Shed No Tears

Cat Kinsella #3

by Caz Frear

Acclaimed and internationally bestselling crime novelist Caz Frear returns with her third superb novel featuring Cat Kinsella, a cop "on par with Susie Steiner's and Tana French's female detectives" (Kirkus Reviews). Four victims. Killer caught. Case closed. . . or is it? Growing up in a London family with ties to organized crime, Detective Constable Cat Kinsella knows the criminal world better than most cops do. As a member of the city's Metropolitan Police, she's made efforts to distinguish herself from her relatives. But leading an upstanding life isn't always easy, and Cat has come close to crossing the line, a fact she keeps well hidden from her superiors. Working their latest case, Cat and her partner Luigi Parnell discover a connection to a notorious serial killer Christopher Masters, who abducted and killed several women in 2012. Though the cops eventually apprehended him, his final victim, Holly Kemp, was never found and he never confessed to her murder, despite the solid eyewitness testimony against him. Now, six years later, the discovery of Holly's remains near Cambridge seems to be the definitive proof needed to close the case. Still, a few key items of evidence don't quite line up. As Cat and Parnell look closer, they find discrepancies that raise troubling questions. But someone will do anything to keep past secrets hidden--and as they inch closer to the truth, they may be putting themselves in jeopardy . . .

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Crime, Thriller, Procedural, Audiobook, Mystery Thriller

321 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 1, 2020

About the author

Caz Frear grew up in Coventry, England, and spent her teenage years dreaming of moving to London and writing a novel. After fulfilling her first dream, it wasn’t until she moved back to Coventry thirteen years later that the second finally came true. She has a degree in History & Politics, and when she’s not agonizing over snappy dialogue or incisive prose, she can be found shouting at Arsenal football matches or holding court in the pub on topics she knows nothing about. Sweet Little Lies is her first novel.

Reviews

[Lit with Leigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Full disclosure: I have not read any of the other books in this series, but it didn't impact my ability to understand the continuing storylines and characters.

Writing: 3.5/5 | Plot: 3/5 | Ending: 3/5

THE PLOT

Cat Kinsella is back and this time she's investigating the death of Holly Kemp, the fourth and final victim of the infamous serial killer, The Roommate. But things aren't looking so cut and dry when The Roommate is killed in jail, leaving Kinsella et al to find the answers to their questions.

MY OPINION

Meh. This was just meh. It had potential, but it became too cliche. The writing was fine, nothing crazy, nothing bad. It kinda went in a circle for a bit and there was a LARGE cast of tertiary characters, making it hard to remember if Joe 1 and Joe 2 were of any importance.

For once... I really don't have much to say. But what I'm about to say IS A MASSIVE SPOILER SO SCROLL AHEAD IF YOU PLAN ON READING THIS.

Ok... I want to punt Tess Dyer into another universe. WHAT IN THE ACTUAL F!CK was that???? So your husband decides to dip his hot dog in some extramarital ketchup and finds himself being blackmailed, and somehow the blackmailer is the one at fault?? GIRL. Get a GRIP. And excusing his cheating because he got some bad news that he couldn't play sports anymore?? You can't be serious lmao. Is he Ronaldo??? Messi?? Roger Federer?? I don't think the local YMCA is gonna be hurtin too much without your husband's appearance. Yes, it sucks he's relegated to a power walk instead of an super power walk down the golf course, but... this is the whackest excuse for cheating I have ever heard.

You murdered someone in cold blood because your man got caught up in some new pucci instead of coming home to his WIFE AND KIDS for comfort after receiving this "devastating news". FREE. MY. LADIES. And right until the end she is so confident in her hatred toward this scammerama girl. PLZZZZZ.

Ok I'm done.

PROS AND CONS

Pros: idk... apart from the whole Tess ting I wasn't annoyed that much

Cons: Tess Dyer is thee absolute worst and why "ride or die" is the dumbest thing ever, kinda boring, lots of cliches of the genre

[Ceecee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew from the first Cat Kinsella novel that Caz Frear has created something special. Cat feels so real, you’d love to meet her in the pub and have a good chin wag over something chilled. In this novel, we go back to 2012 and the Roommate Killer who is otherwise known as Christopher Masters. The case resurfaces when bones are discovered in a ditch in Caxton, Cambridge. These prove to be the remains of Holly Kemp who has been missing for six years and assumed to be one of Masters victims although he was never charged. Subsequent enquiries reveals things than don’t line up with the 2012 investigation and a strong desire by surprising characters to keep secrets well and truly buried. The story is told by Cat which makes for lively reading.

