What do you think?
Rate this book
DI Erika Piper #1
A Wash of Black
"Clever, chilling and absolutely addictive... " – Noelle Holten, author of Dead Inside
IT'S NOT LIFE THAT IMITATES ART. IT'S DEATH. Anna Symons. Famous. Talented. Dead.
The body of a famous actress is found mutilated on an ice rink in Manchester, recreating a scene from a blockbuster film she starred in years ago.
DI Erika Piper, having only recently returned to work after suffering a near-fatal attack herself, finds she must once again prove her worth as the hunt for the media-dubbed 'Blood Ice Killer’ intensifies.
But when another body is found and, this time, the killer issues a personal threat, Erika must put aside her demons to crack the case, or suffer the deadly consequences.
If you like Ian Rankin, Val McDermid and Cara Hunter, you will love this.
THIS HIGHLY ANTICIPATED DEBUT IS ALREADY GETTING RAVE REVIEWS:
“Wow! Chris McDonald has written a clever, chilling and absolutely addictive debut novel with A Wash of Black! A pacy read that will keep you turning the pages. I already want the next book in the DI Erika Piper series…like yesterday!” — Noelle Holten, author of Dead Inside
“A pacy murder mystery full of deceit, suspicion and revenge , Chris McDonald’s debut is a highly entertaining tale with plenty of shocks along the way.” —TM Logan, bestselling author of The Holiday , 29 Seconds and Lies .
“Like a hammer in the dark, A Wash of Black is a debut that hits you with full force and leaves you breathless and stunned . DI Erika Piper is a compelling, hard-as-nails creation, trawling every dark Mancunian corner for the murderer of a movie-star – and as the tension and stakes rack up, so do the bodies and surprises. A superb tale deftly told with a human touch and a real eye for detail , with a true ‘just one more chapter’ moreishness, A Wash of Black announces Chris McDonald as a superb new voice not just in the Northern literary scene, but across the national crime landscape. Highly recommended." —Rob Parker, author of The Ben Bracken Thrillers
“An addictive, gripping read that pulls you in and has you hooked.” — Sarah Jones, Lost in the Land of Books blog
“I have found my new series obsession. McDonald creates a strong, rounded lead in DI Erika Piper and I, for one, cannot wait to read the next.” — M.Sean Coleman, author of The Code and The Cuckoo Wood .
IT'S NOT LIFE THAT IMITATES ART. IT'S DEATH. Anna Symons. Famous. Talented. Dead.
The body of a famous actress is found mutilated on an ice rink in Manchester, recreating a scene from a blockbuster film she starred in years ago.
DI Erika Piper, having only recently returned to work after suffering a near-fatal attack herself, finds she must once again prove her worth as the hunt for the media-dubbed 'Blood Ice Killer’ intensifies.
But when another body is found and, this time, the killer issues a personal threat, Erika must put aside her demons to crack the case, or suffer the deadly consequences.
If you like Ian Rankin, Val McDermid and Cara Hunter, you will love this.
THIS HIGHLY ANTICIPATED DEBUT IS ALREADY GETTING RAVE REVIEWS:
“Wow! Chris McDonald has written a clever, chilling and absolutely addictive debut novel with A Wash of Black! A pacy read that will keep you turning the pages. I already want the next book in the DI Erika Piper series…like yesterday!” — Noelle Holten, author of Dead Inside
“A pacy murder mystery full of deceit, suspicion and revenge , Chris McDonald’s debut is a highly entertaining tale with plenty of shocks along the way.” —TM Logan, bestselling author of The Holiday , 29 Seconds and Lies .
“Like a hammer in the dark, A Wash of Black is a debut that hits you with full force and leaves you breathless and stunned . DI Erika Piper is a compelling, hard-as-nails creation, trawling every dark Mancunian corner for the murderer of a movie-star – and as the tension and stakes rack up, so do the bodies and surprises. A superb tale deftly told with a human touch and a real eye for detail , with a true ‘just one more chapter’ moreishness, A Wash of Black announces Chris McDonald as a superb new voice not just in the Northern literary scene, but across the national crime landscape. Highly recommended." —Rob Parker, author of The Ben Bracken Thrillers
“An addictive, gripping read that pulls you in and has you hooked.” — Sarah Jones, Lost in the Land of Books blog
“I have found my new series obsession. McDonald creates a strong, rounded lead in DI Erika Piper and I, for one, cannot wait to read the next.” — M.Sean Coleman, author of The Code and The Cuckoo Wood .
267 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2020
29 people are currently reading
213 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews
May 29, 2020
Rather good for an opener. I wasn’t sure to begin with but it developed into a real page-turner.
The main character is well developed and there’s a lot of scope for developing further.
Enjoyable; I’ll be looking out for more.
Edit: Won’t have to wait long, #2 arrives in November! (Let’s hope we’re all still here!)
The main character is well developed and there’s a lot of scope for developing further.
Enjoyable; I’ll be looking out for more.
Edit: Won’t have to wait long, #2 arrives in November! (Let’s hope we’re all still here!)
February 6, 2020
Art is subjective. Murder is brutal. The two combined create a heady mix for a psychopathic cocktail. A wash of Black is Chris McDonalds debut and what a poignant and as such is a breeze block straight into the chest. The walk between functioning citizens and sanity is a knife’s edge. I have read so many Crime and Police procedurals lately that it takes something truly remarkable to pull me in – the author caught me by the neck and yanked hard! The prologue was like a defibrillator constantly restarting me…making me aware that what I was reading was true. The crime was like an ice-cold fist gripping my heart.
That opening chapter had me holding my kindle in a death grip. The words jumped from my screen, danced in a rhythmic beat and created threatening shadows that sealed the deal. The tension could have torn through the page like a knife. My eyes and my brain couldn’t keep up with each other. My brain was conjuring images before my eyes took in the final word. Chris McDonald knows just how to get you by the jugular and keep you gasping for any morsel of breath that he allows you to have.
We don’t expect the evil to be lurking around the corner. We don’t expect to meet our end at the hands of another. I’m not a schemes person but A Wash of Black had me clutching my stomach and trying to force the queasy feeling back down. I may have nearly lost my lunch, but the poor victim lost a lot more than that. It was thrilling and had me looking over my shoulder more than once. This book had everything I look for in Crime Fiction. The author had weaved an intricate web of clues and like the Poirot in me, I just had to follow them. Walking into the darkness I was prepared for the evil to grab me and pull me under.
Mr McDonald had developed an uncanny ability to leave you blind. Unsure of which way is right. Unable to detect those usual nuances that depict a lie or deception. He set us up to fall and fall I did… straight into a bottomless hole. Are you ready for your senses to leave your body?
What’s a great story without an amazing protagonist? Erika Piper is a straight-talking. No holds barred, strong woman. We meet her after an incredibly traumatic event in her career. Physical damage. Metal turmoil. A crumbling relationship. Her team is supportive but some great funny moments too. It was only strengthened by the foundations that was a concrete -strong narrative. The crime scenes, the teasing of clues, an unreliable narrator, all was fed to us and as starving little disciples we inhaled it all and begged for more. I had every faith she would hunt down this evil murderer and bring him to justice.
The plot in Wash of Black is so tautly wound that you fear it’s going to snap and take your head off. It captivates your attention and literally has you sitting on the edge of your seat. It’s so fast paced that it’s a race to get to the next page, the next chapter and before you know it you have read the last word. What more could you possibly want in a crime fiction novel? Gruesome Murders. A calling card. A mysterious homeless man that seems to turn up. Will they find the killer before they strike again?
Chris McDonald has earned his place at the table. His novel is original and suspenseful. It’s hard hitting prose with its perfect execution and razor-sharp dialogue make this author one to watch.
That opening chapter had me holding my kindle in a death grip. The words jumped from my screen, danced in a rhythmic beat and created threatening shadows that sealed the deal. The tension could have torn through the page like a knife. My eyes and my brain couldn’t keep up with each other. My brain was conjuring images before my eyes took in the final word. Chris McDonald knows just how to get you by the jugular and keep you gasping for any morsel of breath that he allows you to have.
We don’t expect the evil to be lurking around the corner. We don’t expect to meet our end at the hands of another. I’m not a schemes person but A Wash of Black had me clutching my stomach and trying to force the queasy feeling back down. I may have nearly lost my lunch, but the poor victim lost a lot more than that. It was thrilling and had me looking over my shoulder more than once. This book had everything I look for in Crime Fiction. The author had weaved an intricate web of clues and like the Poirot in me, I just had to follow them. Walking into the darkness I was prepared for the evil to grab me and pull me under.
Mr McDonald had developed an uncanny ability to leave you blind. Unsure of which way is right. Unable to detect those usual nuances that depict a lie or deception. He set us up to fall and fall I did… straight into a bottomless hole. Are you ready for your senses to leave your body?
What’s a great story without an amazing protagonist? Erika Piper is a straight-talking. No holds barred, strong woman. We meet her after an incredibly traumatic event in her career. Physical damage. Metal turmoil. A crumbling relationship. Her team is supportive but some great funny moments too. It was only strengthened by the foundations that was a concrete -strong narrative. The crime scenes, the teasing of clues, an unreliable narrator, all was fed to us and as starving little disciples we inhaled it all and begged for more. I had every faith she would hunt down this evil murderer and bring him to justice.
The plot in Wash of Black is so tautly wound that you fear it’s going to snap and take your head off. It captivates your attention and literally has you sitting on the edge of your seat. It’s so fast paced that it’s a race to get to the next page, the next chapter and before you know it you have read the last word. What more could you possibly want in a crime fiction novel? Gruesome Murders. A calling card. A mysterious homeless man that seems to turn up. Will they find the killer before they strike again?
