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DI Alex Finn #3
The Hunting Ground
THE THIRD NOVEL FROM THE AUTHOR OF THE BURNING MEN AND THE KILLING CHOICE , FEATURING DI ALEX FIN AND DCI MATTIE PAULSEN
Sadie Nicholls has been found dead, brutally and strangely murdered, in her South East London flat. Her little boy is missing.
DI Alex Finn and DC Mattie Paulsen know that, in the case of a missing child, it's the first 24 hours that count. They don't have many left to find out where Sadie's son might be and the identity of her killer. Why would anyone want a struggling single mother, loved by many, dead?
But when they realise a similar crime was committed at the same house nearly 20 years ago, a question is on everyone's is this more than just a coincidence?
This is third in Will Shindler's Finn and Paulsen series - a British detective series that ranks with Mark Billingham, M.J. Arlidge and Stuart MacBride.
PRAISE FOR THE DI ALEX FINN AND DC MATTIE PAULSEN SERIES
'Arresting ... an unusual novel with a rising sense of menace' The Sunday Times
'Warm and dealing with recognisable emotions, this is the best kind of police procedural' Literary Review
'An outstanding page-turner' Robin Morgan-Bentley, author of The Wreckage
'A gripping debut with well-rounded characters and an intriguing plot. You won't want it to end' Heat
'The explosive opening hooked me straight in . . . With a cast of credible characters, a twisting plotline and some ingenious twists, the book develops at a cracking pace' Lesley Sanderson, author of The Orchid Girls
Sadie Nicholls has been found dead, brutally and strangely murdered, in her South East London flat. Her little boy is missing.
DI Alex Finn and DC Mattie Paulsen know that, in the case of a missing child, it's the first 24 hours that count. They don't have many left to find out where Sadie's son might be and the identity of her killer. Why would anyone want a struggling single mother, loved by many, dead?
But when they realise a similar crime was committed at the same house nearly 20 years ago, a question is on everyone's is this more than just a coincidence?
This is third in Will Shindler's Finn and Paulsen series - a British detective series that ranks with Mark Billingham, M.J. Arlidge and Stuart MacBride.
PRAISE FOR THE DI ALEX FINN AND DC MATTIE PAULSEN SERIES
'Arresting ... an unusual novel with a rising sense of menace' The Sunday Times
'Warm and dealing with recognisable emotions, this is the best kind of police procedural' Literary Review
'An outstanding page-turner' Robin Morgan-Bentley, author of The Wreckage
'A gripping debut with well-rounded characters and an intriguing plot. You won't want it to end' Heat
'The explosive opening hooked me straight in . . . With a cast of credible characters, a twisting plotline and some ingenious twists, the book develops at a cracking pace' Lesley Sanderson, author of The Orchid Girls
368 pages, Hardcover
First published February 3, 2022
65 people are currently reading
226 people want to read
About the author
Will Shindler
12 books123 followersWill Shindler has been a Broadcast Journalist for the BBC for over twenty-five years, spending a decade working in television drama as a scriptwriter on Born and Bred, The Bill and Doctors.
You can currently find him every weekday on the radio reading the news headlines, whilst writing crime novels in the afternoon. Will has previously worked as a television presenter for HTV, a sports reporter for BBC Radio Five Live, and one of the stadium presenters at the London Olympics.
His debut novel, The Burning Men, will be published by Hodder.
You can currently find him every weekday on the radio reading the news headlines, whilst writing crime novels in the afternoon. Will has previously worked as a television presenter for HTV, a sports reporter for BBC Radio Five Live, and one of the stadium presenters at the London Olympics.
His debut novel, The Burning Men, will be published by Hodder.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews
January 21, 2022
*4.5 stars*
On the night of her death, 24 year old Sadie Nicholls had been waitressing for extra cash at the Knights Association dinner, a place where sexual harassment knew no bounds. Sadie left early but was later found brutally murdered in her home, and her 3 year old son Liam is missing.
DI Alex Finn is heading up the investigation team along with D.C. Mattie Paulson. The team as a whole put everything into finding the killer, and the whereabouts of Liam, but there’s a very strange coincidence about this case (or is it?) 25 years ago a young mother and her young son were found brutally murdered in the same house!
Book 3# in the series and it just seems to get better and better. I love the way the author has developed his characters, and with The Hunting Ground, excellent use of smoke and mirrors means it’s impossible to work out who the killer is. Every author takes their reader on a journey, and make no mistake Will Shindler is an author of great talent, who took me on a journey that I couldn’t have possibly foreseen. Highly recommended!
*I was invited to read The Hunting Ground by the publisher and have given an honest unbiased review in exchange*
On the night of her death, 24 year old Sadie Nicholls had been waitressing for extra cash at the Knights Association dinner, a place where sexual harassment knew no bounds. Sadie left early but was later found brutally murdered in her home, and her 3 year old son Liam is missing.
DI Alex Finn is heading up the investigation team along with D.C. Mattie Paulson. The team as a whole put everything into finding the killer, and the whereabouts of Liam, but there’s a very strange coincidence about this case (or is it?) 25 years ago a young mother and her young son were found brutally murdered in the same house!
Book 3# in the series and it just seems to get better and better. I love the way the author has developed his characters, and with The Hunting Ground, excellent use of smoke and mirrors means it’s impossible to work out who the killer is. Every author takes their reader on a journey, and make no mistake Will Shindler is an author of great talent, who took me on a journey that I couldn’t have possibly foreseen. Highly recommended!
*I was invited to read The Hunting Ground by the publisher and have given an honest unbiased review in exchange*
December 17, 2021
4.5 rounded up
Alex Finn #3
Sadie Nicholls,24, waitresses for extra cash at the Knights Association dinner at a London hotel but unfortunately their behaviour is anything but knightly and she’s had enough and leaves early. She makes her way home to a brutal encounter which leaves her dead and her three year old son missing The race is on to find the little boy - did he witness his mother’s killing? Who would want her dead as all who knew her spoke highly of her. Does it link to a crime that bears similar hallmarks in the same flat twenty years ago? A coincidence or .....?
