starts off strong and never lets up, there are no moments of boredom and the pace never lags, right on through to the end where the twists and turns just keep coming, it’s fantastic.
The case Kay is investigating was interesting, especially as the teenager who was murdered had taken a purity pledge, with a twist. Her parents had approved of and even encouraged her to get engaged to another young man from their church which both fascinated and appalled me. Besides the central investigation, Kay is still working on her own to find out who within her department has a vendetta against her. There were a couple of new developments regarding this, but I’m so curious to see where this goes! I hope Amphlett doesn’t make us wait too much longer. Bring on book four!
May 31, 2017
My favourite novel in the Detective Kay series, thus far, One to Watch was different from the series previous novels. Instead of following Detective Kay as she hunts a rampant serial killer, this one honed in on one case and one dead teenager. I loved being able to focus solely on a single murder and to be able to play the “whodunit” game with the detectives. Each character, more interesting than the last, reminded me of a game of Clue.
When a teenaged girl, Sophie, is found dead at her purity party, Detective Kay arrives to the scene. Her boyfriend is arrested, her family is questioned, and as Detective Kay digs deeper and deeper into Sophie’s life, she begins to expose a web of twisted motives, religious fanatics and family secrets.
I loved the general plot of this one; I have watched several documentaries about modern purity parties and the lengths families will go to ensure their daughter’s chastity. Having this in the backdrop of a murder mystery was fascinating.
Like all of Amphlett’s books, I found this one to be fast paced and full of red herrings. Just as I felt like I knew where the plot was going, I would be thrown off and the direction would change. Finally, at about 85% in, when the plot twist came, I literally gasped out loud (which, subsequently, led a number of people to give me strange looks) when I realized what was going on. I had no idea and was completely taken off guard. Amphlett has a unique ability to intricately weave a plot and leave plenty of surprises for her reader.
Parallel to Sophie’s case, Detective Kay is also working hard to uncover her own enemies and find the ones responsible for the consistent tarnishing of her name. This continuing storyline begins to heat up in this installment of the series and I cannot wait to see where this will lead in the following book.
If you have not read any of the previous novels of the Detective Kay series, have no fear, One to Watch can be read easily as a standalone. But, truly, the entire series is worth the read and I feel as if any reader would want to go back and relish in the other novels.
Another home run for Amphlett; I gave this one a 5/5 stars.
When a teenaged girl, Sophie, is found dead at her purity party, Detective Kay arrives to the scene. Her boyfriend is arrested, her family is questioned, and as Detective Kay digs deeper and deeper into Sophie’s life, she begins to expose a web of twisted motives, religious fanatics and family secrets.
I loved the general plot of this one; I have watched several documentaries about modern purity parties and the lengths families will go to ensure their daughter’s chastity. Having this in the backdrop of a murder mystery was fascinating.
Like all of Amphlett’s books, I found this one to be fast paced and full of red herrings. Just as I felt like I knew where the plot was going, I would be thrown off and the direction would change. Finally, at about 85% in, when the plot twist came, I literally gasped out loud (which, subsequently, led a number of people to give me strange looks) when I realized what was going on. I had no idea and was completely taken off guard. Amphlett has a unique ability to intricately weave a plot and leave plenty of surprises for her reader.
Parallel to Sophie’s case, Detective Kay is also working hard to uncover her own enemies and find the ones responsible for the consistent tarnishing of her name. This continuing storyline begins to heat up in this installment of the series and I cannot wait to see where this will lead in the following book.
If you have not read any of the previous novels of the Detective Kay series, have no fear, One to Watch can be read easily as a standalone. But, truly, the entire series is worth the read and I feel as if any reader would want to go back and relish in the other novels.
Another home run for Amphlett; I gave this one a 5/5 stars.
August 9, 2020
This series just gets better and better. The main story line keeps you guessing as to "who dunit"! The continuing back story is developing quite fast now, lots going on with it, but not enough to take away from the main story - just enough to pique your interest! Money truly is a motive!
2 thumbs up and 4.5 stars!
From the blurb: Overview: Sophie Whittaker shared a terrifying secret. Hours later, she was dead.
Detective Kay Hunter and her colleagues are shocked by the vicious murder of a teenage girl at a private party in the Kentish countryside.
A tangled web of dark secrets is exposed as twisted motives point to a history of greed and corruption within the tight-knit community.
Confronted by a growing number of suspects and her own enemies who are waging a vendetta against her, Kay makes a shocking discovery that will make her question her trust in everyone she knows.
2 thumbs up and 4.5 stars!
From the blurb: Overview: Sophie Whittaker shared a terrifying secret. Hours later, she was dead.
Detective Kay Hunter and her colleagues are shocked by the vicious murder of a teenage girl at a private party in the Kentish countryside.
A tangled web of dark secrets is exposed as twisted motives point to a history of greed and corruption within the tight-knit community.
Confronted by a growing number of suspects and her own enemies who are waging a vendetta against her, Kay makes a shocking discovery that will make her question her trust in everyone she knows.
June 9, 2017
4.5 stars - One thing I know for certain about previous books I have read featuring Detective Kay Hunter is, they are fast-paced and exciting! While One To Watch is both of those things, it’s also so much more, thus making it my favourite of the series so far! This series is marketed as a crime thriller series, and rightly so, but in One To Watch, Amphlett shows just how strong her mystery writing skills are. In this case, Kay is not hunting a serial killer but instead person(s) responsible for a single murder, Sophie Whittakers murder. As the mystery unravels there’s so many potential suspects, Amphlett keeps us guessing till the end – I guess it’s true what they say: with money comes murder!