Chris McDonald has earned his place at the table. His novel is original and suspenseful. It’s hard hitting prose with its perfect execution and razor-sharp dialogue make this author one to watch.
February 3, 2020
Fast paced, seamless subplots, a kick-ass main character along with confident writing made this book a fantastic debut.
Life imitated art. An actress was found murdered gruesomely in a skating rink. DI Erika Piper was called to investigate.
A brilliant debut, the story made my heart gallop as I kept tapping my kindle to make Erika investigate faster. I loved the way the author etched Erika's character. There was a depth to her, strength and vulnerability endeared her to me. After going through a near fatal attack, she was back to work on her first day when she caught this case. Liam was a perfect partner, both worked well together to sift through the clues.
The story moved fast, the chapters short and snappy. The writing gave powerful imagery with its words, the scenes had the right atmosphere needed to draw me in further into the story. Having read a lot of police procedural, I tried being a Detective to solve the crime before Erika. Unfortunately, the author was quite crafty and hid the killer well. I couldn't guess it. I promise to do better in the next book!!
Overall, it was a fun breakfast read.
Life imitated art. An actress was found murdered gruesomely in a skating rink. DI Erika Piper was called to investigate.
A brilliant debut, the story made my heart gallop as I kept tapping my kindle to make Erika investigate faster. I loved the way the author etched Erika's character. There was a depth to her, strength and vulnerability endeared her to me. After going through a near fatal attack, she was back to work on her first day when she caught this case. Liam was a perfect partner, both worked well together to sift through the clues.
The story moved fast, the chapters short and snappy. The writing gave powerful imagery with its words, the scenes had the right atmosphere needed to draw me in further into the story. Having read a lot of police procedural, I tried being a Detective to solve the crime before Erika. Unfortunately, the author was quite crafty and hid the killer well. I couldn't guess it. I promise to do better in the next book!!
Overall, it was a fun breakfast read.
January 18, 2020
I didn’t think there could be room for another Erika in the detective world being a huge fan of the Detective Erika Foster crime series by Robert Bryndza. Well DI Erika Piper showed me that there was more than enough room for the both of them.
The start of the story with a murder scene on an ice rink ensured that the author had my attention. I don’t think I’ve ever read a novel where a crime scene takes place in one, so it piqued my interest straight away.
For a debut novel, I was blown away with the confidence in the authors writing. I had no problem falling into the story and the story line made sure I stayed there. It’s what I would class as an easy read as once I started the book, the next thing I knew, I was just over half way through. I was totally oblivious to anything other than what I was reading. For me, this is an easy read as my enjoyment is such, that time just flies by whilst I’m reading it.
Erika is a great protagonist that I took to instantly. An horrific attack has left her somewhat vulnerable but yet there is an inner strength that I truly admired. There are a couple of characters that I’m looking forward to getting to know better as the series progresses and can’t wait to see what the author comes up with next.
A Wash of Black is not only a cracker of a start to a series but also a highly commendable debut. The gripping story line and the increase in pace had me tearing through the pages. There was enough to excite and thrill me of which has left me very much looking forward to more from this author.
My thanks to Red Dog Press for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
The start of the story with a murder scene on an ice rink ensured that the author had my attention. I don’t think I’ve ever read a novel where a crime scene takes place in one, so it piqued my interest straight away.
For a debut novel, I was blown away with the confidence in the authors writing. I had no problem falling into the story and the story line made sure I stayed there. It’s what I would class as an easy read as once I started the book, the next thing I knew, I was just over half way through. I was totally oblivious to anything other than what I was reading. For me, this is an easy read as my enjoyment is such, that time just flies by whilst I’m reading it.
Erika is a great protagonist that I took to instantly. An horrific attack has left her somewhat vulnerable but yet there is an inner strength that I truly admired. There are a couple of characters that I’m looking forward to getting to know better as the series progresses and can’t wait to see what the author comes up with next.
A Wash of Black is not only a cracker of a start to a series but also a highly commendable debut. The gripping story line and the increase in pace had me tearing through the pages. There was enough to excite and thrill me of which has left me very much looking forward to more from this author.
My thanks to Red Dog Press for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
February 4, 2020
Reading and reviewing a book written by someone you know, even if it is only from Twitter and their blog, is always just a little bit more stressful than reading and reviewing any other book. I mean, I knew how much this book means to Chris and so I really wanted to like it, and preferably even love it. Now, I’ve always loved his reviews, and obviously I trust the bookish tastes of Red Dog Press, what with their Soho Noir series, the Mydworth Mysteries series and Stay Mad, Sweetheart, all solid 4 to 5 stars reads, so of course I was jumping up and down excitedly when I got the tour invitation and I couldn’t wait to go in! Still, for the abovementioned reasons I went in with a little trepidation. I got as far as the end of the prologue (and it’s a really short prologue) and I knew I’d be golden! I’ve been feeling quite moody as a reader lately, a book needs to grab me right from the start or I start frowning at it and sulking, and wondering if the grass might not be greener on the other side, but grab me A Wash of Black most definitely did. I blinked and found myself halfway through, if that isn’t a sign of bookish brilliance, I don’t know what is!
A Wash of Black kicks off with a bloodbath and a killer who is convinced that they have not committed murder, but created art. Sure… *backs away slowly and breaks into a run* As it turns out, the murder victim is an actress and the murder scene is a recreation of one of her movie scenes. Who would commit such a heinous crime, and why? It’s up to DI Erika Piper to find out, but she might not be up to the task, having just returned to the force after a long recovery following a vicious attack and seemingly still suffering from PTSD.
A Wash of Black is such a fun quick read, I absolutely flew through it. Despite its limited number of pages (my e-copy knocks off at 208), it’s a well-rounded story with fleshed-out characters. It has everything you need from a crime thriller / police procedural: intrigue and mystery, gruesome crimes, multiple suspects to muddy the waters, and a kick-ass yet vulnerable heroine.
As far as debuts go, this is definitely an impressive one, and I think that Chris McDonald is at the start of a very promising new career! I for one am eager to find out what troubles might await Erika Piper in the next instalment. If A Wash of Black is anything to go by, 2020 is looking mighty good for Red Dog Press!
A Wash of Black kicks off with a bloodbath and a killer who is convinced that they have not committed murder, but created art. Sure… *backs away slowly and breaks into a run* As it turns out, the murder victim is an actress and the murder scene is a recreation of one of her movie scenes. Who would commit such a heinous crime, and why? It’s up to DI Erika Piper to find out, but she might not be up to the task, having just returned to the force after a long recovery following a vicious attack and seemingly still suffering from PTSD.
A Wash of Black is such a fun quick read, I absolutely flew through it. Despite its limited number of pages (my e-copy knocks off at 208), it’s a well-rounded story with fleshed-out characters. It has everything you need from a crime thriller / police procedural: intrigue and mystery, gruesome crimes, multiple suspects to muddy the waters, and a kick-ass yet vulnerable heroine.
As far as debuts go, this is definitely an impressive one, and I think that Chris McDonald is at the start of a very promising new career! I for one am eager to find out what troubles might await Erika Piper in the next instalment. If A Wash of Black is anything to go by, 2020 is looking mighty good for Red Dog Press!
February 9, 2021
Before he slips out the side door and onto the deserted street, his eyes drink in the bloodbath he is leaving behind. In his head, this isn’t murder; it’s art.
Returning from a year off work to recover from an on-the-job-attack, DI Erika Piper is thrown straight into the deep-end as a high-profile murder of an actress lands with her on her first day back. Staged to look almost identical to a murder scene the actress featured in from a movie, the crime is shocking and catches the public's attention. Dealing with the remaining trauma from her injury, Piper is under pressure to solve the case as the killings continue.
Right off the bat, I'll say that while I didn't love this book I do think it's quite impressive for a debut novel. I've tried plenty of crime books by more seasoned authors that weren't as good as this. That being said, there's also not that much here to make it really stand out from the rest of the crime-thriller genre. The dysfunctional relationship, the crime that brings back painful memories of a previous attack, the detective being taken off the case but working to solve it on her own anyway. These elements are others are things we've seen before in the genre, but McDonald does execute them well enough to make the novel enjoyable even if it isn't incredibly impressive.
I think the premise of the plot is maybe what stands out the most, and I did think it was a pretty neat set-up, but as the crimes ramped up I found it harder to believe the events that were unfolding and my preference for books in this genre is for them to be more grounded/realistic than what I found here.
All-in-all, this was a pretty decent thriller and I definitely had a good time reading it, I just don't think it's an outstanding example of the genre. That said, I'll definitely be reading the sequel (especially as that one is on Kindle Unlimited!)
Returning from a year off work to recover from an on-the-job-attack, DI Erika Piper is thrown straight into the deep-end as a high-profile murder of an actress lands with her on her first day back. Staged to look almost identical to a murder scene the actress featured in from a movie, the crime is shocking and catches the public's attention. Dealing with the remaining trauma from her injury, Piper is under pressure to solve the case as the killings continue.
Right off the bat, I'll say that while I didn't love this book I do think it's quite impressive for a debut novel. I've tried plenty of crime books by more seasoned authors that weren't as good as this. That being said, there's also not that much here to make it really stand out from the rest of the crime-thriller genre. The dysfunctional relationship, the crime that brings back painful memories of a previous attack, the detective being taken off the case but working to solve it on her own anyway. These elements are others are things we've seen before in the genre, but McDonald does execute them well enough to make the novel enjoyable even if it isn't incredibly impressive.
