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Detective Kate Young #2
A Cut for a Cut
DI Kate Young can’t trust anybody. Not even herself.
In the bleak countryside around Blithfield Reservoir, a serial murderer and rapist is leaving a trail of bloodshed. His savage calling card: the word ‘MINE’ carved into each of his victims.
DI Kate Young struggles to get the case moving—even when one of the team’s own investigators is found dead in a dumpster. But Kate is battling her own demons. Obsessed with exposing Superintendent John Dickson and convinced there’s a conspiracy running deep in the force, she no longer knows who to trust. Kate’s crusade has already cost her dearly. What will she lose next?
When her stepsister spills a long-buried secret, Kate realises she’s found the missing link—now she must prove it before the killer strikes again. With enemies closing in on all sides, she’s prepared to do whatever it takes to bring them down. But time is running out, and Kate's past has pushed her to the very edge. Can she stop herself from falling?
In the bleak countryside around Blithfield Reservoir, a serial murderer and rapist is leaving a trail of bloodshed. His savage calling card: the word ‘MINE’ carved into each of his victims.
DI Kate Young struggles to get the case moving—even when one of the team’s own investigators is found dead in a dumpster. But Kate is battling her own demons. Obsessed with exposing Superintendent John Dickson and convinced there’s a conspiracy running deep in the force, she no longer knows who to trust. Kate’s crusade has already cost her dearly. What will she lose next?
When her stepsister spills a long-buried secret, Kate realises she’s found the missing link—now she must prove it before the killer strikes again. With enemies closing in on all sides, she’s prepared to do whatever it takes to bring them down. But time is running out, and Kate's past has pushed her to the very edge. Can she stop herself from falling?
367 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 29, 2021
1287 people are currently reading
3195 people want to read
About the author
Carol Wyer
37 books1,235 followersUSA Today bestselling author and winner of The People's Book Prize Award, Carol Wyer's crime novels have sold over one million copies and been translated into nine languages.
A move from humour to the 'dark side' in 2017, saw the introduction of popular DI Robyn Carter in Little Girl Lost and proved that Carol had found her true niche.
In 2021, An Eye For An Eye, the first in the DI Kate Young series, was chosen as a Kindle First Reads. It became the #1 bestselling book on Amazon UK and Australia. The third, A Life For A Life, is due out March 15th, 2022, but is available to preorder.
Carol has had articles published in national magazines 'Woman's Weekly', featured in 'Take A Break', 'Choice', 'Yours' and 'Woman's Own' magazines and written for the Huffington Post. She's also been interviewed on numerous radio shows and on BBC Breakfast television.
She currently lives on a windy hill in rural Staffordshire with her husband Mr. Grumpy who is very, very grumpy.
When not plotting devious murders, she can be found performing her comedy routine, Smile While You Still Have Teeth.
To learn more, go to www.carolwyer.co.uk, subscribe to her YouTube channel, or follow her on Twitter @carolewyer
A move from humour to the 'dark side' in 2017, saw the introduction of popular DI Robyn Carter in Little Girl Lost and proved that Carol had found her true niche.
In 2021, An Eye For An Eye, the first in the DI Kate Young series, was chosen as a Kindle First Reads. It became the #1 bestselling book on Amazon UK and Australia. The third, A Life For A Life, is due out March 15th, 2022, but is available to preorder.
Carol has had articles published in national magazines 'Woman's Weekly', featured in 'Take A Break', 'Choice', 'Yours' and 'Woman's Own' magazines and written for the Huffington Post. She's also been interviewed on numerous radio shows and on BBC Breakfast television.
She currently lives on a windy hill in rural Staffordshire with her husband Mr. Grumpy who is very, very grumpy.
When not plotting devious murders, she can be found performing her comedy routine, Smile While You Still Have Teeth.
To learn more, go to www.carolwyer.co.uk, subscribe to her YouTube channel, or follow her on Twitter @carolewyer
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 362 reviews
May 19, 2021
4.5 stars
DI Kate Young and her team are summoned to Abbots Bromley where a female body has been found in an industrial bin. She’s been raped and has MINE tattooed on her right shoulder. This investigation becomes deeply personal for Kate and runs parallel to an ‘off book’ investigation she’s running to try to prove Supt John Dickson is corrupt and involved in the death of her journalist husband Chris.
This is another gripping read from Carol Wyer. I’m not going to pretend it’s an easy read with the rape angle, although whilst it’s not graphic it’s not sanitised either - quite rightly. The novel deals well with the emotional scars of rape which is movingly explained by more than one character. This is a tense, pacy thriller from the beginning, it has good twists, it’s dark and a very compelling read that’s hard to put down. You do guess the perpetrator but that does not in any way spoil the outcome. The two gritty storylines work well together and the threads are easy to follow. The conspiracy/corruption angle is excellent and you can see that it could get extremely dangerous for Kate but she’s totally invested and doggedly pursues the truth. The characters are good although the primary focus is on Kate who is fascinating. Her issues especially her mental health following Chris’s murder is extremely well done. There are some good descriptions of places such as Abbots Bromley and Uttoxeter which makes it easy to visualise scenes. The ending is exciting and makes you want to sign up for the next instalment where I hope Kate gets closer to proving the corruption. My only negative and it’s a small personal one, is that I’m not keen on the killers ‘voice’ - I’m not sure if we needed it?????
Overall, a well written and an absorbing read from a talented author.
With thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
DI Kate Young and her team are summoned to Abbots Bromley where a female body has been found in an industrial bin. She’s been raped and has MINE tattooed on her right shoulder. This investigation becomes deeply personal for Kate and runs parallel to an ‘off book’ investigation she’s running to try to prove Supt John Dickson is corrupt and involved in the death of her journalist husband Chris.
This is another gripping read from Carol Wyer. I’m not going to pretend it’s an easy read with the rape angle, although whilst it’s not graphic it’s not sanitised either - quite rightly. The novel deals well with the emotional scars of rape which is movingly explained by more than one character. This is a tense, pacy thriller from the beginning, it has good twists, it’s dark and a very compelling read that’s hard to put down. You do guess the perpetrator but that does not in any way spoil the outcome. The two gritty storylines work well together and the threads are easy to follow. The conspiracy/corruption angle is excellent and you can see that it could get extremely dangerous for Kate but she’s totally invested and doggedly pursues the truth. The characters are good although the primary focus is on Kate who is fascinating. Her issues especially her mental health following Chris’s murder is extremely well done. There are some good descriptions of places such as Abbots Bromley and Uttoxeter which makes it easy to visualise scenes. The ending is exciting and makes you want to sign up for the next instalment where I hope Kate gets closer to proving the corruption. My only negative and it’s a small personal one, is that I’m not keen on the killers ‘voice’ - I’m not sure if we needed it?????
Overall, a well written and an absorbing read from a talented author.
With thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
July 18, 2021
Just as DI Kate Young is settling in a new relationship with her estranged sister and nephew of many years, Kate and her team are called in on a brutal new murder case involving a young woman horribly sexually assaulted with the word MINE carved into her flesh below her shoulder. The murder was perpetrated in a lovely area smaller than a village where crimes rarely take place and never a murder. Unfortunately this case has all the markings of of a possible serial killer on the loose because the very next day another young woman's body turns up in similar surroundings as well as the same details as the first killing. Kate takes this case personally and wants the vicious murderer found right away before other woman can be attacked or killed. Sadly, she only has a team of three with a new constable (Jaime) finally added to her team who seems to be a hard worker but does not get along well. with Sgt Morgan Meredith who is the only.one on the force that she feels she can really trust and confide in. Kate is still emotionally fragile from the devastating murders that occurred several months ago which included her husband and a large part of her is always trying to figure out how to bring the killers to justice because she knows who is truly responsible .but with his high ranking profile he is an untouchable. Will Kate finally realize that this is a battle she can't win or will she even survive through these new murders when there is someone possibly tracking her every move and wanting to see her permanent downfall in shame from the police department or does that someone just want to see Kate dead?
This is the second book in the DI Kate Young police procedural series and I am so hooked. I just love Carol Wyer's writing and storylines and can't get enough. Now I'm disappointed (kidding) that I'll have to wait a long time for a new book to be written in this series and I want to continue reading immediately! I really enjoyed the new characters that have been added but love the continuation. of some of the others from Book one as they get intertwined seamlessly within this new story. This book could be read as a stand-alone but I feel you would be doing yourself an injustice without reading the book "Eye For An Eye" first since there are so many details that are very relevant to to how this current story plays out and also giving the reader a clear understanding of who detective Kate Young really is and also any of the other major characters that were involved in the first book (IMO), although for some readers this may not be a necessity since the book will give brief updates on any events that are mentioned from the first story so a person won't feel lost while reading this story so.please don't overlook this book if you haven't read the first one. ( Apologies for being redundant ). I'm just trying to emphasize what a great series writer "Carol Wyer" is and just a fantastic author period! As anyone can see I'm a big fan of this author and can hardly wait for the next book release
and I highly recommend these terrific books to any and all readers who enjoy detective/mysteries and thrillers.
I want to thank the publisher "Amazon Publishing UK"/ Thomas & 38 Mercer" and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this fast-paced story and any thoughts and opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!
II have given this book a rating of 4 1/2 Intriguing 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌠 Stars!!
