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D.I. Sterling #3
Injections of Insanity
Detective Inspector Paolo Sterling has just six weeks to solve a series of murders by insulin injection, with nothing to connect the victims except the manner of death and a note left at each crime scene. The murderer, determined to avenge a wrong from many years earlier, gets close to his prey by assuming various identities. Can Paolo win in his race against the pretender?
290 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 13, 2019
6 people are currently reading
32 people want to read
About the author
Lorraine Mace
14 books83 followersLorraine is the author of the D.I. Sterling series. Her first standalone psychological thriller, The Guest, was published April 2023. The second, The Family Home, was published 25 April 2024.
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Find her at:
Website: www.lorrainemace.com
X: https://twitter.com/lomace
BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/lomace.bsky....
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@mace_lorraine
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mace_lorraine/
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
June 17, 2019
DI Sterling is running out of time to catch the Saturday killer, as their countdown has begun, and there is no clue to their identity.
I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
This is the third book in the DI Sterling series, and Paolo is back with another case affecting Bradchester.
Paolo has to try and balance family life, his new relationship with Jessica, and a stack of new murders that are rolling in every Saturday like clockwork.
I really like the way Mace includes the killer from the beginning, giving him control over the narrative. In chapters where you follow the killer, you know his plans and his drive, but you never know the identity of this Pretender. It could easily be several characters throughout the book, as red herrings and side-plots are woven in.
Paolo and his team are searching for any clue they can get, as body after body turns up, with no logical connection, other than the killer's design.
Can I just say, it was great to see Paolo's daughter Katy back on her feet, after the drama in the previous books. She's a very strong young woman, and I absolutely loved her scenes. She quietly proves that she's right and that, even a professional like Paolo can get a little jaded towards certain people.
Overall this was a good read. I think it had much better personal dynamics that Children in Chains (DI Sterling #2); but the central plot was missing the sense of darkness and danger that was such a strong factor in the previous books.
It's still a good read, and I would be interested in continuing with the series.
I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
This is the third book in the DI Sterling series, and Paolo is back with another case affecting Bradchester.
Paolo has to try and balance family life, his new relationship with Jessica, and a stack of new murders that are rolling in every Saturday like clockwork.
I really like the way Mace includes the killer from the beginning, giving him control over the narrative. In chapters where you follow the killer, you know his plans and his drive, but you never know the identity of this Pretender. It could easily be several characters throughout the book, as red herrings and side-plots are woven in.
Paolo and his team are searching for any clue they can get, as body after body turns up, with no logical connection, other than the killer's design.
Can I just say, it was great to see Paolo's daughter Katy back on her feet, after the drama in the previous books. She's a very strong young woman, and I absolutely loved her scenes. She quietly proves that she's right and that, even a professional like Paolo can get a little jaded towards certain people.
Overall this was a good read. I think it had much better personal dynamics that Children in Chains (DI Sterling #2); but the central plot was missing the sense of darkness and danger that was such a strong factor in the previous books.
It's still a good read, and I would be interested in continuing with the series.
July 16, 2022
Another fantastic fast moving book from Mace. The plot continues six months after our last outing with Sterling.
Well written with strong dialogue and realistic characters. I'm definitely a fan of Paolo and I've become so invested in his story. We see more of his burgeoning relationship with Jessica and more of his daughters journey to recovery.
I found it took me a little longer to become invested into the story, but once I did it was an exciting race to catch a killer.
Gritty, gripping and although not as dark as its predecessors, the plot is credible and packed with action and suspense.
Pins and Needles is a well written police procedural and I would highly recommend this series.
Many thanks to Random Things Tours for my tour spot.
Rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Well written with strong dialogue and realistic characters. I'm definitely a fan of Paolo and I've become so invested in his story. We see more of his burgeoning relationship with Jessica and more of his daughters journey to recovery.
I found it took me a little longer to become invested into the story, but once I did it was an exciting race to catch a killer.
Gritty, gripping and although not as dark as its predecessors, the plot is credible and packed with action and suspense.
Pins and Needles is a well written police procedural and I would highly recommend this series.
Many thanks to Random Things Tours for my tour spot.
Rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐
June 18, 2019
This is the third in the series but can easily be read as a stand-alone, but I’d still recommend you read the first books, Retriever of Souls and Children in Chains because they’re just so good!
