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To Catch a Killer
When an attractive, well-dressed woman is found dying on a Chelsea street, it seems clear to DS Thea Walsh that this murder will be one that is wrapped up quickly. The witness who found her reacted quickly and respected the crime scene. And then there is the victim herself. She is wearing a wedding ring and has recently had a child, so someone will be looking for her. She is, to all intents and purposes, the perfect victim. Until she isn't. Because what if your perfect victim has no name? What if the woman that everyone should be looking for, can't be found?
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First published September 20, 2018
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About the author
Emma Kavanagh
14 books321 followersEmma Kavanagh was born and raised in South Wales. After graduating with a PhD in Psychology from Cardiff University, she spent many years working as a police and military psychologist, training firearms officers, command staff and military personnel throughout the UK and Europe. Now she is lucky enough to be able to write for a living. She lives in South Wales with her husband, young sons, and a dog named Dobby.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 110 reviews
January 24, 2019
To Catch a Killer is the first novel in an apparent trilogy of British police procedurals, and having read Kavanagh's previous books I can safely say that this is the best work she has produced to date. It's rare now that a title from the crime genre blows me away, but this is superb and manages to combine all the crucial elements to create a story that gives the reader exactly what they're looking for; twists and turns, incremental developments, evocative scenes, thrills, a deadly game of cat and mouse, a crazed killer, blood and gore, humour, fast pace and immersive writing.
The killer appears to get his kicks from taunting the police and clearly believes himself to be uncatchable. Then ensues a game of cat and mouse that features plenty of thrills and the possibility that this guy could be about to strike again and there was nothing the police could do about it gives a sense of dread to proceedings. The fact that this is so fast-paced and action-packed fortunately does not give rise to a lack of characterisation; each character is well-drawn and believable. Of course, the reader needs to suspend disbelief to an extent as both the killer and the police have some remarkably lucky developments which likely don't happen in real police work, and the conclusion is somewhat of a cliffhanger which no doubt leads into the next instalment. I can't wait. Highly recommended.
Many thanks to Orion for an ARC.
The killer appears to get his kicks from taunting the police and clearly believes himself to be uncatchable. Then ensues a game of cat and mouse that features plenty of thrills and the possibility that this guy could be about to strike again and there was nothing the police could do about it gives a sense of dread to proceedings. The fact that this is so fast-paced and action-packed fortunately does not give rise to a lack of characterisation; each character is well-drawn and believable. Of course, the reader needs to suspend disbelief to an extent as both the killer and the police have some remarkably lucky developments which likely don't happen in real police work, and the conclusion is somewhat of a cliffhanger which no doubt leads into the next instalment. I can't wait. Highly recommended.
Many thanks to Orion for an ARC.
July 27, 2019
I thought this was another very good read from Emma Kavanagh. This is the first of a trilogy featuring DS Alice Parr and the hunt for ‘Wolf’. The start of the book was dramatic and hooked you into the storytelling right from the start. It was full of twists, turns and constant surprises. The characters were really good and I found myself very interested in Alice who had been burned in a fire at her apartment. She was struggling with herself and the identity she thought she had which the fire suggested to be a lie. Her identity crisis continued through this case where she discovered she was chasing ‘Wolf’ - a master of disguise, a manipulator and very dangerous. The chase for Wolf went from London to NY where she teamed up with Detective Gabriel Ortero. He was very likeable and the two made a good team. This was a well written, exciting book which almost felt like you were watching a high octane movie. I’ll definitely read the next one as I’m keen to see where the chase for Wolf takes them next and what devious measures he will take to evade capture.
January 22, 2019
This is a gripping read that will have you racing through the pages trying to work out who the killer is.
DS Alice Parr is called to an incident in the park where a woman has been brutally stabbed. She’s lost alot of blood but somehow is still alive so Alice does all she can to help until the ambulance arrives.
With no ID, Alice and her team struggle to work out who the woman is but after digging around a bit, they find out.
It comes to light that this woman may be involved with something quite complex and as one clue leads to another, Alice is left dumbfounded by what is really going on.
With the victim in a coma they can’t get the answers from her so Alice has to dig even deeper.
The killer then flees to America and with a point of contact there, Alice tries to track the killer down.
She then receives a threatening phone call telling her to stay away, but this just makes her more determined.
Alice has been scarred by a serious fire incident and the killer uses this against her as he’s managed to find out everything about her.
This is a great crime thriller and will keep you well and truly hooked throughout.