I think the premise of the plot is maybe what stands out the most, and I did think it was a pretty neat set-up, but as the crimes ramped up I found it harder to believe the events that were unfolding and my preference for books in this genre is for them to be more grounded/realistic than what I found here.
All-in-all, this was a pretty decent thriller and I definitely had a good time reading it, I just don't think it's an outstanding example of the genre. That said, I'll definitely be reading the sequel (especially as that one is on Kindle Unlimited!)
May 23, 2020
Great debut novel from Chris McDonald.
I’ll definitely be reading more from him.
I’ll definitely be reading more from him.
February 13, 2020
This is a debut book and just wow! What a strong start to Chris’ writing career! I was lucky enough to do a tiny bit of beta reading for Chris with what seems a long time ago but it was only August/September and along with Danielle and Sarah, we have seen this awesome journey he’s having. However, don’t think I will be biased in my review and to be honest, I am not sure I can find the right words either!!!!
Here we meet DI Erika Piper, first day back in the job and she’s gone and caught a doozy of a case! A famous actress murdered in an ice rink the same as the film she starred in! Be warned some scenes might not be to everyone’s taste, me, on the other hand, I think I am pretty much desensitised so I found it more fascinating to read..don’t worry I am not going on any killing spree!! However, the recreation of the murders hit a little bit close to home at some points for Erika and all I will say is I never want to go to the premiere of a film again!
What I loved about Erika is she is such a well-rounded and likeable character. She has feelings, she cries and can be quite emotional but she’s determined and she is trying to overcome her past and nail the person who is killing people. Her past is uncovered slowly, teasing it out to the reader and although not all the details are fully disclosed you learn enough to know what happens and man it’s harsh! However, she does not one to let it hinder her working the case, where it has done in her personal life. She is tenacious and leaves no stone unturned. She follows the clues and it was only because of something she said whilst watching Netflix that had me screaming at her about one crime scene!!
Her partnership with Liam is one to enjoy. They know how to work with each other and act like an old married couple. So at ease and no tension, no acts of bravado they work as a unit. Solving the clues together but working in their own ways. I love this duo so much, they have each other back, they would die for each other and you can feel that through the pages. Although, I do hope it does NOT come to that at any point!!
I can see this series going from strength to strength with McDonald’s confidence growing with the series. His writing flows and he knows that by writing short chapters he will keep you hooked with just one more chapter!! I don’t feel any part of the book was unnecessary everything has its place and adds to the story, not detracts from it. The reveal is clever and hand on heart I didn’t see coming until Erika had her ‘Eureka’ moment. and boy when she did, it just all hit the fan! I do love a book that can do that to me. The research that has gone into this book is amazing and it shines through, from the terminology and even the smallest things like a walkthrough of a scene or the possessiveness of a forensic team.
I am looking forward to seeing what Erika gets embroiled into next time…hopefully nothing too gruesome like this case!! But from what I hear it that might just be the case……
Here we meet DI Erika Piper, first day back in the job and she’s gone and caught a doozy of a case! A famous actress murdered in an ice rink the same as the film she starred in! Be warned some scenes might not be to everyone’s taste, me, on the other hand, I think I am pretty much desensitised so I found it more fascinating to read..don’t worry I am not going on any killing spree!! However, the recreation of the murders hit a little bit close to home at some points for Erika and all I will say is I never want to go to the premiere of a film again!
What I loved about Erika is she is such a well-rounded and likeable character. She has feelings, she cries and can be quite emotional but she’s determined and she is trying to overcome her past and nail the person who is killing people. Her past is uncovered slowly, teasing it out to the reader and although not all the details are fully disclosed you learn enough to know what happens and man it’s harsh! However, she does not one to let it hinder her working the case, where it has done in her personal life. She is tenacious and leaves no stone unturned. She follows the clues and it was only because of something she said whilst watching Netflix that had me screaming at her about one crime scene!!
Her partnership with Liam is one to enjoy. They know how to work with each other and act like an old married couple. So at ease and no tension, no acts of bravado they work as a unit. Solving the clues together but working in their own ways. I love this duo so much, they have each other back, they would die for each other and you can feel that through the pages. Although, I do hope it does NOT come to that at any point!!
I can see this series going from strength to strength with McDonald’s confidence growing with the series. His writing flows and he knows that by writing short chapters he will keep you hooked with just one more chapter!! I don’t feel any part of the book was unnecessary everything has its place and adds to the story, not detracts from it. The reveal is clever and hand on heart I didn’t see coming until Erika had her ‘Eureka’ moment. and boy when she did, it just all hit the fan! I do love a book that can do that to me. The research that has gone into this book is amazing and it shines through, from the terminology and even the smallest things like a walkthrough of a scene or the possessiveness of a forensic team.
I am looking forward to seeing what Erika gets embroiled into next time…hopefully nothing too gruesome like this case!! But from what I hear it that might just be the case……
January 21, 2020
What a debut novel from Chris McDonald. If I am being 100% honest it didn’t read like a debut, it read like an accomplished writers novel. I for one am already wanting book number 2.
I pre ordered this back last year 2019, and was so excited when my copy arrived yesterday morning, luckily I didn’t have another book on the go as I was in between books at the time. So decided to give it a go. I was not disappointed.
This is book one in what I think will be a great series, the characters are all three dimensional, you click with them. DI Erika Piper, her work partner Detective Liam Sutton, I even came round to the SIO towards the end DCI Bob, as well as the rest of the team, which as the series progresses readers will get to know more about.
The opening scenes are of the killer leaving the body of an actor dead pinned down on the ice in a Manchester ice rink, the murder is almost identical to how she had played the role in the film, but is absolutely identical as it was written in the book the author had written. Before the killer is caught more bodies will turn up, all tied in to the books.
DI Piper has been off work for a year after a previous case nearly killed her. This is what she faces on her first day. The reader is given a few suspects that it could be, the story is paced well, I think this series could go far.
If you like Cara Hunter, or M.W.Craven, Ian Rankin. Then this is book to buy.
I pre ordered this back last year 2019, and was so excited when my copy arrived yesterday morning, luckily I didn’t have another book on the go as I was in between books at the time. So decided to give it a go. I was not disappointed.
This is book one in what I think will be a great series, the characters are all three dimensional, you click with them. DI Erika Piper, her work partner Detective Liam Sutton, I even came round to the SIO towards the end DCI Bob, as well as the rest of the team, which as the series progresses readers will get to know more about.
The opening scenes are of the killer leaving the body of an actor dead pinned down on the ice in a Manchester ice rink, the murder is almost identical to how she had played the role in the film, but is absolutely identical as it was written in the book the author had written. Before the killer is caught more bodies will turn up, all tied in to the books.
DI Piper has been off work for a year after a previous case nearly killed her. This is what she faces on her first day. The reader is given a few suspects that it could be, the story is paced well, I think this series could go far.
If you like Cara Hunter, or M.W.Craven, Ian Rankin. Then this is book to buy.
January 18, 2020
Chilling and fast paced – great for lovers of serial killer crime. With a flair for the dramatic, Chris McDonald brings us one hell of a gutsy female DI in Erika Piper.
A confident debut from au author to watch.
A confident debut from au author to watch.
February 29, 2020
A Wash Of Black is a pacy, dark crime read with some excellent descriptive prose and a compelling murder mystery that keeps you involved throughout.
Our main protagonist is intriguing, back at work after a time of recovery and thrown right into a brutal murder case. The story flows out well and it is very readable and somewhat addictive.
Honestly I didn't engage with the characters that much but I did enjoy the plot, I love a more vivid reality when it comes to it and the author certainly offers that up.
Recommended for crime fans .
Our main protagonist is intriguing, back at work after a time of recovery and thrown right into a brutal murder case. The story flows out well and it is very readable and somewhat addictive.
Honestly I didn't engage with the characters that much but I did enjoy the plot, I love a more vivid reality when it comes to it and the author certainly offers that up.
Recommended for crime fans .
May 19, 2021
**4.5 stars**
It’s not life that imitates art. It’s death....
This was just a fabulous debut novel from Chris. I was hooked from the very beginning and raced through this book.
Chris has such a relatable writing style; he uses just the right amount of description to immerse you within the story whilst creating such likeable and very real characters. DI Erica Piper was a strong protagonist, confident yet vulnerable. There is also humour laced throughout.
It is dark, with a great pace and plenty of twists. I had an inkling as to who the killer was but there were plenty of other viable suspects too, and I was kept guessing for quite some time. I’m a huge fan of thrillers but I also really enjoy a good police procedural, and this brought a fabulous balance of both. It was genuinely a very enjoyable read and I will be looking forward to reading the second in the series #WhispersInTheDark
Chris’ DI Piper series is one to watch out for 🖤
A massive thank you to Red Dog Press and Chris for a gifted kindle copy. My review is voluntary and all my thoughts are my own.
It’s not life that imitates art. It’s death....
This was just a fabulous debut novel from Chris. I was hooked from the very beginning and raced through this book.
Chris has such a relatable writing style; he uses just the right amount of description to immerse you within the story whilst creating such likeable and very real characters. DI Erica Piper was a strong protagonist, confident yet vulnerable. There is also humour laced throughout.