This is the third installment in the Detective Kay Hunter series, so for maximum enjoyment, I recommend starting at book one. Books one and two are excellent, and you’ll grow fonder of Kay with each book you read and there is a wonderful subplot running throughout all three books. It focuses on someone who has a vendetta against Kay and is going out of their way to jeopardise her career; in One To Watch, this subplot reach a whole new level of suspense and the threat to Kay and her family is heightening – I cannot wait to dig further into this mystery in the next book.
One To Watch keeps the fast-pace this series is known for, making it a perfect choice for a one-sitting read; this really is a series you can binge read. I think one thing that makes this book [and series] stand out is the characters; Amphlett has created such likeable characters and you delight in seeing them return again in each novel. As for Kay Hunter, she’s now in joint first place as my favourite fictional female detective. And as always, I have to give a mention to her partner, Adam, I thoroughly enjoy reading their interactions and I love how supportive he is of her and her career – they easily win the most likeable fictional couple award!
I highly recommend One To Watch, it’s the perfect book for fans of crime fiction, whether you favour police procedurals, thrillers or mysteries, this one encapsulates them all; full of red herrings, it really is a ‘whodunit’ mystery that can be enjoyed by all.
In case you’re wondering who Kay Hunter is in joint first place with as my favourite fictional female detective, it’s Erika Foster from the crime series by Robert Bryndza.
*My thanks to Emma Mitchell PR for providing me with a digital copy of this book*
This is the third installment in the Detective Kay Hunter series, so for maximum enjoyment, I recommend starting at book one. Books one and two are excellent, and you’ll grow fonder of Kay with each book you read and there is a wonderful subplot running throughout all three books. It focuses on someone who has a vendetta against Kay and is going out of their way to jeopardise her career; in One To Watch, this subplot reach a whole new level of suspense and the threat to Kay and her family is heightening – I cannot wait to dig further into this mystery in the next book.
One To Watch keeps the fast-pace this series is known for, making it a perfect choice for a one-sitting read; this really is a series you can binge read. I think one thing that makes this book [and series] stand out is the characters; Amphlett has created such likeable characters and you delight in seeing them return again in each novel. As for Kay Hunter, she’s now in joint first place as my favourite fictional female detective. And as always, I have to give a mention to her partner, Adam, I thoroughly enjoy reading their interactions and I love how supportive he is of her and her career – they easily win the most likeable fictional couple award!
I highly recommend One To Watch, it’s the perfect book for fans of crime fiction, whether you favour police procedurals, thrillers or mysteries, this one encapsulates them all; full of red herrings, it really is a ‘whodunit’ mystery that can be enjoyed by all.
In case you’re wondering who Kay Hunter is in joint first place with as my favourite fictional female detective, it’s Erika Foster from the crime series by Robert Bryndza.
*My thanks to Emma Mitchell PR for providing me with a digital copy of this book*
August 30, 2018
I love this series, Kay Hunter is such a great character. Looking forward to more in book 4!
November 9, 2019
One to Watch is book three in the Detective Kay Hunter series by Rachel Amphlett. Detective Kay Hunter caught a murder case of a young girl killed at a party in a rural estate in Kent. At first, the killing of Sophie Whittaker had no motive. However, Detective Kay Hunter kept investigating and exposed more then she bargained. The readers of One to Watch will continue to follow Detective Kay Hunter investigation to the death of Sophie Wittaker to find answers.
One to Watch is a fantastic book to read and excellent attention to this lovely series. Rachel Amphlett excellently portrayal the characters of One to Watch and I love the way they intertwined with each other throughout this book. One to Watch is well written and researched by Rachel Amphlett. I like Rachel Amphlett description of the settings of One to Watch that engaged me from the start, and I was unable to put the book down until I finished the book.
The readers of One to Watch will learn about law enforcement corruption and how it affects the people involved. Also, the readers of One to Watch will start to understand the consequences of jealousy and hatred on everyone involved.
I recommend this book.
One to Watch is a fantastic book to read and excellent attention to this lovely series. Rachel Amphlett excellently portrayal the characters of One to Watch and I love the way they intertwined with each other throughout this book. One to Watch is well written and researched by Rachel Amphlett. I like Rachel Amphlett description of the settings of One to Watch that engaged me from the start, and I was unable to put the book down until I finished the book.
The readers of One to Watch will learn about law enforcement corruption and how it affects the people involved. Also, the readers of One to Watch will start to understand the consequences of jealousy and hatred on everyone involved.
I recommend this book.
July 14, 2020
A sixteen year old girl, daughter of a minor English aristocrat, is murdered at a party held to celebrate her purity pledge under some weird religious sect and her engagement to the teenage son of an ambitious American businessman. Leading the investigation is DS Kay Hunter of the Kent Police, who is still reeling from being subject to an internal police inquiry for impropriety. Throw in a priest nursing a secret, a love-sick suitor, blackmail and some dodgy financials.
Unfortunately, this one did not live up to the hype and did little for me. Worse, I spotted the killer early in the piece. Hope her others are better.
Unfortunately, this one did not live up to the hype and did little for me. Worse, I spotted the killer early in the piece. Hope her others are better.
December 15, 2017
With series come the fear to be disappointed. We all have mentioned it at some point in our reviews. We don't want the characters we love so much to turn into strangers we don't recognize, strong plots getting nasty holes, and settings being destroyed.
Have no fear with the Kay Hunter series, One To Watch is just as good as the two previous books! I have no idea how she does it, but Rachel Amphlett masters the ways of building and keeping all elements of her stories strong and consistent.
