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Detective Kay Hunter #9
Turn to Dust
When the body of a naked man is found in the middle of a barren field, Detective Kay Hunter realises the investigation will test her skills to the limit.
With only one clue to the victim’s identity, her inquiries lead her to local charities for war veterans and the homeless – both of which are underfunded and overwhelmed.
Discovering that someone is offering money in return for information about the dead man and anyone connected to him, Kay realises that there is a disturbing and dark side to the victim’s past.
When a key witness disappears from a local temporary shelter, she fears the worst.
Can Kay and her team of detectives find out who is behind the man’s murder before another vulnerable person is targeted?
With only one clue to the victim’s identity, her inquiries lead her to local charities for war veterans and the homeless – both of which are underfunded and overwhelmed.
Discovering that someone is offering money in return for information about the dead man and anyone connected to him, Kay realises that there is a disturbing and dark side to the victim’s past.
When a key witness disappears from a local temporary shelter, she fears the worst.
Can Kay and her team of detectives find out who is behind the man’s murder before another vulnerable person is targeted?
338 pages, ebook
First published July 13, 2020
172 people are currently reading
255 people want to read
About the author
Rachel Amphlett
206 books677 followersBefore 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
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 63 reviews
January 20, 2022
This is such an enjoyable series and I am really glad I still have a few more left to read before I catch up with the latest offering.
Turn to Dust opens with a very mysterious death - a naked man, lying in a field, with very unusual injuries. No more about that because I do not want to give anything away. Kay organises her team with her usual skill to discover who he is and how he came to be there. What they discover opens up a whole new case involving people being kept for slave labour - who would have thought that would be happening in the bucolic countryside of Kent!
The author has created a really excellent character in Kay Hunter. She is good at her job, manages her staff well, has a great relationship with her husband and is generally someone I would like to know. Her husband Adam's contribution to this book is a cute bunch of baby foxes, being hand fed in the kitchen. A country vet seems to have a very varied practice!
I enjoyed it very much and if real life had not intruded I would have liked to have read it in one sitting! That's how interesting it was. Five easy stars.
Turn to Dust opens with a very mysterious death - a naked man, lying in a field, with very unusual injuries. No more about that because I do not want to give anything away. Kay organises her team with her usual skill to discover who he is and how he came to be there. What they discover opens up a whole new case involving people being kept for slave labour - who would have thought that would be happening in the bucolic countryside of Kent!
The author has created a really excellent character in Kay Hunter. She is good at her job, manages her staff well, has a great relationship with her husband and is generally someone I would like to know. Her husband Adam's contribution to this book is a cute bunch of baby foxes, being hand fed in the kitchen. A country vet seems to have a very varied practice!
I enjoyed it very much and if real life had not intruded I would have liked to have read it in one sitting! That's how interesting it was. Five easy stars.
July 8, 2020
When Detective Kay Hunter was directed to a muddy field outside Kent, she didn’t expect the case that followed to be so deeply consuming, so frustratingly sad. The body of the naked man with horrific injuries baffled the force for some time, but once they realized how he’d received his injuries it made sense. The killer they were after was obviously a brutal psychopath – they needed to catch the person before someone else was targeted.
Kay was approached clandestinely by a person with information pertaining to the case, but that person was terrified for their life. Kay, along with Barnes, Piper, Carys, Laura and the rest of the team worked around the clock to find the answers, and the killer, before it was too late. What horrors would they uncover?
Turn to Dust is the breathtaking new read by Aussie author Rachel Amphlett - #9 in the Kay Hunter series - and it was excellent. Fast paced, filled with tension and gripping twists, the build up to the conclusion was outstanding. A fabulous series with Turn to Dust adding to the enjoyment. Highly recommended.
With thanks to the author for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
Kay was approached clandestinely by a person with information pertaining to the case, but that person was terrified for their life. Kay, along with Barnes, Piper, Carys, Laura and the rest of the team worked around the clock to find the answers, and the killer, before it was too late. What horrors would they uncover?
Turn to Dust is the breathtaking new read by Aussie author Rachel Amphlett - #9 in the Kay Hunter series - and it was excellent. Fast paced, filled with tension and gripping twists, the build up to the conclusion was outstanding. A fabulous series with Turn to Dust adding to the enjoyment. Highly recommended.
With thanks to the author for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
April 27, 2021
I came in at book 9 of the series and am not inclined to read more of these. This one starts with a farmer discovering the naked body of a man in one of his fields and it is a rather sizable team under Hunter that investigates something that did not strike me as close to feasible.
July 23, 2020
I do love Kay Hunter! Whenever there is a new Rachel Amphlett book out I am always desperate to read it. I listened to this one on audible and devoured it in 2 days driving to to and from work. The Kay Hunter series is my favourite of hers and Turn to Dust was once again fantastic.
This one opens with a real bang, with Rachel and the team called to the scene where a man has been found murdered in a field. He is naked and has some bizarre injuries. Wait until you find out how he died!! The race to discover who this man is, why he has been killed and by who is on. Along with her regular team of Barnes, Carys, Laura and Gavin they work around the clock to find the killer and give justice to the victim. As always Kay is passionate and will not give up no matter what is thrown at her. She is a strong leader, well respected by her collegues.
If you haven't picked up a book by Rachel Amphlett what are you doing? Go get your hands on one now, you will not be disappointed.
Turn to Dust is out now and is book 9 in the Detective Kay Hunter series.
This one opens with a real bang, with Rachel and the team called to the scene where a man has been found murdered in a field. He is naked and has some bizarre injuries. Wait until you find out how he died!! The race to discover who this man is, why he has been killed and by who is on. Along with her regular team of Barnes, Carys, Laura and Gavin they work around the clock to find the killer and give justice to the victim. As always Kay is passionate and will not give up no matter what is thrown at her. She is a strong leader, well respected by her collegues.
If you haven't picked up a book by Rachel Amphlett what are you doing? Go get your hands on one now, you will not be disappointed.
Turn to Dust is out now and is book 9 in the Detective Kay Hunter series.
July 16, 2020
“The ‘murder’ of crows should have alerted him.”
OK! So first off, I need to get the apologies to author Rachel Amphlett, consigned to paper and off my conscience. I have been an avid follower of Rachel’s work since the beginning of the Kay Hunter series and although I have promoted and featured all of the previous eight books, I have never actually made time to review a single one of them, and for that I am truly sorry!
I only say this now, because it was with a little trepidation that I accepted a spot on the Blog Tour for Turn To Dust, as a review feature only, fearing that the book may not work well as a stand alone story in such an advanced series and I may therefore not give a review due justice.
HOWEVER, I need not have worried, as this one was a brilliant stand alone story, which I devoured in pretty record time for me. Yes, there were obviously the faintest rumblings of a personal backstory for Kay, but it was totally non obtrusive and I didn’t need to know anything about it, to appreciate this as an excellent crime thriller / police procedural.
Rachel hit the spot with an amazing, on-trend, multi aspect storyline, which had a suspenseful plot, good character development, with a strong emphasis on realistic police procedurals and an ending which tied up all the loose ends nicely!
By about half way through the story, I began to have my suspicions about the crime scene and the identity of the culprit, which had me turning the pages ever faster, so that I could see if I was right! I was willing Kay’s team to catch up with my thinking and the longer it took them, the more convinced I became that I had fallen for a red herring!
Ah! eventually we were all reading off the same page, although it turns out I was only partially correct in my deductions, as the whole story, when it was finally uncovered, was much more depraved, disgusting and terrible, than I could ever possibly have imagined.