First of all, this team are amongst the best in contemporary crime fiction. I’ve already sung Cats praises but DS Luigi Parnell is a marvellous sidekick. DCI Kate Steele, the head of the team, is brilliant. She is smart in every way and always has the right words which are frequently funny. The whole team feels authentic, their (mostly) camaraderie feels very natural, I love the snappy repartee, the dark humour and that they have each other’s back. The plot is gripping, it feels plausible and flows really well. There’s tension, suspense, plenty of twisty surprises as the team get to the truth that none of them wants to believe in a dramatic conclusion. In the background is Cats guilt about her father’s connections to organised crime and be in particular is way too close to home. I like how she has to balance her dysfunctional family with her overwhelming desire to do her job to the best of her ability. It adds an extra dimension to the storytelling.

Overall, a police Procedural, crime novel of high calibre which I have no hesitation in recommending.

With thanks to NetGalley and in particular to Bonnier Books UK for the ARC and to Caz Frear for entertaining me so well.

[Diane S ☔ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 3rd book in a newer series I picked up and one of my new favorites. I love the lead in this series, which features Cat Kinsella who has a very unusual back story. In this outing a case thought solved comes back to haunt, possibly incriminating one of their own.

This is a mighty fine police procedural, tightly plotted and steadily paced. It has the perfect balance of personal stories and happenings with police case and detecting. Plenty of legwork, putting together clues and red herrings, an extremely good series, at least imho. The cliffhanger at books end leaves me anxiously waiting for the next in series.

ARC from Edelweiss.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Shed No Tears” by Caz Frear is a fun thriller full of witty banter and clever observations. Who says one must be boring and serious to be a detective in London?

This is the third installment of the Cat Kinsella series. You don’t need to read the previous novels to enjoy this one, but after reading this, I intend to start the series at the beginning! Cat Kinsella is hilarious.

Cat has a few secrets, and they are whoppers. Her father has ties to the mob, and that is the last thing she wants her colleagues to discover. Her boyfriend is moving to NYC and wants Cat to join. Adding pressure to Cat is the discovery of a body involved in a closed case; unfortunately, the body re-opens the case because it doesn’t fit into the narrative. Holly Kemp was tagged as a victim of a serial killer in 2012, although her body was never discovered. Now that her body is recovered, it’s obvious that she was not part of the serial killer body count. In attempting to unravel what happened to Holly, Cat’s personal life comes into play.

I listened to the audio, narrated by Jane Collingwood. She is excellent voicing Cat and all the characters.

[megs_bookrack · Rating 5 out of 5]

**4.5-stars rounded up**

I was truly surprised by how much I enjoyed the first two books in this series. I'm not sure why, maybe because I rarely hear anyone talking about it.

I love the detective duo featured in this series, Cat Kinsella and Luigi Parnell. Basically, sign me up for any case they're ever on. Thus, I knew when I had a long road-trip coming up, this would be the perfect book to listen to as I drove.



And it absolutely was. In fact, this has been my highest rated book in the series thus far!

In this installment, we follow Cat and Luigi as they work a case related to infamous local serial killer, Christopher Masters, who was convicted of kidnapping and murdering several women in 2012.



When human remains are discovered, they are positively identified as Holly Kemp, Masters alleged final victim. Holly was the only one whose body hadn't been found and the only one that Masters never owned up to killing.

It was only due to solid eye-witness testimony that she was considered as one of his victims. Six-years have now passed and it seems like with Holly's remains found, they will finally be able to put closure on the case.



As they examine the evidence however, there appears to be some glaring discrepancies with the case. Cat and Luigi can't put it to bed until they know it's the truth; not our heroes.

Thus, they begin digging in, turning over rocks that have long been settled. As they inch closer and closer to the truth, the dangers escalate to heights even they couldn't have guessed.



