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Don't Look Now
When a woman is killed in an East London park, Detective Fenton can't help but hear about it--the murder is trending. The killer has posted a photo of his victim in her final moments, and in the first moments after she died. Before long, the world is taunted with posts of another victim's photos, and Detective Fenton finds himself searching for a serial killer with a fan following. The more he kills, the more he posts--and the more attention he gets, the more he kills...
A fascinating insight into the mind of a secret psychopath, Don't Look Now examines how dangerous our appetite for darkness really is, from a brand new talent in suspense.
A fascinating insight into the mind of a secret psychopath, Don't Look Now examines how dangerous our appetite for darkness really is, from a brand new talent in suspense.
311 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2017
34 people are currently reading
763 people want to read
About the author
Max Manning
9 books65 followersMax Manning is a former national newspaper journalist. He started his career as a news reporter on regional newspapers before moving on to Fleet Street. There he worked for several titles, including Today and the Daily Express. He later joined the staff of the Daily Telegraph where he worked for sixteen years as a news sub-editor. Now You See is his debut crime novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 153 reviews
January 24, 2018
Now You See by Max Manning is a crime novel that had me gripped from page one. I don't often read crime novels and I'm not really interested in police procedures but there is an exception to every rule and this book was the exception. I really liked the characters of DCI Fenton and Adam Blake and I look forward to reading more about these characters. The fact that the killer boasted about his crimes on social media make the book even more chilling. I would like to thank NetGalley and Headline for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
September 16, 2018
3.5 ⭐️’s. A chilling suspense, with a touch of romance. Somewhat predictable in parts, but interesting and worth the read.
A woman is killed in a London park. A demented psychopath that calls himself I, Killer is posting pictures on social media. In order to gain followers, the killer is posting photos of his victims in their final moments, and in the moments just after death. He kills, he posts—he gains more attention.
Lauren is the first victim and her pictures are posted to social media before the police find the body. Her ex-boyfriend is guilt-ridden when notified of the murder and agrees to help her sister find the killer.
Dan Fenton is the lead detective on the case. He is the sole caretaker of his daughter, after losing his wife and finds himself overwhelmed as he tries to keep up with both. The killer has a following that increases with every kill, as he taunts the police. His murders are trending and people find it hard to look away.
Thank you Edelweiss, Sourcebooks and Max Manning for the advanced copy of this book, in exchange for my honest review!
A woman is killed in a London park. A demented psychopath that calls himself I, Killer is posting pictures on social media. In order to gain followers, the killer is posting photos of his victims in their final moments, and in the moments just after death. He kills, he posts—he gains more attention.
Lauren is the first victim and her pictures are posted to social media before the police find the body. Her ex-boyfriend is guilt-ridden when notified of the murder and agrees to help her sister find the killer.
Dan Fenton is the lead detective on the case. He is the sole caretaker of his daughter, after losing his wife and finds himself overwhelmed as he tries to keep up with both. The killer has a following that increases with every kill, as he taunts the police. His murders are trending and people find it hard to look away.
Thank you Edelweiss, Sourcebooks and Max Manning for the advanced copy of this book, in exchange for my honest review!
January 11, 2018
A murderer who posts a before and after photo on social media! A great story, fast paced. Loved it
June 19, 2018
3.5 stars
This was a fun one, even if I was confused all through the book whose chapter I was reading, Fenton or Blake..
This was a fun one, even if I was confused all through the book whose chapter I was reading, Fenton or Blake..
February 20, 2018
A killer takes pictures of his victims, before he kills to capture their terror, after to show off his handy work. Detective Dan Fenton leads the investigation. The thing is investigating a crime with no evidence but plenty of social media presence is too put a mildly a complete flipping nightmare. As IKiller, as he has monikered himself gains a fan base the body count stacks up and Dan finds himself and his close ones under threat.
Pacy and well written, this is definitely a book worth reading for any crime fan. Fenton is a pretty typical detective in this genre (tragic past, kid he has no time for etc) but shows promise. The far more interesting character is Adam Blake, ex journalist, ex boyfriend of the first victim and the initial suspect. He's a damaged fragile character, who hides his fragility with a grumpy stand offish persona, a bit reminiscent of Cormoran Strike. For me he was the main man of this story. I'm hoping he'll feature in future stories. The only thing that bugged me about this book was the reveal at the end - it was a bit daft and didn't ring true. But except those few sentences this is a great start - as long as we get more Blake!
I received this from Netgalley for an honest review.
Pacy and well written, this is definitely a book worth reading for any crime fan. Fenton is a pretty typical detective in this genre (tragic past, kid he has no time for etc) but shows promise. The far more interesting character is Adam Blake, ex journalist, ex boyfriend of the first victim and the initial suspect. He's a damaged fragile character, who hides his fragility with a grumpy stand offish persona, a bit reminiscent of Cormoran Strike. For me he was the main man of this story. I'm hoping he'll feature in future stories. The only thing that bugged me about this book was the reveal at the end - it was a bit daft and didn't ring true. But except those few sentences this is a great start - as long as we get more Blake!
I received this from Netgalley for an honest review.
December 9, 2018
Im Internet tauchen die Fotos einer jungen Frau auf - eines zeigt sie total verängstigt, auf dem anderen Bild ist sie tot. Ihr wurde die Kehle aufgeschlitzt. Der Täter genießt es, sich im Internet mit seinen Taten zu rühmen und es bleibt nicht bei der einer Toten. DCI Dan Fenton und der Journalist Adam Blake versuchen, den Täter zu fassen, doch er scheint immer einen Schritt voraus zu sein...
Mein Leseeindruck:
Ich habe diesen Thriller sehr gerne gelesen und hoffe, dass es weitere Fälle für Dan Fenton geben wird - vielleicht wieder gemeinsam mit Adam Blake? Zwar konnte ich die Polizeiarbeit nicht immer ganz nachvollziehen (zum Beispiel die Suspendierung), aber dennoch war es für mich spannend, die Ermittlungsarbeit zu verfolgen.
Der Autor hat einen angenehmen und leichten Schreibstil, so dass sich das Buch für mich flüssig hat lesen lassen. Zudem hat dieses Buch angenehm kurze Kapitel.
Die Figuren hätten gerne noch ein wenig mehr Tiefe haben können bzw. hätten ein bisschen ausgefeilter sein dürfen, aber dieses Buch ist ein Debütroman, und dafür ist es schon sehr gut gelungen!
Mein Leseeindruck:
Ich habe diesen Thriller sehr gerne gelesen und hoffe, dass es weitere Fälle für Dan Fenton geben wird - vielleicht wieder gemeinsam mit Adam Blake? Zwar konnte ich die Polizeiarbeit nicht immer ganz nachvollziehen (zum Beispiel die Suspendierung), aber dennoch war es für mich spannend, die Ermittlungsarbeit zu verfolgen.
Der Autor hat einen angenehmen und leichten Schreibstil, so dass sich das Buch für mich flüssig hat lesen lassen. Zudem hat dieses Buch angenehm kurze Kapitel.
Die Figuren hätten gerne noch ein wenig mehr Tiefe haben können bzw. hätten ein bisschen ausgefeilter sein dürfen, aber dieses Buch ist ein Debütroman, und dafür ist es schon sehr gut gelungen!
