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Death Count: A Kat Munro Thriller
Can a conspiracy be uncovered before the Death Count rises?
Forensic accountant Kat Munro fights corporate fraud during the day and kickboxes her demons at night while trying to ignore the nightmares that have plagued her since a car accident changed her life forever.
DS Adam Jackson is haunted by the mysterious disappearance of a friend two years ago.
When the partner of a successful London Investment fund dies in suspicious circumstances, Kat joins forces with Adam to investigate the firm. As they gather evidence of a crime with implications beyond the City, they find that events in their pasts are on a collision course; one which will ultimately put them both in serious danger.
Fast-paced and entertaining, Death Count takes a deadly dip into the world of financial crime.
Forensic accountant Kat Munro fights corporate fraud during the day and kickboxes her demons at night while trying to ignore the nightmares that have plagued her since a car accident changed her life forever.
DS Adam Jackson is haunted by the mysterious disappearance of a friend two years ago.
When the partner of a successful London Investment fund dies in suspicious circumstances, Kat joins forces with Adam to investigate the firm. As they gather evidence of a crime with implications beyond the City, they find that events in their pasts are on a collision course; one which will ultimately put them both in serious danger.
Fast-paced and entertaining, Death Count takes a deadly dip into the world of financial crime.
308 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 4, 2020
About the author
S.L. Beaumont
18 books170 followersSL Beaumont is the author of the award-winning Historical fiction novel The War Photographers, art-crime series, The Carlswick Mysteries, the award-winning thriller Shadow of Doubt and the Kat Munro series.
She lives in beautiful New Zealand, which is only problematic when the travel bug bites (which it does fairly often)! Her passion for travel has seen her take many long-haul flights to various parts of the world. Her love of history helps her determine the destination, and the places she visits are a constant source of inspiration for her. Prior to becoming an author, SL Beaumont worked in banking in London and New York and is now a partner in a chartered accounting firm in Auckland.
The War Photographers won the 2024 IRDA Historical Fiction Award, Shadow of Doubt won the Indie Reader 2020 Mystery/Suspense/Thriller Award and was long-listed for the Ngaio Marsh Award for Best Novel. Death Count was a semi-finalist for the 2021 Publisher’s Weekly Booklife Prize. The titles in The Carlswick Mysteries series have been awarded honorable mentions at the San Francisco Book Festival and have been finalists in the Wishing Shelf Book Awards.
She lives in beautiful New Zealand, which is only problematic when the travel bug bites (which it does fairly often)! Her passion for travel has seen her take many long-haul flights to various parts of the world. Her love of history helps her determine the destination, and the places she visits are a constant source of inspiration for her. Prior to becoming an author, SL Beaumont worked in banking in London and New York and is now a partner in a chartered accounting firm in Auckland.
The War Photographers won the 2024 IRDA Historical Fiction Award, Shadow of Doubt won the Indie Reader 2020 Mystery/Suspense/Thriller Award and was long-listed for the Ngaio Marsh Award for Best Novel. Death Count was a semi-finalist for the 2021 Publisher’s Weekly Booklife Prize. The titles in The Carlswick Mysteries series have been awarded honorable mentions at the San Francisco Book Festival and have been finalists in the Wishing Shelf Book Awards.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
March 16, 2021
I think the title of this book is a little off-putting as the book was a really sweet read. Kat Munro is a forensic accountant whose firm has been asked to assist the Financial Crimes Unit of the Met police. DI Hugo Greenwood and DS Adam Jackson meet with the staff and outline the issue. They are looking for irregularities at Capital Investment Partners (CIP). A security guard was found dead a couple of days ago, he had fallen from a second floor balcony. An accident was presumed. But, when coupled with the just discovered death of one of the CIP partners at his apartment, it becomes more suspicious. Henry Smyth, one of four CIP partners was just found dead of an apparent drug overdose. However, certain evidence found at the apartment and the autopsy finding lead the police to suspect a murder.
Kat has a prosthetic left hand, the result of a car accident two years ago. She is very touchy about this but Adam is always with the questions. As Adam and Kat go about their investigation it becomes apparent that there are forces at work trying to derail it. They are attacked in the CIP basement car park and we learn to our delight that Kat is no pushover, she can give as good as she gets! In fact the prosthesis is an advantage for her. Soon the investigation links to South Hill Manor where lawyer Mr Huntley-Tait has a monstrous country manor. It is in this area that Adam’s best friend, Jake McCall, working undercover at the time, disappeared - also two years ago. The dominos are starting to stack up.
Kat has regular nightmares about the accident but her most recent one gives her more clarity and she starts to realise that something fishy was going on at Huntley-Tait’s manor where she was present two years ago as the girlfriend of Gabe, Huntly-Tait’s son. She also realises the ‘accident’ was no accident at all. Her team also finally finds the financial irregularities they have been searching for. But the bad guys are not taking any of this lying down. Adam and Kat have to careful and clever to survive this case, let alone solve it. Along the way, the betrayal of someone they both thought was a friend stuns them.