As mentioned in my reviews for the first two books of this series, Sweet Little Lies and Stone Cold Heart, this is a fantastic Police Procedural series with a lot of depth in addition to the mysteries.

The characters are well-fleshed out and believable. I love how there are storylines in the background that continue on throughout the books, as far as Cat's personal life goes. I feel like I am getting to know her, like a new friend, and I'm loving every minute of it.



One of my favorite aspects of these books has been the exploration of Cat's complicated family situation. In this one, I felt like the interactions weren't quite as in your face as in the earlier books, but we do get to see more of the internal struggle Cat is going through in regards to her family.

There are things she has done to protect the ones she loves that are ethically an issue for her. She plays her cards close to her chest, but I like that she is the type of character who these choices would weigh on.

She's a good egg, our Cat. Regardless of how she feels about herself sometimes.



This mystery gets quite intense and just as complex as the earlier cases. Some people can really bring the drama. You'll find it all on display here.

In my opinion, this series just keeps getting better and more twisted. We love to see it; character growth on point!

The conclusion to this...oh my word! I really need a book 4 and I need it ASAP!!



If you have yet to start this series, and you love a solid Police Procedural with strong, intelligent characters, you absolutely need to check it out.

Don't delay, start today!!!

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Atonement seems to sit front and center. It begs for attention. We constantly try to feed the sins of the past. But is it ever enough? That, dear humans, would be a solid no.....

Shed No Tears brings together a familiar crew. There's an abominable heatwave leaning heavily in Cambridgeshire and the officers in the local police department are making every effort to rise above it. DC Cat Kinsella, DS Luigi Parnell, and DCI Kate Steele are facing a hot case that is giving competition to the air con working overtime just like them.

The body of a woman missing for over six years has just been found. Seems like every indication that this is another victim of "The Roommate" murders. Said murderer, Christopher Masters, was charged with a string of murders of young women and committed to prison some time back. Before he could serve out his term, he was brutally killed by a fellow inmate in prison. Unfortunately, the dead don't speak.

But DC Cat Kinsella thinks that the physical clues may just speak for this woman, Holly Kemp. Add to that, there's an eye witness who swears that she saw Holly speaking to Masters in the doorway of his condo six years ago. Coincidence, fact, or a missighting?

Caz Frear has created a complicated, multi-faceted, in-your-face-when-necessary character in DC Cat Kinsella. Cat stands solid as a police officer, but her father's dubious past can play havoc with Cat's present. She is noted for keeping the lid on things.....even in regard to her relationship with Irishman Aiden Doyle. (Head's up: No sloppy sweet love affair happenin' here, folks.)

Shed No Tears is the third book in this series. Run, don't walk, and dive in. Frear's writing style is highly above the average mystery bears out there. The dialogue between her officers is filled with humor and catchy phrases. There are moments of laugh out loud banter and wit that offsets the heaviness of the crimes that they are dealing with. Cat says in passing about one of the new recruits: "Our current slab of testosterone."

All this is mixed within a superbly written crime story that simmers with intelligence and well thought out in's and out's. Give me substance in my mysteries. Caz Frear delivers.

I received a copy of Shed No Tears through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Harper Collins Publishing and to the talented Caz Frear for the opportunity.

[Natalie M · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent crime read where a cold case and a serial killer collide but the resolution will leave you flabbergasted! Clever, concise writing!

Kat Kinsella and Luigi Parnell continue to partner to uncover the truth of the bones belonging to Molly. The investigation is focused, without ‘waffling’ pages. The story progresses on each page!

Overall, a satisfying set of characters who deal with personal issues as well as those caused by the professional setting. A very enjoyable read.

[Louise Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cat Kinsella #3

Three women had been strangled by the "Roommate Killer" and the case was now closed. But now the remains of a forth victim have been found. Cat Kinsella and her team are investigating the case. The body is Holly Kemp and she has been in the field where she was found for six years. Cat and her partner, Luigi Parnell take a closer look into this case only to find discrepancies and questions.