It is dark, with a great pace and plenty of twists. I had an inkling as to who the killer was but there were plenty of other viable suspects too, and I was kept guessing for quite some time. I’m a huge fan of thrillers but I also really enjoy a good police procedural, and this brought a fabulous balance of both. It was genuinely a very enjoyable read and I will be looking forward to reading the second in the series #WhispersInTheDark
Chris’ DI Piper series is one to watch out for 🖤
A massive thank you to Red Dog Press and Chris for a gifted kindle copy. My review is voluntary and all my thoughts are my own.
January 14, 2020
Like a hammer in the dark, A WASH OF BLACK is a debut that hits you with full force and leaves you breathless and stunned. DI Erika Piper is a compelling, hard-as-nails creation, trawling every dark Mancunian corner for the murderer of a movie-star - and as the tension and stakes rack up, so do the bodies and surprises. A superb tale deftly told with a human touch and a real eye for detail, with a true 'just one more chapter' moreishness, A WASH OF BLACK announces Chris McDonald as a superb new voice not just in the Northern literary scene, but across the national crime landscape. Highly recommended.
February 4, 2020
A Wash of Black. A title that catches the eye.
Erika Piper. An interesting main character.
Manchester. A clever territory.
Death. I’m in!
D.I Erika Piper couldn’t have picked a better (or worse) time to come back to work after a year’s leave. The dead body of a woman is found in an ice rink. Yes, I already gave you several hints at why A Wash of Black is a gripping read!
I used to go have fun at my hometown’s ice rink, and I must admit, it makes for a great setting for a murder… Especially when the killer has drawn inspiration from a blockbuster, turning fiction into reality. There is no time to lose and the urgency of the case can be felt right away thanks to a crisp writing. It eased me into this new series with big eyes and many questions!
As if the plate wasn’t hot enough, Erika Piper must deal with the scars from an attack she was the victim of in the line of duty. Her physical pain might be gone, but her mind is still recovering. I found the author took great care in showing Erika’s soft, more vulnerable side, and it really helped me warm to her. How do you go back to work after such a long time and a traumatic event? Erika is resilient but doesn’t play hard, and I liked her even more for this. Her partner Liam picks up where they left off when Erika left, and their team dynamic is strong and clever.
The balance between the investigation and the world building, as this is the first instalment in a series, is strong enough to keep the reader entertained and involved in the case. More death and a list of suspects which would totally fit a movie cast kept me on my toes. Tension builds up as the book to movie to life adaptations grow chillier and deadlier with each chapter, and I tremendously enjoyed the dark and dangerous atmosphere.
I am definitely looking forward to reading more of Chris McDonald’s series!
Erika Piper. An interesting main character.
Manchester. A clever territory.
Death. I’m in!
D.I Erika Piper couldn’t have picked a better (or worse) time to come back to work after a year’s leave. The dead body of a woman is found in an ice rink. Yes, I already gave you several hints at why A Wash of Black is a gripping read!
I used to go have fun at my hometown’s ice rink, and I must admit, it makes for a great setting for a murder… Especially when the killer has drawn inspiration from a blockbuster, turning fiction into reality. There is no time to lose and the urgency of the case can be felt right away thanks to a crisp writing. It eased me into this new series with big eyes and many questions!
As if the plate wasn’t hot enough, Erika Piper must deal with the scars from an attack she was the victim of in the line of duty. Her physical pain might be gone, but her mind is still recovering. I found the author took great care in showing Erika’s soft, more vulnerable side, and it really helped me warm to her. How do you go back to work after such a long time and a traumatic event? Erika is resilient but doesn’t play hard, and I liked her even more for this. Her partner Liam picks up where they left off when Erika left, and their team dynamic is strong and clever.
The balance between the investigation and the world building, as this is the first instalment in a series, is strong enough to keep the reader entertained and involved in the case. More death and a list of suspects which would totally fit a movie cast kept me on my toes. Tension builds up as the book to movie to life adaptations grow chillier and deadlier with each chapter, and I tremendously enjoyed the dark and dangerous atmosphere.
I am definitely looking forward to reading more of Chris McDonald’s series!
March 2, 2020
I would absolutely recommend a debut thriller by Chris McDonald- A Wash of Black introducing DI Erika Piper. I sometimes find police procedurals a little samey, but McDonald has not only introduced a character to the genre who genuinely endeares herself to the reader, but is also involved in an investigation that keeps your attention, takes some unexpected turns, and some equally unexpected deaths. A nice bit of gore factor, a bit of movie gold dust and pacy plotting added to my satisfaction. Doesn’t hurt that I was also reminded of the Manchester crime novels of the woefully underrated Chris Simms too. Recommended.
September 1, 2022
“A Wash Of Black” (AWOB) is the debut novel by Chris McDonald and the first to feature DI Erika Piper.
For a debut novel AWOB is a solid opener with a lot to like, such as:
- a really good plot line that is engaging with a few well placed red herrings to lead you slightly astray
- plenty of clues to allow you to pick the killer (I thought the killer’s motivation was particularly well thought out and believable)
- a focussed and driven main character that isn’t a robot
- a good cast of supporting characters who that added flavour and depth to the story
- scenes that were atmospheric in their description whether it being the outside elements or the murder scenes
There were, however, a few things that did bug me a little:
- DI Piper’s love interest seemed to go from nought to one hundred in the blink of an eye
- Referring to her boss DCI Bob Lovett as “DCI Bob” throughout sounded a bit silly (call him either DCI Lovett, or Bob, or Governor, or Chief…)
- The sudden use of guns in the story near the end (when there had been no reference to Piper or her partner being armed before or that they were authorised to carry)
- At times the dialogue (and inner monologues) and relating of events was almost too formal and rigid, a bit like the author was submitting an essay (or a police report)
These are all minor annoyances and didn’t really get in the way of what was a very enjoyable book. I also acknowledge that AWOB is a debut novel and I’m expecting that McDonald’s writing style will develop to be more free-flowing as he goes. Given the creativity across the entire storyline produced in AWOB then I for one am looking forward to seeing that development!
AWOB is a really solid debut novel and it gets 3.5 visceral “threats” out of 5.
For a debut novel AWOB is a solid opener with a lot to like, such as:
- a really good plot line that is engaging with a few well placed red herrings to lead you slightly astray
- plenty of clues to allow you to pick the killer (I thought the killer’s motivation was particularly well thought out and believable)
- a focussed and driven main character that isn’t a robot
- a good cast of supporting characters who that added flavour and depth to the story
- scenes that were atmospheric in their description whether it being the outside elements or the murder scenes
There were, however, a few things that did bug me a little:
- DI Piper’s love interest seemed to go from nought to one hundred in the blink of an eye
- Referring to her boss DCI Bob Lovett as “DCI Bob” throughout sounded a bit silly (call him either DCI Lovett, or Bob, or Governor, or Chief…)
- The sudden use of guns in the story near the end (when there had been no reference to Piper or her partner being armed before or that they were authorised to carry)
- At times the dialogue (and inner monologues) and relating of events was almost too formal and rigid, a bit like the author was submitting an essay (or a police report)
These are all minor annoyances and didn’t really get in the way of what was a very enjoyable book. I also acknowledge that AWOB is a debut novel and I’m expecting that McDonald’s writing style will develop to be more free-flowing as he goes. Given the creativity across the entire storyline produced in AWOB then I for one am looking forward to seeing that development!
AWOB is a really solid debut novel and it gets 3.5 visceral “threats” out of 5.
March 2, 2020
This was a fab book, I can definitely see why so many of my book blogger friends have raved about it!
I read this when I was just at the end of my Kindle Unlimited trial and wanted to read it quickly as it was about to expire. I needn’t have worried though as it gripped me from the beginning and I didn’t want to put it down. In fact I read in a few of sittings as it’s under 300 pages long.
I really liked Erika and her partner Liam as they went about working out who the killer was, and also trying to stop any more murders.
It’s hard to believe that this is a debut by Chris McDonald, as I felt very comfortable with this duo, like I’d know them for a while already. I love the relaxed approach they a had towards one another and enjoyed one scene in particular involving listening to ABBA Gold as they drove to another location. 😉
I had so many suspicions about who the murderer was, and couldn’t quite decide on a particular suspect. I loved the way the author kept me guessing until just before the big reveal, and I was right for change! 😀
I definitely recommend this one if you enjoy police procedurals, and I can’t wait for the next Erika Piper book!
I read this when I was just at the end of my Kindle Unlimited trial and wanted to read it quickly as it was about to expire. I needn’t have worried though as it gripped me from the beginning and I didn’t want to put it down. In fact I read in a few of sittings as it’s under 300 pages long.
I really liked Erika and her partner Liam as they went about working out who the killer was, and also trying to stop any more murders.
It’s hard to believe that this is a debut by Chris McDonald, as I felt very comfortable with this duo, like I’d know them for a while already. I love the relaxed approach they a had towards one another and enjoyed one scene in particular involving listening to ABBA Gold as they drove to another location. 😉
I had so many suspicions about who the murderer was, and couldn’t quite decide on a particular suspect. I loved the way the author kept me guessing until just before the big reveal, and I was right for change! 😀
I definitely recommend this one if you enjoy police procedurals, and I can’t wait for the next Erika Piper book!
August 11, 2020
This book was recommended by someone on Twitter and I’m glad I listened to them.
It’s a great crime thriller and a great start to a new series.
DI Erika Piper is called to a gruesome crime scene which has literally been taken out of a book. The scene recreated on the ice rink was from the movie the victim starred in as well.
Another person linked to the film is soon found murdered and Erika and the team are puzzled by who the murderer is.
Events take an unexpected turn and we find out who it is but soon other lives are in danger.
This is a great read and I’ll definitely be looking into buying book two in November.