My dear Kay, how have I missed you... after only two weeks (I read the first book in the series in early May, after having read the second... Never mind!). God knows how I'm gonna resist until book four! Kay Hunter is just the way you left her... But don't be fooled, she can surprise you. Throughout the book, I could feel something cook inside of her (if you're familiar with the series, you know what I'm referring to) and the Kay we leave at the end of One to Watch is what makes me love her so much. That perfect combination of being a woman, a wife, a cop. That resilience and tenacity, I could go on about how I find her to be the most relatable police detective I have met so far. The author doesn't need clichés or far-fetched situations to put her main character in to show us what Kay is made of. She makes mistakes, she looks for answers, she worries. I cannot explain why she speaks to me so much, but for me, she is one of the best protagonists of the genre.
This third book pushes Kay off her own limits again, with another perfectly intertwined plot and subplot ratcheting the tension with every page. This time, Kay reaches to people, hides her cards, and play it slightly differently. I am so hooked on this subplot I swear the author is going to kill me if we don't get answers!
Do you wonder about the writing? I devoured every word so eagerly I did not even take notes or pick quotes!! Flowing perfectly, the author's style is sure to keep you up long after bedtime!
As for the big investigation, it was different. Good different. I felt this time the violence and evil was more in the motive and the people involved than in the killing itself. I was bracing myself for another awful bunch of bloody bodies, and the crime was quite gruesome, but my stomach couldn't take the awfulness behind the reasons of the crime. The death was less grisly but more macabre in a way, as the threads leading to it had my blood run cold and my mouth stay open until shock passed and I could move my jaw again. Be prepared for monsters, but beware, they don't wear the clothes you're used to see them in.
The stolen moments in Kay's private life still make a brilliant break and add a touch of normality in this engrossing crime environment. But normality can only go so far when you bother the wrong people. Thankfully, and this is another of my favorite details in this series, coffee, gossip, team work, and angry bosses are all around, and you get the feeling of being in the precinct with Kay again. For better or for worse!
Overall, One to Watch is my third favorite book in this series of... three books! Rachel Amphlett's compelling and evil plots mixed with the most complex array of characters make this series one of the best of the crime genre.
I would like to thank Rachel Amphlett and Emma Mitchell for the opportunity to take part in this blog tour and for allowing me to review the book in an unbiased way.
June 5, 2017
I read so many series nowadays featuring women police detectives that it takes a lot to stand out for me. But this series by Rachel Amphlett is one of my favourites and I’m always desperate to get my hands on the next instalment. As I’ve said before, for police procedural thrillers to work for me I have to really take to the main protagonist and Kay Hunter is just the perfect heroine for me. Although she can appear standoffish at times, her tough exterior hides her vulnerability and once you get an insight into what has happened to her previously, you will understand why. So you CAN read this as a standalone but to get a fuller appreciation of Kay’s character you will want to start at Scared to Death.
The plot here revolves around a murder case, one that had me in bits right from the start as it involved a 16 year old girl beaten to death at her own party. This girl had absolutely everything to live for, a beautiful home, rich and powerful parents and a gorgeous new fiance. But as Kay discovers, there are many secrets hiding behind this well connected family and one of them has lead to the death of Sophie Whittaker. As usual there is a thread running through the main narrative concerning Kay’s private life and her knowledge that she can’t trust her colleagues due to a previous case that is still at the heart of her own personal heartbreak. And it’s this side of Kay that drives her onwards as she swears to find out the truth and protect her loved ones.
This series just keeps getting better. Rachel Amphlett is a hugely talented author with an easy writing style that grabs you immediately, connecting you with her well drawn characters and intricate plotting. And as soon as I finished One to Watch I put myself on countdown for Hell to Pay which should be out later in 2017. I know I sound impatient but when you find a series you love it’s a addiction you are desperate to feed! Highly recommended by me!
The plot here revolves around a murder case, one that had me in bits right from the start as it involved a 16 year old girl beaten to death at her own party. This girl had absolutely everything to live for, a beautiful home, rich and powerful parents and a gorgeous new fiance. But as Kay discovers, there are many secrets hiding behind this well connected family and one of them has lead to the death of Sophie Whittaker. As usual there is a thread running through the main narrative concerning Kay’s private life and her knowledge that she can’t trust her colleagues due to a previous case that is still at the heart of her own personal heartbreak. And it’s this side of Kay that drives her onwards as she swears to find out the truth and protect her loved ones.
This series just keeps getting better. Rachel Amphlett is a hugely talented author with an easy writing style that grabs you immediately, connecting you with her well drawn characters and intricate plotting. And as soon as I finished One to Watch I put myself on countdown for Hell to Pay which should be out later in 2017. I know I sound impatient but when you find a series you love it’s a addiction you are desperate to feed! Highly recommended by me!
May 27, 2017
Review to follow as part of blog tour on June 2nd
July 29, 2025
This series is always interesting with great characters and mysteries that make it hard to put the book down! Already looking forward to the next book.
May 13, 2017
The party was in full swing by ten that night, and Eva, Sophie’s best friend, along with most of the other party goers had had a lot to drink. It was when Eva was searching for a bush to relieve herself behind that she came across a body – her intense shock had her screaming in horror.
Detective Kay Hunter and her colleague Detective Devon Sharp were in charge of the investigation; the number of inebriated witnesses had them shaking their heads, knowing how difficult facts would be to ascertain. But with orders from up high to keep the investigation quiet and solve it quickly, Kay and Sharp found themselves frustrated. And the myriad of secrets and lies that were being kept deeply buried meant it was harder than ever.
