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Detective Kate Matthews #1
Dead To Me
How do you catch a killer who knows your every move?
The woman lay flat on the table, her face to one side, her wrists bound with thick tape. Deep scratches marked the wood beneath her fingers, now resting cold and still...
When a woman’s body is found in an abandoned bar near the Southampton docks, Detective Kate Matthews is called in to lead the investigation. She must solve this case to prove she is coping with the death of a close colleague.
Kate knows a pile of ripped up newspaper cuttings discovered at the victim’s house must be a piece of the puzzle, but her team keep hitting dead-ends... Until she finds a disturbing clue that convinces her of three The murder is linked to the body of a man found hanging in a warehouse, she is on the hunt for a calculated serial killer, and the killer is watching her every move.
Kate realises there will be another victim soon, and that her own life is in grave danger, but no one else believes her theory. Can she find and stop the most twisted killer of her career, before another life is lost?
An absolutely NAIL-BITING thriller that will keep you guessing to the very last page. Perfect for fans of Robert Dugoni, James Patterson and MJ Arlidge.
What readers are saying about Dead to Me
‘I absolutely adored this book! An enthralling mystery, fast paced and thrilling; absolutely unputdownable. I did not want it to end and yet was frantically turning the pages to find out what was really going on. Brilliant writing. Loved Detective Kate Matthews - cannot wait for more books with her. So glad I discovered this incredible author.’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars
‘A tense cat and mouse thriller that leaves your brain in a whirl!... Without giving away any spoilers, Watching You had the hairs on my neck on end as I checked and double checked my doors and windows were locked. The stalking element of this novel sent shivers down my spine!... It was certainly a fast paced and action filled plot, plenty of twists and turns and red herrings to keep the reader detectives amongst us happy!’ Chapter in My Life
‘A brilliant thriller that will keep you gripped and turning pages right to the end. I was also kept in suspense until the end. Highly recommend.’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars
‘The killer is on a rampage, leaving a trail of bodies with macabre clues that Kate must solve if she is to stop the killing. Intense and creepy.’ Cayo Costa, 5 stars
‘An enthralling, fast paced mystery that kept me hooked from the very start. The murders had me so intrigued and I was desperate to find out who was behind such twisted deaths... I really enjoyed reading this one and I would definitely read more of Stephen's work. Congratulations on a great book!’ Breakfast at Shelby’s
‘Wow this book was good, I really enjoyed it. Kate is a very dedicated and driven police officer whose private life is a mess. You can’t help but like her. This book has a lot going for it; it is gritty, brutally honest in places and full of suspense. I really...
The woman lay flat on the table, her face to one side, her wrists bound with thick tape. Deep scratches marked the wood beneath her fingers, now resting cold and still...
When a woman’s body is found in an abandoned bar near the Southampton docks, Detective Kate Matthews is called in to lead the investigation. She must solve this case to prove she is coping with the death of a close colleague.
Kate knows a pile of ripped up newspaper cuttings discovered at the victim’s house must be a piece of the puzzle, but her team keep hitting dead-ends... Until she finds a disturbing clue that convinces her of three The murder is linked to the body of a man found hanging in a warehouse, she is on the hunt for a calculated serial killer, and the killer is watching her every move.
Kate realises there will be another victim soon, and that her own life is in grave danger, but no one else believes her theory. Can she find and stop the most twisted killer of her career, before another life is lost?
An absolutely NAIL-BITING thriller that will keep you guessing to the very last page. Perfect for fans of Robert Dugoni, James Patterson and MJ Arlidge.
What readers are saying about Dead to Me
‘I absolutely adored this book! An enthralling mystery, fast paced and thrilling; absolutely unputdownable. I did not want it to end and yet was frantically turning the pages to find out what was really going on. Brilliant writing. Loved Detective Kate Matthews - cannot wait for more books with her. So glad I discovered this incredible author.’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars
‘A tense cat and mouse thriller that leaves your brain in a whirl!... Without giving away any spoilers, Watching You had the hairs on my neck on end as I checked and double checked my doors and windows were locked. The stalking element of this novel sent shivers down my spine!... It was certainly a fast paced and action filled plot, plenty of twists and turns and red herrings to keep the reader detectives amongst us happy!’ Chapter in My Life
‘A brilliant thriller that will keep you gripped and turning pages right to the end. I was also kept in suspense until the end. Highly recommend.’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars
‘The killer is on a rampage, leaving a trail of bodies with macabre clues that Kate must solve if she is to stop the killing. Intense and creepy.’ Cayo Costa, 5 stars
‘An enthralling, fast paced mystery that kept me hooked from the very start. The murders had me so intrigued and I was desperate to find out who was behind such twisted deaths... I really enjoyed reading this one and I would definitely read more of Stephen's work. Congratulations on a great book!’ Breakfast at Shelby’s
‘Wow this book was good, I really enjoyed it. Kate is a very dedicated and driven police officer whose private life is a mess. You can’t help but like her. This book has a lot going for it; it is gritty, brutally honest in places and full of suspense. I really...
334 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 14, 2017
About the author
Stephen Edger
51 books145 followersStephen Edger is the Amazon bestselling author of psychological and crime thrillers, including Little Girl Gone, Snatched, and the Kate Matthews series. Born in the north-east of England, he now lives in Southampton where most of his stories are set, allowing him to use his insider knowledge to deliver realistic and unsettling suspense on every page.
With books published by Harper Collins, Bookouture, and Endeavour Media, you wouldn’t believe that writing is still only a hobby for Stephen. A hobby that has seen him write more than twenty novels in the last decade, whilst balancing a full-time job with a young family.
Away from writing, Stephen loves to read anything that will keep him awake at night. He’s also a passionate advocate for contemporary cinema and binge-watching the latest offerings from streaming services. He is married with a son and a daughter, and two dogs. Stephen is a member of the International Thriller Writers (ITW) Association, the Crime Writers Association (CWA), and loves to engage with his readers on his Facebook author page and Twitter.
If you have a question for him, he can be reached at:
www.facebook.com/AuthorStephenEdger
www.twitter.com/StepheEdger
www.stephenedger.com
With books published by Harper Collins, Bookouture, and Endeavour Media, you wouldn’t believe that writing is still only a hobby for Stephen. A hobby that has seen him write more than twenty novels in the last decade, whilst balancing a full-time job with a young family.
Away from writing, Stephen loves to read anything that will keep him awake at night. He’s also a passionate advocate for contemporary cinema and binge-watching the latest offerings from streaming services. He is married with a son and a daughter, and two dogs. Stephen is a member of the International Thriller Writers (ITW) Association, the Crime Writers Association (CWA), and loves to engage with his readers on his Facebook author page and Twitter.
If you have a question for him, he can be reached at:
www.facebook.com/AuthorStephenEdger
www.twitter.com/StepheEdger
www.stephenedger.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 92 reviews
July 9, 2018
Dead to Me is the first book in the Detective Kate Matthews series, and I'm embarrassed to say that it's been sitting on my shelf for almost a year. In an effort to get my life in order, I picked the book up last night, and quickly devoured it! It starts off with a bang, and continues to ramp up the tension until the ultimate conclusion, which I didn't see coming.
I really enjoyed Kate as our protagonist, even though she sometimes drove me nuts by going off book and not following rules or orders, and I won't even get into her parenting skills. She's flawed, and her past affects her current actions. We know that someone who worked for Kate was killed and that Kate blames herself, and this is a minor theme throughout the book that isn't delved into much, but that had me very curious about that storyline, so I was pleased to see that it comes around in book 2.
In this particular book, we follow Kate as she scrambles to solve a series of murders, made even more high stakes by the fact that the killer has been able to send Kate messages online, see what she's doing, and even break into her house. She needs to figure out who the killer is before she's in even more danger. That aspect alone made the book utterly gripping, and there were times that I got goosebumps reading it because it was so creepy!