It’s DI Sterling and his team’s trickiest case to date, a series of murders linked by the fact they are killed by injection with a note placed by the killer. The note is a countdown until the next victim, can they catch the killer before they complete their list?
I’m already a huge fan of DI Paolo Sterling mysteries but I think this is my favourite book in the series so far! I’ll try to put into words how much I enjoyed this book without give away spoilers!
Injections of Insanity is packed full of murder and mayhem, there’s just never a dull moment! The writing is utterly seamless, blending the main storyline with some more minor ones to make an addictive read.
I always love when an author gives little insights into the killers mind, without giving away who it is. This killer is especially intriguing while hell bent on revenge, they seem to have a little bit of conscience too.
What I especially liked is even though this is the third book, we are still getting to know Paolo, and he’s growing as a character. We actually get a little more understanding about why he became a police officer and how some events in his past shaped who he is today.
I cannot wait for the next in this series Rage and Retribution, which I believe is out next year.
Injections of Insanity is a serial killer thriller that is a must for crime fiction fans.
It’s DI Sterling and his team’s trickiest case to date, a series of murders linked by the fact they are killed by injection with a note placed by the killer. The note is a countdown until the next victim, can they catch the killer before they complete their list?
I’m already a huge fan of DI Paolo Sterling mysteries but I think this is my favourite book in the series so far! I’ll try to put into words how much I enjoyed this book without give away spoilers!
Injections of Insanity is packed full of murder and mayhem, there’s just never a dull moment! The writing is utterly seamless, blending the main storyline with some more minor ones to make an addictive read.
I always love when an author gives little insights into the killers mind, without giving away who it is. This killer is especially intriguing while hell bent on revenge, they seem to have a little bit of conscience too.
What I especially liked is even though this is the third book, we are still getting to know Paolo, and he’s growing as a character. We actually get a little more understanding about why he became a police officer and how some events in his past shaped who he is today.
I cannot wait for the next in this series Rage and Retribution, which I believe is out next year.
Injections of Insanity is a serial killer thriller that is a must for crime fiction fans.
June 11, 2019
An easy to read, well-written police procedural. The character, DI Sterling was well-developed and, I guess, expanded on from the previous books in the series. Although this is the third book in this series, it read perfectly as a standalone.
The story was believable and well thought out. Fans of police procedurals will love this and I would happily recommend it.
The story was believable and well thought out. Fans of police procedurals will love this and I would happily recommend it.
June 18, 2019
I enjoyed this book, the third in a series starring Paolo Sterling. Perfectly fine to read as a standalone but I highly recommend the first two books because they are amazing!
This book isn't as gritty or intense as the others but it is great to get to know the characters better and I am really looking forward to reading the next book.
4.5 stars from me :)
This book isn't as gritty or intense as the others but it is great to get to know the characters better and I am really looking forward to reading the next book.
4.5 stars from me :)
June 16, 2019
Injections of Insanity is the third book in this addictive series! I always think Lorraine Mace can’t get any better, but she continues to prove me wrong!!!!
In this book, DI Paolo has another hard case in front of him. What appears to be one murder continues to multiply. Most of these victims appear to be well respected members of society. As we all know, everything isn’t always what it appears to be. I’m not going to reveal more about the plot because I hate spoilers. Just know...you are in for a great mystery with plenty of twists and turns. I really thought I knew who the murderer was this time, but again, I was proven wrong!!!!!
On another note, Mace gives us more insight into Paolo’s personal life, and life seems to be looking up for him in his romantic life and his relationship with his daughter. However, Mace throws a bit of a twist in that too! I’m anxious to see where this goes! Dave is working on his personal life as well. I just love the rapport between him and Paolo.
Our murderer is a bit different in this one as well. Readers will see this not too far along in the book. He wasn’t completely without feelings. It appears that circumstances in life helps create the monster living inside of him.
I love that Mace gives us a glimpse inside of the murderer’s mind, but she does this in all of her books. This is what sets her apart in her genre. Sometimes it’s a scary place to be, but it gives her readers more insight into their motivations and who they are as characters in her books. Her plotlines, the perfectly paced action, her characters, and the way she writes keeps me coming back for more! I’m looking forward to her next book in the series!!!!