It’s a great crime thriller and a great start to a new series.
DI Erika Piper is called to a gruesome crime scene which has literally been taken out of a book. The scene recreated on the ice rink was from the movie the victim starred in as well.
Another person linked to the film is soon found murdered and Erika and the team are puzzled by who the murderer is.
Events take an unexpected turn and we find out who it is but soon other lives are in danger.
This is a great read and I’ll definitely be looking into buying book two in November.
January 28, 2020
"A painter should begin every canvas with a wash of black because all things in nature are dark except when exposed to light."
This quote that is placed before the story begins is perfectly fitting, not only because it includes the title of this book but also because A Wash of Black in itself is a sinistrous masterpiece, in which Chris is the literary artist. From the dedication page to the acknowledgements, I was completely intoxicated by the way Chris has created a chilling suspense with the use of a poetic prose that entices the reader to continue on the dark literary journey with DI Erika Piper. When creating a twisted death, Chris has created and penned it in a way that I can only describe as disturbingly aesthetic - when language meets art.
A Wash of Black is the first instalment of the DI Erika Piper series, this enthralling storyline has been coupled with a protagonist, Erika, that appears to have had some traumatic event - one that adds to the mystery of her and her personal life, but also creates a multi-layered character that not only has a professional strength about her but also a personal naivety. Erika's storyline naturally unravels parallel to the core backbone story and it really works. Chris has managed to build a main character, backstories, relationships and sequence of events in such a way that the reader becomes immersed in the world that he has created.
I found A Wash of Black to be brutally sinister, clever and creatively plotted, it was a novel that completely absorbed me and with every chapter tugged me further in to the unravelling novel, with a constantly creeping feel of suspense. Chris' attention to forensic detail was superb, he taught me a thing or two and i'm a forensic graduate. He clearly took the time and effort to research and check his findings, which for me, the details, is so important. A Wash of Black ticked all my crime fiction boxes, from being a tension filled, warped and addictive read, to a cat and mouse chase to catch a sadistic antagonist before it's too late. An adrenaline read that snowballs with every chapter, each one with raise your levels more than the previous. This novel, the writing blew me away, left me breathless and hoping that book two in the series will be coming soon (no pressure Chris!)
This brilliant debut is the first in the DI Erika Piper series. It's a very promising beginning and if this instalment is a thing to by, Chris could follow the paths of many crime writers before him, Val McDermid, Ian Rankin, I could go on! Chris and his writing has the potential to go far and I for one will be here, ready, to devour every single book he puts out!
This quote that is placed before the story begins is perfectly fitting, not only because it includes the title of this book but also because A Wash of Black in itself is a sinistrous masterpiece, in which Chris is the literary artist. From the dedication page to the acknowledgements, I was completely intoxicated by the way Chris has created a chilling suspense with the use of a poetic prose that entices the reader to continue on the dark literary journey with DI Erika Piper. When creating a twisted death, Chris has created and penned it in a way that I can only describe as disturbingly aesthetic - when language meets art.
A Wash of Black is the first instalment of the DI Erika Piper series, this enthralling storyline has been coupled with a protagonist, Erika, that appears to have had some traumatic event - one that adds to the mystery of her and her personal life, but also creates a multi-layered character that not only has a professional strength about her but also a personal naivety. Erika's storyline naturally unravels parallel to the core backbone story and it really works. Chris has managed to build a main character, backstories, relationships and sequence of events in such a way that the reader becomes immersed in the world that he has created.
I found A Wash of Black to be brutally sinister, clever and creatively plotted, it was a novel that completely absorbed me and with every chapter tugged me further in to the unravelling novel, with a constantly creeping feel of suspense. Chris' attention to forensic detail was superb, he taught me a thing or two and i'm a forensic graduate. He clearly took the time and effort to research and check his findings, which for me, the details, is so important. A Wash of Black ticked all my crime fiction boxes, from being a tension filled, warped and addictive read, to a cat and mouse chase to catch a sadistic antagonist before it's too late. An adrenaline read that snowballs with every chapter, each one with raise your levels more than the previous. This novel, the writing blew me away, left me breathless and hoping that book two in the series will be coming soon (no pressure Chris!)
This brilliant debut is the first in the DI Erika Piper series. It's a very promising beginning and if this instalment is a thing to by, Chris could follow the paths of many crime writers before him, Val McDermid, Ian Rankin, I could go on! Chris and his writing has the potential to go far and I for one will be here, ready, to devour every single book he puts out!
February 16, 2020
Read my full review here: https://crimebookjunkie.co.uk/2020/02...
July 7, 2020
DNF. Nothing new ... familiar characters, familiar plot.
January 28, 2020
Originally published on
Hina Loves To Read
As I have mentioned my pet peeve many times before, every one just knows. This one, too, had that going for it. You guessed it right. The book is in the first person narrative!
But…
- The story was intriguing enough for me to continue and overlook the pet peeve. I was rooting for this character (Erika) as she puzzled the pieces together.
- The structure of the novel was well formed with the characters showing more dimensions to them as the story progressed despite it all being from the perspective of just one character.
- The pace of the story was a tad bit slow for me but the situations fit in the arranged timeline of the story.
- The writing style needs a little more development as that will put better clarity on the prose and enhance the visuals in a reader’s mind without using many words.
- Some characters, in my opinion, were not really needed as they did nothing for the plot or the lives of the characters as far as I could understand.
To end with, I’d say that whenever book 2 comes out, I am definitely reading it because I want to see Tom following up on what his last words have been in this book. Nope, not telling anything about those words or the context.
A solid three stars from my side.
Definitely give it a read.
As I have mentioned my pet peeve many times before, every one just knows. This one, too, had that going for it. You guessed it right. The book is in the first person narrative!
But…
- The story was intriguing enough for me to continue and overlook the pet peeve. I was rooting for this character (Erika) as she puzzled the pieces together.
- The structure of the novel was well formed with the characters showing more dimensions to them as the story progressed despite it all being from the perspective of just one character.
- The pace of the story was a tad bit slow for me but the situations fit in the arranged timeline of the story.
- The writing style needs a little more development as that will put better clarity on the prose and enhance the visuals in a reader’s mind without using many words.
- Some characters, in my opinion, were not really needed as they did nothing for the plot or the lives of the characters as far as I could understand.
To end with, I’d say that whenever book 2 comes out, I am definitely reading it because I want to see Tom following up on what his last words have been in this book. Nope, not telling anything about those words or the context.
A solid three stars from my side.
Definitely give it a read.
February 14, 2020
A Wash of Black opens with a rather grizzly murder. The prologue actually shows the murder from the perspective of the killer, giving it a really gripping intro. After that everything is seen from the perspective of our hero, Detective Erika Piper. Erika is a great character. There's an incident in her past that is slowly revealed over the course of the book, and it's clearly affecting her. She's just returning to work after a year away and it has an impact on a lot of her relationships. This post-traumatic back story is done really well, and from the start it feels like these are people with history. Also her partner is called Liam, so straight away I liked him!
I really liked the idea of murders recreating movie screen deaths, though unfortunately that isn't really maintained through the whole book. I would have loved to see more discussion of the deaths in the novel series within this book. Even after two deaths no one ever seemed to ask what happened in the third book, which was a little disappointing. This was a fantastic idea that I think really should have been explored more.
The mystery at the heart of A Wash of Black is intriguing and works well. I guessed the culprit about halfway through, when a small clue was thrown out, but there were definitely enough twists and turns to keep me reading to the dramatic ending. The ending is excellent, though I won't go into any detail about just how the story unfolds.
Oh, and it has the absolute wildest book event I've seen. I'm glad I've never been at one with actual fisticuffs!
One surprising thing about A Wash of Black is the level of descriptive detail. Erika doesn't just get her laptop out, she finds a convenient plug socket and lifts the lid. She doesn't open her door without us knowing which pocket she took her key from. There are at least two sequences of police officers having trouble finding parking spaces. It feels almost cinematic, walking the reader carefully through scenes as we would see it on screen rather than taking literary shortcuts. This is also carried through in the detailed descriptions of characters' appearances and clothing. It fits well with the film-based murdering in the book.
A Wash of Black is a great detective versus killer novel, with an intriguing set-up and exciting payoff.
I really liked the idea of murders recreating movie screen deaths, though unfortunately that isn't really maintained through the whole book. I would have loved to see more discussion of the deaths in the novel series within this book. Even after two deaths no one ever seemed to ask what happened in the third book, which was a little disappointing. This was a fantastic idea that I think really should have been explored more.
The mystery at the heart of A Wash of Black is intriguing and works well. I guessed the culprit about halfway through, when a small clue was thrown out, but there were definitely enough twists and turns to keep me reading to the dramatic ending. The ending is excellent, though I won't go into any detail about just how the story unfolds.
Oh, and it has the absolute wildest book event I've seen. I'm glad I've never been at one with actual fisticuffs!
One surprising thing about A Wash of Black is the level of descriptive detail. Erika doesn't just get her laptop out, she finds a convenient plug socket and lifts the lid. She doesn't open her door without us knowing which pocket she took her key from. There are at least two sequences of police officers having trouble finding parking spaces. It feels almost cinematic, walking the reader carefully through scenes as we would see it on screen rather than taking literary shortcuts. This is also carried through in the detailed descriptions of characters' appearances and clothing. It fits well with the film-based murdering in the book.
A Wash of Black is a great detective versus killer novel, with an intriguing set-up and exciting payoff.
June 28, 2022
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
---
WHAT'S A WASH OF BLACK ABOUT?