I won't give anything away, but I will say that I had a lot of theories about what was happening, and while I was on the right track, I ultimately didn't have everything figured out, so my eyes were glued to the pages as I read through the end of the book! All in all, I rated this one 4.5 stars, and I'm eager to pick up book number 2! I'd like to thank (and apologize) to Bookouture for my copy of the book! It was my pleasure to provide an honest review, even if it was desperately late! If you're a fan of serial killers or police procedurals, definitely pick this one up!
I really enjoyed Kate as our protagonist, even though she sometimes drove me nuts by going off book and not following rules or orders, and I won't even get into her parenting skills. She's flawed, and her past affects her current actions. We know that someone who worked for Kate was killed and that Kate blames herself, and this is a minor theme throughout the book that isn't delved into much, but that had me very curious about that storyline, so I was pleased to see that it comes around in book 2.
In this particular book, we follow Kate as she scrambles to solve a series of murders, made even more high stakes by the fact that the killer has been able to send Kate messages online, see what she's doing, and even break into her house. She needs to figure out who the killer is before she's in even more danger. That aspect alone made the book utterly gripping, and there were times that I got goosebumps reading it because it was so creepy!
I won't give anything away, but I will say that I had a lot of theories about what was happening, and while I was on the right track, I ultimately didn't have everything figured out, so my eyes were glued to the pages as I read through the end of the book! All in all, I rated this one 4.5 stars, and I'm eager to pick up book number 2! I'd like to thank (and apologize) to Bookouture for my copy of the book! It was my pleasure to provide an honest review, even if it was desperately late! If you're a fan of serial killers or police procedurals, definitely pick this one up!
August 23, 2017
I found this one a little hard to get through because I couldn't identify with the main character at all. I didn't like her, I didn't respect her, I didn't find her that interesting. On the bright side, that means there is potentially a lot of character development and growth for her in the future, and she could turn into someone I enjoy reading about more. There's really no where for her to go but up.
Detective Kate Matthews is out to prove herself. Her career took a serious hit some time ago, and she transferred. Most of the other detectives have been less than welcoming, and her supervisor is less than impressed with her. She can't seem to catch a break and solve a case. When she's handed a new file about a female victim murdered in a very bizarre way, she's determined to get back on track.
She becomes convinced that this murder is related to others and they have a serial killer on their hands. She begins to receive photos and tips along with threatening messages, but she doesn't report them. She also has her young daughter staying with her for the first time in a year, in what will go down as the worst timing ever. With most of her co-workers more interested in competition and scrambling over each other to climb the police force ladder, she doesn't have much support... but she has to find out who is sending her messages and stalking her before it's too late and she won't solve a case ever again.
Mild spoiler:
Decent story with an unexpected, if hard to swallow ending. It has potential and I'd be willing to give the next in the series a shot.
I received an ARC of this book from Net Galley and Bookouture, thank you! My review is honest and unbiased.
Detective Kate Matthews is out to prove herself. Her career took a serious hit some time ago, and she transferred. Most of the other detectives have been less than welcoming, and her supervisor is less than impressed with her. She can't seem to catch a break and solve a case. When she's handed a new file about a female victim murdered in a very bizarre way, she's determined to get back on track.
She becomes convinced that this murder is related to others and they have a serial killer on their hands. She begins to receive photos and tips along with threatening messages, but she doesn't report them. She also has her young daughter staying with her for the first time in a year, in what will go down as the worst timing ever. With most of her co-workers more interested in competition and scrambling over each other to climb the police force ladder, she doesn't have much support... but she has to find out who is sending her messages and stalking her before it's too late and she won't solve a case ever again.
Mild spoiler:
Decent story with an unexpected, if hard to swallow ending. It has potential and I'd be willing to give the next in the series a shot.
I received an ARC of this book from Net Galley and Bookouture, thank you! My review is honest and unbiased.
August 22, 2017
This is the first book in a new series following Kate Matthews and I found it to be a really solid opening and one that made me eager to see where Edger will take things next. There was A LOT going on here, there were several cases running simultaneously and he managed to keep things tightly plotted and intense throughout.
The start of a new series is always interesting as I see if I’ll gel with the new cast. I didn’t really take to Kate quickly but by the end, I was a fan. She’s a complicated woman with some skeletons in her closest and while I may not agree with the choices she made, I can respect her. The rest of her team were also a finicky bunch and I really only warmed to Laura. Everyone was prickly and hard to like, but I think that’s because there was a ton of inter office politics at play, everyone is out for themselves and seems to have their own agenda. Their workplace had a very tense atmosphere making it hard to see their true disposition but I’m curious to see where everyone is at in the next book.
This has a steady pace that kept me reading and wanting to know more, the chapters were brief and to the point making me do that whole, just one more chapter thing. There was a creepiness lurking as someone is messing with Kate beyond the job while she’s at home that added some menace as well. This had a tricky plot with plenty of misdirection and the conclusion was surprising and unforeseen. Kate’s a strong lead and will carry this series easily, I can’t wait to see the premise for book two!
All of my reviews can be found on www.novelgossip.com
The start of a new series is always interesting as I see if I’ll gel with the new cast. I didn’t really take to Kate quickly but by the end, I was a fan. She’s a complicated woman with some skeletons in her closest and while I may not agree with the choices she made, I can respect her. The rest of her team were also a finicky bunch and I really only warmed to Laura. Everyone was prickly and hard to like, but I think that’s because there was a ton of inter office politics at play, everyone is out for themselves and seems to have their own agenda. Their workplace had a very tense atmosphere making it hard to see their true disposition but I’m curious to see where everyone is at in the next book.
This has a steady pace that kept me reading and wanting to know more, the chapters were brief and to the point making me do that whole, just one more chapter thing. There was a creepiness lurking as someone is messing with Kate beyond the job while she’s at home that added some menace as well. This had a tricky plot with plenty of misdirection and the conclusion was surprising and unforeseen. Kate’s a strong lead and will carry this series easily, I can’t wait to see the premise for book two!
All of my reviews can be found on www.novelgossip.com
January 21, 2018
My Bookouture binge continues with the first Detective Kate Matthews novel, Dead to Me. A strong opening had me hooked right away and left me wanting to read on long after I should have been asleep. The storyline is multi-layered with so much going on but it’s never difficult to follow.
Kate Matthews is a complex and intriguing character. I’m not even sure she’s all that likeable or relatable. As a police officer we see somebody who wants to get the job done no matter what the cost. Normally, that’s what we expect from crime fiction, a sort of renegade detective who doesn’t follow a rule book. But here, Kate makes some ridiculous decisions that almost go beyond being believable because surely an officer of her standing could not be so naive and stupid as to make those decisions. I can’t say what they are without spoilers and thinking about it properly had she acted on certain things the story wouldn’t have been able to continue but just that lack of believability made me enjoy the story less. Also I am used to reading about a team that, for the most part, works incredibly well together with real camaraderie but here the book is full of animosity, backstabbing and jealousy in regard to the team that Kate works with save for one of two characters she could trust. It did make for an interesting and different read and given what Kate did to one of her officers in this story, I can’t wait to see what the repercussions of that are going to be.
Even more intriguing is Kate’s personal life. We all know that fictional detectives can’t hold down a career and a marriage at the same time and that it’s a given that all fictional detectives will have issues. Here Kate is estranged from her daughter and is forced to look after her when her ex’s new girlfriend becomes seriously ill. This is partly why I think some readers may struggle to relate to Kate because of how cold she is towards her daughter at first. It did make her come across somewhat unlikeable but only as the book progressed did we start to see some kind of relationship form and perhaps Kate can redeem herself in subsequent novels.
In terms of storyline I felt it was incredibly strong with a fantastic resolution. At times the investigation was clunky and all over the place and the way in which it was resolved was so far across the boundaries of what a normal police investigation would be that it bordered on being over the top but the closing scenes in particular had me gripped. They were tense, a little bit creepy and incredibly addictive to read. Whilst I worked out one element of the reveal before it came, I did not work it out fully and so was left gobsmacked. It was a brilliant ending that definitely left me eager for more from this series and with Kate being such a complex individual, she is definitely somebody that I can’t wait to read more about in the future. In this genre with so many similar cardboard cut out type detectives everywhere, it’s refreshing to read about somebody like Kate, even if she isn’t somebody who is instantly likeable and who isn’t that perfect detective who can solve every crime no matter what. I’ll be moving on to the next book very soon.
