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When a faceless body is found floating in the river on a summer’s morning, Detective Kay Hunter and her team are tasked with finding out the man’s identity – and where he came from.

The investigation takes a sinister turn when an abandoned boat is found, covered in blood stains and containing a child’s belongings.

Under mounting pressure from a distraught family and an unforgiving media, the police are in a race against time – but they have no leads, and no motive for the events that have taken place.

Will Kay be able to find a ruthless killer and a missing child before it’s too late?

Cradle to Grave is the eighth book in the Detective Kay Hunter series by USA Today bestselling author Rachel Amphlett, and perfect for fans of Ann Cleeves, Peter James and Stuart MacBride.

370 pages, Paperback

First published October 6, 2019

156 people are currently reading
297 people want to read

About the author

Rachel Amphlett

206 books673 followers
Before turning to writing, USA Today bestselling crime author Rachel Amphlett played guitar in bands, worked as a TV and film extra, dabbled in radio, and worked in publishing as an editorial assistant.

She now wields a pen instead of a plectrum and writes crime fiction with over 30 crime novels and short stories featuring spies, detectives, vigilantes, and assassins.

A keen traveller and accidental private investigator, Rachel has both Australian and British citizenship.

You can find out more about Rachel and her books at www.rachelamphlett.com.



Praise for Rachel Amphlett

“Fast paced with vivid characterisation and clever twists, [None the Wiser] is another winner” Adrian McKinty

“[None the Wiser] is a terrific start to a new series” Jo Spain, With Our Blessing and The Confession

“Quirky, creepy and twisted tales” James Oswald, Sunday Times bestselling author

“Thrilling start to a new series. Scared to Death is a stylish, smart and gripping crime thriller” Robert Bryndza

"Scared to Death… moves along at breakneck speed with twists and turns" Angela Marsons

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews
Profile Image for Brenda.
5,084 reviews3,017 followers
October 3, 2019
The discovery of a body floating in the river was only the beginning of the case. When the team located an abandoned, blood stained boat which had children’s toys in the cabin, the immediate concern that a child had been kidnapped was foremost in the minds of the investigators. Detective Kay Hunter along with her senior officer, Detective Ian Barnes kept the team moving with their different tasks, but their frustration was mounting. Working around the clock, Kay wondered if they would get a break in the case soon; and whether Alice was still alive…

Cradle to Grave is the 8th in the Kay Hunter series by Aussie author Rachel Amphlett and it was brilliant once again! This series is going from strength to strength, and it’s always great to catch up with Kay and her team. The author makes me feel fully involved in the story; the different emotions come across well and the descriptions are such that I can visualize it all. Cradle to Grave is one I highly recommend, but I strongly suggest reading the series from the beginning.

With thanks to the author for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Phrynne.
4,035 reviews2,728 followers
August 6, 2021
One thing I can always expect from a Rachel Amphlett book is a really good read and this one did not let me down.

Cradle to Grave is the eighth book in the Kay Hunter series and it is a totally enjoyable police procedural. It begins with a dead body and a missing child and ends with a big twist, just when it seems obvious what has occurred.

I always like Kay Hunter. She works hard, manages her home life around her complicated work life, supervises her team well and still keeps her partner at home happy. The partner is a vet and always has some new animal being saved by bringing it home. In this book it is three rescue chickens and the highlight of the book is a newly laid egg.

So there is serious stuff and there is also some fun, plus a very interesting investigation. An excellent book which makes me keen to read the next one.
Profile Image for Nila (digitalcreativepages).
2,667 reviews222 followers
October 6, 2019
This was one wowza of a book, gripped me from the beginning to end. Man, am I loving police procedurals nowadays.

DI Kay Hunter was one of a kind, sharp and hardworking with a hidden vulnerability due to personal losses. A murder and a missing child got the entire team roused up. And the investigation started...