This is the second book in the DI Kate Young police procedural series and I am so hooked. I just love Carol Wyer's writing and storylines and can't get enough. Now I'm disappointed (kidding) that I'll have to wait a long time for a new book to be written in this series and I want to continue reading immediately! I really enjoyed the new characters that have been added but love the continuation. of some of the others from Book one as they get intertwined seamlessly within this new story. This book could be read as a stand-alone but I feel you would be doing yourself an injustice without reading the book "Eye For An Eye" first since there are so many details that are very relevant to to how this current story plays out and also giving the reader a clear understanding of who detective Kate Young really is and also any of the other major characters that were involved in the first book (IMO), although for some readers this may not be a necessity since the book will give brief updates on any events that are mentioned from the first story so a person won't feel lost while reading this story so.please don't overlook this book if you haven't read the first one. ( Apologies for being redundant ). I'm just trying to emphasize what a great series writer "Carol Wyer" is and just a fantastic author period! As anyone can see I'm a big fan of this author and can hardly wait for the next book release
and I highly recommend these terrific books to any and all readers who enjoy detective/mysteries and thrillers.
I want to thank the publisher "Amazon Publishing UK"/ Thomas & 38 Mercer" and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this fast-paced story and any thoughts and opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!
II have given this book a rating of 4 1/2 Intriguing 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌠 Stars!!
December 18, 2021
When your own personal pain is the driving force within you, you are balancing on a thin wire.
Carol Wyer brings us together again with DI Kate Young of the Stoke-on-Trent police force. We met her in the first book in this series, An Eye for an Eye, in the aftermath of her husband Chris' murder. Chris was a journalist who was onto a vein of deep corruption. He was silenced before he could reveal the crimes.
Kate wishes to delve into that crime and she is obsessed with it. But her pursuit has been interrupted by a multitude of things. Her grief makes way for a visit from her half-sister, Tilly, and her young son from Australia. Kate is torn between spending time with them and fulfilling her police duties. And nothing strikes a spike into things than the discovery of the body of a young woman in a dumpster.
Laura had filled in for the usual yoga instructor in her small village of Abbots Bromley. She was almost home when she was brutally raped and strangled. Upon her skin was cut the word "Mine".
And this is the first in a line of rape/murders to come.
Kate's team is made up of three individuals who have issues of their own. They are spread thin from the demands placed upon them by the recent crimes. And they don't often get along or agree in the midst of crime solving. Kate, herself, has emotional issues in which she feels Chris' presence and his voice within her head. It's beginning to fade as the weeks pass on.
Carol Wyer doesn't hold back on the brutality of these cases. They reflect the true trauma of rape victims and the painful road back to some kind of normal. Wyer has injected this series with multiple ongoing threads which will lead us into her third upcoming offering. The storyline is compelling and so worthy to be checked out by readers looking for an intense psychological thriller that will stay with you. It's all in the writing......
Carol Wyer brings us together again with DI Kate Young of the Stoke-on-Trent police force. We met her in the first book in this series, An Eye for an Eye, in the aftermath of her husband Chris' murder. Chris was a journalist who was onto a vein of deep corruption. He was silenced before he could reveal the crimes.
Kate wishes to delve into that crime and she is obsessed with it. But her pursuit has been interrupted by a multitude of things. Her grief makes way for a visit from her half-sister, Tilly, and her young son from Australia. Kate is torn between spending time with them and fulfilling her police duties. And nothing strikes a spike into things than the discovery of the body of a young woman in a dumpster.
Laura had filled in for the usual yoga instructor in her small village of Abbots Bromley. She was almost home when she was brutally raped and strangled. Upon her skin was cut the word "Mine".
And this is the first in a line of rape/murders to come.
Kate's team is made up of three individuals who have issues of their own. They are spread thin from the demands placed upon them by the recent crimes. And they don't often get along or agree in the midst of crime solving. Kate, herself, has emotional issues in which she feels Chris' presence and his voice within her head. It's beginning to fade as the weeks pass on.
Carol Wyer doesn't hold back on the brutality of these cases. They reflect the true trauma of rape victims and the painful road back to some kind of normal. Wyer has injected this series with multiple ongoing threads which will lead us into her third upcoming offering. The storyline is compelling and so worthy to be checked out by readers looking for an intense psychological thriller that will stay with you. It's all in the writing......
June 7, 2021
Thank you to Netgalley and Thomas and Mercer for my advanced copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
This is book 2 in the DI Kate Young series by Carol Wyer. The first book needs to be read before reading this one, if you are to understand the background story. Some bits are repeated, but you may feel as if you are not fully up to date.
For me book 2 was a lot better than the first. Although there were very few leads or even red herrings to pull you in. It was blatantly obvious what was going to happen, fairly early on. The crimes are probably more standard crime story fayre than the first book, but still heinous and interesting.
There is nothing majorly wrong, but I am still struggling to connect with the supporting characters, or even sympathise with DI Young, don’t really know why. Personally, I felt as if there should have been more progress or even a culmination in the sub-plot, by now. It was still a good way to spend a few hours and an easy 4 stars, was contemplating 5 at one point but the ending was a bit meh.
This is book 2 in the DI Kate Young series by Carol Wyer. The first book needs to be read before reading this one, if you are to understand the background story. Some bits are repeated, but you may feel as if you are not fully up to date.
For me book 2 was a lot better than the first. Although there were very few leads or even red herrings to pull you in. It was blatantly obvious what was going to happen, fairly early on. The crimes are probably more standard crime story fayre than the first book, but still heinous and interesting.
There is nothing majorly wrong, but I am still struggling to connect with the supporting characters, or even sympathise with DI Young, don’t really know why. Personally, I felt as if there should have been more progress or even a culmination in the sub-plot, by now. It was still a good way to spend a few hours and an easy 4 stars, was contemplating 5 at one point but the ending was a bit meh.
July 4, 2021
Check out all of my reviews at: https://www.avonnalovesgenres.com
A CUT FOR A CUT (Detective Kate Young Book #2) by Carol Wyer is the second mystery/British police procedural that I have been waiting for. I loved the first book “An Eye for an Eye” with the introduction to DI Kate Young. The crime investigation in this book can be read as a standalone, but these books are better read in order due to the continuing personal investigation by Kate into her investigative journalist husband, Chris’ murder.
DI Kate Young and her team are called to a crime scene where a woman was brutally raped, marked and then thrown away like trash. Even after more violent rapes occur with the same M.O., Kate and her team have very few clues or viable suspects. When Kate’s stepsister finally shares a long-buried secret, she realizes her stepsister is the missing link in her case. Now she has to find the proof and catching the killer has become imperative.
At the same time, during the investigation for the serial rapist and killer, Kate is also privately learning more about the murder of her husband. Still battling her own personal demons since his death, she is convinced her superior and several others on the police force are behind his murder and are involved in an illegal conspiracy revolving around underage sex trafficking.
I find Kate to be a very compelling character. Ms. Wyer has brought Kate to life with her extreme grief that continues, but it also begins to turn to guilt as she moves on with her every day living as she begins to realize she does not think of him every minute of every day and she is afraid of losing his memory. I liked the addition of Kate’s stepsister and nephew to give Kate a reason to start to live a balanced, normal life and help with her grief. Kate’s team is also becoming more fully fleshed and complex characters as the series continues.
I very early on guessed the connection between the serial rapist and killer with the person he considered his first true love, but it did not take away from my racing to the exciting climax. The intertwining plot arc of Kate’s personal investigation into Chris’ murder will once again be carried over into the next book and once again I am anxiously waiting for its publication.
I highly recommend this main character, the series and this author!
A CUT FOR A CUT (Detective Kate Young Book #2) by Carol Wyer is the second mystery/British police procedural that I have been waiting for. I loved the first book “An Eye for an Eye” with the introduction to DI Kate Young. The crime investigation in this book can be read as a standalone, but these books are better read in order due to the continuing personal investigation by Kate into her investigative journalist husband, Chris’ murder.
DI Kate Young and her team are called to a crime scene where a woman was brutally raped, marked and then thrown away like trash. Even after more violent rapes occur with the same M.O., Kate and her team have very few clues or viable suspects. When Kate’s stepsister finally shares a long-buried secret, she realizes her stepsister is the missing link in her case. Now she has to find the proof and catching the killer has become imperative.
At the same time, during the investigation for the serial rapist and killer, Kate is also privately learning more about the murder of her husband. Still battling her own personal demons since his death, she is convinced her superior and several others on the police force are behind his murder and are involved in an illegal conspiracy revolving around underage sex trafficking.
I find Kate to be a very compelling character. Ms. Wyer has brought Kate to life with her extreme grief that continues, but it also begins to turn to guilt as she moves on with her every day living as she begins to realize she does not think of him every minute of every day and she is afraid of losing his memory. I liked the addition of Kate’s stepsister and nephew to give Kate a reason to start to live a balanced, normal life and help with her grief. Kate’s team is also becoming more fully fleshed and complex characters as the series continues.
I very early on guessed the connection between the serial rapist and killer with the person he considered his first true love, but it did not take away from my racing to the exciting climax. The intertwining plot arc of Kate’s personal investigation into Chris’ murder will once again be carried over into the next book and once again I am anxiously waiting for its publication.
I highly recommend this main character, the series and this author!
June 29, 2021
When you pick up a crime thriller and see it’s written by Carol Wyer, you know you’re in safe hands and this book just reinforces that knowledge.
At the heart of the DI Kate Young series is a conspiracy, senior police officials are involved in a sex trafficking ring and are responsible for the deaths and disappearances of people who get too close to uncovering the truth, Kate knows this as her journalist husband was killed last year while he was secretly investigating these people.
This narrative thread is continued in this story, though it takes something of a backburner to the active case that Kate and her team are working on.
Women are being targeted by an incredibly violent serial rapist and it’s a race against time to stop him. Rather than the reader knowing who is responsible, we are forced to feel the frustrations of the investigation as it moves at a maddeningly slow pace – these things take time and leads have to be followed up, even if they come to nothing. But when DI Young’s memory is sparked by something the perpetrator says, she realises that this isn’t the first time she’s come across this guy.