Kate Matthews is a complex and intriguing character. I’m not even sure she’s all that likeable or relatable. As a police officer we see somebody who wants to get the job done no matter what the cost. Normally, that’s what we expect from crime fiction, a sort of renegade detective who doesn’t follow a rule book. But here, Kate makes some ridiculous decisions that almost go beyond being believable because surely an officer of her standing could not be so naive and stupid as to make those decisions. I can’t say what they are without spoilers and thinking about it properly had she acted on certain things the story wouldn’t have been able to continue but just that lack of believability made me enjoy the story less. Also I am used to reading about a team that, for the most part, works incredibly well together with real camaraderie but here the book is full of animosity, backstabbing and jealousy in regard to the team that Kate works with save for one of two characters she could trust. It did make for an interesting and different read and given what Kate did to one of her officers in this story, I can’t wait to see what the repercussions of that are going to be.
Even more intriguing is Kate’s personal life. We all know that fictional detectives can’t hold down a career and a marriage at the same time and that it’s a given that all fictional detectives will have issues. Here Kate is estranged from her daughter and is forced to look after her when her ex’s new girlfriend becomes seriously ill. This is partly why I think some readers may struggle to relate to Kate because of how cold she is towards her daughter at first. It did make her come across somewhat unlikeable but only as the book progressed did we start to see some kind of relationship form and perhaps Kate can redeem herself in subsequent novels.
In terms of storyline I felt it was incredibly strong with a fantastic resolution. At times the investigation was clunky and all over the place and the way in which it was resolved was so far across the boundaries of what a normal police investigation would be that it bordered on being over the top but the closing scenes in particular had me gripped. They were tense, a little bit creepy and incredibly addictive to read. Whilst I worked out one element of the reveal before it came, I did not work it out fully and so was left gobsmacked. It was a brilliant ending that definitely left me eager for more from this series and with Kate being such a complex individual, she is definitely somebody that I can’t wait to read more about in the future. In this genre with so many similar cardboard cut out type detectives everywhere, it’s refreshing to read about somebody like Kate, even if she isn’t somebody who is instantly likeable and who isn’t that perfect detective who can solve every crime no matter what. I’ll be moving on to the next book very soon.
August 22, 2017
All my reviews can be found at http://thebookreviewcafe.com 3.5 ⭐️
Dead To Me is the first book in a new crime series featuring Detective Kate Matthews, I throughly enjoyed reading this book although for some reason I did expect it to be darker and possibly far more gruesome. I’m not sure if that’s because most of the books I read from Bookouture veer towards the darker side of crime, but although there were a couple of fairly grim scenes there werent any truly shocking scenes, so if you dislike to much “gruesome” in your crime thrillers I may have found just the book for you. Dead To Me has a compelling plot, with plenty of twists and turns, a MUST in a crime book.
When a torso turns up in a burned down warehouse Detective Kate Matthews is assigned the case, but it’s not long before she releases someone is watching her and taunting her, invading both her home and personal life, what follows is a suspense filled read. Stephen Edger has written a well plotted story that’s keeps the reader guessing right up until the last couple of “heart in your mouth” chapters. The author does a brilliant job in keeping the Serial Killers identity hidden, I thought I had the killer “sussed” about halfway through, but I got it spectacularly wrong I’m glad to say, I love it when an author misdirects you at every turn as it helps to maintain the tension.
Detective Kate Matthews now here’s an interesting but very flawed character, I’m sure many readers will struggle to “gel” with her, to be fair she doesn’t have very many likeable qualities, here’s a woman who abandoned her child to put her career first, although on the plus side she’s driven, feisty and reckless, that said I’m intrigued to see how Kate will develop as the series progresses. I think the author has taken a bold step in producing a character that has so many flaws, but it works as Kate’s a character I certainly won’t forget in a hurry, the author proves to me you don’t have to feel a measure of affinity towards a character to still enjoy a book.
Dead To Me is a promising start to a new crime series, it certainly made for an exciting and intensely twisted read. I’m sure crime thriller lovers who don’t like their books to be too dark or gruesome will really enjoy this one. Personally I found it a refreshing change to read a crime thriller that didn’t add gruesome scenes just for the shock value. I think the author has written a book that promises to be the first in a great crime series and I would happily pick up the next book in the series by the very talented Stephen Edger.
Dead To Me is the first book in a new crime series featuring Detective Kate Matthews, I throughly enjoyed reading this book although for some reason I did expect it to be darker and possibly far more gruesome. I’m not sure if that’s because most of the books I read from Bookouture veer towards the darker side of crime, but although there were a couple of fairly grim scenes there werent any truly shocking scenes, so if you dislike to much “gruesome” in your crime thrillers I may have found just the book for you. Dead To Me has a compelling plot, with plenty of twists and turns, a MUST in a crime book.
When a torso turns up in a burned down warehouse Detective Kate Matthews is assigned the case, but it’s not long before she releases someone is watching her and taunting her, invading both her home and personal life, what follows is a suspense filled read. Stephen Edger has written a well plotted story that’s keeps the reader guessing right up until the last couple of “heart in your mouth” chapters. The author does a brilliant job in keeping the Serial Killers identity hidden, I thought I had the killer “sussed” about halfway through, but I got it spectacularly wrong I’m glad to say, I love it when an author misdirects you at every turn as it helps to maintain the tension.
Detective Kate Matthews now here’s an interesting but very flawed character, I’m sure many readers will struggle to “gel” with her, to be fair she doesn’t have very many likeable qualities, here’s a woman who abandoned her child to put her career first, although on the plus side she’s driven, feisty and reckless, that said I’m intrigued to see how Kate will develop as the series progresses. I think the author has taken a bold step in producing a character that has so many flaws, but it works as Kate’s a character I certainly won’t forget in a hurry, the author proves to me you don’t have to feel a measure of affinity towards a character to still enjoy a book.
Dead To Me is a promising start to a new crime series, it certainly made for an exciting and intensely twisted read. I’m sure crime thriller lovers who don’t like their books to be too dark or gruesome will really enjoy this one. Personally I found it a refreshing change to read a crime thriller that didn’t add gruesome scenes just for the shock value. I think the author has written a book that promises to be the first in a great crime series and I would happily pick up the next book in the series by the very talented Stephen Edger.
August 19, 2017
I’ve read a few books by Stephen Edger before and therefore was really looking forward to reading Dead to Me, the start of a new series for him. Detective Kate Matthews sounded a very intriguing new character so I was keen to get to meet her and discover more about her.
The action gets off to a flying start here and its not long before the body count starts to rise. Beware though, this book possibly isn’t one to be reading if you are eating or don’t have a strong stomach! The descriptions of the bodies and how they are discovered is rather graphic but I have to admit in there being a gruesome delight in trying to work out WHY the bodies have been displayed in such a way. I had absolutely no idea who was commiting these heinous crimes (never mind why!!) and Stephen Edger was constantly feeding me red herrings until I was filled to the brim but still without a clue as to what was going on!
Now Kate Matthews was just how I like my protagonists – proactive, fearless but flawed! To begin with I really liked Kate but then we discover a little bit more about her background that made me think…….whoa! I was not expecting that! Now I think this may make some readers dislike Kate, especially if they have young children but I was able to look below the surface and realise that everything you see and feel about Kate is only what she wants you to see. For her, the fierce commitment to her job and her obsessive workaholic nature are her way of not thinking about the choices she has made within her life! It is pure self preservation! And once I understood this, I felt much more of an affinity with her and her lifestyle.
There are shocks galore here, including a jaw dropping finale that made me immediately flick back to see how on earth I had missed all the clues! I had decided on my main suspect (with a reserve just in case!) but was so far off the mark I must have ended up in another book entirely! But what a great unsettling ending and perfect way to set up book 2!