This is a gripping, tense and edge of your seat read. Nothing is quite what it seems. It's a hard book to review as I don't want to give too much away. This is one of the best police procedural that's going about just now. The pace is fast and the story is told from Cat's perspective. The truth is revealed slowly, piece by piece.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Bonnier Books and the author Caz Frear for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5

Shed No Tears by Caz Frear is the third installment of the Cat Kinsella series and I have to say I am officially addicted. I love Cat's character, and the way Frear writes brings her and every case she has to life for me. She is a smart cookie which I love in a leading character, and she just feels so real like you could reach out and touch her. I am also always fascinated by her family and the bits the author chooses to tell us about them and her past. But not only that, the team Cat is on is stellar as well, and I love the witty banter they sometimes have. Her partner Parnell is quite the character, and I love her boss DCI Kate Steele so much I would definitely take a spinoff from her perspective. There are a lot of characters to love in this series, and I always enjoy the procedural aspect as well as they bring down the criminals.

Shed No Tears managed to surprise me just as much as the other books in the series have, and I loved the suspensefulness of the plot. This was another slower burn, but the suspense builds as you go, and this is definitely one of my favorite police procedural series. I listened to the audio for this one too and Jane Collingwood was again our narrator. I love that she has been the voice of Cat for the series so far, and she is the perfect choice to voice these books. I love her narration and highly suggest listening to the series if you are a fan of audiobooks. I do think there is a lot going on though and the number of characters makes it nice to have a physical copy on hand as well. I really liked the way Frear ended Shed No Tears although she has left me very anxious for a book 4! I recommend reading this series in order, but they are okay as standalones as well. If you like crime fiction and police procedurals this is an excellent choice to pick up.

[Ellis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for a review.

My aversion to US policing and firm belief in the necessity of defunding and abolition nonwithstanding, I am still a big softie for a detective novel, the ones that take place in the UK especially because the Met is not as keen on the whole racist brutality angle. Cat and Lu have found the remains of a young woman thought to be the final victim of a serial murderer, but nothing - from the state of her body to the way she was killed to the place she was left - fits with that killer's profile. So unspools another classic procedural - will there be shady witnesses and ambitious DIs and new suspects? Will there be bad guys that look completely guilty until the moment they produce ironclad alibis? Tense interrogations? Red herrings and startling new evidence and shocking revelations? Will it be interwoven with drama about Cat's gangster father and Irish boyfriend (thankfully not a whole lot on that angle, because I often weary of Cat's justifications of how she must stay in contact with the family she seems to absolutely loathe, and why she has to date this poor guy at all given said horrible family's tangential involvement in his sister's murder, all of which she's keeping secret from him). Yes on all counts! Will it be satisfying and cozily predictable, like coffee in your favorite mug or your spot on the couch that's shaped just like you because you've been in quarantine for four months? Yes again.

[Liz Barnsley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a series I’ve loved since the very first book – main protagonist Cat Kinsella is so realistic and full of depth that I immediately engaged with her, that has continued through every subsequent instalment and Shed No Tears was no exception.

The family drama is just as compelling as any of the mystery elements, the twisted interconnected relationships and ever changing morality is riveting so each story has a continuing arc that is hugely addictive.

Then of course you have separate investigations undertaken by Cat and the team and each one is intelligently plotted, unpredictable and perfectly paced to keep the reader turning the pages avidly awaiting the next reveal.

Shed No Tears has a serial killer, an enigmatic and flawed victim, a twisted sense of right and wrong with plenty of “ooh” moments making it another tip top fully immersive crime thriller from the pen of Caz Frear.

Not many writers of this creative, talented level are out there so I highly recommend that you read these if you are a fan of all things crime fiction

[pelaio · Rating 4 out of 5]

Muy buena, me ha gustado tanto o más que las anteriores. Qué diferencia con alguna cosa que me ha tocado leer últimamente, sobre todo novela negra española que no hay por donde cogerla.

[Louise Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cat Kinsella #3

Three women had been strangled by the "Roommate Killer " and the case was never closed. But now the remains of a forth victim have been found. Cat Kinsella and her team are investigating the case. The body is Holly Kemp and she has been in the field where she was found for six years. Cat and her partner, Luigi Parnell take a closer look into this case only to find discrepancies and questions.