It is not often that written details of a police investigation can capture my imagination in quite the same way as if I had watched it on the small screen. However such was the visual and descriptive quality of the narrative and dialogue, I could easily imagine myself in the thick of things in the incident room, listening in on one of Kay’s team briefings and being given my next assignment in the investigation, or being included in the office banter. Every step of the investigation was documented in the text of the story, in exactly the same way as a real investigation would be, including the very gory forensic and scenes of crime details, which were rich in detail, with great emphasis on authenticity.
References to the plight of the homeless communities, which focussed more specifically on ex- services personnel, were documented sympathetically, clearly highlighting the vulnerability of such disadvantaged communities, at the hands of unscrupulous organisations and gangs.
There were the obvious rivalries between the investigating team, although they never threatened to disrupt the smooth execution of the investigation and the common goal of finding justice for the victims. Kay is an excellent leader and a great believer in collaborative thinking. She values her team, always trying to keep them motivated when there are the inevitable setbacks and dead ends, and they appear to work well together. She has taken the time and trouble to get to know all their individual strengths and weaknesses, but is not afraid to learn from any mistakes in judgement she might make, in allowing them to use their own initiative and to back their own hunches. Likewise, her relationship with her own line manager is frank and open, with her not being afraid to seek help and accept advice when she needs to, although she is also prepared to stand her ground and fight her corner, if she feels she is not being heard, or given the backing for her decisions she thinks she deserves.
I was getting the vibes that Kay and her partner Adam, (who is a vet) may have had some past history in their relationship, as seems to be the case with so many fictional detectives, however they seem to be very supportive of one another now, each knowing when the other has had a tough day and knowing when to listen and not to talk and judge.
Rachel introduced us to some brilliantly choreographed human traffickers, who you just couldn’t do anything else but despise, either for the sheer callousness of their behaviour, or perversely in others, their innate weakness in not stopping or preventing the atrocities and allowing them to continue unabated. A disturbing, yet compelling insight and social commentary, into the true depths of man’s inhumanity to man.
I was totally invested in all the characters, particularly Kay’s team, so it’s a real shame that they will be facing slight upheaval now, as one of their number is moving on to pastures new, with a well deserved promotion. However, there is new blood waiting in the wings and she seems to fit in just fine, so all should be good for book #10
Please tell me there is going to be a book #10 ??
OK! So first off, I need to get the apologies to author Rachel Amphlett, consigned to paper and off my conscience. I have been an avid follower of Rachel’s work since the beginning of the Kay Hunter series and although I have promoted and featured all of the previous eight books, I have never actually made time to review a single one of them, and for that I am truly sorry!
I only say this now, because it was with a little trepidation that I accepted a spot on the Blog Tour for Turn To Dust, as a review feature only, fearing that the book may not work well as a stand alone story in such an advanced series and I may therefore not give a review due justice.
HOWEVER, I need not have worried, as this one was a brilliant stand alone story, which I devoured in pretty record time for me. Yes, there were obviously the faintest rumblings of a personal backstory for Kay, but it was totally non obtrusive and I didn’t need to know anything about it, to appreciate this as an excellent crime thriller / police procedural.
Rachel hit the spot with an amazing, on-trend, multi aspect storyline, which had a suspenseful plot, good character development, with a strong emphasis on realistic police procedurals and an ending which tied up all the loose ends nicely!
By about half way through the story, I began to have my suspicions about the crime scene and the identity of the culprit, which had me turning the pages ever faster, so that I could see if I was right! I was willing Kay’s team to catch up with my thinking and the longer it took them, the more convinced I became that I had fallen for a red herring!
Ah! eventually we were all reading off the same page, although it turns out I was only partially correct in my deductions, as the whole story, when it was finally uncovered, was much more depraved, disgusting and terrible, than I could ever possibly have imagined.
It is not often that written details of a police investigation can capture my imagination in quite the same way as if I had watched it on the small screen. However such was the visual and descriptive quality of the narrative and dialogue, I could easily imagine myself in the thick of things in the incident room, listening in on one of Kay’s team briefings and being given my next assignment in the investigation, or being included in the office banter. Every step of the investigation was documented in the text of the story, in exactly the same way as a real investigation would be, including the very gory forensic and scenes of crime details, which were rich in detail, with great emphasis on authenticity.
References to the plight of the homeless communities, which focussed more specifically on ex- services personnel, were documented sympathetically, clearly highlighting the vulnerability of such disadvantaged communities, at the hands of unscrupulous organisations and gangs.
There were the obvious rivalries between the investigating team, although they never threatened to disrupt the smooth execution of the investigation and the common goal of finding justice for the victims. Kay is an excellent leader and a great believer in collaborative thinking. She values her team, always trying to keep them motivated when there are the inevitable setbacks and dead ends, and they appear to work well together. She has taken the time and trouble to get to know all their individual strengths and weaknesses, but is not afraid to learn from any mistakes in judgement she might make, in allowing them to use their own initiative and to back their own hunches. Likewise, her relationship with her own line manager is frank and open, with her not being afraid to seek help and accept advice when she needs to, although she is also prepared to stand her ground and fight her corner, if she feels she is not being heard, or given the backing for her decisions she thinks she deserves.
I was getting the vibes that Kay and her partner Adam, (who is a vet) may have had some past history in their relationship, as seems to be the case with so many fictional detectives, however they seem to be very supportive of one another now, each knowing when the other has had a tough day and knowing when to listen and not to talk and judge.
Rachel introduced us to some brilliantly choreographed human traffickers, who you just couldn’t do anything else but despise, either for the sheer callousness of their behaviour, or perversely in others, their innate weakness in not stopping or preventing the atrocities and allowing them to continue unabated. A disturbing, yet compelling insight and social commentary, into the true depths of man’s inhumanity to man.
I was totally invested in all the characters, particularly Kay’s team, so it’s a real shame that they will be facing slight upheaval now, as one of their number is moving on to pastures new, with a well deserved promotion. However, there is new blood waiting in the wings and she seems to fit in just fine, so all should be good for book #10
Please tell me there is going to be a book #10 ??
July 17, 2020
Having only read the first couple of books in the Detective Kay Hunter series, having now read this one, the 9th book, I am quite annoyed with myself for not having read the others. This was a huge reminder that I have been missing out on some brilliant books. It reads well as a standalone though and there were only a couple of things that left me wondering about certain aspects of Kay’s life but not enough to spoil my enjoyment.
What an opening and more importantly, what a storyline! I don’t want to say too much in fear of giving away any spoilers but the way this victim died was baffling to say the least. Even getting further into the story wasn’t making things any clearer for me the reader, or Kay and her team. I thought this was one case that would have us all completely stumped and there would be no solving it.
The author opens a whole can of worms touching on different and very important topics. I’m not going to say which ones though, as again, the less you know about this book before heading in, the better. You need to read and discover it for yourself. It makes for some fascinating reading though and it blew my mind with where the author gets her ideas from and the research she must have done for this particular story.
Turn To Dust grabbed me by the throat and wasn’t letting me go anytime soon. This is one of the best story line’s in a detective novel that I have read in awhile. It was fresh and had me totally gripped by the authors skilful storytelling. If you haven’t already discovered this series for yourself then you really need to make a start. A brilliantly clever and addictive read.