November 26, 2017
A fast read for me, one of those that you keep going on pure adrenalin - certainly not without its faults but enjoyable and pacy with some intriguing characters.
I think possibly the whole social media murder thing has been done by another author in series, better to my mind, but if you take that aspect out of it Now You See is a clever page turner that keeps you engaged throughout.
The good things were actually the ones not centred around our main police officer Dan Fenton but more on the side of ex journalist Blake, one victims ex and the one I related more to. Fenton is ok, but slightly generic and I didn't feel that he was particularly fleshed out although based on the way the story played out I can see huge potential in the next book. Which I hope also features Blake and gives the pair a more cohesive "partnership"
For me, who reads this stuff all the time, the killer was in plain sight and there were no surprises - however the little asides from said killer throughout added an interesting layer although I have to say I let out a little sigh at the last bit when it implied that things might go down a certain other route in future books in the series. I hope that is not the case because that has been done before in a certain tv show that was popular recently, now finished, but if I start to sense that this will be a mish mash of pop culture classics it might get a little wearing.
BUT having said ALL of that, it doesn't detract from my pleasure in reading this novel. As far as crime goes I need to have a good mix and Now You See, whilst far from perfect, has set the scene for what could be an addictive series and one to watch.
Recommended for crime fans, especially those new to the genre.
I think possibly the whole social media murder thing has been done by another author in series, better to my mind, but if you take that aspect out of it Now You See is a clever page turner that keeps you engaged throughout.
The good things were actually the ones not centred around our main police officer Dan Fenton but more on the side of ex journalist Blake, one victims ex and the one I related more to. Fenton is ok, but slightly generic and I didn't feel that he was particularly fleshed out although based on the way the story played out I can see huge potential in the next book. Which I hope also features Blake and gives the pair a more cohesive "partnership"
For me, who reads this stuff all the time, the killer was in plain sight and there were no surprises - however the little asides from said killer throughout added an interesting layer although I have to say I let out a little sigh at the last bit when it implied that things might go down a certain other route in future books in the series. I hope that is not the case because that has been done before in a certain tv show that was popular recently, now finished, but if I start to sense that this will be a mish mash of pop culture classics it might get a little wearing.
BUT having said ALL of that, it doesn't detract from my pleasure in reading this novel. As far as crime goes I need to have a good mix and Now You See, whilst far from perfect, has set the scene for what could be an addictive series and one to watch.
Recommended for crime fans, especially those new to the genre.
April 24, 2018
Now You See is a thrilling read, with its short chapters, this plot moves at a fast-pace; you’re instantly hooked – this is the perfect novel for a one-sitting read! Very early on we hear the voice of the killer, hearing this perspective so early on immediately ups the ante because you see no feelings of guilt or remorse, so you just know, there are more murders to follow. These snippets from the killer feature throughout the book, and I can confirm, inside the mind of a serial killer is a chilling, yet disturbingly thrilling, place to be!
I really liked the way Manning incorporated the murders taking place into the plot. Using just a page or two to describe a murder really added to the tension, as it’s a reflection of the killer – quick, succinct but with a lasting effect. In the age of social media, a murder can take place in a secluded location with no witnesses, yet it gives the killer the anonymity to broadcast their actions to the world. I, Killer loves the spotlight, and the only way to stay in the spotlight is to keep on killing!
The portrayal of DCI Fenton is a very realistic one, but be careful when you call out a killer, because he just might answer! Alongside DCI Fenton, we have Blake, the ex-boyfriend of the first victim, who, for me, was the best character. From a background of investigative journalism, Blake is haunted by his past, and we get to know a bit about his history and why he is the way he is. While this is DCI Dan Fenton’s series, I really hope this is not the last we see of Blake.
Due to Blake’s large role in this plot, Now You See isn’t your typical police procedural. While it follows the format, I think it extends beyond being an ideal read for fans of this subgenre of crime fiction, but the perfect read for anyone who enjoys a pacey serial killer thriller.
My only small, and I mean small, misgiving with this plot was one particular move by the killer had everyone confused, but I thought it was incredibly obvious what was meant by the action. However, that may come from me living and breathing mysteries. Regardless, Now You See is a fantastic first instalment in what I’m sure will become a thrilling series. So, don’t miss out, grab yourself a copy of this novel and let Manning, by way of I, Killer, chill and thrill you!
*My thanks to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book*
I really liked the way Manning incorporated the murders taking place into the plot. Using just a page or two to describe a murder really added to the tension, as it’s a reflection of the killer – quick, succinct but with a lasting effect. In the age of social media, a murder can take place in a secluded location with no witnesses, yet it gives the killer the anonymity to broadcast their actions to the world. I, Killer loves the spotlight, and the only way to stay in the spotlight is to keep on killing!
The portrayal of DCI Fenton is a very realistic one, but be careful when you call out a killer, because he just might answer! Alongside DCI Fenton, we have Blake, the ex-boyfriend of the first victim, who, for me, was the best character. From a background of investigative journalism, Blake is haunted by his past, and we get to know a bit about his history and why he is the way he is. While this is DCI Dan Fenton’s series, I really hope this is not the last we see of Blake.
Due to Blake’s large role in this plot, Now You See isn’t your typical police procedural. While it follows the format, I think it extends beyond being an ideal read for fans of this subgenre of crime fiction, but the perfect read for anyone who enjoys a pacey serial killer thriller.
My only small, and I mean small, misgiving with this plot was one particular move by the killer had everyone confused, but I thought it was incredibly obvious what was meant by the action. However, that may come from me living and breathing mysteries. Regardless, Now You See is a fantastic first instalment in what I’m sure will become a thrilling series. So, don’t miss out, grab yourself a copy of this novel and let Manning, by way of I, Killer, chill and thrill you!
*My thanks to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book*
April 19, 2019
So I’m not one who typically reads thriller but I did really enjoy this one. Finished it in 2 days and it did trip me up. I thought I had it figured out for a minute but nope. I saw a lot of people put in their reviews that the answer was out in the open so maybe I’m just a thriller amateur. 🤷🏻♀️
May 3, 2018
Wow I read a lot if Crime thrillers so it’s always great to read one that has an utterly original story line. I think what makes this book so chilling is how real it seems. With the popularity of social media I think it’s probably only a matter of time until a real killer flaunts his murders in this way.
The way people react to the murders seemed very true to life and I could imagine some of the comments in the book actually being comments from real people. It also brought up some intriguing questions as to what people’s reactions would be if pictures of murder victims where posted on line. Would they look? Would it make killer famous? I’d love to say I wouldn’t but I think it’s part of human nature to have a little bit of morbid curiosity about such things.
I couldn’t decide if I liked DCI Fenton or not. In one hand he was clearly a hard working cop and a loving father who wanted to ensure they caught the killer. However he also seemed very grizzly and unnecessarily rude at times. His pedanticness annoyed me too along with his refusal to take risks.
The reader gets to see the killers point of view too as there are short descriptions about what he’s thinking, why he’s killing and his real to his ‘fame’ in each chapter. This is very chilling to read, particularly when you realise how into his infamy he is and how much of a kick he’s getting from it. In a world where people get famous for the stupidest things, it sent a shiver down my spine thinking this might be how someone achieves it in the future.