This is a gripping, tense and an edge of your seat read. Nothing is quite what it seems. It's a hard book to review as I don't want to give too much away. This is one of the best police procedural that's going about just now. The pace is fast and the story is told from Cat's perspective. The truth is revealed slowly, piece by piece.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Bonnier Books and the author Caz Frear for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Melissa (Semi Hiatus Until After the Holidays) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third book in the DC Cat Kinsella series, and I feel as if the author is hitting her stride. I was captivated from the beginning with this story of a recently discovered body that had been previously linked to a serial killer--but was the death really his doing or is someone else responsible?

This is a fast-paced, detailed police procedural set in London and the surrounding area, and Frear's ability to spin a convoluted mystery and create likable flawed characters is amazing. Piece by piece the mystery is unraveled by the detectives and when all is said and done the solution is very satisfying.

I look forward to the next book in the series to see if Cat does go to New York with Aiden and what that would entail. I will miss the UK characters immensely if this does happen, so maybe Frear can come up with a creative solution, I'm sure she can.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.

[Hannah McKinnon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Immediately from the first page, Shed No Tears by Caz Frear plunges you into a fast-paced, twisty police investigation chock-full of intrigue, secrets, and lies. Frear’s expert plot and pacing will have you turning the pages wondering who’s deceiving whom, the pinch of family drama will make you wonder if anyone can make it out unscathed, and protagonist Cat Kinsella’s wry sense of humour and deadpan one-liners are sure to make you laugh out loud. An irresistible, perfect, and thrilling read.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Setting: London; 2012 & 2018.
Six years after the murder of a young woman is attributed as being the last victim of The Roommate Killer - who was jailed and subsequently killed in prison - skeletal remains are discovered concealed in a ditch in Cambridgeshire. These turn out to be the remains of the missing woman - and the cause of death and the location of the remains immediately cast doubt on the assumptions of the previous investigation.
When Cat Kinsella's team are assigned to the investigation, attention turns to the witness whose statement placed the murdered woman at the killer's house on the day she disappeared - and things don't really add up for Cat and her colleagues. In the background is the D.C. who investigated the case - who is now a Detective Inspector and a woman Cat has looked up to as a role model....
This is the third (and last?) in the crime series featuring Cat Kinsella. This has been an excellent series and the third book lived up to the high standards of the previous two - great characters, complex plot lines and totally unexpected twists and turns made this yet another gripping read and I can't wait to see what Caz Frear has in store for her loyal readership to follow this excellent series - 8 5/10.

[Agnieszka · Rating 2 out of 5]

The body of Holly Kemp is discovered 6 years after she went missing. The presumed killer is dead, but it quickly turns out that her death didn't fit his MO.
But if he wasn't responsible for her death, then who was?
Cat Kinsella has a hard case to crack.

This is the third book in the Cat Kinsella series, but unfortunately I didn't realise this when requesting the ARC.
However, this fact had only a minimal impact on my rating.
I'm sorry to say that this book turned out not to be to my liking at all, and I considered abandoning it multiple times. I was really struggling to keep going and only did so because I don't like leaving stories unfinished no matter how little they grip me.
The fact that the presumed killer was dead meant that there was no urgency to the investigation, and therefore the whole story lacked suspense.
However, it was definitely a well-plotted story, with an ending that I didn't see coming, and this is the only reason why I decided to raise the rating up to 2 stars.
I realise that my opinion is an unpopular one, I have not seen a single review of 1 or 2 stars, so you should check it out yourself.

[Nila (digitalcreativepages) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A tense, superbly crafted plot line, author Caz Frear delivered a story that was multi layered.

Being no stranger to the author’s work, I was a willing prisoner to the aply juxtaposed words which added to the thrill. A case which was supposed to have been closed years ago, despite having not found the last victim’s body, the team of DI Cat Kinsella and Luigi Parnell soon found clues which made a simple case convoluted.

The story was a siren; I found myself unable to put it down. Desperate to know the truth, I raced down the pages. What was supposed to be a solid police procedural soon became a suspenseful tale of sticky web of discrepancies and hidden secrets. I was completely caught up in the plot with brilliant twists.

The writing flowed smoothly, the banter between the team kept the air alive. They were all different yet their determination shone through. Some great twists abd unexpected results made this an exciting breakfast read.