What an opening and more importantly, what a storyline! I don’t want to say too much in fear of giving away any spoilers but the way this victim died was baffling to say the least. Even getting further into the story wasn’t making things any clearer for me the reader, or Kay and her team. I thought this was one case that would have us all completely stumped and there would be no solving it.
The author opens a whole can of worms touching on different and very important topics. I’m not going to say which ones though, as again, the less you know about this book before heading in, the better. You need to read and discover it for yourself. It makes for some fascinating reading though and it blew my mind with where the author gets her ideas from and the research she must have done for this particular story.
Turn To Dust grabbed me by the throat and wasn’t letting me go anytime soon. This is one of the best story line’s in a detective novel that I have read in awhile. It was fresh and had me totally gripped by the authors skilful storytelling. If you haven’t already discovered this series for yourself then you really need to make a start. A brilliantly clever and addictive read.
July 13, 2020
This is a fantastic series which I've enjoyed so much and I can hardly believe that this is book nine - and yet, I feel as if I know Kay Hunter and her team so well!
When the body of a man is discovered on farmland purely by chance it causes fear throughout the local rural community; Kay and her team need to get to grips with this one - and quickly. This is no ordinary murder and when it transpires than someone is around offering cash for information, it becomes more urgent to get on top of it all. With every officer and the associated agencies working flat out, can further deaths be avoided?
Rachel Amphlett has been a favourite author for quite some time and I just couldn't pass up the chance of joining the blog tour for her latest Kay Hunter novel, despite the fact that I'm on my annual break. Some authors are just too good to miss! I feel as if Kay is a friend now and the details of her life with husband Adam provide some much needed light relief in amongst the gory details of her investigations. As always, the answer to solving the case is many hours of plodding through the evidence and leaving no stone unturned and it's Kay's job to look after the morale of her team whilst driving things forward. This is, once again, a stimulating and spellbinding read which kept me on my toes from beginning to end in a series which goes from strength to strength while the author keeps it fresh and lively. Absolutely a five star read and a hearty recommendation from me.
When the body of a man is discovered on farmland purely by chance it causes fear throughout the local rural community; Kay and her team need to get to grips with this one - and quickly. This is no ordinary murder and when it transpires than someone is around offering cash for information, it becomes more urgent to get on top of it all. With every officer and the associated agencies working flat out, can further deaths be avoided?
Rachel Amphlett has been a favourite author for quite some time and I just couldn't pass up the chance of joining the blog tour for her latest Kay Hunter novel, despite the fact that I'm on my annual break. Some authors are just too good to miss! I feel as if Kay is a friend now and the details of her life with husband Adam provide some much needed light relief in amongst the gory details of her investigations. As always, the answer to solving the case is many hours of plodding through the evidence and leaving no stone unturned and it's Kay's job to look after the morale of her team whilst driving things forward. This is, once again, a stimulating and spellbinding read which kept me on my toes from beginning to end in a series which goes from strength to strength while the author keeps it fresh and lively. Absolutely a five star read and a hearty recommendation from me.
July 15, 2020
Finished reading: June 6th 2020
"Life went on, and so did the need for justice."
*** A copy of this book was kindly provided to me in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ***
P.S. Find more of my reviews here.
August 29, 2020
Human slavery is just plain evil to begin with! Great story line, well written, and captivating (at least to me). #9 in the series, I do so hope there is a #10.
4.5 stars and 2 thumbs up!
From the blurb: Discovering that someone is offering money in return for information about the dead man and anyone connected to him, Detective Kay Hunter realises there is a dark side to the victim’s past.
When a key witness disappears and a web of deceit and lies threatens to derail the investigation, she fears the worst.
Can Kay and her team of detectives find out who is behind the man’s murder before another victim is targeted?
Turn to Dust is the ninth book in the Detective Kay Hunter series and perfect for readers who enjoy fast-paced murder mysteries.
4.5 stars and 2 thumbs up!
From the blurb: Discovering that someone is offering money in return for information about the dead man and anyone connected to him, Detective Kay Hunter realises there is a dark side to the victim’s past.
When a key witness disappears and a web of deceit and lies threatens to derail the investigation, she fears the worst.
Can Kay and her team of detectives find out who is behind the man’s murder before another victim is targeted?
Turn to Dust is the ninth book in the Detective Kay Hunter series and perfect for readers who enjoy fast-paced murder mysteries.
May 13, 2024
3 stars
I think this book lost me due to the similarity (at least in the beginning, same MO) with one of Jack Reacher books. The other part that didn't sit right with me it was the "we owe it to whatever to find this killer" which was being laid far too thick.
There is some gruesome violence which I am not sure what was the purpose, it didn't make the book any better, on the contrary. In the end the whole thing relied again on someone's full confession.
I think this book lost me due to the similarity (at least in the beginning, same MO) with one of Jack Reacher books. The other part that didn't sit right with me it was the "we owe it to whatever to find this killer" which was being laid far too thick.
There is some gruesome violence which I am not sure what was the purpose, it didn't make the book any better, on the contrary. In the end the whole thing relied again on someone's full confession.
September 17, 2020
Turn to Dust is book nine in the Kay Hunter…book nine!! How did that happen!? I have enjoyed every single book in this series and always shout about them given the opportunity. Kay Hunter is one of my favourite detectives and I’ve loved following her journey.
The body of a naked man is found in a farmer’s field but his injuries are so horrific and inconsistent with his location that Kay and her team are thrown for a loop. One of his only identifying features is a military style tattoo and going down this line of investigation leads to dark discoveries about the murdered mans past.
When a young woman comes forward claiming to know the victim things take a turn for the even darker and a man is soon in town offering money for information on the dead man and anyone connected to him. Kay is in a race against time to protect the witness and discover the truth behind the lies.
You could easily read this book as a standalone but I always recommend reading the full series.
Kay and her team are fantastic and it looks like there’s change on its way for them all…bring on book ten!
The body of a naked man is found in a farmer’s field but his injuries are so horrific and inconsistent with his location that Kay and her team are thrown for a loop. One of his only identifying features is a military style tattoo and going down this line of investigation leads to dark discoveries about the murdered mans past.
When a young woman comes forward claiming to know the victim things take a turn for the even darker and a man is soon in town offering money for information on the dead man and anyone connected to him. Kay is in a race against time to protect the witness and discover the truth behind the lies.
You could easily read this book as a standalone but I always recommend reading the full series.
Kay and her team are fantastic and it looks like there’s change on its way for them all…bring on book ten!
July 22, 2020
I’m so happy to have another entry in this series and Turn to Dust is every bit as good as the earlier books.
When Detective Kay Hunter is called to the scene where a man’s body was found, it doesn’t take long before she and her team begin to find hints that this is no ordinary crime but they have no idea how dark this one is going to get. The man’s injuries are exceedingly bad, much worse than they’re used to seeing but, before much time goes by, they learn just why the body is in this condition.
Not long after, the team hears that someone is offering payment for information about the victim and a critical witness goes missing. All efforts go towards finding this girl and the trail leads them in some truly horrifying directions, ultimately towards the answers that show just how depraved and vicious some people can be.
As always in Ms. Amphlett’s books, a good deal of attention is paid to the individual team members — Barnes, Carys and all the others — and their interactions with each other, based on a camaraderie that has grown over time. I especially enjoy the time spent with Kay and her veterinarian husband, Adam, always wanting to see what adorable animals he’s going to bring home.