Think is a fairly fast paced book that has lots of revelations and twists that kept me interested throughout. I was kept guessing to the end who the killer was which is unusual for me as I’m normally quite good at guessing!
Now You See is Max Manning’s debut crime novel and I really hope he doesn’t keep us waiting long for his next book as I am very excited to read it.
Huge thanks to Jenni Leech for inviting me onto the blog tour and giving me a copy of this book.
I really enjoyed this book and will be recommending it to everyone! A definite must read.
The way people react to the murders seemed very true to life and I could imagine some of the comments in the book actually being comments from real people. It also brought up some intriguing questions as to what people’s reactions would be if pictures of murder victims where posted on line. Would they look? Would it make killer famous? I’d love to say I wouldn’t but I think it’s part of human nature to have a little bit of morbid curiosity about such things.
I couldn’t decide if I liked DCI Fenton or not. In one hand he was clearly a hard working cop and a loving father who wanted to ensure they caught the killer. However he also seemed very grizzly and unnecessarily rude at times. His pedanticness annoyed me too along with his refusal to take risks.
The reader gets to see the killers point of view too as there are short descriptions about what he’s thinking, why he’s killing and his real to his ‘fame’ in each chapter. This is very chilling to read, particularly when you realise how into his infamy he is and how much of a kick he’s getting from it. In a world where people get famous for the stupidest things, it sent a shiver down my spine thinking this might be how someone achieves it in the future.
Think is a fairly fast paced book that has lots of revelations and twists that kept me interested throughout. I was kept guessing to the end who the killer was which is unusual for me as I’m normally quite good at guessing!
Now You See is Max Manning’s debut crime novel and I really hope he doesn’t keep us waiting long for his next book as I am very excited to read it.
Huge thanks to Jenni Leech for inviting me onto the blog tour and giving me a copy of this book.
I really enjoyed this book and will be recommending it to everyone! A definite must read.
June 11, 2018
The main story riffs on the common unease that many people have with the age of social media: the fact that everything is so easily shared on the Internet- and so little regulated. How far would people go for a little fame? Too far, apparently- as the London police find out when a mysterious Instagram account called I, Killer uploads an image of a murdered woman that instantly goes viral. Followed by several more.
The story really takes us inside the head of the killer, and though his musings on life, on the scum of the earth, and the service he’s doing to the wider world through his work can read a tad cliche, they’re also entertaining and thought-provoking enough to mesh in neatly with the rest of the novel, as Detective Dan Foster attempts to catch him before he kills again. Manning’s masterstroke is also to add the murders, in real time, from the victim’s perspective throughout the novel, which really builds the tension, especially towards the end when the race to catch the killer intensifies, and the murders get more gruesome.
This is the first in the Dan Foster series, and while the book does a good job fleshing out his character- stalwart, upright, brilliant and determined- it also does read a little like the third or fourth book, in that the characters already seem to have gone through a certain amount of development in the past, which isn’t too much touched on- such as the death of Foster’s wife and the fact that he’s struggling to care for his daughter, Tess, as a single father. And while that’s fine, it’s also a bit frustrating as it takes away a little bit from getting to know the characters better.
That said, though, Blake- the ex-boyfriend of the first victim- is great. He’s angry, tortured, withdrawn and with some PTSD issues that make him extremely prickly- especially as his ex-girlfriend’s sister attempts to get him to investigate the case. The combination of his more unorthodox methods, and Foster’s by-the-book approach, is entertaining, and also allows Manning a bit of scope to make things more exciting- as Blake does stuff the police definitely aren’t allowed to.
A thoughtful, exciting and intense reflection of the way in which social media is changing society, this book had me turning the pages until it was done.
In three words: angry, exciting, online
The story really takes us inside the head of the killer, and though his musings on life, on the scum of the earth, and the service he’s doing to the wider world through his work can read a tad cliche, they’re also entertaining and thought-provoking enough to mesh in neatly with the rest of the novel, as Detective Dan Foster attempts to catch him before he kills again. Manning’s masterstroke is also to add the murders, in real time, from the victim’s perspective throughout the novel, which really builds the tension, especially towards the end when the race to catch the killer intensifies, and the murders get more gruesome.
This is the first in the Dan Foster series, and while the book does a good job fleshing out his character- stalwart, upright, brilliant and determined- it also does read a little like the third or fourth book, in that the characters already seem to have gone through a certain amount of development in the past, which isn’t too much touched on- such as the death of Foster’s wife and the fact that he’s struggling to care for his daughter, Tess, as a single father. And while that’s fine, it’s also a bit frustrating as it takes away a little bit from getting to know the characters better.
That said, though, Blake- the ex-boyfriend of the first victim- is great. He’s angry, tortured, withdrawn and with some PTSD issues that make him extremely prickly- especially as his ex-girlfriend’s sister attempts to get him to investigate the case. The combination of his more unorthodox methods, and Foster’s by-the-book approach, is entertaining, and also allows Manning a bit of scope to make things more exciting- as Blake does stuff the police definitely aren’t allowed to.
A thoughtful, exciting and intense reflection of the way in which social media is changing society, this book had me turning the pages until it was done.
In three words: angry, exciting, online
July 22, 2018
The premise of this book is very current and state of the art. A killer posts before and after pictures of a murder in real time so his followers can see the look on the face of the victim as they realize that they are about to die. The story is told from the 1st person POV of the killer (I, Killer) and then 3rd person accounts of a detective and a former reporter (also the ex-boyfriend of the first victim). It is a fascinating read and moves along quickly with short chapters and many twists and turns.
I received a digital ARC of this book from Sourcebooks and Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
I received a digital ARC of this book from Sourcebooks and Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
March 4, 2018
Am I right in thinking this is a debut? If so then I’m really very impressed. I look forward to more from Max Manning in the future.
Thanks to Headline for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review
Thanks to Headline for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review
March 28, 2018
This story grabbed my attention from the first page. It has short chapters ideal for any reader that doesn’t like the long chapters. Above all its very well written. The psychopath who is posting online photos of his victims before death and after death made me cringe. Lauren Bishop has been found dead in Victoria Park . The police with a warrant card question Adam Blake as he was in a relationship with Lauren Bishop, but he hadn’t seen Lauren since six weeks ago when she moved out of the place she shared with Adam. Detective Constable Ince and PC Price take Adam to the police station to answer a few more questions. This part of the story kept me wondering could Adam Blake be responsible for killing Lauren, as in most cases it’s always the boyfriend or husband.
June 1, 2018
*** Find this review and others on my blog! ***
Thankyou to Wildfire Books and NetGalley for providing me with an eArc copy of this; as always, all opinions and thoughts are honest and my own!
This sounded like it had a very interesting concept and take on the serial killer plot that we normally see as it has managed to incorporate our love of social media into the murders! So this follows a serial killer as I mentioned before who is killing his victims and putting a picture of them before their death and after their death on social media. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again but I’m loving the incorporation of social media into the newer crime novels; cara hunter does the perfect representation in the actual print media in her book but I did think this was a great example of sensationalising the murders and for the serial killer to get more attention that he/she needed. It did also touch on why people look at upsetting and disturbing material online when it becomes available, especially when it helps validate the killer and their actions.