Thanks to Orion and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
DS Alice Parr is called to an incident in the park where a woman has been brutally stabbed. She’s lost alot of blood but somehow is still alive so Alice does all she can to help until the ambulance arrives.
With no ID, Alice and her team struggle to work out who the woman is but after digging around a bit, they find out.
It comes to light that this woman may be involved with something quite complex and as one clue leads to another, Alice is left dumbfounded by what is really going on.
With the victim in a coma they can’t get the answers from her so Alice has to dig even deeper.
The killer then flees to America and with a point of contact there, Alice tries to track the killer down.
She then receives a threatening phone call telling her to stay away, but this just makes her more determined.
Alice has been scarred by a serious fire incident and the killer uses this against her as he’s managed to find out everything about her.
This is a great crime thriller and will keep you well and truly hooked throughout.
Thanks to Orion and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
September 16, 2020
I can't talk about this book. I need time to process the 2 weeks I've wasted reading it to get over them last few chapters
November 27, 2018
I would like to thank Netgalley and Orion Publishing Group for an advance copy of To Catch a Killer.
Sergeant Alice Parr is on her way to work when she gets diverted to a stabbing. A woman has had her throat slashed and is close to death. Alice thinks the woman whispers a name to her but isn’t sure but before she can investigate she needs to establish the woman’s identity. This proves extremely difficult despite numerous appeals but slowly the team make progress, slowly because the attacker always seems several steps ahead of them.
I thoroughly enjoyed To Catch a Killer which is an exciting, fast paced read, full of twists, turns and heart stopping moments. It grabbed my attention from the start and never let go although I was slightly disappointed to find a cliffhanger at the end, paving the way for a sequel. I will look forward to it but worry that by the time it is written I will have forgotten the detail of this one.
I think the blurb is slightly misleading on the novel’s content because it implies that the novel is written from the attacker’s perspective when, in fact, his perspective is never shown and it concentrates wholly on Alice. Thank goodness as I hate the cod psychology often employed in dealing with killers and it was only the pull of Ms Kavanagh’s writing that made me choose to read it. I’m really pleased about that decision as it is an excellent read, both well paced and logical as it builds a case. I’m not saying it’s all entirely believable, like the perpetrator being so ahead of them, but it’s a thriller and a well done one so who cares?
I like Alice who is a smart, resourceful detective whose tenacity brings her to the attention of a man on a mission. She is damaged both mentally and physically after an accidental house fire, although after reading the novel I have my doubts about the accidental bit, but she has squared her shoulders and carried on. I like the fact that she wobbles internally and isn’t quite the superwoman she’d like to believe she is as it makes her more human.
To Catch a Killer is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.
Sergeant Alice Parr is on her way to work when she gets diverted to a stabbing. A woman has had her throat slashed and is close to death. Alice thinks the woman whispers a name to her but isn’t sure but before she can investigate she needs to establish the woman’s identity. This proves extremely difficult despite numerous appeals but slowly the team make progress, slowly because the attacker always seems several steps ahead of them.
I thoroughly enjoyed To Catch a Killer which is an exciting, fast paced read, full of twists, turns and heart stopping moments. It grabbed my attention from the start and never let go although I was slightly disappointed to find a cliffhanger at the end, paving the way for a sequel. I will look forward to it but worry that by the time it is written I will have forgotten the detail of this one.
I think the blurb is slightly misleading on the novel’s content because it implies that the novel is written from the attacker’s perspective when, in fact, his perspective is never shown and it concentrates wholly on Alice. Thank goodness as I hate the cod psychology often employed in dealing with killers and it was only the pull of Ms Kavanagh’s writing that made me choose to read it. I’m really pleased about that decision as it is an excellent read, both well paced and logical as it builds a case. I’m not saying it’s all entirely believable, like the perpetrator being so ahead of them, but it’s a thriller and a well done one so who cares?
I like Alice who is a smart, resourceful detective whose tenacity brings her to the attention of a man on a mission. She is damaged both mentally and physically after an accidental house fire, although after reading the novel I have my doubts about the accidental bit, but she has squared her shoulders and carried on. I like the fact that she wobbles internally and isn’t quite the superwoman she’d like to believe she is as it makes her more human.
To Catch a Killer is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.
January 22, 2019
As a big Emma Kavanagh fan, I couldn’t wait to get started on To Catch A Killer as soon as I could! Her books have always been brilliant reads in the past but I have to say that this one really stood out for me. DS Alice Parr is a new character creation but one that will hopefully not be shelved. I would love to meet her again and think she has a lot more layers to reveal to both author and readers!