[Marta entre libros · Rating 4 out of 5]

Me gusta leer las series en orden pero... a veces no lo hago🙈😂😂😂 En esta ocasión me he saltado las dos primeras entregas protagonizadas por Cat Kinsella y he leído directamente el tercer libro de la serie.
➡️¿He disfrutado de la lectura? Sí
➡️¿Me he sentido perdida en algún momento? No
💫
✳️Aun así pienso que es mejor leer en orden porque se hacen alusiones a cosas que, aunque en esta novela te explican por encima, pues como gran curiosa que es una, me hubiera gustado conocer en profundidad.
😢
Prohibido llorar es un thriller adictivo, con una trama sólida, que aunque en algún momento puedas ver venir lo que viene a continuación, consigue sorprenderte y hace que no decaiga tu interés.
😢
El estilo narrativo es muy ligero y desenfadado. Me ha gustado la protagonista que vive en una continua montaña rusa de sentimientos.

Sigue leyendo en:
https://www.instagram.com/p/CeN4R3xjV...
https://martaentrelibros.com/2022/05/...

[Julie Lacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great crime thriller with a brilliant outcome that I didn’t see coming.
Cat is called to a crime scene in Cambridgeshire where the body of a young woman is found in remote farmland.
It seems this woman has links to the Roommate killer investigated by the Met Police some six years earlier, and this young woman was believed to be his final victim.
Although all the evidence pointed towards Christopher Masters at the time, the discovery of the body sheds new light on the investigation and forces the team to reopen the case.
As Cat and Parnell dig deeper more and more discrepancies are evident and this makes this book a great read as there’s so many directions it could take.
I loved the ending and also the final sentence of the book.....
Thanks to Bonnier Books UK and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Three books in, this remains my favorite current procedural series.

Frear has an impressive way of keeping her story compelling, her characters empathetic, but while still deftly employing a lighter touch than often seen in the genre. The cases feel riveting, important, and meaningful, but avoid the kind of soul crushing sadness often seen in murder mysteries.

Cat Kinsella is about as terrific a heroine as you can get. Both heroic and relatable, Cat’s personal reckonings are as earnest and endearing as her detective work is entertaining and exceptional. And Steele and Parnell remain among literatures best secondary players.

And oh what a glorious bomb Frear has dropped at the close of this novel. I can’t wait to see what’s next for Cat.

*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

[Sue Em · Rating 5 out of 5]

4 1/2 stars and rounding up. Cat Kinsella, a rising star in London police, has a secret -- her father is dodgy and she's dating the brother of a victim. Now the body of the supposed last victim of a serial killer has turned up years later and it raises questions why so many details of this killing are significantly different. Excellent police procedural with a strong intelligent protagonist with enough of a conscience to make her vital and interesting.

[Elaine Tomasso · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would like to thank Netgalley and Bonnier Books UK for an advance copy of Shed No Tears, the third novel to feature DC Cat Kinsella of The Met.

When Holly Kemp’s remains are discovered it raises several questions that Cat and the team are tasked with answering. It was always assumed that Holly was the fourth victim of The Roommate Killer, a man arrested shortly after her disappearance and who wouldn’t confirm this one way or another. He is now dead and the discrepancies are enough to warrant a full investigation.

I thoroughly enjoyed Shed No Tears which is an absorbing read with an interesting premise. After the prologue it is told entirely from Cat Kinsella’s point of view so the reader can get fully immersed in the read without distraction and can interpret the information alongside her rather from the position of superior knowledge. Of course I wasn’t as smart as Cat so the resolution was surprising and dumbfounding to me. I loved the whole investigation which unravels the truth piece by piece albeit via some blind alleys and false assumptions. These latter are mitigated by the collaborative team approach with brainstorming and blue sky thinking (ok, I’m kidding about the blue skies).

Cat has a great voice for a protagonist. She is a fairly normal person, in turns funny, smart and cranky with thoughts of her personal life intruding Into the investigation. I say fairly normal as she has some big secrets which involve lying and rigidly compartmentalising the various areas of her life. It’s stressful and obvious that it will come painfully tumbling down at some point. Most of these secrets refer to events in the previous two novels which I wish I’d re-read first as the frequent references with not much explanation are frustrating to the reader who can’t remember.

