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DI Melanie Watton #3
The Cutter
This is going to hurt...
This killer is playing a deadly game and DI Melanie Watton must win if she wants to survive.
When DI Melanie Watton is called in to investigate the brutal murder of a taxidermist, she and her team find themselves tracking a killer and a thief.
With very few leads to go on, the trail goes cold, until one of the missing taxidermy projects finally appears planted at another crime scene.
The killer continues to leave clues and messages behind and the team soon realise they are in danger. And when one of the projects from the original scene turns up at Melanie’s door, she knows she’s the target.
As Melanie gets closer to uncovering the truth, the killer is getting closer to her with each step…
This killer is playing a deadly game and DI Melanie Watton must win if she wants to survive.
When DI Melanie Watton is called in to investigate the brutal murder of a taxidermist, she and her team find themselves tracking a killer and a thief.
With very few leads to go on, the trail goes cold, until one of the missing taxidermy projects finally appears planted at another crime scene.
The killer continues to leave clues and messages behind and the team soon realise they are in danger. And when one of the projects from the original scene turns up at Melanie’s door, she knows she’s the target.
As Melanie gets closer to uncovering the truth, the killer is getting closer to her with each step…
316 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 15, 2021
9 people are currently reading
61 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
March 15, 2021
DI Melanie Watton and her team are called in to investigate the murder of a taxidermist. Nothing seemed to be taken, no DNA, no witnesses. The other odd thing is the message written under the man's body.
The case went cold, but then a taxidermy project is left at the scene of another crime. Again, nothing seems to be taken, no clues, no motive.... but again a message written on the wooden base of the project.
The killer continues to commit crimes, leaving something of the taxidermist's behind. Watton and her team come to the conclusion that the killer is targeting them .... and when another project turns up on her doorstep, she becomes the next target.
But who would be targeting her? Why?
As Melanie gets closer to uncovering the truth, the killer is getting closer to her with each step…
Well written with an intricate plot, it's a riveting look at a police procedural. The characters are solidly crafted, with Watton and her team working like a well-oiled machine. The suspense starts early ... and stays heightened until leading to an unexpected conclusion.
Many thanks to the author / Bloodhound Books for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
The case went cold, but then a taxidermy project is left at the scene of another crime. Again, nothing seems to be taken, no clues, no motive.... but again a message written on the wooden base of the project.
The killer continues to commit crimes, leaving something of the taxidermist's behind. Watton and her team come to the conclusion that the killer is targeting them .... and when another project turns up on her doorstep, she becomes the next target.
But who would be targeting her? Why?
As Melanie gets closer to uncovering the truth, the killer is getting closer to her with each step…
Well written with an intricate plot, it's a riveting look at a police procedural. The characters are solidly crafted, with Watton and her team working like a well-oiled machine. The suspense starts early ... and stays heightened until leading to an unexpected conclusion.
Many thanks to the author / Bloodhound Books for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
May 2, 2021
Declaration of interest: the author is a really good friend of mine.
However, that friendship doesn't actually influence the fact this is an excellent read. The 3rd in a Series featuring DI Melanie Watton & her team, this is an incredibly well-written police procedural. I won't give away any details, but suffice it to say that "narcissistic sociopath" doesn't begin to touch the villain of the piece.
This is an incredibly well constructed story, easy to follow & with rounded, believable characters: there is a sense of dread built up, and the story builds to a very satisfying crescendo.
Worthy of your time.
However, that friendship doesn't actually influence the fact this is an excellent read. The 3rd in a Series featuring DI Melanie Watton & her team, this is an incredibly well-written police procedural. I won't give away any details, but suffice it to say that "narcissistic sociopath" doesn't begin to touch the villain of the piece.
This is an incredibly well constructed story, easy to follow & with rounded, believable characters: there is a sense of dread built up, and the story builds to a very satisfying crescendo.
Worthy of your time.
March 6, 2021
3.5* 1/5 on gore
#3 in the DI Melanie Watton series.
A new author to me, Charley is a UK author who teaches creative writing.