One of the main characters we follow is DCI Fenton who has a daughter and who we also find out, has recently lost his wife to cancer. He is one of the detectives on the serial killer case and to be honest, I didn’t really get much from him. He didn’t feel that fleshed out and I wouldn’t say that he’s anything special in terms of a police detective in a police procedural. The other main character we get to follow and hear from is Blake; this is the first victim’s ex-boyfriend and actually has quite an interesting plot. He used to be an investigative journalist who has a very interesting past which he is still trying to escape from. I feel like we definitely got more of a backstory for Blake and he definitely felt more fleshed out that Fenton which was weird as this is meant to be DCI Fenton’s series.
I thought the plot was intriguing, but I did feel like that was mainly because of the social media aspect. We were led to believe that a certain person was the killer, but it seemed way too obvious that this was what we were supposed to think. I did figure out who the killer was before it was revealed but that may be because when you read so many crime and thriller books, it starts to take a great plot twist to really surprise you.
This wasn’t a bad book by no means, I just didn’t feel like it was anything special. If you’re looing for a more modern crime book which isn’t too heavy with actual police procedural work in an office or station, then this could be a good novel to pick up. I also really enjoyed Blake’s involvement in the story the most and I would really like it if we saw him again in the next book!
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Thankyou to Wildfire Books and NetGalley for providing me with an eArc copy of this; as always, all opinions and thoughts are honest and my own!
This sounded like it had a very interesting concept and take on the serial killer plot that we normally see as it has managed to incorporate our love of social media into the murders! So this follows a serial killer as I mentioned before who is killing his victims and putting a picture of them before their death and after their death on social media. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again but I’m loving the incorporation of social media into the newer crime novels; cara hunter does the perfect representation in the actual print media in her book but I did think this was a great example of sensationalising the murders and for the serial killer to get more attention that he/she needed. It did also touch on why people look at upsetting and disturbing material online when it becomes available, especially when it helps validate the killer and their actions.
One of the main characters we follow is DCI Fenton who has a daughter and who we also find out, has recently lost his wife to cancer. He is one of the detectives on the serial killer case and to be honest, I didn’t really get much from him. He didn’t feel that fleshed out and I wouldn’t say that he’s anything special in terms of a police detective in a police procedural. The other main character we get to follow and hear from is Blake; this is the first victim’s ex-boyfriend and actually has quite an interesting plot. He used to be an investigative journalist who has a very interesting past which he is still trying to escape from. I feel like we definitely got more of a backstory for Blake and he definitely felt more fleshed out that Fenton which was weird as this is meant to be DCI Fenton’s series.
I thought the plot was intriguing, but I did feel like that was mainly because of the social media aspect. We were led to believe that a certain person was the killer, but it seemed way too obvious that this was what we were supposed to think. I did figure out who the killer was before it was revealed but that may be because when you read so many crime and thriller books, it starts to take a great plot twist to really surprise you.
This wasn’t a bad book by no means, I just didn’t feel like it was anything special. If you’re looing for a more modern crime book which isn’t too heavy with actual police procedural work in an office or station, then this could be a good novel to pick up. I also really enjoyed Blake’s involvement in the story the most and I would really like it if we saw him again in the next book!
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August 14, 2018
I didn’t have many expectations before reading this since this is Max Manning’s first novel I’m not a huge fan of police procedurals. However, I was surprised to find this to be a riveting, fast-paced read with interesting characters.
The book opens with the very graphic descriptions of a serial murderer committing a heinous murder and posting before and after pictures to social media. The police race to solve the case as the killer continues to gain popularity on social media. Meanwhile, a formal journalist suffering from PTSD becomes way more involved than he had ever anticipated. Both the police and i as a reader was shocked by the very dramatic ending.
This was gripping, relevant and well-written. I loved the juxtaposition between the terror of the killer with the hunger of the social media fans who craved more and more. So disturbing, yet very representative of our present society. I am excited to see what else Manning, who is a journalist himself, produces in this series.
Many thanks to Edelweiss, Sourcebooks, and Max Manning for providing me with a complimentary e-copy ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The book opens with the very graphic descriptions of a serial murderer committing a heinous murder and posting before and after pictures to social media. The police race to solve the case as the killer continues to gain popularity on social media. Meanwhile, a formal journalist suffering from PTSD becomes way more involved than he had ever anticipated. Both the police and i as a reader was shocked by the very dramatic ending.
This was gripping, relevant and well-written. I loved the juxtaposition between the terror of the killer with the hunger of the social media fans who craved more and more. So disturbing, yet very representative of our present society. I am excited to see what else Manning, who is a journalist himself, produces in this series.
Many thanks to Edelweiss, Sourcebooks, and Max Manning for providing me with a complimentary e-copy ARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 16, 2018
Breakneck, topical serial killer thriller that entertains despite a simplistic plot.
For a bog-standard serial killer thriller, Max Manning’s debut is a thoroughly entertaining yarn and has an awful lot to recommend it despite much of what occurs feeling rather far-fetched. Low on authentic police procedures, high on readability, there is not a great deal of substance or depth to Now You See but for a high-energy blast of serial killer action it certainly satisfies. An undemanding plot and some smart twists together with short, sharp chapters often of no more than a few pages keep the tempo up throughout. Narrated from multiple points of view, including a sadistic perpetrator with a galling sense of their superiority, the result is also a compelling look at the effects of social media and the criminal mind.
Max Manning grabs the readers attention from the off, as lead investigator DCI Dan Fenton watches appalled as a murder is showcased online with a ‘Before Death’ and ‘After Death’ photograph posted under the username I, Killer. As the police launch into a frenzied search for a body, DCI Fenton and his team of DS Marie Daly and eager recent recruit, DC Ralph Ince, attempt to play catch-up all whilst the images go viral. As all police attempts to trace the origin of the cyber source are stymied and the media circus goes into overdrive proclaiming police incompetence, the pressure on New Scotland Yard escalates.
When the body is eventually recovered, buried deep in the undergrowth of Victoria Park, the victim is identified as twenty-seven-year-old nurse, Lauren Bishop. With no forensic evidence, no sign of defensive wounds and with no obvious enemies, attention turns to Lauren’s significantly. older ex-boyfriend and PTSD sufferer, Adam Blake, who she ended her relationship of nearly a year just six weeks previously. Testy, disconcerting in manner and with his own horrific experiences on the front line that would seem to make him a prime candidate for committing such a disturbed act of violence all eyes soon train on Blake. But with I, Killer starting to get a taste for public adulation his sadistic killing spree soon gets far worse as he plans to make things very personal, coming straight for the man leading the inquiry, DCI Fenton. As a single parent, Fenton has responsibilities to his family and not simply a duty to apprehend a psychopath...