The characters in this book are all incredibly complex and well written, they’re all becoming better acquainted and the dynamic is an interesting one – the team don’t all like each other (which colleagues often don’t!) and Kate, as their supervisor, has to try to keep them all in line.
Her character is particularly interesting, she’s starting to come out of the haze of grief after the loss of her husband and see things around her more clearly. The realistic part here is that the grief keeps washing over her in waves, even though it’s not as bad as it was before – then the guilt about not feeling the grief starts to kick in.
I love this series and its characters, the complexity of plot and personalities always come to mind when I think about this author.
At the heart of the DI Kate Young series is a conspiracy, senior police officials are involved in a sex trafficking ring and are responsible for the deaths and disappearances of people who get too close to uncovering the truth, Kate knows this as her journalist husband was killed last year while he was secretly investigating these people.
This narrative thread is continued in this story, though it takes something of a backburner to the active case that Kate and her team are working on.
Women are being targeted by an incredibly violent serial rapist and it’s a race against time to stop him. Rather than the reader knowing who is responsible, we are forced to feel the frustrations of the investigation as it moves at a maddeningly slow pace – these things take time and leads have to be followed up, even if they come to nothing. But when DI Young’s memory is sparked by something the perpetrator says, she realises that this isn’t the first time she’s come across this guy.
The characters in this book are all incredibly complex and well written, they’re all becoming better acquainted and the dynamic is an interesting one – the team don’t all like each other (which colleagues often don’t!) and Kate, as their supervisor, has to try to keep them all in line.
Her character is particularly interesting, she’s starting to come out of the haze of grief after the loss of her husband and see things around her more clearly. The realistic part here is that the grief keeps washing over her in waves, even though it’s not as bad as it was before – then the guilt about not feeling the grief starts to kick in.
I love this series and its characters, the complexity of plot and personalities always come to mind when I think about this author.
January 5, 2023
A serial murderer and rapist is raping and killing women and leaving the word ‘MINE’ carved into his victims. DI Kate Young is investigating these cases as well as clandestinely looking into corruption on the force which possibly resulted in the death of her husband, a journalist. Really a lot for one person to deal with. Carol Wyer is an author who is new to me and I'm very impressed. Oh, and I love this cover! I also have to comment on the name of the village where this novel takes place, Abbots Bromley - such an unusual (to my Canadian way of thinking at least) name but it sounds idyllic and I would very much like to attend the Horn Dance!
It took me a while to get into this book but I don't think it was a fault with the book. Too much on my mind and too many books on my plate! This book was very well written and easy to read but I thought all the conversations Kate was having with her dead husband were a bit much, with him even going so far as to supply her with a contact name. Whaaat?! It really made me question her mental health, especially when she mentioned having these conversations out loud. And the closing line! Very weird. I haven't read the first book in the series but didn't feel at a disadvantage and I may go back and read Book 1 if I ever get caught up on my other books. I'd give this book 3-1/2 stars if that was a choice but I'll round it up to 4.
Thank you to Netgalley and Amazon Publishing UK for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book.
Publication Date: June 29, 2021
It took me a while to get into this book but I don't think it was a fault with the book. Too much on my mind and too many books on my plate! This book was very well written and easy to read but I thought all the conversations Kate was having with her dead husband were a bit much, with him even going so far as to supply her with a contact name. Whaaat?! It really made me question her mental health, especially when she mentioned having these conversations out loud. And the closing line! Very weird. I haven't read the first book in the series but didn't feel at a disadvantage and I may go back and read Book 1 if I ever get caught up on my other books. I'd give this book 3-1/2 stars if that was a choice but I'll round it up to 4.
Thank you to Netgalley and Amazon Publishing UK for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book.
Publication Date: June 29, 2021
December 19, 2021
A CUT FOR A CUT is the second book in the Detective Kate Young Series by award-winning author of mystery and romance novels, Carol Wyer. Having enjoyed reading some of her other series; Detective Robyn Carter and Detective Natalie Ward, I was looking forward to continuing with this new detective series. This book can be read as a standalone, but these books are better read in order for clarity in the storyline of the continuing personal investigation by Kate into her investigative journalist husband, Chris’ murder.
The novels in the Detective Kate Young Series Include:
Book 1-An Eye For An Eye (2021)
Book 2-A Cut For A Cut (June 2021)
Book 3-A Life For A Life (Expected publication: March 15th 2022)
In Book 1 DI Kate Young had been on leave after suffering a traumatic experience. She’s the force’s best detective, but suffered from nightmares and her bosses knew she was under pressure, on medication and booze to overcome the trauma. Kate was still grieving the loss of her husband, Chris, who was murdered by a hitman. Her boss, Superintendent John Dickson placed her on mandatory sick leave, after a breakdown on a train.
A few months later, Kate’s friend and friend of her late father, DCI Chase comes to tell her that her boss wants her back at work, to hunt down a serial killer. Case accepted the offer and chose two of her fellow officers from her old team, DS Morgan Meredith (dedicated worker that had worked closely on several tough cases in the past) and DS Emma Donaldson (an expert in marital arts).
Now in Book 2, A Cut For A Cut, DI Kate Young and her team are called to a crime scene where a woman had been brutally raped, and dumped. There are few clues and no suspects.
A serial murderer and rapist leaves his calling card: the word ‘MINE’ carved into each of his victims.
DI Kate Young struggles to get the case moving—even when one of the team’s own investigators is found dead in a dumpster. At the same time, Kate is also privately learning more about the murder of her husband, Chris. Kate is obsessed with exposing Superintendent John Dickson and convinced there’s a conspiracy running deep in the force, that are behind her husband’s murder involved around underage sex trafficking. Who can she trust?
When Kate’s stepsister finally shares a long-buried secret, she realizes her stepsister is the missing link in her case—now she must prove it before the killer strikes again. With enemies closing in on all sides, and the clock ticking…Kate must do whatever it takes to bring them down.
This proves to be a complex case and the team works meticulously to track down the brutal killer who tortures his victims, leaving clues for the police.
I was glued to this fast-paced crime/mystery with its intriguing plot, well-developed characters and lots of twists and turns and ample red herrings. I loved this book and can’t wait for book 3 to continue the series. Highly recommended!
Many thanks to the author, Thomas & Mercer Publishers and NetGalley for my digital copy.
The novels in the Detective Kate Young Series Include:
Book 1-An Eye For An Eye (2021)
Book 2-A Cut For A Cut (June 2021)
Book 3-A Life For A Life (Expected publication: March 15th 2022)
In Book 1 DI Kate Young had been on leave after suffering a traumatic experience. She’s the force’s best detective, but suffered from nightmares and her bosses knew she was under pressure, on medication and booze to overcome the trauma. Kate was still grieving the loss of her husband, Chris, who was murdered by a hitman. Her boss, Superintendent John Dickson placed her on mandatory sick leave, after a breakdown on a train.
A few months later, Kate’s friend and friend of her late father, DCI Chase comes to tell her that her boss wants her back at work, to hunt down a serial killer. Case accepted the offer and chose two of her fellow officers from her old team, DS Morgan Meredith (dedicated worker that had worked closely on several tough cases in the past) and DS Emma Donaldson (an expert in marital arts).
Now in Book 2, A Cut For A Cut, DI Kate Young and her team are called to a crime scene where a woman had been brutally raped, and dumped. There are few clues and no suspects.
A serial murderer and rapist leaves his calling card: the word ‘MINE’ carved into each of his victims.
DI Kate Young struggles to get the case moving—even when one of the team’s own investigators is found dead in a dumpster. At the same time, Kate is also privately learning more about the murder of her husband, Chris. Kate is obsessed with exposing Superintendent John Dickson and convinced there’s a conspiracy running deep in the force, that are behind her husband’s murder involved around underage sex trafficking. Who can she trust?
When Kate’s stepsister finally shares a long-buried secret, she realizes her stepsister is the missing link in her case—now she must prove it before the killer strikes again. With enemies closing in on all sides, and the clock ticking…Kate must do whatever it takes to bring them down.
This proves to be a complex case and the team works meticulously to track down the brutal killer who tortures his victims, leaving clues for the police.
I was glued to this fast-paced crime/mystery with its intriguing plot, well-developed characters and lots of twists and turns and ample red herrings. I loved this book and can’t wait for book 3 to continue the series. Highly recommended!
Many thanks to the author, Thomas & Mercer Publishers and NetGalley for my digital copy.
June 3, 2021
I love Carol Wyer's police procedurals so much! After a few meh reads I needed something good before the dreaded slump hit me, so I turned to a trusted author and I was rewarded with an amazing story. It started with Robyn Carter (who I still miss Carol!!!), and then there was Natalie Ward and now Kate Young. 3 strong and determined police officers who I love to read about.
A Cut For A Cut is book 2 featuring Kate and we are still learning about her. She is still grieving the death of her husband and throwing herself into her work. She now knows who was behind his murder and is determined to bring them to justice. Her sister has come back to England with her young son and she is getting to know her all over again. All this while she is chasing a serial murderer and rapist, and one that has taken one of their own. Kate does not have alot of time for sleep.
Once again, I was left wanting more.. Carol has an way of sucking you into the story and writing characters that you can connect with. Ready for book 3 now!!
Thanks to Netgalley and Thomas and Mercer for my advanced copy of this book. A Cut for a Cut is out June 29th
A Cut For A Cut is book 2 featuring Kate and we are still learning about her. She is still grieving the death of her husband and throwing herself into her work. She now knows who was behind his murder and is determined to bring them to justice. Her sister has come back to England with her young son and she is getting to know her all over again. All this while she is chasing a serial murderer and rapist, and one that has taken one of their own. Kate does not have alot of time for sleep.
Once again, I was left wanting more.. Carol has an way of sucking you into the story and writing characters that you can connect with. Ready for book 3 now!!