I really enjoyed this story. It had a bit of romance too but nothing mushy and no hanky panky. The story hooked me straight away and the characters were really relatable. It was also great to have a strong heroine with a disability who didn’t take rubbish from anyone! I recommend this book. It had a lovely vibe with no darkness and, despite a couple of murders, nothing gruesome. Thanks to BookSirens and S L Beaumont for providing a copy to review. My opinions are my own. The book is available now.
Kat has a prosthetic left hand, the result of a car accident two years ago. She is very touchy about this but Adam is always with the questions. As Adam and Kat go about their investigation it becomes apparent that there are forces at work trying to derail it. They are attacked in the CIP basement car park and we learn to our delight that Kat is no pushover, she can give as good as she gets! In fact the prosthesis is an advantage for her. Soon the investigation links to South Hill Manor where lawyer Mr Huntley-Tait has a monstrous country manor. It is in this area that Adam’s best friend, Jake McCall, working undercover at the time, disappeared - also two years ago. The dominos are starting to stack up.
Kat has regular nightmares about the accident but her most recent one gives her more clarity and she starts to realise that something fishy was going on at Huntley-Tait’s manor where she was present two years ago as the girlfriend of Gabe, Huntly-Tait’s son. She also realises the ‘accident’ was no accident at all. Her team also finally finds the financial irregularities they have been searching for. But the bad guys are not taking any of this lying down. Adam and Kat have to careful and clever to survive this case, let alone solve it. Along the way, the betrayal of someone they both thought was a friend stuns them.
I really enjoyed this story. It had a bit of romance too but nothing mushy and no hanky panky. The story hooked me straight away and the characters were really relatable. It was also great to have a strong heroine with a disability who didn’t take rubbish from anyone! I recommend this book. It had a lovely vibe with no darkness and, despite a couple of murders, nothing gruesome. Thanks to BookSirens and S L Beaumont for providing a copy to review. My opinions are my own. The book is available now.
December 29, 2020
Kat Munroe is a Forensic Accountant working with the police when an Investment Fund Manager is found murdered. Kat lost a hand a couple of years ago when in a car accident that also took the life of her friend. Her boyfriend at the time was driving drunk.
Kat has few memories of what actually happened, other than she knows she was running ... but from what?
D S Adam Jackson is also haunted ... his best friend was working undercover. He disappeared and Jackson still hunts for him.
As Kat and Adam gather evidence of a crime with implications beyond the City, they find that events in their pasts are on a collision course; one which will ultimately put them both in serious danger.
This is the world of financial crime .... money laundering, Ponzie schemes, insurance fraud, identity theft, lottery scams. This is where Forensic Accountants earn their pay ... and Kat is one of the best around. It's also highly dangerous as it always is when someone takes large amounts of money illegally and has no wish to give it up.
Kat, despite her prosthetic hand, is impressive in a forceful way .... overwhelmingly tough and powerful when threatened. And she and Adam have attracted targets on their backs. Adam can take care of himself, but when it comes to Kat, he feels very protective of her.
It's action-packed, page-turning suspense from the vert first page. The suspense is heightened throughout until the final explosive conclusion. There are twists and turns throughout. The characters are solidly written and I loved the relationship between Kat and Adam. Maybe a developing romance? Before becoming an author, she worked in banking in London and New York. Given her background, I expected a certain amount of credibility ..and I was not disappointed.
It's first in the series and I look forward to seeing more of Kat Munroe in the future.
Many thanks to the author / Paperback Writer's Publishing / Netgalley for the digital copy of this Financial Thriller. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
December 4, 2020
A definite thriller that shouldn’t be missed by anyone. Kate is fantastic at her job. Once I started, I was lost in her world of solving problems. Ready for the next.
December 14, 2020
I have received this book as an ARC in exchange for an honest review, through BookSirens.
SL Beaumont, author of the award-winning novel Shadow of Doubt (2019) and the Amazon bestselling The Carlswick Mysteries, returns once again with her financial thriller, Death Count.
The novel used two different viewpoints, alternating between Kat Munroe and Adam Jackson. This is also how the two secondary storylines are introduced to the reader.
Plot Summary
Kat is a forensic accountant. Adam works for the Met’s Financial Crimes Unit. Their paths crossed when Kat’s firm is enlisted to investigate Capital Investment Partners (CIP).
For such a young start-up their books are squeaky clean, but the investigation was triggered by the death of a security guard, falling two floors to his death. And the apparent suicide of one of the directors, Nick Smyth.
CIP retain the services of William Huntly-Tait’s law firm. This brings back bad memories for Kat since his son Gabe is an ex-boyfriend of her, and she is still haunted by dreams about the accident caused by him driving drunk, in which she lost her left hand.
Kat discovers by accident that her father has an investment with CIP, but he seems to be missing on their client list. This leads to a search warrant allowing them access to all the CIP servers on the premises, based on providing false information to the regulators.
This leads to the discovery of a secret fund, known to only two of the directors. What at first appears to be a Ponzi or pyramid scheme, turns out to be something much more sinister.
Kat receives a call from Gabe, warning her about a planned attack on her and Adam, after overhearing a telephonic conversation with a security consultant the law firm often use.