Shed No Tears is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

[Kris (My Novelesque Life) · Rating 4 out of 5]

RATING: 4 STARS
2020; Harper/HarperCollins

And, we are back! I love the new instalment in the Cat Kinsella series. We get to see more of Cat interacting with her family especially with her father. This mystery also takes us back to the past. Cat is still struggling with not telling Parnell about her father's (and her own) involvement in the earlier case. Parnell and Cat's relationship in contrast to her father is also interesting as it's different and yet not so much. I am looking forward to see what happens next.

***I received a complimentary copy of this ebook/audio from the publisher through Edelweiss. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.***

[Claire Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shed No Tears by Caz Frear is a fantastic read. DC Cat Kinsella is back and this time, she's investigating a murder when the remains of Holly Kemp are recovered several years after she went missing. The evidence points to convicted serial killer, Christopher Masters, but Cat is sure all isnt what it seems. I found this book to be gripping and cant wait for the next in the series. 4 stars

[StinaStaffymum · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always tell myself not to start any new series as there are so many out there already and I can't keep up. I didn't know SHED NO TEARS was the third in a series when I requested it otherwise I wouldn't have but I have to say it was a pleasure being in Cat Kinsella's company for a few hours or so. I loved the first person narrative of her character and the witty quips she constantly delivered throughout her narrative. They were quick and they were sharp and sometimes intensely amusing. It kept the story from becoming boring as without her witty narrative throughout, things would have dragged a lot more.

The story begins in Caxton in Cambridgeshire where DC Cat Kinsella and her partner DS Luigi Parnell have hailed up from London from the Met to investigate the skeletal remains that have been uncovered in a shallow grave covered by logs. What struck Cat from almost the off was that the body had been hidden rather than buried, which alluded to the killer being in too much of a hurry to take the time to bury his victim. And the killer they liked for this murder was Christopher Masters, deceased, more infamously known as The Roommate Killer. They suspected the remains to be that of his fourth victim, Holly Kemp, who disappeared two days before Masters was arrested for his crimes.

On 23rd February 2012, Holly Kemp was seen walking down Valentine Street in Clapham and up to the door of number 6 where she knocked and the door was opened by none other than Masters. That was the last anyone saw Holly. Except her killer of course. And as Masters had been on a spree, collecting women answering his ad for a roommate - hence the moniker "The Roommate" - before torturing and killing them in the space of just two weeks and she had last been seen knocking on his door, Holly was thus labelled as his fourth and final victim. But was she?

All of Masters' victims had been tortured, strangled and left naked in pretty much the same place. Holly's remains, once they were found, weren't even in London but 100 miles away in Cambridgeshire. Fibres had been found with her remains indicating that she'd still been clothed at the time she was disposed of, her hyoid bone wasn't broken suggesting that she had not been strangled and as a complete stray from Masters' MO, she'd been shot in the back of the head execution style. That's just not a different MO...that a different beast altogether.

From the moment Holly's remains were discovered, The Roommate case was re-evaluated as the team began to dig into Holly's life and her death to ascertain if she was indeed Masters' fourth and final victim. He himself had been vague on the matter. First he said had killed her, then he said he didn't, then he did, then he didn't...and so on. Anything he had said with regards to Holly couldn't be trusted and so the team has to re-open the case into her disappearance six years on.

But as Cat and Parnell dig deeper, they uncover a litany of discrepancies made at the time of the original investigation. Is this a case of bad policing or the fact that once they found an eyewitness who saw Holly enter Masters' house they decided that there was no need to look further? But isn't that in itself bad policing? Because shouldn't all avenues be investigated before coming to a conclusion? Cat fears that something is amiss and it smells distinctly dodgy. But then of course the SIO at the time, DCI Tessa Dyer's husband was terminally ill at the time and she had a lot going on. Maybe Tess missed something because her mind wasn't completely on the job - that would understandable under the circumstances. So Cat's boss, DCI Kate Steele calls Tessa, now a Superintendent, in on to help liaise on the investigation.

SHED NO TEARS is a tense and gritty police procedural peppered throughout with Cat's first person witty narrative as she describes her various colleagues, suspects and even her own family. It kept the story from becoming boring as the banter and the investigation appeared to just bounce around the incident room at times. I loved Cat, not so much for her strong character but for her humour and wit which I totally love.