Thanks to Netgalley and Thomas and Mercer for my advanced copy of this book. A Cut for a Cut is out June 29th
June 28, 2021
A Cut For a Cut is the second instalment in the Detective Inspector Kate Young series and is an even better police procedural than its predecessor. Kate is still grieving the loss of her husband, Chris, who was murdered by the gunman or hired hitman Kate believes was under the control of Superintendant John Dickson, who she is now conducting a clandestine investigation on in order to expose his involvement, corruption and to seek revenge for Chris’ tragic killing. Dickson has been associated with those providing underage sex workers/child exploitation, sex trafficking and has admitted to sleeping with a minor himself; Kate is busy collecting evidence to put him away for good. But, as always when a new case comes in, she must rearrange her priorities especially when there is a deranged and psychotic serial rapist and killer on the loose in the local triangle of Abbots Bromley, Uttoxeter and Blithfield. Legal secretary Laura Dean had moved to Abbots Bromley from Stafford and was a yoga teacher living at Bluebell cottage. She had stayed later than usual after teaching her Bikram hot yoga class to talk and on her way home, a man had grabbed her. The word MINE had been carved into her flesh and she had been unceremoniously dumped in an industrial bin. It becomes clear that the perpetrator stalks his victims beforehand so he knows their schedule prior to attacking them.
There is pressure to find the perpetrator from the offset, but when civilian investigation officer Heather Gault, who the police and Kate often worked intimately with, vanishes after leaving work at Trentham House one evening, the pressure rises substantially. She had been jumped from the bushes and her body found in a skip by a couple flytipping a sofa. Can Kate and her team collar the culprit before they can strike again? This is a compelling, absorbing and complex procedural with plenty of action, drama and happenings throughout the three strands of the plot; there’s the killer and rapist offing vulnerable women, the unofficial investigation into Chris’ murder and Kate’s private life. Kate’s stepsister, Tilly, who has recently split with her cheating husband, Jordan, and their nephew, Daniel, have moved back home from Australia. The sisters’ relationship has been slightly rocky as Jordan had once been Kate’s fiance and Tilly choosing him placed a huge strain on their relationship. But blood is thicker than water and she is hoping they can get it back on track. Kate is a realistic but damaged character and her constant talking to her late husband does bring into question her mental health when in such an important role. Told primarily from Kate’s perspective with scattered thoughts throughout from the unnamed perpetrator, this is an engrossing, twisted and compulsively readable thrill ride.
There is pressure to find the perpetrator from the offset, but when civilian investigation officer Heather Gault, who the police and Kate often worked intimately with, vanishes after leaving work at Trentham House one evening, the pressure rises substantially. She had been jumped from the bushes and her body found in a skip by a couple flytipping a sofa. Can Kate and her team collar the culprit before they can strike again? This is a compelling, absorbing and complex procedural with plenty of action, drama and happenings throughout the three strands of the plot; there’s the killer and rapist offing vulnerable women, the unofficial investigation into Chris’ murder and Kate’s private life. Kate’s stepsister, Tilly, who has recently split with her cheating husband, Jordan, and their nephew, Daniel, have moved back home from Australia. The sisters’ relationship has been slightly rocky as Jordan had once been Kate’s fiance and Tilly choosing him placed a huge strain on their relationship. But blood is thicker than water and she is hoping they can get it back on track. Kate is a realistic but damaged character and her constant talking to her late husband does bring into question her mental health when in such an important role. Told primarily from Kate’s perspective with scattered thoughts throughout from the unnamed perpetrator, this is an engrossing, twisted and compulsively readable thrill ride.
May 12, 2021
n this exciting installment in the Detective Kate Young series, Kate is juggling quite a bit. Not only is she looking for the murderer that is proving to be a serial rapist, Kate is also determined to get behind her husband's recent attack and murder, certain that Superintendent John Dickson is behind it. As pursuing her current investigation is quite consuming, all while keeping Dickson unaware of her suspicions and activities, Kate struggles to maintain her focus.
All the while, Kate is still processing the various stages of grief, and trying to spend time with her visiting stepsister Tilly and nephew Daniel. Kate and Tilly have had their troubles, so this time together is sorely needed. Duty between work and family plagues Kate more than once.
As Kate unearths matching clues about the recent murder, her interviews prove more than one likely suspect. Although saddened about other recent deaths during her investigations, Kate soldiers on. Nearly floored by a late-breaking link, time truly proves to be of the essence for Kate. Locating the killer is more imperative than ever.
This gripping read by Carol Wyer hit the ground running, with the tension increasing at a rapid rate. Utterly thrilling, this book was more than exceptional and ended with a pulse-pounding conclusion that literally took my breath away. A truly amazing book. I cannot wait to see what else is in store for Kate and her team.
Many thanks to Thomas & Mercer and to NetGalley for this advanced ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
All the while, Kate is still processing the various stages of grief, and trying to spend time with her visiting stepsister Tilly and nephew Daniel. Kate and Tilly have had their troubles, so this time together is sorely needed. Duty between work and family plagues Kate more than once.
As Kate unearths matching clues about the recent murder, her interviews prove more than one likely suspect. Although saddened about other recent deaths during her investigations, Kate soldiers on. Nearly floored by a late-breaking link, time truly proves to be of the essence for Kate. Locating the killer is more imperative than ever.
This gripping read by Carol Wyer hit the ground running, with the tension increasing at a rapid rate. Utterly thrilling, this book was more than exceptional and ended with a pulse-pounding conclusion that literally took my breath away. A truly amazing book. I cannot wait to see what else is in store for Kate and her team.
Many thanks to Thomas & Mercer and to NetGalley for this advanced ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
June 22, 2021
I would like to thank Netgalley and Amazon Publishing UK for an advance copy of A Cut for a Cut, the second novel to feature DI Kate Young of the Staffordshire Police.
Kate and her small team are on the hunt for a serial rapist and killer, but clues and suspects are thin on the ground, especially when her mind is as much on her unofficial investigation into police corruption as it is on her official investigation.
I have enjoyed Ms Wyer’s previous series but A Cut for a Cut is not to my taste, perhaps because this is my first dip into the series and I felt a little lost, but probably because I like contained novels rather than those with a thread that spans the series and I never find modern day corruption interesting or particularly believable, despite the current allegations against The Met. I struggled to get through it, not least because it doesn’t have much little forward momentum with the gains being small in terms of propulsion and development and I had guessed the perpetrator’s identity almost from the start.
The narrative is mostly from Kate’s point of view with the unnamed perpetrator chiming in with his obsessive thoughts from time to time and there’s not much new there, just a reinforcement of who he is. I didn’t take to Kate. I understand that she’s recently widowed but talking out loud to her dead husband isn’t a good look for an experienced detective and calls her mental health into question.
This novel is obviously part of a series, so, while the murder/rapist plot is self contained, the corruption part is ongoing, therefore the novels must be read in order. I joined midway through and never had the feeling of mastery or total understanding of these events. It all seems a bit disjointed with Kate gathering evidence against Superintendent John Dickson (and there are major steps forward) but no plan of what to do with it. The novel also ends with a cliffhanger in this thread with hints of more people being involved. If I had read the first novel first I would probably have felt more invested, but, as it stands, I found it hard to work up any enthusiasm or interest in it.
A Cut for a Cut is not for me.
Kate and her small team are on the hunt for a serial rapist and killer, but clues and suspects are thin on the ground, especially when her mind is as much on her unofficial investigation into police corruption as it is on her official investigation.
I have enjoyed Ms Wyer’s previous series but A Cut for a Cut is not to my taste, perhaps because this is my first dip into the series and I felt a little lost, but probably because I like contained novels rather than those with a thread that spans the series and I never find modern day corruption interesting or particularly believable, despite the current allegations against The Met. I struggled to get through it, not least because it doesn’t have much little forward momentum with the gains being small in terms of propulsion and development and I had guessed the perpetrator’s identity almost from the start.
The narrative is mostly from Kate’s point of view with the unnamed perpetrator chiming in with his obsessive thoughts from time to time and there’s not much new there, just a reinforcement of who he is. I didn’t take to Kate. I understand that she’s recently widowed but talking out loud to her dead husband isn’t a good look for an experienced detective and calls her mental health into question.
This novel is obviously part of a series, so, while the murder/rapist plot is self contained, the corruption part is ongoing, therefore the novels must be read in order. I joined midway through and never had the feeling of mastery or total understanding of these events. It all seems a bit disjointed with Kate gathering evidence against Superintendent John Dickson (and there are major steps forward) but no plan of what to do with it. The novel also ends with a cliffhanger in this thread with hints of more people being involved. If I had read the first novel first I would probably have felt more invested, but, as it stands, I found it hard to work up any enthusiasm or interest in it.
A Cut for a Cut is not for me.
June 29, 2021
★★★★★ 4.5 stars (rounded up)
"You're mine...forever!"
I'm always excited when Carol has a new book in the midst and eagerly await getting my hands on it ready to devour. Having followed DI Natalie Ward's story, I was thrilled to meet DI Kate Young in the first book back in January and while Carol left us dangling with a very alluring tidbit, I couldn't wait to rejoin Kate in her quest to bring down those responsible for the death of her beloved husband Chris and the corruption in the force linked to his murder.
However, while "An Eye for An Eye" was more ambiguous in that we were still getting to know Kate's story, sifting through events and all had transpired to lead her to the point we met her at, A CUT FOR A CUT is a little more transparent in that we know who she's hunting in her personal quest for justice. Not knowing who to trust, Kate relies on her wits and her fading memory of Chris to keep her focussed.
A word of advice for those wanting to jump in, you really need to read the first book "An Eye for An Eye" before delving into this one. Although the primary investigation is self-contained, the sub-plot is a recurring one carried over from the previous book and, while they are briefly referenced with enough information to keep the reader up to date, the get the full picture and background you really need to start from the beginning with the first book.