In this book, DI Paolo has another hard case in front of him. What appears to be one murder continues to multiply. Most of these victims appear to be well respected members of society. As we all know, everything isn’t always what it appears to be. I’m not going to reveal more about the plot because I hate spoilers. Just know...you are in for a great mystery with plenty of twists and turns. I really thought I knew who the murderer was this time, but again, I was proven wrong!!!!!
On another note, Mace gives us more insight into Paolo’s personal life, and life seems to be looking up for him in his romantic life and his relationship with his daughter. However, Mace throws a bit of a twist in that too! I’m anxious to see where this goes! Dave is working on his personal life as well. I just love the rapport between him and Paolo.
Our murderer is a bit different in this one as well. Readers will see this not too far along in the book. He wasn’t completely without feelings. It appears that circumstances in life helps create the monster living inside of him.
I love that Mace gives us a glimpse inside of the murderer’s mind, but she does this in all of her books. This is what sets her apart in her genre. Sometimes it’s a scary place to be, but it gives her readers more insight into their motivations and who they are as characters in her books. Her plotlines, the perfectly paced action, her characters, and the way she writes keeps me coming back for more! I’m looking forward to her next book in the series!!!!
June 16, 2019
Injections of Insanity is a gritty police procedural, the third in Lorraine Mace’s Detective Paolo Sterling series, but it can easily be read as a stand-alone. Lorraine opens her latest book with the murder of a professor, a man who wasn’t easily liked and many have one or two bad things to say about him. And they are not afraid to be vocal about it, even in the wake of his death. So the list of suspects for the police is potentially quite long. But what puzzles the detectives is a clue left behind by the killer, that the professor is the first in a list of planned victims, who will shortly follow. What is the killer’s motive? Is there any link between the victims? Can they stop the killer before they kill again?
This is a dark novel. There’s a real race against time here as the detectives fail to apprehend the killer quickly and when the leads begin to dry up. DI Paolo Sterling is desperate for a breakthrough, and I could see this coming through strongly as he tried to make sense of the case. Paolo and his team are determined to pull out all the stops to crack it.
I wanted to find out why the killer was targeting these specific people. There was something in their past that had upset them so much it has made them hell-bent on revenge. I wanted to know what could possibly provoke such a strong reaction in an individual.
I really liked Detective Paolo. I think one of the things I liked about his character in this book was his relationship with Jessica, which grows as the story progresses and it’ll be interesting to see how this develops in future books. I thought it added a real human touch to his character.
This is the first book by Lorraine Mace I have read, and I enjoyed reading it. The strong dialogue kept the pace flowing forward, and the writing was very immersive. I’m certain I’ll be returning to this series again. Injections of Insanity is a book that will keep you asking questions and keep you gripped. I would definitely recommend it to fans of police procedurals.
This is a dark novel. There’s a real race against time here as the detectives fail to apprehend the killer quickly and when the leads begin to dry up. DI Paolo Sterling is desperate for a breakthrough, and I could see this coming through strongly as he tried to make sense of the case. Paolo and his team are determined to pull out all the stops to crack it.
I wanted to find out why the killer was targeting these specific people. There was something in their past that had upset them so much it has made them hell-bent on revenge. I wanted to know what could possibly provoke such a strong reaction in an individual.
I really liked Detective Paolo. I think one of the things I liked about his character in this book was his relationship with Jessica, which grows as the story progresses and it’ll be interesting to see how this develops in future books. I thought it added a real human touch to his character.
This is the first book by Lorraine Mace I have read, and I enjoyed reading it. The strong dialogue kept the pace flowing forward, and the writing was very immersive. I’m certain I’ll be returning to this series again. Injections of Insanity is a book that will keep you asking questions and keep you gripped. I would definitely recommend it to fans of police procedurals.
June 6, 2019
Sterling is a very real detective- struggling with his relationship with his ex-wife, his daughter and her new boyfriend and a colleague who seems to be going through a tough time but refuses to talk to him and on top of all that someone is killing people.
Having clearly advertised they have a hit list of 6 the killer is targeting their victims on a Friday night with a view to them not being found immediately and infact preferably not until Saturday. The bodies keep piling up with very little to go on how they are connected and the police initially struggle to find a link, let alone a motive.