I actually warmed to Alice straight away and her reactions to the crime scene she comes across in the park felt authentic from the start. An attempted murder of a beautiful woman in broad daylight takes a lot of guts but our killer just seems to get their kicks from being able to hide in plain sight….and that’s not their only trick! As Alice becomes more deeply involved in the case, it becomes more difficult to understand who has committed this crime and why. But it also becomes obvious that Alice herself has a major part to play in the investigation when it becomes personal. Once her past was more fully understood, it became easier to see how it played such a huge part in the decisions she made and the paths she followed. I loved the slowly unraveled personal developments and how they contrasted with the furiously fast pace of the plot lines.
This definitely felt very different from Emma Kavanaghs previous books which I felt took on more of an emotional backdrop to crimes that had taken place, whilst To Catch a Killer was much more of a twisty police procedural. And when I say twisty, boy, do I mean twisty!! Just when you think you have very smugly decoded the clues then….BAM! Along comes a twist to knock your socks off! And they just kept on coming!
This is an involving, high octane chase for DS Parr. Emma Kavanagh doesn’t pull her punches, delivering the unexpected right up until the very end. I loved it!
I actually warmed to Alice straight away and her reactions to the crime scene she comes across in the park felt authentic from the start. An attempted murder of a beautiful woman in broad daylight takes a lot of guts but our killer just seems to get their kicks from being able to hide in plain sight….and that’s not their only trick! As Alice becomes more deeply involved in the case, it becomes more difficult to understand who has committed this crime and why. But it also becomes obvious that Alice herself has a major part to play in the investigation when it becomes personal. Once her past was more fully understood, it became easier to see how it played such a huge part in the decisions she made and the paths she followed. I loved the slowly unraveled personal developments and how they contrasted with the furiously fast pace of the plot lines.
This definitely felt very different from Emma Kavanaghs previous books which I felt took on more of an emotional backdrop to crimes that had taken place, whilst To Catch a Killer was much more of a twisty police procedural. And when I say twisty, boy, do I mean twisty!! Just when you think you have very smugly decoded the clues then….BAM! Along comes a twist to knock your socks off! And they just kept on coming!
This is an involving, high octane chase for DS Parr. Emma Kavanagh doesn’t pull her punches, delivering the unexpected right up until the very end. I loved it!
March 25, 2019
This book has reminded me of my love for reading!
The book has you hooked from page 1 and gets better every chapter! It’s quite a clever murder mystery with twists and turns along the way. I couldn’t predict what way the book was going!
The book follows the struggle of the police to catch an unattainable man for attempted murder. He seems to be everywhere and nowhere, everyone and no one at all! D.S Alice Parr, along with her colleagues, have their work cut out for them with this case.
I’m already super excited for the follow up book! I just wish it was out already!
The book has you hooked from page 1 and gets better every chapter! It’s quite a clever murder mystery with twists and turns along the way. I couldn’t predict what way the book was going!
The book follows the struggle of the police to catch an unattainable man for attempted murder. He seems to be everywhere and nowhere, everyone and no one at all! D.S Alice Parr, along with her colleagues, have their work cut out for them with this case.
I’m already super excited for the follow up book! I just wish it was out already!
March 25, 2019
I’ve read quite a few of this authors books but I think this is my favorite so far. First in a new series and the ending leaves you really wanting so much more. An excellent police procedural that even has them traveling across the pond to solve a mystery!
May 31, 2020
Wow so many twists and turns in this. Was not expecting what happened in the last couple of chapters. Very gripping and a very hard book to put down.
January 24, 2019
Emma Kavanagh manages to write crime fiction almost in the tone of someone who has experienced the very events herself. Perhaps this isn’t so surprising given her background as she spent many years working as a police and military psychologist, training firearms officers, command staff and military personnel throughout the UK and Europe. In other words she knows how people behave in moments of peril!
To Catch a Killer opens in the middle of just such a moment, the kind of moment that I suspect I am alone in being able to thankfully say, I have not experienced in real life. Just as well because the book scared the bejeebers out of me! The memory of a day, one just like any other until the day DS Alice Parr answered a call on the radio to assist a paramedic save the life of a woman who had her throat cut. Warning, do not read this book if you are squeamish or eating your dinner, that feeling of being in the moment results in those heart-thumping moments you get viewing hospital dramas – you know it is fiction but even so…
Once the victim has been taken to hospital of course the police have to work out who the perpetrator of such a crime is and given that the attack took place in a London park, in the morning, how could they commit such a bloody crime in broad daylight with no one spotting what was going on?