The prologue opens with Kate in a clandestine meeting with pimp Farai who supplied the underage sex workers to the Maddox club in the first book, in an attempt to garner whatever knowledge he had on her boss Superintendent John Dickson who she is sure is, not only corrupt, but behind her husband Chris's murder. Although Farai checks her over for a wire, Kate managed to secrete a tiny wireless tap in her bra to record their meeting, wanting a record of what took place should she need it.
Kate is enjoying having her once estranged step-sister back in her life having returned from Australia with young son Daniel in tow after the collapse of her marriage to Jordan, Kate's ex-fiance with home Tilly ran off with two decades ago. The sisters have plans to entertain Daniel by taking him to a theme park when Kate is summoned back to work to investigate the death of young woman found half naked in a restaurant dumpster and no ID on her. Her prints taken at the scene reveal her to be Laura Dean who lived alone in the village of Abbots Bromley with her adopted rescue cat Charcoal. She had been raped with the word "MINE" carved into her right shoulder before being strangled to death.
Enquiries lead her to one of the solicitors at the firm she had recently resigned from in Stafford before moving to the quiet village in which she died. The team also delve into the background of Laura's father's partner Steve after learning that the couple had been seeing each other prior to Laura's mother's death from cancer. With no other leads forthcoming, these are their only suspects thus far.
Then another woman is found nearby the following morning and is immediately recognised as one of their own, Heather Gault - a civilian investigator tasked with investigating cases alongside police. The MO is identical and Kate fears the killer will strike again if they can't identify him quickly. Then when Kate discovers that Heather's computer has been sent directly to technicians with strict instructions not to reveal its contents unless there is anything pertaining to her investigation, she begins to suspect something else is going on. Had Dickson gone over her head and issued this order? What was he afraid of Kate and her team discovering on there? Was Heather looking into the very thing that Kate was "unofficially" investigating? Is that what lead to her death? Surely not. The MO from Laura's murder was identical to Heather's and Laura had nothing to do with police corruption or underage sex workers. Could this just be a coincidence?
In the midst of two investigations, albeit one unofficially, Kate learns of a third victim. But this one is still alive. Olivia Sandman was found in the construction site across the road from the new-build house in which she lived with her mother and when she hadn't turned up for work, her mother began ringing around friends and the police in an effort to find her missing daughter. Now she is hospital in and out of consciousness and Kate needs to speak with her as soon as possible. Olivia may have key information regarding the perpetrator. But with a third victim there's even more questions. How were these three women linked? And why did she survive? Had he been interrupted and had to make a quick exit before ensuring she was dead? Is this his first mistake?
Alongside her investigation into these brutal rapes and two murders, Kate continues to delve deeper into the police corruption Chris had been investigating and which had ultimately got him killed. When she receives word that the man who had helped bury the body of an underage boy in the previous book wants to speak with her, Kate makes every effort to arrange a visit at the prison in which he is incarcerated. But before she can see him the prison governor calls her with the news that the man, Cooper, took his own life that morning. But Kate refuses to believe it and is sure that someone knew she was going to visit him and had him killed before he could pass on whatever information he had to give her.
On top of all this Kate is still processing the various stages of grief, determined to remain in the anger stage until she can avenge her husband. She continues to talk to him with his words of wisdom she imagines he imparts helping her to remain focussed. And then there is Tilly. She hasn't seen her step-sister in two decades and the two women are finally putting the past behind them to move forward together as a family. After all, Tilly is all she has now.
As Kate and her team unearth clues to bring them closer to identifying the killer, Kate unwittingly discovers a shocking link closer to home that leaves her reeling as time seems to be running out fast. All the while, someone in her unofficial investigation seems to be one step ahead of her while others in the force are out to undermine her and her ability to lead a team. Will she catch a killer and get the evidence she needs to bring down Dickson at the same time?
I thoroughly enjoyed A CUT FOR A CUT which is an excellent addition to this new series. It is a good solid police procedural with clever insights into the killer's mind at the same time. Although the story is predominantly from Kate's perspective, I love how there are excerpts in the killer's narrative also, providing insight into the delusions that drive him.
Admittedly, I identified the link to the killer and figured out who he was quite early on in the story. I also suspected another aspect about halfway through - one which came as a final twist at the end and possibly shocked many but instead of being surprise I felt vindicated as guessing correctly. It was a twist that was never even alluded to but I suspected it when there wasn't anything to suspect. Maybe I just have a suspicious mind. lol
I love Carol, her wit and her storytelling. And I love the undercurrent that simmers beneath the surface threatening to derail everything should Kate not succeed in bringing down Dickson and the underbelly of corruption within the force. The way Carol has left a breadcrumb trail throughout both books as we follow Kate in her quest for justice.
A rather compelling read, A CUT FOR A CUT is gritty and even brutal in parts, though not graphic in detail. Kate is incredibly flawed as she struggles with her grief and her mental health whilst trying to seek justice for her husband and bring down corruption within the force. Maybe she should call on AC-12.
Again, I cannot stress enough that the first book "An Eye for An Eye" is best read before this one or it could be a struggle to tie events and piece the puzzle together. The sub-plot of corruption, underage sex workers, paedophile rings and the death of her husband Chris all began in the first book and will continue to run in the background of each subsequent book until either Kate catches them or it runs its course. Who knows where it will end? Or how?
What I do know is that Kate is just getting started. So bring on book 3!!
Perfect for fans of gritty crime fiction.
I would like to thank #CarolWyer, #Netgalley and #AmazonPub for an ARC of #ACutForACut in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
"You're mine...forever!"
I'm always excited when Carol has a new book in the midst and eagerly await getting my hands on it ready to devour. Having followed DI Natalie Ward's story, I was thrilled to meet DI Kate Young in the first book back in January and while Carol left us dangling with a very alluring tidbit, I couldn't wait to rejoin Kate in her quest to bring down those responsible for the death of her beloved husband Chris and the corruption in the force linked to his murder.
However, while "An Eye for An Eye" was more ambiguous in that we were still getting to know Kate's story, sifting through events and all had transpired to lead her to the point we met her at, A CUT FOR A CUT is a little more transparent in that we know who she's hunting in her personal quest for justice. Not knowing who to trust, Kate relies on her wits and her fading memory of Chris to keep her focussed.
A word of advice for those wanting to jump in, you really need to read the first book "An Eye for An Eye" before delving into this one. Although the primary investigation is self-contained, the sub-plot is a recurring one carried over from the previous book and, while they are briefly referenced with enough information to keep the reader up to date, the get the full picture and background you really need to start from the beginning with the first book.
The prologue opens with Kate in a clandestine meeting with pimp Farai who supplied the underage sex workers to the Maddox club in the first book, in an attempt to garner whatever knowledge he had on her boss Superintendent John Dickson who she is sure is, not only corrupt, but behind her husband Chris's murder. Although Farai checks her over for a wire, Kate managed to secrete a tiny wireless tap in her bra to record their meeting, wanting a record of what took place should she need it.
Kate is enjoying having her once estranged step-sister back in her life having returned from Australia with young son Daniel in tow after the collapse of her marriage to Jordan, Kate's ex-fiance with home Tilly ran off with two decades ago. The sisters have plans to entertain Daniel by taking him to a theme park when Kate is summoned back to work to investigate the death of young woman found half naked in a restaurant dumpster and no ID on her. Her prints taken at the scene reveal her to be Laura Dean who lived alone in the village of Abbots Bromley with her adopted rescue cat Charcoal. She had been raped with the word "MINE" carved into her right shoulder before being strangled to death.
Enquiries lead her to one of the solicitors at the firm she had recently resigned from in Stafford before moving to the quiet village in which she died. The team also delve into the background of Laura's father's partner Steve after learning that the couple had been seeing each other prior to Laura's mother's death from cancer. With no other leads forthcoming, these are their only suspects thus far.
Then another woman is found nearby the following morning and is immediately recognised as one of their own, Heather Gault - a civilian investigator tasked with investigating cases alongside police. The MO is identical and Kate fears the killer will strike again if they can't identify him quickly. Then when Kate discovers that Heather's computer has been sent directly to technicians with strict instructions not to reveal its contents unless there is anything pertaining to her investigation, she begins to suspect something else is going on. Had Dickson gone over her head and issued this order? What was he afraid of Kate and her team discovering on there? Was Heather looking into the very thing that Kate was "unofficially" investigating? Is that what lead to her death? Surely not. The MO from Laura's murder was identical to Heather's and Laura had nothing to do with police corruption or underage sex workers. Could this just be a coincidence?
In the midst of two investigations, albeit one unofficially, Kate learns of a third victim. But this one is still alive. Olivia Sandman was found in the construction site across the road from the new-build house in which she lived with her mother and when she hadn't turned up for work, her mother began ringing around friends and the police in an effort to find her missing daughter. Now she is hospital in and out of consciousness and Kate needs to speak with her as soon as possible. Olivia may have key information regarding the perpetrator. But with a third victim there's even more questions. How were these three women linked? And why did she survive? Had he been interrupted and had to make a quick exit before ensuring she was dead? Is this his first mistake?
Alongside her investigation into these brutal rapes and two murders, Kate continues to delve deeper into the police corruption Chris had been investigating and which had ultimately got him killed. When she receives word that the man who had helped bury the body of an underage boy in the previous book wants to speak with her, Kate makes every effort to arrange a visit at the prison in which he is incarcerated. But before she can see him the prison governor calls her with the news that the man, Cooper, took his own life that morning. But Kate refuses to believe it and is sure that someone knew she was going to visit him and had him killed before he could pass on whatever information he had to give her.
