Shattered

DI Kate Fletcher #5

by Heleyne Hammersley

When you can't prove it's murder, how do you get justice?

DI Kate Fletcher is called to a gory crime scene just outside Doncaster. Julia Sullivan – a prominent right-wing local politician – has been murdered in her bath, her wrists and throat slashed with a shard of mirror. Despite the presence of a note, the death is clearly not suicide.

A second fake suicide is discovered near the village of Turton. At the scene, Kate is struck by the similarity of the note to the one at the Sullivan scene. Is it possible that the victims are connected?

When a third murder is uncovered, Kate realises she is on the hunt for a vicious killer, whose motive may well be buried in the past…

290 pages, Paperback

First published June 7, 2021

Reviews

[Linda Strong · Rating 4 out of 5]

When a series of 3 murders occur over a short amount of time, DI Kate Fletcher feels that the case are all connected somehow.

The victims were all women. All of them were staged to look like suicides, complete with similar notes. A broken mirror is also at each crime scene.

One of the victims is one of their own, a retired law officer who once was undercover. The other victims were very vocal about any number of issues.

The plot is well woven, bouncing back and forth between 30 years ago and today. The characters are solidly put together and bring credibility to the overall story. There's plenty of action, varied suspects, and a very skilled team to hunt down the links and hopefully prevent another death. There are twists and turns that lead to an unexpected conclusion. Although 5th in the series, this is easily read as a stand alone. However, I do recommend reading in order.

Many thanks to the author / Bloodhound Books for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

[Alan Cotterell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shattering

Another great installatiment in Di Kate Fletcher series. A must read for all crime fan’s Full review to follow shortly

[Lynda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was really in the mood for a good police procedural and this, the 5th in the DI Kate Fletcher series, didn’t disappoint. An excellent story set in two time frames, now and during the Greenham Common protests.

Briefly, when a well known politician is found dead it initially appears to be a suicide but clearly this is a set up, and one the murderer wasn’t trying to hide. Kate and her team are investigating when two more bodies turn up, a wealthy transport company owner and his wife, but which one of them is the intended victim? This murder spawns a side story involving illegal immigrants… As the bodies mount, and a previous suicide is now thought to be murder, can the killer be stopped before there are more deaths?

Once the clues start to mount the author does give a hint to the killer that the reader can see and then we are watching to see how quickly the police come to the same conclusion. Well written and thought out. There is a big twist at the end, with the motive for the killings totally unexpected to me. All in all a very good read and a 4.5* read.

[Alyson Read · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the fifth book featuring DI Kate Fletcher in the very popular series set in Doncaster. Kate and partner Nick, an oncologist, have decided to take the plunge and move in together so all is good on the home front. Her loyal team of DC Dan Hollis, DC Matt Barratt, DC Sam Cooper and DS Steve O'Connor are still all together under the supervision of the stern but fair DCI Priya Das. The team are called to a suspected suicide, where a woman seems to have slit her own wrists and throat. Even though there was a note left, evidence points towards a staged scene and the murder of a woman hated by many for her right wing political views. Not long after, another fake suicide is found, this time a married couple who are disliked by people due to the way they operate their business. The detectives struggle to find any connection between the three victims, apart from the strange and similar fake suicide notes which contain a baffling message. When Cooper unearths a similar note left by an ex-detective, her suicide is also put in doubt and Fletcher is given permission to add it to her investigation, but still they struggle to find any leads or evidence. A clever killer who is careful to clean up behind themselves. The story is interspersed with little descriptions through the eyes of a child of a famous event that happened many years ago and as the investigation proceeds, it seems more and more likely the answers lie with someone from the victims’ pasts.
This is an excellent police procedural with a clever plot where the identity of the killer is gradually becoming clearer as the story unfolds, but there’s a fast and exciting to come as Kate and her team try to catch the killer. The author has clearly done her research and has used very accurate descriptions of a powerful and important time in history. Well written, with extremely likeable characters, and an excellent and enjoyable addition to this series. 5*