So the reader has plenty to ponder and be warned although initially you may feel the pace is reasonable, it soon becomes quite fast and furious and given that the plot is complex, you need your wits about you. In other words this is a book to set aside some time to really get the best out of it. Fortunately to offset the blood and gore we have two female police officers who work well together, Polly’s somewhat less serious nature while not detracting from the crime does give the reader some smiles to lighten the load along the way.
We also get to visit another location, unusual in British crime fiction which normally tends to stay fairly close to home with a big deal being made if officers cross into the next county. In this book they have to get on an airplane to carry out some of the investigating which adds a whole different feel to the storyline.
The result of all this is an immensely satisfying crime fiction novel that really held my interest throughout and although I did manage to work out a tiny bit of the puzzle, the rest worked their magic and left me reeling at the outcome. This is the first in a trilogy that will feature Alice Parr a fact I was unaware of until I read the cliff hanger at the end which I have to confess isn’t my favourite way for a book to end as I suspect I will have to recap before the second book is published, but I will definitely be making sure I read a copy.
To Catch a Killer opens in the middle of just such a moment, the kind of moment that I suspect I am alone in being able to thankfully say, I have not experienced in real life. Just as well because the book scared the bejeebers out of me! The memory of a day, one just like any other until the day DS Alice Parr answered a call on the radio to assist a paramedic save the life of a woman who had her throat cut. Warning, do not read this book if you are squeamish or eating your dinner, that feeling of being in the moment results in those heart-thumping moments you get viewing hospital dramas – you know it is fiction but even so…
Once the victim has been taken to hospital of course the police have to work out who the perpetrator of such a crime is and given that the attack took place in a London park, in the morning, how could they commit such a bloody crime in broad daylight with no one spotting what was going on?
So the reader has plenty to ponder and be warned although initially you may feel the pace is reasonable, it soon becomes quite fast and furious and given that the plot is complex, you need your wits about you. In other words this is a book to set aside some time to really get the best out of it. Fortunately to offset the blood and gore we have two female police officers who work well together, Polly’s somewhat less serious nature while not detracting from the crime does give the reader some smiles to lighten the load along the way.
We also get to visit another location, unusual in British crime fiction which normally tends to stay fairly close to home with a big deal being made if officers cross into the next county. In this book they have to get on an airplane to carry out some of the investigating which adds a whole different feel to the storyline.
The result of all this is an immensely satisfying crime fiction novel that really held my interest throughout and although I did manage to work out a tiny bit of the puzzle, the rest worked their magic and left me reeling at the outcome. This is the first in a trilogy that will feature Alice Parr a fact I was unaware of until I read the cliff hanger at the end which I have to confess isn’t my favourite way for a book to end as I suspect I will have to recap before the second book is published, but I will definitely be making sure I read a copy.
March 14, 2021
This book was definitely fast-paced in a way and kept me gripped enough that I wanted to keep reading it but unfortunately as the book came to an end it just annoyed me and the last couple of chapters really threw the whole book off. I hadn't expected this to be the first in that of a trilogy; it doesn't feel necessary to me and I really feel this book should have been a stand-alone. Especially because the next book doesn't even focus on our main characters and picks up with this random woman who turns out to be the murderer's sister? If this was pitched as a Jackson Wolf trilogy then that would be okay but this felt pitched as a DI Alice Parr series and that would have made more sense to me.
Whilst we got some reveals in this book there is still so much that is unknown, especially how this Wolf/Owens/Canning guy managed to pull off everything he did and how he managed to stay so far ahead of two police forces - it would have only made sense to me if there was someone on the inside helping him but we don't get anything like that.
In terms of the killer, I'd guessed pretty early on that Wolf/Canning was actually Owens - it seemed pretty obvious to me that this was who he was and one of the other police officers even comments really early on that it's always the husband... I didn't connect him to the paramedic guy because honestly that felt like so long ago I didn't even remember he was a character. I remember reading those pages and thinking he was an odd character but never thought anything more of it because there were so many other characters and names I was trying to keep track of.
I kind of wish we got a separate book about Alice's backstory because it did take over a lot of the focus of the book and we don't really get to know much about her aside from the fact that she was in a fire.
I didn't hate the book at all and definitely enjoyed aspects of it but i'm not convinced that i'll ever bother to read the rest of the series and so it's not one i'll be holding onto.
