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The National Crime Agency #3
The Tangled Lock
Can SI Joanne Stuart find the killer—before he finds her?
A serial killer haunts the streets of Manchester, targeting vulnerable working girls in the dead of night. His a tangled lock of hair in his victims’ throats.
As the body count rises, pressure mounts for the Greater Manchester Police and the National Crime Agency’s Behavioural Sciences Unit. For Senior Investigator Joanne Stuart, the race is on to catch the twisted killer before he strikes again.
With DCI Gordon Holmes on her back and the press following her every step, Jo will stop at nothing to bring the murderer to justice. But her separation from her partner, Abbie, is a distraction she can ill afford. As the hunt continues, will Jo be able to focus on the case or will her personal troubles have disastrous consequences?
When Jo finds herself targeted by the killer, she realises that the game of cat and mouse she is playing could turn deadly…for her.
A serial killer haunts the streets of Manchester, targeting vulnerable working girls in the dead of night. His a tangled lock of hair in his victims’ throats.
As the body count rises, pressure mounts for the Greater Manchester Police and the National Crime Agency’s Behavioural Sciences Unit. For Senior Investigator Joanne Stuart, the race is on to catch the twisted killer before he strikes again.
With DCI Gordon Holmes on her back and the press following her every step, Jo will stop at nothing to bring the murderer to justice. But her separation from her partner, Abbie, is a distraction she can ill afford. As the hunt continues, will Jo be able to focus on the case or will her personal troubles have disastrous consequences?
When Jo finds herself targeted by the killer, she realises that the game of cat and mouse she is playing could turn deadly…for her.
376 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 14, 2017
221 people are currently reading
300 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
August 8, 2019
And with The Tangled Lock, The National Crime Agency finally hit the stride I've been waiting for! Spoilers for previous books below, kind of - not to their central plots, but to the life of our protagonist.
We pick up again a few months after the events of the last book. Abbie is still gone - and hallelujah, because that lack of relationship drama makes such a huge difference! Seriously, it was just annoying. I know every detective has to be focused on the job to the point of completely neglecting the rest of their life (sarcasm), but the trope of combining that with an extremely demanding and unwilling to compromise partner is tedious. I think the only person who ever got the partner of a detective right was Jasper Fforde, with his Nursery Crime series. If you have any other suggestions, I'd love to hear them!
The procedural side of these books has always been strong, but it starts coming into it's own when not weighed down by the extraneous dramas. I hadn't actually realised this was a spinoff of a previous series until now either - it says a lot for the series that it stands alone so strongly. Bill Rogers is also an author who writes his female characters like people (always appreciated!), and isn't afraid to tackle tricky social issues with sensitivity.
Definitely a series that I'd recommend to procedural fans, and if the earlier books weren't working for you - maybe try starting here.
We pick up again a few months after the events of the last book. Abbie is still gone - and hallelujah, because that lack of relationship drama makes such a huge difference! Seriously, it was just annoying. I know every detective has to be focused on the job to the point of completely neglecting the rest of their life (sarcasm), but the trope of combining that with an extremely demanding and unwilling to compromise partner is tedious. I think the only person who ever got the partner of a detective right was Jasper Fforde, with his Nursery Crime series. If you have any other suggestions, I'd love to hear them!
The procedural side of these books has always been strong, but it starts coming into it's own when not weighed down by the extraneous dramas. I hadn't actually realised this was a spinoff of a previous series until now either - it says a lot for the series that it stands alone so strongly. Bill Rogers is also an author who writes his female characters like people (always appreciated!), and isn't afraid to tackle tricky social issues with sensitivity.
Definitely a series that I'd recommend to procedural fans, and if the earlier books weren't working for you - maybe try starting here.
November 9, 2017
I would like to thank Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for a review copy of The Tangled Lock, the third novel in the Manchester based National Crime Agency series.