Kay’s determination to find the young woman’s killer had her going against orders – the situation in her office was at the stage of her not knowing who she could trust. But going with her instincts had seen her right in the past – would those same instincts work for her again? Kay also knew that for some reason, someone was out to ruin her career – it had been going on for a while; who and why she didn’t know, but she also knew she would eventually uncover the culprit…
One to Watch is the 3rd in the Detective Kay Hunter series and every bit as intense and fast paced as the previous two. A gripping thriller, I flew through the pages until the extremely satisfying ending. Filled with twists and turns, I certainly didn’t pick the killer until the reveal.. the sign of an excellent book! Highly recommended.
With thanks to the author for my digital ARC to read and review.
Detective Kay Hunter and her colleague Detective Devon Sharp were in charge of the investigation; the number of inebriated witnesses had them shaking their heads, knowing how difficult facts would be to ascertain. But with orders from up high to keep the investigation quiet and solve it quickly, Kay and Sharp found themselves frustrated. And the myriad of secrets and lies that were being kept deeply buried meant it was harder than ever.
Kay’s determination to find the young woman’s killer had her going against orders – the situation in her office was at the stage of her not knowing who she could trust. But going with her instincts had seen her right in the past – would those same instincts work for her again? Kay also knew that for some reason, someone was out to ruin her career – it had been going on for a while; who and why she didn’t know, but she also knew she would eventually uncover the culprit…
One to Watch is the 3rd in the Detective Kay Hunter series and every bit as intense and fast paced as the previous two. A gripping thriller, I flew through the pages until the extremely satisfying ending. Filled with twists and turns, I certainly didn’t pick the killer until the reveal.. the sign of an excellent book! Highly recommended.
With thanks to the author for my digital ARC to read and review.
July 8, 2018
Finished reading: June 30th 2018
"The plot thickens. And nothing in this case is straightforward."
*** 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.
February 13, 2024
This is the third book in the Detective Kay Hunter series, and it is awesome! This particular chapter, we find a young 16-year-old girl, Sophie Whitaker, who is murdered at her engagement party. Her parents belong to a conservative church and have requested that she take a vow of chastity until she is married, the marriages obviously to bring together two powerful families, but who could want young Sophie dead? While Detective Kay Hunter investigates she is curious why her boss will not support her promotion and is convinced that someone from her unit is out to get her.
November 28, 2018
Review to come.
May 31, 2017
One to Watch is the third book in the DS Kay Hunter series following Scared to Death and Will to Live.
I found the subject of One to Watch very intriguing, focusing upon the death of 16-year-old Sophie Whittaker during a party celebrating her ‘purity pledge’ and her engagement to Josh. For those unfamiliar with the ‘purity pledge’, it is a pledge that young girls (note not boys!) take to remain chaste until they are married – supported by their father’s to provide a positive example. Usually taken between the ages of 12 and 16, it is a part of a conservative Christian movement – but that said, this book isn’t highly religious, or critical of religion, instead this is the backdrop to a murder investigation.
Whilst the party is in full swing, Sophie’s body is found by her drunk best friend Eva during the first chapter of the book that also alludes to the fact that Sophie had secrets which were to come out. Throughout the book these secrets come out, weaving a tighter web for Hunter and her team to unravel to find her killer and their motive.
During the investigation, what is also brought out into the discussion is old money vs. new money as Sophie’s family comes from an aristocratic background whereas Josh’s family are the new rich from his father’s business activities.
Detective’s Hunter and Sharp have a lot on their hands when working through the immediate witnesses, who are all a bit drunk!, as well as working through all the social politics….considering the Whittaker’s daughter has just died, the mother is more concerned about keeping up appearances (the stiff upper lip and all that!) and Josh’s parents just want to carry on as normal with Josh’s education and their business.
Amphlett has woven another tale which is gripping and full of unreliable witnesses – everyone seems shifty! Once again, she has created well-developed characters – interestingly I didn’t like most of the characters but this only added to the narrative and contributed to the suspicions throughout. As with the other books in the series, this throws the reader straight into the action from the first chapter and is the usual high pace that I now associate with both the author and Hunter and her team.
I have seen from Amazon and Goodreads that there is a fourth book in the series which is due out this year, Hell to Pay, and I hope that there are many more to come!
I found the subject of One to Watch very intriguing, focusing upon the death of 16-year-old Sophie Whittaker during a party celebrating her ‘purity pledge’ and her engagement to Josh. For those unfamiliar with the ‘purity pledge’, it is a pledge that young girls (note not boys!) take to remain chaste until they are married – supported by their father’s to provide a positive example. Usually taken between the ages of 12 and 16, it is a part of a conservative Christian movement – but that said, this book isn’t highly religious, or critical of religion, instead this is the backdrop to a murder investigation.
Whilst the party is in full swing, Sophie’s body is found by her drunk best friend Eva during the first chapter of the book that also alludes to the fact that Sophie had secrets which were to come out. Throughout the book these secrets come out, weaving a tighter web for Hunter and her team to unravel to find her killer and their motive.
During the investigation, what is also brought out into the discussion is old money vs. new money as Sophie’s family comes from an aristocratic background whereas Josh’s family are the new rich from his father’s business activities.
Detective’s Hunter and Sharp have a lot on their hands when working through the immediate witnesses, who are all a bit drunk!, as well as working through all the social politics….considering the Whittaker’s daughter has just died, the mother is more concerned about keeping up appearances (the stiff upper lip and all that!) and Josh’s parents just want to carry on as normal with Josh’s education and their business.
