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The Forensic Files/North East Police #1
With Deadly Intent
When Crime Scene Manager, Cass Hunt, is called to a fatal road traffic collision in the dead of the night, not all is as it seems. Working alongside Detective Chief Inspector, Alex McKay, they soon realise they're dealing with murder. When another body turns up, along with a startling revelation that leaves the whole force reeling, Cass and Alex step up the pace to find the killer before his latest prize becomes another victim. Can they gather the evidence and link the crimes together, or will the person watching stop them in their tracks?The hunt is on. “Exciting debut novel from one to watch for – full of twists and unexpected turns” – Sheila Quigley, best-selling author of The Seahills Series and The Holy Island Trilogy.
372 pages, Paperback
First published April 14, 2016
58 people are currently reading
293 people want to read
About the author
K.A. Richardson
11 books77 followersMy name is KA Richardson, and I am a crime and romantic suspense writer based in the North East of England. I write around my other work commitments so am constantly on the go. I love reading many genres, love speaking to people and I spend a lot of time people-watching in coffee shops, though if I'm honest this is more for the purposes of character-building and plotting. I enjoy watching 'cop' shows from both the UK and the USA, and am a fan of sci-fi. I began thinking about writing as a career in 2010 and completed my Ma Creative Writing in 2011. I love to be inspired, and enjoy spending time with friends and family, as well as other like-minded folk. My website has some more info on me, if you're interested pop on over to www.kerryannrichardson.com, or I can be found on Facebook as KA Richardson and Twitter @kerryann77.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews
November 19, 2017
3.5 stars (rounded to 3 stars)
This is the first installment of the North East Police series, and I believe, the author’s debut novel. This currently 4-book series has some seriously high star ratings. Therefore, my expectations were high. It fell short for me.
There are definitely things to like about the book. What I liked most were the main characters and their chemistry. The protagonist is Crime Scene Manager Cass Hunt. She has a great dog name Ollie, and her love interest is the engaging DCI Alex McKay. McKay seems to be a regular guy with only a modicum of baggage. Cass has major baggage, and I would have liked to know more detail about her background. After I finished the book I found that there a short story called Escape that sheds more light on her past. The plot was good, though a little predictable, and the story flowed well. I liked the short subchapters with the site and time of the action noted. There is a nice run of suspense during the finale, and the ending is good, though I would have liked more show and less tell. Finally I liked getting into the bad guy’s mind.
Overall though, the book isn’t terribly suspenseful. I wasn’t too surprised by the identity of the bad guy as the candidates were whittled down pretty well. There are also a couple of animal abuse scenes that I had to skip over. Most crime fiction readers are women, I suspect, and most women love animals and hate anything related to animal abuse. It baffles me why crime authors feel the need to include these scenes in their books. Some readers will “dnf” a book right on the spot when an animal abuse scene appears. I also thought the dialogue was at times rather stilted.
Because this is the author’s debut, I suspect her writing will grow. As noted above, the star ratings are high for the series. For these reasons, and since I connected with the characters and was basically entertained, I will give book #2 a shot. I do see potential here.
This is the first installment of the North East Police series, and I believe, the author’s debut novel. This currently 4-book series has some seriously high star ratings. Therefore, my expectations were high. It fell short for me.
There are definitely things to like about the book. What I liked most were the main characters and their chemistry. The protagonist is Crime Scene Manager Cass Hunt. She has a great dog name Ollie, and her love interest is the engaging DCI Alex McKay. McKay seems to be a regular guy with only a modicum of baggage. Cass has major baggage, and I would have liked to know more detail about her background. After I finished the book I found that there a short story called Escape that sheds more light on her past. The plot was good, though a little predictable, and the story flowed well. I liked the short subchapters with the site and time of the action noted. There is a nice run of suspense during the finale, and the ending is good, though I would have liked more show and less tell. Finally I liked getting into the bad guy’s mind.
Overall though, the book isn’t terribly suspenseful. I wasn’t too surprised by the identity of the bad guy as the candidates were whittled down pretty well. There are also a couple of animal abuse scenes that I had to skip over. Most crime fiction readers are women, I suspect, and most women love animals and hate anything related to animal abuse. It baffles me why crime authors feel the need to include these scenes in their books. Some readers will “dnf” a book right on the spot when an animal abuse scene appears. I also thought the dialogue was at times rather stilted.
Because this is the author’s debut, I suspect her writing will grow. As noted above, the star ratings are high for the series. For these reasons, and since I connected with the characters and was basically entertained, I will give book #2 a shot. I do see potential here.
January 2, 2021
WITH DEADLY INTENT is the first novel in The Forensic Files/North East Police series, by K.A. Richardson.
Crime Scene Manager, Cass Hunt, is called to a fatal road traffic collision in the dead of night, not all is as it seems. There was no evidence of skid marks, nothing to say the victim had attempted to apply her brakes. The airbag had failed to deploy. The victim was identified as twenty-six-year-old, Susan Mackintosh, who worked at a store and had two young kids and a husband. Her jugular had been sliced based on the laceration to her neck.
This was no accident…but murder!
Cass ends up working on a murder case with DCI Alex McKay.
What follows are more gruesome murders, a dead dog, and a startling revelation has the whole of the North East Police force spinning. Will they catch him before his latest prize becomes another victim?
But the killer is watching and observing from a distance the comings and goings from the crime scene. He takes his time and plans and executes each kill.
He is deadly, and dangerous, and is coming for her.
This crime novel is an excellent start to a new series. Love the interaction between the characters, and especially, “Ollie”, Cass’s dog. Definitely the start of a romance between her and DCI Alex McKay, so looking forward to starting the next book in the series.
Crime Scene Manager, Cass Hunt, is called to a fatal road traffic collision in the dead of night, not all is as it seems. There was no evidence of skid marks, nothing to say the victim had attempted to apply her brakes. The airbag had failed to deploy. The victim was identified as twenty-six-year-old, Susan Mackintosh, who worked at a store and had two young kids and a husband. Her jugular had been sliced based on the laceration to her neck.
This was no accident…but murder!
Cass ends up working on a murder case with DCI Alex McKay.
What follows are more gruesome murders, a dead dog, and a startling revelation has the whole of the North East Police force spinning. Will they catch him before his latest prize becomes another victim?
But the killer is watching and observing from a distance the comings and goings from the crime scene. He takes his time and plans and executes each kill.
He is deadly, and dangerous, and is coming for her.
This crime novel is an excellent start to a new series. Love the interaction between the characters, and especially, “Ollie”, Cass’s dog. Definitely the start of a romance between her and DCI Alex McKay, so looking forward to starting the next book in the series.
June 19, 2016
There is nothing worse than an author writing a thriller and its not fast paced or "thrilling".
This was NOT one of those. This was a rollercoaster ride that had big huge dips in the middle of it that made you scream with horror, or shout with the words "Stop you best not do that".
This is on of those cliche readers time where I say " I couldn't put the book down" and its true, I couldn't sleep, I need to, but I just had to keep on reading.
Its so well rounded this story that each chapter goes into the next where you say to yourself inside your head 'one more chapter then bed'....
one one more chapter then bed.
And before you know it the morning is breaking light.
This is a fabulous start to a series and I can't wait for book two.
I need to say this, I gotta say this.......I love the cover.
Thank you to the author K A Richardson for allowing me to read and review this book.
I need book 2 now.
January 2, 2017
Thoroughly enjoyed this book by a new writer who in my opinion could easily be compared to some of the big name authors. I couldn't put this book down, I found it thrilling, informative without being excessive and the characters to be totally believable. Having being born and bred in Sunderland myself and the story being set here it made the book all the more enjoyable, I hope to read many more by KA Richardson!
October 12, 2016
Review first published on my blog http://thebookreviewcafe.com
I found With Deadly Intent to be refreshingly different from most of the police procedural books I normally read, Cass Hunt the protagonist, isn’t your usual detective who comes with a whole load of baggage, she is a CSM- Crime Scene Manager, and as her title suggests she is the person responsible for managing the crime scene. When Cass is called to the scene of a fatal road accident, it soon becomes clear this was no accident and Cass finds herself working on a murder case, alongside DCI Alex McKay. As more gruesome murders take place, the investigation to catch the killer begins in earnest. By having two characters investigating the crime in different capacities the author very cleverly interweave the forensics and police work, making for an interesting and original read.
Great characterisation and natural sounding dialogue, the pace seems to bound along nicely, I found the characters to be credible and well developed, I particularly liked Cass, despite a traumatic past, she doesn’t let her past rule her life, in her job she is methodical and meticulous, but she also has a vulnerable side which becomes more apparent as the story progresses. One thing I wasn’t to keen on if I’m honest was the “romantic” side of the story, I much prefer a crime book to focus on the Gritty side of crime, but that’s only my preferred preference.
Some of the chapters are from the killers perspective, so you know what the murderer is thinking, as well as their motives for committing such hideous crimes, which certainly added tension and suspense to the plot. The plot was very well thought out and although I guessed who the killer was fairly early on, it didn’t distract from my enjoyment of this novel.
It’s a fairly short story but the author certainly packed a lot in, if I’m honest I did find the talk of budget cuts and redundancy’s a little off putting, again when I read a crime story I like to get to the nitty gritty stuff and not get distracted. In the authors defence she has written a highly entertaining novel, and bearing in mind this was KA Richardson’s debut novel, I think the author has done a very good job and written an intriguing read with well developed characters, and an original plot, and I will certainly be reading the second book in the series I’ve Been Watching You.
I found With Deadly Intent to be refreshingly different from most of the police procedural books I normally read, Cass Hunt the protagonist, isn’t your usual detective who comes with a whole load of baggage, she is a CSM- Crime Scene Manager, and as her title suggests she is the person responsible for managing the crime scene. When Cass is called to the scene of a fatal road accident, it soon becomes clear this was no accident and Cass finds herself working on a murder case, alongside DCI Alex McKay. As more gruesome murders take place, the investigation to catch the killer begins in earnest. By having two characters investigating the crime in different capacities the author very cleverly interweave the forensics and police work, making for an interesting and original read.
Great characterisation and natural sounding dialogue, the pace seems to bound along nicely, I found the characters to be credible and well developed, I particularly liked Cass, despite a traumatic past, she doesn’t let her past rule her life, in her job she is methodical and meticulous, but she also has a vulnerable side which becomes more apparent as the story progresses. One thing I wasn’t to keen on if I’m honest was the “romantic” side of the story, I much prefer a crime book to focus on the Gritty side of crime, but that’s only my preferred preference.
Some of the chapters are from the killers perspective, so you know what the murderer is thinking, as well as their motives for committing such hideous crimes, which certainly added tension and suspense to the plot. The plot was very well thought out and although I guessed who the killer was fairly early on, it didn’t distract from my enjoyment of this novel.
It’s a fairly short story but the author certainly packed a lot in, if I’m honest I did find the talk of budget cuts and redundancy’s a little off putting, again when I read a crime story I like to get to the nitty gritty stuff and not get distracted. In the authors defence she has written a highly entertaining novel, and bearing in mind this was KA Richardson’s debut novel, I think the author has done a very good job and written an intriguing read with well developed characters, and an original plot, and I will certainly be reading the second book in the series I’ve Been Watching You.
August 1, 2016
What a great debut novel this is.
On the surface Cass is a strong and independent woman who lives for her job. Due to a bad relationship with her now ex which left her fighting for her life, underneath she is very fragile. I love how only really the readers and Alex see the fragile and damaged part of her. The reader as well as Alex can't help but care about this person and you are routing for her to do well in her work as well as find some happiness which luckily she does through the form of Alex.
Alex is also a great character who has a failed relationship behind him but being around Cass, there's just something about her that keeps drawing him to her. Luckily Alex manages to break down Cass's barriers and get close to her.
The case that Alex and Cass are working on is pretty gruesome and what the victims have to endure certainly makes for uncomfortable reading but that made this book even darker and grittier which I loved. The author certainly doesn't hold back anything which adds to the tension of the story and makes it a truly gripping story.
It's very much a case of cat and mouse with the killer playing games with the police. It takes a while for Cass and Alex to put the clues together but when they do the story increases it's pace so that you are hurtling towards the end to see how it will all end.
With Deadly Intent is actually the first novel in a new crime series and I for one can't wait to read more.
On the surface Cass is a strong and independent woman who lives for her job. Due to a bad relationship with her now ex which left her fighting for her life, underneath she is very fragile. I love how only really the readers and Alex see the fragile and damaged part of her. The reader as well as Alex can't help but care about this person and you are routing for her to do well in her work as well as find some happiness which luckily she does through the form of Alex.
Alex is also a great character who has a failed relationship behind him but being around Cass, there's just something about her that keeps drawing him to her. Luckily Alex manages to break down Cass's barriers and get close to her.
The case that Alex and Cass are working on is pretty gruesome and what the victims have to endure certainly makes for uncomfortable reading but that made this book even darker and grittier which I loved. The author certainly doesn't hold back anything which adds to the tension of the story and makes it a truly gripping story.
It's very much a case of cat and mouse with the killer playing games with the police. It takes a while for Cass and Alex to put the clues together but when they do the story increases it's pace so that you are hurtling towards the end to see how it will all end.
With Deadly Intent is actually the first novel in a new crime series and I for one can't wait to read more.
November 28, 2020
Cass Hunt is a Crime Scene Manager. Called to a fatal road accident, she determines this was not an accident ... the woman in the car was murdered.
Working along side DCI Alex McCay, they discover another murder .... one that sends the entire department in a frenzy. The victim was once one of them. His murder is gruesome.
When a third body is found .. there is another connection.
Gathering all the evidence of all three murders, McCay is the first to notice something he hadn't seen before. Could their killer be closer than they think?
And Cass is next on the killer's to-do list.
This is well written with a few twists and turns along the way. Cass has secrets from her past ... has her past come to haunt her? The characters are solidly defined, even has a little romance starting. The ending is explosive and surprising. No cliff hanger here, there is a small hint of what's to come next. I look forward to reading the next book in this series.
Many thanks to the author for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
Working along side DCI Alex McCay, they discover another murder .... one that sends the entire department in a frenzy. The victim was once one of them. His murder is gruesome.
When a third body is found .. there is another connection.
Gathering all the evidence of all three murders, McCay is the first to notice something he hadn't seen before. Could their killer be closer than they think?
And Cass is next on the killer's to-do list.
This is well written with a few twists and turns along the way. Cass has secrets from her past ... has her past come to haunt her? The characters are solidly defined, even has a little romance starting. The ending is explosive and surprising. No cliff hanger here, there is a small hint of what's to come next. I look forward to reading the next book in this series.
Many thanks to the author for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
April 26, 2016
I would like to begin by thanking the author, K.A Richardson, and Helen Boyce at THE Book Club on Facebook, very much for giving me the opportunity to read this fantastic book.
As soon as I read the back cover of "With Deadly Intent" I knew it was a book I *had* to read. I love a good Stalker Thriller read!
The characters were very well developed and the story was a fast paced roller coaster of a ride! My knuckles were constantly being gnawed on and at times I yelled (in my head, out loud would have scared a few people!) "No! You really don't want to do that!" I read at every given opportunity, under the bed covers at night, under the dinner table, on the quiet walk home from the school run - whenever and wherever I could.
A fantastic read and I really look forward to reading the next in the series. Highly recommended.
As soon as I read the back cover of "With Deadly Intent" I knew it was a book I *had* to read. I love a good Stalker Thriller read!
The characters were very well developed and the story was a fast paced roller coaster of a ride! My knuckles were constantly being gnawed on and at times I yelled (in my head, out loud would have scared a few people!) "No! You really don't want to do that!" I read at every given opportunity, under the bed covers at night, under the dinner table, on the quiet walk home from the school run - whenever and wherever I could.
A fantastic read and I really look forward to reading the next in the series. Highly recommended.
March 11, 2017
Another great debut novel by a new (for me) author.
The main protagonist is Cass, a Crime Scene Manager (CSM) who doggedly pursues the clues from a particularly nasty series of murders. Cass has trouble forming relationships because of abuse in her past but she still manages to get it on with DCI Alex McKay - go girl.
It starts with a fatal traffic accident that is not as it seems and the murders get progressively more inventive. It sure was a nail-biter. To up the creep factor, part of the story was also told from the killer's POV as he stalked and killed his victims.
To add to the suspense, the killer was also stalking Cass. From there it was a gripping cat and mouse run to the finish. Oh dear, another series to follow. How ever will I get to all these books?
The main protagonist is Cass, a Crime Scene Manager (CSM) who doggedly pursues the clues from a particularly nasty series of murders. Cass has trouble forming relationships because of abuse in her past but she still manages to get it on with DCI Alex McKay - go girl.
It starts with a fatal traffic accident that is not as it seems and the murders get progressively more inventive. It sure was a nail-biter. To up the creep factor, part of the story was also told from the killer's POV as he stalked and killed his victims.
To add to the suspense, the killer was also stalking Cass. From there it was a gripping cat and mouse run to the finish. Oh dear, another series to follow. How ever will I get to all these books?
May 9, 2016
WOW, WOW, WOW is how I felt after reading this exciting and well written book. It is always exciting to discover such a fantastic new author and I cannot give KA Richardson enough praise for this book.
Cass lives alone in a deserted wooded area after living through a traumatic nightmare with her ex, finds it hard to trust people and lives for her job as a crime scene manager. DCI Alex McKay, also works for the North East Police force and investigates a road accident with Cass and a friendship develops between them.
I simply loved Cass, Alex, Rose, Cass’s devoted mother and the adorable Ollie and found them to be wonderful and believable characters.
With Deadly Intent is a gripping, fast paced, very exciting and heart pounding book that I can’t recommend highly enough and will now be reading the novella Escape, which describes Cass’s past.
I hope this is the first in a long line of books in an amazing new series.
Many thanks to THE Book Club (TBC) and KA Richardson for this gripping 5* ARC.
Cass lives alone in a deserted wooded area after living through a traumatic nightmare with her ex, finds it hard to trust people and lives for her job as a crime scene manager. DCI Alex McKay, also works for the North East Police force and investigates a road accident with Cass and a friendship develops between them.
I simply loved Cass, Alex, Rose, Cass’s devoted mother and the adorable Ollie and found them to be wonderful and believable characters.
With Deadly Intent is a gripping, fast paced, very exciting and heart pounding book that I can’t recommend highly enough and will now be reading the novella Escape, which describes Cass’s past.
I hope this is the first in a long line of books in an amazing new series.
Many thanks to THE Book Club (TBC) and KA Richardson for this gripping 5* ARC.
April 30, 2016
Wow! This has to be my favourite book of the year so far...will take a lot to beat it!
The story follows Cass, who must try and solve the case of the serial killer...very much written as if watching a criminal series. It pulls you in and keeps you on the edge of your seat!
You must read it if you like thrillers/criminal fiction...very descriptive.
Thanks to TBC for the arc in return of a honest review!
The story follows Cass, who must try and solve the case of the serial killer...very much written as if watching a criminal series. It pulls you in and keeps you on the edge of your seat!
You must read it if you like thrillers/criminal fiction...very descriptive.
Thanks to TBC for the arc in return of a honest review!
April 22, 2016
I could not put this book down, FANTASTIC. The author had me hooked from the first page and had me on the edge of my seat throughout. A well deserved 5 stars.
March 5, 2018
Some silly errors in this one but all in all a decent story.
May 9, 2016
Where to begin?? The first chapter of the book blew my mind and I immediately knew I was hooked.
I loved the fact that we got to see into the mind of the killer from the very beginning, even though we don't know who he is. Every chapter that was from his point for view scared me because you were able to see how dangerous he was and just how unpredictable he was becoming throughout the book.
From the start I loved Cass and Alex, it was so great to see their relationship develop. I love books where the lead is a strong female character but so often I find the characters close themselves off to those around them and if they have suffered a traumatic experience they never open up and always feel the need to be strong. I really found it refreshing that Cass was open about what happened to her and she felt she could trust and rely on Alex. I loved that she cried and was scared, it made her so much more human and relatable.
The characters were likable and I immediately connected to them and by the end I felt like I knew them. The suspense was so intense and I just could not put it down.
Congratulations on a brilliant book!
I loved the fact that we got to see into the mind of the killer from the very beginning, even though we don't know who he is. Every chapter that was from his point for view scared me because you were able to see how dangerous he was and just how unpredictable he was becoming throughout the book.
From the start I loved Cass and Alex, it was so great to see their relationship develop. I love books where the lead is a strong female character but so often I find the characters close themselves off to those around them and if they have suffered a traumatic experience they never open up and always feel the need to be strong. I really found it refreshing that Cass was open about what happened to her and she felt she could trust and rely on Alex. I loved that she cried and was scared, it made her so much more human and relatable.
The characters were likable and I immediately connected to them and by the end I felt like I knew them. The suspense was so intense and I just could not put it down.
Congratulations on a brilliant book!
April 19, 2016
Firstly my thanks to TBC and MS Richardson for giving me the opportunity to review this book.
Crime scene manager, Cass Hunt is called to the scene of a fatal road accident . Things aren't that simple and she finds herself working alongside DCI Alex McKay.
From the prologue of this book I just knew I was going to love it. I loved the storyline and the characters. All the characters were introduced and developed so well. This was a book that kept my interest the whole way through. At times my heart was in my mouth. There were a few gruesome scenes and the author has described everything brilliantly. I almost felt at times that I was there with Cass and her team.
I cannot wait to read more books by Ms Richardson. This was a massive and well deserved 5 star read from me.
April 22, 2016
I am grateful to the author and to THE Book Club on Facebook for giving me the opportunity to read this book and provide an honest, unbiased review.
To put it simply, I loved this book!! The style of writing was very easy to read, the pace was quick moving, the characters credible. I found it hard to put the book down. The plot was well thought out, and a lot of questions which were raised in my head were answered as the story unfolded. I think there was a teaser in there which may see a follow up book, and I sincerely hope I'm right! There's certainly something more to explore...
This was a five star read for me, and I will definitely be looking for more from K A Richardson.
To put it simply, I loved this book!! The style of writing was very easy to read, the pace was quick moving, the characters credible. I found it hard to put the book down. The plot was well thought out, and a lot of questions which were raised in my head were answered as the story unfolded. I think there was a teaser in there which may see a follow up book, and I sincerely hope I'm right! There's certainly something more to explore...
This was a five star read for me, and I will definitely be looking for more from K A Richardson.
April 22, 2016
Review by Felicity 22/04/2016
Oh what a tangled web we weave!!!!
This book is absolutely brilliant, very well written with loads of description so that you feel as if you are in the zone the whole time and know exactly what's going on.
The characters of Alex and Cass are so down to earth that you can actually identify with their feelings, a mixture of professionalism and personal. I hope that we will hear more from them.
Very well done to the author and I would highly recommend this book as I certainly CPID.
Oh what a tangled web we weave!!!!
This book is absolutely brilliant, very well written with loads of description so that you feel as if you are in the zone the whole time and know exactly what's going on.
The characters of Alex and Cass are so down to earth that you can actually identify with their feelings, a mixture of professionalism and personal. I hope that we will hear more from them.
Very well done to the author and I would highly recommend this book as I certainly CPID.
April 24, 2016
Having been a little disappointed with some of the crime thrillers I have read recently, mostly because of irritating main characters, I have to say that I loved this book. It had me hooked from start to finish! I guessed who the killer was before it was revealed but this didn't spoil my enjoyment at all. The plot is well thought out, the writing is very good and the characters are well developed and likeable.
I think this is a debut novel, which makes it even more impressive. I don't know if this is the first in a series but I certainly hope so.
I think this is a debut novel, which makes it even more impressive. I don't know if this is the first in a series but I certainly hope so.
June 14, 2016
Reading this book is like watching an episode of Silent Witness. The mix of forensics and police work is very interesting and interweaves nicely. It's clear the author knows her stuff on this subject.
I really liked the two main characters. There was depth as we found out about their personal and professional lives. I hope to read more about them in the following books.
I felt like I was learning something while reading With Deadly Intent. So definitely recommend this to people who have an interest in the forensic side of crimes.
I really liked the two main characters. There was depth as we found out about their personal and professional lives. I hope to read more about them in the following books.
I felt like I was learning something while reading With Deadly Intent. So definitely recommend this to people who have an interest in the forensic side of crimes.
November 2, 2017
The first book in the series and what a brilliant start! Fast paced, thrilling and completely addictive I wish I'd started the series sooner! Full of twists and turns throughout, believable characters that you can't help but warm to. I thoroughly recommended this book to anyone who loves a gripping police procedural! Fantastic book!!
May 16, 2016
This was one I really wanted to like, but found it lacked that certain spark. I found it rather slow and formulaic. The author has received many, many glowing reviews so I realise that perhaps it's just this genre isn't for me at the moment.
Loved the Wearside setting.
Loved the Wearside setting.
January 13, 2021
I enjoyed this book and am looking forward to the next one. A great read
November 27, 2017
Excellent. Review to follow
April 20, 2016
This is my second book this week that has featured a "forensic specialist" as lead character and I have to say that if I were to compare the two, this one would win hands down. It had everything that the other book lacked.
Crime Scene Manager Cass Hunt is called out at night to examine an RTA is which a young woman has lost her life. She soon spots that there is more to the "accident" and is teamed up with DCI Alex McKay to investigate the crime, now elevated to a murder enquiry. Then, another body is discovered, is this new crime connected or just coincidence?
I enjoyed the way the story was delivered. It is one of those where the reader knows more than the police and I do like that concept used in a crime book when executed correctly. In this book it was, although I did have an inkling as to the identity of the bad guy earlier than perhaps I would have liked, I wasn't completely sure until much later on.
Characterisation was good. I really do love my characters and they can make or break a book for me. In this book. Ms Richardson has it pretty much spot on. Characters are well described, fleshed out and developed nicely as the book progressed and we got to know them better. One thing I have to mention is that I felt that some of the "romantic" elements weren't entirely necessary for me but, I hasten to add that this is my personal opinion based only on what I want/need from a book of this genre and as such is not meant to reflect on the author.
Plot was good and tight, pacing was on the whole good too and I also found the forensic elements very interesting to read about. The politics around budget cuts and staffing levels/ redundancies notsomuch and, at times, I found them a bit distracting and their prominence a bit unnecessary with respect to the overall story. That again is a "me thing" because I do like a book to get on with it and anyway, there may be a bigger picture that I either missed or that will be revealed later.
Based on the fact that the author has taken so much time and trouble to set scenes and introduce/develop characters, I am going to assume that this is the start of a series. If I'm wrong, it'll be a shame because I feel that there is much more to be had from these characters. Hopefully I am right and, if so, I'll definitely be reading book two.
I received a free copy of this book from The Book Club on Facebook (TBConFB) in exchange for my honest review.
Crime Scene Manager Cass Hunt is called out at night to examine an RTA is which a young woman has lost her life. She soon spots that there is more to the "accident" and is teamed up with DCI Alex McKay to investigate the crime, now elevated to a murder enquiry. Then, another body is discovered, is this new crime connected or just coincidence?
I enjoyed the way the story was delivered. It is one of those where the reader knows more than the police and I do like that concept used in a crime book when executed correctly. In this book it was, although I did have an inkling as to the identity of the bad guy earlier than perhaps I would have liked, I wasn't completely sure until much later on.
Characterisation was good. I really do love my characters and they can make or break a book for me. In this book. Ms Richardson has it pretty much spot on. Characters are well described, fleshed out and developed nicely as the book progressed and we got to know them better. One thing I have to mention is that I felt that some of the "romantic" elements weren't entirely necessary for me but, I hasten to add that this is my personal opinion based only on what I want/need from a book of this genre and as such is not meant to reflect on the author.
Plot was good and tight, pacing was on the whole good too and I also found the forensic elements very interesting to read about. The politics around budget cuts and staffing levels/ redundancies notsomuch and, at times, I found them a bit distracting and their prominence a bit unnecessary with respect to the overall story. That again is a "me thing" because I do like a book to get on with it and anyway, there may be a bigger picture that I either missed or that will be revealed later.
Based on the fact that the author has taken so much time and trouble to set scenes and introduce/develop characters, I am going to assume that this is the start of a series. If I'm wrong, it'll be a shame because I feel that there is much more to be had from these characters. Hopefully I am right and, if so, I'll definitely be reading book two.
I received a free copy of this book from The Book Club on Facebook (TBConFB) in exchange for my honest review.
April 15, 2016
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Wow - that was my first thought when I finished reading this - what a fantastic storyline!!
YOU WANT HER, I HAVE HER, NOW FIND HER
When Crime Scene Manager, Cass Hunt, is called to a fatal road traffic collision in the dead of night, not all is as it seems and the last thing she expects is to end up working on a murder case with DCI Alex McKay. More gruesome murders, a dead dog, and a startling revelation has the whole of the North East Police force reeling. Will they catch him before his latest prize becomes another victim and he fades into the shadows once more? From the tree-line, someone is watching, and he doesn’t like where the investigation leads. Taking his time, he plans and executes each kill. He will not rest until his job is complete. One thing’s for certain, his intent is deadly, he’s dangerous, and he’s coming for her.
This is a fantastic read - it's fast paced, easily keeps you engaged and the characters work very well together which only enhances the story overall. I found to be quite believable and it really makes you think about who is really out there and how well do you really know the people you call friends and acquaintances... I was gripped from the first chapter. This book was easily 5 stars for me, its quite a short book compared to some but the author really packs a punch with the content - the book was release yesterday so you can grab your copy now!!
Wow - that was my first thought when I finished reading this - what a fantastic storyline!!
YOU WANT HER, I HAVE HER, NOW FIND HER
When Crime Scene Manager, Cass Hunt, is called to a fatal road traffic collision in the dead of night, not all is as it seems and the last thing she expects is to end up working on a murder case with DCI Alex McKay. More gruesome murders, a dead dog, and a startling revelation has the whole of the North East Police force reeling. Will they catch him before his latest prize becomes another victim and he fades into the shadows once more? From the tree-line, someone is watching, and he doesn’t like where the investigation leads. Taking his time, he plans and executes each kill. He will not rest until his job is complete. One thing’s for certain, his intent is deadly, he’s dangerous, and he’s coming for her.
This is a fantastic read - it's fast paced, easily keeps you engaged and the characters work very well together which only enhances the story overall. I found to be quite believable and it really makes you think about who is really out there and how well do you really know the people you call friends and acquaintances... I was gripped from the first chapter. This book was easily 5 stars for me, its quite a short book compared to some but the author really packs a punch with the content - the book was release yesterday so you can grab your copy now!!
June 18, 2016
This book is fantastic. It pulled me in from the beginning and hasn't let me go now I've finished it!
The story focuses on Cass, a Crime Scene Manager - which is a nice twist on the usual DI characters which tend to be the protagonists in psychological thrillers. I love her relationship with her dog almost as much as the storyline!
Brilliantly written with excellent characterisation of the key players, this truly is a 'can't put it down' book! K A Richardson has now been added to my list of authors whose books I will buy without needing to read the blurb of her forthcoming works. Spectacular!!
Thank you to the author and THE book club for an ARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
The story focuses on Cass, a Crime Scene Manager - which is a nice twist on the usual DI characters which tend to be the protagonists in psychological thrillers. I love her relationship with her dog almost as much as the storyline!
Brilliantly written with excellent characterisation of the key players, this truly is a 'can't put it down' book! K A Richardson has now been added to my list of authors whose books I will buy without needing to read the blurb of her forthcoming works. Spectacular!!
Thank you to the author and THE book club for an ARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
August 16, 2016
I'm the minority... I realize that. But this wasn't a page turner for me. I didn't hate it, but I predicted everything and I found it dragged on with too many extras like what they were eating and a lot of conversations between the characters that weren't necessary. Plus there was a lot of dog killing and I just can't take that. And it just seemed to be thrown in there. Like, there were pages and pages of pleasant conversation over coffee or tea and then it switches to the killers point of view and he kills a dog. The mood of the story wasn't consistent so I couldn't get into a flow. But that's me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 3, 2016
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I was excited to read a full length novel by this author after reading an excellent short story by her. This is a first novel that is excellently researched but does occasionally have natural slow points. On the whole though i thought it was an excellent read with some genuinely brilliant characters and i am really looking forward to reading more from this author, she is definitely a talent to watch she will go far.
April 20, 2016
I really enjoyed this book. Very well written with strong characters and a great storyline. I loved the angle it is written from - the crime scene - and the characters developed well throughout the story (definitely felt like they'lll be more to come from these characters). Although this novel would probably be in the crime section it has much more to offer
Thank you to K A Richardson and TBC for this copy in return for an honest review
Thank you to K A Richardson and TBC for this copy in return for an honest review
April 22, 2016
A great debut novel by KA RichardsonTells the story of Cass Hunter overcoming her demons. I particularly liked her bravery and fiesty attitude. The book explained a lot of CSI scenes in detail which was a bonus. A great story .Thanks to Shell of the crime book club for my advanced copy . 5 stars from me
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