Thirty-four-year-old DCI Dan Fenton with fifteen years local service in the MET is a fairly uninspired creation who is grieving for a wife who lost her fight with cancer eighteen-months ago and left him a single parent to eleven-year-old daughter, Tess. Characterisation of Dan Fenton, as for the entire supporting cast, is limited and as the lead detective fronting up a series he has too many similarities to DC Max Wolfe of the Tony Parsons novels to feel wholly original. As a protagonist Fenton goes rather too unexplored to ever warrant serious investment in, meaning he never emerges from beyond the page. Dedicated, driven and savvy, when his notoriety sees him sidelined by Scotland Yard, Lauren Bishop’s twin sister brokers an unofficial partnership with former investigative journalist, Adam Blake, and despite their mutual suspicion of each other, the pair begrudgingly collaborate. Blake offers more depth of character and his experiences as a hostage survivor in Syria where he bore witness to a brutal execution, along with his personal link as ex-boyfriend to the first victim, are surefire motivating factors.
Despite the author reprising the familiar profile of a narcissistic and manipulative serial killer who is able to imitate normal behaviours and driven on by public recognition, validation and media interest the novel also makes some relevant and chilling insights into the world of social media and how the general public use such outlets to explore the darker sides of their psyches from behind the safety of a terminal. Manning offers some very accessible insights via consultant police psychologist, Belinda Vale, into serial killers and how the world of social media can stroke the ego and multiply the interest around such macabre murders. Similarly the character of Belinda Vale also highlights the wider links between social media and moral decay which certainly has aspects of truth.
Admittedly fairly unrealistic with a cast (and therefore a suspect list) of a handful, Manning’s attempts at misdirection are naive. When the final revelation came I was fairly unimpressed and felt that the novel needed a few more clues for the story to classify as ‘playing fair’ with its readers. Simplistic yet lively, Now You See is the perfect fix of frenetic crime fare to sit back and relax with, necessitating minimal use of brainpower and easily satisfying. Whilst the place of social media in crime thrillers has vastly increased given its now ubiquitous role in the today’s society, I was impressed that Now You See added a touch of individuality to a popular theme with the ‘Before Death’ and ‘After Death’ photos and posts.
I would certainly read more of Max Manning’s work with the hope that future outings will craft DCI Dan Fenton into a more three-dimensional protagonist and would not be adverse to seeing Adam Blake featured again. For an introduction into the basic behaviour patterns of serial killers and for some disquieting glimpses into a depraved mind (“Guilt is a concept I’ve never understood. It gets in the way of true creativity, stops you doing things you want to do..”), Now You See serves as an excellent primer.
For a bog-standard serial killer thriller, Max Manning’s debut is a thoroughly entertaining yarn and has an awful lot to recommend it despite much of what occurs feeling rather far-fetched. Low on authentic police procedures, high on readability, there is not a great deal of substance or depth to Now You See but for a high-energy blast of serial killer action it certainly satisfies. An undemanding plot and some smart twists together with short, sharp chapters often of no more than a few pages keep the tempo up throughout. Narrated from multiple points of view, including a sadistic perpetrator with a galling sense of their superiority, the result is also a compelling look at the effects of social media and the criminal mind.
Max Manning grabs the readers attention from the off, as lead investigator DCI Dan Fenton watches appalled as a murder is showcased online with a ‘Before Death’ and ‘After Death’ photograph posted under the username I, Killer. As the police launch into a frenzied search for a body, DCI Fenton and his team of DS Marie Daly and eager recent recruit, DC Ralph Ince, attempt to play catch-up all whilst the images go viral. As all police attempts to trace the origin of the cyber source are stymied and the media circus goes into overdrive proclaiming police incompetence, the pressure on New Scotland Yard escalates.
When the body is eventually recovered, buried deep in the undergrowth of Victoria Park, the victim is identified as twenty-seven-year-old nurse, Lauren Bishop. With no forensic evidence, no sign of defensive wounds and with no obvious enemies, attention turns to Lauren’s significantly. older ex-boyfriend and PTSD sufferer, Adam Blake, who she ended her relationship of nearly a year just six weeks previously. Testy, disconcerting in manner and with his own horrific experiences on the front line that would seem to make him a prime candidate for committing such a disturbed act of violence all eyes soon train on Blake. But with I, Killer starting to get a taste for public adulation his sadistic killing spree soon gets far worse as he plans to make things very personal, coming straight for the man leading the inquiry, DCI Fenton. As a single parent, Fenton has responsibilities to his family and not simply a duty to apprehend a psychopath...
Thirty-four-year-old DCI Dan Fenton with fifteen years local service in the MET is a fairly uninspired creation who is grieving for a wife who lost her fight with cancer eighteen-months ago and left him a single parent to eleven-year-old daughter, Tess. Characterisation of Dan Fenton, as for the entire supporting cast, is limited and as the lead detective fronting up a series he has too many similarities to DC Max Wolfe of the Tony Parsons novels to feel wholly original. As a protagonist Fenton goes rather too unexplored to ever warrant serious investment in, meaning he never emerges from beyond the page. Dedicated, driven and savvy, when his notoriety sees him sidelined by Scotland Yard, Lauren Bishop’s twin sister brokers an unofficial partnership with former investigative journalist, Adam Blake, and despite their mutual suspicion of each other, the pair begrudgingly collaborate. Blake offers more depth of character and his experiences as a hostage survivor in Syria where he bore witness to a brutal execution, along with his personal link as ex-boyfriend to the first victim, are surefire motivating factors.
Despite the author reprising the familiar profile of a narcissistic and manipulative serial killer who is able to imitate normal behaviours and driven on by public recognition, validation and media interest the novel also makes some relevant and chilling insights into the world of social media and how the general public use such outlets to explore the darker sides of their psyches from behind the safety of a terminal. Manning offers some very accessible insights via consultant police psychologist, Belinda Vale, into serial killers and how the world of social media can stroke the ego and multiply the interest around such macabre murders. Similarly the character of Belinda Vale also highlights the wider links between social media and moral decay which certainly has aspects of truth.
Admittedly fairly unrealistic with a cast (and therefore a suspect list) of a handful, Manning’s attempts at misdirection are naive. When the final revelation came I was fairly unimpressed and felt that the novel needed a few more clues for the story to classify as ‘playing fair’ with its readers. Simplistic yet lively, Now You See is the perfect fix of frenetic crime fare to sit back and relax with, necessitating minimal use of brainpower and easily satisfying. Whilst the place of social media in crime thrillers has vastly increased given its now ubiquitous role in the today’s society, I was impressed that Now You See added a touch of individuality to a popular theme with the ‘Before Death’ and ‘After Death’ photos and posts.
I would certainly read more of Max Manning’s work with the hope that future outings will craft DCI Dan Fenton into a more three-dimensional protagonist and would not be adverse to seeing Adam Blake featured again. For an introduction into the basic behaviour patterns of serial killers and for some disquieting glimpses into a depraved mind (“Guilt is a concept I’ve never understood. It gets in the way of true creativity, stops you doing things you want to do..”), Now You See serves as an excellent primer.
May 1, 2018
Book reviews on www.snazzybooks.com
This is a really solid, entertaining new crime series which grabbed me from the first page until last. The characters are well-crafted and likable - though Fenton wasn't hugely memorable, he's a solid detective who you have faith in, and I really liked (perhaps preferred?) Blake and would happily read a lot more about him!