On top of all this Kate is still processing the various stages of grief, determined to remain in the anger stage until she can avenge her husband. She continues to talk to him with his words of wisdom she imagines he imparts helping her to remain focussed. And then there is Tilly. She hasn't seen her step-sister in two decades and the two women are finally putting the past behind them to move forward together as a family. After all, Tilly is all she has now.
As Kate and her team unearth clues to bring them closer to identifying the killer, Kate unwittingly discovers a shocking link closer to home that leaves her reeling as time seems to be running out fast. All the while, someone in her unofficial investigation seems to be one step ahead of her while others in the force are out to undermine her and her ability to lead a team. Will she catch a killer and get the evidence she needs to bring down Dickson at the same time?
I thoroughly enjoyed A CUT FOR A CUT which is an excellent addition to this new series. It is a good solid police procedural with clever insights into the killer's mind at the same time. Although the story is predominantly from Kate's perspective, I love how there are excerpts in the killer's narrative also, providing insight into the delusions that drive him.
Admittedly, I identified the link to the killer and figured out who he was quite early on in the story. I also suspected another aspect about halfway through - one which came as a final twist at the end and possibly shocked many but instead of being surprise I felt vindicated as guessing correctly. It was a twist that was never even alluded to but I suspected it when there wasn't anything to suspect. Maybe I just have a suspicious mind. lol
I love Carol, her wit and her storytelling. And I love the undercurrent that simmers beneath the surface threatening to derail everything should Kate not succeed in bringing down Dickson and the underbelly of corruption within the force. The way Carol has left a breadcrumb trail throughout both books as we follow Kate in her quest for justice.
A rather compelling read, A CUT FOR A CUT is gritty and even brutal in parts, though not graphic in detail. Kate is incredibly flawed as she struggles with her grief and her mental health whilst trying to seek justice for her husband and bring down corruption within the force. Maybe she should call on AC-12.
Again, I cannot stress enough that the first book "An Eye for An Eye" is best read before this one or it could be a struggle to tie events and piece the puzzle together. The sub-plot of corruption, underage sex workers, paedophile rings and the death of her husband Chris all began in the first book and will continue to run in the background of each subsequent book until either Kate catches them or it runs its course. Who knows where it will end? Or how?
What I do know is that Kate is just getting started. So bring on book 3!!
Perfect for fans of gritty crime fiction.
I would like to thank #CarolWyer, #Netgalley and #AmazonPub for an ARC of #ACutForACut in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
December 14, 2021
Book two in series.
Consistent with story in book one, the plot continues with high police corruption and a new twist of a rapist(s).
So far, so good. Just wish the end would not drop off so abruptly, but that is how the author writes it, to get the reader to the next book. A continuing saga type of story.
Consistent with story in book one, the plot continues with high police corruption and a new twist of a rapist(s).
So far, so good. Just wish the end would not drop off so abruptly, but that is how the author writes it, to get the reader to the next book. A continuing saga type of story.
May 14, 2021
Still a great story even though you know who the culprit is right away. Wyer can do no wrong in my book.
May 21, 2021
This is book 2 in the Detective Kate Young series and it’s brilliant.
Kate is still trying to find a way to expose Superintendent John Dickson for his involvement in her husband’s death but he seems to be untouchable.
Kate and the team have their hands full with the murder of several women who have been raped and strangled. The killer is also leaving his mark on the bodies.
One victim survives and is able to give Kate some vital information that helps her and the team track down the killer but the real help comes from Kate’s sister, Tilly.
This is a gripping crime thriller and I loved the way that the story was told, bringing in Kate’s probing into Chris’ death along with the hunt for another killer.
I can’t wait to see how this series pans out and hope Kate gets justice, but I suspect there’s more to come on this aspect first.
If you haven’t started this series, now is the ideal time to pick it up as we’re only at book 2 at the moment. If you enjoy a great crime thriller then this series is definitely for you.
Kate is still trying to find a way to expose Superintendent John Dickson for his involvement in her husband’s death but he seems to be untouchable.
Kate and the team have their hands full with the murder of several women who have been raped and strangled. The killer is also leaving his mark on the bodies.
One victim survives and is able to give Kate some vital information that helps her and the team track down the killer but the real help comes from Kate’s sister, Tilly.
This is a gripping crime thriller and I loved the way that the story was told, bringing in Kate’s probing into Chris’ death along with the hunt for another killer.
I can’t wait to see how this series pans out and hope Kate gets justice, but I suspect there’s more to come on this aspect first.
If you haven’t started this series, now is the ideal time to pick it up as we’re only at book 2 at the moment. If you enjoy a great crime thriller then this series is definitely for you.
August 9, 2021
3.5 stars
A Cut for a Cut by Carol Wyer is the second in the Detective Kate Young series.
First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Thomas & Mercer, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Series Background: (Warning – May contain spoilers from previous books)
DI Kate Young witnessed the aftermath of a massive shooting on a train. She saw her husband’s body. He was a journalist, hot on the trail of corruption. Her boss is DCI William Case, and his boss is Superintendent John Dickson. She is starting to question their reliability, but they are questioning hers as well. She works closely with DS Morgan Meredith and DS Emma Donaldson.
My Synopsis: (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
The naked body of a young woman is found in a dumpster. She had been raped, battered, and the word "MINE" carved in her shoulder.
Every lead seems to be a dead end, and pressure builds, especially when a second victim appears, and she's one of their own. She is given extra help on this case, and hopefully Jamie will prove his worth,
Meanwhile, Kate is still hearing the voice of her dead husband. He is hounding her for not doing enough to find his killer, and her frustration with both cases is tormenting her. She knows Superintendent John Dickson is involved in Chris's death, but she can't prove it. Now he seems to be goading her into making a wrong move on this new case.
On a positive note, Tilly, her step-sister is back from Australia with her young son, and Kate is hoping to re-build their tattered relationship. When Tilly finally confides in her of an event from their past, Kate realizes she may now be able to solve her current case. But time is running out.
My Opinions:
I am truly enjoying this new series. I like Kate, Emma, and Morgan. They make a great team, and they are all likeable.
I realized early on that not everyone could be trusted, and by the end, my fears were confirmed. There were no major twists in the book, but overall, the plot carried the book.
Again, there is some foreshadowing as to the next book, but that's okay. Although I am not a fan of police corruption books, apparently I am just going to have to live with it.
Although I missed the "excitement" of a good thriller, this was a good mystery, a fast read, and Wyer's writing skills shone through. I think I liked the first one better.
For a more complete review of this book and others (including the reason I chose to read/review this book, as well as author information), please visit my blog: http://katlovesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
June 29, 2021
⭐️ 4 ⭐️
I’m a sucker for a good, gritty, gripping police procedural and A Cut for a Cut certainly didn’t disappoint.
This is the second book in the DI Kate Young series; it can be read as a standalone, but I highly recommend reading the prequel (An Eye for an Eye) first, to get a better grip on the backstory - it’s also an excellent read.
Carol Wyer is an exceptional author; her descriptive, detailed prose skilfully sets the scene and creates a real sense of atmosphere. The story is well paced throughout, with just enough twists, turns and fishy red herrings to send you sniffing up many a wrong garden path.
DI Kate Young and her likeable colleagues are relatable, well developed characters; there’s a genuine feeling of respect and camaraderie between the team, with authentically written dialogue and realistic, good-natured banter.
Police procedurals often feature a multitude of characters, too many (for my sieve-like memory) to keep track of; I usually find myself recapping and trying to remember names, but happily that’s not the case here; the pages aren’t cluttered with characters, so it’s very easy to navigate.
Overall, an excellent, read. I can’t wait for the next instalment!
Many thanks to Carol Wyer for the gifted copy, in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
I’m a sucker for a good, gritty, gripping police procedural and A Cut for a Cut certainly didn’t disappoint.
This is the second book in the DI Kate Young series; it can be read as a standalone, but I highly recommend reading the prequel (An Eye for an Eye) first, to get a better grip on the backstory - it’s also an excellent read.
Carol Wyer is an exceptional author; her descriptive, detailed prose skilfully sets the scene and creates a real sense of atmosphere. The story is well paced throughout, with just enough twists, turns and fishy red herrings to send you sniffing up many a wrong garden path.
DI Kate Young and her likeable colleagues are relatable, well developed characters; there’s a genuine feeling of respect and camaraderie between the team, with authentically written dialogue and realistic, good-natured banter.
Police procedurals often feature a multitude of characters, too many (for my sieve-like memory) to keep track of; I usually find myself recapping and trying to remember names, but happily that’s not the case here; the pages aren’t cluttered with characters, so it’s very easy to navigate.
Overall, an excellent, read. I can’t wait for the next instalment!
Many thanks to Carol Wyer for the gifted copy, in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
November 11, 2021
I have not read the first book of this series, but I did enjoy this one! It had all the suspense and excitement!
Looking forward for the third book!
Thank You NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for this ARC!
Looking forward for the third book!
Thank You NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for this ARC!
June 11, 2021
I really enjoyed getting to know DI Kate Young in the first book so I was excited to get a copy of this second one in the series and it did not disappoint! It started out strong and it held up the intensity all the way through.
Kate is investigating a serial rapist and murderer and tries to figure out how they’re connected before he strikes again. While she’s handling the investigation, she’s still trying prove that Superintendent Dickinson is involved somehow in the murder of her journalist husband.
Meanwhile, Kate’s sister and her son come back to town to stay and that brings some further complications into DI Kate’s life, including a last minute revelation that brings new light to the case.
This is fast paced and full of intense scenes that leave you guessing up to the end!
Thanks to Thomas & Mercer and Netgalley for this Arc in exchange for my review.
Kate is investigating a serial rapist and murderer and tries to figure out how they’re connected before he strikes again. While she’s handling the investigation, she’s still trying prove that Superintendent Dickinson is involved somehow in the murder of her journalist husband.