Alison Campbell continues doing an excellent job with the audiobook narration and, in fact, she gets better with each book. One thing in particular that struck me this time is that her tone is really mellow and soothing which you would think wouldn’t be quite right for a police procedural but somehow it works very well. Between her narration and Ms. Amphlett’s terrific storytelling, I’m already anticipating the next book 🙂
When Detective Kay Hunter is called to the scene where a man’s body was found, it doesn’t take long before she and her team begin to find hints that this is no ordinary crime but they have no idea how dark this one is going to get. The man’s injuries are exceedingly bad, much worse than they’re used to seeing but, before much time goes by, they learn just why the body is in this condition.
Not long after, the team hears that someone is offering payment for information about the victim and a critical witness goes missing. All efforts go towards finding this girl and the trail leads them in some truly horrifying directions, ultimately towards the answers that show just how depraved and vicious some people can be.
As always in Ms. Amphlett’s books, a good deal of attention is paid to the individual team members — Barnes, Carys and all the others — and their interactions with each other, based on a camaraderie that has grown over time. I especially enjoy the time spent with Kay and her veterinarian husband, Adam, always wanting to see what adorable animals he’s going to bring home.
Alison Campbell continues doing an excellent job with the audiobook narration and, in fact, she gets better with each book. One thing in particular that struck me this time is that her tone is really mellow and soothing which you would think wouldn’t be quite right for a police procedural but somehow it works very well. Between her narration and Ms. Amphlett’s terrific storytelling, I’m already anticipating the next book 🙂
July 17, 2020
REVIEW
Turn to Dust by Rachel Amphlett
Detective Kay Hunter Crime Thriller #9
DI Kay Hunter and her team have a tough case. They need to find out who the naked dead man in the field is, how and why he died. It is tough going with the police doing all they can to try and find a lead but it is definitely not easy. This is my first book by this author and for book nine in a series I Found it easy to follow the story and didn’t feel I there were hints of the past that left me scratching my head and wondering what had happened in previous books.
What I liked:
* Kay: good leader, loving partner to Adam, intelligent, and loves her job.
* Adam: Kay’s veterinarian husband seems a good fit for Kay
* The team: they work together well to get the job done
* The plot, writing and police procedural aspects of the story
* That the murderer was eventually caught
* That I could believe something like this story could happen in real life
What I did not like:
* The murderer
* Being reminded of how horrible people can be
Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more by this author? Yes
Thank you to the author and BOTBS Publicity for the ARC – This is my honest review.
4-5 Stars
Turn to Dust by Rachel Amphlett
Detective Kay Hunter Crime Thriller #9
DI Kay Hunter and her team have a tough case. They need to find out who the naked dead man in the field is, how and why he died. It is tough going with the police doing all they can to try and find a lead but it is definitely not easy. This is my first book by this author and for book nine in a series I Found it easy to follow the story and didn’t feel I there were hints of the past that left me scratching my head and wondering what had happened in previous books.
What I liked:
* Kay: good leader, loving partner to Adam, intelligent, and loves her job.
* Adam: Kay’s veterinarian husband seems a good fit for Kay
* The team: they work together well to get the job done
* The plot, writing and police procedural aspects of the story
* That the murderer was eventually caught
* That I could believe something like this story could happen in real life
What I did not like:
* The murderer
* Being reminded of how horrible people can be
Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more by this author? Yes
Thank you to the author and BOTBS Publicity for the ARC – This is my honest review.
4-5 Stars
August 13, 2020
Another wonderful read from this author,
November 1, 2024
The Book is written well.. but the subject matter was just not for me...
May 27, 2020
I am privileged to be a member of Rachel's advanced reader's group. When I received my copy of Return To Dust, I could not put it down. The story begins with a very bizarre murder that throws Kay Hunter's detective team into a race against time to solve. The author seems to be focussing on some of today's worst societal problems in her two latest books. I applaud her for this. The topics need to be discussed, and the author does it without any of the political overtones often found in other books. The subject matter is approached with caring and sensitively. As the reader, you are made to think about something you would rather not have to in your normal life. I strongly recommend this book to anyone who appreciates a well crafted police procedural story.
June 24, 2020
The ninth book in the Kay Hunter series, and I am still a fan!
It's a genuine pleasure to meet the Kay and Company, and follow them around trying to solve the cases. The book starts off with the most baffling of murders, making you scratch your head. As we dive deeper into the investigation, the water gets murkier. The revelation sends chills down your spine.
It's hard to believe that something like this happens in real life as well. The author is great at doing this - blending reality and fiction into an effortless narrative. I had a good time with this book, and I'm sure you will as well.
It's a genuine pleasure to meet the Kay and Company, and follow them around trying to solve the cases. The book starts off with the most baffling of murders, making you scratch your head. As we dive deeper into the investigation, the water gets murkier. The revelation sends chills down your spine.
It's hard to believe that something like this happens in real life as well. The author is great at doing this - blending reality and fiction into an effortless narrative. I had a good time with this book, and I'm sure you will as well.
June 12, 2020
I love the Kay Hunter series and this didn’t disappoint it was an excellent read. Thoroughly enjoyed every minute of this book it grabbed me right from the start and kept me engaged through to the end. Very worthy of 5 stars, loved it!
July 24, 2020
HALL WAYS REVIEW: AUDIO BOOK REVIEW. Reading (with my ears) the latest book in the Detective Kay Hunter series was the perfect escape during these social distancing days. It felt like spending time with old friends after a long time apart from them – I read the prior book, Cradle to Grave, nearly nine months ago! The fabulous Alison Campbell returns to narrate the story, and within four minutes, author Rachel Amphlett gives us the first mention of steaming hot coffee. Perfection.
Amphlett has a predictable formula that’s held for all nine of the books so far in this series – and that’s why I keep returning. I know exactly what to expect: a hideous death that turns out to be a murder; an investigation that uncovers nefarious goings-on, a late-in-the game discovery where the clock is ticking, and lives are on the line. The stories are police procedural, with the same core team working the crime and crime scenes, and main character Kay’s husband can be counted on to be her rock and our source of amusement. Sound dull? No way. Amphlett fleshes out these bones to provide readers a unique, gruesome, and engrossing story every. single. time. I almost always listen straight through in a day – do-able since most books come in at around 8 hours.
“Hunger beats solidarity most of the time, in my experience.”
In TURN TO DUST, Amphlett masterfully builds a story around the victim and masterfully manipulates readers into making (incorrect) assumptions and drawing (wrong) conclusions about him. Predictably, the murder barely scratches the surface of a bigger sinister picture in Amphlett’s stories, bringing in a human-interest element that reminds readers to look beyond appearances and not to judge. I am being intentionally vague because to be specific would spoil the fun of discovering and uncovering the truth, right alongside Kay and her investigative team.
Did I mention gruesome? I do believe TURN TO DUST has the most bizarre murder scene of the series thus far, and some really twisted (literally) things happen to victims. Amphlett’s descriptions are rich and detailed enough that readers’ noses will be wrinkling and stomachs clenching. This, in contrast to the ever-polite and proper manner of the British detectives, is one of the things I love. (Side note: I always learn new Brit-speak, and in this book, I learned the term “sleeping rough,” for how the homeless spend the night. Accurate.)
“She was partially thankful that the sign had been turned in the window to read “closed.” Otherwise she would have been tempted to browse the shelves. Adam…would have a heart attack if she bought more books.”