There are a number of interwoven threads- the search for someone the police believe might be on the list, the aftermath of a fatal accident that left a passenger paralyzed and his brother, the driver, as his reluctant carer.
All the varied threads of the story are brought together beautifully as the police uncover first the link, then the motive and finally the killer- in the nick of time.
A great read and I look forward to reading more in the series!
Having clearly advertised they have a hit list of 6 the killer is targeting their victims on a Friday night with a view to them not being found immediately and infact preferably not until Saturday. The bodies keep piling up with very little to go on how they are connected and the police initially struggle to find a link, let alone a motive.
There are a number of interwoven threads- the search for someone the police believe might be on the list, the aftermath of a fatal accident that left a passenger paralyzed and his brother, the driver, as his reluctant carer.
All the varied threads of the story are brought together beautifully as the police uncover first the link, then the motive and finally the killer- in the nick of time.
A great read and I look forward to reading more in the series!
May 27, 2019
Injections of Insanity is book No 3 in the DI Paulo Sterling series and continues in the same vein as previous books with a gritty and twisty investigation.
I like Paulo as a character and his struggles with an ex wife, a teenage daughter and a difficult murder case all at the same time are very real.
People are dying on a Friday night and are found on a Saturday, connected by the method of death and an envelope containing a message to the police. What connects them, if anything, and why have they been killed. Who could possibly want to kill them and who else will the killer have in their sights. Can Paulo and his team work it all out in time to stop the killer before he reaches his objective.
I do enjoy these books written by Lorraine Mace and love to see the relationships build between the characters, old and new, even the office "tomfoolery" between the cops which helps to relieve a bit of tension during a difficult investigation.
I have enjoyed reading this book as I did the previous two and look forward to the next one.
I like Paulo as a character and his struggles with an ex wife, a teenage daughter and a difficult murder case all at the same time are very real.
People are dying on a Friday night and are found on a Saturday, connected by the method of death and an envelope containing a message to the police. What connects them, if anything, and why have they been killed. Who could possibly want to kill them and who else will the killer have in their sights. Can Paulo and his team work it all out in time to stop the killer before he reaches his objective.
I do enjoy these books written by Lorraine Mace and love to see the relationships build between the characters, old and new, even the office "tomfoolery" between the cops which helps to relieve a bit of tension during a difficult investigation.
I have enjoyed reading this book as I did the previous two and look forward to the next one.
June 19, 2019
This is #3 in Lorraine Mace’s Detective Paolo Sterl8ng series, but while I have read the other two, I feel this could easily be read as a stand-alone.
A professor has been murdered, but he was not a well liked man and many were more than happy to let their opinion of him to be known. So the list of suspects is remarkably long….
A police find a clue and believe there will be further victims….but who will be next? Just what is the link?
A dark, gritty thriller, with a fast pace and the desperation of DI Paolo Sterling trying to solve the crimes is palpable….very clever, nail biting and gripping. If you like a dark, police procedural then this is for you.
Thank you to Rachel’s Random Resources for the opportunity to participate in this blog tour and for the promotional materials and a free copy of the ebook. This is my honest, unbiased review.
A professor has been murdered, but he was not a well liked man and many were more than happy to let their opinion of him to be known. So the list of suspects is remarkably long….
A police find a clue and believe there will be further victims….but who will be next? Just what is the link?
A dark, gritty thriller, with a fast pace and the desperation of DI Paolo Sterling trying to solve the crimes is palpable….very clever, nail biting and gripping. If you like a dark, police procedural then this is for you.
Thank you to Rachel’s Random Resources for the opportunity to participate in this blog tour and for the promotional materials and a free copy of the ebook. This is my honest, unbiased review.
June 13, 2019
I love The D.I. Stirling Series and Lorraine Mace! Every book I've read in the series has been fantastic, and Injections of Insanity is no different.
I love the gritty, twisting and turning nature of this novel. Every page had me invested and wanting to keep reading. I love that Stirling is growing as a character more and more, each novel. The relationships between the characters are fascinating and really help keep the pacing going.
While this can be read as a standalone, I recommend checking out the other two books. I can't wait to read the next book!
*I received a copy of this book as part of a blog tour with Rachel's Random Resources. All opinions are my own.*
I love the gritty, twisting and turning nature of this novel. Every page had me invested and wanting to keep reading. I love that Stirling is growing as a character more and more, each novel. The relationships between the characters are fascinating and really help keep the pacing going.