DI Melanie Watton is called in to investigate the murder of a taxidermist. The case goes cold until a stolen taxidermy piece turns up at another crime scene. The killer keeps leaving messages and clues.
It is told from 2 points of view, the killers but the predominantly the police investigation.
It seems unusual that the rest of the team are all known by their surnames but DI Watton is Melanie.
There are a lot of characters before the bodies and suspects start turning up. I had to make a list to try and keep track of them.
The beginning was good.
I found that the plot relied too heavily on coincidences and oversight. I felt the emphasis in the middle section concentrated too much on the mundane police procedural work and lost pace and some interest for me.
Stronger ending. There was an explanation but I’m still not sure what the relevance of the taxidermy pieces was.
An easy read. I saw Charley in an interview, she is so lovely I really wanted to love this book more.
#3 in the DI Melanie Watton series.
A new author to me, Charley is a UK author who teaches creative writing.
DI Melanie Watton is called in to investigate the murder of a taxidermist. The case goes cold until a stolen taxidermy piece turns up at another crime scene. The killer keeps leaving messages and clues.
It is told from 2 points of view, the killers but the predominantly the police investigation.
It seems unusual that the rest of the team are all known by their surnames but DI Watton is Melanie.
There are a lot of characters before the bodies and suspects start turning up. I had to make a list to try and keep track of them.
The beginning was good.
I found that the plot relied too heavily on coincidences and oversight. I felt the emphasis in the middle section concentrated too much on the mundane police procedural work and lost pace and some interest for me.
Stronger ending. There was an explanation but I’m still not sure what the relevance of the taxidermy pieces was.
An easy read. I saw Charley in an interview, she is so lovely I really wanted to love this book more.
March 15, 2021
This is not my first book by this author but it is one of my favorites yet. This is a well written story that kept me turning pages to the end. The twists and turns had me sitting on the edge of my seat just waiting to see what was going to happen next. The characters made the story feel real and they were relateable. This is a story a deadly game. The closer it gets to solving the mystery the closer the killer gets. What happens next, I highly recommend reading to find out. The characters really made the story for me. It was a fun, easy and entertaining story.
April 6, 2021
Glad I read the trilogy of DI Watton stories one after the other
The final novel in Barnes’s trilogy finds DI Melanie Watton again leading her team in a murder investigation, but for how long? This one, tense and full of threat and excitement, is a fitting finale to the trilogy of DI Watton books. Showing her team at its best as they track down the perpetrator of vile crimes.
The final novel in Barnes’s trilogy finds DI Melanie Watton again leading her team in a murder investigation, but for how long? This one, tense and full of threat and excitement, is a fitting finale to the trilogy of DI Watton books. Showing her team at its best as they track down the perpetrator of vile crimes.
May 4, 2023
TW:
Like the others in this series, this book needed proof-reading and editing to eliminate errors. Nothing horrible, just distracting.
Unlike the other two, this book ended rather abruptly.
Like the others in this series, this book needed proof-reading and editing to eliminate errors. Nothing horrible, just distracting.
Unlike the other two, this book ended rather abruptly.
June 6, 2021
Very good book. Really enjoyed it
March 9, 2021
Actual rating 2.5 stars
DI Melanie Watton and her team are about to embark on their third investigation in this series attending the brutal murder of taxidermist Norman Halloway. This incident is just the first of many and marks the beginning of the hunt for a killer who leaves behind some rather strange clues and even more cryptic messages designed to taunt these detectives and place them all in danger. Since revenge is a dish best served cold, who is the real intended target of this crazed individual? Is everyone else who crosses paths with the killer simply collateral damage in his violent spree as he gains one step closer to the main prize? Can DI Watton keep her colleagues out of harm’s way or will it be a case of divide and conquer, leaving one person exposed and their life hanging in the balance?
As a newcomer to this series it was a bit of a gamble starting mid way through but The Cutter can definitely be read as a standalone. Unusually there are no references to past investigations which on the one hand is a positive for those yet to sample this author’s writing as you’re not left feeling as if you’re playing catch up. I didn’t feel like I was missing out on vital information which often cements relationships within the police team, setting the scene for further instalments. This meant I could approach this crime thriller with no preconceptions at all apart from hoping I was in for a thrilling and possibly violent/bloodthirsty/creepy read.
I imagined the rather bizarre opening with the murder of local artist turned taxidermist would add an unusual and original twist to proceedings since dead stuffed animals would definitely give me the heebie jeebies. Certainly it’s an interesting element to the plot line designed to reel the reader in but unfortunately it didn’t quite work for me. Sometimes if the first few pages fail to capture your interest then of course it’s much harder to engage and connect with the events that are unfolding but I’ve often found my impressions of a storyline can drastically improve as situations continue to develop which is the main reason I decided to persevere.
Told mostly from the perspective of the police investigation but with snippets from the killer on the loose whose calling cards are exhibits from the dead man’s studio, this is a patchwork of a storyline,some elements working better than others. To a certain extent once I got past the unusual beginning the pace picked up and as Watton and her team are called out to further incidents I thought things were starting to shape up nicely. Burglary, arson, murder and revenge all mix together as the past comes back to haunt Melanie, putting her and her colleagues in the firing line. However I think my major problem with this crime thriller is the plot jumps all over the place, assumptions are made by the team which I couldn’t make sense of, puzzled at how they’d reached their conclusions. It felt as if I’d bypassed whole chunks of narrative so for me all the component parts of this murder investigation end up being ill fitting pieces of a jigsaw puzzle whose completed picture is out of focus.
In terms of characterisation I have no idea why I couldn’t gel with these fictional detectives or enjoy their attempts at cracking jokes to lighten the mood. Their humour fell flat and because of the lack of any personal background information they come across as one dimensional. I thoroughly disliked Superintendent Archer and although it often seems as if DI Watton has her back against the wall with no real clues as to the identity of the killer, I felt unmoved by the team’s plight.
Unfortunately there wasn’t enough tension and suspense (or blood!) to keep me glued to the pages so ultimately I struggled to enjoy this crime thriller but of course that’s only my opinion. The ending is both disappointingly flat and brief, not what I’d expect from a finale in a storyline in which lives are constantly in peril all because someone has a personal axe to grind. Combined with the fact there are one or two elements that remain unresolved by the conclusion I unfortunately have to admit that this wasn’t one for me. My thanks to Bloodhound books for giving me the opportunity to read.
DI Melanie Watton and her team are about to embark on their third investigation in this series attending the brutal murder of taxidermist Norman Halloway. This incident is just the first of many and marks the beginning of the hunt for a killer who leaves behind some rather strange clues and even more cryptic messages designed to taunt these detectives and place them all in danger. Since revenge is a dish best served cold, who is the real intended target of this crazed individual? Is everyone else who crosses paths with the killer simply collateral damage in his violent spree as he gains one step closer to the main prize? Can DI Watton keep her colleagues out of harm’s way or will it be a case of divide and conquer, leaving one person exposed and their life hanging in the balance?
As a newcomer to this series it was a bit of a gamble starting mid way through but The Cutter can definitely be read as a standalone. Unusually there are no references to past investigations which on the one hand is a positive for those yet to sample this author’s writing as you’re not left feeling as if you’re playing catch up. I didn’t feel like I was missing out on vital information which often cements relationships within the police team, setting the scene for further instalments. This meant I could approach this crime thriller with no preconceptions at all apart from hoping I was in for a thrilling and possibly violent/bloodthirsty/creepy read.
I imagined the rather bizarre opening with the murder of local artist turned taxidermist would add an unusual and original twist to proceedings since dead stuffed animals would definitely give me the heebie jeebies. Certainly it’s an interesting element to the plot line designed to reel the reader in but unfortunately it didn’t quite work for me. Sometimes if the first few pages fail to capture your interest then of course it’s much harder to engage and connect with the events that are unfolding but I’ve often found my impressions of a storyline can drastically improve as situations continue to develop which is the main reason I decided to persevere.
Told mostly from the perspective of the police investigation but with snippets from the killer on the loose whose calling cards are exhibits from the dead man’s studio, this is a patchwork of a storyline,some elements working better than others. To a certain extent once I got past the unusual beginning the pace picked up and as Watton and her team are called out to further incidents I thought things were starting to shape up nicely. Burglary, arson, murder and revenge all mix together as the past comes back to haunt Melanie, putting her and her colleagues in the firing line. However I think my major problem with this crime thriller is the plot jumps all over the place, assumptions are made by the team which I couldn’t make sense of, puzzled at how they’d reached their conclusions. It felt as if I’d bypassed whole chunks of narrative so for me all the component parts of this murder investigation end up being ill fitting pieces of a jigsaw puzzle whose completed picture is out of focus.
In terms of characterisation I have no idea why I couldn’t gel with these fictional detectives or enjoy their attempts at cracking jokes to lighten the mood. Their humour fell flat and because of the lack of any personal background information they come across as one dimensional. I thoroughly disliked Superintendent Archer and although it often seems as if DI Watton has her back against the wall with no real clues as to the identity of the killer, I felt unmoved by the team’s plight.
Unfortunately there wasn’t enough tension and suspense (or blood!) to keep me glued to the pages so ultimately I struggled to enjoy this crime thriller but of course that’s only my opinion. The ending is both disappointingly flat and brief, not what I’d expect from a finale in a storyline in which lives are constantly in peril all because someone has a personal axe to grind. Combined with the fact there are one or two elements that remain unresolved by the conclusion I unfortunately have to admit that this wasn’t one for me. My thanks to Bloodhound books for giving me the opportunity to read.
May 2, 2023
3.5*
With an unusual initial investigation into the murder of a taxidermist along with the theft of some of his pieces D.I. Melanie Watton and her team seem to be chasing a dead end.
Then at a number of crime scenes one of the missing pieces is left. If the murderer didn’t kill to get hold of these apparently valuable items to sell, then why?
As the investigation goes on it becomes clear that one of the team is the ultimate target. Why them? Is it the whole team or just one of them? It must surely be linked to a past investigation and, so, the team check out all their old cases in order to find out who is being targeted and catch a killer.
Measures are put in place for the safety of her team and as it becomes clear who the target is D.I. Watton is placed in a safe house known only to her boss. Why is she the target? Will the team be able to identify and find the killer before Melanie’s whereabouts are discovered?
A solid police procedural which gives a good sense of how long investigations can take when there are no obvious leads and how important it is to be thorough. Still it doesn’t get bogged down into too much minutiae or an overly convoluted storyline.
This is a story which moves along nicely, the characters are well drawn and it picks up pace, taking the reader along for the ride, to it’s ultimate, thrilling conclusion.
This is the third in the series which I feel has more to give in terms of the characters themselves especially with regard to D.I. Walton’s relationships – in work and personally – but also in regard to future cases.
An intriguing and absorbing book which readers who enjoy police procedurals that move with pace will appreciate, I certainly did.
Thanks: With many thanks to Maria Slocombe, Publicity & Social Media Manager, Bloodhound Books for the invite to read and review The Cutter by Charlotte Barnes and for the eBook.
With an unusual initial investigation into the murder of a taxidermist along with the theft of some of his pieces D.I. Melanie Watton and her team seem to be chasing a dead end.
Then at a number of crime scenes one of the missing pieces is left. If the murderer didn’t kill to get hold of these apparently valuable items to sell, then why?
As the investigation goes on it becomes clear that one of the team is the ultimate target. Why them? Is it the whole team or just one of them? It must surely be linked to a past investigation and, so, the team check out all their old cases in order to find out who is being targeted and catch a killer.
Measures are put in place for the safety of her team and as it becomes clear who the target is D.I. Watton is placed in a safe house known only to her boss. Why is she the target? Will the team be able to identify and find the killer before Melanie’s whereabouts are discovered?
A solid police procedural which gives a good sense of how long investigations can take when there are no obvious leads and how important it is to be thorough. Still it doesn’t get bogged down into too much minutiae or an overly convoluted storyline.
This is a story which moves along nicely, the characters are well drawn and it picks up pace, taking the reader along for the ride, to it’s ultimate, thrilling conclusion.
This is the third in the series which I feel has more to give in terms of the characters themselves especially with regard to D.I. Walton’s relationships – in work and personally – but also in regard to future cases.
An intriguing and absorbing book which readers who enjoy police procedurals that move with pace will appreciate, I certainly did.
Thanks: With many thanks to Maria Slocombe, Publicity & Social Media Manager, Bloodhound Books for the invite to read and review The Cutter by Charlotte Barnes and for the eBook.
March 14, 2021
DI Melanie Watton has a great team comprising DS Edd Carter, DC David Read, DC Brian Fairer, DC Chris Burton and DC Lucy Morris who all have their own different skills. They are called to the rather strange scene of a murder/robbery which has taken place in a taxidermy studio. Some pieces of “artwork” have gone missing and the owner, a man called Norman Halloway, has been found stabbed to death with a strange message left under his staged body. No one has a bad word to say about the victim and progress is slow until one of the stolen pieces turns up at a second burglary scene. Finally a suspect is identified but it isn’t all it seems. When a third crime scene is found with another message from the killer, it starts to look like the messages could be aimed at one of the team and they turn to history to solve the case. The little snippets in the book narrated by the killer add to the puzzle and the race is really on as the killer starts to home in on one of their own. Will they find him before his takes his ultimate revenge?
Melanie has a great relationship with all the team, especially Carter and boss Supt Beverley Archer, and this is apparent from the way they all work together so well and obviously care about each other. The plot is interesting, the clues just as baffling for the reader as for the detectives, and the pace is steady throughout the book as they gradually start to make sense of the case, finishing with a dramatic and satisfying conclusion. 4*
Melanie has a great relationship with all the team, especially Carter and boss Supt Beverley Archer, and this is apparent from the way they all work together so well and obviously care about each other. The plot is interesting, the clues just as baffling for the reader as for the detectives, and the pace is steady throughout the book as they gradually start to make sense of the case, finishing with a dramatic and satisfying conclusion. 4*
March 15, 2021
Another series I'm jumping into several books on, but very easy to get to know the characters!
When MIT get a call to the discovery of a body, DI Melanie Watton and her team find it very difficult to find any clues to follow; until, that is, missing items from the scene turn up at other crimes. With continuing crimes with clues left at the scene, the investigators realise that they are at risk from this perpetrator. When another clue turns up on DI Watton's doorstep, the skills of the team come to the fore in tracing this killer and thief but it quickly becomes apparent that it is personal to Mel. Her superiors step in to protect her, but just how clever is this killer?
I'm always fond of crime novels where the investigating team get results by sheer dogged determination - and that's exactly what this is. The MIT work very well together, each complementing the other and all focussed on solving the crime and finding the guilty party. This isn't a straightforward read but then murder doesn't tend to be straightforward. As the story progresses, the tension ramps up and I found myself wanting to read faster to find out where it was heading but unable to speed up in case I missed anything! Terrifically exciting and a perfect stand alone read even though it is third in series. Well written and smartly plotted with a fine array of characters and a thrilling story. I'm happy to recommend this one and give it 4.5*. Definitely an author to watch!
When MIT get a call to the discovery of a body, DI Melanie Watton and her team find it very difficult to find any clues to follow; until, that is, missing items from the scene turn up at other crimes. With continuing crimes with clues left at the scene, the investigators realise that they are at risk from this perpetrator. When another clue turns up on DI Watton's doorstep, the skills of the team come to the fore in tracing this killer and thief but it quickly becomes apparent that it is personal to Mel. Her superiors step in to protect her, but just how clever is this killer?
I'm always fond of crime novels where the investigating team get results by sheer dogged determination - and that's exactly what this is. The MIT work very well together, each complementing the other and all focussed on solving the crime and finding the guilty party. This isn't a straightforward read but then murder doesn't tend to be straightforward. As the story progresses, the tension ramps up and I found myself wanting to read faster to find out where it was heading but unable to speed up in case I missed anything! Terrifically exciting and a perfect stand alone read even though it is third in series. Well written and smartly plotted with a fine array of characters and a thrilling story. I'm happy to recommend this one and give it 4.5*. Definitely an author to watch!
March 19, 2021
DI Melanie Watton and her team have seen a lot of unusual cases across their tenure but their latest investigation is surely to go down in the record books.
The team is dispatched to the scene of a local taxidermist’s studio to discover a grisly murder scene as well as the theft of quite a few of his pieces. Having to deal with a crime scene covered with various species of animal fur and looking like a page out of the jungle book, piecing together clues proves to be more challenging than they anticipated.
Feeling no further along, the team is thrown another curve ball when they’re informed that one of the taxidermy pieces has been discovered at the scene of break and enter of a local shop. The unusual crime spree doesn’t stop there as more pieces are planted at various crimes throughout the city. The team starts to realize that they are not only being strung along but one of their own is possibly a target in this sick game. Will they be able to close in on the killer and thwart his next move before it’s too late?
I didn’t realize that this was the third book in this series and it didn’t make a difference anyway; it easily read as a standalone. I thoroughly enjoyed the comradery of team and the plot was fantastic. Also, my first book that included taxidermy so check that one off the list. Now I must pick up the other books and get caught up!
The team is dispatched to the scene of a local taxidermist’s studio to discover a grisly murder scene as well as the theft of quite a few of his pieces. Having to deal with a crime scene covered with various species of animal fur and looking like a page out of the jungle book, piecing together clues proves to be more challenging than they anticipated.
Feeling no further along, the team is thrown another curve ball when they’re informed that one of the taxidermy pieces has been discovered at the scene of break and enter of a local shop. The unusual crime spree doesn’t stop there as more pieces are planted at various crimes throughout the city. The team starts to realize that they are not only being strung along but one of their own is possibly a target in this sick game. Will they be able to close in on the killer and thwart his next move before it’s too late?
I didn’t realize that this was the third book in this series and it didn’t make a difference anyway; it easily read as a standalone. I thoroughly enjoyed the comradery of team and the plot was fantastic. Also, my first book that included taxidermy so check that one off the list. Now I must pick up the other books and get caught up!
March 3, 2021
The third in the DI Melanie Watton Series and I really enjoyed this book. I thought it was well written and well thought out. An original storyline in as much as I don’t think I’ve read a book before that featured taxidermy!
Briefly, following the murder of a taxidermist, and the theft of a number of his stuffed creations Melanie and her team are investigating. As more crimes are committed the animals are left at the scene, along with messages for the police and it clear one of them is at risk from the killer. But who? And why?
There were plenty of twists, turns and clues to the killer to keep me interested throughout and I would recommend this as a good read. If I have any criticism it would be that the ending was a bit brief, I did wonder what had happened to the killers accomplice and a bit more about how the final scene played out would have been good for me. A comfortable 4* and I look forward to the next instalment.
Briefly, following the murder of a taxidermist, and the theft of a number of his stuffed creations Melanie and her team are investigating. As more crimes are committed the animals are left at the scene, along with messages for the police and it clear one of them is at risk from the killer. But who? And why?
There were plenty of twists, turns and clues to the killer to keep me interested throughout and I would recommend this as a good read. If I have any criticism it would be that the ending was a bit brief, I did wonder what had happened to the killers accomplice and a bit more about how the final scene played out would have been good for me. A comfortable 4* and I look forward to the next instalment.
March 15, 2021
DI Melanie Watton and her team are called in to investigate the murder of a taxidermist. During their investigation they find a message under the body. Unfortunately the case ends up going cold. When mother murder occurs, one of he taxidermists projects is left at the crime scene. The crimes continue with more taxidermist clues left and eventually Watton realizes she is a target. While this is book 3 in the series, it did pretty good as a standalone, I never felt lost. It was a decent police procedural and pretty engaging. Watton and her team work well together although some of the attempts at humor do fall flat. I enjoyed the story and plan on going back to the first two in the series. I give this 3.5 of 5 stars, mainly because the ending felt rushed, and thank Bloodhound Books for the review copy. My thoughts and opinions are my own.
October 9, 2021
I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Cutter. I had visions from the title of some truly gory police procedural - it was anything but. Cleverly written it had me on the edge of my seat and I struggled to put it down at night to go to sleep. A killer who leaves stuffed animals at crime scenes is eventually discovered to have a grudge against a member of the team. Even in hiding they are not safe and it is a race against time for the rest of the team to locate the killer and save their colleague. A well written, clever story that is well worth reading.
I was given a free Advanced Reader Copy of this book.
I was given a free Advanced Reader Copy of this book.
March 19, 2021
Thank you Bloodhound books for the ARC in return for a review.
This author is new to me and I am an avid reader of mystery/thrillers. This did not disappoint. A 'routine' murder turns out to have some interesting twists and turns with each one causing the reader to second guess themselves. I honestly believe I have never read a book about the murder of a taxidermist but am now wondering why.....there are so many ways they know to cut and cover up!
Although this is the 3rd in the series, I did not feel I was missing any information, although part is wondering what I have missed, so just for my own curiosity I may read the previous two, but I don't think it is necessary!
This author is new to me and I am an avid reader of mystery/thrillers. This did not disappoint. A 'routine' murder turns out to have some interesting twists and turns with each one causing the reader to second guess themselves. I honestly believe I have never read a book about the murder of a taxidermist but am now wondering why.....there are so many ways they know to cut and cover up!
Although this is the 3rd in the series, I did not feel I was missing any information, although part is wondering what I have missed, so just for my own curiosity I may read the previous two, but I don't think it is necessary!
March 15, 2021
For this to be part of a series it reads well as a stand alone novel. DI Watson reminds me very much of Olivia Benson from SVU. Strong, heroic and very admirable. Definitely a strong female lead.
This is your typical crime drama. A career criminal with a bone to pick. The title honestly doesn’t fit the story. I was expecting something totally different.
The novel itself gained traction within the first few paragraphs and never really stopped. I do feel like the ending was a bit rushed but overall it was a good read. I’ll be grabbing the other books in the series.
This is your typical crime drama. A career criminal with a bone to pick. The title honestly doesn’t fit the story. I was expecting something totally different.
The novel itself gained traction within the first few paragraphs and never really stopped. I do feel like the ending was a bit rushed but overall it was a good read. I’ll be grabbing the other books in the series.
March 14, 2021
What a great read! This is the third in the DI Melanie Watton series but is fine as a standalone - I haven’t read the other two, yet.
A taxidermist is murdered and several of his structures are stolen. The murderer appears to be taunting the police with snippets of information and clues left at further crime scenes.
The story moves at a steady pace but then, halfway through, it cranks up numerous gears as the investigation breaks through.
A good team and a good story. Recommended.
A taxidermist is murdered and several of his structures are stolen. The murderer appears to be taunting the police with snippets of information and clues left at further crime scenes.
The story moves at a steady pace but then, halfway through, it cranks up numerous gears as the investigation breaks through.
A good team and a good story. Recommended.
December 27, 2024
This is the third book in the series but the first one I have read. I feel like it would probably be better if I had started at the beginning of the series before reading this one. I feel like the flow of the main character, DI Melanie Watton, and her team to solve the case helped me to feel not totally lost jumping into the series. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced readers copy of this book thanks to the author and publisher.
February 28, 2021
Following a team of Detectives investigating the murder of a taxidermist, the story takes a sinister turn when they realise one of them is the target of the murderer. I enjoyed the roller coaster of clues and revelations along the way, the only criticism I have is that the conclusion was a little too swift. On the whole though it was a thoroughly enjoyable book.
March 3, 2021
This is an interesting story about how strange a weird some killers are. While searching for a killer another case is involved with the murder investigation. But it all comes down to who and why. A good crime thriller. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book from Bloodhound Books.
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