I also love the core characters, especially in off-duty mode. I love Kay and her love of wine, books, and bookshops; I love Barnes’s humor, even (especially?) when it comes out at inappropriate times; I love Adam and his rotating animal menagerie; I love Carris’s loyalty and empathy. Amphlett shows the human side of the detectives and peeks into their lives outside working the cases. There was less of the characters’ private worlds in TURN TO DUST, and I particularly missed not having more Adam/Kay time. Strangely, Kay’s extended family is completely absent in this installment, unless I missed any mentions since I was reading with my ears.
Regardless, I’ll be back for the next installment in the Detective Kay Hunter series – and there just must be one. I’m not anywhere near ready to say goodbye. And Kay would never stop at a ninth story. A nice round dozen, I’d think, is more her style.
ABOUT THE NARRATION: Alison Campbell provides an outstanding performance, as always. Campbell’s pacing is even, her diction perfectly clear. I listened at regular speed for once, though Authors Direct, the platform I used, allows small incremental tweaks to the speed. Nice. Still waiting for the return of her creepy-guy voice, but she had lots of practice with weepy women in this 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 more special features on Hall Ways Blog.
Amphlett has a predictable formula that’s held for all nine of the books so far in this series – and that’s why I keep returning. I know exactly what to expect: a hideous death that turns out to be a murder; an investigation that uncovers nefarious goings-on, a late-in-the game discovery where the clock is ticking, and lives are on the line. The stories are police procedural, with the same core team working the crime and crime scenes, and main character Kay’s husband can be counted on to be her rock and our source of amusement. Sound dull? No way. Amphlett fleshes out these bones to provide readers a unique, gruesome, and engrossing story every. single. time. I almost always listen straight through in a day – do-able since most books come in at around 8 hours.
“Hunger beats solidarity most of the time, in my experience.”
In TURN TO DUST, Amphlett masterfully builds a story around the victim and masterfully manipulates readers into making (incorrect) assumptions and drawing (wrong) conclusions about him. Predictably, the murder barely scratches the surface of a bigger sinister picture in Amphlett’s stories, bringing in a human-interest element that reminds readers to look beyond appearances and not to judge. I am being intentionally vague because to be specific would spoil the fun of discovering and uncovering the truth, right alongside Kay and her investigative team.
Did I mention gruesome? I do believe TURN TO DUST has the most bizarre murder scene of the series thus far, and some really twisted (literally) things happen to victims. Amphlett’s descriptions are rich and detailed enough that readers’ noses will be wrinkling and stomachs clenching. This, in contrast to the ever-polite and proper manner of the British detectives, is one of the things I love. (Side note: I always learn new Brit-speak, and in this book, I learned the term “sleeping rough,” for how the homeless spend the night. Accurate.)
“She was partially thankful that the sign had been turned in the window to read “closed.” Otherwise she would have been tempted to browse the shelves. Adam…would have a heart attack if she bought more books.”
I also love the core characters, especially in off-duty mode. I love Kay and her love of wine, books, and bookshops; I love Barnes’s humor, even (especially?) when it comes out at inappropriate times; I love Adam and his rotating animal menagerie; I love Carris’s loyalty and empathy. Amphlett shows the human side of the detectives and peeks into their lives outside working the cases. There was less of the characters’ private worlds in TURN TO DUST, and I particularly missed not having more Adam/Kay time. Strangely, Kay’s extended family is completely absent in this installment, unless I missed any mentions since I was reading with my ears.
Regardless, I’ll be back for the next installment in the Detective Kay Hunter series – and there just must be one. I’m not anywhere near ready to say goodbye. And Kay would never stop at a ninth story. A nice round dozen, I’d think, is more her style.
ABOUT THE NARRATION: Alison Campbell provides an outstanding performance, as always. Campbell’s pacing is even, her diction perfectly clear. I listened at regular speed for once, though Authors Direct, the platform I used, allows small incremental tweaks to the speed. Nice. Still waiting for the return of her creepy-guy voice, but she had lots of practice with weepy women in this 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 more special features on Hall Ways Blog.
July 14, 2020
The Kay Hunter series is like a comfort blanket. When I pick one of the books, I get a warm feeling inside. I know the author will have hidden little gifts between the pages – a smile there, a joke here, care all over – all wrapped together with an addictive writing. Nothing is over the top, everything is carefully measured to offer the reader an engaging police procedural with a family touch.
Turn to Dust is no different from its predecessors. Reading it plunged me in a familiar setting with the tingle of excitement brought by a new case. And what a case! A naked victim, barely any clue as to his identity, what brought him in a field, and how he got the injuries found by the pathologist. It was clear from the get-go that the mystery was thick and would require extensive and painstaking effort from the entire team! Imagine a puzzle only made of shades of black. That was the image I had in mind during most of the book. It was both exciting and worrying! Not every investigation hits the ground running. What happens when you have a terrible death, and close to no leads? Scrap that, no lead, period! But Kay is resourceful, and the tiniest element gets examined, until finally, something comes up. Something that neither the protagonist or myself had seen coming! We are living in the 21st century, I am lucky to live in a developed country, so far from current issues plaguing other places in the world… But are we really safe? Who is to say we are not suffering from the same diseases we denounce in front of the TV while eating our takeaway? More than that, it doesn’t require long hours of traveling to find people in need of help. The deeper I delved into the book, the darker the story became. Thankfully, the author always kept a light on thanks to the amazing characters peppered in the series, as a reminder many of us care. Kay wants to get to the bottom of the events, she wants to understand, yes, but the need for justice is even stronger. Veterans and homeless people are possible targets and someone is handing out money to get answers and make sure they are ahead of the police to shut more vulnerable mouths before the truth comes out. I was outraged at the unfairness of what was happening, and my feelings were connected to those of the team. Distressed at the lack of tangible elements in the case, everyone is pulling at thin threads to try and get the big picture. But it’s an ugly picture. The chase at the heart of Turn to Dust is slow and hits many dead ends, it is the kind of investigation that remind you you don’t get results in forty-eight hours. Real police work takes time, sweat, brain, and a bit of luck. Add to this a perfectly coordinated team and you may find the right path…
The denouement is a real team effort and after chapters of unfruitful efforts, I felt true relief ooze for the pages of the book. This series beats to the hearts of every recurring character involved and it makes each novel personal and authentic.
Turn to Dust is another winner in the Kay Hunter Series!
Turn to Dust is no different from its predecessors. Reading it plunged me in a familiar setting with the tingle of excitement brought by a new case. And what a case! A naked victim, barely any clue as to his identity, what brought him in a field, and how he got the injuries found by the pathologist. It was clear from the get-go that the mystery was thick and would require extensive and painstaking effort from the entire team! Imagine a puzzle only made of shades of black. That was the image I had in mind during most of the book. It was both exciting and worrying! Not every investigation hits the ground running. What happens when you have a terrible death, and close to no leads? Scrap that, no lead, period! But Kay is resourceful, and the tiniest element gets examined, until finally, something comes up. Something that neither the protagonist or myself had seen coming! We are living in the 21st century, I am lucky to live in a developed country, so far from current issues plaguing other places in the world… But are we really safe? Who is to say we are not suffering from the same diseases we denounce in front of the TV while eating our takeaway? More than that, it doesn’t require long hours of traveling to find people in need of help. The deeper I delved into the book, the darker the story became. Thankfully, the author always kept a light on thanks to the amazing characters peppered in the series, as a reminder many of us care. Kay wants to get to the bottom of the events, she wants to understand, yes, but the need for justice is even stronger. Veterans and homeless people are possible targets and someone is handing out money to get answers and make sure they are ahead of the police to shut more vulnerable mouths before the truth comes out. I was outraged at the unfairness of what was happening, and my feelings were connected to those of the team. Distressed at the lack of tangible elements in the case, everyone is pulling at thin threads to try and get the big picture. But it’s an ugly picture. The chase at the heart of Turn to Dust is slow and hits many dead ends, it is the kind of investigation that remind you you don’t get results in forty-eight hours. Real police work takes time, sweat, brain, and a bit of luck. Add to this a perfectly coordinated team and you may find the right path…
The denouement is a real team effort and after chapters of unfruitful efforts, I felt true relief ooze for the pages of the book. This series beats to the hearts of every recurring character involved and it makes each novel personal and authentic.