While this can be read as a standalone, I recommend checking out the other two books. I can't wait to read the next book!
*I received a copy of this book as part of a blog tour with Rachel's Random Resources. All opinions are my own.*
June 16, 2019
The third book in the D. I. Sterling Series has the same gripping and gritty style as the previous two.
We rejoin Paolo and the rest of the cast as they attempt to track down a murderer who is out for revenge.
Paolo is a well fleshed out and realistic character. I like the way he deals with his complicated home life and his work colleagues, as well as investigating a series of murders, where the victims seem to have no connection to each other.
The case has plenty of twists to keep Paolo (and the reader) busy trying to figure it out before someone else is killed.
This series is now a firm favourite of mine and I'm looking forward to the next one.
We rejoin Paolo and the rest of the cast as they attempt to track down a murderer who is out for revenge.
Paolo is a well fleshed out and realistic character. I like the way he deals with his complicated home life and his work colleagues, as well as investigating a series of murders, where the victims seem to have no connection to each other.
The case has plenty of twists to keep Paolo (and the reader) busy trying to figure it out before someone else is killed.
This series is now a firm favourite of mine and I'm looking forward to the next one.
May 22, 2019
I received a copy of this book from TBC Reviewers request- Thank you
This is the third book in the Sterling series and I’ve been lucky enough to read them all. If you’re looking for a gritty police procedural then you won’t go far wrong with Lorraine’s excellent Sterling novels.
She’s further developed the already amazing character of Sterling, making him fully relatable to the reader.
I love reading Lorraine’s books my only gripe is when I’ve finished I know I’ll be waiting for another one
Thank you
This is the third book in the Sterling series and I’ve been lucky enough to read them all. If you’re looking for a gritty police procedural then you won’t go far wrong with Lorraine’s excellent Sterling novels.
She’s further developed the already amazing character of Sterling, making him fully relatable to the reader.
I love reading Lorraine’s books my only gripe is when I’ve finished I know I’ll be waiting for another one
Thank you
June 6, 2019
The third book in the Sterling books. He is becoming a firm favourite and I can't wait for the next book..
I received the book through the Facebook book group which I was very pleased by..
Plus - loved learning more about Sterling and his relationship with his family.
Minus- I really missed the shocking start which was how the first two books began. This was a change but probably due to a different type of story line but I was looking forward to it as I saw it as a strength of the writer in setting the scene. Won't stop me reading more!
I received the book through the Facebook book group which I was very pleased by..
Plus - loved learning more about Sterling and his relationship with his family.
Minus- I really missed the shocking start which was how the first two books began. This was a change but probably due to a different type of story line but I was looking forward to it as I saw it as a strength of the writer in setting the scene. Won't stop me reading more!
June 25, 2020
This review comes with a brief apology as well as the usual blog tour disclosure, so this was supposed to go up on the 14th June, but I wrote the date down wrong when I was entering it into my calendar and so instead I had it scheduled for today, which is the 16th, so I want to apologise to the author and Rachel of Rachel’s Random Resources for missing my scheduled post date. Speaking of which that leads perfectly onto me saying that this will be the third book in the D.I Sterling series that I’ve reviewed as part of a promotional blog tour organised by Rachel’s Random Resources . This isn’t the first blog tour I’ve taken part in, you can check out two by clicking here and here. If you want to find out what I had to say about the two previous instalments in the D.I Sterling series then you can click here and here. Anyway, even though this blog post is part of promotional tour you can till expect it to be as honest, unbiased and fair as any other review on my site.
Before we get to the actual review, I’ll give you a quick introduction to the author Lorraine Mace, an English author, who is currently living in the Costa Del Sol. She has written several books including The Writer’s ABC Checklist, Vlad The Inhaler: Hero In The Making and Notes from the Margin: A Writer’s Life as well as most recently the three current instalments in the D.I Sterling series which I’ve reviewed recently and you can read here or via the links above. I plan to interview Lorraine Mace in the near future but in the meantime you can find out more about the author by following her on Twitter or by checking out her website.