Greater Manchester Police call in the National Crime Agency when the third body of a strangled prostitute is found and they realise they have a serial killer on their hands. Senior Investigator Joanne Stuart, on loan to the NCA from GMP is the requested help but the whole team gets involved. It takes more bodies and a lucky break before they can identify the killer and hunt him down.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Tangled Lock which is an extremely good police procedural. It may not be to everyone's taste as it is quite detailed on the procedural aspects and the politics of the investigation but I found it fascinating. It makes a pleasant change to see the inate professionalism and teamwork of the police service emphasised rather than the lone wolf maverick with a total disregard for the rule book. That is not to say that Jo is not capable of disregarding it when she judges it necessary. Apart from the procedure the novel has a good, engrossing plot. Stranger killers are always the most difficult to solve and I found the methodical grind of tracing, identifying and eliminating suspects both fascinating and compelling.
With the victims working in the sex trade there are some moral dilemmas involved so while the team (or syndicate as they are referred to) is no less dedicated to finding the killer Mr Rogers has done his research and does a good job of explaining most sides of the argument and provides some food for thought. It's an added dimension to the novel.
As the novel is plot based the characterisation is as developed as it needs to be. The exception is Jo Stuart who, as the protagonist, is more nuanced. She is a dedicated, smart investigator with a strong sense of justice. In fact she lost her last relationship over her dedication and now with no one to stop her she works constantly and has nothing else in her life. I'm not sure that in real life she'd be particularly likeable but in fiction she's an excellent character.
The Tainted Lock is a great read which I have no hesitation in recommending.
Greater Manchester Police call in the National Crime Agency when the third body of a strangled prostitute is found and they realise they have a serial killer on their hands. Senior Investigator Joanne Stuart, on loan to the NCA from GMP is the requested help but the whole team gets involved. It takes more bodies and a lucky break before they can identify the killer and hunt him down.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Tangled Lock which is an extremely good police procedural. It may not be to everyone's taste as it is quite detailed on the procedural aspects and the politics of the investigation but I found it fascinating. It makes a pleasant change to see the inate professionalism and teamwork of the police service emphasised rather than the lone wolf maverick with a total disregard for the rule book. That is not to say that Jo is not capable of disregarding it when she judges it necessary. Apart from the procedure the novel has a good, engrossing plot. Stranger killers are always the most difficult to solve and I found the methodical grind of tracing, identifying and eliminating suspects both fascinating and compelling.
With the victims working in the sex trade there are some moral dilemmas involved so while the team (or syndicate as they are referred to) is no less dedicated to finding the killer Mr Rogers has done his research and does a good job of explaining most sides of the argument and provides some food for thought. It's an added dimension to the novel.
As the novel is plot based the characterisation is as developed as it needs to be. The exception is Jo Stuart who, as the protagonist, is more nuanced. She is a dedicated, smart investigator with a strong sense of justice. In fact she lost her last relationship over her dedication and now with no one to stop her she works constantly and has nothing else in her life. I'm not sure that in real life she'd be particularly likeable but in fiction she's an excellent character.
The Tainted Lock is a great read which I have no hesitation in recommending.
October 29, 2017
Once again Bill doesn’t disappoint. I have now read all his books, and he has successfully merged the DCI Caton characters with his new team from the NCA. I think because I read so many books, and it’s been a while since I read the last one, I needed to refresh my memory with all the characters. Having said that, it can be a stand alone novel and a jolly good read.
I particularly like the setting, as it is my home town, and of course I was able to remember the places mentioned in the book, near where I spent my childhood, although the city of Manchester I think has changed quite a bit.
The story is very well written, and for once I hadn’t a clue who’d dunnit.
There’s a serial killer on the loose and he’s killing the street girls, the bodies are mounting up and jo Stuart is called in with her team to help out. There’s a race against time, as the killer also has Jo in his sights.
I hope Bill continues with this team and also perhaps Caton can transfer over!
I particularly like the setting, as it is my home town, and of course I was able to remember the places mentioned in the book, near where I spent my childhood, although the city of Manchester I think has changed quite a bit.
The story is very well written, and for once I hadn’t a clue who’d dunnit.
There’s a serial killer on the loose and he’s killing the street girls, the bodies are mounting up and jo Stuart is called in with her team to help out. There’s a race against time, as the killer also has Jo in his sights.
I hope Bill continues with this team and also perhaps Caton can transfer over!