I particularly like the fact that it wasn't all centered around the police, and seeing Blake's side gave it a different slant. I also really enjoyed seeing into the mind of the serial killer - it's been done before but I feel that it's done really well by Max Manning here.
The plot is fun to read and the social media element is a little different too. The short chapters are great at making you think 'just one chapter', until suddenly it's the middle of the night and you've got work in the morning!
Overall I found Now You See an engaging and fun read, and am looking forward to future installments in this series!
*Many thanks to Wildfire for providing a copy of this novel on which I chose to write an honest and unbiased review. *
This is a really solid, entertaining new crime series which grabbed me from the first page until last. The characters are well-crafted and likable - though Fenton wasn't hugely memorable, he's a solid detective who you have faith in, and I really liked (perhaps preferred?) Blake and would happily read a lot more about him!
I particularly like the fact that it wasn't all centered around the police, and seeing Blake's side gave it a different slant. I also really enjoyed seeing into the mind of the serial killer - it's been done before but I feel that it's done really well by Max Manning here.
The plot is fun to read and the social media element is a little different too. The short chapters are great at making you think 'just one chapter', until suddenly it's the middle of the night and you've got work in the morning!
Overall I found Now You See an engaging and fun read, and am looking forward to future installments in this series!
*Many thanks to Wildfire for providing a copy of this novel on which I chose to write an honest and unbiased review. *
November 3, 2017
I would like to thank Netgalley and Headline for a review copy of Now You See, a serial killer novel set in London.
DCI Fenton is asked to hunt for a killer who has posted before and after death pictures of a young woman on the Internet but first he has to find the body. She is identified as Lauren Bishop, ex girlfriend of former journalist and hostage, Adam Blake who is asked by Lauren's sister, Leah, to undertake his own investigation. In the meantime the self styled I Killer hits too close to home for the police to allow Fenton to stay on the case.
I thoroughly enjoyed Now You See. It is tense, exciting read with some great, unexpected twists and turns. There isn't anything new in the premise of serial killer with a mystifying logic but Mr Manning puts his own mark on it and has produced a very readable novel.
The novel is told from various points of view, notably the unnamed arrogant, narcissistic killer. I'm not a big fan of this approach but it works well here. Mr Manning has caught his thought processes well and it is a really good portrayal of a psychopath from the obsessive need for admiration to the overweening hubris in his achievements. The plot itself is a good read and I congratulate Mr Manning on his ability to misdirect the reader - I thought I had it solved about half way through but, boy was I wrong.
The characterisation is fairly standard for a plot driven novel. Fenton is a single parent trying to cope with raising his daughter and grieving his late wife. He is mostly a by the book type of officer but the killer's personal touch sees him throw the book away. Blake is suffering from PTSD after his hostage experience but whether it is or his innate nature he seems incapable of looking at the book, never mind following it. They work well together and I'd be interested in reading more about them.
Now You See is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.
DCI Fenton is asked to hunt for a killer who has posted before and after death pictures of a young woman on the Internet but first he has to find the body. She is identified as Lauren Bishop, ex girlfriend of former journalist and hostage, Adam Blake who is asked by Lauren's sister, Leah, to undertake his own investigation. In the meantime the self styled I Killer hits too close to home for the police to allow Fenton to stay on the case.
I thoroughly enjoyed Now You See. It is tense, exciting read with some great, unexpected twists and turns. There isn't anything new in the premise of serial killer with a mystifying logic but Mr Manning puts his own mark on it and has produced a very readable novel.
The novel is told from various points of view, notably the unnamed arrogant, narcissistic killer. I'm not a big fan of this approach but it works well here. Mr Manning has caught his thought processes well and it is a really good portrayal of a psychopath from the obsessive need for admiration to the overweening hubris in his achievements. The plot itself is a good read and I congratulate Mr Manning on his ability to misdirect the reader - I thought I had it solved about half way through but, boy was I wrong.
The characterisation is fairly standard for a plot driven novel. Fenton is a single parent trying to cope with raising his daughter and grieving his late wife. He is mostly a by the book type of officer but the killer's personal touch sees him throw the book away. Blake is suffering from PTSD after his hostage experience but whether it is or his innate nature he seems incapable of looking at the book, never mind following it. They work well together and I'd be interested in reading more about them.
Now You See is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.
April 13, 2018
#IKiller #Review by @Ilovereadinguk #NowYouSee #NetGalley @maxmanningcrime @headlinepg @Wildfirebks
I, Killer has posted two photos of his first victim online - Before Death and After Death. They've gone viral before DCI Fenton's team even discovers the body.
When the body is discovered, it is the body of Lauren Bishop. It's tasked to DCI Fenton and his team to try and find this killer.
#Ikiller is trending on social media and he seems to be gaining a fan club that is feeding his ego. He needs to keep his fan's happy and give them what they want, which to him means more killings, more pictures posted online.
This turned into a really good crime thriller, there was certainly enough going on to keep you interested in the story, and the odd twist to keep you guessing and leave you wanting more.
A very well put together story that I think most crime fans would enjoy. I liked how social media was used, a very up to date storyline.
DCI Fenton not only has his job to work on, he's also a single father. Balancing the job and parenting seems a little to much for him at time. I liked this aspect of the story as it made him seem more of a real person, a believable character.
I would have liked to get to know DCI Fenton a little more, I don't think we got everything about him as a person, so hopefully this is going to become a series of books where we get to know him better. I think he's going to be a great character going forward.
I look forward to reading more of this series.
I, Killer has posted two photos of his first victim online - Before Death and After Death. They've gone viral before DCI Fenton's team even discovers the body.
When the body is discovered, it is the body of Lauren Bishop. It's tasked to DCI Fenton and his team to try and find this killer.
#Ikiller is trending on social media and he seems to be gaining a fan club that is feeding his ego. He needs to keep his fan's happy and give them what they want, which to him means more killings, more pictures posted online.
This turned into a really good crime thriller, there was certainly enough going on to keep you interested in the story, and the odd twist to keep you guessing and leave you wanting more.
A very well put together story that I think most crime fans would enjoy. I liked how social media was used, a very up to date storyline.
DCI Fenton not only has his job to work on, he's also a single father. Balancing the job and parenting seems a little to much for him at time. I liked this aspect of the story as it made him seem more of a real person, a believable character.
I would have liked to get to know DCI Fenton a little more, I don't think we got everything about him as a person, so hopefully this is going to become a series of books where we get to know him better. I think he's going to be a great character going forward.
I look forward to reading more of this series.
March 26, 2018
‘Now you See’ is a totally absorbing and exciting book that I read in a day
A serial killer is on the loose and the killer posts pictures of their crimes on Instagram and Facebook ( I know, grisly ) and the more likes and ‘fans’ they get the more they love it!!
Enter DCI Fenton who is assigned to ‘solve’ the case, then follows a gritty and dark story involving DCI Fenton and Blake, an ex Iraqi journalist POW suffering from PTSD, who together have to solve the sick on line murders that the serial killer is posting
The characters are well written and believable and at times complex but this adds to the story and I really liked and enjoyed the main characters in the book
It is a fast paced, thrilling ride of a book that had me hooked from the first page and made me’want to know’ who the killer was and for the crimes to be solved, when unmasked I was shocked!!!!