[M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murder mystery w ties to the historic women’s protest at RAF Greenham Common

I enjoyed this police procedural featuring DI Kate Fletcher & team investigating a series of murders staged as suicides. The police characters are particularly well-drawn, and the countryside added atmosphere—especially the rock climbing. The POV characters are DI Fletcher in current time and a female child in the 1980s flashbacks to the peace protest camps. For readers who dislike flashbacks, these are clearly marked, are short, and gives readers valuable insight into the women and children—especially during the winter months.

Kudos to author Heleyne Hammersley for reminding readers about the (mostly) women’s protests that spanned almost twenty years. A quick search and the abundance of information surprised me, because I barely remember the name, “Greenham Common.” Plus, I didn’t know ~70,000 women participated, that there was a mirror protest, that women formed human chains around the RAF Base, the extremely negative media, misogynistic name-calling, etc.

I docked a star for the lorry subplot, which was predictable and IMHO, the detective reckless.

[Liz T · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was fortunate to be given an ARC of this book in return for an independent review. Even though Shattered can be read as a stand alone book, I now want to read the series and find out more about Kate Fletcher and her team.
I found the historical part of the book really interesting. It looked at life inside camp with the Greenham women and the effects it had on them in the years to come. It was written through the eyes of a young girl and in the present day case for Kate Fletcher, the past becomes important if she is to solve the case. I really enjoyed getting to know Kate Fletcher’s team, the characters are well written and I just had to keep reading to find out who was the perpetrator of three seemingly unconnected deaths.
Thank you Bloodhound Books.

[Bobbi Wagner · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not my first book by this author but it is one of my favorites yet. I enjoyed this suspenseful thriller. This is a well written story that kept me turning pages to the end. I enjoyed being pulled into the story from the beginning and kept engaged throughout. The characters are connectable and truly gave life to the story. The twists and turns left me wanting to see what would happen next. DI Fletcher is back in another action filled story that was hard to put down. What will happen when three murders are found? There is a killer on the loose that is trying to bury a past but is that possible? This is a great story I really enjoyed. I highly recommend this book.

[Ruth Matheson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although book 5 in the series, this story reads well as a standalone too. Kate Fletcher and her team are called out to an apparent suicide, which upon further investigation turns out not to be the case especially when other murders of a similar nature come to light.
Great tight story and I was finding it difficult to identify who was responsible until the end which is always a sign of a good story. The series is developing well and so I look forward to the next one.
Thanks to Bloodhound Books for the ARC to review.

[Donna Henry · Rating 5 out of 5]

DI Kate Fletcher series is a must read

I choose this 5 star rating because the book was fast paced, never wordy. The descriptions were real and and not dream out. The story line kept you on your toes trying to figure who was the villain. No blood,guts and gore in vivid description. I especially like the idea of a heroine being in her middle years. Experience should be acknowledged. I also liked her attitude toward her team. It was a team effort to solve the crimes. I would and will remind this book to others

[Bev · Rating 4 out of 5]

DI Kate Fletcher goes to the scene of a suicide...but it has been staged to look like a suicide, it is really a murder. But what is with the strange note that is left behind? When two more staged deaths accrue to look like a suicide, the team needs to find out what the three victims had in common. A great murder mystery. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a story of DI Kate Fletcher Series this the fifth book in the series, 1 books title Closer to Home, 2nd book is Merciless, 3rd book is Bad Seed, 4th Reunion, and the 5TH Book Shattered with DI Kate Fletcher. It about Detective Inspector Kate Fletcher received a called to a blood crime scene of Julia Sullivan a local politician a so called suicide by DC Dan Hollis, and whom founded the body of Julia Sullivan and a note is her daughter , a children author, Sadie Sullivan. Lincoln Sullivan is her artist husband. They lived apart at the time of the Julia passing. There another suicide scene again, in the area, with a male jogger. Cain Powell finding the bodies, and a note. DI Kate Fletcher on the scene of this one too. This time it bodies of Peter Houghton a business man, and wife his Eleanor Houghton. But DI Kate Fletcher she think is more then suicide, she believe it murder. Then another but Anastasia Cohen, is with the same note she survived the incident. Detective Inspector Kate Fletcher is on the case she has to solve the mystery , the twist and turns of what is happening to people in the community that are well off ,and prominent.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another brilliant book from this author.