Amphlett has woven another tale which is gripping and full of unreliable witnesses – everyone seems shifty! Once again, she has created well-developed characters – interestingly I didn’t like most of the characters but this only added to the narrative and contributed to the suspicions throughout. As with the other books in the series, this throws the reader straight into the action from the first chapter and is the usual high pace that I now associate with both the author and Hunter and her team.
I have seen from Amazon and Goodreads that there is a fourth book in the series which is due out this year, Hell to Pay, and I hope that there are many more to come!
April 19, 2018
At a large country estate in Kent, a teenaged girl is murdered at a private party and Detective Kay Hunter and her colleagues are shocked at the brutality of the crime and at the reactions of the people involved. Sophie was the daughter of a snooty British aristocrat and her more mild-mannered husband and the party was intended to celebrate a rather odd ceremony for Sophie, one of purity. Some of the tenets of this purity pledge carried their own very creepy tones, not least of which is the idea that the teen girl must be chaste until marriage but the teen boy is forgiven all his behavior once they marry.
This particular crime is a lot more difficult to investigate than some because of the roadblocks put in the team’s way due to the wealth and position of the various parties. DI Sharp assigns Kay and Barnes to follow certain leads while other detectives look into different aspects of the murder but each path brings them to confusing tangents that introduce ever more urgent questions. All the while, DCI Larch seems to be bent on protecting the sensibilities of Sophie’s family as well as another family whose American money apparently make them off limits.
It soon becomes obvious that this is no “routine” killing and an ultra-conservative religious program is in the mix along with greed on all sides while two very different young men are devastated by Sophie’s death…or are they? Could a major secret have been the impetus for the crime and just who was Sophie, anyway? Meanwhile, Kay is still trying to conduct her own investigation into why someone wants to destroy her career and she and her husband, Adam, begin to see that this could ultimately be much more dangerous than they initially thought.
All the characters I’ve come to like so much, and even one or two I don’t like so much, are back in this series entry and I really enjoyed the time I spent with them and the investigative efforts needed to solve this awful murder, sunk in a bog of corruption that is as unpleasant and distasteful as can be.
Once again, narrator Alison Campbell pulled me in with her outstanding work and she is fast becoming one of my favorite audiobook readers. It doesn’t hurt that she had such a good story to work with and the entire series so far has kept me riveted. For anyone looking for a British police procedural series on audio, you cannot do better than this one 😉
This particular crime is a lot more difficult to investigate than some because of the roadblocks put in the team’s way due to the wealth and position of the various parties. DI Sharp assigns Kay and Barnes to follow certain leads while other detectives look into different aspects of the murder but each path brings them to confusing tangents that introduce ever more urgent questions. All the while, DCI Larch seems to be bent on protecting the sensibilities of Sophie’s family as well as another family whose American money apparently make them off limits.
It soon becomes obvious that this is no “routine” killing and an ultra-conservative religious program is in the mix along with greed on all sides while two very different young men are devastated by Sophie’s death…or are they? Could a major secret have been the impetus for the crime and just who was Sophie, anyway? Meanwhile, Kay is still trying to conduct her own investigation into why someone wants to destroy her career and she and her husband, Adam, begin to see that this could ultimately be much more dangerous than they initially thought.
All the characters I’ve come to like so much, and even one or two I don’t like so much, are back in this series entry and I really enjoyed the time I spent with them and the investigative efforts needed to solve this awful murder, sunk in a bog of corruption that is as unpleasant and distasteful as can be.
Once again, narrator Alison Campbell pulled me in with her outstanding work and she is fast becoming one of my favorite audiobook readers. It doesn’t hurt that she had such a good story to work with and the entire series so far has kept me riveted. For anyone looking for a British police procedural series on audio, you cannot do better than this one 😉
June 6, 2018
I am absolutely loving the Kay Hunter series! It has been a little while since I read books one and two, but having the upcoming blog tour for book six to look forward to, in July, has given me the perfect opportunity to catch up :-)
Rachel Amphlett's writing is just so easy to get on with, the stories are so gripping and the character's (on the most part) are so likeable that I find I tend to read these books fairly quickly. The short(ish) chapters always end in a way that makes you have to keep reading.
In One To Watch, Kay and her team find themselves investigating the devastating and brutal murder of sixteen year old Sophie Whittaker. There are so many suspects, all with different motives, and it seems like they might never get to the bottom of what happened, but when they do, OH MY! A jaw dropping conclusion to an excellent murder mystery.
I feel like I get to know Kay Hunter a little bit more with every book. She's a very committed detective and has the mutual respect of most of her colleagues. However, one seems to have it in for her and I still don't really know why. This keeps me intrigued. We also see a personal side to Kay in her relationship with her partner and the fact that they are grieving for a baby she miscarried some months before. Kay is quite a private person and chose not to tell anyone at work, but it's obviously something that's never far from her mind and makes her all the more sensitive to this current murder investigation.
The family secrets revealed in this story are shocking. It's quite scary the levels some people will stoop to, to get what they want! It makes you question if you can ever trust anyone, ever!
Brilliantly written. I highly recommend!
I've already started Book 4.
https://chataboutbooks.wordpress.com/...
Rachel Amphlett's writing is just so easy to get on with, the stories are so gripping and the character's (on the most part) are so likeable that I find I tend to read these books fairly quickly. The short(ish) chapters always end in a way that makes you have to keep reading.