How does the Huntly-Tait law firm feature in all of this?
Adam’s covert investigation for a secret department of the Ministry of Defence into the disappearance of his partner, Jake McCall, leads him to South Hill Manor, the Huntly-Tait residence in Cobham.
To be able to protect her, Adam takes Kat with when investigating suspicious activity near South Hill Manor. They are captured and taken to the Huntly-Tait residence. After escaping, Adam went to investigate a large outbuilding on the property, while Kat attempt to reach a phone and call for help.
Kat are recaptured and use to force Adam out of hiding. It is during this showdown that the police arrive, and chaos ensues.
Kat is shocked to learn the identity of the leader behind the whole scheme – someone she trusted and has considered to be a friend.
What I Love
- I loved Kat as a character. Even though she still has nightmares regularly from the trauma of losing her left hand in a car accident, she finds ways to deal with it and are fiercely independent. She takes up kickboxing classes and gets involved in the Valkyries, an organization helping to support the rehabilitation of women in the armed forces wounded in action.
The following quote is a good summary of her spunk and tenacity.
- I love the fact that even though this is a financial thriller, the financial information supplied is kept simple enough that readers can easily follow along if they do not have a financial background.
What I did not Love
Even though perfectly portrayed, I did not like Mary McFarlane. She is snobbish and cold-hearted, expressed perfectly by the following quotes:
Although you must wonder how she manages to be and stay a director of CIP. As she is portrayed to be more a pretty face than an intelligent woman.
Overall Assessment
Many readers will be able to associate with Kat Munro and the way she copes with the trauma of losing her left hand during a car accident. On the one hand, shying away from talking about it. But on the other hand, enrolling in kickboxing classes and helping to raise funds for the rehabilitation of women in the armed forces wounded in action.
The book has a good storyline, and the two subplots help to keep the readers guessing.
The book lives up to its name by the ever-rising death count as the story progresses. The threat revealed to Kat by Gabe, makes you wonder if she and Adam will avoid becoming part of this death count themselves?
Bottom line:
A well-written story, keeping the reader guessing until the very end.
I recommend this book for readers who like financial thrillers, as well as those who like to have women and/or people with disabilities featuring as the hero/heroine.
Trigger Warnings: Suicide and Death
SL Beaumont, author of the award-winning novel Shadow of Doubt (2019) and the Amazon bestselling The Carlswick Mysteries, returns once again with her financial thriller, Death Count.
The novel used two different viewpoints, alternating between Kat Munroe and Adam Jackson. This is also how the two secondary storylines are introduced to the reader.
Plot Summary
Kat is a forensic accountant. Adam works for the Met’s Financial Crimes Unit. Their paths crossed when Kat’s firm is enlisted to investigate Capital Investment Partners (CIP).
For such a young start-up their books are squeaky clean, but the investigation was triggered by the death of a security guard, falling two floors to his death. And the apparent suicide of one of the directors, Nick Smyth.
CIP retain the services of William Huntly-Tait’s law firm. This brings back bad memories for Kat since his son Gabe is an ex-boyfriend of her, and she is still haunted by dreams about the accident caused by him driving drunk, in which she lost her left hand.
Kat discovers by accident that her father has an investment with CIP, but he seems to be missing on their client list. This leads to a search warrant allowing them access to all the CIP servers on the premises, based on providing false information to the regulators.
This leads to the discovery of a secret fund, known to only two of the directors. What at first appears to be a Ponzi or pyramid scheme, turns out to be something much more sinister.
Kat receives a call from Gabe, warning her about a planned attack on her and Adam, after overhearing a telephonic conversation with a security consultant the law firm often use.
How does the Huntly-Tait law firm feature in all of this?
Adam’s covert investigation for a secret department of the Ministry of Defence into the disappearance of his partner, Jake McCall, leads him to South Hill Manor, the Huntly-Tait residence in Cobham.
To be able to protect her, Adam takes Kat with when investigating suspicious activity near South Hill Manor. They are captured and taken to the Huntly-Tait residence. After escaping, Adam went to investigate a large outbuilding on the property, while Kat attempt to reach a phone and call for help.
Kat are recaptured and use to force Adam out of hiding. It is during this showdown that the police arrive, and chaos ensues.
Kat is shocked to learn the identity of the leader behind the whole scheme – someone she trusted and has considered to be a friend.
What I Love
- I loved Kat as a character. Even though she still has nightmares regularly from the trauma of losing her left hand in a car accident, she finds ways to deal with it and are fiercely independent. She takes up kickboxing classes and gets involved in the Valkyries, an organization helping to support the rehabilitation of women in the armed forces wounded in action.
The following quote is a good summary of her spunk and tenacity.
“She scowled at him. “When have I ever done what you said, and besides, I couldn’t leave Adam there to take a beating.”
Don and Carl looked at Adam, who shrugged. “It’s true,” he said. “Those two would have been sore the next day. She got several good kicks in.” - Location 1136-1137 (Kindle Edition)
- I love the fact that even though this is a financial thriller, the financial information supplied is kept simple enough that readers can easily follow along if they do not have a financial background.