December 11, 2017
This is the third book in this series and, although the main story is self-contained, to get the very best from it with regard to character development and backstory, like most series, it is best to start from book one and read in order.
In this book, the NCA is called in to assist with the capture of a serial killer who has been targeting Manchester's working girls. Often victims, several deaths have been lined by the placing of a signature lock of hair in their mouths. The police have been unable to catch the killer and feel they need a bit of Behavioural Analysis help to kick start things again.
This book also marks the return to GMP for SI Jo Stuart; on secondment from them to the NCA, it is her that the DCI requests to assist them. She also has a bit of experience with working girls so, on the face of it, she's the perfect fit. Interesting that the DCI often doesn't always feel the same as he is a bit of a hard task master as far as she is concerned. Maybe a bit of jealousy, maybe sour grapes, or maybe he just wants to push her; who knows.
Anyway, the team get stuck in. And yes, they work as a team. There is the odd 'out on a limb' moment to be found here, but these are definitely in the minority; and refreshingly so. There's enough action and intrigue going on with the crimes in the book to keep me interested so the police side of things can pretty much tick on as it would probably do more in real life than some of this genre which involve themselves more about the lone maverick cop being the focal point. It's definitely reminiscent of the teamwork shown in the TV show Criminal Minds in that respect. Don't get me wrong, there are a few clashes along the way but these are to be expected and add realism to the matter in hand rather than distracting away from it. You definitely get the nitty gritty grunt work in this series.
Plotting is, as always, very good. Information is revealed at just the right times to keep my interest but not too much that I got ahead of things with my guessing. It's a relatively slow start, but that again is more a reflection of realistic police work, and it soon ramps up as more is learned until we do get to the rather frenetic end game. There was also quite a lot of obviously well done research into the lives of the working girls that definitely left me thinking.
As with quite a few other series set in Manchester, the city itself comes across here almost as a character in its own right. The rest of the cast are just as well drawn and it was lovely reconnecting with the old faces from the author's Tom Caton books which are also good if you feel so inclined!
All in all, a good addition to an already great series. More please, soon as you can!
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
In this book, the NCA is called in to assist with the capture of a serial killer who has been targeting Manchester's working girls. Often victims, several deaths have been lined by the placing of a signature lock of hair in their mouths. The police have been unable to catch the killer and feel they need a bit of Behavioural Analysis help to kick start things again.
This book also marks the return to GMP for SI Jo Stuart; on secondment from them to the NCA, it is her that the DCI requests to assist them. She also has a bit of experience with working girls so, on the face of it, she's the perfect fit. Interesting that the DCI often doesn't always feel the same as he is a bit of a hard task master as far as she is concerned. Maybe a bit of jealousy, maybe sour grapes, or maybe he just wants to push her; who knows.
Anyway, the team get stuck in. And yes, they work as a team. There is the odd 'out on a limb' moment to be found here, but these are definitely in the minority; and refreshingly so. There's enough action and intrigue going on with the crimes in the book to keep me interested so the police side of things can pretty much tick on as it would probably do more in real life than some of this genre which involve themselves more about the lone maverick cop being the focal point. It's definitely reminiscent of the teamwork shown in the TV show Criminal Minds in that respect. Don't get me wrong, there are a few clashes along the way but these are to be expected and add realism to the matter in hand rather than distracting away from it. You definitely get the nitty gritty grunt work in this series.
Plotting is, as always, very good. Information is revealed at just the right times to keep my interest but not too much that I got ahead of things with my guessing. It's a relatively slow start, but that again is more a reflection of realistic police work, and it soon ramps up as more is learned until we do get to the rather frenetic end game. There was also quite a lot of obviously well done research into the lives of the working girls that definitely left me thinking.
As with quite a few other series set in Manchester, the city itself comes across here almost as a character in its own right. The rest of the cast are just as well drawn and it was lovely reconnecting with the old faces from the author's Tom Caton books which are also good if you feel so inclined!
All in all, a good addition to an already great series. More please, soon as you can!