So that’s the author, and next, let’s find out a little about the series as a whole and the book specifically, the series follows Detective Inspector Paolo Sterling, our stalwart main character as he attempts to balance the inner demons which plague his personal life with the darker elements of society. Now this book specifically has D.I Sterling face off against a chameleon determined to get revenge for something in his past, so he targets people, and kills them via insulin injection, leaving nothing but a note at each crime scene. Hopefully this sounds as exciting to you as it did to me, because after reading the first two books in this series my expectations were high and I was anticipating another spectacular book.
Now first off, I’ve noticed that as the series progresses it can lose some of what made it great, it loses that forward momentum, but in the case of Lorraine Mace’s series that’s not the case. It found its feet early and goes from strength to strength. I don’t want to keep comparing Mace to other authors, but on the other hand I’ve done it in the previous two reviews and wouldn’t want to break tradition, so I need to say it’s a lot like the Inspector Rebus books by Ian Rankin, there’s a solid story and flow of character and theme that carries over between each standalone narrative. It takes a great talent to manage that well, and that talent is encapsulated in Mace’s writing.
I’ve touched on the topic in these reviews before, I am a huge fan of the crime fiction genre and so I’ve seen a whole lot of unique ideas, as well as a lot of cliches and conventions but what I enjoyed most about Mace’s books, and especially this one in particular is that it doesn’t read too much like anything I’ve read before. In particular, insulin as a murder weapon rather than medicine, it’s a macabre twist that, pardon the pun…injects some real distinctiveness into the narrative.
Another element of Mace’s books, is that she doesn’t pull any punches with the subject matter, the previous books saw Sterling tackle a puritanical murderer and a network of child murder and sex work and this one doesn’t give us any breathing room as it shows us another part of the seedy underbelly of modern society. Which reminds me, the inclination is always to go bigger and badder with a sequel, quite literally in the case of crime fiction, but with the particular subject matter of the previous book, Mace might have crossed the line between regular and real crime, to comic supervillainy had she tried to go bigger, so instead she took a step back and just explored another very human crime, that felt less like a step back, or a deescalation but rather just another unsettling vignette in a world that is rich in crime, and disturbed people.
I mentioned up top that Mace for the most part seems fresh, and not too much like other books in the genre, one convention she does carry over from the genre at whole is that her detective’s personal life is a mess, but something is starting to shift in this book and his relationships really help to shape up the story and add a real human element to a story that shows what humans are capable of when the indulge their darker impulses.
So to sum up, this third instalment in the D.I Sterling series is a phenomenal read, that blends darkness and humanity, into a compelling story that I couldn’t put down. With that in mind I give Injections of Insanity a 4/5 and I’m super glad that I decided to get involved with this blog tour because I might not have encountered this series otherwise, that being said I am certain that Mace’s going to be catapulted into the starlight with these books.
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Before we get to the actual review, I’ll give you a quick introduction to the author Lorraine Mace, an English author, who is currently living in the Costa Del Sol. She has written several books including The Writer’s ABC Checklist, Vlad The Inhaler: Hero In The Making and Notes from the Margin: A Writer’s Life as well as most recently the three current instalments in the D.I Sterling series which I’ve reviewed recently and you can read here or via the links above. I plan to interview Lorraine Mace in the near future but in the meantime you can find out more about the author by following her on Twitter or by checking out her website.
So that’s the author, and next, let’s find out a little about the series as a whole and the book specifically, the series follows Detective Inspector Paolo Sterling, our stalwart main character as he attempts to balance the inner demons which plague his personal life with the darker elements of society. Now this book specifically has D.I Sterling face off against a chameleon determined to get revenge for something in his past, so he targets people, and kills them via insulin injection, leaving nothing but a note at each crime scene. Hopefully this sounds as exciting to you as it did to me, because after reading the first two books in this series my expectations were high and I was anticipating another spectacular book.
Now first off, I’ve noticed that as the series progresses it can lose some of what made it great, it loses that forward momentum, but in the case of Lorraine Mace’s series that’s not the case. It found its feet early and goes from strength to strength. I don’t want to keep comparing Mace to other authors, but on the other hand I’ve done it in the previous two reviews and wouldn’t want to break tradition, so I need to say it’s a lot like the Inspector Rebus books by Ian Rankin, there’s a solid story and flow of character and theme that carries over between each standalone narrative. It takes a great talent to manage that well, and that talent is encapsulated in Mace’s writing.