Overall, SHED NO TEARS is a satisfying read with grit, tenacity and a witty humour akin to Stuart MacBride. An enjoyable read with a somewhat surprising outcome.

I would like to thank #CazFrear, #Netgalley and #BonnierBooks and #Zaffre for an ARC of #ShedNoTears in exchange for an honest review.

This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.

[Shelley Lawrence · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
Shed No Tears is the 3rd book in the Cat Kinsella British crime procedural series by Caz Frear. This is a complex, intelligent crime fiction detective series with flawed, but immensely likeable characters.

Cat is a London detective who has tried to keep her family connections and past under wraps from both her department and her serious boyfriend. Yet she finds herself needing to tap into her complicated family resources once again for their current case. A serial killer was charged, years ago, with killing several women, but when the latest remains are found, questions arise and discrepancies are discovered that could lead to something troubling and close at hand.

I love the interactions between Cat and her fellow detectives and even with her complicated family members. Her relationship with her boyfriend is very sweet as well. Cat is smart, on the rise and going places. She possesses a solid stubborn streak, out-of-the-box kind of thinking, and yet she’s got a good heart with good intentions.

My problems with this mystery is simply it’s complexity. It could very well just be me, but I had a really difficult time following all the lines of inquiry and who was who, and who had done what. It’s a wonder how the detectives were able to remember the details of various conversations and keep them all straight and at the forefront of their minds, because I certainly couldn’t.

So while I really liked the characters, enjoyed the story and more-or-less followed the mystery, it didn’t have quite the same impact as if I had been better able to follow the facts along the way. Maybe someday I’ll go back for a reread and perhaps that will help. Regardless, I will still pick up the next book and I even look forward to it.

[Carla G. Sarrión · Rating 5 out of 5]

Este es el tercer (y por ahora último) libro de la saga de Cat Kinsella. Aquí nos encontramos la historia de un asesino que pudo o no haber matado a una víctima que aparece con ciertas discrepancias de su modus operandi. Eso choca completamente con la versión de la policía, ya que tiene un testigo perfecto. Así que Cat y los suyos se ponen a desentrañar un misterio que alguien se ha esforzado mucho en que se mantenga oculto.

Puntos fuertes:

—Hay ciertos personajes a los que les coges muchísimo cariño por escenas detallistas y cuidadas.
—Cat te habla como si fuera tu amiga y no te esconde nada (a diferencia de a otras personas de su vida).
—Es ameno, ligero y fácil de leer.

Puntos débiles:

—El misterio no es tal cuando llegas a cierto punto donde te ves venir qué ha pasado y quién ha sido, pero afortunadamente es lo de menos.

Opinión totalmente personal: No quería que se acabara. A lo largo de la trilogía publicada he llegado a apreciar a Cat y a Parnell como a dos viejos amigos. Los echaré de menos.

[Lel Budge · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shed No Tears is #3 in the series featuring DC Cat Kinsella, but can also be read as a stand-alone.

This is a police procedural, serial killer thriller and so much more.

Cat is such a likeable, well developed character and as a result you are with her every step of the way as she deals with her family drama, a relationship, her dark investigation into the murders and so much tension as she, and her team, try to stop a killer.

A brilliantly, twisty plot with red herrings, secrets and revelations that will keep you hooked to the very end. A thoroughly entertaining read.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for an eARC of Shed No Tears. This is my honest and unbiased review.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the third entry in the excellent DC Cat Kinsella series, the remains of a woman presumed to be the victim of a serial killer have finally been found. Holly Kemp was shot which doesn't align with the method of death in the other cases. The police will do a perfunctory review of the investigation before closing the case. Cat Kinsella is convinced Holly was not a victim of the Roommate Killer, proving it will be another challenge. There's no way Cat could anticipate where this twisty road will lead her and her colleagues.

Caz Frear's careful plotting is on point and the supporting characters are thoughtfully developed. Cat continues to struggle with remorse as she indulges in duplicity to keep her family's secrets safe from the police force. This is a great British police procedural series which is underhyped. I'm caught up now and excited about a fourth book tentatively due for publication at the end of this year.