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
November 15, 2018
As the series develops, the author is beginning to flesh out some of the supporting characters - we're getting to know Max and Andy a bit more. Still, to me Jo Stuart is the one who keeps pulling me in. The author is male, but he has a good sense of the things that women find patronising and insulting, and in Jo, we have a heroine who knows when to stand up for herself and when to let karma take its revenge.
I'm usually not a fan of romantic relationships in mysteries, but Jo's relationship with her ex is integral to her character, and the hint of a possible new relationship is handled well - there is none of the hormonal panting (between adults!) that mars so many 'romantic mysteries'. The author builds it so artfully that I was rooting for the pairing by the end of the book. Jo doesn't immediately dissolve in a pile of goo, but rather comes to realise that there might be something there, and that it's time to move on from her ex. We'll see what develops in the next installment - I was pleased to see that there is another book coming.
'The Tangled Lock' also deals with the issue of sex-workers in a fairly complex manner. Not only do we see the victims in a sympathetic and non-stereotypical light, but the author delves into the problems of policing and the laws themselves. One minor wish for the novel is that the author had given us some sort of codicil regarding the fate of the three-year-old son of the first victim. We do find out what happens to another character, but it's entirely predictable (and a bit of a mishandling by Jo, in my opinion).
I'm usually not a fan of romantic relationships in mysteries, but Jo's relationship with her ex is integral to her character, and the hint of a possible new relationship is handled well - there is none of the hormonal panting (between adults!) that mars so many 'romantic mysteries'. The author builds it so artfully that I was rooting for the pairing by the end of the book. Jo doesn't immediately dissolve in a pile of goo, but rather comes to realise that there might be something there, and that it's time to move on from her ex. We'll see what develops in the next installment - I was pleased to see that there is another book coming.
'The Tangled Lock' also deals with the issue of sex-workers in a fairly complex manner. Not only do we see the victims in a sympathetic and non-stereotypical light, but the author delves into the problems of policing and the laws themselves. One minor wish for the novel is that the author had given us some sort of codicil regarding the fate of the three-year-old son of the first victim. We do find out what happens to another character, but it's entirely predictable (and a bit of a mishandling by Jo, in my opinion).
November 18, 2017
4 and 1 / 2 stars
SI Jo Stuart and her team are assigned the case of a murdered sex worker. She was found, possibly strangled, with a lock of hair in her mouth. The Greater Manchester Police and Jo’s National Crime Agency Behavioral Sciences Unit team up once more for this exciting crime drama.
The pathologist confirms that there was a lock of hair in her mouth and that she was strangled. Mandy Madden is only the first of many victims. As the body count goes up, the tension in the story increases as well.
DCI Gordon Holmes in on Jo’s back, as is the press, to solve the case. The team continues their investigation by interviewing possible witnesses, friends and family members.
This is a very good police procedural. I like Jo and she works well with the rest of her team. The novel is both well written and plotted. The tension begins immediately in the story and continues throughout the book, reaching its highest point at the denouement of the novel. It is Bill Rogers at his best. He writes a gritty story with compassion and empathy for the victims. His dialogue is to the point with touches of humor here and there.
I want to thank NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for forwarding to me a copy of this great book to read and enjoy.
SI Jo Stuart and her team are assigned the case of a murdered sex worker. She was found, possibly strangled, with a lock of hair in her mouth. The Greater Manchester Police and Jo’s National Crime Agency Behavioral Sciences Unit team up once more for this exciting crime drama.
The pathologist confirms that there was a lock of hair in her mouth and that she was strangled. Mandy Madden is only the first of many victims. As the body count goes up, the tension in the story increases as well.
DCI Gordon Holmes in on Jo’s back, as is the press, to solve the case. The team continues their investigation by interviewing possible witnesses, friends and family members.
This is a very good police procedural. I like Jo and she works well with the rest of her team. The novel is both well written and plotted. The tension begins immediately in the story and continues throughout the book, reaching its highest point at the denouement of the novel. It is Bill Rogers at his best. He writes a gritty story with compassion and empathy for the victims. His dialogue is to the point with touches of humor here and there.
I want to thank NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for forwarding to me a copy of this great book to read and enjoy.