The action gets off to a flying start here and its not long before the body count starts to rise. Beware though, this book possibly isn’t one to be reading if you are eating or don’t have a strong stomach! The descriptions of the bodies and how they are discovered is rather graphic but I have to admit in there being a gruesome delight in trying to work out WHY the bodies have been displayed in such a way. I had absolutely no idea who was commiting these heinous crimes (never mind why!!) and Stephen Edger was constantly feeding me red herrings until I was filled to the brim but still without a clue as to what was going on!
Now Kate Matthews was just how I like my protagonists – proactive, fearless but flawed! To begin with I really liked Kate but then we discover a little bit more about her background that made me think…….whoa! I was not expecting that! Now I think this may make some readers dislike Kate, especially if they have young children but I was able to look below the surface and realise that everything you see and feel about Kate is only what she wants you to see. For her, the fierce commitment to her job and her obsessive workaholic nature are her way of not thinking about the choices she has made within her life! It is pure self preservation! And once I understood this, I felt much more of an affinity with her and her lifestyle.
There are shocks galore here, including a jaw dropping finale that made me immediately flick back to see how on earth I had missed all the clues! I had decided on my main suspect (with a reserve just in case!) but was so far off the mark I must have ended up in another book entirely! But what a great unsettling ending and perfect way to set up book 2!
January 29, 2018
DEAD TO ME is the first book in a new crime series featuring Detective Kate Matthews, by author Stephen Edger. This is the first book I have read by this author, and it definitely won’t be the last. I really enjoyed reading this thriller, with its well-developed fast-paced plot, believable characters and plenty of twists and turns.
The woman lay flat on the table, her face to one side, her wrists bound with thick tape. Deep scratches marked the wood beneath her fingers, now resting cold and still...
When a woman’s body turns up in an abandoned bar near the Southampton docks, Detective Kate Matthews is called in to lead the investigation, but she soon realizes she is being watched both at home and in her personal life. This is where the tension and suspense rises. The author does a brilliant job in keeping the Serial Killers identity hidden… I thought I had guessed the killer, but I was wrong.
Detective Kate Matthews is a very flawed character, while career-driven and irresponsible, she doesn’t have very many likeable qualities. A woman who abandoned her child to put her career first. She must solve this case to prove she is coping with the death of a close coworker.
Kate knows a pile of ripped up newspaper cuttings discovered at the victim’s house must be a piece of the puzzle, but her team keep hitting dead-ends... Until she finds a disturbing clue that convinces her of three things: The murder is linked to the body of a man found hanging in a warehouse, she is on the hunt for a calculated serial killer, and the killer is watching her every move.
Kate realizes there will be another victim soon, and that her own life is in serious danger.
An absolutely NERVE-WRACKING thriller that will keep you guessing to the very last page.
Dead To Me is a promising start to a new crime series, it certainly made for an exciting and intensely twisted read. For those crime thriller lovers who don’t like their books to be too dark or gory, this will be a refreshing change. I think the author has written a book that promises to be the first in a great crime series and I am on to read the next book in the series.
Many thanks to my favorite publisher, Bookouture via Netgalley for my copy.
The woman lay flat on the table, her face to one side, her wrists bound with thick tape. Deep scratches marked the wood beneath her fingers, now resting cold and still...
When a woman’s body turns up in an abandoned bar near the Southampton docks, Detective Kate Matthews is called in to lead the investigation, but she soon realizes she is being watched both at home and in her personal life. This is where the tension and suspense rises. The author does a brilliant job in keeping the Serial Killers identity hidden… I thought I had guessed the killer, but I was wrong.
Detective Kate Matthews is a very flawed character, while career-driven and irresponsible, she doesn’t have very many likeable qualities. A woman who abandoned her child to put her career first. She must solve this case to prove she is coping with the death of a close coworker.
Kate knows a pile of ripped up newspaper cuttings discovered at the victim’s house must be a piece of the puzzle, but her team keep hitting dead-ends... Until she finds a disturbing clue that convinces her of three things: The murder is linked to the body of a man found hanging in a warehouse, she is on the hunt for a calculated serial killer, and the killer is watching her every move.
Kate realizes there will be another victim soon, and that her own life is in serious danger.
An absolutely NERVE-WRACKING thriller that will keep you guessing to the very last page.
Dead To Me is a promising start to a new crime series, it certainly made for an exciting and intensely twisted read. For those crime thriller lovers who don’t like their books to be too dark or gory, this will be a refreshing change. I think the author has written a book that promises to be the first in a great crime series and I am on to read the next book in the series.
Many thanks to my favorite publisher, Bookouture via Netgalley for my copy.
August 13, 2017
Finished reading: August 10th 2017
"A rush of adrenaline swept over her. Nothing ever quite compared to the buzz of a new crime scene, an untouched puzzle fresh out of the box."
*** A copy of this book was kindly provided to me by Netgalley and Bookouture in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ***
P.S. Find more of my reviews here.
September 5, 2017
another strong female detective.. great book!
August 9, 2017
Well Oh-My-Giddy-Aunt! For those of you who aren’t aware….I am a HUGE, a MEGA, a MAHOOSIVE fan of Stephen Edger’s books – in fact, I have a massive fictional crush on Mark Baines (series of the same name) and I often beg Mr Edger for more of these books. Needless to say, I was THRILLED when he signed with Bookouture for a new series: DI Kate Matthews and was hoping it had that same edgy, authentic feel as the rest of his books. *High Five* Mr Edger – you delivered on that count!
Set in Southampton, the reader is taken on a journey of discovery, deceit, betrayal, fear, insecurities, regrets and the search for justice.
I loved the fast-paced plot, #killerhook and compelling narrative. I was really pulled into the pages of this story and read it virtually in one sitting! What would YOU do to protect yourself/those you love? What if you were a police officer? Would you bend the rules? Go against protocol? You bet your sweet arse you would!! That is exactly the choice Kate is faced with….
So on the topic of Kate…let’s talk characters! DI Kate Matthews has a past…demons…but she is fiesty, reckless, insecure, clever – ok, she doesn’t always make the right decisions….but guess what? Who does? This is exactly what I find likeable about her. If anyone reads a police procedural and thinks that in real life, coppers don’t bend the rules….well, I’d say you have never worked with the police before! I have!! Not saying all coppers bend rules…and I am not talking corrupt cops either…but it happens! Love that sense of realism in this book. I also warmed to Kate because she is insecure about her ability to be a good mother after suffering post natal depression. She beats herself up internally whilst trying to desperately show the emotions she feels outwardly – in an awkward way. And that temper!! Jaysus! Forget the rule breaking- she needs a bit of anger management!
I like Laura as well. A supportive colleague & friend, she acted as Kate’s conscience at times. I did not like Patel at all. Something about him really niggled and annoyed me. A bit of a brown nose in my opinion and I found myself saying to my kindle: “Well if it bothers you so much, Patel – do something about it!”
Danny Fenton also intrigued me. Bad boy but he had something about him. Very confident, very assertive and despite the naughty side….I really liked him and wished there was just a bit more!
I thought I had nailed the killer – in fact, I was so sure that when I suddenly realised I got it wrong, I reread some parts again in shock! Nicely played, Mr Edger!!!
Do I recommend this read? Hell Yeah I do! This is an exciting, new female-lead police procedural in the crime community and I, for one, am looking forward to Book 2 in the series. Full of suspense, with a realism that surprised me – I am definitely putting this beauty in my #TopReadsOf2017!
Set in Southampton, the reader is taken on a journey of discovery, deceit, betrayal, fear, insecurities, regrets and the search for justice.
I loved the fast-paced plot, #killerhook and compelling narrative. I was really pulled into the pages of this story and read it virtually in one sitting! What would YOU do to protect yourself/those you love? What if you were a police officer? Would you bend the rules? Go against protocol? You bet your sweet arse you would!! That is exactly the choice Kate is faced with….