In One To Watch, Kay and her team find themselves investigating the devastating and brutal murder of sixteen year old Sophie Whittaker. There are so many suspects, all with different motives, and it seems like they might never get to the bottom of what happened, but when they do, OH MY! A jaw dropping conclusion to an excellent murder mystery.
I feel like I get to know Kay Hunter a little bit more with every book. She's a very committed detective and has the mutual respect of most of her colleagues. However, one seems to have it in for her and I still don't really know why. This keeps me intrigued. We also see a personal side to Kay in her relationship with her partner and the fact that they are grieving for a baby she miscarried some months before. Kay is quite a private person and chose not to tell anyone at work, but it's obviously something that's never far from her mind and makes her all the more sensitive to this current murder investigation.
The family secrets revealed in this story are shocking. It's quite scary the levels some people will stoop to, to get what they want! It makes you question if you can ever trust anyone, ever!
Brilliantly written. I highly recommend!
I've already started Book 4.
https://chataboutbooks.wordpress.com/...
April 10, 2024
I’ve read a few books in this series and this if the first one that I didn’t really like by the end of it. It had a great premise but became convoluted. There were too many loose ends that weren’t tied up for me. It felt like she hastily threw together the last couple chapters, and was missing the conclusions it needed. This is more like 2 or 2.5 stars but because I have enjoyed the other books in the series I am giving it a 3.
October 19, 2017
4.5 stars.
This was the best Kay Hunter book so far. A 16 year old girl from a well-to-do family is murdered at a party thrown by her parents to celebrate her purity pledge (creepy yeah). There are more suspects than you can poke a stick at and everyone seems to have something to hide. Kay and her team soon conclude that the girl, Sophie, was not really so pure. And there seem to be a number of agendas going on here.
Meanwhile Kay is still wondering who it is that set her up for the Professional Standards investigation
that was first raised in book 1 and that has got her Superintendent hating her guts. When news of her miscarriage (10 months ago) sweeps through the station and she is hauled over the coals for supposedly leaking to the press about Sophie's murder, she determines to have another go at finding out who is setting her up. She investigates something and what she finds is shocking and very disturbing. By the end of the book her nemesis is still out there. There is another book in the works and I really hope we find out soon who has got it in for her.
This was the best Kay Hunter book so far. A 16 year old girl from a well-to-do family is murdered at a party thrown by her parents to celebrate her purity pledge (creepy yeah). There are more suspects than you can poke a stick at and everyone seems to have something to hide. Kay and her team soon conclude that the girl, Sophie, was not really so pure. And there seem to be a number of agendas going on here.
Meanwhile Kay is still wondering who it is that set her up for the Professional Standards investigation
that was first raised in book 1 and that has got her Superintendent hating her guts. When news of her miscarriage (10 months ago) sweeps through the station and she is hauled over the coals for supposedly leaking to the press about Sophie's murder, she determines to have another go at finding out who is setting her up. She investigates something and what she finds is shocking and very disturbing. By the end of the book her nemesis is still out there. There is another book in the works and I really hope we find out soon who has got it in for her.
April 5, 2024
3 stars
This was a good one but somehow I enjoyed it less than the previous one, probably because the list of suspect and people that hated the victim was so long that it got a bit out of hand.
This was a good one but somehow I enjoyed it less than the previous one, probably because the list of suspect and people that hated the victim was so long that it got a bit out of hand.
April 9, 2019
I am totally hooked on this series. I love Kay, her relationship with her husband and her relationship with a small set of her colleagues. While Kay is still having issues with some of the people she works with due to the Moral Standards investigation she was cleared of she still finds herself working to clear her name.
In this book Hunter is untangling the death of a young girl at her purity pledge party. It seems this young woman took a vow of chastity before marriage and pledged herself to another young man. Yet she was far from chaste, in fact she was pregnant. Whoever the father is may be the killer.
While Kay tries to figure out who may have killed this young girl she finds her home broken into and vital information leaked to the press and attributed to her which brings swift backlash from those who don't trust her anyway. As Kay struggles to figure out who is behind ripping her world apart she finds disturbing information that may lead to the culprit.
Fast paced police procedural with good character development and intriguing mysteries.
In this book Hunter is untangling the death of a young girl at her purity pledge party. It seems this young woman took a vow of chastity before marriage and pledged herself to another young man. Yet she was far from chaste, in fact she was pregnant. Whoever the father is may be the killer.
While Kay tries to figure out who may have killed this young girl she finds her home broken into and vital information leaked to the press and attributed to her which brings swift backlash from those who don't trust her anyway. As Kay struggles to figure out who is behind ripping her world apart she finds disturbing information that may lead to the culprit.
Fast paced police procedural with good character development and intriguing mysteries.
February 4, 2018
Detective Kay Hunter investigates the murder of a teenage girl and uncovers a complex but extraordinary prenuptial agreement that was doomed from the start. The more she and her team unravel the events preceding Sophie's murder the number of possible suspects increases. At the same time Kay has personal enemies who are determined to harass and undermine her work and her confidence. She is unsure who she can still trust amongst her team and afraid for and her boyfriend's safety.
One to watch is the thrilling 3rd book in the series and is equally as good as the first two. Kay Hunter is a very likeable person with a dream partner, but we must be patient and wait for another book in the series to uncover who her enemies are at work.
One to watch is the thrilling 3rd book in the series and is equally as good as the first two. Kay Hunter is a very likeable person with a dream partner, but we must be patient and wait for another book in the series to uncover who her enemies are at work.