Whilst we got some reveals in this book there is still so much that is unknown, especially how this Wolf/Owens/Canning guy managed to pull off everything he did and how he managed to stay so far ahead of two police forces - it would have only made sense to me if there was someone on the inside helping him but we don't get anything like that.
In terms of the killer, I'd guessed pretty early on that Wolf/Canning was actually Owens - it seemed pretty obvious to me that this was who he was and one of the other police officers even comments really early on that it's always the husband... I didn't connect him to the paramedic guy because honestly that felt like so long ago I didn't even remember he was a character. I remember reading those pages and thinking he was an odd character but never thought anything more of it because there were so many other characters and names I was trying to keep track of.
I kind of wish we got a separate book about Alice's backstory because it did take over a lot of the focus of the book and we don't really get to know much about her aside from the fact that she was in a fire.
I didn't hate the book at all and definitely enjoyed aspects of it but i'm not convinced that i'll ever bother to read the rest of the series and so it's not one i'll be holding onto.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 10, 2019
DS Alice Parr assists with a woman found with her throat slashed in a London park. The investigation into this Jane Doe takes her halfway across the world on the trail of a killer who can easily mask his identity. This was an exciting page turner that leaves you with your heart in your mouth as you race to find out what's really going on. Loved it from beginning to end.
December 26, 2018
A beautifully written and ingenious mystery, which stands out for Alice, the detective who finds and comforts the dying victim, and for the way in which the ground constantly shifts under the reader's feet. Very clever and just as powerful. Extremely difficult to put down! Review to follow in January on For Winter Nights.
April 30, 2021
Não fiquei cativada? Não é uma história ruim (é a primeira parte da trilogia Wolf), mas nem de longe me agradou como os outros thrillers que ando lendo recentemente...
July 2, 2025
Honestly this was such a good read, so many twists and turns from start to finish that I didn’t see coming whatsoever.
I will say some of the phrasing can be a bit repetitive BUT, having now finished the book and knowing the MC a little better I think it’s more likely her inner monologue trying to convince her of things.
Definitely recommend if you want a quick little thriller which will have you reconsidering your whodunnit answer throughout.
I will say some of the phrasing can be a bit repetitive BUT, having now finished the book and knowing the MC a little better I think it’s more likely her inner monologue trying to convince her of things.
Definitely recommend if you want a quick little thriller which will have you reconsidering your whodunnit answer throughout.
December 14, 2018
3.5 stars
SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS
I never warmed to Alice,the main character,at times I even found her irritating,but she definitely has some great ideas,and determination.
I'm not thinking of this as a story with a twist,rather a story turned completely on it's head... when you find out the bad guy isn't the bad guy you thought they were.
Whilst still getting my head around that,another surprise was thrown at me.
Those two things will make this book stand out.
Especially as I was 50% sure it was going to be the cop... I mean how else did he keep so far ahead??
I'll definitely be reading more Kavanagh in the future.
SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS
I never warmed to Alice,the main character,at times I even found her irritating,but she definitely has some great ideas,and determination.
I'm not thinking of this as a story with a twist,rather a story turned completely on it's head... when you find out the bad guy isn't the bad guy you thought they were.
Whilst still getting my head around that,another surprise was thrown at me.
Those two things will make this book stand out.
Especially as I was 50% sure it was going to be the cop... I mean how else did he keep so far ahead??
I'll definitely be reading more Kavanagh in the future.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 23, 2020
Very good
Want to read more
Best book I’ve read in a while
For me to remember before reading her next book SPOILER : chasing a man who uses multiple identities. Medical insurance fraud uncovered by wife so he took the kids and faked death, wife figures out, tracks them down, so he kills her, police investigating can’t figure out who the killer is, turns out to be paramedic. Sorry for spoiler id anyone other than me can read my reviews
Want to read more
Best book I’ve read in a while
For me to remember before reading her next book SPOILER : chasing a man who uses multiple identities. Medical insurance fraud uncovered by wife so he took the kids and faked death, wife figures out, tracks them down, so he kills her, police investigating can’t figure out who the killer is, turns out to be paramedic. Sorry for spoiler id anyone other than me can read my reviews
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 21, 2021
Shiiit I thought this was a standalone to then read in the acknowledgements its the first in a trilogy. Definitely going in search for the other books!
January 3, 2021
Very good, like the twist and didn’t guess till nearer the end..
May 24, 2019
My first book by this author but will definitely try some more too. A tense read and a strong female lead character.
July 26, 2019
Surprisingly good, I couldn't wait to go home and read it!