This is a cracking crime series and number three is an excellent addition and one I can recommend to fellow crime fiction fans. There’s a lot to praise here but the absolute standout feature for me are the characters who are so well fleshed out and authentic. DI Alex Finn carries the demon of grief over his wife’s death from a brain tumour and complex DC Mattie Paulsen carries several demons, one of them being the spectre of Alzheimer’s hanging over her father. They are both equally fascinating and you become invested in following their progress (or not). The community in which the crime takes place is richly depicted too, you can easily visualise the characters and try to filter out the number one suspect in the ‘pool’. I like how the pandemic is used to show how it impacts lives in various ways but it’s just there in the background to add realism. The story has all the essential ingredients, a fast paced plot with twists, turns and tension, heartbreaking tragedy, sadness, threats and violence so there’s plenty to keep you gripped and immersed. I do figure out part of the outcome but by no means all and the ending is excellent.
Overall, this is another winner for Will Shindler. It’s clever, complex in a good way and it’s multilayered. I await the next instalment with eager anticipation!
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Hodder and Stoughton for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
Alex Finn #3
Sadie Nicholls,24, waitresses for extra cash at the Knights Association dinner at a London hotel but unfortunately their behaviour is anything but knightly and she’s had enough and leaves early. She makes her way home to a brutal encounter which leaves her dead and her three year old son missing The race is on to find the little boy - did he witness his mother’s killing? Who would want her dead as all who knew her spoke highly of her. Does it link to a crime that bears similar hallmarks in the same flat twenty years ago? A coincidence or .....?
This is a cracking crime series and number three is an excellent addition and one I can recommend to fellow crime fiction fans. There’s a lot to praise here but the absolute standout feature for me are the characters who are so well fleshed out and authentic. DI Alex Finn carries the demon of grief over his wife’s death from a brain tumour and complex DC Mattie Paulsen carries several demons, one of them being the spectre of Alzheimer’s hanging over her father. They are both equally fascinating and you become invested in following their progress (or not). The community in which the crime takes place is richly depicted too, you can easily visualise the characters and try to filter out the number one suspect in the ‘pool’. I like how the pandemic is used to show how it impacts lives in various ways but it’s just there in the background to add realism. The story has all the essential ingredients, a fast paced plot with twists, turns and tension, heartbreaking tragedy, sadness, threats and violence so there’s plenty to keep you gripped and immersed. I do figure out part of the outcome but by no means all and the ending is excellent.
Overall, this is another winner for Will Shindler. It’s clever, complex in a good way and it’s multilayered. I await the next instalment with eager anticipation!
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Hodder and Stoughton for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
January 4, 2022
This is the latest brilliant addition to Will Shindler's terrific crime series featuring London based police officers DI Alex Finn, leading the Major Investigations Team, and DC Mattie Paulsen, both with their own particular demons. Finn is still struggling with his grief for his dead wife, Karin, although he has managed to give the false impression at work that he is recovering, and Paulsen, living with her social worker partner, Nancy Deen, is wondering how to cope with her father's downward spiral as his symptoms of dementia increase. After a nightmare evening waitressing at The Knight's Association dinner where the sexual harrassment hits horrendous levels, 24 year old Sadie Nicholls leaves early to go home, unable to tolerate any more. This is despite the fact she desperately needs the money, she has to take care of her 3 year old son, Liam, but her principles and self respect win out.
Finn and Paulsen find themselves at a brutal crime scene, the murder of Sadie, and her son, Liam, is missing. The police team pull out all the stops to try and find Liam, afraid of the worst, but leads are scarce. We are given a picture of some of the locals in the surrounding area, including the racist landlord of The Lamb's Head, Alan Baxter, Charity executive, David Hermitage, Ronnie Fordyce, a good friend of Tom Daws, a former Railway Union man, now suffering from dementia and being looked after his daughter, Abi, and a black ex-con trying to rebuild his life, the enigmatic Patrick Clarke. A strange fact soon emerges, almost 30 years ago, similar murders took place in the same flat, when another single mother, Vicki Stratford, and her young son, Ben, were found murdered. Is this merely a coincidence or is this a relevant connection? A local burglar was convicted for the earlier murders, but is that conviction safe?
One of the highlights of this standout series is the character development of Finn and Paulsen, the black dog of depression has Finn firmly in its grip, his mental health in a precarious state as he hits rock bottom. Paulsen finds herself drawn to Abi with the parallels between their common circumstances of their dementia afflicted fathers, but is this connection clouding Paulsen's ability to see Abi clearly? This is a dark and intensely engaging crime read that had me gripped throughout with all the twists and turns, packed with suspense and tension, and with protagonists I really come to care about. I recommend this to crime and mystery readers, if you have not come across the series, I urge you to give it a try. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.
Finn and Paulsen find themselves at a brutal crime scene, the murder of Sadie, and her son, Liam, is missing. The police team pull out all the stops to try and find Liam, afraid of the worst, but leads are scarce. We are given a picture of some of the locals in the surrounding area, including the racist landlord of The Lamb's Head, Alan Baxter, Charity executive, David Hermitage, Ronnie Fordyce, a good friend of Tom Daws, a former Railway Union man, now suffering from dementia and being looked after his daughter, Abi, and a black ex-con trying to rebuild his life, the enigmatic Patrick Clarke. A strange fact soon emerges, almost 30 years ago, similar murders took place in the same flat, when another single mother, Vicki Stratford, and her young son, Ben, were found murdered. Is this merely a coincidence or is this a relevant connection? A local burglar was convicted for the earlier murders, but is that conviction safe?
One of the highlights of this standout series is the character development of Finn and Paulsen, the black dog of depression has Finn firmly in its grip, his mental health in a precarious state as he hits rock bottom. Paulsen finds herself drawn to Abi with the parallels between their common circumstances of their dementia afflicted fathers, but is this connection clouding Paulsen's ability to see Abi clearly? This is a dark and intensely engaging crime read that had me gripped throughout with all the twists and turns, packed with suspense and tension, and with protagonists I really come to care about. I recommend this to crime and mystery readers, if you have not come across the series, I urge you to give it a try. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.
February 6, 2022
The Hunting Ground is the third book in the DI Finn series from author Will Shindler, with The Burning Men being book one and The Killing Choice being book two. The books it would seem are one per year and I would say they each could be read as standalones too.
In book three a young mother returns home early from waitressing at a black-tie event that got a little too hands-on. Not long after getting home, she is murdered as she opens her front door. Her young son is either taken by the killer or wandered off afterward. DI Finn and his team are facing a race against time to find out what happened and to locate the child.
From the opening scene to the last the book is gripping. I enjoyed the build-up to the case and the investigation to get justice for Sadie, the young mother. Once it was brought to light that another murder had occurred 20 years previously and was similar in circumstances, I had worked out who the killer was but what else happened completely took me by surprise. This is what I love about this author’s work. He throws in a few red herrings and keeps the plot twisty.
The Hunting Ground will have you frothing at the mouth, especially at the way those men with money think they can manhandle a woman. It will also keep you entertained and on the edge of your seat. It is an amazing read. So grab yourself a copy and settle down, ready to be taken through a roller-coaster of emotions. This is a series that just keeps on giving and getting better with each book.
In book three a young mother returns home early from waitressing at a black-tie event that got a little too hands-on. Not long after getting home, she is murdered as she opens her front door. Her young son is either taken by the killer or wandered off afterward. DI Finn and his team are facing a race against time to find out what happened and to locate the child.
From the opening scene to the last the book is gripping. I enjoyed the build-up to the case and the investigation to get justice for Sadie, the young mother. Once it was brought to light that another murder had occurred 20 years previously and was similar in circumstances, I had worked out who the killer was but what else happened completely took me by surprise. This is what I love about this author’s work. He throws in a few red herrings and keeps the plot twisty.
The Hunting Ground will have you frothing at the mouth, especially at the way those men with money think they can manhandle a woman. It will also keep you entertained and on the edge of your seat. It is an amazing read. So grab yourself a copy and settle down, ready to be taken through a roller-coaster of emotions. This is a series that just keeps on giving and getting better with each book.
February 3, 2022
4.5 stars rounded up to 5
DI Alex Finn #3
Sadie Nichols has been found dead, brutally and strangely murdered, in her South East London Flat. Her little boy is missing. DI Alex Finn and DC Matie Paulsen know that, in the case of a missing child, it's the first 24 hours that count. They don't have many left to find out where Sadie's son might be and the identity of her killer. Why would anyone want a struggling single mother, loved by many, dead? But when they realise a similar crime was committed in the same house nearly twenty years ago, is this more than just a coincidence?
This is a moving and complex read. We get a mixture of police procedural and the main characters daily struggles in their personal lives. This well written book is filled with twists, some I never saw coming. The pace is steady in this thoroughly engaging plotline. There is quite a lot of suspects to choose from. With a chid to find and a murder to solve, Finn and Paulsen have to pull out everything they have to solve this case. I also loved how the book ended.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #HodderStoughton and the author #WillShindler for my ARC of #TheHuntingGround in exchange for an honest review.
DI Alex Finn #3
Sadie Nichols has been found dead, brutally and strangely murdered, in her South East London Flat. Her little boy is missing. DI Alex Finn and DC Matie Paulsen know that, in the case of a missing child, it's the first 24 hours that count. They don't have many left to find out where Sadie's son might be and the identity of her killer. Why would anyone want a struggling single mother, loved by many, dead? But when they realise a similar crime was committed in the same house nearly twenty years ago, is this more than just a coincidence?
This is a moving and complex read. We get a mixture of police procedural and the main characters daily struggles in their personal lives. This well written book is filled with twists, some I never saw coming. The pace is steady in this thoroughly engaging plotline. There is quite a lot of suspects to choose from. With a chid to find and a murder to solve, Finn and Paulsen have to pull out everything they have to solve this case. I also loved how the book ended.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #HodderStoughton and the author #WillShindler for my ARC of #TheHuntingGround in exchange for an honest review.
April 5, 2025
Will Shindler remains determined to capture the attention of the reader with this gritty series. DI Alex Finn returns to fight another crime that has a connection to a crime three decades ago. A woman is slain in her home and a missing toddler has police racing to juggle their resources. The same thing happened years ago in the same flat. Is this a repeat or a copycat, once more trying to make waves? DI Finn will have to act swiftly, as nothing makes sense and a child’s life hangs in the balance. Shindler keeps the reader on edge until the final reveal!
Sadie Nicholls has been working to make enough to protect her young son from a life of misery. However, even she has her limits and working as a quasi-escort at a high-money event is not what she finds uplifting. After storming off, she is visited by someone at her home and brutally murdered. Noises alert neighbours to call the authorities and DI Finn rushes to the scene alongside his partner, DC Mattie Paulsen.
What they discover is a body that is close to unidentifiable, as though Sadie really did someone wrong. However, it is her missing son that alerts the authorities that they have a dual issue on their radar. Both DI Finn and DC Paulsen know that the first 24 hours in a missing child case are essential to positive outcomes. The race is on and there is no time to waste.
With the knowledge that Sadie’s son might be able to finger the killer, the importance of locating him could be even greater. When one of the team reminds DI Finn about a similar case from 30 years ago in the same house, everyone is on edge. Could this be a repeat killing? What reason could there be to revive the antics and might the result differ from the horror that case took? Shindler hands the reader the most gripping novel in the series to date!
I enjoy all types of police procedurals, particularly those with unique approaches. Will Shindler constructs a solid narrative that proves intense from the opening pages. The story leaves the reader flipping pages for answers in a piece that is full of questions, where answers are not forthcoming. Shindler concocts characters who direct the story in numerous ways, leaving me eager to see how backstory balances character development. DI Finn has a sordid past that makes appearances on occasion, while leaving the reader to see how he synthesises it all. DC Mattie Paulsen’s development is also on offer as she is warming up to the team and laying groundwork for her own personality. Plot points keep the story unpredictable, yet on pace enough to provide the reader a needed guide for following through to the end. Shindler has kept me on my toes and this is not likely to change any time soon!
Kudos, Mr. Shindler, for another gripping tale!
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
Sadie Nicholls has been working to make enough to protect her young son from a life of misery. However, even she has her limits and working as a quasi-escort at a high-money event is not what she finds uplifting. After storming off, she is visited by someone at her home and brutally murdered. Noises alert neighbours to call the authorities and DI Finn rushes to the scene alongside his partner, DC Mattie Paulsen.
What they discover is a body that is close to unidentifiable, as though Sadie really did someone wrong. However, it is her missing son that alerts the authorities that they have a dual issue on their radar. Both DI Finn and DC Paulsen know that the first 24 hours in a missing child case are essential to positive outcomes. The race is on and there is no time to waste.