I’ve touched on the topic in these reviews before, I am a huge fan of the crime fiction genre and so I’ve seen a whole lot of unique ideas, as well as a lot of cliches and conventions but what I enjoyed most about Mace’s books, and especially this one in particular is that it doesn’t read too much like anything I’ve read before. In particular, insulin as a murder weapon rather than medicine, it’s a macabre twist that, pardon the pun…injects some real distinctiveness into the narrative.
Another element of Mace’s books, is that she doesn’t pull any punches with the subject matter, the previous books saw Sterling tackle a puritanical murderer and a network of child murder and sex work and this one doesn’t give us any breathing room as it shows us another part of the seedy underbelly of modern society. Which reminds me, the inclination is always to go bigger and badder with a sequel, quite literally in the case of crime fiction, but with the particular subject matter of the previous book, Mace might have crossed the line between regular and real crime, to comic supervillainy had she tried to go bigger, so instead she took a step back and just explored another very human crime, that felt less like a step back, or a deescalation but rather just another unsettling vignette in a world that is rich in crime, and disturbed people.
I mentioned up top that Mace for the most part seems fresh, and not too much like other books in the genre, one convention she does carry over from the genre at whole is that her detective’s personal life is a mess, but something is starting to shift in this book and his relationships really help to shape up the story and add a real human element to a story that shows what humans are capable of when the indulge their darker impulses.
So to sum up, this third instalment in the D.I Sterling series is a phenomenal read, that blends darkness and humanity, into a compelling story that I couldn’t put down. With that in mind I give Injections of Insanity a 4/5 and I’m super glad that I decided to get involved with this blog tour because I might not have encountered this series otherwise, that being said I am certain that Mace’s going to be catapulted into the starlight with these books.
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June 28, 2019
Another outstanding story in the DI Sterling series. A gritty story that every time you think you know who is behind the series of murders DI Sterling and his team are investigating, you find that no you dont. The main characters are becoming more rounded with each book and are likeable.
As always looking forward to reading more.
As always looking forward to reading more.
June 5, 2019
I enjoyed this fast paced police procedural which kept me guessing to the end, and which I read in two sittings. The well developed characters of Paolo and his team were interesting enough to make me want to read future books. Although this is book 3 in the series I felt it read perfectly well as a standalone, though I will now seek out the first two books.
June 9, 2019
Injections of insanity by Lorraine Mace.
A body has been found. Can Paolo and his team find the killer before he kills again?
A fantastic read with some great characters. Love Paolo. What a twister of a read. I really didn't see that coming. I am looking forward to the next book. 5*.
A body has been found. Can Paolo and his team find the killer before he kills again?
A fantastic read with some great characters. Love Paolo. What a twister of a read. I really didn't see that coming. I am looking forward to the next book. 5*.
Read
June 3, 2019I got a copy of this 3rd book in the D.I.Sterling book. Thank you TBC and Netgalley, another smashing read. If you want an easy to read gritty police novel this is the one for you. Now all I have to do is wait for no 4. I found all the books in the series easy to read, unputadownable.
May 18, 2019
I got this as a e book from a page that I am a member of on facebook called tbc reviews. I read it on my i pad. I enjoyed reading it. It had a good story to it. I have read the other two books in this series by this author and liked them too. I look forward to the next book by this author.
July 11, 2019
Have you ever started a new series and straight away just connected with the characters? This is how I feel about Paolo, his daughter and the team, they have a place in my heart (which nearly broke with the last page in this book, thanks for that Lorraine!)
There’s just something about the way in which these books are written, they draw you in and you become fully invested in the case and the events surrounding it. Due to the dark nature of the books I usually read it’s very rare that a book makes me smile. However, we were given more insights of Paolo’s personality and it was this that made me smile quite a few times (enough to actually highlight those lines). The character development is definitely one of the strongest points in these books.
You can find the rest of my review here: https://feedthecrime.wordpress.com/20...
There’s just something about the way in which these books are written, they draw you in and you become fully invested in the case and the events surrounding it. Due to the dark nature of the books I usually read it’s very rare that a book makes me smile. However, we were given more insights of Paolo’s personality and it was this that made me smile quite a few times (enough to actually highlight those lines). The character development is definitely one of the strongest points in these books.