What I did not Love
Even though perfectly portrayed, I did not like Mary McFarlane. She is snobbish and cold-hearted, expressed perfectly by the following quotes:
“And, I’m sorry, I forget your name,” she said as she turned to Kat, her eyes narrowed as though trying to remember." – Location 880 Kindle Edition
“From all accounts,” Mary replied, looking Kat up and down, her eyes resting for a moment on Kat’s left hand. “It’s like one of those riddles; when is a disability, not a disability?” - Location 880 Kindle Edition
Although you must wonder how she manages to be and stay a director of CIP. As she is portrayed to be more a pretty face than an intelligent woman.
Overall Assessment
Many readers will be able to associate with Kat Munro and the way she copes with the trauma of losing her left hand during a car accident. On the one hand, shying away from talking about it. But on the other hand, enrolling in kickboxing classes and helping to raise funds for the rehabilitation of women in the armed forces wounded in action.
The book has a good storyline, and the two subplots help to keep the readers guessing.
The book lives up to its name by the ever-rising death count as the story progresses. The threat revealed to Kat by Gabe, makes you wonder if she and Adam will avoid becoming part of this death count themselves?
Bottom line:
A well-written story, keeping the reader guessing until the very end.
I recommend this book for readers who like financial thrillers, as well as those who like to have women and/or people with disabilities featuring as the hero/heroine.
Trigger Warnings: Suicide and Death
January 18, 2021
This is the first book I have read by this author and the ARC was provided by Hidden Gems in exchange for the review below. It was a great mystery and financial thriller that takes place in the world of high finance in London. The book opens with Kat Munro, a forensic accountant, who has been assigned to look into an investment fund due to some irregularities. At the same time, the police are also investigating the death of one of the partners of the firm.
Kat is an accountant, who has a prosthetic left arm due to a serious car accident years ago and heads a team at the accounting firm looking into the investment fund. As she begins her examination, she is introduced to DS Adam Jackson, who is the detective that is investigating the death of the partner at the fund in question. As the investigation progresses, it draws Kat and Adam together and puts both in danger. The story shows Kat’s past with her ex-boyfriend and the accident that caused her loss of a limb. It also delves into Adam’s past as a veteran and his friend that has been missing due to another case several years ago.
As the investigation heats up, so does the action and adventure of the story along with the relationship between Adam and Kat. As they get closer to figuring out both cases, they end up running for their lives. It is a great story with interesting characters that make you want to keep reading and cannot wait for the next book in the series.
Kat is an accountant, who has a prosthetic left arm due to a serious car accident years ago and heads a team at the accounting firm looking into the investment fund. As she begins her examination, she is introduced to DS Adam Jackson, who is the detective that is investigating the death of the partner at the fund in question. As the investigation progresses, it draws Kat and Adam together and puts both in danger. The story shows Kat’s past with her ex-boyfriend and the accident that caused her loss of a limb. It also delves into Adam’s past as a veteran and his friend that has been missing due to another case several years ago.
As the investigation heats up, so does the action and adventure of the story along with the relationship between Adam and Kat. As they get closer to figuring out both cases, they end up running for their lives. It is a great story with interesting characters that make you want to keep reading and cannot wait for the next book in the series.
April 19, 2021
Death Count
Author: S.L. Beaumont
Genre: Thriller
Summary:
A sudden death occurs to one of the partners of an investment firm. At the same time the security at the firm also is dead in a mysterious way. This case is taken to a Forensic Accountant - Kat Munro for financial investigation. Meanwhile the actual murder case of follwed up by DS Adam Jackson.
Kat had an accident that caused her arm and she is missing some pieces of her memories of that night. She receives an anonymous threat even before the investigation begins. Adam is trying to solve the disappearance of his friend parallelly. Tension rises as the death count in the firm rises.
How are they going to solve these mysterious deaths? Are they related? What happened to Kat on that fateful night? What happened to Adam’s friend? What secret is the Investment firm hiding behind its doors?
This is what Death Count is all about.
Review:
At first it was pretty tough to follow up the story as the chapters ended abruptly and a new one with a completely unconnected event started. Then I got the gist of what the author is trying to do and followed her unquestioningly.
The emotional turmoil that Kat experiences is well captured. As an accident victim myself I was able to live through her trauma while reading. I felt that the romantic parts could have been more descriptive, yet I liked it anyway.
The continuous revelations throughout the book and the twists at the end made me finish the entire book in Three days. The book ends with a cliffhanger and I would love to read the next book in the Kat-Munro series.
Verdict: I am giving 4.5/5 stars. The 0.5 is for the financial terms that were alien to me.
Recommendation: This book is a quick and good read. I’d recommend it to anyone who wants a page-turning, what happens next, quick read with good twists.
Happy Reading y’all!
PS: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Author: S.L. Beaumont
Genre: Thriller
Summary:
A sudden death occurs to one of the partners of an investment firm. At the same time the security at the firm also is dead in a mysterious way. This case is taken to a Forensic Accountant - Kat Munro for financial investigation. Meanwhile the actual murder case of follwed up by DS Adam Jackson.