A year ago, DI Erika Piper was assaulted in the course of her duties, she survived, but it was close. It's her first day back to work, and it's a doozy.
A famous actress has been murdered and her body was essentially left on display. It's a recreation of a very famous scene from a movie she starred in—the same way her character was killed. Well, almost. The film version departed from the novel it was adapted from on a couple of points—this crime scene is loyal to the book. The publicity around this case is going to be huge—as will be the pressure to solve this quickly.
Is this a personal grudge against the actress disguised to throw off the police? Is this a crazed fan paying a gruesome tribute to the actress/movie/novel? Is this someone working off some other twisted purpose hiding it beneath the spectacle?
This killer isn't satisfied with one murder—and soon it appears the killer has Piper herself in their sights.
DI ERIKA PIPER
Piper arrives in this book nearly fully-formed, sure, there's room for development and growth in the books to come—but as a character, she's fully fleshed out. She has a past (that we get a glimpse of), well-established relationships with fellow detectives, her superiors, crime scene investigators, coroner, and so on—as well as a full personal life.
Frequently we get these layers a little at a time with a series like this, and only after a few books, do we get to see the character's entire world (or at least a good deal of it). McDonald doesn't go that route, we could be reading the 4th or 8th book in the series, not the first. I don't mind taking the former route with a character—and I understand why authors might make that choice—but I love it when an author successfully pulls off what McDonald did here.
She might be physically ready to come back to work, but she's not fully ready on the psychological front (it'd be easy to argue she never will be). I don't think she came back too soon, but she has some work to do on that front, and it was great to see a character actually do that work rather than the typical "detective does just enough to get the shrink to sign off on their return to duty."
I particularly enjoyed the relationship Piper has with DS Liam Sutton. They work so well together, and their interactions and rituals bring this part of her world to life. I'm hoping to see more of that in the books to come.
A MISTAKE OR A RED-HERRING?
I don't know about you, but I frequently find myself talking back to books when characters are making mistakes. Boy howdy, did I mutter at Piper a lot about one thing. There's a witness that I (based on my extensive training and experience as a reader of procedurals) figure should've been talked to right away. And Piper and the other detectives ignore them.
Now, was this an oversight on McDonald's part? Should Piper have tracked this person down? Is this a red herring designed to trip up readers like me?
I'm going to assume it's the latter—although it could also be a sign that Piper's a little rusty. Either way, it drove me nuts.
SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT A WASH OF BLACK?
I had such a great time with A Wash of Black. It hit the spot just right—well-executed and satisfying. It's not reinventing the wheel, there's nothing revolutionary about it. It's a solid, confident police procedural that delivers all the twists and complexity that the genre demands—with a good cast of characters, an engaging protagonist, and a compelling killer. You don't need to be flashy or to subvert conventions or anything when you get everything as right as this one does.
I said it above, but it bears repeating—there's no indication that this is the first in the series—or a debut for the novelist. McDonald approaches this with the assurance of an established writer. It shouldn't need to be said, but just to be safe, I will—this is not the same kind of book as his Stonebridge Mysteries, and it takes no time at all to see that. Don't go looking for anything cozy here.
I'm eager to come back for the second, Whispers in the Dark, in a couple of weeks. In the meantime, I heartily recommend this to you.
---
WHAT'S A WASH OF BLACK ABOUT?
A year ago, DI Erika Piper was assaulted in the course of her duties, she survived, but it was close. It's her first day back to work, and it's a doozy.
A famous actress has been murdered and her body was essentially left on display. It's a recreation of a very famous scene from a movie she starred in—the same way her character was killed. Well, almost. The film version departed from the novel it was adapted from on a couple of points—this crime scene is loyal to the book. The publicity around this case is going to be huge—as will be the pressure to solve this quickly.
Is this a personal grudge against the actress disguised to throw off the police? Is this a crazed fan paying a gruesome tribute to the actress/movie/novel? Is this someone working off some other twisted purpose hiding it beneath the spectacle?
This killer isn't satisfied with one murder—and soon it appears the killer has Piper herself in their sights.
DI ERIKA PIPER
Piper arrives in this book nearly fully-formed, sure, there's room for development and growth in the books to come—but as a character, she's fully fleshed out. She has a past (that we get a glimpse of), well-established relationships with fellow detectives, her superiors, crime scene investigators, coroner, and so on—as well as a full personal life.
Frequently we get these layers a little at a time with a series like this, and only after a few books, do we get to see the character's entire world (or at least a good deal of it). McDonald doesn't go that route, we could be reading the 4th or 8th book in the series, not the first. I don't mind taking the former route with a character—and I understand why authors might make that choice—but I love it when an author successfully pulls off what McDonald did here.
She might be physically ready to come back to work, but she's not fully ready on the psychological front (it'd be easy to argue she never will be). I don't think she came back too soon, but she has some work to do on that front, and it was great to see a character actually do that work rather than the typical "detective does just enough to get the shrink to sign off on their return to duty."
I particularly enjoyed the relationship Piper has with DS Liam Sutton. They work so well together, and their interactions and rituals bring this part of her world to life. I'm hoping to see more of that in the books to come.
A MISTAKE OR A RED-HERRING?
I don't know about you, but I frequently find myself talking back to books when characters are making mistakes. Boy howdy, did I mutter at Piper a lot about one thing. There's a witness that I (based on my extensive training and experience as a reader of procedurals) figure should've been talked to right away. And Piper and the other detectives ignore them.
Now, was this an oversight on McDonald's part? Should Piper have tracked this person down? Is this a red herring designed to trip up readers like me?
I'm going to assume it's the latter—although it could also be a sign that Piper's a little rusty. Either way, it drove me nuts.
SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT A WASH OF BLACK?
I had such a great time with A Wash of Black. It hit the spot just right—well-executed and satisfying. It's not reinventing the wheel, there's nothing revolutionary about it. It's a solid, confident police procedural that delivers all the twists and complexity that the genre demands—with a good cast of characters, an engaging protagonist, and a compelling killer. You don't need to be flashy or to subvert conventions or anything when you get everything as right as this one does.
I said it above, but it bears repeating—there's no indication that this is the first in the series—or a debut for the novelist. McDonald approaches this with the assurance of an established writer. It shouldn't need to be said, but just to be safe, I will—this is not the same kind of book as his Stonebridge Mysteries, and it takes no time at all to see that. Don't go looking for anything cozy here.
I'm eager to come back for the second, Whispers in the Dark, in a couple of weeks. In the meantime, I heartily recommend this to you.
August 28, 2025
A Wash of Black is the first book in Chris McDonald's DI Erika Piper series and has recently been republished with a new cover by Harper North. I've been meaning to read this series for ages so this seemed like the perfect time to start. Having raced through the book in a day, I'm thrilled to have found a new favourite series and now can't wait to read the rest!
The prologue finds Erika Piper arriving at a crime scene and she instantly feels like a real person with an intriguing past. It's here that readers learn she is returning following an enforced year of absence – but her first day back is no gentle reintroduction to the job. A young woman has been brutally murdered at an ice rink, vividly described as looking like 'a dystopian future fuelled by Torvill and Dean.' Her blood has spread across the icy surface and John, the head Scene of Crime officer is almost certain her cause of death is due to exsanguination. It's a chilling case then in both senses then, and becomes even more so when Erika's partner, DS Liam Sutton suddenly announces it's not the first time the victim has died like that. He explains that Anna Symons was an actor who appeared in a film where she died in a disturbingly similar way.
Back at the station, Erika is evidently well-liked and is welcomed back by her team, most notably Detective Sergeants Tom Calder and Angela Poynter. Nevertheless – and as anybody returning to work following a prolonged break will empathise with – she still feels nervous. Chris McDonald does a superb job here introducing the team charged with investigating the grisly murder; it's clear that he has taken pains to ensure her relationships with her colleagues are well-established and authentic, and the humour between them provides a warm contrast to the emotional weight wrought by this challenging case.
With the murderer's careful staging of the body being so unmistakably linked to the Blood Ice film, it's obvious that Anna wasn't a random victim. It's not long, therefore, before they have identified some potential suspects, including Anna's fiancé, Rory, particularly after it transpires that their relationship has endured its share of troubles in the past. However, with CCTV revealing her actions on the final night of her life, there are other avenues to pursue too. With jealousy, obsession and revenge all possible motives for murder, the scene is set for what becomes a complex and dangerous search for the ruthless killer, especially after a second body is discovered. Despite the methodology being different, this death is horribly violent as well and unquestionably linked to the first.
The body count rises still further and with the escalating sense of tension becoming unbearable, the next murder is the stuff of nightmares, particularly for Erika. A Wash of Black is a riveting crime thriller but Chris McDonald also understands that readers need to care about his characters, and the convincing dynamics between them are excellent throughout. Erika is a thoroughly believable protagonist who is shown to still be dealing with the enduring aftermath of her own attack a year ago. Although it isn't unusual for detectives in crime fiction to have dramatic back stories, Erika isn't a stereotypical, irrevocably damaged officer and I enjoyed seeing her positive interactions with a counsellor. Meanwhile, she also undergoes significant upheaval in her personal life which brings some welcome romance and light-hearted moments to this dark and twisty thriller.
As the pieces of the jigsaw finally slot into place for Erika, the high-octane conclusion results in a tense, unpredictable confrontation which had me tearing through the pages with my heart in my mouth. A Wash of Black was Chris McDonald's debut and he certainly announced himself as talent to watch – I'm not surprised he has gone on to write several other sterling crime novels since. This clever, suspenseful thriller is a fast-paced, compulsive read from start to finish and I very highly recommend it.