This book is part of the DI Kate Fletcher series but as with all of the books in the series, it can be a standalone read. I would however highly recommend its predecessors.

In this the latest installment I definitely wasn’t left disappointed.

Kate Fletcher is a brilliant character and as always, she is a woman on a mission, and she always gets the job done.

With a great plot and some great twists this will leave you wanting more.

 

[Melinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting storyline.

I had never heard of Glenham Common and found this interweaving of the past with the present fascinating. Excellent job of mixing the timelines into a realistic police procedural. Recommend the five book series.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Bloodhound Books for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC.

I thought this was an excellent addition to a very good series and I really enjoyed the author’s latest book. DI Kate Fletcher and her team investigate the murder of a local woman which at first glance looks like a suicide. When more deaths follow the team search for any links between the victims. I thought the book was very well written and flowed so well, and it grabbed my attention right from the start. It moved from past to present times so easily and I enjoyed reading of a time I knew little about. DI Fletcher is such a likeable, believable, and determined character I always root for her. I loved the separate story threads and the plot twists and at times wondered how everything would tie into the story, and slowly everything came together and the book raced to a fast and thrilling conclusion with all loose ends tied up nicely. I correctly guessed the murderer although not the reason why. Overall, a fast paced thrilling read and one I would recommend. Looking forward to the next in the series.

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Looking into the past is the way to solve the present murders. DI kate Fletcher and her team make the effort.

[Tim Mullen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Top notch police procedural

DI Kate Nash is back for a fourth outing and this is as good as any. Apparent suicides of very different women have enough common denominators to suggest murder, but a motive is suitably elusive. Relying on solid teamwork the pieces are slowly patched together, along with the chance discovery of another major crime that almost costs one of the team his life. There's nothing gimmicky in the telling of this tale which moves slowly but never loses your attention. This is an outstanding addition to an already excellent series and hopefully Helene Hammersley will bring us more.

[Sandra Cook · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a series with Detective Investigator Kate Fletcher as the main investigator character in the story. ID Kate investigating a local female, political figure ,Julia Sullivan .she was found passed away in her bathroom in the tub ,and the person whom found her body and a note, was her daughter. A children author, Sadie Sullivan. The scene looks like a suicide ,or is it murder, but DI Kate Fletcher thinks it more to this case of Julia Sullivan , then another case of bodies are reported, and with notes. This is a mystery that DI Kate is truly at her best to solve. What is the connection to the living ,and dead? Who will benefits for the suicides, or murders? Why are the suicide/ murders in the same area? Why, so close to one another? You have to read to find out ,and the ending is a wonderful delight. This
novel is the 5th book in the DI Kate Fletcher Series. A great summer crime thriller come out June 21, 2021.

[Pers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

[Mr Kenneth L Mullen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great story

Another great story by Heleyne in the Late Fletcher series. Great story line with the historical Greenham Common demonstration featuring. Good strong characters. Looking forward to reading more.

[Gillian · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the fifth in the DI Kate Fletcher series but it works as a stand alone with only brief mentions of previous stories.
An apparent suicide seems wrong; then further similar deaths occur and Kate Fletcher and her team realise they’re dealing with a serial killer.
An intermingling story tells of visits to the camp of female protesters. Where this is and how are the two stories combine was very cleverly worked out and I enjoyed the build up to the final climax.