December 4, 2017
Let me begin by saying that I have not read any of the prior novels in this series, and while I don't feel that made this story hard to follow or understand, I do wonder if maybe I would have a better understanding of the main characters had I read the earlier books.
I found this story to be an accurate depiction of police work. Tedious, unfulfilling, big build up for a let down, lucky break and finally action. I'm not saying there is anything wrong with that, merely that parts of this story drag on. So much so that I constantly found myself distracted by other things. Once the investigation actually starts moving however, I was glued to my kindle in an attempt to find out what would happen next. It's just a shame it had to take as long to get there as it did.
Overall, I am sure this story will definitely appeal to those who enjoy a well written police procedural novel. I will read more from this author!
DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.
I found this story to be an accurate depiction of police work. Tedious, unfulfilling, big build up for a let down, lucky break and finally action. I'm not saying there is anything wrong with that, merely that parts of this story drag on. So much so that I constantly found myself distracted by other things. Once the investigation actually starts moving however, I was glued to my kindle in an attempt to find out what would happen next. It's just a shame it had to take as long to get there as it did.
Overall, I am sure this story will definitely appeal to those who enjoy a well written police procedural novel. I will read more from this author!
DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.
December 26, 2017
I received an advanced copy from GoodReads.
The NCA is asked in to assist with the capture of a serial killer who has been targeting Manchester's working girls. The city of Manchester is described in such a way you get a good visual. The police have been unable to catch the killer and feel they need a bit of Behavioral Analysis help to kick start things. The DCI requests SI Jo Stuart to assist them. She also has experience with working girls. They work as a team sort like the TV show Criminal Minds. The plot is revealed at just the right times to keep your interest.
I think anyone who enjoys good police drama will enjoy this book.
The NCA is asked in to assist with the capture of a serial killer who has been targeting Manchester's working girls. The city of Manchester is described in such a way you get a good visual. The police have been unable to catch the killer and feel they need a bit of Behavioral Analysis help to kick start things. The DCI requests SI Jo Stuart to assist them. She also has experience with working girls. They work as a team sort like the TV show Criminal Minds. The plot is revealed at just the right times to keep your interest.
I think anyone who enjoys good police drama will enjoy this book.
December 10, 2017
I received this book through the goodreads giveaways program.
I just couldn't seem to get into it, it wasn't really suspenseful and didn't really have me intrigued. I don't know what it was. I think part of it was the language divide. Some of the terminology and phrases were confusing to me, and I find that distracting.
The police are hunting a killer who is preying on prostitutes. He strangled them and leaves a lock of hair. Along the investigation, they uncover another two men guilty of activity with prostitutes, but not the killer.
I just couldn't seem to get into it, it wasn't really suspenseful and didn't really have me intrigued. I don't know what it was. I think part of it was the language divide. Some of the terminology and phrases were confusing to me, and I find that distracting.
The police are hunting a killer who is preying on prostitutes. He strangled them and leaves a lock of hair. Along the investigation, they uncover another two men guilty of activity with prostitutes, but not the killer.
January 3, 2022
Now this was a gripping story and was a definite step up from the previous two books as Rogers weaves real life locations, 'recent' events and builds on the characters he has already created into a superb and tense read that locks you in from the very beginning. The main story is superbly done and the side stories that arise throughout and just as good and could easily have been the main event in themselves. I did find Jo still a little self-pitying but it felt more natural and real this time and didn't drown out the other aspects of the book. An excellent read and such a good finale.
November 13, 2017
Police procedural at its best
This book is outstanding another great read from Bill. Great plot, great believable characters and above all an understanding of real police procedure make this a book I would recommend 100% as apposed to many other books in the genre that try to hard for the unrealistic Hollywood ending. Bill's writing, as always, shows authenticity and impeccable research- Daniel Kann
This book is outstanding another great read from Bill. Great plot, great believable characters and above all an understanding of real police procedure make this a book I would recommend 100% as apposed to many other books in the genre that try to hard for the unrealistic Hollywood ending. Bill's writing, as always, shows authenticity and impeccable research- Daniel Kann
December 4, 2017
I received a free copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
SI Joanne Stuart and her team at The National Crime Agency are back for the third installment of Bill Roger's crime series. This time the team is hunting a serial killer with an odd calling card. The Manchester crime fighting syndicates must work together to track down the killer before more bodies start piling up. This is a good book and series for fans of detective crime thrillers.