Kat had an accident that caused her arm and she is missing some pieces of her memories of that night. She receives an anonymous threat even before the investigation begins. Adam is trying to solve the disappearance of his friend parallelly. Tension rises as the death count in the firm rises.
How are they going to solve these mysterious deaths? Are they related? What happened to Kat on that fateful night? What happened to Adam’s friend? What secret is the Investment firm hiding behind its doors?
This is what Death Count is all about.
Review:
At first it was pretty tough to follow up the story as the chapters ended abruptly and a new one with a completely unconnected event started. Then I got the gist of what the author is trying to do and followed her unquestioningly.
The emotional turmoil that Kat experiences is well captured. As an accident victim myself I was able to live through her trauma while reading. I felt that the romantic parts could have been more descriptive, yet I liked it anyway.
The continuous revelations throughout the book and the twists at the end made me finish the entire book in Three days. The book ends with a cliffhanger and I would love to read the next book in the Kat-Munro series.
Verdict: I am giving 4.5/5 stars. The 0.5 is for the financial terms that were alien to me.
Recommendation: This book is a quick and good read. I’d recommend it to anyone who wants a page-turning, what happens next, quick read with good twists.
Happy Reading y’all!
PS: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
November 9, 2021
The first in a series flagged as the Kat Munroe thrillers, DEATH COUNT introduces Forensic Accountant Kat. She's renowned in that role, one of the best at chasing down fraud, identity theft, scams, money laundering and illegal money making schemes. She also lives with the shock and life changing consequences of serious injury, after losing a hand in a car accident, her boyfriend at the time drunk, driving the car which injured Kat so badly, and killed her friend. There are aspects of that crash and this case which intertwine unexpectedly for Kat and for DS Adam Jackson - a man with his own personal tragedies - and a protective streak when it comes to Kat. Not that she needs a lot of protecting, she might be disabled, but she's tough and not somebody easily threatened.
Sitting somewhere in the middle of police procedural and thriller, with a touch of personal attraction / romance built in, there was much to like about DEATH COUNT. Sure there are aspects of the personal that are a bit on the predictable side, but there was also plenty there less expected. The depiction of Kat and her disability was particularly well done with the emotional and physical fallout more than balanced by the strength she was developing as a result. There's a believable sense of foreboding and threat out of the investigation, and the way that it wove Kat and Adam's back stories together was believable and very compelling. The pace is good, and the financial crime component well developed, informative and realistic, compelling and very intriguing.
All in all, this is a series that could be just the thing for fans of police procedurals with a personal / romantic component, and definitely for anybody looking for a central protagonist working to overcome some serious physical challenges.
https://www.austcrimefiction.org/revi...
Sitting somewhere in the middle of police procedural and thriller, with a touch of personal attraction / romance built in, there was much to like about DEATH COUNT. Sure there are aspects of the personal that are a bit on the predictable side, but there was also plenty there less expected. The depiction of Kat and her disability was particularly well done with the emotional and physical fallout more than balanced by the strength she was developing as a result. There's a believable sense of foreboding and threat out of the investigation, and the way that it wove Kat and Adam's back stories together was believable and very compelling. The pace is good, and the financial crime component well developed, informative and realistic, compelling and very intriguing.
All in all, this is a series that could be just the thing for fans of police procedurals with a personal / romantic component, and definitely for anybody looking for a central protagonist working to overcome some serious physical challenges.
https://www.austcrimefiction.org/revi...
November 28, 2020
A forensic account, Kate Munroe teams up with DS Adam Jackson to look into a case of corporate fraud. They each have their own hang-ups. Kate lost her hand in a car accident which has turned her into something of a recluse suspicious of all but a small group of select friends. Adam is still plagued by the unexplained disappearance of a colleague and close friend who went missing two years ago while on a job.
The two are asked to investigate the supposed suicide of a partner in a highly successful investment fund. Their investigations quickly lead into uncovering major fraud on a large scale. Before long, both realise there are people who will stop at nothing to prevent them continuing with their investigation. The more they uncover, the more they begin to realise this case is linked to the nightmares that have blighted each of their own lives for the last few years.
This book had me gripped. Not only was it fast-paced and full of characters with whom I could empathise, it took me into a world well outside my remit – financial crime. I particularly admired the writer’s skill in being able to paint a vivid picture of a setting or a character in a single sentence – a rare skill.
The two are asked to investigate the supposed suicide of a partner in a highly successful investment fund. Their investigations quickly lead into uncovering major fraud on a large scale. Before long, both realise there are people who will stop at nothing to prevent them continuing with their investigation. The more they uncover, the more they begin to realise this case is linked to the nightmares that have blighted each of their own lives for the last few years.
This book had me gripped. Not only was it fast-paced and full of characters with whom I could empathise, it took me into a world well outside my remit – financial crime. I particularly admired the writer’s skill in being able to paint a vivid picture of a setting or a character in a single sentence – a rare skill.
January 14, 2021
I very kindly received a free copy of this book in exchange for an impartial review.
For me, the most telling, honest review of a novel is how long it takes for me to finish it - and I finished Death Count in 24 hours!
Forensic accountant Kat Munro spends her days examining financial fraud - a job that has remained comfortable as she attempts to forget her traumatic past. That is, until, she meets DS Adam Jackson, with whom she begins to investigate the death of a partner of a successful yet suspicious London investment fund. This case will combine both of their pasts with extremely dangerous consequences for everyone.
This book was utterly action-packed and kept me truly gripped from start to finish. As someone who reads endless crime thrillers, I get to a point where they all merge into one and no longer excite me. Death Count, however, is a book I will remember for a long, long time!
Kat and Adam are such carefully thought-through, well-developed characters, and I felt a genuine connection to them both. My only criticism of the book is the cliffhanger ending, which felt incredibly rushed - I finished the book with my mouth wide open, thinking “surely that can’t be the end?” But I understand that Death Count is the beginning of a series, so I can’t be too angry about that one! I can’t wait to read more!
For me, the most telling, honest review of a novel is how long it takes for me to finish it - and I finished Death Count in 24 hours!
Forensic accountant Kat Munro spends her days examining financial fraud - a job that has remained comfortable as she attempts to forget her traumatic past. That is, until, she meets DS Adam Jackson, with whom she begins to investigate the death of a partner of a successful yet suspicious London investment fund. This case will combine both of their pasts with extremely dangerous consequences for everyone.
This book was utterly action-packed and kept me truly gripped from start to finish. As someone who reads endless crime thrillers, I get to a point where they all merge into one and no longer excite me. Death Count, however, is a book I will remember for a long, long time!
Kat and Adam are such carefully thought-through, well-developed characters, and I felt a genuine connection to them both. My only criticism of the book is the cliffhanger ending, which felt incredibly rushed - I finished the book with my mouth wide open, thinking “surely that can’t be the end?” But I understand that Death Count is the beginning of a series, so I can’t be too angry about that one! I can’t wait to read more!
December 14, 2020
Great book! I enjoyed this thrilling story that was full of action and suspense. Kat Munro is a very cool accountant. With her ability to fight and figure out mysteries, Kat is an amazing central figure in this adventure. There's lots here behind the scenes, as she is trying to find out what happened the night she lost her hand. Adam is a detective that gets caught up in the crazy events happening to Kat. As he tries to protect her, he can't help but be drawn to her. It's edge of the seat action, as they come across some obviously illegal things going on. Who is involved? What are they going to find out? It's quite the intriguing mystery. I recommend this book, and can't wait to see more in this story.
January 17, 2021
4.5 rounded up. It took me a while to get into the book but once I did, I found it hard to put down. Well written and without the typos most books have.
The protagonist Kat is basically a forensic accountant who with her colleagues is retained to work with police investigating an investment firm CID that has been unbelievably successful in its 4 years of existence. There are 4 partners in CID and one appears to have been murdered.
Kat works with an officer named Adam who is also investigating the disappearance of a friend. Adam is a war veteran who served in Afghanistan and still is somehow connected to the military while doing his police work.
Thrilling adventure and an interesting dynamic between Kat and Adam. I hope we will see more of Adam in Kat’s next story.
I received an advance review copy for free, and am leaving this review voluntarily.
The protagonist Kat is basically a forensic accountant who with her colleagues is retained to work with police investigating an investment firm CID that has been unbelievably successful in its 4 years of existence. There are 4 partners in CID and one appears to have been murdered.
Kat works with an officer named Adam who is also investigating the disappearance of a friend. Adam is a war veteran who served in Afghanistan and still is somehow connected to the military while doing his police work.
Thrilling adventure and an interesting dynamic between Kat and Adam. I hope we will see more of Adam in Kat’s next story.
I received an advance review copy for free, and am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 14, 2024
This was a solid police procedural with an interesting twist of the investigation involving forensic accounting. I really enjoyed this aspect as I don’t think I’ve read many stories with this plot line. I found it gripping & easy to read.
However, there were glaring editing issues that I couldn’t ignore. Primarily, Kat’s boss is called Stephenson for a start, then Stevenson, and then it alternates throughout the story. This should have been easy to pick up at various stages. I also found Kat to be a “super” character - she’s a fantastic forensic accountant, she’s a kickass martial arts practitioner, she chairs a charity with Prince Harry, and she’s involved in the development & funding of prosthetics. It just felt a bit over the top.
However, there were glaring editing issues that I couldn’t ignore. Primarily, Kat’s boss is called Stephenson for a start, then Stevenson, and then it alternates throughout the story. This should have been easy to pick up at various stages. I also found Kat to be a “super” character - she’s a fantastic forensic accountant, she’s a kickass martial arts practitioner, she chairs a charity with Prince Harry, and she’s involved in the development & funding of prosthetics. It just felt a bit over the top.
January 11, 2021
Great start to a new series. Kat Munro is a Forensic Accountant working with the police. She is a complex person still dealing with the loss of her hand in an automobile accident a couple of years earlier. Kat's ex- boyfriend was at the wheel driving drunk, a friend also in the car was killed. The ex has a wealthy influential father who got his son "off." DS Adam Jackson is still working through the disappearance of a friend who was working undercover two years ago.
The death of a London Investment Fund manager brings Kat and Adam together. As these two investigate, Kat continues to have nightmares about her accident. Although Kat has a prosthetic hand, it does not hinder her. There are twists and surprises and possibly a hint of a future romance between our characters. This kept me reading, I did not want to put it down. I am looking forward to the next Kat Munro novel.
I received an advance review copy for free from BookSirens and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The death of a London Investment Fund manager brings Kat and Adam together. As these two investigate, Kat continues to have nightmares about her accident. Although Kat has a prosthetic hand, it does not hinder her. There are twists and surprises and possibly a hint of a future romance between our characters. This kept me reading, I did not want to put it down. I am looking forward to the next Kat Munro novel.
I received an advance review copy for free from BookSirens and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
December 14, 2020
In my estimation Death Count is probably 4.5. I would definitely read more from S. L. Beaumont. Kat Munro, the main character, is spunky, smart, and almost a female Jack Reacher when she needs to be...a Reacher in her early years. That’s not to imply that she doesn’t have a complex nature. The other characters were fairly well-developed. The challenges to Kat and crew keep arising, making this an interesting, satisfying read.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 20, 2021
Definitely a can't put down book! This thriller was well written with suspense in every turn of the page! Kat is a Forensic Accountant who is working with the police to investigate fraud. After a death of a partner who worked for a big firm, she teams up with a detective named Adam to investigate the company. This is when the story starts to take twists and turns while the main characters deal with life and this investigation. I don't want to spoil things for those who want to read this! The characters are so well written that you feel their emotions as your reading the story! I recommend this book to anyone who love thrillers! I received this free copy from hidden gems for an honest review.
December 8, 2020
This is such a good mystery novel. Solid plot and very likeable, strong characters! Follow brilliant, tenacious Kat on an action-packed adventure as she finds herself thrown in the middle of a homicide investigation. As the plot unravels, watch her leap into the fray in this race against time to uncover the mastermind behind the ‘Death Count’. Get this book and slip into a world of high-stakes and intrigue! It will not disappoint.
February 24, 2021
Death Count is a mystery novel and it is very exciting. S L Beaumont has written a nonstop action mystery. I found the writing helped me feel the characters and I felt they were so true to the story. Kay was a forensic accountant and along with Adam, they were investigating the death of an investment partner. I really enjoyed the book with all of the action. It was a wild ride with fast pace. I received an arc for my honest review.
December 27, 2020
A fast-paced thriller that is hard to put down. The plot is too rich to touch in a synopsis. A forensic accounting mystery wraps itself around main character Kat Munro, dragging in old relationships and new, even touching on her father and his friends. There is plenty of police work, misdirection, murder and the like to keep the action going and enough romance and friendship to keep the characters engaging for the reader.
This is a stand alone novel, but the cover indicates it is the first in a series and I will certainly be keeping my eyes open for the next Kat Munro book.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This is a stand alone novel, but the cover indicates it is the first in a series and I will certainly be keeping my eyes open for the next Kat Munro book.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 17, 2021
I devoured this book in 2 days. The action was fast paced and engrossing. I really enjoyed the main character’s chemistry and their attraction and interactions didn’t feel forced. The mysteries involved were well thought out with satisfying conclusions. This is a stand alone book but I see the potential (and start) of a series. I look forward to reading more of this author and characters.
I am reviewing this book voluntarily. Thank you to Book Sirens for providing me with a copy for free
I am reviewing this book voluntarily. Thank you to Book Sirens for providing me with a copy for free
December 5, 2020
This is a really well put together book. I enjoyed the dialog, the plot, and the action. Totally worth the read and I would love to see either Kat or Adam again. If they were together, that would be a bonus.
November 15, 2021
First time reader for this writer. Right off the bat, the story takes off capturing my attention. By chapter 4, I’m really into it, which I love!
The story is well rounded with descriptions of characters, surroundings and the story line. I can’t wait for the next story in this series!
The story is well rounded with descriptions of characters, surroundings and the story line. I can’t wait for the next story in this series!
December 15, 2020
Death count by S.L. Beaumont.
A really enjoyable read. I loved the story and most of the characters. Kat and Adam were my favourite. 5*.
A really enjoyable read. I loved the story and most of the characters. Kat and Adam were my favourite. 5*.
December 5, 2020
This is a brilliant read.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great suspense and action with wonderful world building.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.
I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great suspense and action with wonderful world building.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.
I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.
December 25, 2020
Death Count is the first book in The Kat Munro Thrillers series and is a fantastic start to this series.
The characters in this story are well depicted, strong, and intelligent. The storyline engaged my interest from start to finish, with multiple deaths, mystery, the past coming back to haunt the present, danger, suspense, and intrigue. I loved this book and can't wait for the next book in the series.
I read and reviewed this book with no obligation.
The characters in this story are well depicted, strong, and intelligent. The storyline engaged my interest from start to finish, with multiple deaths, mystery, the past coming back to haunt the present, danger, suspense, and intrigue. I loved this book and can't wait for the next book in the series.
I read and reviewed this book with no obligation.
December 20, 2020
Kat Munro is a forensic accountant tasked to work with the police to assist on a case of corporate fraud. One of the partners of Capital Investment Partners has gone missing and a security man found dead. She finds herself working with DS Adam Jackson, an ex soldier now working in the Met. As they get deeper into the case, threats are made against the 2 of them, so they need to get to the bottom of this before someone else loses their life.
This is an exciting and fast paced thriller, which is so well researched, particularly the forensic accounting side. Both Kat and Adam are strong and likeable characters, with great background stories. It’s particularly nice to have such a strong female character, even if she is still recovering from a traumatic incident 2 years ago, and suffers from PTSD. Unexpected ending and hopefully a follow up to come. Well worth a read.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This is an exciting and fast paced thriller, which is so well researched, particularly the forensic accounting side. Both Kat and Adam are strong and likeable characters, with great background stories. It’s particularly nice to have such a strong female character, even if she is still recovering from a traumatic incident 2 years ago, and suffers from PTSD. Unexpected ending and hopefully a follow up to come. Well worth a read.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 8, 2021
Can't wait for the next one! Death Count kept me wanting more while I was reading and left me wanting the next one ... NOW!
December 21, 2020
Kat is a forensic accountant, but that is definitely not all there is to her. She was in a horrible wreck and lost her hand. She is one cool lady. She knows how to take care of herself and doesn't let anyone get in her way. Her firm is working with the police to track some inconsistencies at CIP, including two murders. Adam Jackson is with the police and between the two of them, they will figure all this out. There is a lot of action in this book, Kat definitely knows some martial arts and they keep things moving quickly. What a great read.
April 26, 2022
A rollercoaster ride!
Action packed that makes you want to binge read all in one night. A surprise ending that took me unawares. Great book and can't wait to read the next in the series.
Action packed that makes you want to binge read all in one night. A surprise ending that took me unawares. Great book and can't wait to read the next in the series.
September 21, 2021
Well, I should be rather cross about this book. It cost me many hours of sleep since I just couldn't put it down and didn't stop reading until the not-so-early hours. But I can’t stay cross. I really enjoyed it, as I have other books that I have read from this author .
The chief character is Kat Munro who is managing as well as one can after losing a hand in a car accident with her then boyfriend, Gabe. She is employed as a forensic accountant, so of course the case upon which she is asked to work leads her through all sorts of twists and turns. She is called on to work with Detective Sargent Adam Jackson who has left the army after tours in Afghanistan.
I would like to mention some of the incidents throughout the book, but I won't. Best everyone reads those themselves.
The plot is tight, the characters are well developed, the settings excellently portrayed. What more can you ask?
I received this copy free from the author for review - but I would have bought it anyway.
Note to me: must get more from this author!
The chief character is Kat Munro who is managing as well as one can after losing a hand in a car accident with her then boyfriend, Gabe. She is employed as a forensic accountant, so of course the case upon which she is asked to work leads her through all sorts of twists and turns. She is called on to work with Detective Sargent Adam Jackson who has left the army after tours in Afghanistan.
I would like to mention some of the incidents throughout the book, but I won't. Best everyone reads those themselves.
The plot is tight, the characters are well developed, the settings excellently portrayed. What more can you ask?
I received this copy free from the author for review - but I would have bought it anyway.
Note to me: must get more from this author!
December 4, 2020
Kat Munro is a forensic accountant who lost her hand in a car accident two years ago. Now she is called on to work with DS Adam Jackson to investigate the death of a member of a London investment fund. What was first deemed an accidental overdose is now being viewed as murder. A closer look at Capital Investment Partners and its’ officers does not reveal anything at first, but when Kat’s father tells her about the unusually high rates of return that he receives as an investor in CIP it sets off alarms.
Two years earlier, at the time of Kat’s accident one of Adam’s friends disappeared in the same area. He is still looking into the disappearance and begins to wonder about the coincidence of the timing. Kat does not remember much about the accident but looking into the people involved has triggered nightmares that have enabled her to remember more of what occurred. Now she is receiving threats, but together with Adam they are both finally making progress.
Kat’s mother constantly plays matchmaker, but Kat’s accident left her unwilling to enter a new relationship. Her ex-boyfriend was responsible . Besides driving while intoxicated and causing Kat to lose her hand he also caused the death of another friend. His father used his wealth and influence to see that his son just walked away from responsibility and Kat now finds it hard to trust again. She is also very aware of people’s reactions to her prosthesis. Adam is a veteran who has seen the results of war and is not put off by her hand. The two feel an attraction but circle around each other like wary competitors. Working together they discover a connection between CIP and her ex-boyfriend’s family, setting up an ending that has all of the tension and action that a thriller fan could want.
J. L. Beaumont’s Death Count keeps a steady pace that slowly grows to the end. Kat and Adam’s relationship also builds, but it is left unresolved at the end, opening up the possibility that we will be seeing them in the future. That would be a treat to look forward to. I would like to thank the author for providing this novel in exchange for an honest review.
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