My first book in the series by author Rachel Amphlett, though 8th line, I thoroughly enjoyed this ride. A missing child always creates a flutter of excitement in me. Kay was strong and capable, she knew how to delegate the tasks. A born leader was she.

Rachel's writing made it extremely easy to get to know the team. The sense of urgency was keenly felt with the way words were strung. Burgeoning tension became the norm as I turned the pages. The team worked at a pace I found amazing; friendship and respect were their conduct. Even when the risks were high, they found a way out.

It was soon obvious that the author was a seasoned hand at maintaining the suspense till the end. The twists and turns altering the route of the investigation had me smiling. I expected nothing less in my first read by this brilliant author.

An rocking immersive read, indeed.
Profile Image for Kat (Books are Comfort Food).
253 reviews301 followers
January 19, 2020
Love her books

I have read all of Rachel’s books and have loved them all. this was not my favorite of the bunch as I felt it was a little drawn out and slightly repetitive. However, interesting character and the plot is well thought out with multiple twists and turns. I Did not guess the killer until the very end, which I usually do so it’s a testament to the good writing. Looking forward to the next book.
Profile Image for Diane.
677 reviews30 followers
August 23, 2020
Wasn't sure until very close to the end who the bad guy really was, although I wasn't surprised when all told. It's always more difficult when there is a child involved in these types of books. Great story, and a must read in the series.

2 thumbs up and 4 solid stars

From the blurb: The investigation takes a sinister turn when an abandoned boat is found, covered in blood stains and containing a child’s belongings.

Under mounting pressure from a distraught family and an unforgiving media, the police are in a race against time – but they have no leads, and no motive for the events that have taken place.

Will Kay be able to find a ruthless killer and a missing child before it’s too late?
Profile Image for Pat.
2,310 reviews501 followers
November 14, 2019
I've read all eight books in this series and, while I have rated most of them four or even five stars, the last two have been more mediocre. This was disappointing and rather dull although at least competently written. A man is found shot dead in a canal and his young daughter is missing. The police don't seem to have a clue about how to proceed but eventually, through sheer hard work, they prevail and catch the unlikely culprit. And that folks - is it. There was no nail-biting, no sitting on the edge of my seat, and, at the end, it was "it that it?" Yes, that was it!
Profile Image for Hobart.
2,732 reviews87 followers
October 3, 2019
★ ★ ★ 1/2 (rounded up)
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
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This was my first time reading Rachel Amphlett and I wasn't sure what to expect—I'll cut to the chase now, I really enjoyed it, and Amphlett impressed me from the first chapter on.

The first chapter features some good character moments and a well-drawn figure for characters whose sole purpose is to find a dead body and get the police involved. A lot of authors wouldn't have bothered with making these characters so fleshed-out. Many wouldn't have bothered with showing the discovery of the dead body. I liked this touch.

When the police arrive and look at the dead body, almost impossible to identify, it looks like this could be a long investigation. But one of the instigators notices all the children's belongings in the vicinity and quickly realizes that a child should be at the scene. They have to make a quick decision, do they treat it as a homicide, or a kidnapping. They (wisely) decide to treat it as a kidnapping (while searching for signs of the former). Not only are they hunting for a murderer, they're probably trying to prevent any harm coming to the child.

Not that they'd be taking their time with a murder inquiry, but missing child adds n element of intensity and immediacy to their search for the killer. Which makes the whole novel more tense and fast-paced. As introductions to a series/author go, this was pretty intense.

One thing I appreciate about UK procedurals (in distinction from the US-based) is the trust for the method and procedure. With US procedurals, there's an urgency to an investigation—a strong sense that the longer the investigation takes, the less likely it is that they'll arrest anyone. It feels (at least to me) the opposite with good UK procedurals. There's a trust in the system, that the gears of police work will eventually establish the guilt of someone as long as the gears keep turning. It's almost like they longer things go on, the more certain they are that they'll catch the responsible party. That's certainly the case here, yet, it's well-balanced with the scramble to save the child.

Another thing about UK procedurals is the way the whole team is involved in the investigation—it's not (for example) Det. Bosch, and maybe his partner, barreling through things, with the occasional assist from someone else in the office or a forensic specialist. There are all sorts of officers, of all ranks and assignments running around, making contributions to the overall effort. It's probably a whole lot more realistic, a whole lot more believable—but it comes at a cost. There are so many people running around, that it's hard to keep track of them all, hard to get to the point where you can get a feel for most of the characters—and it's likely that you'll confuse a couple with each other. This isn't a criticism of Amphlett, I've had the same problem when it comes to other UK procedurals that I've read. Maybe it's just me. It just takes a few novels before I can get a feel for anyone beyond the character the series is named after. That's definitely the case here. I have a decent sense for Kay Hunter, and the beginnings of a sense for one or two others on the team, but that's all. Ask me again when book 10 comes around (or if I get to some of the backlist), and that'll disappear.

I did like the characters, and think I could grow to be fans of a few of them—but that'll take time (and the ability to differentiate them easily). I could tell they weren't just interchangeable names, that there were individual characteristics and drives behind them. And none of them served as Detective Exposition or Detective Comic Relief—which is a big plus to me.

Now, when it comes to the witnesses, family of the victims, and suspects? I thought Amphlett did a good job with them all—colorful in the right ways, believable, and did a good job of moving the plot forward (also, police interactions and reaction to the witnesses were handled very nicely).

One thing I truly appreciated about this is just how wrong the police frequently were—and not in little ways, either. Justifiably wrong given the information they had, I should stress. But as soon as they realized they were heading down the wrong path, they quickly fixed it. They didn't spend a few dozen pages in self-recrimination, they didn't get a time-consuming talking to from their superior, or anything like that (although that might be forthcoming...). Instead, they regrouped, shook off the error and acted on the correct information right away. Sure, most procedurals (mystery novels in general) feature some wrong theories, some half-baked notions that have to be discarded. But this seemed to have a larger than usual—and more believable—quantity and quality of errors. But they dealt with them appropriately. I wish I saw more like that.

Was this a perfect book? No, in fact, I was annoyed more than once or twice with either the writing or the plot. But they were all minor annoyances, and nothing worth listing and nothing really took me out of the moment while I read. Better yet, the strengths quickly canceled out the problems/doubts I had. This was a quick, compelling read that did all the right things for a procedural. Entertaining, twisty, and engaging. This won't be my last Amphlett.

My thanks to Tracy Fenton for the invitation to participate in this tour and the materials (including a copy of the novel) provided.
Profile Image for Jenny.
2,335 reviews73 followers
Read
August 17, 2025
Cradle to Grave is book 8 in the Detective Kay Hunter series by Rachel Amphlett. Detective Inspector Kay Hunter caught the case of a man who was found floating in the river by a fisherman and his son. At first, they did not know the identity of the body. However, the investigation took a bad turn when they realised a child was missing. It became a race to find the young child for Detective Inspector Kay Hunter's team. The readers of Cradle to Grave will continue to follow Detective Kay Hunter's investigation to discover what happens.

Cradle to Grave continues the tradition of my engaging with Rachel Amphlett's characters and plots in her books. I had trouble putting this book down, and at times, I was sad with the characters. I started to understand what happens when someone prioritises financial gain over promoting their business. Reading this book helped me begin to realise how people love to live in houseboats on the English canals and rivers.

I love Rachel Amphlett's portrayal of her characters and the way they intertwine with each other throughout this book. Cradle to Grave is well-written and researched by Rachel Amphlett. I like Rachel Amphlett's description of the settings of Cradle to Grave, which allowed me to imagine being part of the book's plot.

I recommend this book.
Profile Image for Eva.
957 reviews530 followers
June 18, 2020
It’s been a while since I hung out with Kay Hunter and her team but with a new book coming soon (next month!), I figured it was time to catch up. Cradle to Grave is the eighth book in this series and it’s as solid as its predecessors.

When the body of a man is found floating in the river, little does Kay know this isn’t just a murder investigation. Seeing as the man has no face, identifying him proves to be a tricky undertaking. But just when his name is discovered, it throws up a whole other set of questions and Kay and her team suddenly find themselves in the middle of a frantic search for a missing child.

Any storyline involving a child will have me glued to the pages and that was definitely the case with Cradle to Grave. Even while running on barely three hours of sleep and my eyes playing tricks on me, I couldn’t tear myself away. Just like the investigating team, I too was desperate to find out what had happened to this child. Was the child safe? Did they fall into the river or wander off? Did someone take them? With so little to go on though, I found myself getting increasingly frustrated, which seemed rather apt as that was the exact feeling the team was dealing with as well.

Admittedly, I cracked one defining moment of the investigation before it was revealed but that didn’t bother me at all. If anything, it threw up even more questions. There were still plenty of other things I didn’t see coming and despite thinking I had it all figured out at one point, it turned out I was completely on the wrong track.

As always, the chuckles are provided by Adam as he once again brings home an animal. Or three. The balance that Rachel Amphlett is able to achieve between Kay’s personal and professional life is definitely something I appreciate. This is such a wonderful crime fiction series and Cradle to Grave is another fabulous addition. Tense, twisty and thoroughly enjoyable. I can’t wait for book nine!
Profile Image for Kerry.
664 reviews41 followers
September 29, 2019
Cradle to Grave is another brilliant book in the Kay Hunter series. I have thoroughly enjoyed each, and every one of them. I found myself immediately immersed in this story. When a book begins the way this one does, it’s hard not to be drawn in.
A dead man is found floating in the river and he has no face! Kay and her team are faced with a seemingly random murder, with no clear motivation and no obvious place to start looking. However, when a boat is discovered covered in blood it soon becomes apparent that they have a missing child on their hands also and the investigation takes on a whole new level.
They are faced with a distressing race against time to find this missing child and can only hope he or she is alive when they do. Talk about heart racing! I could feel Kay’s and the team’s desperation to find this child safe and well and can only imagine how frustrating it must be when nothing seems to make any sense. The investigation is managed around the clock by dedicated officers who won’t rest until they get it done. I hope, and I’m sure we do, have officers like them in our own communities. We should be so grateful for them.
I love how fast paced this story is, how full of suspense and always with just the right amount of police procedural detail. It’s just so convincing I almost feel like I’m part of the team when I read these books. Not that I’d have a clue what I was doing! Lol! I love how dedicated the team are to each other. The banter they share adds another level of realism and I love that we get to see a little bit of their personal lives. I especially love that Kay and her mother are reconciling and moving on with a more positive relationship. I know I’ve said it before, but I love the relationship between Kay and Adam, and I love that he still brings his work home with him sometimes.
I do also love that this book, once again, ends on a positive and amusing note, despite what they have all been through.
Just brilliant!
I LOVED it from start to finish.
Many thanks to Rachel Amphlett for my review copy.
Profile Image for Lavins.
1,332 reviews78 followers
May 3, 2024
3 stars

A body is discovered floating in the river but this turns pretty fast in the investigation of a missing child. There was too much drama and "ohh im not sure what Im going to do if we don't find the child in time" a statement coming from someone in the force is laying it too thick.
Profile Image for Yvonne (It's All About Books).
2,695 reviews317 followers
October 3, 2019

Finished reading: September 24th 2019


"Muted sunlight shone through the curtains at the windows, creating a gloom that hung in the air, malevolent and foreboding."

*** A copy of this book was kindly provided to me by the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ***



P.S. Find more of my reviews here.
Profile Image for Pamela.
891 reviews28 followers
November 8, 2024
This is over all a Great Series! I have so enjoyed Audiobooks of this series..**Alison Campbell** is Awesome at her narration skills!
A touching small part in this book made it 5 stars.. 💜
Profile Image for Ellen.
448 reviews34 followers
October 8, 2019
Cradle to Grave is book eight in the Kay Hunter series by Rachel Amphlett and I can guarantee I will never tire of them! This series has become a comfort blanket of a read to me; I know as soon as I start I’ll be drawn in and lost in Kay Hunter’s world. This could be read as a standalone but I’ll always recommend people to start from book one (Scared to Death) and read the whole series.

The book opens with an innocent scene of a father taking his son on a fishing trip but soon descends into horror when a faceless body drifts towards them down the river! As Kay and her team locate the murder site the case takes a gut wrenching turn when children’s belongings are discovered and it becomes apparent that they are also investigating an abduction. This hits all the team hard whether they are parents or not and they are desperate to find the missing child who may still be in danger. Kay is especially touched by the case, she is still grieving over the loss of her own baby and is determined to reunite the family. Talking of family, it was lovely to see relationships between Kay and her mother finally defrosting and bridges being built.

I’m sure I’ve mentioned this before but Kay’s partner Adam is one of my favourite secondary characters. Always there for her at the end of the day with a cold glass of wine, a lovely meal, comforting words and sometimes a cute home guest thanks to him being a vet! It’s great to see a glimpse of Kay at home and how strong her support network is. Adam is the perfect book boyfriend!

Another strong addition to the series – bring on book nine!
Profile Image for Lel Budge.
1,367 reviews31 followers
October 6, 2019
This is #8 in the DI Kay Hunter series, but I feel it can easily be read as a stand-alone.

When the body of a man is found floating in a river, killed by a shot to the back of the head, DI Hunter and her team start the investigation. They soon become aware that a child may be missing.

As they identify the victim and the little girl, Alice, who is missing the investigation steps up a pace. Can they find Alice before any harm comes to her? Why was she taken and who killed the man in the river?

Kay had tragically had a miscarriage 3 years ago, and is still grieving so this case has really caught her emotions….she has to find Alice!

This is a solid police procedural with well developed and likeable characters, it has a tense and twisty plot which really keeps your attention from start to finish.

Thank you to Tracy and Compulsive Readers for the opportunity to participate in this blog tour, for the promotional materials and a free copy of the ebook. This is my honest, unbiased review.
Profile Image for Rubina G Gomes.
335 reviews50 followers
November 20, 2019
Oh it is such a pleasure to visit our group of Kent police officers!

What I love about Rachel Amphlett books is that it's not too heavy on the head and is engaging enough to make you sit tight. This story goes places I never thought it would go and I didn't see most of the twists coming. I say most because I got close to the last one. But that didn't matter because I was so thoroughly enjoying myself that I didn't mind.

I loved all the characters in the novel, and I think I have a soft corner for Barnes and Adam, they are such sweethearts. I also love the fact that the novel is not jam-packed with action and thriller, thus giving me time to breathe and process what's going.

The Kay Hunter Series by Rachel Amphlett is a must read! And especially with the Christmas holidays coming, they're the best reads to cozy up with.

Thank you Rachel for sending me an ARC ebook!
Profile Image for Any Length.
2,174 reviews7 followers
May 31, 2021
I am not sure if it was just the reader (I had the audio version of this book) or the book itself or both in conjunction. But I cannot believe that the members of a police station would be so concerned about each other's welfare. It felt like the author didn't know what real police officers say to each other during an investigation so among typical police terms being tossed about every single police officer must have asked every single other police officer at least twice how they were coping and whether they had enough sleep or wanted more coffee. This is not real nor does it feel like it. The plot had some decent bits but the execution felt like a warm wash cloth instead of a thrilling who-done-it. I was not impressed by the book at all.
Profile Image for Helen G.
178 reviews
July 12, 2022
A quick read that kept me engaged even if I did think the plot was a bit far fetched. Unusual interplay of family relationships underpinning the crime(s) but in the end I couldn’t reconcile the murderers motivation for shifting from a purely business focus to a life of crime - don’t think this was explained/justified enough (that made any sense to me anyway).
Profile Image for Kristine Hall.
942 reviews73 followers
November 8, 2019
AUDIO BOOK REVIEW. It’s been a few months since I listened to a Detective Kay Hunter series book, and as soon as I started listening, my spirits lifted. The books and the return of amazing narrator Alison Campbell feel comfortable and familiar. With Amphlett’s books, I know that I’m about to sink into an excellent and intricate police procedural novel, all delivered with the delightful British accent and charm that is such a treat for this Texan’s ears.

“The whole vista was one of Kentish idyll - except for the body underneath the bridge where she stood.”

As is the norm in this series, in CRADLE TO GRAVE, we start off with a seemingly peaceful – and in this book, a particularly lovely – setting. Those familiar with the series won’t buy it, and the anxiety builds until the crime is revealed. The oh-so-perfect harmony and calm of the great outdoors and the horror of what it holds are a delicious contrast. While solving the murder quickly isn’t critical – the victim is dead, and there’s a process to figuring out why – Amphlett throws in a secondary, startling plot line that adds real urgency for the team to solve the crime. Readers will feel the desperation and the pages fly by as we watch the case unfold. And unfold it does! Then it twists, turns, and leaves us with our eyebrows raised and mouths open.

With each novel in this series, readers incrementally get to better know the core characters of Kay Hunter’s team. It’s a natural progression of a reader-character relationship, and I really enjoy it. In CRADLE TO GRAVE, readers hear more of investigators Gavin’s and Carris’s perspectives and continue to understand them a little better as their fears, quirks, and hopes come to light. Another relationship that continues to organically develop is that between Kay and her mother. While still tentative, it feels good to see them reconciling and getting closer, as a mother and daughter should. No book in this series would be complete without the presence of Kay’s husband Adam. LOVE HIM, though there’s just never enough of him (had to wait two hours for his first appearance). As usual, he amuses readers with his rescue animals and the ensuing antics.

“I can always rely on coffee later, if I need it.”

You may notice in reading this review that these novels rely on the same characters and mechanisms every time. Is it formulaic? Yes, but it’s not a bad thing. Readers know what to expect, and Amphlett delivers in aces. The comforting mugs of tea and coffee, the camaraderie and support within the team, the consummate British politeness – these all make the books a world that readers want to be in. While there is familiarity, Amphlett fills in the formula with enough unique, unexpected, and creative pieces that readers are fully engaged and delighted. (Was there a nod to Lewis Carroll in CRADLE TO GRAVE?)

ABOUT THE NARRATION: Alison Campbell has fully embraced the roles and voices of the characters in this series. Outstanding performances, all. Since Authors Direct was the listening platform, I was able to really tweak the speed to exactly where I wanted it – 1.1x! (Audible doesn’t allow such fine-tuning, but Authors Direct doesn’t have a place to post reviews.). Campbell’s pacing is even, which makes it easy to listen at any speed. I did miss not hearing her performing a bad-guy voice. She excels in creepy-guy voice. I will hope for that to happen in the next Detective Kay Hunter book. (Fingers crossed there is one!)

Thank you to the author and Audiobookworm Productions for providing an audio code in exchange for my honest review – the only kind I give. Forgive any misspellings of character names – don’t know ‘em when I read with my ears. This full review and other special features on Hall Ways Blog.
Profile Image for Susan.
1,735 reviews39 followers
April 21, 2020
Note: Even though this is Book 8 in the series, it works fine as a standalone.

Yet another great mystery from Rachel Amphlett! I’m addicted to this series. Kay Hunter is so very likable but not in a sappy, friendly kind of way. She’s dedicated to her job, a team player, and a worthy spouse. In so many ways, she’s the opposite of the typical nitty gritty police detective yet she’s not soft on criminals. Oh, and I love her husband’s temporary adoption of some chickens. Ha! Mabel – you’re such a troublemaker!

In this tale, we have a faceless body turn up and then realize there’s a child missing. The team pulls out all the stops to find young Alice and get her home safely. It was an intense first half of the book as the team tracks down every lead. Kariss is becoming quite the detective herself, even playing a lead role in the night shift team. I have a wee little hope that Kariss might go on to star in her own spin off series someday.

The second half of story focuses on who murdered the faceless man and it’s a bit slower paced (but no less interesting). Amphlett has this wonderful skill of keeping the reader glued to the story even as the tempo changes. There are no boring parts in this book. Kay Hunter and her team keep pulling at the loose the threads until something unexpected falls free and then the pacing picks up again as yet another hunt is on. Very exciting end to a gripping story! 5/5 stars.

The Narration: Alison Campbell is a worthy narrator for this series. I just love falling into her voice as Kay Hunter. Campbell also does the few accents quite well and her male characters sound masculine. Her pacing is spot on and there were no technical issues with this recording. I love her ability to portray the various emotions in this book too, especially those more nuanced emotions of Kay concerning her miscarriage of years ago and her relationship with her parents. 5/5 stars.

I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by Rachel Amphlett. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.
Profile Image for Ingo.
1,248 reviews17 followers
July 15, 2020
Wanted to read this for some time, as I received the next book for free from the author as an ARC for a review.
Usual fast read, interesting case, which kept me guessing, but the first twist was nearly advertised early on (or I am good at guessing), and then there where no real surprises for me for quite some time.

Like in the last books, taking place now and in the UK and still not a word about BREXIT, although I think it will have quite an impact, with visiting vineyards in France!

Highly Recommended. Nice fast read. But not enough surprises and suspense for me for 5 stars, so a solid 4 stars it is.

For fans of these series (Author - Heroine):
Angela Marsons - Kim Stone
Robert Bryndza - Detective Erika Foster
M.J. Arlidge - DI Helen Grace
Celina Grace - Kate Redman (too much romance and not strong enough heroine for me)
Griffiths, Elly - Ruth Galloway
Robert Dugoni - Tracy Crosswhite
Danielle Girard - Dr. Schwartzman (? not so sure wether this belongs here...)
Ashley Dyer - Ruth Lake & Greg Carver

Profile Image for Lelia Taylor.
872 reviews19 followers
November 10, 2019
I have inhaled every book in this series and Cradle to Grave is no exception. Once again, Ms. Amphlett has created a sense of mounting tension and fear while, at the same time, offering some relief through the personal lives of the team.

It’s bad enough when an unidentified body is found in the river but things get much worse when police find a boat that has a lot of blood in it but, more alarming, a child’s belongings. Where is the child? The investigation ratchets into high gear as every member of Detective Inspector Kay Hunter’s team is driven to find this child, hopefully still alive. Soon enough, attention points towards the family of a child who’s been reported missing and the race is on to find this little girl, starting with the questions: is the disappearance connected to the murdered man and is the family involved?

For me, a real strength of the Detective Kay Hunter series is the intelligent pursuit of truth evidenced by the entire team and each member has become like family to me. The author lets us visit with different characters off the job and knowing some of their personal stories gives a glimpse into why they are so dedicated to the job and to each other.

The other steady light in these books is the ongoing narration by Alison Campbell. Ms. Campbell continues to be an ideal reader with her terrific vocalizations and a spot-on sense of how the story needs to be told. No one could do a better job in my opinion.
Profile Image for Martin.
35 reviews27 followers
April 1, 2021
Another great entry to the series.

This is book 8 in the excellent Kay Hunter series of police procedurals/investigation/thriller/murder mystery thingies. As you can tell, I'm not very good at categorising books, but if I enjoy something so much then who cares? For me this isn't the strongest entry into the series so far, but that's not to say it isn't very good Indeed and it kept me reading until the excellent finale. Where these books really excel for me is in the ensemble characters that Rachel has created. Over the course of the series we've really got to know and love the team of Kay, Gavin, Carys, Ian, Adam, DCI Sharp, et al; they've become family. Rachel doesn't give them unnecessary grievances or grudges just to create group tension; they all gel so well together, with great respect, but neither does she go easy on them at times. She's also very adept at creating the villainous characters, ones that really turn your stomach, as well as throwing in plenty of dead ends and red herrings along the way.

Although you won't need to start at book 1, Scared To Death, I recommend that you do as you'll get the full benefit of the group dynamic Rachel has created (plus there's a story arc over the the first 5 books, I think, I forget now, that may be ruined if you read them backwards/out of order). But if this is your first book in the series, then you have a great ride ahead. Enjoy!
171 reviews10 followers
February 14, 2021
Another great read.

Another great read from Rachel Amphlett. This series of Kay Hunter is well worth reading, they grab you from start to finish. The characters are well placed, and the storyline is another one that keeps you guessing. I love her style of writing and I'm definitely looking forward to more in the series that are on the way.
If I could just say, I think that starting from the first book is best, although each one is a separate story, you'll find the main characters you get to know by starting from book one. They certainly have a habit to grow on you.
I highly recommend these books.
Big thanks to Rachel Amphlett for the hours she put in to make readers happy through these hard times.
Profile Image for Shirley Hartman-Rozee.
580 reviews9 followers
December 2, 2021
An interesting read. Nothing or no one are what they appear to be. A man is killed and a little girl—presumably his niece—is missing. So a desperate search ensues first for the lost little girl and then after it appears that the body that is found—face blown away by gunshot—is not her uncle but her father, the search becomes a hunt for the kidnapper/murderer uncle. Eventually, the uncle and little girl are found and the story he tells—supported by the little girl’s story—is more confounding. In the end, the toy rabbit the little girls gives to Barnes for safekeeping leads them on a totally different angle of investigation that keeps you reading to the end. A good and engaging read. (An interesting title to this book, which is explained as the investigation winds down.)
Profile Image for Heidi | Paper Safari Book Blog.
1,144 reviews21 followers
May 5, 2020
This is a fast paced thriller focusing on the disappearance of a young girl and a dead man found floating in the river with his face missing. I think any investigation involving children hit the police hard but this one effects not only Kay who recently miscarried but also her co-worker who lost his son which make them more human and feel real.

Amphletts characters are well written, relatable and likable. This story kept me guessing who the killer was and the ending was well done. I appreciate a good police procedural and these books definitely fit the bill.
Profile Image for Jane.
508 reviews20 followers
June 10, 2024
Another excellent installment in the Detective Kay Hunter series from Rachel Amphlett. I've read these out of sequence but it didn't impact my enjoyment of the story. This one was focused on an apparent murder, and subsequent kidnapping of a young child. The first plot twist about a third of the way in was obvious given the set-up but the pace really picked up towards the end and the culprit wasn't obvious until then. I like the way the author develops the minor characters too, not just the lead detectives.
Profile Image for Sophie Whitbread.
85 reviews8 followers
May 2, 2020
This is number 8 in the Detective Kay Hunter series and having read and enjoyed all the previous books in the series I was looking forward to this one. ⁣

This still followed Kay and her team as they investigate a murder after finding a body in a river.⁣

As much as I still throughly enjoyed this one, it didnt grab me as much as the previous books had. Saying that, I still really enjoyed it. ⁣

I love how well the story flows throughout the investigation and easily into the main characters private lifes. I love when you find a good series and you feel just as invested into the main characters as much as you do the story! ⁣

If you are looking for a nice easy to follow crime thriller then this is a series you should but on your TBR! ⁣

☆☆☆.5 ⁣
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