The ending is a powerful mix of violence and tense claustrophobic moments that really did have me on the edge of my seat ( well bed!!!)
Brilliantly written, a feeling of satisfaction that I have read a worthwhile and great book and look forward to more in the series
10/10 5 stars
May 7, 2023
What a chilling prologue – I really felt the girl’s fear as she realised her fate! This has to be a good sign for a brutal police procedural, if ever I read one!
The cast who played out the story before me were a miss-mash of reprobates. Fenton with his parenting issues and guilt, Blake with his PTSD, Ince with… well his interesting issues and then our psychopath.
Getting insights into the murderer’s thoughts was very interesting and chilling. Such bravado! The killer is brutal, real psycho; feeding on the response received from the public. Almost addicted to the attention the sick I, Killer followers gave!
I was slightly disappointed that the blurb suggests (to me anyway) this is the start of a series but there doesn’t appear to have been a follow up since. I liked Fenton and Blake as a pairing and I’d have liked to seen some more from them.
All in all, Now You See is a good police procedural that kept me on my toes. The jumps between character perspective gave the story plenty of momentum. Great debut from this former journalist.
The cast who played out the story before me were a miss-mash of reprobates. Fenton with his parenting issues and guilt, Blake with his PTSD, Ince with… well his interesting issues and then our psychopath.
Getting insights into the murderer’s thoughts was very interesting and chilling. Such bravado! The killer is brutal, real psycho; feeding on the response received from the public. Almost addicted to the attention the sick I, Killer followers gave!
I was slightly disappointed that the blurb suggests (to me anyway) this is the start of a series but there doesn’t appear to have been a follow up since. I liked Fenton and Blake as a pairing and I’d have liked to seen some more from them.
All in all, Now You See is a good police procedural that kept me on my toes. The jumps between character perspective gave the story plenty of momentum. Great debut from this former journalist.
April 15, 2018
This is a good start to a new series and I look forward to reading more by this author.
A gruesome murder is committed and photos are then posted on social media of the victim, before and after death.
DI Fenton is tasked with finding the killer who is leaving his mark on social media as #IKiller and his posts are creating a frenzy with the public. Even though the Police remove the posts it’s never quick enough and by this point thousands of people have viewed the disturbing images.
Blake is one of the victims ex-boyfriends and is under suspicion at first, but then he is asked to start his own investigation by the victim’s sister.
Soon Blake and Fenton are working together trying to stop the killer.
There’s a real race against time at the end which will have you on the edge of your seat.
Thanks to NetGalley and Wildfire for the opportunity to read this book.
A gruesome murder is committed and photos are then posted on social media of the victim, before and after death.
DI Fenton is tasked with finding the killer who is leaving his mark on social media as #IKiller and his posts are creating a frenzy with the public. Even though the Police remove the posts it’s never quick enough and by this point thousands of people have viewed the disturbing images.
Blake is one of the victims ex-boyfriends and is under suspicion at first, but then he is asked to start his own investigation by the victim’s sister.
Soon Blake and Fenton are working together trying to stop the killer.
There’s a real race against time at the end which will have you on the edge of your seat.
Thanks to NetGalley and Wildfire for the opportunity to read this book.
March 15, 2023
Never in a million years would you guess whodunit. Or maybe it was just me. The red herring clues I fall for every time and the subtle ones go right over my head. I thought this book was about Fenton, the detective. But maybe it was more about Blake, the first murdered girl’s ex- boyfriend. Or you could even say it was about I, Killer - the murderer. I think you could say any one of those things as each person has a distinct voice and role in this thriller.
December 20, 2017
Thank you to NetGalley for a free digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest view.
I loved this book so much! I’m going to be recommending it to everyone I know and begging them to buy it when it comes out. Why is it not out until April? I need a copy now! This is one of those books where you read the ARC and immediately want to race out and buy a finished copy to read all over again. I found this book impossible to put down and was completely hooked all the way through!
This was such an awesome idea for a crime thriller. I don’t think I’ve ever come across a crime thriller where the killer has posted pictures of his victims online? It made the story insanely good because you were constantly on the edge of your seat like what’s going to happen next? Is he going to post again? It was insane and I loved seeing how people/the media reacted to it There was lots of people that were disgusted by it and then there were those who loved it. I loved how this story kind of tapped into the dark side that everyone has. People might be disgusted by it but at the same time you can easily be fascinated by it. If the pictures are there for you to look at, you are going to be tempted to look at them. So disgusting but I cannot help but feel it has some truth to it.
I feel like the synopsis could be better because to me it was slightly misleading. I feel like it over-exaggerates the hunt between the killer and Fenton. You are made to believe his daughter is taken and her life threatened but to me this was only a minor part of the story and not really as big as I thought it would be. Don’t want to give away spoilers but her life is not as threatened as you first think.
One thing that bothered me about this was the story was told from multiple perspectives and I didn’t really understand how some of them were relevant to the story. For example, we get the point of view of Detective Ince and he’s such an arrogant, disgusting character. He literally thinks he knows everything and can be the one to solve the case. I thoroughly hated him with a passion and groaned internally whenever I had to endure one of his chapters. I really hope he doesn’t return for the second book because I can’t stand him and would scream if he did.
A character who I think takes up the majority of the story -– even more so than Fenton – is Blake. Blake is a journalist and he comes across as a bit of a dick at first, he was a really horrible character but the more I read the more I liked him. You get to know him slowly and understand why he acts the way he does. I think is is suffering from PTSD from a traumatic event that happened in the past, it really haunts him. On top of that, his girlfriend is I, Killer’s first victim and he feels guilty about what happened between them and feels that her death could have been prevented if only he had let her in. I really liked this vulnerable side to Blake because under his armour and mean behaviour you can see someone who is struggling to hold himself together. He teams up with Fenton to try and catch the killer and get justice for his girlfriend. I liked seeing them working together and hope this is something we will be seeing again in the second book. I liked his determination and how he was willing to go to the extremes to find the killer. In a way he wasn’t afraid of anything and he wasn’t as cautious as Fenton was.
I’d have loved to have seen more chapters from Fenton’s perspective. I honestly feel like he is a side character in his own series. I don’t understand why this series is called Detective Dan Fenton because Blake takes up more of this story than anyone else. Fenton was such an interesting and intriguing character but I feel like we didn’t get enough of him. I think there is potential with Fenton and we need more of him in the second book. It felt like he had hardly any chapters and towards the end of the book he completely disappears and the story just focuses on Blake catching the killer. Disappointing? Very. Fenton is the bloody DCI and he does a disappearing act when the killer strikes again. I wasn’t impressed and felt Fenton should have been there but I do understand why he wasn’t. Perhaps this series should be called something else because for it to be called Detective Dan Fenton I feel like Fenton needs to be more involved and be the main character rather than a side character.
I wasn’t expecting the identity of the killer and I loved how it surprised me. You get the killer’s perspective which I thought was really interesting and made me think he was such a twisted character. I think he is described as a narcissist and he did come across as one. He was constantly boasting about what he’d done and how good it made him feel, etc. When the killer is finally revealed my jaw kind of dropped and I was like HIM?! It was so hard connecting the chapters I’d read to that person! Absolutely brilliant and shocking reveal.