March 9, 2019
I've been watching you DS Alice Parr. I saw you trying to save the poor young woman you found in the park. The woman I tried to kill. I've been waiting for you to find her family. To find someone who cares about her. But you can't can you? You've never had a case like this. I know everything about you. You know nothing about me. Even though I'm the man you're looking for. And you will never catch me.
When are thriller going to get, well thrilling again? It might be the case I have read too many of them but this book was so obvious it borders on ridiculous. I worked this out in the first chapter, I mean seriously, how can working out what happens during the first chapter mean the book is going to be thrilling. I can assure you it was not. I spent the rest of the book wishing for a twist or something to excite me but nothing, nada, instead a familiar sense of disappointment washed over me as I realised we were heading for the expected ending.
This would have been okay, I have enjoyed books before where I have worked out the ending, but I was bored with the book in general. I could have quite easily not finished it and not have been bothered. Again, this is such a cliche and I wish I did not have to say it but that is the truth. There was just very little in 'To Catch A Killer' that grabbed my attention and I found myself bored reading this.
The characters are interesting but could have been better. Alice is a good character to tell the story but I think Kavanagh should have spelled out more of her story earlier on as it leads to the reader holding confusing opinions on this integral character. The other characters are certainly interesting and they hold a lot of potential, but they could have been improved had they been developed more.
I think it is clear, I just did not enjoy 'To Catch A Killer'. To be honest, although the ending was obvious I still liked the ending and thought it appropriate, but the rest of the plot was too weak and dull, did not capture my imagination and I could have happily not read this book.
When are thriller going to get, well thrilling again? It might be the case I have read too many of them but this book was so obvious it borders on ridiculous. I worked this out in the first chapter, I mean seriously, how can working out what happens during the first chapter mean the book is going to be thrilling. I can assure you it was not. I spent the rest of the book wishing for a twist or something to excite me but nothing, nada, instead a familiar sense of disappointment washed over me as I realised we were heading for the expected ending.
This would have been okay, I have enjoyed books before where I have worked out the ending, but I was bored with the book in general. I could have quite easily not finished it and not have been bothered. Again, this is such a cliche and I wish I did not have to say it but that is the truth. There was just very little in 'To Catch A Killer' that grabbed my attention and I found myself bored reading this.
The characters are interesting but could have been better. Alice is a good character to tell the story but I think Kavanagh should have spelled out more of her story earlier on as it leads to the reader holding confusing opinions on this integral character. The other characters are certainly interesting and they hold a lot of potential, but they could have been improved had they been developed more.
I think it is clear, I just did not enjoy 'To Catch A Killer'. To be honest, although the ending was obvious I still liked the ending and thought it appropriate, but the rest of the plot was too weak and dull, did not capture my imagination and I could have happily not read this book.
January 16, 2024
More like To 'Not' Catch the Killer. Since you know, that psychopath got away. And I get it, in real life sometimes the killer gets away, but I'm not here for reality. I'm here for interesting plots and seeing that man behind bars or at least dead.
I really wanted to enjoy this book but the ending just upset me too much. I saw the plot twist coming a mile away and I don't know, I didn't mind that, I just expected more.
Also based on the description left on the back of the book, I thought we we're going to get a POV from the killer, which I find would make the book more interesting. DS Alice Parr is an okay character but the killer is definitely more interesting.
And no one ever explained or dived into why he did what he did. It just doesn't make sense to me. I'd still recommend it if this is your preferred style of books but I just.. I can't.
It's not for me
I really wanted to enjoy this book but the ending just upset me too much. I saw the plot twist coming a mile away and I don't know, I didn't mind that, I just expected more.
Also based on the description left on the back of the book, I thought we we're going to get a POV from the killer, which I find would make the book more interesting. DS Alice Parr is an okay character but the killer is definitely more interesting.
And no one ever explained or dived into why he did what he did. It just doesn't make sense to me. I'd still recommend it if this is your preferred style of books but I just.. I can't.
It's not for me
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 30, 2021
Lots of twists and turns in this book, I enjoyed reading it and did have a an idea of the killers identity early on but this didn't spoil it for me. I was a bit disappointed at the end and didn't really get it until I read that this is the first of a trilogy. That disappoints me as I forget a book as soon as I finish it, so would have liked a better conclusion to this one!
May 7, 2022
would be 5 if not for the ending :/
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 21, 2019
The run of the mill jog to work will never be the same again after reading Emma Kavangh’s latest novel.