August 10, 2020
The mystery in this book was excellent. I was completely engrossed in the story and never guessed who did it. My biggest complaint was how the case unfolded. In the last book, the person who finds the body is the first person interviewed. However, in this book, they don't interview that person till 70% into the story. So much could have been resolved if they had spoken to the BF first. I don't understand why the author wasted so much time going back and forth between the 2 families. Plus, the narrator's attempt at an American accent was not good. For example, she kept saying "idear" instead of "idea."
August 27, 2021
I am really enjoying this series. Love the plots, the well hidden murderers and Kay Hunter's ongoing battle with DCI Larch while she solves some pretty challenging cases. Well done.
June 8, 2017
Detective Kay Hunter has to practise the fine art of diplomacy when a rich young girl is found murdered while a colleague betrays her secrets …
— Introduction —
Detective Kay Hunter #3
Sixteen-year-old Sophie is about to get engaged to Josh, the son of a rich American. The ceremony is held in her family home, the Regency built mansion, fitting for Lady Asquith (Sophie’s mother). Before the engagement, Sophie takes a purity pledge – a vow before God, taken by Pastor Duncan, indicating that she will stay chaste until her wedding day. Sophie’s father is to guard her against anything compromising Sophie’s vow. During the party afterwards, Sophie is nowhere to be found. Until her best friend Eva stumbles over her lifeless body in the garden.
— Storyline —
When Kay Hunter is called to the scene of the crime, for it is obvious Sophie was murdered, she has her work cut out for her: many guests attending the party disrupting the crime scene, a snobbish and hysterical mother who insists on being addressed with her full title, and a rich American businessman who happens to have friends in high places. To complicate matters further, most of the guests are either drunk or at least intoxicated. What stuns Kay the most, is the (in her eyes) old-fashioned purity pledge the girl made, so antiquated, and taken by young women but not the men they are to marry. By the way, how far does the fatherly protection go to safeguard a daughter from losing her virginity? And why would Sophie take such a pledge, considering the circumstances and the secret she shared with her best friend Eva? Come to that, what could be the motive for murdering Sophie?
The fact that Kay has to walk on eggshells with so many influential people involved and her feeling of being transported back to a time where parents married off their children make Kay irritated. Her diplomacy is needed more than ever, especially since Detective Chief Inspector Larch, who moves in the same circles as the victim’s parents and future in-laws, is waiting for the opportunity to blame Kay for her failures and to once again be able to put her before a Professional Standards Committee. The only person standing between them is Kay’s boss Detective Inspector Sharp. An obvious suspect without evidence linking him to the murder and the reluctance of DCI Larch to properly investigate make it tough for Kay and her colleagues, amongst whom are Gavin and Carys. There is also Kay’s secret inquiry to find out who is after her and in this respect, she endangers not only herself …
— My Thoughts —
I love the Kay Hunter series! The books are intriguing, exciting and have the perfect mix of Kay’s personal life with husband Adam and her professional life as a Detective Sergeant. Kay is everything a protagonist needs to be: strong yet vulnerable, driven, professional, fighting for what she believes is right and not in the least interested in political games. Unlike the first two books in the series, this third book is more a slow starter and picks up the pace as the plot thickens. I am fascinated by the intriguing, continuous story in all three books: why Kay was framed and had to appear before a Professional Standards Committee and the ongoing consequences of this situation. What can I say? Read the Kay Hunter series, you will love it! Rachel Amphlett, I need to find out who is responsible for putting Kay’s life at risk!
Read the review on my website: https://www.bitsaboutbooks.net/one-wa...
— Introduction —
Detective Kay Hunter #3
Sixteen-year-old Sophie is about to get engaged to Josh, the son of a rich American. The ceremony is held in her family home, the Regency built mansion, fitting for Lady Asquith (Sophie’s mother). Before the engagement, Sophie takes a purity pledge – a vow before God, taken by Pastor Duncan, indicating that she will stay chaste until her wedding day. Sophie’s father is to guard her against anything compromising Sophie’s vow. During the party afterwards, Sophie is nowhere to be found. Until her best friend Eva stumbles over her lifeless body in the garden.
— Storyline —
When Kay Hunter is called to the scene of the crime, for it is obvious Sophie was murdered, she has her work cut out for her: many guests attending the party disrupting the crime scene, a snobbish and hysterical mother who insists on being addressed with her full title, and a rich American businessman who happens to have friends in high places. To complicate matters further, most of the guests are either drunk or at least intoxicated. What stuns Kay the most, is the (in her eyes) old-fashioned purity pledge the girl made, so antiquated, and taken by young women but not the men they are to marry. By the way, how far does the fatherly protection go to safeguard a daughter from losing her virginity? And why would Sophie take such a pledge, considering the circumstances and the secret she shared with her best friend Eva? Come to that, what could be the motive for murdering Sophie?
The fact that Kay has to walk on eggshells with so many influential people involved and her feeling of being transported back to a time where parents married off their children make Kay irritated. Her diplomacy is needed more than ever, especially since Detective Chief Inspector Larch, who moves in the same circles as the victim’s parents and future in-laws, is waiting for the opportunity to blame Kay for her failures and to once again be able to put her before a Professional Standards Committee. The only person standing between them is Kay’s boss Detective Inspector Sharp. An obvious suspect without evidence linking him to the murder and the reluctance of DCI Larch to properly investigate make it tough for Kay and her colleagues, amongst whom are Gavin and Carys. There is also Kay’s secret inquiry to find out who is after her and in this respect, she endangers not only herself …
— My Thoughts —
I love the Kay Hunter series! The books are intriguing, exciting and have the perfect mix of Kay’s personal life with husband Adam and her professional life as a Detective Sergeant. Kay is everything a protagonist needs to be: strong yet vulnerable, driven, professional, fighting for what she believes is right and not in the least interested in political games. Unlike the first two books in the series, this third book is more a slow starter and picks up the pace as the plot thickens. I am fascinated by the intriguing, continuous story in all three books: why Kay was framed and had to appear before a Professional Standards Committee and the ongoing consequences of this situation. What can I say? Read the Kay Hunter series, you will love it! Rachel Amphlett, I need to find out who is responsible for putting Kay’s life at risk!