So on the topic of Kate…let’s talk characters! DI Kate Matthews has a past…demons…but she is fiesty, reckless, insecure, clever – ok, she doesn’t always make the right decisions….but guess what? Who does? This is exactly what I find likeable about her. If anyone reads a police procedural and thinks that in real life, coppers don’t bend the rules….well, I’d say you have never worked with the police before! I have!! Not saying all coppers bend rules…and I am not talking corrupt cops either…but it happens! Love that sense of realism in this book. I also warmed to Kate because she is insecure about her ability to be a good mother after suffering post natal depression. She beats herself up internally whilst trying to desperately show the emotions she feels outwardly – in an awkward way. And that temper!! Jaysus! Forget the rule breaking- she needs a bit of anger management!
I like Laura as well. A supportive colleague & friend, she acted as Kate’s conscience at times. I did not like Patel at all. Something about him really niggled and annoyed me. A bit of a brown nose in my opinion and I found myself saying to my kindle: “Well if it bothers you so much, Patel – do something about it!”
Danny Fenton also intrigued me. Bad boy but he had something about him. Very confident, very assertive and despite the naughty side….I really liked him and wished there was just a bit more!
I thought I had nailed the killer – in fact, I was so sure that when I suddenly realised I got it wrong, I reread some parts again in shock! Nicely played, Mr Edger!!!
Do I recommend this read? Hell Yeah I do! This is an exciting, new female-lead police procedural in the crime community and I, for one, am looking forward to Book 2 in the series. Full of suspense, with a realism that surprised me – I am definitely putting this beauty in my #TopReadsOf2017!
August 12, 2017
How do you catch a killer who knows your every move?
2.5 stars. Dead To Me is the first book in a new detective series. This is the first time I've read a book by this author and I thought it was just ok. The good thing about it is that I was completely wrong about who I thought was behind the murders. The bad thing about it is that I felt like it sort of came out of left field.
For me a well-plotted mystery points clues at multiple people, while still leaving you surprised at the end, but feeling like you should have seen that coming. I didn't feel that way when I read this. I felt like there were really no clues pointing to the culprit here. The reasoning behind why he did some of the things he did were not explained either. Why the creepy cyber stalking? Sending her the messages the instant she signed up on the dating website was way too coincidental. And the thing with Kate's mother didn't seem to have any reason behind it either, other than to cause her distress.
I didn't find any of the characters all that likable, not even Kate, and she did some really stupid things. She was also a lousy deadbeat mom. I was happy in the end that Kate realized she needed to be a mother to her daughter. She redeemed herself somewhat after that. As for the other characters, all of the detectives kept getting into pissing contests with each other and the cases they were solving seemed more about their personal egos than about finding justice for the victims. I hope this isn't the way most real detectives behave.
Although I liked that the book kept me guessing, I just didn't care for the overall plot of the story and the killer's behavior felt a little all over the place. For those reasons I think I will pass on reading the rest of this series. Thanks NetGalley and Bookouture for sending me a copy of this book for review.
Review also posted at Writings of a Reader
2.5 stars. Dead To Me is the first book in a new detective series. This is the first time I've read a book by this author and I thought it was just ok. The good thing about it is that I was completely wrong about who I thought was behind the murders. The bad thing about it is that I felt like it sort of came out of left field.
For me a well-plotted mystery points clues at multiple people, while still leaving you surprised at the end, but feeling like you should have seen that coming. I didn't feel that way when I read this. I felt like there were really no clues pointing to the culprit here. The reasoning behind why he did some of the things he did were not explained either. Why the creepy cyber stalking? Sending her the messages the instant she signed up on the dating website was way too coincidental. And the thing with Kate's mother didn't seem to have any reason behind it either, other than to cause her distress.
I didn't find any of the characters all that likable, not even Kate, and she did some really stupid things. She was also a lousy deadbeat mom. I was happy in the end that Kate realized she needed to be a mother to her daughter. She redeemed herself somewhat after that. As for the other characters, all of the detectives kept getting into pissing contests with each other and the cases they were solving seemed more about their personal egos than about finding justice for the victims. I hope this isn't the way most real detectives behave.
Although I liked that the book kept me guessing, I just didn't care for the overall plot of the story and the killer's behavior felt a little all over the place. For those reasons I think I will pass on reading the rest of this series. Thanks NetGalley and Bookouture for sending me a copy of this book for review.
Review also posted at Writings of a Reader
September 5, 2017
3.75 stars. Despite the slightly disjointed narrative in the first half of the book and the disagreeableness of most of its characters, Dead To Me is a highly intriguing and thought-provoking psychological thriller that explores the thin boundary between crime and justice with amazing plot twists. I would like to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for a free copy of this great book In exchange for my honest review.
January 8, 2018
Stephen Edger is a new to me author and I saw this book on my twitter feed and couldn't help but pick it up. UK crime series are one of my favourites and add in the serial killer aspect of this one and I was totally sold. The common trend at the moment is female detectives and I seriously cannot get enough of them. Not only do they have to contend with the cases that are put before them, but also the added troubles that being a female in a mans world entails. They always have to work harder to prove themselves.
This book is really the scene setter for Kate Matthews. Kate has her issues and her demons and is in a new town for a clean start. However, her past follows her around and she has to try doubly hard to prove herself and her maverick detective skills. I am sure that as this series progresses Kate Matthews will be a woman that I warm up to, as I am still eager to learn just what happened that made her leave her family behind.
I didn't see this one coming, until the obvious was right on top of me and I loved that this author managed to keep my ever whirring brain in the dark until intended. Not overly gruesome, but with enough included to bring the reader into the story, the story was succinct with no unnecessary stuffing which kept the plot fast paced and action packed. Dead to Me was a great start to this series and I have already downloaded book 2 to continue.
This book is really the scene setter for Kate Matthews. Kate has her issues and her demons and is in a new town for a clean start. However, her past follows her around and she has to try doubly hard to prove herself and her maverick detective skills. I am sure that as this series progresses Kate Matthews will be a woman that I warm up to, as I am still eager to learn just what happened that made her leave her family behind.
I didn't see this one coming, until the obvious was right on top of me and I loved that this author managed to keep my ever whirring brain in the dark until intended. Not overly gruesome, but with enough included to bring the reader into the story, the story was succinct with no unnecessary stuffing which kept the plot fast paced and action packed. Dead to Me was a great start to this series and I have already downloaded book 2 to continue.
"He thinks he’s clever, and he’s enjoyed stringing us along, but he wants notoriety. I think he wants the truth to come out."
August 23, 2017
"All work and no play makes Kate a dull girl.”
Having read a couple of Stephen Edger’s Johnson Carmichael books, I was rather excited to see what he had to offer with a more police procedural novel. And to be frank, I was not disappointed!!
There are so many adjectives I could use to describe this dark and rather gruesome novel. Parts of it I really shouldn’t have read whilst dealing with poorly children – I love my food but the sections I read made my stomach turn so mixed with events at home, I was off food longer than normal…..
I felt our leading lady, Kate had an air of aloofness about her. I was intrigued to find out whether this was a case of nurture (the events that caused her to leave London) or its part of her natural demeanour. Oh and the events in London….I want to know more!!!!! I implore you Mr Edger to let me find out whether that will be solved in Book 2!!!
There is definitely a different feel to Dead to Me compared to my previous experience of the author’s writing. This is not a bad thing; Stephen Edger is showing his storytelling is stretching into a darker, more twisted place and I like it…. He certainly kept me guessing right to the end and beyond #nospoiler
Having read a couple of Stephen Edger’s Johnson Carmichael books, I was rather excited to see what he had to offer with a more police procedural novel. And to be frank, I was not disappointed!!
There are so many adjectives I could use to describe this dark and rather gruesome novel. Parts of it I really shouldn’t have read whilst dealing with poorly children – I love my food but the sections I read made my stomach turn so mixed with events at home, I was off food longer than normal…..
I felt our leading lady, Kate had an air of aloofness about her. I was intrigued to find out whether this was a case of nurture (the events that caused her to leave London) or its part of her natural demeanour. Oh and the events in London….I want to know more!!!!! I implore you Mr Edger to let me find out whether that will be solved in Book 2!!!