The prologue finds Erika Piper arriving at a crime scene and she instantly feels like a real person with an intriguing past. It's here that readers learn she is returning following an enforced year of absence – but her first day back is no gentle reintroduction to the job. A young woman has been brutally murdered at an ice rink, vividly described as looking like 'a dystopian future fuelled by Torvill and Dean.' Her blood has spread across the icy surface and John, the head Scene of Crime officer is almost certain her cause of death is due to exsanguination. It's a chilling case then in both senses then, and becomes even more so when Erika's partner, DS Liam Sutton suddenly announces it's not the first time the victim has died like that. He explains that Anna Symons was an actor who appeared in a film where she died in a disturbingly similar way.
Back at the station, Erika is evidently well-liked and is welcomed back by her team, most notably Detective Sergeants Tom Calder and Angela Poynter. Nevertheless – and as anybody returning to work following a prolonged break will empathise with – she still feels nervous. Chris McDonald does a superb job here introducing the team charged with investigating the grisly murder; it's clear that he has taken pains to ensure her relationships with her colleagues are well-established and authentic, and the humour between them provides a warm contrast to the emotional weight wrought by this challenging case.
With the murderer's careful staging of the body being so unmistakably linked to the Blood Ice film, it's obvious that Anna wasn't a random victim. It's not long, therefore, before they have identified some potential suspects, including Anna's fiancé, Rory, particularly after it transpires that their relationship has endured its share of troubles in the past. However, with CCTV revealing her actions on the final night of her life, there are other avenues to pursue too. With jealousy, obsession and revenge all possible motives for murder, the scene is set for what becomes a complex and dangerous search for the ruthless killer, especially after a second body is discovered. Despite the methodology being different, this death is horribly violent as well and unquestionably linked to the first.
The body count rises still further and with the escalating sense of tension becoming unbearable, the next murder is the stuff of nightmares, particularly for Erika. A Wash of Black is a riveting crime thriller but Chris McDonald also understands that readers need to care about his characters, and the convincing dynamics between them are excellent throughout. Erika is a thoroughly believable protagonist who is shown to still be dealing with the enduring aftermath of her own attack a year ago. Although it isn't unusual for detectives in crime fiction to have dramatic back stories, Erika isn't a stereotypical, irrevocably damaged officer and I enjoyed seeing her positive interactions with a counsellor. Meanwhile, she also undergoes significant upheaval in her personal life which brings some welcome romance and light-hearted moments to this dark and twisty thriller.
As the pieces of the jigsaw finally slot into place for Erika, the high-octane conclusion results in a tense, unpredictable confrontation which had me tearing through the pages with my heart in my mouth. A Wash of Black was Chris McDonald's debut and he certainly announced himself as talent to watch – I'm not surprised he has gone on to write several other sterling crime novels since. This clever, suspenseful thriller is a fast-paced, compulsive read from start to finish and I very highly recommend it.
February 29, 2020
Having read a number of debuts over the few years I have been book blogging, I can say with some confidence that Chris Mcdonald has written an assured and engaging first novel. It is peppered with fascinating characters and a storyline which kept me as a reader glued to the storyline and firmly looking forward to the next in the series.
Many thriller writers allow the story to drown out the characters that the story revolves around, but I very happy to say Chris Macdonald has not fallen into that trap! In DI Erika Piper he has given us a fascinating and engaging lead. It is more common now to have female leads in thrillers, but often they somehow remain subservient to their male colleagues, but not Erika, she is strong, intelligent and very likeable. She is also perfectly flawed. Having just returned to work, her trauma is not forgotten, but woven into the story and we are made to care about her and her fate. I became invested in her and her wanted to overcome the terrible events that haunt her. We also have a killer, who is scarily believable, deranged and dangerous, he lives up to his nickname as the ‘Blood Ice Killer’, leaving me as a reader, equal parts fascinated by his motivations and scared of his tortured frame of mind.
The story is your typical thriller, mad delusional killer is targeting victims all of whom seem connected, but what marks this as special, is the was Chris Mcdonald, gives us multiple possible identities and manages to keep the reveal secret until the last few pages. I think I changed my mind numerous times throughout the story, thinking I had correctly followed the clues and identified the killer. I was wrong. Only when DI Piper figures it all out, did I and I loved that, sitting on edge to the very last pages. I don’t like to guess the killer and I didn’t and that made me a very happy reader. It is a story that keep me gripped, but didn’t insult my intelligence by making it all too obvious. I even sat up a few times, and said “omg, I didn’t see that coming” and genuinely I didn’t. He had me hook line and sinker, snuggled up in bed, reading like a fiend, and wishing I didn’t have to work the next day, so I could finish this book.
I’m most definitely looking forward to book two and spending more time with the intelligent, gutsy and wonderful DI Piper.
Many thriller writers allow the story to drown out the characters that the story revolves around, but I very happy to say Chris Macdonald has not fallen into that trap! In DI Erika Piper he has given us a fascinating and engaging lead. It is more common now to have female leads in thrillers, but often they somehow remain subservient to their male colleagues, but not Erika, she is strong, intelligent and very likeable. She is also perfectly flawed. Having just returned to work, her trauma is not forgotten, but woven into the story and we are made to care about her and her fate. I became invested in her and her wanted to overcome the terrible events that haunt her. We also have a killer, who is scarily believable, deranged and dangerous, he lives up to his nickname as the ‘Blood Ice Killer’, leaving me as a reader, equal parts fascinated by his motivations and scared of his tortured frame of mind.
The story is your typical thriller, mad delusional killer is targeting victims all of whom seem connected, but what marks this as special, is the was Chris Mcdonald, gives us multiple possible identities and manages to keep the reveal secret until the last few pages. I think I changed my mind numerous times throughout the story, thinking I had correctly followed the clues and identified the killer. I was wrong. Only when DI Piper figures it all out, did I and I loved that, sitting on edge to the very last pages. I don’t like to guess the killer and I didn’t and that made me a very happy reader. It is a story that keep me gripped, but didn’t insult my intelligence by making it all too obvious. I even sat up a few times, and said “omg, I didn’t see that coming” and genuinely I didn’t. He had me hook line and sinker, snuggled up in bed, reading like a fiend, and wishing I didn’t have to work the next day, so I could finish this book.
I’m most definitely looking forward to book two and spending more time with the intelligent, gutsy and wonderful DI Piper.
November 20, 2020
I read this in a couple of sittings. it's the sort of story that pulls you in instantly. The short prologue is just the start of what becomes an intriguing, fast paced thriller, one of those books that keeps you guessing right up to the very end.
I love the gritty Northern setting of inner-city Manchester, this author draws a realistic and well-observed picture of both the city and the people who inhabit it. From the run-down warehouses, to the city-centre bookshop, the scene setting is spot on, and reminded me at times of Joseph Knox's excellent Manchester-set series.
Erika Piper is a Detective Inspector, she's been away from work for some time with injuries sustained in a work-related incident. This incident is at the forefront of Erika's mind throughout most of the story, and whilst the reader can guess what happened, the full, gruesome story is not revealed until further on in the plot. This makes for a nice hook; it enables Erika to examine herself, her working practices, and her colleagues and creates an air of mystery for the reader.
Erika's first case upon her return to work is a particularly nasty murder. Anna Symons is a famous film star and her body is discovered on an ice rink in the city. Not only has she been brutally murdered, but the murder scene is almost exactly the same as one that she acted out in a blockbuster movie.
The media interest is intense and Erika knows that she and her team will be under scrutiny and probably criticised throughout the hunt for the killer. When another body is found. and is again linked to the film that Anna starred in, Erika's job becomes even more difficult, and when she begins to receive personal threats from the elusive killer, she knows that no stone can be left unturned.
This is a great debut novel from an author whose imagination and creativity shines through in the writing. Well paced, with a cast of realistic characters. it's just the type of crime novel that I like. The links to literature and film were especially interesting to me.
I enjoyed the innovative twists and turns. This is a sharp, well crafted thriller with a fabulous lead character. I look forward to reading more from Chris McDonald.
I love the gritty Northern setting of inner-city Manchester, this author draws a realistic and well-observed picture of both the city and the people who inhabit it. From the run-down warehouses, to the city-centre bookshop, the scene setting is spot on, and reminded me at times of Joseph Knox's excellent Manchester-set series.
Erika Piper is a Detective Inspector, she's been away from work for some time with injuries sustained in a work-related incident. This incident is at the forefront of Erika's mind throughout most of the story, and whilst the reader can guess what happened, the full, gruesome story is not revealed until further on in the plot. This makes for a nice hook; it enables Erika to examine herself, her working practices, and her colleagues and creates an air of mystery for the reader.
Erika's first case upon her return to work is a particularly nasty murder. Anna Symons is a famous film star and her body is discovered on an ice rink in the city. Not only has she been brutally murdered, but the murder scene is almost exactly the same as one that she acted out in a blockbuster movie.
The media interest is intense and Erika knows that she and her team will be under scrutiny and probably criticised throughout the hunt for the killer. When another body is found. and is again linked to the film that Anna starred in, Erika's job becomes even more difficult, and when she begins to receive personal threats from the elusive killer, she knows that no stone can be left unturned.
This is a great debut novel from an author whose imagination and creativity shines through in the writing. Well paced, with a cast of realistic characters. it's just the type of crime novel that I like. The links to literature and film were especially interesting to me.
I enjoyed the innovative twists and turns. This is a sharp, well crafted thriller with a fabulous lead character. I look forward to reading more from Chris McDonald.