Read the review on my website: https://www.bitsaboutbooks.net/one-wa...
June 1, 2017
Having read and enjoyed the first two books in the DS Kay Hunter series by Rachel Amphlett, I couldn't wait to read the third, 'One to Watch'. Now that I finished it, I can only say WOW! This thriller is even more entertaining and intriguing than the first two!
Sixteen-year-old Sophie Whittaker, is brutally murdered at some point during her 'purity pledge' and 'engagement' party. During the ceremony, Sophie has vowed to remain chaste until her marriage to an American wealthy boy, Josh Hamilton, whose family belong to the same religious group as Sophie's. The girl's body is found behind bushes in her home's garden in darkness by her drunken friend Eva. Who killed Sophie? Why? Could it be someone against her betrothal to Josh?
Kay Hunter and her team, including her boss DI Devon Sharp rush to the scene to start their investigation. There they are faced with a mammoth task, cars blocking the mansion's gravel apron and a multitude of drunken partygoers who need to be held and questioned. But how reliable their witness statements can be?
Kay is astonished by the whole idea of a purity pledge - it sounds such a medieval practice - and when she learns that on the day before the ceremony Sophie had revealed a shocking secret to her friend, she's sure someone knew about it too. Someone needed to have Sophie's mouth shut up for good. But who? And why?
At the police station, Kay's life and career are still being threatened by an unknown enemy. Now this mysterious individual has turned their focus on Kay's team. Someone is intent on tearing her team apart, driving the team members against each other and forcing Kay to question who she could really trust. Who is this person? And why are they so determined to make her life difficult?
The Kay Hunter series just gets better and better with each new instalment. The author has once again weaved an intriguing, entertaining plot with all the ingredients one would expect of a murder mystery, including a very unusual murder weapon!
This book can be read as a standalone, but I would still recommend readers to go through the series in order, starting with 'Scared to Death'. 'One to Watch' is fast-paced, enjoyable and intriguing with twists and turns throughout, great realistic characters and quite a number of possible suspects. As the plot thickened, I was suspicious of practically every character, but I couldn't guess who the killer was - so many people had a motive to get rid of poor Sophie, but I was still shocked when the identity was revealed at the end.
Kay Hunter has really grown on me now. I love her tenaciousness and determination to see a case through to the end. But I also love her soft side, her vulnerability, but also her love and thoughtfulness for her husband and colleagues. Having read all three books in the series now, she has become one of my favourite fictional characters and I'm always waiting for news on when the next book would be out. Luckily book 4 should not be too far off. Yay!! Highly recommended.
With thanks to the author for an ARC of the book which I voluntarily accepted to read and review.
Sixteen-year-old Sophie Whittaker, is brutally murdered at some point during her 'purity pledge' and 'engagement' party. During the ceremony, Sophie has vowed to remain chaste until her marriage to an American wealthy boy, Josh Hamilton, whose family belong to the same religious group as Sophie's. The girl's body is found behind bushes in her home's garden in darkness by her drunken friend Eva. Who killed Sophie? Why? Could it be someone against her betrothal to Josh?
Kay Hunter and her team, including her boss DI Devon Sharp rush to the scene to start their investigation. There they are faced with a mammoth task, cars blocking the mansion's gravel apron and a multitude of drunken partygoers who need to be held and questioned. But how reliable their witness statements can be?
Kay is astonished by the whole idea of a purity pledge - it sounds such a medieval practice - and when she learns that on the day before the ceremony Sophie had revealed a shocking secret to her friend, she's sure someone knew about it too. Someone needed to have Sophie's mouth shut up for good. But who? And why?
At the police station, Kay's life and career are still being threatened by an unknown enemy. Now this mysterious individual has turned their focus on Kay's team. Someone is intent on tearing her team apart, driving the team members against each other and forcing Kay to question who she could really trust. Who is this person? And why are they so determined to make her life difficult?
The Kay Hunter series just gets better and better with each new instalment. The author has once again weaved an intriguing, entertaining plot with all the ingredients one would expect of a murder mystery, including a very unusual murder weapon!
This book can be read as a standalone, but I would still recommend readers to go through the series in order, starting with 'Scared to Death'. 'One to Watch' is fast-paced, enjoyable and intriguing with twists and turns throughout, great realistic characters and quite a number of possible suspects. As the plot thickened, I was suspicious of practically every character, but I couldn't guess who the killer was - so many people had a motive to get rid of poor Sophie, but I was still shocked when the identity was revealed at the end.
Kay Hunter has really grown on me now. I love her tenaciousness and determination to see a case through to the end. But I also love her soft side, her vulnerability, but also her love and thoughtfulness for her husband and colleagues. Having read all three books in the series now, she has become one of my favourite fictional characters and I'm always waiting for news on when the next book would be out. Luckily book 4 should not be too far off. Yay!! Highly recommended.
With thanks to the author for an ARC of the book which I voluntarily accepted to read and review.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 111 reviews