DS Alice Parr is flagged down as she runs past Brunswick Park by an elderly woman who has seen a crime committed. She calls for backup as she races to the scene and finds a savagely attacked young woman, mortally wounded. As she holds the young woman’s hand , one word is whispered that catapults Alice to a time and place that she would rather forget…
So begins a race against time to find whoever carried out this attack before he strikes again, but as they investigate the victim and peel back the layers, they find many inconsistencies. And the killer seems to have Alice in his sights and toying with her like a cat with a mouse.
‘The thing is, when you work a case like this, there are parts of yourself that you shut down, pieces you turn off. The victim-for right or wrong-becomes little more than an agglomeration of body parts, a puzzle that needs to be solved. It’s easier that way, safer. It allows you to sleep at night.’
The plot races into hairpin bends of revelations, leaving you reeling alongside Alice , as the first person narrative draws you into the story and creates a sense of identifying with her. You are invested in her survival, as much as you are outraged about the savage attacks, and hope for justice.
A book that proceeds so fast that you are in danger of whiplash yet never allows the reader to fall behind or feel stupid due to sheer amounts of clues and facts -unlike other writers do-‘To Catch a Killer’ has bestseller list written all over it !
DS Alice Parr is flagged down as she runs past Brunswick Park by an elderly woman who has seen a crime committed. She calls for backup as she races to the scene and finds a savagely attacked young woman, mortally wounded. As she holds the young woman’s hand , one word is whispered that catapults Alice to a time and place that she would rather forget…
So begins a race against time to find whoever carried out this attack before he strikes again, but as they investigate the victim and peel back the layers, they find many inconsistencies. And the killer seems to have Alice in his sights and toying with her like a cat with a mouse.
‘The thing is, when you work a case like this, there are parts of yourself that you shut down, pieces you turn off. The victim-for right or wrong-becomes little more than an agglomeration of body parts, a puzzle that needs to be solved. It’s easier that way, safer. It allows you to sleep at night.’
The plot races into hairpin bends of revelations, leaving you reeling alongside Alice , as the first person narrative draws you into the story and creates a sense of identifying with her. You are invested in her survival, as much as you are outraged about the savage attacks, and hope for justice.
A book that proceeds so fast that you are in danger of whiplash yet never allows the reader to fall behind or feel stupid due to sheer amounts of clues and facts -unlike other writers do-‘To Catch a Killer’ has bestseller list written all over it !
May 13, 2020
When I tell you this book is intense, I really mean this book blew me away and I was hooked on every single page. It only took me 3 days to complete this book and at the beginning, I had a vision of who the killer was but I looked past them and at the end, I was so angry with myself as I let them slip and was in total shock! What a twist.
After spending every page trying to gather clues and guess who might want to kill those innocent people and trying to figure out their motives, Im glad that I finished reading the book as the ending was an unexpected twist and was totally worth it.
I particularly liked the concept that DS Alice Parr was based in a UK police force and criminal justice setting which illustrated their approach and experiences to crime and serial killers.
If you want a book that sends you completely insane talking loudly in public (in my case, this was on the bus) asking questions such as “could it be that guy??, did he do it?, it can’t be him right??” and if you want to really feel like DS Alice Parr, then this is the book for you. There is suspense at almost every page, you feel like a detective, chasing for clues and you can really get to understand the other characters as they are drawn so well.
Overall, Emma Kavannagh did an amazing job with this book and didn’t dwell on unnecessary details, she cut straight to the protagonist and the main plot. Very gripping, and well thought through. A must read for anyone who loves a psychological thriller.
After spending every page trying to gather clues and guess who might want to kill those innocent people and trying to figure out their motives, Im glad that I finished reading the book as the ending was an unexpected twist and was totally worth it.
I particularly liked the concept that DS Alice Parr was based in a UK police force and criminal justice setting which illustrated their approach and experiences to crime and serial killers.
If you want a book that sends you completely insane talking loudly in public (in my case, this was on the bus) asking questions such as “could it be that guy??, did he do it?, it can’t be him right??” and if you want to really feel like DS Alice Parr, then this is the book for you. There is suspense at almost every page, you feel like a detective, chasing for clues and you can really get to understand the other characters as they are drawn so well.
Overall, Emma Kavannagh did an amazing job with this book and didn’t dwell on unnecessary details, she cut straight to the protagonist and the main plot. Very gripping, and well thought through. A must read for anyone who loves a psychological thriller.
March 7, 2023
Vejdete do mysli vraha, a uz nikdy se nedostanete ven!