There is definitely a different feel to Dead to Me compared to my previous experience of the author’s writing. This is not a bad thing; Stephen Edger is showing his storytelling is stretching into a darker, more twisted place and I like it…. He certainly kept me guessing right to the end and beyond #nospoiler
July 25, 2017
Detective Kate Matthews is on a run of bad luck, none of her cases since she has moved have resulted in an actual conviction. No pressure. When a torso turns up in a burned down warehouse Kate is assigned the case. But when her home is compromised and the life of her daughter is put at risk, Kate knows that time is running out.
This was a really well written book and the plot was very fast moving and twisting. Some really good writing that led you off in the wrong direction completely.
While I enjoyed this book immensely I didn’t quite warm to Kate. I found the whole situation with Chloe clouded my opinion of her slightly. I will absolutely read Book two when the time comes and hopefully will get to like her a bit more!
Overall a great read though!
This was a really well written book and the plot was very fast moving and twisting. Some really good writing that led you off in the wrong direction completely.
While I enjoyed this book immensely I didn’t quite warm to Kate. I found the whole situation with Chloe clouded my opinion of her slightly. I will absolutely read Book two when the time comes and hopefully will get to like her a bit more!
Overall a great read though!
August 24, 2017
*Three and a half stars*
I was very keen to read Dead to Me, Stephen Edger’s first release under the Bookouture banner. In all honesty, I’ve been wanting to read Edger’s books for a while now as a highly thought of blogger friend of mine is a rather large fan of his books. And seeing as I only get to read blog tour books at the moment, this seemed like the perfect opportunity.
We meet DI Kate Matthews who is soon to be divorced (once she signs the papers!), mother to one and recently transferred from the Met to Southampton due to a previous case gone wrong. So wrong it ended in the death of a young DC colleague. The kind of wrong that you find it impossible to walk away from. Kate is a mess; she’s not making her name in Southampton, colleagues have already turned against her and she’s a disastrous mother. All in all, I couldn’t find a lot to like about her. I like my detectives to be a little, shall we say ‘damaged’ by the job. I like them to have flaws but oh my, Kate is something else altogether. I felt there was room for improvement though, that she could grow on me as the story progressed…but then her ex-husband was called away and Kate’s daughter, Chloe was left in her ‘care’. Chloe is six years old and was the standout character in the book for me. It may be because I also have a six-year-old but Kate’s decision to leave her child with her ex-husband hit a bit of a raw nerve with me. Instead of growing to like her, I went the opposite way and my dislike grew dramatically. However, that doesn’t take away from the fact that I did enjoy this book. Just because you don’t warm to, or like a lead character, that doesn’t mean you will end up hating the book. This is certainly the case for me, anyway.
The plot was pacy and I appreciated the very different way the author had of killing off one of his victims. There is also another gory death towards the start which appealed to my darker side. I really enjoyed Kate’s perseverance, her desire to figure out if and how three very different cases fitted together. I also really liked her DC, Laura Trotter who felt very real and relatable. Other members of the team were a little too distant from the main storyline for me to be able to make a judgment. Although I will say, at one point, I suspected two totally innocent key characters as the murderer. I was very, very wrong.
This is a good book and I really enjoyed Edger’s story (if not so much his lead protagonist). However, what I found very hard to digest was the ending of this book and the big reveal. I really can’t say much as I don’t want to spoil it for future readers. So I will say that yes, the big reveal came like a bolt out of the blue but it was a little…unbelievable. It had me sat there for a few minutes, shaking my head and muttering ‘what…?!’ under my breath.
Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. I would, without a doubt, read another book written by Stephen Edger. It’s a great story and others may be able to warm to Kate in a way I wasn’t able to. And of course, I may be being overly critical of that ending. After all, it is fiction and if you can’t do the odd out of left field twist, then when can you?
Three and a half stars out of five.
I chose to read and review an eARC of Dead to Me. The above review is my own unbiased opinion.
I was very keen to read Dead to Me, Stephen Edger’s first release under the Bookouture banner. In all honesty, I’ve been wanting to read Edger’s books for a while now as a highly thought of blogger friend of mine is a rather large fan of his books. And seeing as I only get to read blog tour books at the moment, this seemed like the perfect opportunity.
We meet DI Kate Matthews who is soon to be divorced (once she signs the papers!), mother to one and recently transferred from the Met to Southampton due to a previous case gone wrong. So wrong it ended in the death of a young DC colleague. The kind of wrong that you find it impossible to walk away from. Kate is a mess; she’s not making her name in Southampton, colleagues have already turned against her and she’s a disastrous mother. All in all, I couldn’t find a lot to like about her. I like my detectives to be a little, shall we say ‘damaged’ by the job. I like them to have flaws but oh my, Kate is something else altogether. I felt there was room for improvement though, that she could grow on me as the story progressed…but then her ex-husband was called away and Kate’s daughter, Chloe was left in her ‘care’. Chloe is six years old and was the standout character in the book for me. It may be because I also have a six-year-old but Kate’s decision to leave her child with her ex-husband hit a bit of a raw nerve with me. Instead of growing to like her, I went the opposite way and my dislike grew dramatically. However, that doesn’t take away from the fact that I did enjoy this book. Just because you don’t warm to, or like a lead character, that doesn’t mean you will end up hating the book. This is certainly the case for me, anyway.
The plot was pacy and I appreciated the very different way the author had of killing off one of his victims. There is also another gory death towards the start which appealed to my darker side. I really enjoyed Kate’s perseverance, her desire to figure out if and how three very different cases fitted together. I also really liked her DC, Laura Trotter who felt very real and relatable. Other members of the team were a little too distant from the main storyline for me to be able to make a judgment. Although I will say, at one point, I suspected two totally innocent key characters as the murderer. I was very, very wrong.
This is a good book and I really enjoyed Edger’s story (if not so much his lead protagonist). However, what I found very hard to digest was the ending of this book and the big reveal. I really can’t say much as I don’t want to spoil it for future readers. So I will say that yes, the big reveal came like a bolt out of the blue but it was a little…unbelievable. It had me sat there for a few minutes, shaking my head and muttering ‘what…?!’ under my breath.
Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. I would, without a doubt, read another book written by Stephen Edger. It’s a great story and others may be able to warm to Kate in a way I wasn’t able to. And of course, I may be being overly critical of that ending. After all, it is fiction and if you can’t do the odd out of left field twist, then when can you?
Three and a half stars out of five.
I chose to read and review an eARC of Dead to Me. The above review is my own unbiased opinion.
July 6, 2017
I would like to thank Netgalley and Bookouture for an advance copy of Watching You, the first novel to feature Southampton based DI Kate Matthews.
Kate, recently transferred from the Met, is not having much success in Southampton so she is pleased to be appointed SIO in a new case, after a warehouse fire a headless body has been found in the wreckage. As the warehouse belongs to a well known local criminal suspects abound but Kate finds herself pushed in a certain direction by threats and intimidation.
I can't say I enjoyed Watching You. I found some of the plot details improbable, the ending unbelievable and I loathed Kate. I can't actually say very much about the detail or the ending without issuing spoilers but the perpetrator seems to be able to achieve a good few impossible things.
Trying to be positive I can just about understand her decision to let her ex husband and her new partner raise her daughter so that she can concentrate on her career but not to have seen her in over a year is indefensible on the part of any parent, either male or female. Add to this her refusal to stick to procedure, even in the face of opposition from her team, and her determination to do it her way and you end up with a very unlikeable protagonist.
I'm sure plenty of readers will enjoy Watching You which is a fast paced thriller but it didn't suit my taste.
Kate, recently transferred from the Met, is not having much success in Southampton so she is pleased to be appointed SIO in a new case, after a warehouse fire a headless body has been found in the wreckage. As the warehouse belongs to a well known local criminal suspects abound but Kate finds herself pushed in a certain direction by threats and intimidation.
I can't say I enjoyed Watching You. I found some of the plot details improbable, the ending unbelievable and I loathed Kate. I can't actually say very much about the detail or the ending without issuing spoilers but the perpetrator seems to be able to achieve a good few impossible things.
Trying to be positive I can just about understand her decision to let her ex husband and her new partner raise her daughter so that she can concentrate on her career but not to have seen her in over a year is indefensible on the part of any parent, either male or female. Add to this her refusal to stick to procedure, even in the face of opposition from her team, and her determination to do it her way and you end up with a very unlikeable protagonist.
I'm sure plenty of readers will enjoy Watching You which is a fast paced thriller but it didn't suit my taste.
January 5, 2018
Now I am a little late to the party with this book but I wanted to get a feel of this series from the start not on book three which I believe is due out anytime. I haven’t read any of Stephen Edger books before either but keep hearing really good stuff about them from friends. So here I go.
The series is going to be based around Detective Kate Hamilton and she just got really under my skin as soon as I met her! She has a past that has really messed her up, which I got to know very little about and it wasn’t like I could google it in last years headlines. She is impulsive and reckless, takes chances and has too much pride, which interferes with her job but bloody hell I want to know why she is like she is. I want to know why she has to be the best at everything, why she takes risks and why her relationship didn’t just not work out but ended on such bad terms. Why she made the choices she made and why she has so much to prove. In other words I am rather intrigued, definitely hooked and need to read the next book to find out more, well probably the whole series!
Now this book. This is a cracking story besides all that is going on with Kate’s private life and her colleagues. I pretty well like the gruesome stories with my crime books so this one fit the bill perfectly. There are a number of murders, all very different and highly descriptive making it perhaps not for everyone but they got my attention and kept it. I do like the nitty-gritty facts as well as just the basics. There must have been a good bit of research involved by the author and it pays off.
Suspects, well there are plenty, did I work it out? hell no! But I loved the end, it is soooo good. I have to get cracking with book two soon. It is a matter of I definitely need to know more. Good stuff!
The series is going to be based around Detective Kate Hamilton and she just got really under my skin as soon as I met her! She has a past that has really messed her up, which I got to know very little about and it wasn’t like I could google it in last years headlines. She is impulsive and reckless, takes chances and has too much pride, which interferes with her job but bloody hell I want to know why she is like she is. I want to know why she has to be the best at everything, why she takes risks and why her relationship didn’t just not work out but ended on such bad terms. Why she made the choices she made and why she has so much to prove. In other words I am rather intrigued, definitely hooked and need to read the next book to find out more, well probably the whole series!
Now this book. This is a cracking story besides all that is going on with Kate’s private life and her colleagues. I pretty well like the gruesome stories with my crime books so this one fit the bill perfectly. There are a number of murders, all very different and highly descriptive making it perhaps not for everyone but they got my attention and kept it. I do like the nitty-gritty facts as well as just the basics. There must have been a good bit of research involved by the author and it pays off.
Suspects, well there are plenty, did I work it out? hell no! But I loved the end, it is soooo good. I have to get cracking with book two soon. It is a matter of I definitely need to know more. Good stuff!
August 25, 2022
This is the first in this series featuring Kate Matthews and now I've completed it I can say with certainty it was a great read and a good start to a series which is new to me. Kate Matthews has moved from the Met Police following and incident (more is revealed on that later in the book) and is currently working in Southampton on a new Murder Case. Kate is a character people will no doubt love or hate in equal measure, myself included. She clearly has insecurities but takes her work incredibly serious, maybe too much sometimes. As she works a murder case alongside new colleagues it is clear she will have struggles working with some of those around her. I liked her connection with her colleague Laura though and this seemed to balance out her mis-trust of everybody else.
The storyline was strong and well paced with plenty going on. In some respects Kate's borderline personality although being revealed slowly makes for a really interesting read. Clearly her history has hampered her personal life and as you see interactions with her daughter it will begin to make sense. I was happy with how the story unfolded and although I had some doubts over Kate, this introduction to the series has made me curious so I am already on to book 2. A solid book and a great start for a series I hope I continue to enjoy.
The storyline was strong and well paced with plenty going on. In some respects Kate's borderline personality although being revealed slowly makes for a really interesting read. Clearly her history has hampered her personal life and as you see interactions with her daughter it will begin to make sense. I was happy with how the story unfolded and although I had some doubts over Kate, this introduction to the series has made me curious so I am already on to book 2. A solid book and a great start for a series I hope I continue to enjoy.
October 21, 2017
I really didn't like this book much. It was very slow to start with, then got a lot better in the middle even though the lead character did some really stupid things, but the end was just frustrating.
DI Kate Matthews was quite an unlikeable character and a shitty mother when she finally had to look after her daughter for a while. I didn't think any of the characters were developed very well. There was a whole lot of stuff Kate should have reported to her boss but didn't, which was not only silly but downright dangerous. But, oh no, we couldn't do that and we had had to have a silly feud with a colleague of equal rank.
But the ending...there was no build-up. Kate suddenly goes 'I know who the killer is' completely out of left field despite the fact that technically its not supposed to be possible (I don't want to give spoilers so sorry to be vague) and they were barely mentioned in the story. And the rationale for the murders was weak at best. The whole ending didn't work for me at all.
DI Kate Matthews was quite an unlikeable character and a shitty mother when she finally had to look after her daughter for a while. I didn't think any of the characters were developed very well. There was a whole lot of stuff Kate should have reported to her boss but didn't, which was not only silly but downright dangerous. But, oh no, we couldn't do that and we had had to have a silly feud with a colleague of equal rank.
But the ending...there was no build-up. Kate suddenly goes 'I know who the killer is' completely out of left field despite the fact that technically its not supposed to be possible (I don't want to give spoilers so sorry to be vague) and they were barely mentioned in the story. And the rationale for the murders was weak at best. The whole ending didn't work for me at all.
August 27, 2017
This is the first in a new series by Stephen Edger, featuring DI Kate Matthews and set in Southampton. Kate is a very interesting creation, having newly arrived in Hampshire after a case she was involved in in London ended badly. She has a daughter who lives with her ex-husband and her mother is in a home suffering from dementia. When three seemingly unconnected murders occur on her patch, Matthews is tasked, along with two colleagues who are less than well-disposed to her, to find the perpetrator, a job which imperils her life and that of her closest family. This is a tremendous read, tense and taut throughout, and I can't wait for more!
October 19, 2017
Great read. Thought I'd got it all sussed out so many times only to be proved wrong again.
Fast, action packed book, loved it. Looking forward to meeting Kate Matthews again soon.
Fast, action packed book, loved it. Looking forward to meeting Kate Matthews again soon.
October 30, 2022
I wanted to like this book however it did not live up to the hype on the back cover.
Kate is awful as a mother, a DI and a friend. She was neglectful, careless, disrespectful of rules, procedures, rank and protocol and unorganised resulting in putting herself, her team and her daughter at risk.
I’m not a fan of overly wordy, detailed stories however this one needed more substance and atmosphere to build the situation. I felt it was all very abrupt especially in the beginning of the book.
There are too many unexplained or unbelievable situations such as how did the killer manage to move 3 bodies and kill them in the way they did, what or who was the Greg from the nursing home, what happened with the brother and nursing home payment.
This book had the potential to be good however just didn’t hit the mark for me.
Kate is awful as a mother, a DI and a friend. She was neglectful, careless, disrespectful of rules, procedures, rank and protocol and unorganised resulting in putting herself, her team and her daughter at risk.
I’m not a fan of overly wordy, detailed stories however this one needed more substance and atmosphere to build the situation. I felt it was all very abrupt especially in the beginning of the book.
There are too many unexplained or unbelievable situations such as how did the killer manage to move 3 bodies and kill them in the way they did, what or who was the Greg from the nursing home, what happened with the brother and nursing home payment.
This book had the potential to be good however just didn’t hit the mark for me.
December 5, 2021
This is a detective novel which I like so I enjoyed reading this book
August 7, 2017
Dead to me by Stephen Edger.
How do you catch a killer who knows your every move?
The woman lay flat on the table, her face to one side, her wrists bound with thick tape. Deep scratches marked the wood beneath her fingers, now resting cold and still...
When a woman’s body is found in an abandoned bar near the Southampton docks, Detective Kate Matthews is called in to lead the investigation. She must solve this case to prove she is coping with the death of a close colleague. Kate knows a pile of ripped up newspaper cuttings discovered at the victim’s house must be a piece of the puzzle, but her team keep hitting dead-ends... Until she finds a disturbing clue that convinces her of three things: The murder is linked to the body of a man found hanging in a warehouse, she is on the hunt for a calculated serial killer, and the killer is watching her every move.Kate realises there will be another victim soon, and that her own life is in grave danger, but no one else believes her theory. Can she find and stop the most twisted killer of her career, before another life is lost?
OMG. What a start to this book. An absolutely fantastic read with brilliant characters. Full of twists and plots. I liked Kate. She was my favourite character. This one really had me. I could not figure out who it was. I had my suspicions. OMG I did not see that coming. What a shock. This is a must read and I would highly recommend this book. Definitely worth more than 5*.
Netgalley and bookouture.
How do you catch a killer who knows your every move?
The woman lay flat on the table, her face to one side, her wrists bound with thick tape. Deep scratches marked the wood beneath her fingers, now resting cold and still...
When a woman’s body is found in an abandoned bar near the Southampton docks, Detective Kate Matthews is called in to lead the investigation. She must solve this case to prove she is coping with the death of a close colleague. Kate knows a pile of ripped up newspaper cuttings discovered at the victim’s house must be a piece of the puzzle, but her team keep hitting dead-ends... Until she finds a disturbing clue that convinces her of three things: The murder is linked to the body of a man found hanging in a warehouse, she is on the hunt for a calculated serial killer, and the killer is watching her every move.Kate realises there will be another victim soon, and that her own life is in grave danger, but no one else believes her theory. Can she find and stop the most twisted killer of her career, before another life is lost?
OMG. What a start to this book. An absolutely fantastic read with brilliant characters. Full of twists and plots. I liked Kate. She was my favourite character. This one really had me. I could not figure out who it was. I had my suspicions. OMG I did not see that coming. What a shock. This is a must read and I would highly recommend this book. Definitely worth more than 5*.
Netgalley and bookouture.
October 16, 2017
Kate Matthews is a detective with a past. A past which has followed her to her new post and one which she is desperately trying to shake off as she struggles to prove her worth to the rest of the team. Caught up in three brutal and seemingly unconnected murders, Kate finds herself in a race against time to uncover the truth. Adding to the tension is the stalker who is driving her actions and the threats against her young daughter Chloe, Watching You is a tense cat and mouse thriller that leaves your brain in a whirl!
I really struggled to connect in any way with Kate Matthews. Her actions throughout the book left me feeling cold towards her, especially her relationship with Chloe, her young daughter. Her complete disregard for procedure at work at times felt unbelievable and just a bit too far fetched. I think that she would have potentially been booted out the force never mind off the case at times! However, despite this, there is something that intrigued me about her character - there is more to Kate than meets the eye in this book and I think that with a bit more background then as a reader I would perhaps have a better understanding of what is making her tick. I would be interested to see how her character is developed throughout the series.
At times the plot seemed just a little too improbable for me and I found myself saying "WTF" a few times at the actions of both Kate and the bad guys in the series. That said, it was certainly a fast paced and action filled plot, plenty of twists and turns and red herrings to keep the reader detectives amongst us happy!
Without giving away any spoilers, Watching You had the hairs on my neck on end as I checked and double checked my doors and windows were locked. The stalking element of this novel sent shivers down my spine!
Overall, I feel that Watching You has potential to develop into quite a tense and suspenseful series. I'd like to see Kate's character developed further with an additional backstory to answer the questions I have been left with. An intriguing debut which, although it didn't quite tick all the boxes for me, is one that I will be watching out for in the future.
I really struggled to connect in any way with Kate Matthews. Her actions throughout the book left me feeling cold towards her, especially her relationship with Chloe, her young daughter. Her complete disregard for procedure at work at times felt unbelievable and just a bit too far fetched. I think that she would have potentially been booted out the force never mind off the case at times! However, despite this, there is something that intrigued me about her character - there is more to Kate than meets the eye in this book and I think that with a bit more background then as a reader I would perhaps have a better understanding of what is making her tick. I would be interested to see how her character is developed throughout the series.
At times the plot seemed just a little too improbable for me and I found myself saying "WTF" a few times at the actions of both Kate and the bad guys in the series. That said, it was certainly a fast paced and action filled plot, plenty of twists and turns and red herrings to keep the reader detectives amongst us happy!
Without giving away any spoilers, Watching You had the hairs on my neck on end as I checked and double checked my doors and windows were locked. The stalking element of this novel sent shivers down my spine!
Overall, I feel that Watching You has potential to develop into quite a tense and suspenseful series. I'd like to see Kate's character developed further with an additional backstory to answer the questions I have been left with. An intriguing debut which, although it didn't quite tick all the boxes for me, is one that I will be watching out for in the future.
August 21, 2017
This is the first in a series about Detective Kate Matthews. She’s recently been moved to the Southampton branch after an incident in London. She’s stepping into the shoes of a not long dead colleague and is struggling to gain the respect of the team.
The story starts with a body found in a burnt warehouse. Kate is initially put on the case, however is soon moved to deal with something a murder that her Superintendent feels is more up her street. She soon feels that the cases are linked, but will anyone listen to her? And who is the mysterious stranger who keeps sending her anonymous information about the case?
I immediately took to the character of Kate Matthews. She’s a likeable, believable character who is desperate to make a good impression. She reminded me a lot of M.J. Arlidge’s Helen Grace – someone who is willing to break the rules to get the job done!
I found the story slow paced at first, but the speed did pick up. There were many red herrings and plot twists before the murderer was finally revealed – the final few chapters had me gripped!
I gave this book a 4* review – I took points away for the slow beginning – but it is definitely worth the read, and I look forward to reading Kate’s next case!
*Many thanks to the team at Bookouture and the Author for the free review copy in exchange for an honest review*
The story starts with a body found in a burnt warehouse. Kate is initially put on the case, however is soon moved to deal with something a murder that her Superintendent feels is more up her street. She soon feels that the cases are linked, but will anyone listen to her? And who is the mysterious stranger who keeps sending her anonymous information about the case?
I immediately took to the character of Kate Matthews. She’s a likeable, believable character who is desperate to make a good impression. She reminded me a lot of M.J. Arlidge’s Helen Grace – someone who is willing to break the rules to get the job done!
I found the story slow paced at first, but the speed did pick up. There were many red herrings and plot twists before the murderer was finally revealed – the final few chapters had me gripped!
I gave this book a 4* review – I took points away for the slow beginning – but it is definitely worth the read, and I look forward to reading Kate’s next case!
*Many thanks to the team at Bookouture and the Author for the free review copy in exchange for an honest review*
August 17, 2017
This is this first book I have read by Stephen Edger and I will certainly be looking to read his previous ones. This was a brilliant thriller which leaves you in suspense right until the end. A killer is on the rampage, leaving bodies and clues behind that Detective Kate Matthews has to solve to prove that she is coping with the death of a colleague. This is the first book in a series featuring Kate Matthews and I cannot wait for the next one. This book is full of twists and turns and a fantastic read, highly recommended. Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.
August 21, 2017
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I enjoyed this story, it was set at a great pace and I was intrigued by some of the characters but I wasn’t a massive fan initially of the main character, Kate, she did grow on me luckily as her personality developed as she was rather integral to the story! The plot was good, the story was well written and I loved the twists and turns that were thrown in to try and deter the reader from guessing the end – 4 stars from me for this one and looking forward to more from Stephen as the series continues!
I enjoyed this story, it was set at a great pace and I was intrigued by some of the characters but I wasn’t a massive fan initially of the main character, Kate, she did grow on me luckily as her personality developed as she was rather integral to the story! The plot was good, the story was well written and I loved the twists and turns that were thrown in to try and deter the reader from guessing the end – 4 stars from me for this one and looking forward to more from Stephen as the series continues!
July 5, 2017
I absolutely adored this book! An enthralling mystery, fast paced and thrilling; absolutely unputdownable. I did not want it to end and yet was frantically turning the pages to find out what was really going on. Brilliant writing. Loved Detective Kate Matthews - cannot wait for more books with her. So glad I discovered this incredible author.
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