SI Joanne Stuart and her team at The National Crime Agency are back for the third installment of Bill Roger's crime series. This time the team is hunting a serial killer with an odd calling card. The Manchester crime fighting syndicates must work together to track down the killer before more bodies start piling up. This is a good book and series for fans of detective crime thrillers.
March 31, 2018
This is the first book I have read by the author Bill Rogers. I didn't read the first two books in the series. The Story line and capturing the characters through the daily ups and downs of investigating and solving a murder. In general it didn't seem require to read the first 2 books in the series. But there were a few times where I felt I missed some background info. I figured it was in a past book.
April 4, 2024
This is the third book in the series of the National Crime Agency, although it can be read as a stand alone.. It is based in Manchester and is a well written, plot based police procedural. I like the characterisation, especially Jo, and the plotting centred around the murders of prostitutes. The pacing was steady throughout as tension built in the developing investigation and the ending is neatly wrapped up. I would recommend to lovers of the genre. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.
December 23, 2017
Fantastic
Bill Rogers books are so easy to read and keep me interested from the start. The characters are realistic and edgy I am already looking for another one. This series is brilliant. Thank you
Bill Rogers books are so easy to read and keep me interested from the start. The characters are realistic and edgy I am already looking for another one. This series is brilliant. Thank you
January 3, 2018
Avery good read.
I give this book a 5 star rating because it kept me interested all the way through. I love police murder novels and Bill Rogers books paint pictures of Manchester as you read.
I give this book a 5 star rating because it kept me interested all the way through. I love police murder novels and Bill Rogers books paint pictures of Manchester as you read.
March 10, 2018
A very well written crime investigation
I enjoyed this book and found it very interesting. The author gives a very good insight into the thorough and systematic manner that police detectives go about solving a serious crime.
I enjoyed this book and found it very interesting. The author gives a very good insight into the thorough and systematic manner that police detectives go about solving a serious crime.
December 6, 2018
Thoroughly enjoyable.
Another book with real people, who get tired, grumpy, elated & euphoric all within a short space of time. Bill Rogers has his pulse on reality, both his locations & characters reflect this.
Another book with real people, who get tired, grumpy, elated & euphoric all within a short space of time. Bill Rogers has his pulse on reality, both his locations & characters reflect this.
October 27, 2017
Manchester vibes
Another great book from bill rogers as always keeps us guessing till the end please can we have some more
Another great book from bill rogers as always keeps us guessing till the end please can we have some more
November 2, 2017
Review
Once again Bill Rogers has written a really great book. Thoroughly enjoyed it. I am looking forward to the next nook in the NCA series
Once again Bill Rogers has written a really great book. Thoroughly enjoyed it. I am looking forward to the next nook in the NCA series
December 5, 2017
Didn't love. All in all it was fine but did not find myself attaching to any character.
May 10, 2018
Very entertaining and engaging from the start. Good detective book - well written.
July 6, 2018
This is a great series!
July 27, 2018
Really enjoyed this one - excellent series.
October 18, 2018
Really enjoyed this book. Fast paced story that makes it hard to put down. Can't wait to read another book by this author!
December 5, 2018
A great story.
Bill Rogers has done it again!! This book was very entertaining. I loved the characters, especially Jo who never gives up.
Bill Rogers has done it again!! This book was very entertaining. I loved the characters, especially Jo who never gives up.
February 4, 2019
Okay, I didn't see the end coming. I like to be surprised!
March 16, 2019
The third in the series and for me it is still going strong. The suspense is kept up and again it is only in the last chapters that it finally comes together. A good read.
July 12, 2019
Brilliant!
One of the best !
Reads like a factual account of a police investigation with clear narrative of the events and characters
One of the best !
Reads like a factual account of a police investigation with clear narrative of the events and characters
May 12, 2020
A detailed, thorough story line that draws you in once you get into the story and you don't want to put it down until you figure out whodunnit
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews