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Dr. Samantha Willerby Mystery #4
Cut You Dead
Cut You Dead can be read as part of the Samantha Willerby Series or as an unmissable stand-alone.
You’ve got seven days… then you’re next
When a young woman falls to her death from a balcony, everyone thinks she lost her balance taking a daredevil selfie – until psychologist, Samantha Willerby, steps onto the scene. Called in by the Met to examine a series of cold cases, she uncovers a chilling link between this death and two others. The victims have one shocking detail in common: their hair was hacked off exactly seven days before they were killed.
When it comes to light that Sam knew one of the victims, she’s determined to break all the rules to track down this calculating serial killer with a terrifying calling card.
But the victims aren’t the only ones being watched. When Sam’s hair is slashed, she knows one thing for certain. She has only seven days before the murderer finishes the job. Can Sam get inside the mind of a ruthless killer before her first profiling case proves to be her last?
An utterly addictive fast-paced crime thriller, Cut you Dead will have you hooked from the first page. It will appeal to fans of authors such as L.J. Ross, Mark Billingham and Angela Marsons.
Cut You Dead can be read as part of the Samantha Willerby Series or as an unmissable stand-alone.
You’ve got seven days… then you’re next
When a young woman falls to her death from a balcony, everyone thinks she lost her balance taking a daredevil selfie – until psychologist, Samantha Willerby, steps onto the scene. Called in by the Met to examine a series of cold cases, she uncovers a chilling link between this death and two others. The victims have one shocking detail in common: their hair was hacked off exactly seven days before they were killed.
When it comes to light that Sam knew one of the victims, she’s determined to break all the rules to track down this calculating serial killer with a terrifying calling card.
But the victims aren’t the only ones being watched. When Sam’s hair is slashed, she knows one thing for certain. She has only seven days before the murderer finishes the job. Can Sam get inside the mind of a ruthless killer before her first profiling case proves to be her last?
An utterly addictive fast-paced crime thriller, Cut you Dead will have you hooked from the first page. It will appeal to fans of authors such as L.J. Ross, Mark Billingham and Angela Marsons.
Cut You Dead can be read as part of the Samantha Willerby Series or as an unmissable stand-alone.
351 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 25, 2020
347 people are currently reading
262 people want to read
About the author
A.J. Waines
11 books481 followersAJ Waines writes Psychological Thrillers with *over half-a-million* copies sold worldwide. She's a #1 International Bestselling Author: GIRL ON A TRAIN topped the full UK and Australian Kindle Charts in 2015 & 2016.
Follow on Facebook, Instagram or AJ's Blog
All her books can be read in any order:
The Evil Beneath, Girl on a Train, Dark Place to Hide, No Longer Safe, Inside the Whispers, Lost in the Lake, Don't you Dare, Perfect Bones, Enemy at the Window, Cut you Dead Find them all at: AJ Waines' Books
Formerly a Psychotherapist for fifteen years, she has worked with ex-offenders from high-security institutions, giving her a rare insight into abnormal psychology. She is fascinated by secrets and lies, crimes of passion, devious motives and anything hidden under floorboards.
*A Kindle (KDP) TOP 10 'MOST-READ AUTHOR' in UK (2016)*
AJ has book deals in UK, France, Germany, Norway, Hungary, Czech Republic and Canada (audiobooks). She lives in Hampshire, UK, with her husband.
Follow on Facebook, Instagram or AJ's Blog
All her books can be read in any order:
The Evil Beneath, Girl on a Train, Dark Place to Hide, No Longer Safe, Inside the Whispers, Lost in the Lake, Don't you Dare, Perfect Bones, Enemy at the Window, Cut you Dead Find them all at: AJ Waines' Books
Formerly a Psychotherapist for fifteen years, she has worked with ex-offenders from high-security institutions, giving her a rare insight into abnormal psychology. She is fascinated by secrets and lies, crimes of passion, devious motives and anything hidden under floorboards.
*A Kindle (KDP) TOP 10 'MOST-READ AUTHOR' in UK (2016)*
AJ has book deals in UK, France, Germany, Norway, Hungary, Czech Republic and Canada (audiobooks). She lives in Hampshire, UK, with her husband.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
June 2, 2021
First, I must say thank you to Bloodhound books and the author for an ARC, in exchange for an honest review.
I love this series, they have all been excellent reads. This is no exception, it has a very interesting plot line, which moves at a fantastic pace, with great well-developed characters. Especially the central characters. Definitely some developments there....
But before you start this book clear the decks, and lock yourself in. Then dive into the world of Dr Samantha Willerby. I cannot say enough positive things about this novel. It is superbly written and plotted. Ms Waines has excelled herself with this one.
Can’t wait for book 5. No Pressure!
I love this series, they have all been excellent reads. This is no exception, it has a very interesting plot line, which moves at a fantastic pace, with great well-developed characters. Especially the central characters. Definitely some developments there....
But before you start this book clear the decks, and lock yourself in. Then dive into the world of Dr Samantha Willerby. I cannot say enough positive things about this novel. It is superbly written and plotted. Ms Waines has excelled herself with this one.
Can’t wait for book 5. No Pressure!
April 2, 2020
Dr. Samantha Willerby, Psychologist, is asked by the Met to look into a series of cold cases. This will be her first profiling case ... and it may be her last.
A young woman falls to her death while taking a selfie. While looking at the files, she discovers a link to two other women who have died under suspicious circumstances. The link they share .... their hair was hacked off exactly 7 days before they were killed.
The victims aren't the only ones who were being stalked. When Sam discovers that her hair has been hacked, she knows she only has one week to find the killer ... before he pays a call on her.
The plot is tightly written with deftly drawn characters. Dr. Wellerby, first and foremost, wants to help enough to bring down the bad guys ... and she does a bang up job. This one is a page-turner with a few twists and turns that lead to an unexpected conclusion. Although 4th in the series, this is easily read as a stand alone. I do recommend starting at the beginning to find those nuggets that make this a more-than-interesting read.
Many thanks to the author / Bloodhound Books for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
A young woman falls to her death while taking a selfie. While looking at the files, she discovers a link to two other women who have died under suspicious circumstances. The link they share .... their hair was hacked off exactly 7 days before they were killed.
The victims aren't the only ones who were being stalked. When Sam discovers that her hair has been hacked, she knows she only has one week to find the killer ... before he pays a call on her.
The plot is tightly written with deftly drawn characters. Dr. Wellerby, first and foremost, wants to help enough to bring down the bad guys ... and she does a bang up job. This one is a page-turner with a few twists and turns that lead to an unexpected conclusion. Although 4th in the series, this is easily read as a stand alone. I do recommend starting at the beginning to find those nuggets that make this a more-than-interesting read.
Many thanks to the author / Bloodhound Books for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
April 3, 2020
CUT YOU DEAD is the fourth book in the Samantha Willerby Series by bestselling author A.J. Waines. This tense psychological thriller about a serial killer who snips off pieces of women’s hair, then kills them seven days later. This novel will keep you guessing until the end. It can easily be read as a stand-alone novel but I suggest you read in order to fully appreciate the ongoing character development, though the plots are standalones.
The books in the Dr Samantha Willerby Series Includes:
Inside the Whispers (Book 1)
Lost in the Lake (Book 2)
Perfect Bones (Book 3)
Cut You Dead (Book 4)
DCS Claussen from Metropolitan Police contacted Dr. Sam Willerby, a clinical psychologist, with a proposition, to look into some cold cases, oft the record. As Sam didn’t have any clinical work for a couple of weeks after finishing training on delusional behavior, Claussen felt she could benefit from her expertise. Sam would act as a profiler, scanning the files using her psychological expertise to find links they had missed, accessing the criminal mind of a killer. It was a great opportunity for Sam and one that she couldn’t refuse.
A woman, falls to death from a balcony taking a selfie. There was nothing to suggest this was anything other than a tragic accident. Nothing was found on the body except for a pair of hairdressing scissors. But when Sam steps onto the scene, she uncovers a chilling link between this death and two others. The victims have one shocking detail in common: their hair was hacked off exactly seven days before they were killed.
When it comes to light that Sam knew one of the victims, she’s determined to break all the rules to track down this calculating serial killer.
But when Sam’s hair is cut, she knows one thing for certain. She has only seven days before the murderer finishes the job. Sam must get inside the mind of a ruthless killer and get evidence as the clock is ticking.
Cut You Dead is a well-written addictive fast-paced psychological thriller that will appeal to a wide range of readers. I always believe that if an author can grip and involve the reader with an intriguing plot and memorable characters while providing insight while educating their audience…they have ticked all the boxes. I loved this novel! It was a pleasure to read and an easy 5-star rating.
Publication: April 2, 2020 by Bloodhound Books.
The books in the Dr Samantha Willerby Series Includes:
Inside the Whispers (Book 1)
Lost in the Lake (Book 2)
Perfect Bones (Book 3)
Cut You Dead (Book 4)
DCS Claussen from Metropolitan Police contacted Dr. Sam Willerby, a clinical psychologist, with a proposition, to look into some cold cases, oft the record. As Sam didn’t have any clinical work for a couple of weeks after finishing training on delusional behavior, Claussen felt she could benefit from her expertise. Sam would act as a profiler, scanning the files using her psychological expertise to find links they had missed, accessing the criminal mind of a killer. It was a great opportunity for Sam and one that she couldn’t refuse.
A woman, falls to death from a balcony taking a selfie. There was nothing to suggest this was anything other than a tragic accident. Nothing was found on the body except for a pair of hairdressing scissors. But when Sam steps onto the scene, she uncovers a chilling link between this death and two others. The victims have one shocking detail in common: their hair was hacked off exactly seven days before they were killed.
When it comes to light that Sam knew one of the victims, she’s determined to break all the rules to track down this calculating serial killer.
But when Sam’s hair is cut, she knows one thing for certain. She has only seven days before the murderer finishes the job. Sam must get inside the mind of a ruthless killer and get evidence as the clock is ticking.
Cut You Dead is a well-written addictive fast-paced psychological thriller that will appeal to a wide range of readers. I always believe that if an author can grip and involve the reader with an intriguing plot and memorable characters while providing insight while educating their audience…they have ticked all the boxes. I loved this novel! It was a pleasure to read and an easy 5-star rating.
Publication: April 2, 2020 by Bloodhound Books.
January 31, 2021
Actually fast paced even though I have been reading this for days (The amount of time I had to read each of those days were small). I found this story well written and compelling. I really liked Sam, Terry and other characters and the author was able to present them so well that I could really "see" them.
I have to admit that I was able to spot the murderer (around in 2/3 of the story and my "guess" was hardened even more as I was getting to the end., but couldn't figure out why. I found the why strangely satisfying.
A very solid mystery.
I have to admit that I was able to spot the murderer (around in 2/3 of the story and my "guess" was hardened even more as I was getting to the end., but couldn't figure out why. I found the why strangely satisfying.
A very solid mystery.
Read
March 30, 2020
Here's a recent Interview I did for a local book group about Cut you Dead [don’t worry, no spoilers!]:
Can you tell us, in just one sentence, what Cut you Dead is about?
It’s a psychological thriller about a serial killer who snips off pieces of women’s hair, then kills them seven days later.
Woah – sounds creepy! Tell us about your Lead Character:
Samantha Willerby is a feisty, jump-in-at-the-deep-end psychologist, who doesn’t always play by the rules. Readers have said that having a psychologist as the ‘amateur sleuth’ puts a refreshing new slant on police procedurals, where the lead character is often a detective. Sam looks at cases from a different perspective, focusing on ‘why’ and not ‘how’ a serious crime is committed, and putting together pieces of a puzzle that others don’t see.
Sam joins the police in a different way this time, is that right?
In her last adventure, Perfect Bones Perfect Bones, Sam helped the Met catch a killer in a grisly murder case. For Cut you Dead, an author friend of mine suggested I investigate cold cases. I loved this idea! I knew Sam would jump at the chance to try her hand at police profiling. So, in Cut you Dead, the Met bring Sam in to examine a batch of closed murder files to see what she can pick up that everyone else has missed. Using every avenue she can think of, and disobeying direct orders on the way, she starts to uncover a trail of clues that lead her right into the path of the killer.
What’s new and different about this book?
Many readers will have come across thrillers where the victim’s hair is cropped off, but in Cut you Dead there’s something different. The hair is not a trophy at the crime scene. To find out exactly what the killer does, you’ll have to read the book!
What sparked the original idea for Cut you Dead?
While I was mulling over ideas for the book, I came across a BBC podcast about delusional behaviour. As a former psychotherapist, I was fascinated by the case histories described in the programme. One of the oldest involved King Charles VI of France, who believed he was made of glass and who used to dress in reinforced clothing to protect himself. There were recent cases, too, such as the woman who felt she was being pursued by the producer of a reality TV show. It got my brain ticking over and I decided I’d like to write about a serial killer who suffered from some form of grandiose delusion – but not quite in the way you’d expect.
What kind of cold cases does Cut you Dead explore?
From the list of police cold cases, Sam picks out a couple of murders that show similarities with a recent death police think is accidental. The victims all had pieces of their hair hacked off several days before they were killed. The ‘hair-cutting’ idea arose when I was researching something else on the Internet (browsing the Net is a necessary indulgence for any writer!). I accidentally came across an intriguing court case involving a magistrate’s ruling on a man who cut off a girl's ponytail. The man (an ex-boyfriend) was acquitted at first, as the court came to the conclusion that the hair growing out of a person's head was by its nature dead and therefore couldn’t be harmed. I thought this was outrageous! Anyone who feels their hair is their crowning glory would be devastated to find a chunk of it missing. Thankfully, the High Court overturned the decision on grounds of the emotional damage caused.
Is it true that there’s a romantic element in the book?
I don’t want to give too much away, but a lot of readers told me they wanted Sam to finally meet someone – I shall just leave you with that!
Where is the book set and why?
Cut you Dead is set in the heart of London just after Christmas, when there’s snow and ice on the ground. Sam wants to get into shape, so she takes to the city streets to jog after dark. I love writing about London, it gives me an excuse to revisit it, in all its technicolour pizazz, in my mind! It was also the perfect setting for Cut you Dead; that fabulous combination of crowded places, where a silent perpetrator can slip into the shadows and secluded side streets, and danger can strike out of sight. There’s also the River Thames; majestic and brooding, especially at night-time – and treacherously fast. Sam is probably up against her most devious adversary yet, in this thriller. I found it very gripping to write and I hope you love reading it as much as I loved getting Sam’s story down onto the page!
Can you tell us, in just one sentence, what Cut you Dead is about?
It’s a psychological thriller about a serial killer who snips off pieces of women’s hair, then kills them seven days later.
Woah – sounds creepy! Tell us about your Lead Character:
Samantha Willerby is a feisty, jump-in-at-the-deep-end psychologist, who doesn’t always play by the rules. Readers have said that having a psychologist as the ‘amateur sleuth’ puts a refreshing new slant on police procedurals, where the lead character is often a detective. Sam looks at cases from a different perspective, focusing on ‘why’ and not ‘how’ a serious crime is committed, and putting together pieces of a puzzle that others don’t see.
Sam joins the police in a different way this time, is that right?
In her last adventure, Perfect Bones Perfect Bones, Sam helped the Met catch a killer in a grisly murder case. For Cut you Dead, an author friend of mine suggested I investigate cold cases. I loved this idea! I knew Sam would jump at the chance to try her hand at police profiling. So, in Cut you Dead, the Met bring Sam in to examine a batch of closed murder files to see what she can pick up that everyone else has missed. Using every avenue she can think of, and disobeying direct orders on the way, she starts to uncover a trail of clues that lead her right into the path of the killer.
What’s new and different about this book?
Many readers will have come across thrillers where the victim’s hair is cropped off, but in Cut you Dead there’s something different. The hair is not a trophy at the crime scene. To find out exactly what the killer does, you’ll have to read the book!
What sparked the original idea for Cut you Dead?
While I was mulling over ideas for the book, I came across a BBC podcast about delusional behaviour. As a former psychotherapist, I was fascinated by the case histories described in the programme. One of the oldest involved King Charles VI of France, who believed he was made of glass and who used to dress in reinforced clothing to protect himself. There were recent cases, too, such as the woman who felt she was being pursued by the producer of a reality TV show. It got my brain ticking over and I decided I’d like to write about a serial killer who suffered from some form of grandiose delusion – but not quite in the way you’d expect.
What kind of cold cases does Cut you Dead explore?
From the list of police cold cases, Sam picks out a couple of murders that show similarities with a recent death police think is accidental. The victims all had pieces of their hair hacked off several days before they were killed. The ‘hair-cutting’ idea arose when I was researching something else on the Internet (browsing the Net is a necessary indulgence for any writer!). I accidentally came across an intriguing court case involving a magistrate’s ruling on a man who cut off a girl's ponytail. The man (an ex-boyfriend) was acquitted at first, as the court came to the conclusion that the hair growing out of a person's head was by its nature dead and therefore couldn’t be harmed. I thought this was outrageous! Anyone who feels their hair is their crowning glory would be devastated to find a chunk of it missing. Thankfully, the High Court overturned the decision on grounds of the emotional damage caused.
Is it true that there’s a romantic element in the book?
I don’t want to give too much away, but a lot of readers told me they wanted Sam to finally meet someone – I shall just leave you with that!
Where is the book set and why?
Cut you Dead is set in the heart of London just after Christmas, when there’s snow and ice on the ground. Sam wants to get into shape, so she takes to the city streets to jog after dark. I love writing about London, it gives me an excuse to revisit it, in all its technicolour pizazz, in my mind! It was also the perfect setting for Cut you Dead; that fabulous combination of crowded places, where a silent perpetrator can slip into the shadows and secluded side streets, and danger can strike out of sight. There’s also the River Thames; majestic and brooding, especially at night-time – and treacherously fast. Sam is probably up against her most devious adversary yet, in this thriller. I found it very gripping to write and I hope you love reading it as much as I loved getting Sam’s story down onto the page!
March 30, 2020
Samantha Willerby is a psychologist who has previously worked on cases with the police. She is very surprised to be asked to work with them again, studying cold cases looking for signs of delusional killers. When visiting her friend Terry, who works with the police, she catches sight of a recent case file - Hazel was a young woman who fell from a balcony when taking an extreme selfie. Sam notices that she recently had her very long hair cut. When she starts searching the cold cases she comes across two murders where the victims, two young Solent, had their long hair cut a week before their deaths. While ignoring instructions from the police not to interview anyone Sam discovers both women had a chunk of hair cut by a mystery attacker leading to the drastic haircuts. Sam is convinced that Hazel was a victim of the same killer. Sam struggles to get the police to believe her theory and she continues to pursue an investigation; ultimately putting herself in danger.
Really enjoyed this book. Plenty of twist and turns and viable suspects to keep me guessing until the reveal.
Thanks to Bloodhound Books and A J Wayne’s for the ARC of this book in return for an honest review.
Really enjoyed this book. Plenty of twist and turns and viable suspects to keep me guessing until the reveal.
Thanks to Bloodhound Books and A J Wayne’s for the ARC of this book in return for an honest review.
April 2, 2020
So this admittedly was my first book by A.J.Waines and the first book I have read in the particular series. And I can tell you it undoubtedly won't be my last, well I actually have started book one in this series and have bought the others.
Plot
Samantha ( Sam) Willerby is a psychologist who works with the police. She is called into work on a series of cold cases. A young woman falls to her death while taking a selfie and there are links to other young women's demises.
This plot is powerful and chillingly exhilarating. I love the MO of the killer cutting a women's hair seven days before their deaths. This turned into a unique truly intriguing storyline with so many curls and twists.
Character.
Sam is a remarkable character who has much profoundness to her. But what is most evident is, she is a rule-breaker, determined and insightful. She is a ruthless and kickass cutthroat character.
I love when crime books involve psychologist as it brings more aspects and depth to the victims and murderers psyche.
Writing
A.J.Waines is a very talented author. As well as doing a tremendous job creating Samantha characters, she does a wonderful job of really letting us into each and every character. She takes us back to each victim's life before their deaths. And it truly gets us deep in the feels of each person.
She has also put in a lot of interesting, unique and quirky things into Samanthas personal life namely her relationship with her sister and other friendships/relationships.
Pacing
This is a fantastic enthralling fast-paced book which is hard not to read in one sitting. It plays like a movie in her mind/head. And you quickly want to finish it but also to have it significantly slow down so you can saviour more of this book as it's frankly outstanding.
Overall thoughts
It is a marvellous book with no significant unfavourable negatives. You are addictively latched on from the first word to the very last.
All the characters especially Sam was extraordinary. I highly highly recommend this book and the author. I thoroughly 100% enjoyed and loved this book. I'm extremely excited about carrying on with reading book one and the other three in the series.
Thank you to Ashely at bloodhound books for my review copy and all opinions are my own and truthful.
Read more at www.readingthroughthepain.blog
Plot
Samantha ( Sam) Willerby is a psychologist who works with the police. She is called into work on a series of cold cases. A young woman falls to her death while taking a selfie and there are links to other young women's demises.
This plot is powerful and chillingly exhilarating. I love the MO of the killer cutting a women's hair seven days before their deaths. This turned into a unique truly intriguing storyline with so many curls and twists.
Character.
Sam is a remarkable character who has much profoundness to her. But what is most evident is, she is a rule-breaker, determined and insightful. She is a ruthless and kickass cutthroat character.
I love when crime books involve psychologist as it brings more aspects and depth to the victims and murderers psyche.
Writing
A.J.Waines is a very talented author. As well as doing a tremendous job creating Samantha characters, she does a wonderful job of really letting us into each and every character. She takes us back to each victim's life before their deaths. And it truly gets us deep in the feels of each person.
She has also put in a lot of interesting, unique and quirky things into Samanthas personal life namely her relationship with her sister and other friendships/relationships.
Pacing
This is a fantastic enthralling fast-paced book which is hard not to read in one sitting. It plays like a movie in her mind/head. And you quickly want to finish it but also to have it significantly slow down so you can saviour more of this book as it's frankly outstanding.
Overall thoughts
It is a marvellous book with no significant unfavourable negatives. You are addictively latched on from the first word to the very last.
All the characters especially Sam was extraordinary. I highly highly recommend this book and the author. I thoroughly 100% enjoyed and loved this book. I'm extremely excited about carrying on with reading book one and the other three in the series.
Thank you to Ashely at bloodhound books for my review copy and all opinions are my own and truthful.
Read more at www.readingthroughthepain.blog
May 5, 2020
Excellent
The first word to come to my mind was "Excellent" Will have you hooked by page 2
I was very impressed by the author's way of expressing details I swear sometime I was watching a movie in my head
The first word to come to my mind was "Excellent" Will have you hooked by page 2
I was very impressed by the author's way of expressing details I swear sometime I was watching a movie in my head
May 21, 2020
This is the fourth book in the Dr. Samantha Willerby Series and it certainly does not disappoint.
When DCS Elsa Claussen contacts Sam out of the blue her mind is racing as to what the prickly woman would want from her this time. Their last encounter was strained and although Sam was an integral part of a successful investigation previously, her professional input was mocked, at best. This time around Sam would be taken seriously. A challenge is presented to her; find common links in cold cases that would offer any reference to delusional behaviour. An opportunity to great to pass up.
When a recent death of a young woman falling from her balcony seems to have common traits to a couple of cold cases, Dr. Willerby starts to untangle the chilling link between them all. All three of the female victims had beautiful long hair that just so happened to be hacked off in the back exactly a week prior to their death and without them knowing. What’s more chilling is that one of the previous victims was a patient of Sam’s. Determined now more than ever to get involved Sam unknowingly finds herself in the middle of this dangerous game and the stakes are raised when she to discovers her hair has been hacked off.
This books takes you through all the emotions of racing to find the killer while trying to put together the pieces of the past. It was well written and a great story. I’ve liked reading and watching these characters evolve and I can’t wait until the next installment.
When DCS Elsa Claussen contacts Sam out of the blue her mind is racing as to what the prickly woman would want from her this time. Their last encounter was strained and although Sam was an integral part of a successful investigation previously, her professional input was mocked, at best. This time around Sam would be taken seriously. A challenge is presented to her; find common links in cold cases that would offer any reference to delusional behaviour. An opportunity to great to pass up.
When a recent death of a young woman falling from her balcony seems to have common traits to a couple of cold cases, Dr. Willerby starts to untangle the chilling link between them all. All three of the female victims had beautiful long hair that just so happened to be hacked off in the back exactly a week prior to their death and without them knowing. What’s more chilling is that one of the previous victims was a patient of Sam’s. Determined now more than ever to get involved Sam unknowingly finds herself in the middle of this dangerous game and the stakes are raised when she to discovers her hair has been hacked off.
This books takes you through all the emotions of racing to find the killer while trying to put together the pieces of the past. It was well written and a great story. I’ve liked reading and watching these characters evolve and I can’t wait until the next installment.
April 2, 2020
Having just come to the end of a new training course to identify "delusions of grandeur" in offenders, Dr Samantha Willerby is all set to return to her job as a psychotherapist at St. Luke's in London when she receives a call from DCS Elsa Claussen from the Metropolitan Police, someone she has helped in the past. The DCS is asking her to root through cold cases for two weeks in the light of what she has just been learning to try to identify new leads. The evening before she starts she meets up with Terry Austin and sneaks a look at her old police friend's laptop by accident, intrigued by the case he is currently working on. Incorporating some elements of that crime into her searches during her first day of looking at cold cases she comes up with 2 more potentially linked victims. Could these three cases have been committed by the same person? She only has one thread linking them all together and knows she will need more in order to be taken seriously by the police. Each victim had received a radical haircut in the days before their death but why, when they were clearly so proud of their long hair? Despite warnings to the contrary, she sets out to interview witnesses and find more links by herself before handing it over to DI Fenway. Finding that one of the victims was a former patient of hers gives her access to more information. During this time she is still trying to support her mentally ill sister and is overjoyed to meet a friend of hers from the arts centre called Emily. They strike up a friendship and go running together in the evening but Sam has a nasty accident whilst waiting for the train home. She is rescued by Emily and other witnesses think she may have been pushed. When later on in the story she finds a piece of her own hair missing it's looking like she may have stumbled into the killer's sights. The story was fast paced and had a great plot. The chapters are broken up with accounts by the three victims as they were being stalked and killed, so the reader gets even more insight into what happened. There are plenty of suspects and false leads, so it was only towards the dramatic final chapters that I had a good idea who the killer was, and even then there were still surprises when the motives were laid bare. Very enjoyable and a great addition to the series. 5*
March 30, 2020
This is my review of Cut You Dead by A J Waines. It’s the fourth book in her Dr Willerby series which is set in London.
Dr Samantha Willerby works as a psychologist at St Lukes but the police request that she be seconded to them for a couple of weeks. This is to work on cold cases to see if she can bring any new information to them that may help them apprehend the offender for a case. She is keen to do it and makes a start the next day. She tries several different searches then finally gets a hit. There are two cases that come up.
It turns out that she knew the first victim as she was a former patient and she died in 2010. She’d had lovely long hair, then a week before she was killed, there was a chunk cut out of it so she had to have it restyled. Then just a few days later, her body had been found on the train tracks near a station but they didn’t know why.
The other case was more recent. Again another young lady with long hair until a chunk had been cut out so then she had it restyled. Over a week later she had been found dead by her friend at home.
Currently, in the news there had been a young woman who had fallen to her death after posing on her balcony to take a selfie. She was renowned for selfies and posting them on her instagram page where she had a lot of followers. The police were thinking possible suicide until Dr Samantha Willerby mentioned that that she had found out the woman had, also, had a chunk cut from her hair a week before the stunt. Then she had her hair restyled...after the police investigated, they started to change their way of thinking.
Who could the killer be? They got up close to their victims without them knowing and cut their hair. Then Sam found her own hair cut. Is she next on the killer’s list?
I totally enjoyed reading this book. Very fast paced and lots going on. I like the style, past and present but telling you which. Chapters with names, made it easier to read. Will look at reading more from this author and this series.
Dr Samantha Willerby works as a psychologist at St Lukes but the police request that she be seconded to them for a couple of weeks. This is to work on cold cases to see if she can bring any new information to them that may help them apprehend the offender for a case. She is keen to do it and makes a start the next day. She tries several different searches then finally gets a hit. There are two cases that come up.
It turns out that she knew the first victim as she was a former patient and she died in 2010. She’d had lovely long hair, then a week before she was killed, there was a chunk cut out of it so she had to have it restyled. Then just a few days later, her body had been found on the train tracks near a station but they didn’t know why.
The other case was more recent. Again another young lady with long hair until a chunk had been cut out so then she had it restyled. Over a week later she had been found dead by her friend at home.
Currently, in the news there had been a young woman who had fallen to her death after posing on her balcony to take a selfie. She was renowned for selfies and posting them on her instagram page where she had a lot of followers. The police were thinking possible suicide until Dr Samantha Willerby mentioned that that she had found out the woman had, also, had a chunk cut from her hair a week before the stunt. Then she had her hair restyled...after the police investigated, they started to change their way of thinking.
Who could the killer be? They got up close to their victims without them knowing and cut their hair. Then Sam found her own hair cut. Is she next on the killer’s list?
I totally enjoyed reading this book. Very fast paced and lots going on. I like the style, past and present but telling you which. Chapters with names, made it easier to read. Will look at reading more from this author and this series.
March 31, 2020
Not having read anything by this author before, I wasn’t sure what to expect. However, I must admit that I was hooked from the very beginning and particularly liked the main character of Sam. I enjoyed seeing how she put all the clues together to solve the crime - often against the orders of her superiors - and liked how she was a vulnerable yet strong character.
While it wasn’t the focus of the story - which is fundamentally about catching a serial killer - I really enjoyed her relationship with her sister, as well as with Terry, her long-time friend. The mystery of these suspicious deaths kept me reading quickly, and it resonated with me because there were a few cases in my home town when I was a teenager, where girls on buses had their hair cut by a stranger. So this story line felt particularly creepy!
What also worked well was the structure; flipping between Sam in the present day, and each of the victims in the last few days before their deaths. I must admit that I guessed who the killer was, but probably only because I’ve read so many books in this genre.
The only reason I didn’t give this book 5 stars is because the ending (no spoilers here) was over a little quickly for me, and I felt like some of the action took place ‘off page.’ However, I definitely enjoyed the book and will be buying the first three in the series.
While it wasn’t the focus of the story - which is fundamentally about catching a serial killer - I really enjoyed her relationship with her sister, as well as with Terry, her long-time friend. The mystery of these suspicious deaths kept me reading quickly, and it resonated with me because there were a few cases in my home town when I was a teenager, where girls on buses had their hair cut by a stranger. So this story line felt particularly creepy!
What also worked well was the structure; flipping between Sam in the present day, and each of the victims in the last few days before their deaths. I must admit that I guessed who the killer was, but probably only because I’ve read so many books in this genre.
The only reason I didn’t give this book 5 stars is because the ending (no spoilers here) was over a little quickly for me, and I felt like some of the action took place ‘off page.’ However, I definitely enjoyed the book and will be buying the first three in the series.
March 30, 2020
This is a thoroughly enthralling book which has you gripped from the outset. Samantha Willerby, a psychologist, has been taken on by the police to work on cold cases. Whilst doing so she stumbles upon a serial killer who "marks" their victim seven days before killing them. Samantha works on her own initiative to solve the case going beyond her remittance ultimately puts her own life at risk.
This is a fast paced book which is easy to read and follow. The author goes back through time to highlight how previous victims have met their end however when she does so the timescales are clearly defined.
As part of her investigations Samantha Willerby had many suspects but they all lead to dead ends until the real killer is identified.
A J Waines had already proven to be an excellent author and this book enhances her profile even more.
Thank you to Bloodhound Books for the ARC which I've reviewed voluntarily
This is a fast paced book which is easy to read and follow. The author goes back through time to highlight how previous victims have met their end however when she does so the timescales are clearly defined.
As part of her investigations Samantha Willerby had many suspects but they all lead to dead ends until the real killer is identified.
A J Waines had already proven to be an excellent author and this book enhances her profile even more.
Thank you to Bloodhound Books for the ARC which I've reviewed voluntarily
March 31, 2020
Samantha Willerby a psychologist, finds a common link between a young girl's death, whom everyone thought was an accident to the deaths of two other girls. They all had one thing in common...someone literally hacked off their hair before they were killed exactly seven days before their deaths! Now she knows this is the work of some sick serial killer...then her hair is wacked off also. Sam has seven days to find the killer or be killed. Can she do it? This is a wonderfully written psychological thriller that A. J. Waines is known for. Love these stories!!! I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book from Bloodhound Books.
April 15, 2020
Late to the Sam Willerby party, but glad I came.
My first book by this wonderful author and it most definitely won’t be my last.
Sam Willerby, a psychologist, is brought In by the PD to look at cold cases specifically around grandiose delusions which she has recently been studying. Sam soon works out a pattern from a serial killer who is on the loose and she soon will become the victim unless she can bring the pattern to a swift end.
This book was a real page turner and keeps you guessing throughout. I warmed to the main character, Sam, straight away. The book is brilliantly written and the details in which the author describes the scenery and the settings is magnificent. As soon as I finished the book I bought the rest in the series and will definitely be buying the next.
One other thing struck me about the book, in a world full of profanity and obscenity, this had none and in my opinion made it for a better and perfect read. Top class.
“It all stemmed from love”
My first book by this wonderful author and it most definitely won’t be my last.
Sam Willerby, a psychologist, is brought In by the PD to look at cold cases specifically around grandiose delusions which she has recently been studying. Sam soon works out a pattern from a serial killer who is on the loose and she soon will become the victim unless she can bring the pattern to a swift end.
This book was a real page turner and keeps you guessing throughout. I warmed to the main character, Sam, straight away. The book is brilliantly written and the details in which the author describes the scenery and the settings is magnificent. As soon as I finished the book I bought the rest in the series and will definitely be buying the next.
One other thing struck me about the book, in a world full of profanity and obscenity, this had none and in my opinion made it for a better and perfect read. Top class.
“It all stemmed from love”
December 13, 2024
I really liked how creatively evil the killer was in this one. However,
Really... Such a shame that seem to happen all too often in books about strong, female main characters. It's a trope I do not like - and one that made me a lot more suspicious about a certain someone than I would have been otherwise.
As for the murder plots, they were pretty cool, I think. I feel like this series has finally found it's pace - which seems ironic as there's currently no more books to find(?).
If more show up however, I'll gladly return to hang out with Sam for another book or three.
Really... Such a shame that seem to happen all too often in books about strong, female main characters. It's a trope I do not like - and one that made me a lot more suspicious about a certain someone than I would have been otherwise.
As for the murder plots, they were pretty cool, I think. I feel like this series has finally found it's pace - which seems ironic as there's currently no more books to find(?).
If more show up however, I'll gladly return to hang out with Sam for another book or three.
March 30, 2020
I was not familiar with this series, but I intend to change that and follow this author closely after reading this one.
This fast paced psychological thriller was surprisingly easy to read (I almost read it in one go, but work got in the way).
When Samantha Willerby is asked to look into cold cases to try and find potential killers fitting a certain kind of profile, she first thinks this will be an overwhelming task.
However, she soon finds clues linking several murders to an ongoing case about to be classified as an accident. Was it really an accident, or did she just discover proof there is an active serial killer ?
Must read!
This fast paced psychological thriller was surprisingly easy to read (I almost read it in one go, but work got in the way).
When Samantha Willerby is asked to look into cold cases to try and find potential killers fitting a certain kind of profile, she first thinks this will be an overwhelming task.
However, she soon finds clues linking several murders to an ongoing case about to be classified as an accident. Was it really an accident, or did she just discover proof there is an active serial killer ?
Must read!
March 31, 2020
Tense, addictive, fabulously well constructed and written with brilliant characters and storyline. Wow, just wow!! Each time I read a book by this author I think the next book couldn't possibly get any better, but they do.
March 30, 2020
Another great read from A. J. Waines. This story kept me enthralled. I loved how it kept me guessing as to who the bad guy was and not revealed until the end. What a wonderful, gripping ending. I feel like I know all of these characters. Thank you so much for your novels A. J. Waines!
March 31, 2020
4 th book of the Willerby series and I loved it ❤📚. 5***** deserved stars
April 9, 2020
I couldn’t put this book down!
At first I thought this is going to be your typical Murder story with the most obvious person being the murderer, boy was I wrong.
At first I thought this is going to be your typical Murder story with the most obvious person being the murderer, boy was I wrong.
August 1, 2020
I can only say I am really disappointed.
May 20, 2020
Amazing book, kept me right there turning page after page, I couldn't put it down. Brilliant plot and characters, kept me guessing until the end. This was the first book I've read from this author but I will be reading more!
May 19, 2020
book 4 from this series ... i think i am new to this author ... great writing style. great cover. i look forward to more from this author. just amazing. not my norm ... but had me curious.
May 11, 2020
Good book
Good book and an enjoyable read. It took a while to get the hang of the book moving characters and where In time it was, but overall I really enjoyed it.
Good book and an enjoyable read. It took a while to get the hang of the book moving characters and where In time it was, but overall I really enjoyed it.
May 3, 2020
Really enjoyed this who-done-it. Kept me guessing all the way through.
June 12, 2025
It has been an extremely long wait for us readers for the release of Cut You Dead, the fourth instalment in best selling Samantha Willerby series. 511 days to be exact! Yes, 511 days! The 8th of November 2018 was when the third book, Perfect Bones was released, so let me tell you, I was beyond excited when I was offered to read an advance copy of this new addition. I really couldn’t reply back to the email quick enough and nearly broke my iPad in the process! So was Cut You Dead worth the wait? Read on to find out…
I am not going to talk about the plot as the blurb gives more than enough of a tease and it really is best going in with just that. What I will say on it is that Alison has created a plot-line straight out of the darkest part of her wicked mind. It is an intriguing storyline that is really well structured and moves so seamlessly from the present to the past as the story unfolds, where it leads to a thrilling and satisfying conclusion.
What Alison achieves with this story is to make the reader feel uneasy and on edge as she builds up the tension and suspense throughout. With a serial killer that leaves an interesting calling card and process to kill their victims, I was on the edge of my seat on a number of occasions, as I furiously flipped the pages on my Kindle. Alison really is a credit to this genre and she knows just how to tease the reader and keep you hooked, which she expertly does in all of her books.
Alison has done such a great job with Sam. With each book, I like her more and more. She is strong-willed and I love how she pushes the boundaries to get justice. Although not without flaws, she really is a great lead character and I really liked the developments that occurred for her in this book. I am really looking forward to seeing how they will evolve going forward. All the other characters are also brought to life really well and play their roles out perfectly.
Cut You Dead is an addictive tense read. It is perfectly paced with well-developed characters, all told through engaging writing. With what is going on in the world at the moment as we find ourselves with more time on our hands, it is the perfect time to read this, as once you start you will not be able to stop. As each chapter ends, it dares you to put it down which is almost impossible to do! While Cut You Dead can be read as a standalone, you would be missing out not reading the other books in this fantastic series.
So to loop back to the beginning of my review. Was Cut You Dead worth the wait? Absolutely it was! It is stunning read from (as I mentioned in my review for Alison’s last book Enemy at the Window) “an insanely talented author” and I could not get enough of it! I would even say that this is the best book in the series yet! It was an absolute pleasure to read and review Cut You Dead which I highly recommend and is a contender to be part of my best books for 2020.
Thank you to Ashley Capaldi from Bloodhound Books for providing me with a free copy of the Cut You Dead ebook which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
I am not going to talk about the plot as the blurb gives more than enough of a tease and it really is best going in with just that. What I will say on it is that Alison has created a plot-line straight out of the darkest part of her wicked mind. It is an intriguing storyline that is really well structured and moves so seamlessly from the present to the past as the story unfolds, where it leads to a thrilling and satisfying conclusion.
What Alison achieves with this story is to make the reader feel uneasy and on edge as she builds up the tension and suspense throughout. With a serial killer that leaves an interesting calling card and process to kill their victims, I was on the edge of my seat on a number of occasions, as I furiously flipped the pages on my Kindle. Alison really is a credit to this genre and she knows just how to tease the reader and keep you hooked, which she expertly does in all of her books.
Alison has done such a great job with Sam. With each book, I like her more and more. She is strong-willed and I love how she pushes the boundaries to get justice. Although not without flaws, she really is a great lead character and I really liked the developments that occurred for her in this book. I am really looking forward to seeing how they will evolve going forward. All the other characters are also brought to life really well and play their roles out perfectly.
Cut You Dead is an addictive tense read. It is perfectly paced with well-developed characters, all told through engaging writing. With what is going on in the world at the moment as we find ourselves with more time on our hands, it is the perfect time to read this, as once you start you will not be able to stop. As each chapter ends, it dares you to put it down which is almost impossible to do! While Cut You Dead can be read as a standalone, you would be missing out not reading the other books in this fantastic series.
So to loop back to the beginning of my review. Was Cut You Dead worth the wait? Absolutely it was! It is stunning read from (as I mentioned in my review for Alison’s last book Enemy at the Window) “an insanely talented author” and I could not get enough of it! I would even say that this is the best book in the series yet! It was an absolute pleasure to read and review Cut You Dead which I highly recommend and is a contender to be part of my best books for 2020.
Thank you to Ashley Capaldi from Bloodhound Books for providing me with a free copy of the Cut You Dead ebook which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
April 2, 2020
I have read a few books by A. J. Waines now and I have loved every single one. I have to say that I have a particular liking for the series featuring Doctor Samantha Willerby. 'Cut You Dead' is the fourth instalment of the Doctor Samantha Willerby series and what an instalment it is. I totally and utterly absolutely loved 'Cut You Dead' but more about that in a bit.
What can I say about Samantha Willerby? Other than I really admire her but I also want her job!! 'Cut You Dead' sees her take the opportunity to do a bit of offender profiling for a local police force. Sam has recently completed a training course on offender profiling and she is itching to put the theory into practice. I was rather envious of Sam on this because I would absolutely love to be a criminal psychologist. As it is too late for me to embark on this career path, I sort of started to live my dream through Sam. I took to Sam from the start and it didn't take me long to feel as though she had become a friend of mine. She is fun, feisty, determined, stubborn, courageous but she is also human as she has made a few mistakes over the years or she has suffered setbacks. She hasn't let this hold her back though. She pulls up her big girl's pants, dusts herself down and carries on.
It didn't take me long at all too get into 'Cut You Dead'. In fact by the time I got to the end of the first page, I knew that this was going to be one book that I would be unable to put down for any length of time. The book wasn't exactly glued to my hand but it might as well have been because it travelled everywhere with me. I wasn't willing to miss a single second of the story. I think part of the reason was the fact that I found the subject matter so interesting that I couldn't stop reading because I just had to know what happened next. The pages turned over increasingly quickly and I reached the end of the book far quicker than I had intended or expected. My only little problem was the fact that the book had to end! I was enjoying the book so much that I just wanted it to continue.
'Cut You Dead' is brilliantly written but then I find that to be true of all of A. J. Waines' books. She certainly knows how to grab your attention with an eye catching synopsis and she starts the story with a bang. For me, 'Cut You Dead' was perfectly paced- it hit the ground running and maintained the fast pace throughout. I loved the level of tension in the story, I loved the psychological aspect to the story, I loved the characters and I loved the story. A. J. Waines' uses such vivid and graphic descriptions that I really did feel as though I was part of the story myself.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'Cut You Dead'. I would definitely recommend this author, this book and this series to other readers. I will definitely be reading more of this author's work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.
What can I say about Samantha Willerby? Other than I really admire her but I also want her job!! 'Cut You Dead' sees her take the opportunity to do a bit of offender profiling for a local police force. Sam has recently completed a training course on offender profiling and she is itching to put the theory into practice. I was rather envious of Sam on this because I would absolutely love to be a criminal psychologist. As it is too late for me to embark on this career path, I sort of started to live my dream through Sam. I took to Sam from the start and it didn't take me long to feel as though she had become a friend of mine. She is fun, feisty, determined, stubborn, courageous but she is also human as she has made a few mistakes over the years or she has suffered setbacks. She hasn't let this hold her back though. She pulls up her big girl's pants, dusts herself down and carries on.
It didn't take me long at all too get into 'Cut You Dead'. In fact by the time I got to the end of the first page, I knew that this was going to be one book that I would be unable to put down for any length of time. The book wasn't exactly glued to my hand but it might as well have been because it travelled everywhere with me. I wasn't willing to miss a single second of the story. I think part of the reason was the fact that I found the subject matter so interesting that I couldn't stop reading because I just had to know what happened next. The pages turned over increasingly quickly and I reached the end of the book far quicker than I had intended or expected. My only little problem was the fact that the book had to end! I was enjoying the book so much that I just wanted it to continue.
'Cut You Dead' is brilliantly written but then I find that to be true of all of A. J. Waines' books. She certainly knows how to grab your attention with an eye catching synopsis and she starts the story with a bang. For me, 'Cut You Dead' was perfectly paced- it hit the ground running and maintained the fast pace throughout. I loved the level of tension in the story, I loved the psychological aspect to the story, I loved the characters and I loved the story. A. J. Waines' uses such vivid and graphic descriptions that I really did feel as though I was part of the story myself.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'Cut You Dead'. I would definitely recommend this author, this book and this series to other readers. I will definitely be reading more of this author's work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.
May 28, 2020
Is it a romance novel or a thriller
This book didn’t come together for me. A psychologist fighting crime, more or less on her own. The developing romance was childish and their "fight" was something teenagers might argue about but not mature adults. The mystery side wasn’t believable either. The heroine doesn’t follow rules or procedures and does whatever she wants. I was tempted to stop reading the book but I didn’t have another to read so I finished it. Two stars because I did finish the book. The review is more to remind me why I didn’t like the book than a review for others.
This book didn’t come together for me. A psychologist fighting crime, more or less on her own. The developing romance was childish and their "fight" was something teenagers might argue about but not mature adults. The mystery side wasn’t believable either. The heroine doesn’t follow rules or procedures and does whatever she wants. I was tempted to stop reading the book but I didn’t have another to read so I finished it. Two stars because I did finish the book. The review is more to remind me why I didn’t like the book than a review for others.
September 17, 2025
You won't want to put this book down!
I didn't read the series, just this book, as it's been in my library for a while. I don't feel as though I've missed out on anything, having not read the series, nor do I feel as if anything was taken away from this book. It read just fine as a standalone.
I figured out who the killer was about 1/3 into the book. I couldn't figure out why the individual killed, though, until the end, but I'd definitely called it, and was right! Having figured out early on who the killer was didn't in any way take away from how good the book was. I still wanted to read and know more. I'd also highly recommend this book to others, too.
I didn't read the series, just this book, as it's been in my library for a while. I don't feel as though I've missed out on anything, having not read the series, nor do I feel as if anything was taken away from this book. It read just fine as a standalone.
I figured out who the killer was about 1/3 into the book. I couldn't figure out why the individual killed, though, until the end, but I'd definitely called it, and was right! Having figured out early on who the killer was didn't in any way take away from how good the book was. I still wanted to read and know more. I'd also highly recommend this book to others, too.
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