Despite the negatives this book had I still gave it five stars because I really think it deserved it. I struggled to put this book down and read it in what felt like no time at all. I was devastated when I turned the last page and was honestly like what now? My life revolved around this book when I wasn’t working and I’m very disappointed to have finished it. Can’t wait for it to be published and will be eagerly awaiting the second book!
I loved this book so much! I’m going to be recommending it to everyone I know and begging them to buy it when it comes out. Why is it not out until April? I need a copy now! This is one of those books where you read the ARC and immediately want to race out and buy a finished copy to read all over again. I found this book impossible to put down and was completely hooked all the way through!
This was such an awesome idea for a crime thriller. I don’t think I’ve ever come across a crime thriller where the killer has posted pictures of his victims online? It made the story insanely good because you were constantly on the edge of your seat like what’s going to happen next? Is he going to post again? It was insane and I loved seeing how people/the media reacted to it There was lots of people that were disgusted by it and then there were those who loved it. I loved how this story kind of tapped into the dark side that everyone has. People might be disgusted by it but at the same time you can easily be fascinated by it. If the pictures are there for you to look at, you are going to be tempted to look at them. So disgusting but I cannot help but feel it has some truth to it.
I feel like the synopsis could be better because to me it was slightly misleading. I feel like it over-exaggerates the hunt between the killer and Fenton. You are made to believe his daughter is taken and her life threatened but to me this was only a minor part of the story and not really as big as I thought it would be. Don’t want to give away spoilers but her life is not as threatened as you first think.
One thing that bothered me about this was the story was told from multiple perspectives and I didn’t really understand how some of them were relevant to the story. For example, we get the point of view of Detective Ince and he’s such an arrogant, disgusting character. He literally thinks he knows everything and can be the one to solve the case. I thoroughly hated him with a passion and groaned internally whenever I had to endure one of his chapters. I really hope he doesn’t return for the second book because I can’t stand him and would scream if he did.
A character who I think takes up the majority of the story -– even more so than Fenton – is Blake. Blake is a journalist and he comes across as a bit of a dick at first, he was a really horrible character but the more I read the more I liked him. You get to know him slowly and understand why he acts the way he does. I think is is suffering from PTSD from a traumatic event that happened in the past, it really haunts him. On top of that, his girlfriend is I, Killer’s first victim and he feels guilty about what happened between them and feels that her death could have been prevented if only he had let her in. I really liked this vulnerable side to Blake because under his armour and mean behaviour you can see someone who is struggling to hold himself together. He teams up with Fenton to try and catch the killer and get justice for his girlfriend. I liked seeing them working together and hope this is something we will be seeing again in the second book. I liked his determination and how he was willing to go to the extremes to find the killer. In a way he wasn’t afraid of anything and he wasn’t as cautious as Fenton was.
I’d have loved to have seen more chapters from Fenton’s perspective. I honestly feel like he is a side character in his own series. I don’t understand why this series is called Detective Dan Fenton because Blake takes up more of this story than anyone else. Fenton was such an interesting and intriguing character but I feel like we didn’t get enough of him. I think there is potential with Fenton and we need more of him in the second book. It felt like he had hardly any chapters and towards the end of the book he completely disappears and the story just focuses on Blake catching the killer. Disappointing? Very. Fenton is the bloody DCI and he does a disappearing act when the killer strikes again. I wasn’t impressed and felt Fenton should have been there but I do understand why he wasn’t. Perhaps this series should be called something else because for it to be called Detective Dan Fenton I feel like Fenton needs to be more involved and be the main character rather than a side character.
I wasn’t expecting the identity of the killer and I loved how it surprised me. You get the killer’s perspective which I thought was really interesting and made me think he was such a twisted character. I think he is described as a narcissist and he did come across as one. He was constantly boasting about what he’d done and how good it made him feel, etc. When the killer is finally revealed my jaw kind of dropped and I was like HIM?! It was so hard connecting the chapters I’d read to that person! Absolutely brilliant and shocking reveal.
Despite the negatives this book had I still gave it five stars because I really think it deserved it. I struggled to put this book down and read it in what felt like no time at all. I was devastated when I turned the last page and was honestly like what now? My life revolved around this book when I wasn’t working and I’m very disappointed to have finished it. Can’t wait for it to be published and will be eagerly awaiting the second book!
July 18, 2018
Finished this book in 4 hours this afternoon.
I finally found a book that hooked me in straight the way again. It’s probably because I just had time to sit and read.
The premise of this book really hooked me. It’s something I could really see happening.
The characters were great and The book was fast paced.
I finally found a book that hooked me in straight the way again. It’s probably because I just had time to sit and read.
The premise of this book really hooked me. It’s something I could really see happening.
The characters were great and The book was fast paced.
August 21, 2018
Many thanks to Sourcebooks for my free copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
It really is the burning question in our culture today, “if a killer posted about his victims online, would you click?” Currently, true crime is such a popular, morbid fascination. I think if we’re honest with ourselves, most of us would answer yes. It’s essentially what we’re doing by watching documentaries and listening to podcasts. But, would I be retweeting photos of a victim’s last seconds alive? No. That’s on a whole other level of depravity, and I would hope the majority would agree that’s taking it too far. Manning’s debut novel, and the first in a series, examines our obsession with social media and how it can be used to fuel a sociopath’s need for recognition. It’s a quick and gripping read that takes a good look at the dark side of human nature, but isn’t too disturbing for readers that don’t care for the gory details. Don’t Look Now is a page turner that kept me guessing until the end. I’ll definitely be picking up the next in the series!
It really is the burning question in our culture today, “if a killer posted about his victims online, would you click?” Currently, true crime is such a popular, morbid fascination. I think if we’re honest with ourselves, most of us would answer yes. It’s essentially what we’re doing by watching documentaries and listening to podcasts. But, would I be retweeting photos of a victim’s last seconds alive? No. That’s on a whole other level of depravity, and I would hope the majority would agree that’s taking it too far. Manning’s debut novel, and the first in a series, examines our obsession with social media and how it can be used to fuel a sociopath’s need for recognition. It’s a quick and gripping read that takes a good look at the dark side of human nature, but isn’t too disturbing for readers that don’t care for the gory details. Don’t Look Now is a page turner that kept me guessing until the end. I’ll definitely be picking up the next in the series!
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October 16, 2018
Ein wirklich guter Thriller.
Hat eins/zwei Momente wo mir das Geschehen nicht ganz so zusagte, aber es kamen nur sehr selten Längen auf, was diesen kompletten Thriller sehr rasant erscheinen ließ.
Ich kann das Buch durchaus empfehlen.
Hat eins/zwei Momente wo mir das Geschehen nicht ganz so zusagte, aber es kamen nur sehr selten Längen auf, was diesen kompletten Thriller sehr rasant erscheinen ließ.
Ich kann das Buch durchaus empfehlen.
March 14, 2021
i felt like this was straight out of a criminal minds episode which is my favorite show and i think that’s why i liked it so much. definitely thrilling and kept you thinking
November 11, 2019
A riveting thriller.
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