February 14, 2020
When was the last time you did something for the first time?
When was the last time you had a food you haven’t had before?
Tried a new flavor of soft drink even?
Doing something for the first time is something that should be celebrated.
We should be celebrating Chris McDonald’s first novel, because it’s absolutely fantastic.
I’m not kidding – this is his debut book.
When you’ve read it, you’ll remember I said this.
It reads like a book from an author that is 20 published works deep into his career.
Chris McDonald writes with a confidence and panache that belies his experience.
Pay particular attention to the next line because it is maybe the single most important thing I can say about any book.
I believed every word of it.
That is not something that can easily be said about crime or police procedurals. Nothing throws me out of a book as easily as some convoluted plot mechanics that are just nonsense. Not so with McDonald’s “A Wash Of Black” The reason Erika Piper has been off for a year? – Believed it. Gruesome death on a Manchester Ice rink? Believed it. Every single red herring thrown our way as to ‘who dunnit’? Believed them all mate.
Relationships both working and personal feel real. There’s no clunky, forced dialogue. Characters talk and converse like real life, breathing flesh and blood people; which to me by the end of this book they almost were. That takes real talent as a writer and McDonald has it in spades.
At no point in this book was I bored. Chris McDonald kept me guessing all the way which is exactly what I want from a crime novel. The twist at the end is great. Honestly I didn’t see it coming. All the clues were right there for me but I still didn’t guess it ,which again takes clever writing to achieve.
Book two is being written as we speak. I for one can’t wait to see what McDonald’s second book brings us. I have a sneaking suspicion that this was not a fluke and D.I. Erika Piper is going to be with us for quite some time.
When was the last time you had a food you haven’t had before?
Tried a new flavor of soft drink even?
Doing something for the first time is something that should be celebrated.
We should be celebrating Chris McDonald’s first novel, because it’s absolutely fantastic.
I’m not kidding – this is his debut book.
When you’ve read it, you’ll remember I said this.
It reads like a book from an author that is 20 published works deep into his career.
Chris McDonald writes with a confidence and panache that belies his experience.
Pay particular attention to the next line because it is maybe the single most important thing I can say about any book.
I believed every word of it.
That is not something that can easily be said about crime or police procedurals. Nothing throws me out of a book as easily as some convoluted plot mechanics that are just nonsense. Not so with McDonald’s “A Wash Of Black” The reason Erika Piper has been off for a year? – Believed it. Gruesome death on a Manchester Ice rink? Believed it. Every single red herring thrown our way as to ‘who dunnit’? Believed them all mate.
Relationships both working and personal feel real. There’s no clunky, forced dialogue. Characters talk and converse like real life, breathing flesh and blood people; which to me by the end of this book they almost were. That takes real talent as a writer and McDonald has it in spades.
At no point in this book was I bored. Chris McDonald kept me guessing all the way which is exactly what I want from a crime novel. The twist at the end is great. Honestly I didn’t see it coming. All the clues were right there for me but I still didn’t guess it ,which again takes clever writing to achieve.
Book two is being written as we speak. I for one can’t wait to see what McDonald’s second book brings us. I have a sneaking suspicion that this was not a fluke and D.I. Erika Piper is going to be with us for quite some time.
February 25, 2020
A police procedural that introduces a new leading character in the form of Erika Piper. I have high hopes for this new series from Chris McDonald as A Wash of Black did a lot of things I like from my thrillers.
First up. Not Cosy Crime. Let me be very clear these are on the dark range of crime fiction reading list. As a reader of both crime and horror titles I felt A Wash of Black had horror-esk elements which it is worth flagging.
Some readers may remember Book Club perennial favourites Michael Slade? Slade wrote crime/horror novels set in Canada – Headhunter, Ghoul and Ripper often got bundled together and sold through mail order book clubs (in the days before Amazon). The dark tone and graphic violence in A Wash of Black gave me happy flashbacks to the Slade books. This is very much a plus point for Erika Piper.
So leaving memories of Canadian crime behind let us join Piper in modern day Manchester. A woman has been killed on the ice at a run-down ice rink. Her body pinned to the ice with knives and her throat slit so she bled out where she lay. When the police arrive to investigate they discover the victim was an actress and the manner of her death mirrors the way she died in a horror movie she had made a few years earlier.
Investigation naturally centres on the film crew currently making the sequal and on the author of the books which the films are based around. However the suspect list will grow as the victim’s fiance is behaving oddly as too is a local media studies student who has an odd fixation on the film.
Piper has to contend with multiple challenging and uncooperative suspects. This is not helped by the fact she is just returning to work after a period of convalescence and her confidence has taken a battering. Watching her find her feet while simultaneously being wrong-footed by the investigation made for fun reading.
A Wash of Black is a very promising start to this new series and as a fan of dark thrillers (could you tell?) I will keenly await the next book.
Murder, movies and malevolence – what more do you need?
First up. Not Cosy Crime. Let me be very clear these are on the dark range of crime fiction reading list. As a reader of both crime and horror titles I felt A Wash of Black had horror-esk elements which it is worth flagging.
Some readers may remember Book Club perennial favourites Michael Slade? Slade wrote crime/horror novels set in Canada – Headhunter, Ghoul and Ripper often got bundled together and sold through mail order book clubs (in the days before Amazon). The dark tone and graphic violence in A Wash of Black gave me happy flashbacks to the Slade books. This is very much a plus point for Erika Piper.
So leaving memories of Canadian crime behind let us join Piper in modern day Manchester. A woman has been killed on the ice at a run-down ice rink. Her body pinned to the ice with knives and her throat slit so she bled out where she lay. When the police arrive to investigate they discover the victim was an actress and the manner of her death mirrors the way she died in a horror movie she had made a few years earlier.
Investigation naturally centres on the film crew currently making the sequal and on the author of the books which the films are based around. However the suspect list will grow as the victim’s fiance is behaving oddly as too is a local media studies student who has an odd fixation on the film.
Piper has to contend with multiple challenging and uncooperative suspects. This is not helped by the fact she is just returning to work after a period of convalescence and her confidence has taken a battering. Watching her find her feet while simultaneously being wrong-footed by the investigation made for fun reading.
A Wash of Black is a very promising start to this new series and as a fan of dark thrillers (could you tell?) I will keenly await the next book.
Murder, movies and malevolence – what more do you need?
April 9, 2020
A Wash of Black is a strong debut crime novel by Chris McDonald, and I finished it in just a couple of days. This is the first book to feature Detective Inspector Erika Piper, and I can’t wait to catch up with her again.
Erika has only recently returned to work after taking a break for a year following a horrific event which took place twelve months earlier. But she suddenly has her work cut out when the body of a celebrity is discovered which will no doubt propel the case into the media spotlight. What is even more disturbing is that the killer has chosen to re-enact a murder screen from the star’s latest film. Clues left behind by the killer prompt Erika and her team to think that this won’t be the last of the killings.
This was a really intriguing first case for Erika and her team to get to grips with. I liked how Chris McDonald led me in different directions as he threw in each red-herring. He didn’t make it very easy for me to pinpoint the murderer, and I wanted to know what their motives were. This led to me considering a few of the characters as possible suspects, and when I thought the story was going one way, Chris managed to pull the rug out from under my feet.
Erika is a great character. She has an intriguing back story which made me want to find out more about her and what had happened in her past. She grew on me really quickly, and I can see her becoming a favourite character of mine in this genre. You can see how difficult it still is for Erika to overcome what has happened in her past. This is also having an impact on her current relationship with her boyfriend. But she is also determined to make sure that this doesn’t have an impact on her work. It won’t stop her from trying to catch the person responsible before they kill again. It’ll be interesting to see how she will develop from this point on.
Chris McDonald keeps the pace of the book flying forward. I had to keep reading to find out the answers, and I could feel the tension rising as Chris threw in each new twist in the case.
I’m sure I’ll be returning to this series in the future, and I hope that we don’t have to wait too long for the next book. A Wash of Black is a chilling crime novel that will draw you in and keep you hooked.
Erika has only recently returned to work after taking a break for a year following a horrific event which took place twelve months earlier. But she suddenly has her work cut out when the body of a celebrity is discovered which will no doubt propel the case into the media spotlight. What is even more disturbing is that the killer has chosen to re-enact a murder screen from the star’s latest film. Clues left behind by the killer prompt Erika and her team to think that this won’t be the last of the killings.
This was a really intriguing first case for Erika and her team to get to grips with. I liked how Chris McDonald led me in different directions as he threw in each red-herring. He didn’t make it very easy for me to pinpoint the murderer, and I wanted to know what their motives were. This led to me considering a few of the characters as possible suspects, and when I thought the story was going one way, Chris managed to pull the rug out from under my feet.
Erika is a great character. She has an intriguing back story which made me want to find out more about her and what had happened in her past. She grew on me really quickly, and I can see her becoming a favourite character of mine in this genre. You can see how difficult it still is for Erika to overcome what has happened in her past. This is also having an impact on her current relationship with her boyfriend. But she is also determined to make sure that this doesn’t have an impact on her work. It won’t stop her from trying to catch the person responsible before they kill again. It’ll be interesting to see how she will develop from this point on.
Chris McDonald keeps the pace of the book flying forward. I had to keep reading to find out the answers, and I could feel the tension rising as Chris threw in each new twist in the case.
I’m sure I’ll be returning to this series in the future, and I hope that we don’t have to wait too long for the next book. A Wash of Black is a chilling crime novel that will draw you in and keep you hooked.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews