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DS Imogen Grey #7
Trick or Treat
A stranger. A child. A liar who will stop at nothing…
When six-year-old Marcus is taken from outside his house on Halloween, there is only one witness: a frightened teen determined to keep himself hidden.
After an anonymous tip off, Detective Imogen Grey is called out to an expensive Exeter street, caught up in the buzz of the holiday. But when the police visit Marcus's house, his parents claim everything is fine. Imogen is sure there is more to the family than meets the eye. But just how much more, she could never have imagined…
What has happened to little Marcus? And will he ever come home?
Smart, shocking and twisty – perfect for fans of Cara Hunter, TM Logan and Karin Slaughter.
When six-year-old Marcus is taken from outside his house on Halloween, there is only one witness: a frightened teen determined to keep himself hidden.
After an anonymous tip off, Detective Imogen Grey is called out to an expensive Exeter street, caught up in the buzz of the holiday. But when the police visit Marcus's house, his parents claim everything is fine. Imogen is sure there is more to the family than meets the eye. But just how much more, she could never have imagined…
What has happened to little Marcus? And will he ever come home?
Smart, shocking and twisty – perfect for fans of Cara Hunter, TM Logan and Karin Slaughter.
404 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 14, 2021
236 people are currently reading
1813 people want to read
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November 2, 2021
Concealed
Trick or Treat is the seventh book in the Imogen Grey and Adrian Miles series. Throughout this remarkable series, Katerina Diamond has keenly developed her two main characters with authentic complexity, often experiencing emotional and psychological turmoil, while maintaining effective capabilities as detectives to unravel many intricate investigations. It is easy to form a connection with Imogen and Adrian thanks to the wonderful multi-layered development of their characters. While multiple threads are running through this story, there are two main themes: solving a crime and dealing with the raw psychological distress Adrian Miles faces following a brutal attack he suffered in the previous book Woman in the Water. Let me take a moment to state that reading the previous book would be helpful before reading this one.
Marcus Carlyle is a six-year-old boy, and he is kidnapped outside his home on Halloween by two men in a white van. The only witness is Jason Hitchin, who, after being dumped by his girlfriend, decided to break into her home while her family were away on holiday and dish out some vented-up damage. Jason not only sees the kidnappers but manages to get a video recording. While he doesn’t share the video, he does let the police know anonymously that the child has been kidnapped. The information gives the police a head start before the ransom is demanded, although the case will still be complex. DS Imogen Grey runs point on the case, and she has a very early suspect. The challenge is tracking down Marcus before anything deadly happens and proving her suspicions that the suspect is responsible. The case is brilliantly worked, and this is an excellent police procedural investigation with a roller-coaster ride of suspense, certainty, anxiety, hope, panic and … the unknown.
It is a rare occurrence where a police thriller focuses so perceptively on a relationship between the protagonists. Adrian and Imogen have been in a relationship for some time, but since the last brutal assault on Adrian, he has left the police force, and he finds it impossible to reveal his vulnerability and feelings with Imogen. Adrian’s behaviour drives Imogen away, and the emotional pain from both perspectives is very delicately portrayed. The threads will come together in a race against time, and we hope the solution is the one we want.
From Katerina’s first book, it is recognisable how fearless she is in shocking the reader. None of her characters is safe, they have their flaws, many are highly capable, and the mix provides a diverse range of intriguing personalities and relationships. The balance between the two main themes in this novel was perfect, and the atmosphere created in both added to the enthralling storyline. For fans of Katerina Diamond, this book is one of her best, and I highly recommend it. I want to thank Avon Books and NetGalley for providing a free ARC in return for an honest review.
Trick or Treat is the seventh book in the Imogen Grey and Adrian Miles series. Throughout this remarkable series, Katerina Diamond has keenly developed her two main characters with authentic complexity, often experiencing emotional and psychological turmoil, while maintaining effective capabilities as detectives to unravel many intricate investigations. It is easy to form a connection with Imogen and Adrian thanks to the wonderful multi-layered development of their characters. While multiple threads are running through this story, there are two main themes: solving a crime and dealing with the raw psychological distress Adrian Miles faces following a brutal attack he suffered in the previous book Woman in the Water. Let me take a moment to state that reading the previous book would be helpful before reading this one.
Marcus Carlyle is a six-year-old boy, and he is kidnapped outside his home on Halloween by two men in a white van. The only witness is Jason Hitchin, who, after being dumped by his girlfriend, decided to break into her home while her family were away on holiday and dish out some vented-up damage. Jason not only sees the kidnappers but manages to get a video recording. While he doesn’t share the video, he does let the police know anonymously that the child has been kidnapped. The information gives the police a head start before the ransom is demanded, although the case will still be complex. DS Imogen Grey runs point on the case, and she has a very early suspect. The challenge is tracking down Marcus before anything deadly happens and proving her suspicions that the suspect is responsible. The case is brilliantly worked, and this is an excellent police procedural investigation with a roller-coaster ride of suspense, certainty, anxiety, hope, panic and … the unknown.
It is a rare occurrence where a police thriller focuses so perceptively on a relationship between the protagonists. Adrian and Imogen have been in a relationship for some time, but since the last brutal assault on Adrian, he has left the police force, and he finds it impossible to reveal his vulnerability and feelings with Imogen. Adrian’s behaviour drives Imogen away, and the emotional pain from both perspectives is very delicately portrayed. The threads will come together in a race against time, and we hope the solution is the one we want.
From Katerina’s first book, it is recognisable how fearless she is in shocking the reader. None of her characters is safe, they have their flaws, many are highly capable, and the mix provides a diverse range of intriguing personalities and relationships. The balance between the two main themes in this novel was perfect, and the atmosphere created in both added to the enthralling storyline. For fans of Katerina Diamond, this book is one of her best, and I highly recommend it. I want to thank Avon Books and NetGalley for providing a free ARC in return for an honest review.
October 19, 2021
EXCERPT: An engine rumbled outside the window and he rushed to look; he would have to make a run for it if it was them back from their holiday. A white van had turned into the street and was pulling into Amanda's drive - looked like a couple of builders. He couldn't carry on trashing the place while they were parked there. He studied the two men in the front seat for a moment before noticing the gun on the dashboard. The hairs on the back of Jason's neck stood on end when he realised they were watching the boy who was still cycling up and down the street on his own. What he had assumed were beanies revealed themselves to be balaclavas as the men pulled them down over their faces.
Should he call the police? That would land him in a whole heap of shit. He couldn't just let this happen though. He picked up a sweater off the floor and dialled triple nine before wrapping the sweater around the mouthpiece in an attempt to conceal his voice. He knew his phone was untraceable. It was something his brother made him promise: always use pay-as-you-go phones with disposable SIMs; don't let anyone trace where you are. That's how they'd got Luke on his GBH charge - by finding his location through his phone.
As Jason spoke to dispatch, refusing to answer the questions that might give him away, the engine on the van started again, one man exiting the passenger side and sliding open the back door. Jason felt powerless as the boy cycled towards the van. He knew what was going to happen next, but it still made him sick to his stomach to watch as the scene played out before his eyes.
'Please, you have to hurry. They've taken him, the little boy across the road. They grabbed him and put him in the back of a white van. Forty-six Golding Road.'
ABOUT 'TRICK OR TREAT': A stranger. A child. A liar who will stop at nothing…
When six-year-old Marcus is taken from outside his house on Halloween, there is only one witness: a frightened teen determined to keep himself hidden.
After an anonymous tip off, Detective Imogen Grey is called out to an expensive Exeter street, caught up in the buzz of the holiday. But when the police visit Marcus's house, his parents claim everything is fine. Imogen is sure there is more to the family than meets the eye. But just how much more, she could never have imagined…
What has happened to little Marcus? And will he ever come home?
MY THOUGHTS: A rather mundane police procedural that focuses more on DS Imogen Grey's life with her ex-copper boyfriend, Adrian, than it does on the abduction of young Marcus Carlyle.
There were a lot of things in Trick or Treat that just didn't add up for me, the major one being that the person behind the kidnapping had previously been in jail, and so you would think that the fingerprints would be on record, and had they taken fingerprints for elimination purposes, they would have discovered an anomaly.
The other thing that really irritated me was the author's constant use of 'said'. Sara said. Imogen said. Adrian said. Peter said . . . It was really grating on my nerves by the end.
There were several things that weren't explained to my satisfaction, but going into them would give away spoilers, so I am not prepared to do that.
I seriously considered not finishing this once or twice. I found it difficult to relate to any of the characters, even Sara. This book could have been greatly improved by hearing from Marcus; his view of what was happening to him would have made the story far more interesting. We have absolutely no idea what happened to him while in captivity.
A lacklustre narration didn't help either. The narrator has a limited range of tone, and certainly wasn't expressive. She could have been reading the telephone directory.
Trick or Treat was a disappointing experience for me.
⭐⭐.4
#TrickorTreat #NetGalley
I: @katerinadiamondauthor @harpercollinsuk
T: @TheVenomousPen @HarperCollinsUK
#audiobook #contemporaryfiction #crime #detectivefiction #familydrama #mystery #policeprocedural
THE AUTHOR: Katerina Diamond was born in Weston in the seventies, and her parents owned a fish and chip shop in the Greek community. She moved to Thessaloniki in Greece and attended Greek school where she learnt Greek in just 6 months. After her parents divorce, they relocated to Devon. After school, and working in her uncles fish and chip shop, she went (briefly) to university at Derby, where she met her husband and had two children. Katerina now lives in the East Kent Coast with her husband and children.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Harper Collins UK Audio for providing an audio ARC of Trick or Treat by Katerina Diamond for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review is also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
Should he call the police? That would land him in a whole heap of shit. He couldn't just let this happen though. He picked up a sweater off the floor and dialled triple nine before wrapping the sweater around the mouthpiece in an attempt to conceal his voice. He knew his phone was untraceable. It was something his brother made him promise: always use pay-as-you-go phones with disposable SIMs; don't let anyone trace where you are. That's how they'd got Luke on his GBH charge - by finding his location through his phone.
As Jason spoke to dispatch, refusing to answer the questions that might give him away, the engine on the van started again, one man exiting the passenger side and sliding open the back door. Jason felt powerless as the boy cycled towards the van. He knew what was going to happen next, but it still made him sick to his stomach to watch as the scene played out before his eyes.
'Please, you have to hurry. They've taken him, the little boy across the road. They grabbed him and put him in the back of a white van. Forty-six Golding Road.'
ABOUT 'TRICK OR TREAT': A stranger. A child. A liar who will stop at nothing…
When six-year-old Marcus is taken from outside his house on Halloween, there is only one witness: a frightened teen determined to keep himself hidden.
After an anonymous tip off, Detective Imogen Grey is called out to an expensive Exeter street, caught up in the buzz of the holiday. But when the police visit Marcus's house, his parents claim everything is fine. Imogen is sure there is more to the family than meets the eye. But just how much more, she could never have imagined…
What has happened to little Marcus? And will he ever come home?
MY THOUGHTS: A rather mundane police procedural that focuses more on DS Imogen Grey's life with her ex-copper boyfriend, Adrian, than it does on the abduction of young Marcus Carlyle.
There were a lot of things in Trick or Treat that just didn't add up for me, the major one being that the person behind the kidnapping had previously been in jail, and so you would think that the fingerprints would be on record, and had they taken fingerprints for elimination purposes, they would have discovered an anomaly.
The other thing that really irritated me was the author's constant use of 'said'. Sara said. Imogen said. Adrian said. Peter said . . . It was really grating on my nerves by the end.
There were several things that weren't explained to my satisfaction, but going into them would give away spoilers, so I am not prepared to do that.
I seriously considered not finishing this once or twice. I found it difficult to relate to any of the characters, even Sara. This book could have been greatly improved by hearing from Marcus; his view of what was happening to him would have made the story far more interesting. We have absolutely no idea what happened to him while in captivity.
A lacklustre narration didn't help either. The narrator has a limited range of tone, and certainly wasn't expressive. She could have been reading the telephone directory.
Trick or Treat was a disappointing experience for me.
⭐⭐.4
#TrickorTreat #NetGalley
I: @katerinadiamondauthor @harpercollinsuk
T: @TheVenomousPen @HarperCollinsUK
#audiobook #contemporaryfiction #crime #detectivefiction #familydrama #mystery #policeprocedural
THE AUTHOR: Katerina Diamond was born in Weston in the seventies, and her parents owned a fish and chip shop in the Greek community. She moved to Thessaloniki in Greece and attended Greek school where she learnt Greek in just 6 months. After her parents divorce, they relocated to Devon. After school, and working in her uncles fish and chip shop, she went (briefly) to university at Derby, where she met her husband and had two children. Katerina now lives in the East Kent Coast with her husband and children.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Harper Collins UK Audio for providing an audio ARC of Trick or Treat by Katerina Diamond for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review is also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
August 20, 2021
4-5 rounded up.
It’s Halloween and Jason Hitchin is still annoyed with Amanda’s betrayal for dumping him and in revenge he breaks into her parents empty house where from a bedroom window he witnesses a kidnapping of a little boy. This proves to be six year old Marcus Carlyle and his mother Sara soon receives a ransom demand. Thus starts the latest instalment in the excellent DS Imogen Gray and Adrian Miles series. This proves to be a very tough case on several levels as the police team come up against an elusive, ruthless, scheming master manipulator with chameleon qualities.
I love this series and this is yet another very good addition to it. This case is a complex one, there are several strands in the storyline and you wonder how or if they are connected and you are gripped and glued to the pages to find out! One storyline is extremely moving and emotional, there’s major trauma and suffering involved which this character is struggling alone. This is done very sensitively and though it’s a tough read I applaud how well the author handles this aspect of the novel. All characters are well portrayed, especially Imogen and Adrian, the addition of DC Gabriel Webb is a good one and DC Jarvis seems to be emerging as the character that makes your flesh crawl. DCI Kapoor is a diamond, everyone should have a boss like her. Jason’s storyline is a good one and you see a young boy caught between his home circumstances and his desire to do the right thing. The kidnapping storyline is excellent, it’s dangerous, scary and full of drama with tension rising and falling in a way that keeps you hooked. There’s one scene that is gritty if not gruesome but it does serve to show just how ruthless, cold hearted and terrifying the perpetrator is and it’s downright chilling as it seems they’re always one step ahead. The plot twists are good, the story flows well and it’s edge of your seat, white knuckle reading. The twist just before the end is a corker and as for the ending, yes of course I’m all in for number eight and here’s hoping the author is well on her way with it so we don’t have to wait too long.
Overall, a fantastic read. Although it’s part of a series it can easily be read as a stand-alone.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Avon Books UK for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
It’s Halloween and Jason Hitchin is still annoyed with Amanda’s betrayal for dumping him and in revenge he breaks into her parents empty house where from a bedroom window he witnesses a kidnapping of a little boy. This proves to be six year old Marcus Carlyle and his mother Sara soon receives a ransom demand. Thus starts the latest instalment in the excellent DS Imogen Gray and Adrian Miles series. This proves to be a very tough case on several levels as the police team come up against an elusive, ruthless, scheming master manipulator with chameleon qualities.
I love this series and this is yet another very good addition to it. This case is a complex one, there are several strands in the storyline and you wonder how or if they are connected and you are gripped and glued to the pages to find out! One storyline is extremely moving and emotional, there’s major trauma and suffering involved which this character is struggling alone. This is done very sensitively and though it’s a tough read I applaud how well the author handles this aspect of the novel. All characters are well portrayed, especially Imogen and Adrian, the addition of DC Gabriel Webb is a good one and DC Jarvis seems to be emerging as the character that makes your flesh crawl. DCI Kapoor is a diamond, everyone should have a boss like her. Jason’s storyline is a good one and you see a young boy caught between his home circumstances and his desire to do the right thing. The kidnapping storyline is excellent, it’s dangerous, scary and full of drama with tension rising and falling in a way that keeps you hooked. There’s one scene that is gritty if not gruesome but it does serve to show just how ruthless, cold hearted and terrifying the perpetrator is and it’s downright chilling as it seems they’re always one step ahead. The plot twists are good, the story flows well and it’s edge of your seat, white knuckle reading. The twist just before the end is a corker and as for the ending, yes of course I’m all in for number eight and here’s hoping the author is well on her way with it so we don’t have to wait too long.
Overall, a fantastic read. Although it’s part of a series it can easily be read as a stand-alone.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Avon Books UK for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
October 26, 2021
I wish to express my sincere thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for this ARC in return for an honest review. I greatly appreciate being introduced to authors previously unfamiliar to me. This was a gritty, emotional, psychological thriller and police procedural by Katerina Diamond, with strongly developed, memorable characters, twists and turns, and surprising revelations. While reading Trick or Treat, I immediately purchased and downloaded the previous book in the series and one of the author's standalones.
There are several threads in this complex crime story and many intriguing characters, but it works with brilliantly connected elements in this compelling, well-structured plot.
A six-year-old boy, Marcus, is kidnapped on Halloween day while riding his bike near his home. The crime is observed by a teenaged boy, Jason while committing the crime of vandalizing a nearby house. Disguising his voice, he uses a burner phone to alert the police and takes a picture of the crime in progress.
This puts the determined and tenacious detective, Imogen Grey, on the case with a new team. She is obsessed with finding Marcus before he is harmed. She is also preoccupied with thoughts of her work and life partner, Adrian Miles. He is a broken man, distant in their relationship for the past year. He has quit police work and is in anguish from a trauma he will not reveal.
On a visit to the boy's parents, they first deny anything is wrong. When faced with the fact of the kidnapping, the mother is distraught. The father's reactions cause Imogen to suspect he knows something he is not telling. He is too cool and rigid. There is a call demanding a ransom of a huge amount of money for the safe return of Marcus. The grandfather supplies the money. Marcus's mother, Sara, is to drop the ransom money in a suitcase at a spot designated by the kidnappers. The police are watching, but everything goes wrong. Sara is severely injured, and the ransom money disappears. The criminals express anger at the loss of the money and demand a similar sum, or Marcus will die.
Jason is feeling some remorse for trashing the house and worries about Marcus. He fears going to the police with the photo he took that clearly shows one of the kidnappers and the van. His older brother is soon due for release from prison while his single mother moves from one unsuitable man to the next. Jason's father, absent for many years, shows up at home. At first, Jason is delighted for his father's company and reunited with his brother home from prison, but things go horribly wrong.
As the days pass, Imogen's fear grows for Marcus's safety. The search for suspects leads them to a hardened group of ex-prisoners who may know something about the crime. Rumours are circulating that Marcus may be trafficked and sold to predators to compensate for the loss of the ransom money. Time is of the essence. Their leading suspect is a master of stolen identities and seems impossible to track down.
Miles has been employed with a private security/surveillance firm that also comes into the investigation.
One former prisoner is believed to know about the kidnapping, but he is brutally murdered right after Miles visited him for a secret, personal reason. Miles has an airtight alibi that he was elsewhere at the killing, but he refuses to reveal it. He prefers to go to prison on a murder charge, knowing that he will be targeted as an ex-policeman once inside.
The storyline comes together in a shocking, tension-filled conclusion. I definitely intend to catch up
on previous books in this series that I missed.
There are several threads in this complex crime story and many intriguing characters, but it works with brilliantly connected elements in this compelling, well-structured plot.
A six-year-old boy, Marcus, is kidnapped on Halloween day while riding his bike near his home. The crime is observed by a teenaged boy, Jason while committing the crime of vandalizing a nearby house. Disguising his voice, he uses a burner phone to alert the police and takes a picture of the crime in progress.
This puts the determined and tenacious detective, Imogen Grey, on the case with a new team. She is obsessed with finding Marcus before he is harmed. She is also preoccupied with thoughts of her work and life partner, Adrian Miles. He is a broken man, distant in their relationship for the past year. He has quit police work and is in anguish from a trauma he will not reveal.
On a visit to the boy's parents, they first deny anything is wrong. When faced with the fact of the kidnapping, the mother is distraught. The father's reactions cause Imogen to suspect he knows something he is not telling. He is too cool and rigid. There is a call demanding a ransom of a huge amount of money for the safe return of Marcus. The grandfather supplies the money. Marcus's mother, Sara, is to drop the ransom money in a suitcase at a spot designated by the kidnappers. The police are watching, but everything goes wrong. Sara is severely injured, and the ransom money disappears. The criminals express anger at the loss of the money and demand a similar sum, or Marcus will die.
Jason is feeling some remorse for trashing the house and worries about Marcus. He fears going to the police with the photo he took that clearly shows one of the kidnappers and the van. His older brother is soon due for release from prison while his single mother moves from one unsuitable man to the next. Jason's father, absent for many years, shows up at home. At first, Jason is delighted for his father's company and reunited with his brother home from prison, but things go horribly wrong.
As the days pass, Imogen's fear grows for Marcus's safety. The search for suspects leads them to a hardened group of ex-prisoners who may know something about the crime. Rumours are circulating that Marcus may be trafficked and sold to predators to compensate for the loss of the ransom money. Time is of the essence. Their leading suspect is a master of stolen identities and seems impossible to track down.
Miles has been employed with a private security/surveillance firm that also comes into the investigation.
One former prisoner is believed to know about the kidnapping, but he is brutally murdered right after Miles visited him for a secret, personal reason. Miles has an airtight alibi that he was elsewhere at the killing, but he refuses to reveal it. He prefers to go to prison on a murder charge, knowing that he will be targeted as an ex-policeman once inside.
The storyline comes together in a shocking, tension-filled conclusion. I definitely intend to catch up
on previous books in this series that I missed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 28, 2021
Book 7 of the DS Imogen Grey series starts with the kidnapping of 6 year old Marcus Carlyle. Jason Hitchin has broken into the house across the road, it’s his ex girlfriend’s place and he just wants to mess it up a bit but he witnesses the kidnapping and, because he’s not all bad, he calls it in to the police. When Imogen arrives at the house the parents insist everything is fine but Imogen can see the stress in the mother’s face and brazens her way inside. Soon everything is out in the open and plans are being made about how to handle the case. Imogen feels there is something ‘off’ in this family though.
Meanwhile her boyfriend Adrian Miles and former police partner who now works private security is wondering how he’ll face another day. In this book Diamond deals with the difficult topic of male rape. Adrian’s ordeal which was 10 months ago is still fresh in his mind and he has not been able to confide in anybody. The author handles this topic with great sensitivity and you can clearly understand how hard it must be for an adult male to report such a thing. He hasn’t even told Imogen who is wondering why Adrian is so distant to her.
The kidnapping quickly becomes very much more complex as the ransom money disappears and the boy’s mother, Sara Carlyle, is viciously attacked on her her way back from the failed drop. Poor Jason gets much more involved in the whole drama than he would like as his wayward father and brother constantly lead him astray.
And Adrian is trying to find the men who attacked him. He is working through a list when he gets to the last name and realises this man was the driver. He didn’t directly assault Adrian but he might know who did. Even this interaction goes sideways and the twists keep coming. Meanwhile, little Marcus is still missing and hopes are fading for finding him alive.
This was a very tense story. The lengths Adrian goes to to keep his secret from coming out are staggering. And the lengths the kidnapper will go to get a pay day are shocking. I really enjoyed this story and can recommend the series. I haven’t read them all but I have read a few and now I really want to fill in the gaps. Many thanks to Netgalley and Avon Books UK for the much appreciated arc which I reviewed voluntarily and honestly.
Meanwhile her boyfriend Adrian Miles and former police partner who now works private security is wondering how he’ll face another day. In this book Diamond deals with the difficult topic of male rape. Adrian’s ordeal which was 10 months ago is still fresh in his mind and he has not been able to confide in anybody. The author handles this topic with great sensitivity and you can clearly understand how hard it must be for an adult male to report such a thing. He hasn’t even told Imogen who is wondering why Adrian is so distant to her.
The kidnapping quickly becomes very much more complex as the ransom money disappears and the boy’s mother, Sara Carlyle, is viciously attacked on her her way back from the failed drop. Poor Jason gets much more involved in the whole drama than he would like as his wayward father and brother constantly lead him astray.
And Adrian is trying to find the men who attacked him. He is working through a list when he gets to the last name and realises this man was the driver. He didn’t directly assault Adrian but he might know who did. Even this interaction goes sideways and the twists keep coming. Meanwhile, little Marcus is still missing and hopes are fading for finding him alive.
This was a very tense story. The lengths Adrian goes to to keep his secret from coming out are staggering. And the lengths the kidnapper will go to get a pay day are shocking. I really enjoyed this story and can recommend the series. I haven’t read them all but I have read a few and now I really want to fill in the gaps. Many thanks to Netgalley and Avon Books UK for the much appreciated arc which I reviewed voluntarily and honestly.
October 3, 2021
As seen on www.mysteryandsuspense.com
“Trick or Treat” is the seventh novel in the DS Imogen Grey police procedural novels, by Katerina Diamond.
Young Marcus is taken right off of his street on Halloween night, and the only person who saw the crime was a teenaged boy who was somewhere he wasn’t supposed to be, and wants to remain in the shadows. When Marcus’ parents are confronted by the police, they act as if nothing is wrong but Imogen isn’t convinced. As her investigation continues, Imogen begins to realize that the family has some skeletons in their closet, and she needs to hurry to find young Marcus before it’s too late.
Although this novel is the seventh in the series, it is not necessary to have read the previous novels before exploring this one. There is some backstory between the characters that will be missed out on without the previous six novels, but it is not enough to make a difference in the enjoyment of the novel. The plot is easy to follow and there is enough in the storyline to keep every reader engaged.
Imogen is the perfect female protagonist- she is brave, kind-hearted and is willing to accept her flaws and all of her human dysfunction. As she struggles to mend her broken relationship with her partner, Adrian, she realizes he is dealing with more emotional turmoil than she could even begin to imagine, and she shows nothing but patience and acceptable. Adrian is instantly likable and his struggles with coming to terms with a traumatic experience from his past makes him heartbreakingly honest and relatable.
The story is told mostly from Imogen’s perspective, although Adrian (and a few others) take over briefly. “Trick or Treat” has relatively small chapters, with page-turning cliff-hangers at the end of most of them, making it hard to put down. The major twist in this novel is hinted at right at the beginning of the novel, but it is so well done that there is still the element of surprise, which was delightfully unexpected. I wanted nothing more than justice for Marcus and for the perpetrator, and Diamond delivered.
“Trick or Treat” is the perfect read for fall. A police procedural with an undercurrent of emotional trauma, and, of course, the hidden-in-plain-sight psychopath all come together through Diamond’s realistic writing, her connection to the characters, and her well-developed storyline. Imogen is definitely a character who can back up an entire series of novels, and I look forward to seeing more of her!
“Trick or Treat” is the seventh novel in the DS Imogen Grey police procedural novels, by Katerina Diamond.
Young Marcus is taken right off of his street on Halloween night, and the only person who saw the crime was a teenaged boy who was somewhere he wasn’t supposed to be, and wants to remain in the shadows. When Marcus’ parents are confronted by the police, they act as if nothing is wrong but Imogen isn’t convinced. As her investigation continues, Imogen begins to realize that the family has some skeletons in their closet, and she needs to hurry to find young Marcus before it’s too late.
Although this novel is the seventh in the series, it is not necessary to have read the previous novels before exploring this one. There is some backstory between the characters that will be missed out on without the previous six novels, but it is not enough to make a difference in the enjoyment of the novel. The plot is easy to follow and there is enough in the storyline to keep every reader engaged.
Imogen is the perfect female protagonist- she is brave, kind-hearted and is willing to accept her flaws and all of her human dysfunction. As she struggles to mend her broken relationship with her partner, Adrian, she realizes he is dealing with more emotional turmoil than she could even begin to imagine, and she shows nothing but patience and acceptable. Adrian is instantly likable and his struggles with coming to terms with a traumatic experience from his past makes him heartbreakingly honest and relatable.
The story is told mostly from Imogen’s perspective, although Adrian (and a few others) take over briefly. “Trick or Treat” has relatively small chapters, with page-turning cliff-hangers at the end of most of them, making it hard to put down. The major twist in this novel is hinted at right at the beginning of the novel, but it is so well done that there is still the element of surprise, which was delightfully unexpected. I wanted nothing more than justice for Marcus and for the perpetrator, and Diamond delivered.
“Trick or Treat” is the perfect read for fall. A police procedural with an undercurrent of emotional trauma, and, of course, the hidden-in-plain-sight psychopath all come together through Diamond’s realistic writing, her connection to the characters, and her well-developed storyline. Imogen is definitely a character who can back up an entire series of novels, and I look forward to seeing more of her!
September 17, 2021
I devoured this book.. it has been a while since the last book in this series left me reeling and a I was so excited to be approved for an early copy of Trick or Treat. And let me tell you, once again it had me hooked. So much is going on all the time but never so much that you can’t keep up. This can be read as a stand alone but I strongly recommend reading it from the start and get to know these characters. This is book 7 and they just keep surprising me. Easily all the stars for this one again.
6 year old Marcus is kidnapped from in front of his home on Halloween. There is a witness, one that is doing something that he should not be doing so he anonymously makes the call to the police. Imogen Grey is called to the scene and is determined to get Marcus back. At the same time Adrian Miles is still struggling with what happened to him 14 months earlier. He hasn’t told a soul but he I struggled on the hunt for his attacker. Now working in private security he uses his access to get information on those he believes responsible.
It is a hard book to put down and I did have a few late nights this week reading it. Nailed it once again Katerina.
Thanks o Avon Books UK and NetGalley for my advanced copy of this book to read.
6 year old Marcus is kidnapped from in front of his home on Halloween. There is a witness, one that is doing something that he should not be doing so he anonymously makes the call to the police. Imogen Grey is called to the scene and is determined to get Marcus back. At the same time Adrian Miles is still struggling with what happened to him 14 months earlier. He hasn’t told a soul but he I struggled on the hunt for his attacker. Now working in private security he uses his access to get information on those he believes responsible.
It is a hard book to put down and I did have a few late nights this week reading it. Nailed it once again Katerina.
Thanks o Avon Books UK and NetGalley for my advanced copy of this book to read.
September 2, 2021
This book was so tense, no time to breathe properly :) A teenager decides to break the home of his new ex-girlfriend and while he is leaving he is a little boy being kidnapped by a white van. Detective Imogen is on the case but it is not going to be an easy one. Mystery and lots of twists. This was great, for a long time a hadn't read such a tense story.
Thank you Netgalley for this Arc.
Thank you Netgalley for this Arc.
September 29, 2021
DS Imogen Grey #7
When six year old Marcus is taken from outside his house on Halloween, there is only one witness: a frightened teen determined to keep himself hidden. After an anonymous tipoff. Detective Imogen Grey is called out to an expensive Exeter street, caught up in the buzz of the holiday. But when the police visit Marcus's house, his parents claim everything is fine. Imogen is sure there is more to the family than meets the eye.
Jason was the only witness to Marcus's abduction and when DS Imogen Grey arrives at his house, Marcus's parents, Peter and Sara tell Imogen that Marcus is fine, he's just out for trick or treat.
This is a well written, multi-layered and not your typical child abduction story. It's also gripping as you'll need to know exactly what is going on. There's lots going on in the book and I was pulled in from the first page. The story can be difficult to read in places. The pace was slow but there were plenty of twists and surprises.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #AvonBooksUK and the author #KaterinaDiamond for my ARC of #TrickOrTreat in exchange for an honest review.
When six year old Marcus is taken from outside his house on Halloween, there is only one witness: a frightened teen determined to keep himself hidden. After an anonymous tipoff. Detective Imogen Grey is called out to an expensive Exeter street, caught up in the buzz of the holiday. But when the police visit Marcus's house, his parents claim everything is fine. Imogen is sure there is more to the family than meets the eye.
Jason was the only witness to Marcus's abduction and when DS Imogen Grey arrives at his house, Marcus's parents, Peter and Sara tell Imogen that Marcus is fine, he's just out for trick or treat.
This is a well written, multi-layered and not your typical child abduction story. It's also gripping as you'll need to know exactly what is going on. There's lots going on in the book and I was pulled in from the first page. The story can be difficult to read in places. The pace was slow but there were plenty of twists and surprises.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #AvonBooksUK and the author #KaterinaDiamond for my ARC of #TrickOrTreat in exchange for an honest review.
October 13, 2021
4.5⭐️
A great crime thriller that held me in suspense the whole time. This fast paced, multilayered story was well written. The characters were three dimensional with realistic conflicts and feelings. I really enjoyed it and can’t wait for the next in the series. Apparently this is book 7 and I had no idea because it can be read as a stand-alone.
I highly recommend it and chose to listen to this book on audio. The narrator Stevie Lacey was awesome and this audiobook was 10 hours and 28 minutes long.
Thanks HarperCollins Audio via Netgalley.
A great crime thriller that held me in suspense the whole time. This fast paced, multilayered story was well written. The characters were three dimensional with realistic conflicts and feelings. I really enjoyed it and can’t wait for the next in the series. Apparently this is book 7 and I had no idea because it can be read as a stand-alone.
I highly recommend it and chose to listen to this book on audio. The narrator Stevie Lacey was awesome and this audiobook was 10 hours and 28 minutes long.
Thanks HarperCollins Audio via Netgalley.
October 26, 2021
In a Nutshell: A nice police procedural with some interesting emotional drama thrown in. (But it has nothing to do with Halloween except for the date of the kidnap.)
Story:
This book certainly was one of the better crime thrillers that I’ve read this year. The case appears straightforward at the start but soon becomes pretty complex. Just as I assumed that it was getting predictable or guessable, the book threw another surprise my way, including a whopper towards the end that I didn’t see coming at all. There are multiple arcs in the story even beyond the kidnapping, with one track focussed on Imogen’s romantic partner and ex-police partner Adrien Miles who is now working with a private firm. Another track focusses on Jason (the teenager who witnessed the kidnapping) and his family. All these side-tracks don’t seem to have a direct bearing on the story at first but help you understand the characters and their motivations better. As the story progresses, you will see the varied storylines merging together smoothly. The overall storyline is very engaging, and the short chapters help you in moving ahead at full pace.
Imogen Grey as a detective is a thorough professional. I really enjoyed her character and thought it one of the best-written female cop characters I’ve ever come across. Her reporting head, DCI Kapoor, is another fabulous female police officer. Rarely does a crime book focus on the brains than the looks of its female officers, and this was one of them. Adrien’s track is pretty hardhitting. Not revealing anything here as I don’t want to give out spoilers, but the trauma he is facing is not at all a common trope in any kind of fiction, and especially not in police procedurals. To see an emotional struggle usually faced by females from the point of view of a man was an eye-opening experience. A couple of his decisions in the second half felt a little illogical to me. But I guess I ought to forgive him for those as he wasn’t mentally in the right place.
This book served as a reminder to me as to why I prefer to read books in their right serial order, even if they are supposedly standalone police procedurals. Many of the characters referred to in the book are from earlier books in this series. Many of the situations are an aftermath of what happened in the prior book. Imogen, Adrien and some other minor characters aren’t given much of a background as they are already known to those who have read the previous books. I felt like I was hampered a little by jumping straight to book 7 of the series as I didn’t get to know any character (especially the secondary ones) in depth. But I am impressed enough with the book that I might just give a try to this series.
A couple of minor negatives. The title is a bit of a misnomer. The book isn’t connected to Halloween in any way except for Marcus’s kidnapping happening on the 31st of October. Barring this mention and a couple of references to pumpkins, the book reads like a regular crime thriller. Also, there are some plot points left unexplained that I would have loved to know more about.
Overall, a pretty well-written and very enjoyable police procedural. 4.25 stars from me.
The audiobook clocks at 10.5 hrs and is narrated by Stevie Lacey. She does a good job of bringing all the characters to life and I really enjoyed her narration.
My thanks to HarperCollins UK Audio and NetGalley for the ALC of “Trick or Treat”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the audiobook.
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Join me on the Facebook group, Readers Forever! , for more reviews, book-related discussions and fun.
Story:
Six year old Marcus is kidnapped from outside his house on Halloween morning. The only person who witnesses the crime is a teenager, Jason, who reports it anonymously and is determined not to reveal more. With just the information from this anonymous call, Detective Imogen Grey turns up at Marcus’s house, where his parents first claim that everything is fine. But she soon realises that they are hiding something and begins digging into the facts until a whole murky mess reveals itself.
This book certainly was one of the better crime thrillers that I’ve read this year. The case appears straightforward at the start but soon becomes pretty complex. Just as I assumed that it was getting predictable or guessable, the book threw another surprise my way, including a whopper towards the end that I didn’t see coming at all. There are multiple arcs in the story even beyond the kidnapping, with one track focussed on Imogen’s romantic partner and ex-police partner Adrien Miles who is now working with a private firm. Another track focusses on Jason (the teenager who witnessed the kidnapping) and his family. All these side-tracks don’t seem to have a direct bearing on the story at first but help you understand the characters and their motivations better. As the story progresses, you will see the varied storylines merging together smoothly. The overall storyline is very engaging, and the short chapters help you in moving ahead at full pace.
Imogen Grey as a detective is a thorough professional. I really enjoyed her character and thought it one of the best-written female cop characters I’ve ever come across. Her reporting head, DCI Kapoor, is another fabulous female police officer. Rarely does a crime book focus on the brains than the looks of its female officers, and this was one of them. Adrien’s track is pretty hardhitting. Not revealing anything here as I don’t want to give out spoilers, but the trauma he is facing is not at all a common trope in any kind of fiction, and especially not in police procedurals. To see an emotional struggle usually faced by females from the point of view of a man was an eye-opening experience. A couple of his decisions in the second half felt a little illogical to me. But I guess I ought to forgive him for those as he wasn’t mentally in the right place.
This book served as a reminder to me as to why I prefer to read books in their right serial order, even if they are supposedly standalone police procedurals. Many of the characters referred to in the book are from earlier books in this series. Many of the situations are an aftermath of what happened in the prior book. Imogen, Adrien and some other minor characters aren’t given much of a background as they are already known to those who have read the previous books. I felt like I was hampered a little by jumping straight to book 7 of the series as I didn’t get to know any character (especially the secondary ones) in depth. But I am impressed enough with the book that I might just give a try to this series.
A couple of minor negatives. The title is a bit of a misnomer. The book isn’t connected to Halloween in any way except for Marcus’s kidnapping happening on the 31st of October. Barring this mention and a couple of references to pumpkins, the book reads like a regular crime thriller. Also, there are some plot points left unexplained that I would have loved to know more about.
Overall, a pretty well-written and very enjoyable police procedural. 4.25 stars from me.
The audiobook clocks at 10.5 hrs and is narrated by Stevie Lacey. She does a good job of bringing all the characters to life and I really enjoyed her narration.
My thanks to HarperCollins UK Audio and NetGalley for the ALC of “Trick or Treat”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the audiobook.
***********************
Join me on the Facebook group, Readers Forever! , for more reviews, book-related discussions and fun.
March 19, 2022
This instalment sees DS Imogen Grey tackling a case of a missing boy. There is a reluctant witness who makes an anonymous call and the kidnappers want a ransom but no police are to be involved.
Imogen and her team minus Adrian act on the call by going door to door. And one couple alerts her internal radar, the mother breaks first but she is suspicious about the father. When they look into him Imogen secretly thinks maybe he has an affair on the go but what is discovered is in another league all together.
Meanwhile Adrian has left the police due to a horrific attack he was subjected to and he is secretly doing his own investigation, whilst working on a surveillance job for Shieldwell Security. This attack has meant his personal relationship with Imogen has suffered and he has grown distant and Imogen is none the wiser as to the reason.
One of the kidnappers was photographed by the witness and when he eventually decides to come forward to the police and he shows them the photos he took.
When Imogen shows the photo of the man to the parents she is sure the husband recognises him.
Coincidentally Adrian catches up to one of the men involved in his attack, he roughs him up, but when he turns up dead Adrian knows it is a matter of time when the police catch up with him. This means it’s time for him to come clean with Imogen. Adrian wants no one to know his secret and when Imogen flashes back to the last year her eyes are suddenly open.
Imogen and her team minus Adrian act on the call by going door to door. And one couple alerts her internal radar, the mother breaks first but she is suspicious about the father. When they look into him Imogen secretly thinks maybe he has an affair on the go but what is discovered is in another league all together.
Meanwhile Adrian has left the police due to a horrific attack he was subjected to and he is secretly doing his own investigation, whilst working on a surveillance job for Shieldwell Security. This attack has meant his personal relationship with Imogen has suffered and he has grown distant and Imogen is none the wiser as to the reason.
One of the kidnappers was photographed by the witness and when he eventually decides to come forward to the police and he shows them the photos he took.
When Imogen shows the photo of the man to the parents she is sure the husband recognises him.
Coincidentally Adrian catches up to one of the men involved in his attack, he roughs him up, but when he turns up dead Adrian knows it is a matter of time when the police catch up with him. This means it’s time for him to come clean with Imogen. Adrian wants no one to know his secret and when Imogen flashes back to the last year her eyes are suddenly open.
October 16, 2021
A child is reported to the police as kidnapped, by a vandal breaking in across the street who witnessed the kidnap. When Detective Imogen Grey arrives to question the child's parent, they tell her it must be a mistake, it's not their son, This starts a sequence of events that changes the lives of Imogen, Adrian and the family. Can they find the child before it's too late?
I can't believe I've finished it already, I need another one now! 😫 I absolutely love Imogen and Adrian, and how they have brought Dean back. There's just so much emotions for these three characters, I adore them. Adrian opening up to Imogen broke my heart, I was rooting for him the whole way through, and now he has Dean on the case, who'll stop at nothing to help him. I'm so excited for the next book, already - I have such an attachment with these characters! Fantastic book, it can be read as a standalone but reading the series in order really makes you get a feel of the characters relationships building.
I can't believe I've finished it already, I need another one now! 😫 I absolutely love Imogen and Adrian, and how they have brought Dean back. There's just so much emotions for these three characters, I adore them. Adrian opening up to Imogen broke my heart, I was rooting for him the whole way through, and now he has Dean on the case, who'll stop at nothing to help him. I'm so excited for the next book, already - I have such an attachment with these characters! Fantastic book, it can be read as a standalone but reading the series in order really makes you get a feel of the characters relationships building.
September 6, 2024
'Tis the season to enjoy Halloween thrillers!
A 6-year-old boy is abducted in front of his home on Halloween.
Who did it?
TW: sexual assault, pedophilia.
This dark police procedural is Book #7 of Katerina Diamond's DS Imogen Grey series.
Although this was a standalone read, I would have enjoyed the book more had I started the series with Book #1.
Also, I am not a fan of books with pedophilia.
I listened to the audiobook read by Stevie Lacey. The narration was good but not great.
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 21, 2021
Thank you Netgalley and Author Katerina Diamond for this ARC.
I have never read this author before and didn't realize this was the seventh book in a detective series, so that may very well explain things, but I felt like I had read a totally different book than everyone else who read it. I was confused through most of it. I hated the writing style. It was so slow and focused on the detective rather than the case for most if the book.
I have never read this author before and didn't realize this was the seventh book in a detective series, so that may very well explain things, but I felt like I had read a totally different book than everyone else who read it. I was confused through most of it. I hated the writing style. It was so slow and focused on the detective rather than the case for most if the book.
August 25, 2021
This book was so good! I’m a long time fan of the DS Imogen Grey series. The previous book in the series, however, was not my favorite, so I was a little hesitant going into this one. I shouldn’t have been, though, because Trick or Treat was everything I love about the series.
The mystery was intricate with multiple threads to connect and Diamond did it so well. There were definitely surprises I didn’t see coming and when I guessed the others, it was only right before they were revealed. Whenever I wasn’t reading, I was thinking about it, trying to figure everything out.
My favorite part of the series, though, are the characters. I love Imogen and Adrian. In the previous book, Adrian went through a very traumatic experience. The story here picks up about a year later and he still hasn’t dealt with it, nor has he told Imogen, which has really put a strain on their relationship. I definitely appreciate the attention Diamond calls to the issue and think Adrian’s actions are probably pretty realistic, but I do have to say I was a little concerned we were going to get a whole second book with him being traumatized and not facing it. Thankfully, he does take the first steps towards healing and I was glad to see it.
Another thing I loved was that two previous characters made returns in this installment. Gabriel Webb, from The Angel, is back – as a cop this time. I really enjoyed his addition to the team and am happy to see him doing so well after everything he went through. I’m not going to reveal who the other character is, just because I loved the reveal so much. I will just say that I’m super excited to see them back.
Overall, I loved Trick or Treat. The mystery and the characters were great and I was really annoyed any time I had to put the book down for silly things like work or sleep. I’m really looking forward to the next book in the series!
The mystery was intricate with multiple threads to connect and Diamond did it so well. There were definitely surprises I didn’t see coming and when I guessed the others, it was only right before they were revealed. Whenever I wasn’t reading, I was thinking about it, trying to figure everything out.
My favorite part of the series, though, are the characters. I love Imogen and Adrian. In the previous book, Adrian went through a very traumatic experience. The story here picks up about a year later and he still hasn’t dealt with it, nor has he told Imogen, which has really put a strain on their relationship. I definitely appreciate the attention Diamond calls to the issue and think Adrian’s actions are probably pretty realistic, but I do have to say I was a little concerned we were going to get a whole second book with him being traumatized and not facing it. Thankfully, he does take the first steps towards healing and I was glad to see it.
Another thing I loved was that two previous characters made returns in this installment. Gabriel Webb, from The Angel, is back – as a cop this time. I really enjoyed his addition to the team and am happy to see him doing so well after everything he went through. I’m not going to reveal who the other character is, just because I loved the reveal so much. I will just say that I’m super excited to see them back.
Overall, I loved Trick or Treat. The mystery and the characters were great and I was really annoyed any time I had to put the book down for silly things like work or sleep. I’m really looking forward to the next book in the series!
August 25, 2021
Trick or Treat by Katerina Diamond is the 7th book in the Detective Imogen Grey series. I have really enjoyed this series so far and this new chapter lived up to my expectations.
A six year old boy is snatched from the street where he lives while out playing on is bicycle. A teenage boy witnesses the abduction and phones the police. When the police visit the child’s house his parents deny that their son has been taken.
I was hooked from the beginning of this book and I didn’t want to put it down.
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
A six year old boy is snatched from the street where he lives while out playing on is bicycle. A teenage boy witnesses the abduction and phones the police. When the police visit the child’s house his parents deny that their son has been taken.
I was hooked from the beginning of this book and I didn’t want to put it down.
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
August 17, 2024
I am completely stunned right now. I have not read any of the other books in this series......yet. By the time I was 5% into this book I knew I absolutely want to start from the beginning. Imogen and Adrian both sucked me in entirely. You don't need to read the other books in the series to enjoy this one, all the major past events that tie into this tale are expertly explained so you are caught up to date.
This story is relentless. It is a police procedural type story with gritty action. All the elements of the story are tightly woven together and the conclusion is amazing! The last line of the story, once you think everything is settled, as far as the main story line goes, there is that final sentence. I actually gasped when I read it. At least I have 6 other books in this series that I can go to while waiting for book 8. Anyone who is already a fan of this series will just have to wait.
Thank you to Avon UK and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this adrenaline charged e-ARC.
Review: 8/17/24
I have gone back to the beginning and read this series from book one and concluded with the re-read of this book. It is still amazing. Even better now knowing the character so much better. There were two characters, that when I read this the first time through, I had no idea how integral they had been in previous stories.
The character Dean was very important in previous books, until he took a step back from Imogen when their relationship wasn't going to work out. He wad there when absolutely needed for Adrian. (This was an intricacy I didn't fully appreciate the first read).
The character of Gabriel coming back as a young DI, is very welcome now knowing his story in more detail.
Both of these elements were brought up to date in summary very well by the author, but there is a greater enjoyment to knowing the full stories.
At this point in time, still waiting for book 8 🤞
This story is relentless. It is a police procedural type story with gritty action. All the elements of the story are tightly woven together and the conclusion is amazing! The last line of the story, once you think everything is settled, as far as the main story line goes, there is that final sentence. I actually gasped when I read it. At least I have 6 other books in this series that I can go to while waiting for book 8. Anyone who is already a fan of this series will just have to wait.
Thank you to Avon UK and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this adrenaline charged e-ARC.
Review: 8/17/24
I have gone back to the beginning and read this series from book one and concluded with the re-read of this book. It is still amazing. Even better now knowing the character so much better. There were two characters, that when I read this the first time through, I had no idea how integral they had been in previous stories.
The character Dean was very important in previous books, until he took a step back from Imogen when their relationship wasn't going to work out. He wad there when absolutely needed for Adrian. (This was an intricacy I didn't fully appreciate the first read).
The character of Gabriel coming back as a young DI, is very welcome now knowing his story in more detail.
Both of these elements were brought up to date in summary very well by the author, but there is a greater enjoyment to knowing the full stories.
At this point in time, still waiting for book 8 🤞
February 21, 2022
"The tears came less and less these days, but they still came. He had finished work over an hour ago but instead of going home he drove to the coast and parked where he could see the sea. He found it very calming being here; it felt more isolated than the city and somehow safer because no one knew where he was."
Ooh this was a good book. The main guy in this gave me Tinder Swindler vibes (Netflix show if you haven't seen it). The whole story was great and I love the fact that there always seems to be a couple separate storylines but at the end they all seem to come together.
Honestly love this series and really hope there is more to come.
Ooh this was a good book. The main guy in this gave me Tinder Swindler vibes (Netflix show if you haven't seen it). The whole story was great and I love the fact that there always seems to be a couple separate storylines but at the end they all seem to come together.
Honestly love this series and really hope there is more to come.
September 12, 2021
A slow burner but makes up for it in the much better second half.
Another book which would make a great TV adaptation!
3.5 stars ✨
Another book which would make a great TV adaptation!
3.5 stars ✨
October 14, 2021
Book release date 14th October 2021
YES YES YES ALL HAIL THE QUEEN OF CRIME!!
Gosh I have waited what feels like a lifetime for this installment. IF YOU HAVEN'T READ BOOKS 1 TO 6 THEN DO!
Book 7 trick or treat was everything I expected and more.
Adrian and imogen are still together it's been 14 months since the assualt and a lot have changed! Adrian is no longer on the force and imogen has a new partner. Their relationship is on the edge Adrian hasn't told anyone what happened to him and he is searching for his attackers. So when his search and Imogen's case intermingle things aren't looking good for either.
Where to start, the case is a great one to get stuck into Jason is busy robbing his ex girlfriend house when he witnesses a little boy being kidnapped. His parents haven't reported the kidnap and Jason doesn't want to tell anyone he is the one who made the call. FYI I kinda love jason and feel he should get a spin off series!!
Imogen is convinced the father is lying about the abduction and believes he knows more than he is letting on. Her gutt feeling is she needs to investigate the father but now she partnered with Adrian anymore she doesn't trust herself.
Adrian is working for a private eevruity firm. But he is also doing his own investigation he has a list of possible suspects for his attack he just needs to narrow it down.. whilst trying to hold it all together. Gosh I was waiting so long for this installment I wanted to check on Adrian and i must say Katerina Diamond has done her research on survivors and Adrian's storyline has been written so well..
This is one of the best in the series and I just loved it. The prose is done perfectly. The descriptive writing really helped me feel like I was there!
In summary YES READ I LOVE THIS BOOK LOVE THIS SERIES LOVE LOVE LOVE!!! I honestly think this is by far the best book in the series thus far. Roll on book 8 9 10 11 etc please don't make us wait just as long Katerina!!! 5 stars hands down if I write more in this review I will fill it with spoilers so I will end it here
Thanks to Katerina Diamond, Netgalley and the Avon publishers for the ARC in exchange for my fair and honest review.
Still by far my favourite author ❤
YES YES YES ALL HAIL THE QUEEN OF CRIME!!
Gosh I have waited what feels like a lifetime for this installment. IF YOU HAVEN'T READ BOOKS 1 TO 6 THEN DO!
Book 7 trick or treat was everything I expected and more.
Adrian and imogen are still together it's been 14 months since the assualt and a lot have changed! Adrian is no longer on the force and imogen has a new partner. Their relationship is on the edge Adrian hasn't told anyone what happened to him and he is searching for his attackers. So when his search and Imogen's case intermingle things aren't looking good for either.
Where to start, the case is a great one to get stuck into Jason is busy robbing his ex girlfriend house when he witnesses a little boy being kidnapped. His parents haven't reported the kidnap and Jason doesn't want to tell anyone he is the one who made the call. FYI I kinda love jason and feel he should get a spin off series!!
Imogen is convinced the father is lying about the abduction and believes he knows more than he is letting on. Her gutt feeling is she needs to investigate the father but now she partnered with Adrian anymore she doesn't trust herself.
Adrian is working for a private eevruity firm. But he is also doing his own investigation he has a list of possible suspects for his attack he just needs to narrow it down.. whilst trying to hold it all together. Gosh I was waiting so long for this installment I wanted to check on Adrian and i must say Katerina Diamond has done her research on survivors and Adrian's storyline has been written so well..
This is one of the best in the series and I just loved it. The prose is done perfectly. The descriptive writing really helped me feel like I was there!
In summary YES READ I LOVE THIS BOOK LOVE THIS SERIES LOVE LOVE LOVE!!! I honestly think this is by far the best book in the series thus far. Roll on book 8 9 10 11 etc please don't make us wait just as long Katerina!!! 5 stars hands down if I write more in this review I will fill it with spoilers so I will end it here
Thanks to Katerina Diamond, Netgalley and the Avon publishers for the ARC in exchange for my fair and honest review.
Still by far my favourite author ❤
August 25, 2021
Another fantastic installment in this crime series!
I love this series. The writing is always fantastic and gripping. I love the short chapters which always keep me hooked.
I really enjoyed the plot of this one. I love that it is set around Halloween, my favourite time of year.
It's hard not to give spoilers to this series but I'm really glad that it covers some of the issues that it does. It does so in a really sensitive and well done way.
I was hooked till the very end and could not see the ending coming. There were plenty of twists and turns to keep you on the edge of your seat.
As always, I love the characters in this series. I always feel so invested in their lives.
I can't wait to read the next installment in this fantastic series.
Overall, I highly recommend this book and the rest of the books in the series.
TW: rape, murder and violence
I love this series. The writing is always fantastic and gripping. I love the short chapters which always keep me hooked.
I really enjoyed the plot of this one. I love that it is set around Halloween, my favourite time of year.
It's hard not to give spoilers to this series but I'm really glad that it covers some of the issues that it does. It does so in a really sensitive and well done way.
I was hooked till the very end and could not see the ending coming. There were plenty of twists and turns to keep you on the edge of your seat.
As always, I love the characters in this series. I always feel so invested in their lives.
I can't wait to read the next installment in this fantastic series.
Overall, I highly recommend this book and the rest of the books in the series.
TW: rape, murder and violence
December 27, 2021
Trick or Treat by Katerina Diamond is the 7th in the Imogen Grey detective series. These books are complex, gritty, encompassing people with real problems, and great plots.
First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Avon Books, 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)
DS Imogen Grey, and her partner DS Adrian Miles don’t always play be the rules, but they are both top-notch detectives. They have learned to trust one another. Their relationship is complicated. They are starting to trust their boss, DCI Kapoor. Other members of the team include DI Matt Walsh and Forensic Specialist Gary Tunnney. Two new members are Family Liaison Officer DC Gabriel Webb and DC Ben Jarvis.
My Synopsis: (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
Six-year old Marcus is kidnapped, right outside his house on Halloween. A teenager, who isn't supposed to be there, witnesses the crime. He anonymously calls the police, but quickly leaves before he is caught. Jason doesn't really want to be part of this, but will become much more involved than he likes.
Imogen and Matt quickly get to the house, but Marcus's parents say everything is fine. The police don't buy their story, and eventually learn of the kidnapping. They decide to keep it quiet while they investigate, hoping for a quick resolution without media attention.
Meanwhile, Imogen and Adrian are trying to get more out of their relationship, but Adrian is having issues. After his brutal rape, he is trying to move forward, but can't seem to abide Imogen's touch. His own self-loathing and shame are preventing him from having the loving relationship they both need. Things are tense between them, especially since he has not yet told Imogen about the attack.
Adrian has left the police force and is working for a security company. In his spare time he is trying to track down the man that raped him. However, he may be the one that ends up in jail.
My Opinions:
OMG, this was really good. Each book in this series has been a 4 or 5 star book in my opinion. The series is simply one of the best, most interesting police procedurals out there. I would watch a tv series! The author doesn't pull any punches, and although some scenes are a little graphic, everything works. Katerina Diamond's writing is phenomenal.
Remember to read the books in order, because the background is EVERYTHING.
The characters themselves are not perfect, and have real issues, but nothing seems phony. They are complex, deep characters. We learn more about the trauma that Adrian is still going through, and it felt real.
Again, the author gave us an emotional and heart-felt story-line, with tension throughout.
Basically, I will read whatever Katerina Diamond decides to write!
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/
April 24, 2024
This was a brilliant book, full of twists and turns. I thought I had made a mistake by going in at book seven of a series (not sure if there will be any more to this set), and I don’t read many police procedural stories. However, Diamond makes subtle links to the previous novels without alienating new readers, for which I was incredibly grateful.
In the end, this book was a welcome distraction for reading and a distraction when I was not reading! I could not stop thinking about it. To start with, I thought I would find a child’s abduction to be quite uncomfortable reading but the plot is more about the investigation, rather than Marcus’s experience following the kidnapping. I think this made the story work even better and added an intensity to the plot: readers, like Imogen, do not know what Marcus is going through, making the race to find him even more serious.
It turns out that this kidnapping is more complex than Detective Grey envisaged with links being established to previous stories. At first I did not see the importance of following Grey’s boyfriend, Adrian, but as the novel progressed, it soon becomes clear that this connection is equally significant. Therefore, whilst the narrative switched between Imogen’s investigations and what Adrian is doing in secret, I soon found I was eager to see more answers being revealed, causing me to race through this story.
The narrative was compelling and I could not see how Imogen would be able to solve the case without any tragedies. All the characters link together in a complex web and I enjoyed how the ending was still full of surprising revelations. It certainly was a fast-moving narrative and a plot I can see would work brilliantly on television. Now I just have to catch up and read the other books to really connect the dots…
With thanks to Avon books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
In the end, this book was a welcome distraction for reading and a distraction when I was not reading! I could not stop thinking about it. To start with, I thought I would find a child’s abduction to be quite uncomfortable reading but the plot is more about the investigation, rather than Marcus’s experience following the kidnapping. I think this made the story work even better and added an intensity to the plot: readers, like Imogen, do not know what Marcus is going through, making the race to find him even more serious.
It turns out that this kidnapping is more complex than Detective Grey envisaged with links being established to previous stories. At first I did not see the importance of following Grey’s boyfriend, Adrian, but as the novel progressed, it soon becomes clear that this connection is equally significant. Therefore, whilst the narrative switched between Imogen’s investigations and what Adrian is doing in secret, I soon found I was eager to see more answers being revealed, causing me to race through this story.
The narrative was compelling and I could not see how Imogen would be able to solve the case without any tragedies. All the characters link together in a complex web and I enjoyed how the ending was still full of surprising revelations. It certainly was a fast-moving narrative and a plot I can see would work brilliantly on television. Now I just have to catch up and read the other books to really connect the dots…
With thanks to Avon books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
October 26, 2021
Spoilers are going to be dropped here so stay clear!
This is my first (maybe second? Hmm) five star book of the year! I’ve been waiting so long to read this book that when I finally dropped I ran to the shops to grab it. It did not disappoint me.
Adrian, your poor soul. We all know from the pervious book what happened to him, and his attack, and honestly how it fucked him up. Anything like that would, you know? But it left him so helpless and he didn’t want to tell anyone. When he told Imogen and then the DCI, I was so happy for him. It gave him the freedom he wanted. Angel.
Then we have Dean. My god, I love that bad ass, and I’m sooooooo glad he’s back, when he was in the prison with Adrian and he became his cell mate, I was just happy Adrian had protection, and there’s no fight for Imogen. I mean if there was, I’d be on Adrians side. I loooove Deans effortless bad ass bad boy behaviour, and the fact that he’s gone gunning for Craig Murphy. GET HIM!
Imogen, don’t you ever ever break my heart in thinking about ending with Adrian. Now they’ve moved in together I’m kinda hoping for an engagement along the lines. I mean *dreams*
Jason… why do I feel we haven’t seen the last of this kid? He’s gunna try and prove himself and I feel we have another Gabriel Webb in the coming books. Good luck to the kid!
Would have loved to have seen an interrogation of information play out between Carlyle, but alas he’s gunna end up jailed anyway.
This did not disappoint, never does Katerina Diamond ever. Thank you for the best Halloween book of ‘21.
This is my first (maybe second? Hmm) five star book of the year! I’ve been waiting so long to read this book that when I finally dropped I ran to the shops to grab it. It did not disappoint me.
Adrian, your poor soul. We all know from the pervious book what happened to him, and his attack, and honestly how it fucked him up. Anything like that would, you know? But it left him so helpless and he didn’t want to tell anyone. When he told Imogen and then the DCI, I was so happy for him. It gave him the freedom he wanted. Angel.
Then we have Dean. My god, I love that bad ass, and I’m sooooooo glad he’s back, when he was in the prison with Adrian and he became his cell mate, I was just happy Adrian had protection, and there’s no fight for Imogen. I mean if there was, I’d be on Adrians side. I loooove Deans effortless bad ass bad boy behaviour, and the fact that he’s gone gunning for Craig Murphy. GET HIM!
Imogen, don’t you ever ever break my heart in thinking about ending with Adrian. Now they’ve moved in together I’m kinda hoping for an engagement along the lines. I mean *dreams*
Jason… why do I feel we haven’t seen the last of this kid? He’s gunna try and prove himself and I feel we have another Gabriel Webb in the coming books. Good luck to the kid!
Would have loved to have seen an interrogation of information play out between Carlyle, but alas he’s gunna end up jailed anyway.
This did not disappoint, never does Katerina Diamond ever. Thank you for the best Halloween book of ‘21.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 7, 2021
Trick or Treat by Katerina Diamond
I give this book 4.25 stars
TRICK OR TREAT?
6 year-old Marcus is taken from outside his house on Halloween.
TRUTH OR LIES?
As Detective Imogen Grey arrives to question Marcus’s parents, they tell her there has been a mistake. Their son is just fine.
But if that’s true, where is Marcus?
INNOCENT OR GUILTY?
Imogen becomes locked in a race against time to find the missing child and uncover the truth. Can she discover what’s happened to Marcus before it’s too late?
This is book 7 in a series but can be read as a standalone (like l did)
The first thing that caught my eye was the cover!!
A pacy police procedural crime thriller that held my attention throughout.l loved the short chapters and really enjoyed the deeper insight into the main characters personal lives which made me feel like l connected with them. This book was a dark,tense and twisty read with multiple layers to the plot line.
I enjoyed the characters and writing style so much lm now in a mission to read them all!
With thanks to Netgalley,Katerina Diamond and Avon Books UK.
I give this book 4.25 stars
TRICK OR TREAT?
6 year-old Marcus is taken from outside his house on Halloween.
TRUTH OR LIES?
As Detective Imogen Grey arrives to question Marcus’s parents, they tell her there has been a mistake. Their son is just fine.
But if that’s true, where is Marcus?
INNOCENT OR GUILTY?
Imogen becomes locked in a race against time to find the missing child and uncover the truth. Can she discover what’s happened to Marcus before it’s too late?
This is book 7 in a series but can be read as a standalone (like l did)
The first thing that caught my eye was the cover!!
A pacy police procedural crime thriller that held my attention throughout.l loved the short chapters and really enjoyed the deeper insight into the main characters personal lives which made me feel like l connected with them. This book was a dark,tense and twisty read with multiple layers to the plot line.
I enjoyed the characters and writing style so much lm now in a mission to read them all!
With thanks to Netgalley,Katerina Diamond and Avon Books UK.
June 12, 2022
My favourite book series ever. I just love Imogen and Adrian as characters. This book had everything in. So many emotions. I was happy. Relieved. Sad. Overwhelmed. Desperate for answers. I'm so glad Adrian finally told imogen and it was so well told and worked out by katerina the writing is truly fantastic. Cannot wait for the next one to be released and find out what the leg...end Dean kinkaid gets up to
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 11, 2021
Simply brilliant!
This is my favourite book in this series so far.
Imogen visits a residential street where there has been a report of a young boy being kidnapped and taken away in the back of a van.
They visit the boys’ parents but at first they do not admit that their son is missing. Imogen soon gets the mother to admit that she has received a call telling her not to involve the Police, and further instructions will follow.
This is the start of a gripping race against time to find the boy but the team are really up against it.
There’s plenty of people hiding secrets and Imogen and the team do all they can to get to the truth.
Adrian is working for a security firm and is struggling with the huge secret he’s hiding from Imogen.
I really felt for Adrian in this book as it’s not that he doesn’t want to tell Imogen, as he can see he’s pushing her away, he simply can’t face up to what happened to him yet.
This is a brilliant crime thriller that I highly recommend.
The whole series is one to read but if you choose one book, then make it this one.
I can’t wait to find out what happens next.
Thanks to Avon Books UK and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
This is my favourite book in this series so far.
Imogen visits a residential street where there has been a report of a young boy being kidnapped and taken away in the back of a van.
They visit the boys’ parents but at first they do not admit that their son is missing. Imogen soon gets the mother to admit that she has received a call telling her not to involve the Police, and further instructions will follow.
This is the start of a gripping race against time to find the boy but the team are really up against it.
There’s plenty of people hiding secrets and Imogen and the team do all they can to get to the truth.
Adrian is working for a security firm and is struggling with the huge secret he’s hiding from Imogen.
I really felt for Adrian in this book as it’s not that he doesn’t want to tell Imogen, as he can see he’s pushing her away, he simply can’t face up to what happened to him yet.
This is a brilliant crime thriller that I highly recommend.
The whole series is one to read but if you choose one book, then make it this one.
I can’t wait to find out what happens next.
Thanks to Avon Books UK and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
September 7, 2021
I had really enjoyed Katerina Diamond’s previous book “Woman in the Water”, and this one was just as good. Although this is clearly a sequel, you can read it as a stand-alone, as all the information you need from previous books in the series is gently inserted into the current story.
The main story to be investigated by the police here is the abduction of a Marcus, a six-year-old boy, from outside his home. The police are alerted – not by his parents – but by an anonymous witness to the kidnapping. The parents are contacted by the kidnappers, and a demand for ransom is made.
The book opens with a teenager, Jason, taking revenge on his girlfriend for being dumped by trashing her parents’ house. Jason’s family is from the wrong side of the tracks, his brother in jail, his father AWOL:
I began by intensely disliking Jason – the girlfriend had obviously made the right choice – but as the book went on, Jason redeemed himself, and becomes one of the heroes.
The police woman in charge is Imogen. Her partner from the previous book, Adrian, has retired from the police force with PTSD following his violent rape in “Woman in the Water” – which he has not mentioned to any of his colleagues. He remains in a relationship with Imogen, which is now under severe stress, as he will not tell her what is wrong.
Although I did, of course, want Marcus to be found alive and well, for me the most important part of the story was Adrian facing up to, and overcoming, his trauma. Male rape is seldom dealt with, seldom acknowledged – but the effects can be as devastating for men as women. Men don’t often live with the fear of rape as women do, and don’t have to worry about resulting pregnancy, but if women still have a monumental task getting their rapist convicted, they are at least nowadays generally believed.
A man is assumed to be strong enough to repel any attack, if he doesn’t, then his manhood, his entire identity, is called into question. So, many male rape victims remain silent.
Adrian’s suffering is so vivid in this book – I so much wanted him to find the perpetrator and live free again:
There are two really evil people (as well as any number of bad eggs) in this book– one of them being the rapist. For the other, it takes a while before his true psychopathy is revealed, and Marcus is not his only victim.
I can highly recommend this book to anyone who likes an excellent police procedural, and also to anyone who wants to know more about dealing with the aftermath of rape. At the end of “Woman in the Water” there is a list of places offering support for male victims of sexual assault.
I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and not influenced by either the author or publisher.
The main story to be investigated by the police here is the abduction of a Marcus, a six-year-old boy, from outside his home. The police are alerted – not by his parents – but by an anonymous witness to the kidnapping. The parents are contacted by the kidnappers, and a demand for ransom is made.
The book opens with a teenager, Jason, taking revenge on his girlfriend for being dumped by trashing her parents’ house. Jason’s family is from the wrong side of the tracks, his brother in jail, his father AWOL:
“Feeling like a loser wasn’t even second nature to Jason, it was first nature.”
I began by intensely disliking Jason – the girlfriend had obviously made the right choice – but as the book went on, Jason redeemed himself, and becomes one of the heroes.
The police woman in charge is Imogen. Her partner from the previous book, Adrian, has retired from the police force with PTSD following his violent rape in “Woman in the Water” – which he has not mentioned to any of his colleagues. He remains in a relationship with Imogen, which is now under severe stress, as he will not tell her what is wrong.
Although I did, of course, want Marcus to be found alive and well, for me the most important part of the story was Adrian facing up to, and overcoming, his trauma. Male rape is seldom dealt with, seldom acknowledged – but the effects can be as devastating for men as women. Men don’t often live with the fear of rape as women do, and don’t have to worry about resulting pregnancy, but if women still have a monumental task getting their rapist convicted, they are at least nowadays generally believed.
“In her own mind there was nothing more damaging than rape. It was like killing someone without physically killing them, destroying something precious that could not be repaired. As a woman it was something she thought about often. Whenever she was walking home alone, in an underground car park, or a lift alone with a man she didn’t know. Even for the briefest of moments it might pop into her mind that she wasn’t safe, as though women were conditioned or resigned to the fact that it would probably happen one day.”
A man is assumed to be strong enough to repel any attack, if he doesn’t, then his manhood, his entire identity, is called into question. So, many male rape victims remain silent.
“I believe Corrigan used sexual assault to control and undermine men that were in his way. He knows none of them would say anything about it to the police.’”
Adrian’s suffering is so vivid in this book – I so much wanted him to find the perpetrator and live free again:
“But he knew he couldn’t live like this any longer. He couldn’t hold his breath every time he walked down the street or turned a corner, in case he heard that voice again. He had spent the last year wondering if the faces of the men he walked past belonged to the man he spent five hours with in the back of that van.”
There are two really evil people (as well as any number of bad eggs) in this book– one of them being the rapist. For the other, it takes a while before his true psychopathy is revealed, and Marcus is not his only victim.
I can highly recommend this book to anyone who likes an excellent police procedural, and also to anyone who wants to know more about dealing with the aftermath of rape. At the end of “Woman in the Water” there is a list of places offering support for male victims of sexual assault.
I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and not influenced by either the author or publisher.
October 22, 2023
Marcus Carlyle is a six year old boy who is kidnapped outside his home on Halloween by two men in a white van. The only witness is Jason Hitchin, who after being dumped by his girlfriend, decides to break into her home while her family are away on holiday and dish out some revenge.
Jason calls the police disguising his voice. When DS Imogen Gray arrives at the house the parents initially say everything is fine but Imogen can tell from the mother's worried face that all is not well.
Imogen becomes locked in a race against time to find the missing child and uncover the truth.
This is the seventh book in this amazing series. I have loved every one and this did not disappoint. Again I was completely hooked from the start .
I definitely recommend this series.
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
Jason calls the police disguising his voice. When DS Imogen Gray arrives at the house the parents initially say everything is fine but Imogen can tell from the mother's worried face that all is not well.
Imogen becomes locked in a race against time to find the missing child and uncover the truth.
This is the seventh book in this amazing series. I have loved every one and this did not disappoint. Again I was completely hooked from the start .
I definitely recommend this series.
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
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