Dokonala obet ma zajimavy namet a bavilo me probirat se myslenkovymi pochody a dejem kolem, i kdyz mi stranky pod rukama staly a cas bezel jako o zavod.
Alice a jeji minulost s pozarem nas dost ovlivnuje. To, ze byla u obeti jako prvni ma na vse taky vliv. A to, ze nas vrah je jako duch, na ktereho se kazdy diva a pritom ho nevidi je taky docela orisek.
Obet je nevinna, obet neco skryva, obet vypada podezrele a takhle to jde porad dokola. Je to jako nekonecny kolotoc, odhalite jednu cast a srazi vas zpet dalsi, co se objevi. Krasne vam to zapoji vase myslenkove pochody, protoze proste tipujete, kdo ten vrah sakra muze byt, podezrely je proste kazdej, nemuzete verit nikomu ani nicemu a kdyz si myslite, jak neco vite vrah vam to sebere a nazdar satecek.
Alice se nevzdava, i kdyz od toho sama uz nemela daleko a pak se vse spoji jako skladanka puzzle a vy jenom hledite a jedete s ni. To dava sakra smysl, proc mi to nedoslo driv a nebo ty jo mela jsem pravdu.
Konec se mi nelibil, protoze nemam dalsi dil abych vedela jestli dostaneme vsechny odpovedi na nase otazky. Ale i tak ten konec dava smysl a je docela na miste...
Je to opravdu jako byste se snazili najit jehlu v kupce sena a pritom ani nevite, ze se na ni primo divate...
Dokonala obet ma zajimavy namet a bavilo me probirat se myslenkovymi pochody a dejem kolem, i kdyz mi stranky pod rukama staly a cas bezel jako o zavod.
Alice a jeji minulost s pozarem nas dost ovlivnuje. To, ze byla u obeti jako prvni ma na vse taky vliv. A to, ze nas vrah je jako duch, na ktereho se kazdy diva a pritom ho nevidi je taky docela orisek.
Obet je nevinna, obet neco skryva, obet vypada podezrele a takhle to jde porad dokola. Je to jako nekonecny kolotoc, odhalite jednu cast a srazi vas zpet dalsi, co se objevi. Krasne vam to zapoji vase myslenkove pochody, protoze proste tipujete, kdo ten vrah sakra muze byt, podezrely je proste kazdej, nemuzete verit nikomu ani nicemu a kdyz si myslite, jak neco vite vrah vam to sebere a nazdar satecek.
Alice se nevzdava, i kdyz od toho sama uz nemela daleko a pak se vse spoji jako skladanka puzzle a vy jenom hledite a jedete s ni. To dava sakra smysl, proc mi to nedoslo driv a nebo ty jo mela jsem pravdu.
Konec se mi nelibil, protoze nemam dalsi dil abych vedela jestli dostaneme vsechny odpovedi na nase otazky. Ale i tak ten konec dava smysl a je docela na miste...
Je to opravdu jako byste se snazili najit jehlu v kupce sena a pritom ani nevite, ze se na ni primo divate...
May 30, 2020
"Because this man, he is evil, and when one stands before evil, you can feel it. How could you not?
Right?"
For the most part, I really enjoyed this book. It was exciting, gripping, and fast-paced, with new reveals around almost every corner and a solid set of characters. I correctly guessed who the killer was pretty early on, but I was still eager to find out why they had done everything they did, and there were still enough surprises for me not to feel like I'd worked it all out.
This was, though, what let it down for me - the ride was great, but the resolution was lacking. I didn't think there was sufficient explanation given for the killer's supposed motivations. This culminated in a pretty weak ending that fell flat against the rest of a really decent book. I also didn't realise until finishing it that it's supposedly going to be the first in a trilogy, something I don't feel is necessary. The epilogue did sort of set up for this, but without it the book - and story - would have ended on a much better note in my opinion.
Right?"
For the most part, I really enjoyed this book. It was exciting, gripping, and fast-paced, with new reveals around almost every corner and a solid set of characters. I correctly guessed who the killer was pretty early on, but I was still eager to find out why they had done everything they did, and there were still enough surprises for me not to feel like I'd worked it all out.
This was, though, what let it down for me - the ride was great, but the resolution was lacking. I didn't think there was sufficient explanation given for the killer's supposed motivations. This culminated in a pretty weak ending that fell flat against the rest of a really decent book. I also didn't realise until finishing it that it's supposedly going to be the first in a trilogy, something I don't feel is necessary. The epilogue did sort of set up for this, but without it the book - and story - would have ended on a much better note in my opinion.
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