You can find the rest of my review here: https://feedthecrime.wordpress.com/20...
December 18, 2020
This one was so incredibly infuriating. Oh my gosh, I had secondhand rage the whole time. The one character with dissociative identity disorder, oh man, I felt for him. I was so, so enraged on his behalf. His staggeringly awful brother and their sleazy neighbour, and the guy who kept screwing him over at work... yeah, he did a bad thing, abd he's not a particularly good guy, but oh my gosh, the stuff he had to deal with on a daily basis, it was unrelenting. It stressed me out, even though its fiction.
But yes. The plot was clever and carefully plotted, with everything coming together in a satisfying manner in the end.
The subplots involving the personal lives of the main characters weren't that bad. Character driven stories aren't really my thing, but these were less annoying to me than most. And Paolo is as impossibly measured and straight-laced as ever. I appreciate it. It's so nice to have a cop protagonist who isn't a complete mess/unethical.
But yes. The plot was clever and carefully plotted, with everything coming together in a satisfying manner in the end.
The subplots involving the personal lives of the main characters weren't that bad. Character driven stories aren't really my thing, but these were less annoying to me than most. And Paolo is as impossibly measured and straight-laced as ever. I appreciate it. It's so nice to have a cop protagonist who isn't a complete mess/unethical.
August 24, 2020
Yet again my husband lost me for a while -I was so wrapped up in the pages of this offering! Lorraine Mace has done it again with yet another stonkingly great crime romp!
In the first D.I. Sterling book, it was prostitutes being targeted... then in the second book (my favourite so far) it was children. This time, it's a group of people all connected to a particular event. That event isn't clear until later in the book - quite right too - and it's great being able to enjoy the the journey alongside Paolo and Dave.
Once again I was left reeling at certain sections of the book, because Lorraine Mace writes those grittier parts so well.
Lorraine Mace has now ensconced herself as my favourite crime author - well deserved too!
In the first D.I. Sterling book, it was prostitutes being targeted... then in the second book (my favourite so far) it was children. This time, it's a group of people all connected to a particular event. That event isn't clear until later in the book - quite right too - and it's great being able to enjoy the the journey alongside Paolo and Dave.
Once again I was left reeling at certain sections of the book, because Lorraine Mace writes those grittier parts so well.
Lorraine Mace has now ensconced herself as my favourite crime author - well deserved too!
June 8, 2020
I am now very comfortable with the character of Paolo Sterling as he struggles to balance his personal and working life. Perhaps a new relationship on the horizon, one particular colleague who has a secret and a serial killer with a "thing" about committing his crimes on a Saturday. As with the previous books by this author, the book is fast paced and twists and turns. Well worth a read.
May 27, 2019
Review to come 16th July.
June 8, 2020
I couldn't put this book down. A fast-paced gripping read with a credible plot and authentic characters. It had me hooked until the end and I can't wait to read more of Lorraine's books.
July 29, 2022
3.5 rounded to 3 stars for Goodreads. For me, this didn't feel up to the same tempo or style as the previous ones (maybe because I'm reading them back to back), which is why I went for a lower star rating.
However, I still enjoyed it - and definitely liked how the personal front turned out for Paolo. I liked seeing how much thought and effort the killer put into dealing with his victims. Additionally, I enjoyed seeing Katy back on her feet and fighting for what she wants.
The team seemed to struggle more with this case, even with evidence there for the taking. I also found the motive a bit far fetched (including the trigger) - it seemed a bit like a filler book.
So far, it's my least favorite, but still a good read. I can't wait for the next two in the series to see where Paolo is taken next.
*I received a complimentary copy of the e-book from RandomThingsTours and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
However, I still enjoyed it - and definitely liked how the personal front turned out for Paolo. I liked seeing how much thought and effort the killer put into dealing with his victims. Additionally, I enjoyed seeing Katy back on her feet and fighting for what she wants.
The team seemed to struggle more with this case, even with evidence there for the taking. I also found the motive a bit far fetched (including the trigger) - it seemed a bit like a filler book.
So far, it's my least favorite, but still a good read. I can't wait for the next two in the series to see where Paolo is taken next.
*I received a complimentary copy of the e-book from RandomThingsTours and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
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