Turn to Dust is another winner in the Kay Hunter Series!
July 17, 2020
I have a rather embarrassing confession to make. These confessions have become a rather regular feature of my reviews. Although I have a few of Rachel's books on my ever increasing 'to be read' mountain, I haven't actually read one........until now that is. I am now rather cross with myself that I haven't realised sooner just how flipping fantastic an author Rachel is. I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'Turn To Dust' but more about that in a bit.
I loved the character of Detective Kay Hunter and I took to her from the start. She is a dedicated police officer who goes above and beyond the call of duty. She is thorough, methodical, tenacious, tough, kind, compassionate and a bit stubborn at times. She is in charge of a small team and they all appear to have each others backs. When Kay is allocated a case, you can guarantee that she will not rest until she has investigated fully and apprehended the guilty party (if there is one). Kay has a busy work life and thankfully her significant other is very understanding. Kay is the sort of person that would make a great friend. I could easily imagine sitting down with her and having a good natter over a cup of tea.
Oh my flipping word, 'Turn To Dust' was a truly amazing book. In my mind 'Turn To Dust' is the true definition of an unputdownable page turner of a book. I was drawn into the story from the start and I just couldn't put my Kindle down. It wasn't as if the Kindle was glued to my hand, because it wasn't but it might as well have been because it travelled everywhere with me. There was that much going on in the story that I feared missing something if I was to put the book down for any length of time. I was gripped by the story and on the edge of my seat throughout the book.
Rachel grabbed my attention from the start, with a beginning to the story that will stay fresh in my mind for a long time to come. What a way to start a story with the discovery of a naked man, face down in a field with fatal injuries. Rachel kept my attention throughout the story following the intriguing case with more twists and turns than you could possibly count. For me, 'Turn To Dust' was perfectly paced. The story hit the ground running an maintained a fast pace throughout. I felt as though I was part of the investigation myself and that is all down to Rachel's very vivid and realistic writing style.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'Turn To Dust' and I would definitely recommend this book to other readers. I will most definitely be reading more of Rachel's work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.
I loved the character of Detective Kay Hunter and I took to her from the start. She is a dedicated police officer who goes above and beyond the call of duty. She is thorough, methodical, tenacious, tough, kind, compassionate and a bit stubborn at times. She is in charge of a small team and they all appear to have each others backs. When Kay is allocated a case, you can guarantee that she will not rest until she has investigated fully and apprehended the guilty party (if there is one). Kay has a busy work life and thankfully her significant other is very understanding. Kay is the sort of person that would make a great friend. I could easily imagine sitting down with her and having a good natter over a cup of tea.
Oh my flipping word, 'Turn To Dust' was a truly amazing book. In my mind 'Turn To Dust' is the true definition of an unputdownable page turner of a book. I was drawn into the story from the start and I just couldn't put my Kindle down. It wasn't as if the Kindle was glued to my hand, because it wasn't but it might as well have been because it travelled everywhere with me. There was that much going on in the story that I feared missing something if I was to put the book down for any length of time. I was gripped by the story and on the edge of my seat throughout the book.
Rachel grabbed my attention from the start, with a beginning to the story that will stay fresh in my mind for a long time to come. What a way to start a story with the discovery of a naked man, face down in a field with fatal injuries. Rachel kept my attention throughout the story following the intriguing case with more twists and turns than you could possibly count. For me, 'Turn To Dust' was perfectly paced. The story hit the ground running an maintained a fast pace throughout. I felt as though I was part of the investigation myself and that is all down to Rachel's very vivid and realistic writing style.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'Turn To Dust' and I would definitely recommend this book to other readers. I will most definitely be reading more of Rachel's work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.
July 28, 2020
Have you ever wanted to become a police detective? What is it that you desire when you think about it? Saving lives? Enforcing the law? Having a gun and a baton? Amphlett’s ability to lure readers in with her fearless female heroine is absolutely rich. Keep hanging on to your seat because the author always finds a way to make her mysteries unpredictable and entertaining up until the very end.
Another body. Another day. This is Detective Kay Hunter’s life and passion. Catching the bad guys, putting them away, and attempting to save as many innocents as she can. But what happens when one slips through the cracks? The bad guy gets to them before she can? It’s always a race against time when the law is on the line, isn’t it? When Kay is called in on an assumed suicide via airplane dive, Kay knows that her and her team must take another look. Why would someone want to commit suicide that way? Crushing every bone in their body seems like a painful way to die unless dying on impact was the desired effect. Kay doesn’t buy it though. Someone had to have pushed him out of that airline craft and she becomes determined to find who did and why. What she finds may open up a whole slew of problems for the farming business.
Amphlett has a terrific installment in her infamous Detective Kay Hunter Mystery series. The team carries on throughout each installment with little to no deviation, but this time, a beloved character is changing the pace a bit with the hints of possible departure. Back when the first installment came out on audiobook, the narrator immediately pulled you in. Now, nine installments in and Campbell still has the capacity to awe with her quick wit and stunning, but steady vocal relay. Amphlett definitely helps by having some intricately woven mysteries for Detective Kay Hunter and her team to solve, each one a little bit darker than the one before, from what it seems. If you are a reader of murder mysteries and crime fiction, you may enjoy this book. With this being the ninth installment in the Detective Kay Hunter series, readers can read it as a standalone, but there’s more enjoyment if you read alongside the characters from the beginning. It is intriguing to see the progress that each character makes throughout their career and you can easily become attached.
The audiobook was provided to Turning Another Page by Audiobookworm Promotions and in no way affects the honesty of this review. We provide a five-star rating for Turned to Dust by Rachel Amphlett.
Another body. Another day. This is Detective Kay Hunter’s life and passion. Catching the bad guys, putting them away, and attempting to save as many innocents as she can. But what happens when one slips through the cracks? The bad guy gets to them before she can? It’s always a race against time when the law is on the line, isn’t it? When Kay is called in on an assumed suicide via airplane dive, Kay knows that her and her team must take another look. Why would someone want to commit suicide that way? Crushing every bone in their body seems like a painful way to die unless dying on impact was the desired effect. Kay doesn’t buy it though. Someone had to have pushed him out of that airline craft and she becomes determined to find who did and why. What she finds may open up a whole slew of problems for the farming business.
Amphlett has a terrific installment in her infamous Detective Kay Hunter Mystery series. The team carries on throughout each installment with little to no deviation, but this time, a beloved character is changing the pace a bit with the hints of possible departure. Back when the first installment came out on audiobook, the narrator immediately pulled you in. Now, nine installments in and Campbell still has the capacity to awe with her quick wit and stunning, but steady vocal relay. Amphlett definitely helps by having some intricately woven mysteries for Detective Kay Hunter and her team to solve, each one a little bit darker than the one before, from what it seems. If you are a reader of murder mysteries and crime fiction, you may enjoy this book. With this being the ninth installment in the Detective Kay Hunter series, readers can read it as a standalone, but there’s more enjoyment if you read alongside the characters from the beginning. It is intriguing to see the progress that each character makes throughout their career and you can easily become attached.