Meanwhile, Kate’s sister and her son come back to town to stay and that brings some further complications into DI Kate’s life, including a last minute revelation that brings new light to the case.
This is fast paced and full of intense scenes that leave you guessing up to the end!
Thanks to Thomas & Mercer and Netgalley for this Arc in exchange for my review.
June 30, 2021
Review published in: https://diagnosisbookaholic.blogspot....
Is Carol Wyer the Queen of Police Procedurals? I say YES!
DI Kate Young is back, summoned to investigate the rape and murder of a young woman in Abbots Bromley while trying to prove the corruption in the police force that ended with her husband’s life.
Once you start a Carol Wyer book you know you won’t be able to stop until you’ve reached the end. This time she delivers another gripping read putting the reader in the midst of the investigation right from the start.
DI Young is such an interesting character. She’s still grieving her husband’s death and dealing with all the revelations she discovered at the end of “An eye for an eye” when she’s thrown into another stressful case, being not only against a killer but against her own boss who keeps trying to destabilize her. Her mental health issues are really well portrayed and although they could make her unreliable I think they actually humanize her.
Although it deals with an issue as sensitive as rape and the scars it leaves on its victims, it’s done in a respectful way with no graphic descriptions.
The corruption case is getting really interesting and I just hope she can find the proof she needs to nail those bastards on book 3. Once again, read book 1 first to really appreciate and understand all the details and subplots here (and because is one hell of a good book!).
The only reason this was not a 5 ⭐️ read was that it was quite clear from the start who the killer was (even though we don’t know its name) and I was kinda hoping for a final twist.
That final twist came in the very last page and now I’m dying to read book 3.
Thanks to Carol Wyer for my gifted copy.
Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Is Carol Wyer the Queen of Police Procedurals? I say YES!
DI Kate Young is back, summoned to investigate the rape and murder of a young woman in Abbots Bromley while trying to prove the corruption in the police force that ended with her husband’s life.
Once you start a Carol Wyer book you know you won’t be able to stop until you’ve reached the end. This time she delivers another gripping read putting the reader in the midst of the investigation right from the start.
DI Young is such an interesting character. She’s still grieving her husband’s death and dealing with all the revelations she discovered at the end of “An eye for an eye” when she’s thrown into another stressful case, being not only against a killer but against her own boss who keeps trying to destabilize her. Her mental health issues are really well portrayed and although they could make her unreliable I think they actually humanize her.
Although it deals with an issue as sensitive as rape and the scars it leaves on its victims, it’s done in a respectful way with no graphic descriptions.
The corruption case is getting really interesting and I just hope she can find the proof she needs to nail those bastards on book 3. Once again, read book 1 first to really appreciate and understand all the details and subplots here (and because is one hell of a good book!).
The only reason this was not a 5 ⭐️ read was that it was quite clear from the start who the killer was (even though we don’t know its name) and I was kinda hoping for a final twist.
That final twist came in the very last page and now I’m dying to read book 3.
Thanks to Carol Wyer for my gifted copy.
Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 1, 2021
TW: murder/serial killing, rape, mentions of child abuse/paedophilia, mentions of sex trafficking of minors, graphic content, mutilation, torture. This is the second book in the DI Kate Young series and it definitely didn't disappoint as a sequel and absolutely blew my mind. It follows Kate on a new case as a serial killer and rapist creates a trail of bloodshed and horror. And while Kate and the team are working countless hours with this case Kate is also still trying to unearth information about corruption in the force and the murder of her journalist husband who was hot the trail to discovering vital information himself. Honestly this book was so fast paced and gripping that I never wanted to put it down! I'm so obsessed with the plot and the characters and just everything about this book and series. It was a phenomenal read and is definitely my favourite from this series so far. And I loved how it keeps you hooked until the very end when it lines up perfectly for the third installment which I cannot wait for. Also, if you love Red Dragon and Thomas Harris then you need to read this because it definitely gave me Red Dragon vibes 🙈 Overall, I cannot recommend this book highly enough and you need to read it, it's one of my faves of the year so far!
July 3, 2021
I thoroughly enjoyed An Eye For An Eye, the first outing for Kate Young and I was keen to see what happened next. Would she get any closer to getting justice for Chris? So I dove into A Cut For A Cut with great anticipation! But first Kate has a matter of a brutal killer to deal with!
These are horrific attacks that face Kate and her small team and as I knew from the first in the series – nothing is easy for Kate. Blockers are put in her way almost like someone doesn’t want her to catch the killer! As I read, I got myself a suspect and I was eager to see if I was right. I swiftly followed the investigation with great intensity.
I really enjoyed Kate’s continued personal investigation and the rekindling of her relationship with Tilly. After losing Chris, she needs someone in her life and forgiving her step sister is a massive step for Kate. I would love to see this relationship and that with Kate’s nephew Daniel to develop. Kate needs her family!
A Cut For A Cut is a fast paced crime thriller with a bit of gore thrown in for good measure. I really enjoyed my reacquaintance with Kate and I can’t wait to re-enter her world again. Each story has its own focus but bubbling away in the background is Kates personal life and crusade. I’m loving this series even after just two books!!
These are horrific attacks that face Kate and her small team and as I knew from the first in the series – nothing is easy for Kate. Blockers are put in her way almost like someone doesn’t want her to catch the killer! As I read, I got myself a suspect and I was eager to see if I was right. I swiftly followed the investigation with great intensity.
I really enjoyed Kate’s continued personal investigation and the rekindling of her relationship with Tilly. After losing Chris, she needs someone in her life and forgiving her step sister is a massive step for Kate. I would love to see this relationship and that with Kate’s nephew Daniel to develop. Kate needs her family!
A Cut For A Cut is a fast paced crime thriller with a bit of gore thrown in for good measure. I really enjoyed my reacquaintance with Kate and I can’t wait to re-enter her world again. Each story has its own focus but bubbling away in the background is Kates personal life and crusade. I’m loving this series even after just two books!!
August 26, 2023
That's 3 for 3 by this author for me so far-all 5* reads. I just bought a fourth as well and have little doubt I'll enjoy that as much.
I love Kate's little team she works with, especially Chris. Though I do hope he won't fade out of her life altogether as I like what their partnership brings to this set of books.
This was another intriguing little mystery though I did guess the baddie for a change, which is a rare thing indeed !! I do like the humorous little asides here and there she writes and the bickering between Morgan and Jamie amused me as well in this story.
Kate is still on the hunt for the train killer in this story-which I guess will be a running theme for a while, which I like....though if she really suspects her boss, he has to be more than a bit of a nitwit murdering someone close to a fellow copper.....cos' if anyone isn't going to let things go it will be a colleague.
I did spot a few misplaced apostrophes but that was it for any errors.
I liked the shocker at the end which will lead us into book 3 of this series quite nicely as well.......
I love Kate's little team she works with, especially Chris. Though I do hope he won't fade out of her life altogether as I like what their partnership brings to this set of books.
This was another intriguing little mystery though I did guess the baddie for a change, which is a rare thing indeed !! I do like the humorous little asides here and there she writes and the bickering between Morgan and Jamie amused me as well in this story.
Kate is still on the hunt for the train killer in this story-which I guess will be a running theme for a while, which I like....though if she really suspects her boss, he has to be more than a bit of a nitwit murdering someone close to a fellow copper.....cos' if anyone isn't going to let things go it will be a colleague.
I did spot a few misplaced apostrophes but that was it for any errors.
I liked the shocker at the end which will lead us into book 3 of this series quite nicely as well.......
May 29, 2021
It’s always exciting whenever Carol Wyer has a new book out. I loved the first book in this series, so I couldn’t wait to start A Cut for a Cut. This is such a gripping police procedural. I think it does help to have read the first book in the series. There is a strand of the story, which carries on from the first book. But I think it is possible to read it as a standalone; there is an individual storyline that is new. DI Kate Young is facing another tough investigation, and it is about to hit very close to home for her.
Kate is a fascinating and a very real character. She is still grieving the loss of her husband, who was killed in a terrorist attack a short while ago. However, this time, she now has her sister and her nephew for company, who are visiting. I thought the scenes in which Carol Wyer explored their relationship were done very well, and I thought it helped develop Kate’s character further.
Kate and her team are on the hunt for a very deranged rapist and killer. There have been several attacks on young women. Kate feels sure that the same person has committed the crimes. But Kate is also having to deal with corruption within her own team, and she is fighting to bring the person involved in this corruption to justice. You can clearly see her frustration that this person has been able to get away with what they have done for so long. She has a lot on her plate, but she is determined to see both cases through, and nothing is going to stop her. It’s what makes both books in this series so pacy and gripping. You have no idea how things are going to pan out for Kate, she’s aware that she is putting her career at risk, but she is willing to do that to get justice. She also finds it harder to trust the members of her team. She doesn’t know who else could be involved.
I’m sure that when the next book in the series is released, it will be shooting straight to the top of my TBR pile. I can’t wait to read more from this series.
Kate is a fascinating and a very real character. She is still grieving the loss of her husband, who was killed in a terrorist attack a short while ago. However, this time, she now has her sister and her nephew for company, who are visiting. I thought the scenes in which Carol Wyer explored their relationship were done very well, and I thought it helped develop Kate’s character further.
Kate and her team are on the hunt for a very deranged rapist and killer. There have been several attacks on young women. Kate feels sure that the same person has committed the crimes. But Kate is also having to deal with corruption within her own team, and she is fighting to bring the person involved in this corruption to justice. You can clearly see her frustration that this person has been able to get away with what they have done for so long. She has a lot on her plate, but she is determined to see both cases through, and nothing is going to stop her. It’s what makes both books in this series so pacy and gripping. You have no idea how things are going to pan out for Kate, she’s aware that she is putting her career at risk, but she is willing to do that to get justice. She also finds it harder to trust the members of her team. She doesn’t know who else could be involved.
