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The killer thought he’d hidden the bodies where no one could find them…

DCI St.John-Stevens takes over Barnwell Major Investigation Team and sidelines Hunter Kerr to the cold case unit.

There, Hunter partners DC Maddie Scott, reviewing cases that no one has solved.

Once case in particular – the mysterious disappearance of the Bannister family in 1991 – piques his interest. Hunter believes their disappearance could be down to a serial killer he helped put away as a rookie cop 19 years ago.

He starts to review the case, but what starts out as a missing persons enquiry suddenly turns sinister and an unexpected turn of events takes Hunter into dangerous territory.

Territory, that not only threatens his career but his life as well…

236 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2021

13 people are currently reading
19 people want to read

About the author

Michael Fowler

58 books23 followers
Following retirement, after thirty-two years as a police officer, working mainly as a detective, Michael returned to the deadly business of murder, as a writer. His past work brought him very close to some nasty characters, including psychopaths, and gruesome cases and he draws on that experience to craft his novels: There is nothing gentle about Michael’s stories.

His landmark novel ‘Heart of the Demon’, published in 2012, introduced Detective Sergeant Hunter Kerr. He has since written eight novels featuring him. He also released the first of his DS Scarlett Macey books in 2016.

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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
Profile Image for Linda Strong.
3,878 reviews1,709 followers
January 21, 2021
DS Hunter Kerr finds himself in charge of the cold case division, with DC Maddie Scott being his only assistant. DCI St John - Stevens has taken over the unit and he and Hunter already have a history ... they absolutely dislike each other intensely. Before Steven's arrival, Hunter had been working the kidnap and probable murder of a young woman.

Getting involved with cold cases isn't the drudge that Hunter expected. In fast, he's become quite take with a case of a missing family from 19 years ago. The family was never found and no one was ever charged with any crime that may have taken place.

Following all the leads that never went anywhere, he finds that the investigating officer at that time was ... DCI St John-Stevens ... who did a lousy job in trying to get at the truth. Someone suggested a possible scenario and he ran with it contrary to the proof at hand.

Things take a deadly turn when Hunter finds a link from the cold case to the case of the recently missing woman .. and they both link to someone from Hunter's past.

Cleverly written plot is filled with action from start to finish. This crime fiction is set in Yorkshire, with intriguing characters, solidly written. There are a few twists and turns that keep the reader riveted to each and every page. Although 7th in this series, it is easily read as a stand alone. I do recommend reading in order because Hunter Kerr is a terrific character and I want to know how he became the man that he is.

Because the author is a retired police inspector with CID and Vice and Drug Squads, I was expecting a certain amount of credibility .... I was not disappointed.

Many thanks to the author / Sapere Books / Netgalley for the digital copy of this police procedural. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
3,216 reviews68 followers
January 18, 2021
I would like to thank Netgalley and Sapere Books for an advance copy of Unsolved, the seventh novel to feature DS Hunter Kerr of the South Yorkshire Police.

DCI Dominic St John-Stevens has taken charge of the Major Crime Unit and he really doesn’t like Hunter, so he sidelines him to the Cold Case Unit. Hunter is fascinated by the 1991 disappearance of the Bannister family and believes he may have a suspect, a local serial killer he caught the same year.

I thoroughly enjoyed Unsolved which is held my attention throughout and finishes with a real twist in the tale. I must admit that I had my suspicions about this twist but nothing concrete to go on, so it perhaps didn’t have the impact it might have. This did not, however, spoil my enjoyment of the read in the slightest.

I was fully invested in every turn the investigation took and even more in Hunter’s run-ins with the lovely “call me Sir” DCI St John-Stevens. I was cheering him on at every turn, despite knowing that he would be an absolute nightmare to work with and requires careful handling. He has an instinct for investigation and it was interesting to see him tackle a cold case. Did answers fall too easily into his lap? I don’t know, but it certainly kept the narrative moving forward and this reader interested. I read it in one sitting, easy enough to do as it’s not a long novel and nothing is wasted.

I found myself immediately intrigued by the premise of the Bannister’s disappearance. It was posited by the original investigative team as a family annihilation with the father killing himself after dumping the bodies of his wife and child, although there is no proof of this. I followed every development with fascination and liked the way the author wove it all together. I would like to see him tackle more cold cases.

Unsolved is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.
171 reviews10 followers
February 27, 2021
Great read.

This is my first book I've read from Michael Fowler.
D S Hunter Kerr has returned from a terrable experience with his wife and family. On his return to work he finds his boss, DSI Haggate's job being taken over by DCI St John- Stevens, and he movies Hunter in the mission Case Files. Hunter is more annoyed as he dislikes St John-Stevens. When Hunter tells his wife, she thinks it will do him good and may just help to get over what they went through, as it is being investigated. This makes Hunter feel a bit better.
Turning up to his new job on the Case Files, Hunter discovers he only has Maddie to help him. What happens from there turns out to be more satisfying and rewarding than Hunter and Maddie, could ever imagine.
I'll definitely be reading more of Michael Fowler,s books.
Highly recommended read.
Profile Image for kenneth  Fowler.
164 reviews
January 26, 2021
Still reeling from his last case , Hunters life keeps getting worse

Hunters troubled work life takes another blow , since the trouble on Sark in his last challenge things take a turn when someone takes over MIT moving him sideways into cold case reviews
After an angry start , pride wins out and he takes on hie first case in exile , little does Hunter realise where this will lead and what is to come .
A firm storyline with some twists and turns along the way , in the end predictable but perhaps I’ve missed my calling and should be a detective, nonetheless an enjoyable read
408 reviews8 followers
October 21, 2021
Hunter gets demoted by DCI St.John Stevens and is put to work with Maddie Scott in the cold case department. He finds a case which interests him and methodically goes to work on it. What he turns up can ruin his career and also put his life in jeopardy. It is a case of a missing family. Bodies have never been found.
I enjoyed this book and although I guessed the outcome early on, it still held my interest to the end.
Thanks go out to the author, publisher and Netgalley for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Profile Image for Bob Hurley.
494 reviews
December 5, 2021
Hunted Down

Having just returned from the Channel Islands after a convicted criminal had followed Hunter Kerr and his family there, Hunter is moved to the Cold Case Unit, his boss Dawn Leggett has been move sideways and his Nemesis DCI St John Stevens is put in charge. Hunters wife Beth convinced him to keep his head down, look at the Cold Case unit as a chance to give justice to the relatives of the Cold Case Victims. What follows is a very convoluted story which sees Hunter investigating a crime that brings with it personal and career rewards. Good story and well written
261 reviews2 followers
January 26, 2021
First rate story

Another first rate story by Michael Fowler in the Hunter Kerr series.
Hunter is banished to the cold case office by a vindictive superior but soon finds a case to catch his interest, problem being his superior does not want the case re-examined!
Profile Image for Pam.
831 reviews7 followers
October 15, 2022
What a brilliant book this is, it's a while since I read one this good and I shall certainly look for more about DSI Hunter, he's a great character and within a few pages I was hooked, If you like police procedurals then this is the book for you. I've given it 5 but it really deserves 10.
113 reviews
July 2, 2021
Brilliant ending

Just love Hunter Kerr . The story line was brilliant and had me gripped from the start. Hope there will be more
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews

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