The audiobook was provided to Turning Another Page by Audiobookworm Promotions and in no way affects the honesty of this review. We provide a five-star rating for Turned to Dust by Rachel Amphlett.
July 31, 2020
Note: Even though this is Book 9 in the series, it works well as a stand-alone story.
This series just keeps getting better and better. I love the main character, Kay Hunter. She’s so real, so down-to-earth. The job is tough but it hasn’t made her jaded or bitter. I also like that her team is full of well-adjusted people so the plot can just focus on the mystery. And if you need twisted characters, well there’s plenty of those (and the evidence is the dead bodies!).
In this one, we start off with some metal detector enthusiasts finding a badly mangled body in a farmer’s field. As the body is described, my first thought on how the body got so mangled turned out to be correct. All my years of accident investigation gave me a tiny edge in figuring out this mystery. As the team digs into how this could happen, I found it very interesting to see the strict regulations on certain extreme sports.
It looks like one of the team is about to move on as well. Yet we get a new character too, so I think the balance will work out just fine going forward with the series. It also gives the younger team members a chance to move up a little and shine as they give some solid on-the-job training to the new member.
Meanwhile, Kay’s veterinarian husband brings the cuteness! Fox cubs! Oh my! I so want to go hang out at the Hunters so I can play with fox cubs!
The mystery itself was deliciously twisted, giving us both suspense and action. The plot weaves in military vets, unsanctioned rescue ops, homeless people, farming, and modern-day slavery. While I had that small insight at the beginning, I truly didn’t know where the tale would take me. I loved every minute of Turn to Dust. 5/5 stars.
The Narration: Alison Campbell continues to do this series justice. She makes an excellent Kay Hunter, capturing her myriad of emotions. Campbell has unique voices for all the characters and her male characters sound masculine. I also appreciated how she captured a few different regional accents for this story. There were no technical issues with this recording. 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.
This series just keeps getting better and better. I love the main character, Kay Hunter. She’s so real, so down-to-earth. The job is tough but it hasn’t made her jaded or bitter. I also like that her team is full of well-adjusted people so the plot can just focus on the mystery. And if you need twisted characters, well there’s plenty of those (and the evidence is the dead bodies!).
In this one, we start off with some metal detector enthusiasts finding a badly mangled body in a farmer’s field. As the body is described, my first thought on how the body got so mangled turned out to be correct. All my years of accident investigation gave me a tiny edge in figuring out this mystery. As the team digs into how this could happen, I found it very interesting to see the strict regulations on certain extreme sports.
It looks like one of the team is about to move on as well. Yet we get a new character too, so I think the balance will work out just fine going forward with the series. It also gives the younger team members a chance to move up a little and shine as they give some solid on-the-job training to the new member.
Meanwhile, Kay’s veterinarian husband brings the cuteness! Fox cubs! Oh my! I so want to go hang out at the Hunters so I can play with fox cubs!
The mystery itself was deliciously twisted, giving us both suspense and action. The plot weaves in military vets, unsanctioned rescue ops, homeless people, farming, and modern-day slavery. While I had that small insight at the beginning, I truly didn’t know where the tale would take me. I loved every minute of Turn to Dust. 5/5 stars.
The Narration: Alison Campbell continues to do this series justice. She makes an excellent Kay Hunter, capturing her myriad of emotions. Campbell has unique voices for all the characters and her male characters sound masculine. I also appreciated how she captured a few different regional accents for this story. There were no technical issues with this recording. 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.
July 18, 2020
Turn To Dust by Rachel Amphlett is the ninth book in the Detective Kay Hunter series. It is a book that can easily be read as a standalone but by the time you have read this one, I can guarantee you will be on the hunt for the others. This book begins with two men, while metal detecting in a field, finding a dead body. When Kay and her team arrive and start their investigation they discover that the injuries the dead man suffered where more akin to falling from a plane than accidental or natural causes.Their case pushes them to the limits as they struggle to find any information but when they eventually do find some it makes the case darker than they initially thought.They realise they need to get to the bottom of this before they find more victims.
An absolute belter again from Rachel Amphlett. I have read some of her books and really feel the need to fill in the gaps of Kay Hunters work and life that I am missing. Kay always strives to solver her cases and knows that the answers to the majority of cases lie in the small details and the team and Kay spend hours pouring over the said fine details. Kay also knows that she needs to keep team morale up while she also continues to solve the case at the same time. I greatly admire Kay as a character and think the author has managed to create a fully rounded and fleshed out person in this series. Another fantastic, exciting and thrilling read added to the series! Thank you to Books On The Bright Side for including me in the blog tour for the newest instalment!
An absolute belter again from Rachel Amphlett. I have read some of her books and really feel the need to fill in the gaps of Kay Hunters work and life that I am missing. Kay always strives to solver her cases and knows that the answers to the majority of cases lie in the small details and the team and Kay spend hours pouring over the said fine details. Kay also knows that she needs to keep team morale up while she also continues to solve the case at the same time. I greatly admire Kay as a character and think the author has managed to create a fully rounded and fleshed out person in this series. Another fantastic, exciting and thrilling read added to the series! Thank you to Books On The Bright Side for including me in the blog tour for the newest instalment!
July 23, 2020
***** AUDIOBOOK REVIEW *****
I'm pretty tickled anytime I find out there's a new book in the Detective Kay Hunter's series. Turn to Dust is book 9 in the series. Rachel Amphlett takes Detective Hunter and her crew on another chase of another psychopath that left dead or scared people in their wake. I think one of my favorite things about these books is going through the case step-by-step with Hunter and her team. Most police procedurals have some hidden clues but this series is different. I end up immersed, like I'm researching it right with them!
Then, factoring in that there's some time in between each audiobook and I always fall back into place pretty easily. I find that to be incredibly important, that each book can stand alone enough while they are also connected enough that I feel like it's a continuation from the others.
I continue to enjoy Alison Campbell's narration. I feel like she easily delivers different voices and styles to all the various characters. I really appreciate that Miss Campbell has narrated all 9 of the Detective Kay Hunter audiobooks. I feel like she's able to play a very good Detective. She's really able to get into the part while still sounding like a strong woman. I can only imagine it's a balance act that she definitely executes.
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.
I'm pretty tickled anytime I find out there's a new book in the Detective Kay Hunter's series. Turn to Dust is book 9 in the series. Rachel Amphlett takes Detective Hunter and her crew on another chase of another psychopath that left dead or scared people in their wake. I think one of my favorite things about these books is going through the case step-by-step with Hunter and her team. Most police procedurals have some hidden clues but this series is different. I end up immersed, like I'm researching it right with them!
Then, factoring in that there's some time in between each audiobook and I always fall back into place pretty easily. I find that to be incredibly important, that each book can stand alone enough while they are also connected enough that I feel like it's a continuation from the others.
I continue to enjoy Alison Campbell's narration. I feel like she easily delivers different voices and styles to all the various characters. I really appreciate that Miss Campbell has narrated all 9 of the Detective Kay Hunter audiobooks. I feel like she's able to play a very good Detective. She's really able to get into the part while still sounding like a strong woman. I can only imagine it's a balance act that she definitely executes.
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.
July 26, 2020
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.
When a body is found in a field, Kay Hunter and team can’t believe the horrific condition the body is in. They soon realize that it may have been thrown from an airplane. As the team investigates, there’s another murder, and Kay is determined to find the murderer. What the team finds is worse than anyone had imagined.
This series is about the same investigative team, but each case is quite a bit different. Detectives come and go but even though it’s difficult, they remain strong. I like Kay Hunter and the members of her team. She’s intelligent, strong, and dedicated and her team members are supportive of her and each other, and they know each other well.
I like Rachel Amphlett’s writing style, and Alison Campbell does a good job with pace and enunciation. I like the fact that the same person narrates all of these books. It’s almost like listening to a friend. Turn to Dust is a detective mystery, and like all of the books in this series, it has an interesting and surprising end. If you like crime fiction, this is a must read. I’m looking forward to more Kay Hunter books.
When a body is found in a field, Kay Hunter and team can’t believe the horrific condition the body is in. They soon realize that it may have been thrown from an airplane. As the team investigates, there’s another murder, and Kay is determined to find the murderer. What the team finds is worse than anyone had imagined.
This series is about the same investigative team, but each case is quite a bit different. Detectives come and go but even though it’s difficult, they remain strong. I like Kay Hunter and the members of her team. She’s intelligent, strong, and dedicated and her team members are supportive of her and each other, and they know each other well.
I like Rachel Amphlett’s writing style, and Alison Campbell does a good job with pace and enunciation. I like the fact that the same person narrates all of these books. It’s almost like listening to a friend. Turn to Dust is a detective mystery, and like all of the books in this series, it has an interesting and surprising end. If you like crime fiction, this is a must read. I’m looking forward to more Kay Hunter books.
August 14, 2021
Turn to Dust is book nine in the Detective Kay Hunter series by Rachel Amphlett. Detective Kay Hunter caught a case of a naked man in a nearby barren field. However, for Detective Kay Hunter, this case will test her law enforcement ability. The more Detective Kay Hunter investigated, the more she realises the victim was not what everyone thought he was. Then the only witness was a homeless man who disappears from a local shelter. Detective Kay Hunter fears the worse. The readers of Turn to Dust will continue to follow Detective Kay Hunter investigation to find out what happens.
Turn to Dust is a fantastic addition to this excellent series. I had no problem engaging with the plot of Turn to Dust. I enjoyed the way Rachel Amphlett intertwine the trust and turns in the story. I love Rachel Amphlett's portrayal of the characters and how they intertwine with each other throughout this book. Turn to Dust is well written and researched by Rachel Amphlett. I like the way Rachel Amphlett described the settings of Turn to Dust that allowed me to imagine been part of the plot of this book.
The readers of Turn to Dust will understand some of the problems homeless shelters have in the community. Also, the readers of Turn to Dust will learn about the role of the United Kingdom. Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
I recommend this book.
Turn to Dust is a fantastic addition to this excellent series. I had no problem engaging with the plot of Turn to Dust. I enjoyed the way Rachel Amphlett intertwine the trust and turns in the story. I love Rachel Amphlett's portrayal of the characters and how they intertwine with each other throughout this book. Turn to Dust is well written and researched by Rachel Amphlett. I like the way Rachel Amphlett described the settings of Turn to Dust that allowed me to imagine been part of the plot of this book.
The readers of Turn to Dust will understand some of the problems homeless shelters have in the community. Also, the readers of Turn to Dust will learn about the role of the United Kingdom. Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
I recommend this book.
July 18, 2020
This is the 9th book in the Detective Kay Hunter series, and it might just be the best one yet. With everything going on in the world at the moment, I’ve found myself leaning towards lighter reads. However, this is one of my favorite crime series so I couldn’t pass it up. I’m glad I didn’t. As always, the author did not disappoint.
The book starts out with a mangled, dead body being found in a farm. The identity unknown, the only identification is a one-of-a-kind tattoo. Kay’s team dive into the surrounding farms to search clues, while Kay ends up learning more about the victim’s terrifying past. Secrets are uncovered. Mysteries are unraveled. And when it is finally revealed what actually happened to him, I was absolutely appalled.
I’m so glad I read this book. It was fast-paced, but also so interesting. It touched on subject matters that I wasn’t too familiar with, which I loved. Turn to Dust also focused on Kay’s team, with a new person trying to find her way and a veteran looking for possible advancements. The emotions were high as Kay tried her best to stay focused at the task on hand.
Highly recommended!
The book starts out with a mangled, dead body being found in a farm. The identity unknown, the only identification is a one-of-a-kind tattoo. Kay’s team dive into the surrounding farms to search clues, while Kay ends up learning more about the victim’s terrifying past. Secrets are uncovered. Mysteries are unraveled. And when it is finally revealed what actually happened to him, I was absolutely appalled.
I’m so glad I read this book. It was fast-paced, but also so interesting. It touched on subject matters that I wasn’t too familiar with, which I loved. Turn to Dust also focused on Kay’s team, with a new person trying to find her way and a veteran looking for possible advancements. The emotions were high as Kay tried her best to stay focused at the task on hand.
Highly recommended!
July 20, 2020
This was my first Rachel Amphlett's book, and won't be my last. This is the ninth book in the Detective Kay Hunter Series, a gripping Police Procedurale Thriller. You can listen to this audiobook as a standalone, but I believe it is better to begin with the first book in the Series to have a better understanding of Kay's life. The story is well written and captivating. Some scenes are descriptive and intense. Kay is an amazing character, strong, smart, and capable. Kay's team is at the center of this story. The storyline is complex, breathtaking, intriguing and fast-paced, filled with danger, suspense, and mystery. The investigation is intricate, and unfolds at a great pace, letting you guessing until the end. Alison Campbell did a great job with the narration. She has a great voice and a beautiful accent. I enjoyed it. Looking forward to listen to the other books in the Series.
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.
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.
July 25, 2020
Oh.My.Good.God!!!! why have I never read a Rachel Amphlett novel?!? I hang my head in shame!!! I personally give Ms Amphlett permission to slap me the next time she meets me (*antistalks Ms Amphlett forever more*) as I’m totally ashamed for never having read any of her books before…. Turn To Dust was brilliant.
The injuries sustained by our victim made me wince as I read the extent. The cause of his injuries confused the hell out of me… when you read this, you’ll understand!! This totally threw me and bugged me throughout!
I loved meeting Kay Hunter and the team for the first time. They’re a tight team, similar to one I’ve seen in my working life. One that has the level of camaraderie and trust that they’ll pull together no matter what to get the job done. It’s one I wouldn’t mind being part of though I’m no detective… other than the armchair/kindle type!!
I thoroughly enjoyed Turn To Dust despite it being the ninth in the series. I’ve not read any of the previous books but didn’t really feel I’d missed out in the mass omission in my reading ! If you love a good solid police procedural crime thriller, Kay Hunter is definitely worth a look in!
The injuries sustained by our victim made me wince as I read the extent. The cause of his injuries confused the hell out of me… when you read this, you’ll understand!! This totally threw me and bugged me throughout!
I loved meeting Kay Hunter and the team for the first time. They’re a tight team, similar to one I’ve seen in my working life. One that has the level of camaraderie and trust that they’ll pull together no matter what to get the job done. It’s one I wouldn’t mind being part of though I’m no detective… other than the armchair/kindle type!!
I thoroughly enjoyed Turn To Dust despite it being the ninth in the series. I’ve not read any of the previous books but didn’t really feel I’d missed out in the mass omission in my reading ! If you love a good solid police procedural crime thriller, Kay Hunter is definitely worth a look in!
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