I’m sure that when the next book in the series is released, it will be shooting straight to the top of my TBR pile. I can’t wait to read more from this series.
August 15, 2023
I swear with each book Carol writes she gets darker and darker! It is really no difference here! However, despite this darkness, she still finds the time to make you chuckle when you least expect it.
Such a dark topic generally, one that affects more women than it is cared to be thought of and here we are sucked down a rabbit hole. It was treated with care and respect and was not sensationalised to sell a book. It was obvious, I felt, who was being obsessed over, this gave me such a panic as I had to speed my way through to make sure they were ok. It gave the book that added intensity because normally you follow the creepy-ass killer and even though you do worry about who the intended may be, when it becomes someone you know that amps up that panic.
All the attacks were personal to the perpetrator, and carving MINE into their skin just added his dominance over them and over the woman he thought about still. He sees them as his property but also a means to an end. A thrill until he can get the prize he wants….again.
Carol being Carol, being the trickster she is couldn’t leave it without one final humdinger and boy it is a clanger. I want to just ignore this discovery because quite frankly I don’t like it. I mean why!!!! Why! It definitely going to put a spanner in the works for the next book, edging closer to that showdown we are hotly anticipating.
I do love characters that are ‘broken’ shall we say. Kate is broken but she is also on the path of fixing herself, she has a mission and once she has completed it. Once Dickson gets his comeuppance I look forward to seeing Kate heal. She is such a strong character, she doesn’t shy away from anything and isn’t afraid to get her hands dirty.
I have read every single book Carol has written and in each book, you can see how much she has grown both in her writing and in her confidence. She writes such visceral and edgy scenes, making them so realistic I felt I could be there with Kate and her team. Not sure that is always a good thing!
She knows how to write a story that will suck you in from the beginning and sucker punch you at the end. She will leave you reeling from the shock but then dying for more! Page after page, you are left in a situation that you don’t want to put the book down because you don’t want to miss a thing but know you need to otherwise you won’t sleep – but then sleep is overrated no?
I never quite know where Carol may take us in a book but I always know it will be an adventure and it is no different here. I love her writing, I love being sucked into the story and spat straight back out. I love that I will still think about this for days after finishing those final words. That is a guarantee. This really is not a series to be missed.
Such a dark topic generally, one that affects more women than it is cared to be thought of and here we are sucked down a rabbit hole. It was treated with care and respect and was not sensationalised to sell a book. It was obvious, I felt, who was being obsessed over, this gave me such a panic as I had to speed my way through to make sure they were ok. It gave the book that added intensity because normally you follow the creepy-ass killer and even though you do worry about who the intended may be, when it becomes someone you know that amps up that panic.
All the attacks were personal to the perpetrator, and carving MINE into their skin just added his dominance over them and over the woman he thought about still. He sees them as his property but also a means to an end. A thrill until he can get the prize he wants….again.
Carol being Carol, being the trickster she is couldn’t leave it without one final humdinger and boy it is a clanger. I want to just ignore this discovery because quite frankly I don’t like it. I mean why!!!! Why! It definitely going to put a spanner in the works for the next book, edging closer to that showdown we are hotly anticipating.
I do love characters that are ‘broken’ shall we say. Kate is broken but she is also on the path of fixing herself, she has a mission and once she has completed it. Once Dickson gets his comeuppance I look forward to seeing Kate heal. She is such a strong character, she doesn’t shy away from anything and isn’t afraid to get her hands dirty.
I have read every single book Carol has written and in each book, you can see how much she has grown both in her writing and in her confidence. She writes such visceral and edgy scenes, making them so realistic I felt I could be there with Kate and her team. Not sure that is always a good thing!
She knows how to write a story that will suck you in from the beginning and sucker punch you at the end. She will leave you reeling from the shock but then dying for more! Page after page, you are left in a situation that you don’t want to put the book down because you don’t want to miss a thing but know you need to otherwise you won’t sleep – but then sleep is overrated no?
I never quite know where Carol may take us in a book but I always know it will be an adventure and it is no different here. I love her writing, I love being sucked into the story and spat straight back out. I love that I will still think about this for days after finishing those final words. That is a guarantee. This really is not a series to be missed.
May 23, 2021
I have to say that this is my least favourite of Wyer's series so far.
Personally I find Kate really hard to connect to and sympathise with, though I can't put my finger on why. Likewise, the team didn't really see any development in book so I don't really feel as connected to them as I have to supporting characters in say the Natalie Ward series.
I was also hoping that the over arching series plot would develop and/or culminate in this book but actually we are no further forward than before. Maybe there is now some evidence as opposed to guess work but it hasn't moved on significantly. I actually found the whole storyline frustrating as opposed to tense in this book, the blatant interference of those under suspicion and a brick wall of those in power hiding things just isn't ever a trope that I've enjoyed, so perhaps this is just down to my preferences.
The rape/killer plot was brutal and I 'enjoyed' it, but I felt like there were far too few leads. There wasn't really anything to sink my teeth into, even if it was just a red herring or two. It seemed that the police investigation was purposely slow to give more time to the overarching series plot.
It also seemed a bit far fetched to have it all link back to Kate's family again. I feel like it is enough for her to be investigating Chris' murder without then having this whole other link. Personally I would have preferred if the link hadn't been established and it was just one of the victims who triggered the killer.
I read the whole book and I can't say that I wanted to give in at any point but I also wouldn't say that I enjoyed it. Having read all of the Natalie Ward series (which I've given either 4 and 5 star ratings to) I just feel like this series is lacking something.
I received this through Netgalley.
Personally I find Kate really hard to connect to and sympathise with, though I can't put my finger on why. Likewise, the team didn't really see any development in book so I don't really feel as connected to them as I have to supporting characters in say the Natalie Ward series.
I was also hoping that the over arching series plot would develop and/or culminate in this book but actually we are no further forward than before. Maybe there is now some evidence as opposed to guess work but it hasn't moved on significantly. I actually found the whole storyline frustrating as opposed to tense in this book, the blatant interference of those under suspicion and a brick wall of those in power hiding things just isn't ever a trope that I've enjoyed, so perhaps this is just down to my preferences.
The rape/killer plot was brutal and I 'enjoyed' it, but I felt like there were far too few leads. There wasn't really anything to sink my teeth into, even if it was just a red herring or two. It seemed that the police investigation was purposely slow to give more time to the overarching series plot.
It also seemed a bit far fetched to have it all link back to Kate's family again. I feel like it is enough for her to be investigating Chris' murder without then having this whole other link. Personally I would have preferred if the link hadn't been established and it was just one of the victims who triggered the killer.
I read the whole book and I can't say that I wanted to give in at any point but I also wouldn't say that I enjoyed it. Having read all of the Natalie Ward series (which I've given either 4 and 5 star ratings to) I just feel like this series is lacking something.
I received this through Netgalley.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 15, 2021
I really enjoyed this second instalment of the DI Kate Young series. I thought the rape case was really interesting and I enjoyed following the team's efforts to solve it.
The book was well-paced and I liked the descriptions of the area, you could almost feel like you were there yourself. It was nice to get to know the team a bit better and I'm hoping that Emma and Morgan are developed further in book 3 as they seem promising but I don't have much of a handle on their personalities yet.
The investigation into Kate's superior at work is an interesting storyline, but I am starting to find her conversations with her dead husband a bit grating.
Overall I enjoyed this book and would recommend the series. The Natalie Ward series is still my favourite but I'm looking forward to getting to know the team better in the third outing for Kate Young
The book was well-paced and I liked the descriptions of the area, you could almost feel like you were there yourself. It was nice to get to know the team a bit better and I'm hoping that Emma and Morgan are developed further in book 3 as they seem promising but I don't have much of a handle on their personalities yet.
The investigation into Kate's superior at work is an interesting storyline, but I am starting to find her conversations with her dead husband a bit grating.
Overall I enjoyed this book and would recommend the series. The Natalie Ward series is still my favourite but I'm looking forward to getting to know the team better in the third outing for Kate Young
July 3, 2021
This is a really well written novel with intelligent and realistic insight into police procedure and handling of homicide cases led by the main protagonist DI Kate Young. I found myself thoroughly enjoying the detailed analysis and investigation explored in this book which isn’t dry or filled with too much technical jargon, making this an absorbing and intriguing read.
My mind was flitting from person to person to see if I could identify the suspect but this book really keeps you guessing until the very end. I also enjoyed the slower pace of the book compared to other crime/thriller novels where you get to explore Kate’s character and see what she is battling with regards to her own demons. At times I couldn’t be sure if she was reliable but I liked her as a character and I was definitely on her side throughout!
The author has recommended An Eye for an Eye to be read first to prevent spoilers and give more rich background into Kate’s psyche and personal circumstances. I sadly didn’t have time to but I still want to read the first book as I enjoyed this one so much! Definitely will before Book 3.
Engaging, smart and realistic crime thriller that had me hooked from the start. Great fix after finishing Line of Duty!
My mind was flitting from person to person to see if I could identify the suspect but this book really keeps you guessing until the very end. I also enjoyed the slower pace of the book compared to other crime/thriller novels where you get to explore Kate’s character and see what she is battling with regards to her own demons. At times I couldn’t be sure if she was reliable but I liked her as a character and I was definitely on her side throughout!
The author has recommended An Eye for an Eye to be read first to prevent spoilers and give more rich background into Kate’s psyche and personal circumstances. I sadly didn’t have time to but I still want to read the first book as I enjoyed this one so much! Definitely will before Book 3.
Engaging, smart and realistic crime thriller that had me hooked from the start. Great fix after finishing Line of Duty!
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