With the knowledge that Sadie’s son might be able to finger the killer, the importance of locating him could be even greater. When one of the team reminds DI Finn about a similar case from 30 years ago in the same house, everyone is on edge. Could this be a repeat killing? What reason could there be to revive the antics and might the result differ from the horror that case took? Shindler hands the reader the most gripping novel in the series to date!
I enjoy all types of police procedurals, particularly those with unique approaches. Will Shindler constructs a solid narrative that proves intense from the opening pages. The story leaves the reader flipping pages for answers in a piece that is full of questions, where answers are not forthcoming. Shindler concocts characters who direct the story in numerous ways, leaving me eager to see how backstory balances character development. DI Finn has a sordid past that makes appearances on occasion, while leaving the reader to see how he synthesises it all. DC Mattie Paulsen’s development is also on offer as she is warming up to the team and laying groundwork for her own personality. Plot points keep the story unpredictable, yet on pace enough to provide the reader a needed guide for following through to the end. Shindler has kept me on my toes and this is not likely to change any time soon!
Kudos, Mr. Shindler, for another gripping tale!
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
February 10, 2022
I have said it before but I’m going to say it again, for those in the back who didn’t hear me properly the first time. I really didn’t need another crime fiction series in my life as I was having a hard enough time keeping up with the ones I was already following. But then Will Shindler happened and I haven’t looked back since. Because this is an author with that particular je-ne-sais-quoi that somehow lifts a crime fiction book to a completely different level and as the youngsters say : I’m here for it. (Can’t pull that off, can I? Moving on!)
‘The Hunting Ground‘ is the third book in the DI Alex Finn series. Answering that age-old question first, yes you can read this as a stand-alone. But no, you really shouldn’t. The case may be a new one but the personal matters some of the characters deal with are not. While they are mentioned, I think it’s way better to get to know these characters from the very beginning and truly understand how they ended up where they are now. (Also, when I finally rule the world there will be a law against starting a series in the middle!)
The body of Sadie Nichols is discovered in a flat in a street in South East London. Her little boy is missing. The clock is ticking to find little Liam and the team know fully well the first 24 hours are the most crucial in a case like this. But where to even begin? Sadie was well loved in the neighbourhood so who would want to harm her or her son? During their investigation, DI Alex Finn and his team discover there has been a similar murder at this same flat, albeit it decades ago. Coincidence or not?
As I’ve become used to from Will Shindler there is such an incredibly perfect balance between the case that is being investigated and personal things the team are dealing with. If you’ve been following this series, then you know Alex has been struggling to pick up the pieces of his life after his wife passed away. By now, as the reader, I have become utterly invested in his life so to see him sliding down this slippery slope of devastation is hard to watch. Grief and loss are everywhere in this story. From the family of the murder victim to Finn to DC Paulsen, who, through the eyes of one of the residents in Sadie’s street catches a glimpse of what her life might look like in the near future after her father’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis.
This is another thing Shindler does so well. The stories in this series are never just about crimes to be solved. They are hugely thought-provoking, often along the “what would you do” route, and things are no different in ‘The Hunting Ground‘. The murder of Sadie Nichols and the disappearance of her son isn’t the be all and end all. There are plenty of other things happening in this street where some of your neighbours are most definitely not your friends. Secrets and lies, racism, judgemental views and a bunch of men I’d quite happily take a baseball bat to. I’m sorry, did I say that out loud?
Another utterly compelling and addictive addition to this absolutely fantastic series. It’ll make you think, it’ll make you angry, it’ll make you sad. I had no idea who killed Sadie, or who took her little boy, or why. In all honesty, I wasn’t even really trying to figure it out as I was quite happy to let this author and these characters take me wherever they wanted to take me. True to form though, there is devastation and heartbreak and that odd feeling of not quite loathing a perpetrator. Don’t you just hate it when that happens?!
I’m not entirely sure what’s next for Alex Finn but I sure hope we don’t have to wait too long to find out. In the meantime, you can make space on your shelves for these books if you haven’t done so already. I’m so glad I did back when the first book landed in my lap because, in my most humble opinion, this is one of the best crime fiction series out there.
‘The Hunting Ground‘ is the third book in the DI Alex Finn series. Answering that age-old question first, yes you can read this as a stand-alone. But no, you really shouldn’t. The case may be a new one but the personal matters some of the characters deal with are not. While they are mentioned, I think it’s way better to get to know these characters from the very beginning and truly understand how they ended up where they are now. (Also, when I finally rule the world there will be a law against starting a series in the middle!)
The body of Sadie Nichols is discovered in a flat in a street in South East London. Her little boy is missing. The clock is ticking to find little Liam and the team know fully well the first 24 hours are the most crucial in a case like this. But where to even begin? Sadie was well loved in the neighbourhood so who would want to harm her or her son? During their investigation, DI Alex Finn and his team discover there has been a similar murder at this same flat, albeit it decades ago. Coincidence or not?
As I’ve become used to from Will Shindler there is such an incredibly perfect balance between the case that is being investigated and personal things the team are dealing with. If you’ve been following this series, then you know Alex has been struggling to pick up the pieces of his life after his wife passed away. By now, as the reader, I have become utterly invested in his life so to see him sliding down this slippery slope of devastation is hard to watch. Grief and loss are everywhere in this story. From the family of the murder victim to Finn to DC Paulsen, who, through the eyes of one of the residents in Sadie’s street catches a glimpse of what her life might look like in the near future after her father’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis.
This is another thing Shindler does so well. The stories in this series are never just about crimes to be solved. They are hugely thought-provoking, often along the “what would you do” route, and things are no different in ‘The Hunting Ground‘. The murder of Sadie Nichols and the disappearance of her son isn’t the be all and end all. There are plenty of other things happening in this street where some of your neighbours are most definitely not your friends. Secrets and lies, racism, judgemental views and a bunch of men I’d quite happily take a baseball bat to. I’m sorry, did I say that out loud?
Another utterly compelling and addictive addition to this absolutely fantastic series. It’ll make you think, it’ll make you angry, it’ll make you sad. I had no idea who killed Sadie, or who took her little boy, or why. In all honesty, I wasn’t even really trying to figure it out as I was quite happy to let this author and these characters take me wherever they wanted to take me. True to form though, there is devastation and heartbreak and that odd feeling of not quite loathing a perpetrator. Don’t you just hate it when that happens?!
I’m not entirely sure what’s next for Alex Finn but I sure hope we don’t have to wait too long to find out. In the meantime, you can make space on your shelves for these books if you haven’t done so already. I’m so glad I did back when the first book landed in my lap because, in my most humble opinion, this is one of the best crime fiction series out there.
February 15, 2022
I absolutely love this series. This is Book 3 with DI Alex Finn and Dc Mattie Paulson. The characters now feel like friends in this book I went through all the emotions with Alex Finn as he still trying to cope with the death of his wife two years earlier, there was a part of this one that just had me in tears as I felt the emotions, so brilliantly written. Alongside this he is having to run the team who are investigating the death of a young woman Sadie Nicholls and her missing three-year-old son Liam.
Sadie is a single parent, she had a waitressing job at a function for the Knights Association Dinner, unfortunately the men attending this function felt that the women were there for them to grope and sexually harass. Sadie wasn’t taking anymore of it an by eleven o clock she decided to leave, but not before having an altercation with a person who had got her the job. Her friend asked her to text her when she got home safely, which she did. So how did she end up dead in her home later and where was Liam.
Who would want to harm Sophie? Who would take her son? Everyone in the neighbourhood said what a pleasant friendly person she was. There seems to be no motive for anyone to want her dead. The team are at a dead end. Except for they found an old case where a woman was murdered in the same property along with her child. Could these crimes 30 years apart be linked? Is the man who has spent the last 30 years of his life in prison innocent?
In the story one of the characters has dementia, Maggie’s father is in the early stages of dentist and she sees what she may have to face at some stage in the future. All the characters within this series are likeable, relatable and believable, especially if you have read the first two books in this series. This book is readable as a stand-alone and would work well, but if you want to know some of the back story it helps to have read the other two but it’s not necessary. I just personally like to read a series from the start. There was a mixture of characters that were suspected to have committed the crimes, but as each one was eliminated with alibi’s the story kept you guessing. Just when you think you have it another curveball is thrown. With a surprise ending I never saw coming.
The writing is clever, the plot complex, a multilayered story that will grip you from start to finish. I look forward to the next book in the series.
I would like to thank #netgalley and #Hodder&Stoughton for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest, fair and unbiased review.
Sadie is a single parent, she had a waitressing job at a function for the Knights Association Dinner, unfortunately the men attending this function felt that the women were there for them to grope and sexually harass. Sadie wasn’t taking anymore of it an by eleven o clock she decided to leave, but not before having an altercation with a person who had got her the job. Her friend asked her to text her when she got home safely, which she did. So how did she end up dead in her home later and where was Liam.
Who would want to harm Sophie? Who would take her son? Everyone in the neighbourhood said what a pleasant friendly person she was. There seems to be no motive for anyone to want her dead. The team are at a dead end. Except for they found an old case where a woman was murdered in the same property along with her child. Could these crimes 30 years apart be linked? Is the man who has spent the last 30 years of his life in prison innocent?
In the story one of the characters has dementia, Maggie’s father is in the early stages of dentist and she sees what she may have to face at some stage in the future. All the characters within this series are likeable, relatable and believable, especially if you have read the first two books in this series. This book is readable as a stand-alone and would work well, but if you want to know some of the back story it helps to have read the other two but it’s not necessary. I just personally like to read a series from the start. There was a mixture of characters that were suspected to have committed the crimes, but as each one was eliminated with alibi’s the story kept you guessing. Just when you think you have it another curveball is thrown. With a surprise ending I never saw coming.
The writing is clever, the plot complex, a multilayered story that will grip you from start to finish. I look forward to the next book in the series.
I would like to thank #netgalley and #Hodder&Stoughton for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest, fair and unbiased review.
February 9, 2022
Sadie Nicholls has been found dead, brutally and strangely murdered, in her South East London flat. Her little boy is missing.
DI Alex Finn and DC Mattie Paulsen know that, in the case of a missing child, it's the first 24 hours that count. They don't have many left to find out where Sadie's son might be and the identity of her killer. Why would anyone want a struggling single mother, loved by many, dead?
But when they realise a similar crime was committed at the same house nearly 20 years ago, a question is on everyone's lips: is this more than just a coincidence?
This is a wonderful addition to this thrilling series!
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great suspense and action with wonderful world building that adds so much to the story.
Such a thrilling read that I couldn't put it down.
Can't wait to read more of these.
Recommend reading.
I was provided an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher. This is my own honest voluntary review.
DI Alex Finn and DC Mattie Paulsen know that, in the case of a missing child, it's the first 24 hours that count. They don't have many left to find out where Sadie's son might be and the identity of her killer. Why would anyone want a struggling single mother, loved by many, dead?
But when they realise a similar crime was committed at the same house nearly 20 years ago, a question is on everyone's lips: is this more than just a coincidence?
This is a wonderful addition to this thrilling series!
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great suspense and action with wonderful world building that adds so much to the story.
Such a thrilling read that I couldn't put it down.
Can't wait to read more of these.
Recommend reading.
I was provided an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher. This is my own honest voluntary review.
February 4, 2022
The hunting ground by Will Shindler.
DI Alex Finn book 3.
Sadie Nicholls has been found dead, brutally and strangely murdered, in her South East London flat. Her little boy is missing. DI Alex Finn and DC Mattie Paulsen know that, in the case of a missing child, it's the first 24 hours that count. They don't have many left to find out where Sadie's son might be and the identity of her killer. Why would anyone want a struggling single mother, loved by many, dead? But when they realise a similar crime was committed at the same house nearly 20 years ago, a question is on everyone's lips: is this more than just a coincidence?
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I loved the story. Alex is my favourite character. I do hope there is more to come. 5*.
DI Alex Finn book 3.
Sadie Nicholls has been found dead, brutally and strangely murdered, in her South East London flat. Her little boy is missing. DI Alex Finn and DC Mattie Paulsen know that, in the case of a missing child, it's the first 24 hours that count. They don't have many left to find out where Sadie's son might be and the identity of her killer. Why would anyone want a struggling single mother, loved by many, dead? But when they realise a similar crime was committed at the same house nearly 20 years ago, a question is on everyone's lips: is this more than just a coincidence?
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I loved the story. Alex is my favourite character. I do hope there is more to come. 5*.
February 4, 2022
The hunting ground by Will Shindler.
DI Alex Finn book 3.
Sadie Nicholls has been found dead, brutally and strangely murdered, in her South East London flat. Her little boy is missing. DI Alex Finn and DC Mattie Paulsen know that, in the case of a missing child, it's the first 24 hours that count. They don't have many left to find out where Sadie's son might be and the identity of her killer. Why would anyone want a struggling single mother, loved by many, dead? But when they realise a similar crime was committed at the same house nearly 20 years ago, a question is on everyone's lips: is this more than just a coincidence?
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I loved the story. Alex is my favourite character. I do hope there is more to come. 5*.
DI Alex Finn book 3.
Sadie Nicholls has been found dead, brutally and strangely murdered, in her South East London flat. Her little boy is missing. DI Alex Finn and DC Mattie Paulsen know that, in the case of a missing child, it's the first 24 hours that count. They don't have many left to find out where Sadie's son might be and the identity of her killer. Why would anyone want a struggling single mother, loved by many, dead? But when they realise a similar crime was committed at the same house nearly 20 years ago, a question is on everyone's lips: is this more than just a coincidence?
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I loved the story. Alex is my favourite character. I do hope there is more to come. 5*.
February 3, 2022
I've really been enjoying this series, seeing the development of the two central characters, Alex Finn and Mattie Paulsen. They are chalk and cheese and yet completely complimentary, but over the course of the three books there has been a steady change in their character as more of their personal lives come to bear on the stories, never more obvious than it is during The Hunting Ground. Now, the disappearance of a small child requires the team to be on top form, but both Detectives are distracted, for very different reasons, and seeing the impact of that on the investigation, as well as the investigation's impact on them, makes for an interesting interlude in what is otherwise a perplexing and tragic case, an investigation laced with deception, misdirection and prejudice.
Not only do the Detectives need to find missing boy, they also need to solve the murder of his mother, Sadie. Now we are privy to the final moments of her life, moments which certainly provide a number of key suspects, even if not all are immediately apparent. But as to whether her final night of work really did lead to something that cost her her life remains to be seen. And if her murder is all about that night, where is her son. The case if further complicated by the twisted and tragic history of the street, and specifically the house, in which she was murdered. The more we read of the book, the more uncertain the motives become and alongside out intrepid investigative team, we are led on a very merry dance, flitting between suspects and potential motives in a very clever and well executed case of misdirection.
I liked the way in which Will Shindler developed that sense of community that threads through this whole story. That. sense of a street that are both completely involved in and yet one step removed from what has happened. Long standing feuds, old hatred, and unbreakable friendships conspire to hide the truth in plain sight really effectively, and I found myself guessing and second guessing who was responsible several times throughout the book. Nobody seemed to be entirely trustworthy, and even when faced with almost certainty of suspicion, certain characters were still reticent in providing the truth, or even a valid alibi. I did guess a certain part of the plot quite early on, but by no means all, and what came to pass was still shocking and completely unexpected. There is a real sense of tragedy about the story, of the senseless nature of what happened, and how it could have all been so different. But there is also an emotional undercurrent, driven not just by Sadie's murder, but by the very heart of the book and the characters at the centre of our attention.
Finn has always been portrayed as a character on the edge and the way in which the author explores the devolution of his psyche is brilliantly observed. It seems shocking, but also almost inevitable, and marks a step change in the way in which he thinks about and deals with his wife's death. As for Paulsen, she is preoccupied by her father's rapidly declining health, something brought into focus by one of the residents from the street whose situation she finds she can completely empathise with. Both stories add an emotional layer to an already tense and tragic story, but both stories serve to propel the central case on in their own way, as both a distraction and a pure motivator.
And then there is that ending. Fluff a duck. Was not expecting that. Made me smile, and grimace, in equal measure. Nicely played Mr Shindler.
I'll be intrigued to see what is next for our crime fighting pair. Clearly Finn is at a crossroads in his life, a point in his life that calls for decisive action. I'm hoping it's not the last we see of them, because I really do like them as a team, the clinical, methodical Finn and the slightly more emotional and explosive Paulsen. This was another well observed, emotional and often tense story that is full of deception and I loved it. Definitely recommended.
February 2, 2022
Thanks to NetGalley and The Publisher for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
The third novel in what I assume is the now the DI Alex Finn and DC Mattie Paulsen series, did not disappoint. While this is a police procedural, I liked that the story was built up layer by layer by interviewing the neighbours (witnesses) of the victims. While this felt like quick page turning read, I really felt like I got to know all the characters in depth. And while I figured out some of the ending, there were still surprises.
Will Shindler really know how to capture the essence of a place and its people - I feel like Ive met all of them at some point in my own life and that' what I really love, just how relatable his characters seem to be.
Looking forward to the next installment. Keep them coming!
The third novel in what I assume is the now the DI Alex Finn and DC Mattie Paulsen series, did not disappoint. While this is a police procedural, I liked that the story was built up layer by layer by interviewing the neighbours (witnesses) of the victims. While this felt like quick page turning read, I really felt like I got to know all the characters in depth. And while I figured out some of the ending, there were still surprises.
Will Shindler really know how to capture the essence of a place and its people - I feel like Ive met all of them at some point in my own life and that' what I really love, just how relatable his characters seem to be.
Looking forward to the next installment. Keep them coming!
August 7, 2023
Another Will Shindler book I couldn't put down
March 4, 2023
Very dark
May 13, 2024
The best in the series so far.
February 11, 2022
3.5* rounded down.
I didn't find this quite as gripping as the first two instalments in this series. There was an awful lot going on, including two separate historical crimes as well as the present day murders, a beating, and multiple sexual assaults. These never became confusing, but diluted the tension, as did the inclusion of sections from the point of view of a host of the neighbours.
I didn't find this quite as gripping as the first two instalments in this series. There was an awful lot going on, including two separate historical crimes as well as the present day murders, a beating, and multiple sexual assaults. These never became confusing, but diluted the tension, as did the inclusion of sections from the point of view of a host of the neighbours.
February 20, 2022
This is the third book in the DI Finn and DC Mattie Paulsen series, I have read the first two so was excited to read book 3. This series just gets better and better.
Sadie Nicholls had been waitressing on the night she died, she needed extra money to help support her and her 3 year-old son Liam. The job was at the Knights Association dinner, the problem was these men thought they could sexually harass the girls working that night. But after too many mens hands groping her Sadie wasn’t prepared to take anymore and left. Promising her friend she would text her to let her know she got home safely, which she did. So how did she end up being found dead in her home later, to make matters even worse her son is missing.
Who would want to harm Sophie? Why take her son? Everyone in the neighbourhood said she was a pleasant friendly person. Was it linked to the waitressing job she had walked out on? She was seen arguing with one of the male guests as she was leaving, could it be him?
DI Alex Finn and D.C. Mattie Paulsen and the team are working hard to try and find a lead. But it seems every way they turn comes to a dead end. But then they find that 30 years earlier a very similar crime happened in the same property it also involved a young woman and child, could these two cases actually be linked? But the man who committed the first crime is still in prison, could he actually be innocent? is this a coincidence.
loved everything about this Alex is still dealing with his demons the loss of his wife Karin, despite it being two years since she died he still hasn’t moved on, and the grief is taking its toll, there was one part of this book that had me in tears as Alex reached rock bottom, I loved how those scenes were written. Within the story one of the characters has dementia which is what Maggie’s father has and this also struck a nerve with her as she sees what she may have to face and manage in the future.
What I have enjoyed about this series is that the characters are so believable, relatable, they are human it’s like you know how they think especially if you have read this series from the start, watching things change. There was a mixture of characters that were suspected to have committed the crimes, but as each one was eliminated with alibi’s the story kept you guessing. Just as you think you have guessed it another curveball is thrown. With a surprise ending.
This book can be read as a stand-alone police procedural but if you want to know any of the back history of the characters it’s definitely worth reading from book one. Or if you read this and enjoy it go back and read the first two books, I definitely think it’s worthwhile. The writing is clever, the plot complex, a multilayered story that will grip you from start to finish. I for one cannot wait for book 4 to see what happens next.
This is resounding ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read for me, if you like a good police procedural then I very highly recommend this series. Great plot, great characters, what more could you want from a story.
Thank you to #netgalley and #Hodder&Stoughton for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest, fair and unbiased review.
Sadie Nicholls had been waitressing on the night she died, she needed extra money to help support her and her 3 year-old son Liam. The job was at the Knights Association dinner, the problem was these men thought they could sexually harass the girls working that night. But after too many mens hands groping her Sadie wasn’t prepared to take anymore and left. Promising her friend she would text her to let her know she got home safely, which she did. So how did she end up being found dead in her home later, to make matters even worse her son is missing.
Who would want to harm Sophie? Why take her son? Everyone in the neighbourhood said she was a pleasant friendly person. Was it linked to the waitressing job she had walked out on? She was seen arguing with one of the male guests as she was leaving, could it be him?
DI Alex Finn and D.C. Mattie Paulsen and the team are working hard to try and find a lead. But it seems every way they turn comes to a dead end. But then they find that 30 years earlier a very similar crime happened in the same property it also involved a young woman and child, could these two cases actually be linked? But the man who committed the first crime is still in prison, could he actually be innocent? is this a coincidence.
loved everything about this Alex is still dealing with his demons the loss of his wife Karin, despite it being two years since she died he still hasn’t moved on, and the grief is taking its toll, there was one part of this book that had me in tears as Alex reached rock bottom, I loved how those scenes were written. Within the story one of the characters has dementia which is what Maggie’s father has and this also struck a nerve with her as she sees what she may have to face and manage in the future.
What I have enjoyed about this series is that the characters are so believable, relatable, they are human it’s like you know how they think especially if you have read this series from the start, watching things change. There was a mixture of characters that were suspected to have committed the crimes, but as each one was eliminated with alibi’s the story kept you guessing. Just as you think you have guessed it another curveball is thrown. With a surprise ending.
This book can be read as a stand-alone police procedural but if you want to know any of the back history of the characters it’s definitely worth reading from book one. Or if you read this and enjoy it go back and read the first two books, I definitely think it’s worthwhile. The writing is clever, the plot complex, a multilayered story that will grip you from start to finish. I for one cannot wait for book 4 to see what happens next.
This is resounding ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read for me, if you like a good police procedural then I very highly recommend this series. Great plot, great characters, what more could you want from a story.
Thank you to #netgalley and #Hodder&Stoughton for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest, fair and unbiased review.
January 9, 2022
I would like to thank Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for an advance copy of The Hunting Ground, the third novel to feature DI Alex Finn and DC Mattie Paulsen of the Met.
When Sadie Nicholls is murdered in her home Finn and his team not only have to find her murderer they also have to find Liam, her three year old son, who has disappeared. When they discover that a similar murder of a single mother and her child was committed almost thirty years ago in the same house they begin to wonder what they are investigating.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Hunting Ground, which is an absorbing police procedural with so many possibilities about the perpetrator and motive. It is perhaps not as immediately impactful as the preceding novels in the series, which had big events at their core, but it’s none the worse for being lower key.
I like the procedural genre with its open ended suspect pool and the gradual winnowing of facts and information to narrow the focus. This novel does it well. Who would want to kill a struggling young woman with a sunny disposition and no known enemies and abduct her son? Does the previous murder have a part to play or is it coincidence? These are the questions that keep the reader turning the pages furiously, desperate to get the answers, and while the author is initially parsimonious with information the pace soon ramps up, along with the implication that there is more going on. I liked the solution and the crimes associated with it as it all made a twisted kind of sense and the little ambiguity thrown in was clever, rather than annoying or frustrating, in a judge for yourself way. For me it was a very satisfying read.
Alex Finn is still a troubled man having never got over the death of his wife. I must admit that I am beginning to find it a bit tiresome after three novels. Fortunately he’s beginning to see it himself, so there may be a new Alex Finn in the next novel. Mattie Paulsen also doesn’t have her troubles to seek as her father has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and she’s struggling with it. I thought that it was a touch of genius to have one of the characters have it, so that she and the reader could confront her fears.
The Hunting Ground is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.
When Sadie Nicholls is murdered in her home Finn and his team not only have to find her murderer they also have to find Liam, her three year old son, who has disappeared. When they discover that a similar murder of a single mother and her child was committed almost thirty years ago in the same house they begin to wonder what they are investigating.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Hunting Ground, which is an absorbing police procedural with so many possibilities about the perpetrator and motive. It is perhaps not as immediately impactful as the preceding novels in the series, which had big events at their core, but it’s none the worse for being lower key.
I like the procedural genre with its open ended suspect pool and the gradual winnowing of facts and information to narrow the focus. This novel does it well. Who would want to kill a struggling young woman with a sunny disposition and no known enemies and abduct her son? Does the previous murder have a part to play or is it coincidence? These are the questions that keep the reader turning the pages furiously, desperate to get the answers, and while the author is initially parsimonious with information the pace soon ramps up, along with the implication that there is more going on. I liked the solution and the crimes associated with it as it all made a twisted kind of sense and the little ambiguity thrown in was clever, rather than annoying or frustrating, in a judge for yourself way. For me it was a very satisfying read.
Alex Finn is still a troubled man having never got over the death of his wife. I must admit that I am beginning to find it a bit tiresome after three novels. Fortunately he’s beginning to see it himself, so there may be a new Alex Finn in the next novel. Mattie Paulsen also doesn’t have her troubles to seek as her father has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and she’s struggling with it. I thought that it was a touch of genius to have one of the characters have it, so that she and the reader could confront her fears.
The Hunting Ground is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.
February 22, 2022
My thanks to NetGalley and publisher Hodder & Stoughton for the electronic copy.
This is Book#3 in this series starring DI Alex Finn and DC Mattie Paulsen; it reads well as a standalone if you're new to the series - there's enough background information to bring you up to speed (although I would recommend you to enjoy the first two).
Sadie Nicholls, with 3yr-old son Liam, rents a flat in Lewisham, South East London; its "an unremarkable backstreet lined with terraced houses on both sides and a pub that had seen better days at the far end" Desperately trying to make ends meet, Sadie takes a waitressing job at a 5* West End Hotel. It's a Knights Association charity dinner. However, she soon realises it's not the sort of work she wants to be involved in and, for her son and for her principles, she walks out and gets home early. The next morning Sadie is found murdered and her son is missing. Is this something to do with the previous evening?
The main characters from the neighbourhood are gradually introduced and brought to life. Alex Finn and his team have no shortage of possible suspects - although everyone seems to have an alibi - and no one seems to really have a motive. What of Liam - was he scared and wandered off alone or was he abducted? Time may be running out.
As information is gathered it comes to light that at No.18 where Sadie was murdered, almost 30 years before Vicki Stratford and her 4yr-old son Ben had been murdered; however, Dean Rawton was still in prison - do they have a copycat? If not, then their killer is still free.
This is a really absorbing investigation. I always enjoy the interactions within the police team.
Alex is still grieving, two years on, for his wife Karin, but is trying to put on a front for his colleagues to disguise his emotional turmoil until he frighteningly reaches rock bottom.
Mattie Paulsen's father is in the early stages of dementia and this plagues her mind as she sees how residents Tom Daws and his daughter Abi deal with this.
A very good, intriguing read.
This is Book#3 in this series starring DI Alex Finn and DC Mattie Paulsen; it reads well as a standalone if you're new to the series - there's enough background information to bring you up to speed (although I would recommend you to enjoy the first two).
Sadie Nicholls, with 3yr-old son Liam, rents a flat in Lewisham, South East London; its "an unremarkable backstreet lined with terraced houses on both sides and a pub that had seen better days at the far end" Desperately trying to make ends meet, Sadie takes a waitressing job at a 5* West End Hotel. It's a Knights Association charity dinner. However, she soon realises it's not the sort of work she wants to be involved in and, for her son and for her principles, she walks out and gets home early. The next morning Sadie is found murdered and her son is missing. Is this something to do with the previous evening?
The main characters from the neighbourhood are gradually introduced and brought to life. Alex Finn and his team have no shortage of possible suspects - although everyone seems to have an alibi - and no one seems to really have a motive. What of Liam - was he scared and wandered off alone or was he abducted? Time may be running out.
As information is gathered it comes to light that at No.18 where Sadie was murdered, almost 30 years before Vicki Stratford and her 4yr-old son Ben had been murdered; however, Dean Rawton was still in prison - do they have a copycat? If not, then their killer is still free.
This is a really absorbing investigation. I always enjoy the interactions within the police team.
Alex is still grieving, two years on, for his wife Karin, but is trying to put on a front for his colleagues to disguise his emotional turmoil until he frighteningly reaches rock bottom.
Mattie Paulsen's father is in the early stages of dementia and this plagues her mind as she sees how residents Tom Daws and his daughter Abi deal with this.
A very good, intriguing read.
January 2, 2023
Will Shindler has written another gripping crime novel in his DI Alex Finn series in his latest book, The Hunting Ground. He delivers a shocking opening with the murder of a young woman, Sadie Jones, and the kidnapping of her young son. As DI Alex Finn gets to grips with the case, he begins to see that it is far more complex than what first meets the eye.
I wanted to know what had happened to Sadie’s son following her murder, and why her attacker would take him. Is it possible that her son is still alive? This is what really keeps the police investigation focused, not just on finding Sadie’s attacker and bringing them to justice, but finding her son. This also makes the motive behind the crime interesting. The police know that the more the clock ticks forward, the less chance there is of them finding Sadie’s son. This is what continues to up the tension. You can really feel as well the impact that the crime on Sadie and her son has on the local community. It is such a horrific and terrible tragedy, even I, as the reader, felt angry that this could’ve happened, and I wanted to see those responsible caught and brought to justice.
Alex Finn is also still processing the trauma of losing his wife, and this is something that he has had to deal with since the start of this series. I think Will Shindler really handles this part of Alex Finn’s character well. It makes Alex feel much more human and it makes him someone who readers can connect to. The emotion really comes through and we experience the pain and the loss Alex has gone through. It’s part of what makes me want to follow his journey.
As the investigation into Sadie’s murder continues, Alex Finn meets some truly unlikeable characters. I mentioned earlier that the case becomes far more complex, particularly when Alex begins to look into past events and it makes the story even more intriguing, especially when he finds out that a very similar murder to Sadie’s took place in the same apartment decades ago. The story is very tightly plotted and everything comes together very well. The characters that Will Shindler has created really do pull you into the story and this created, for me, an utterly immersive reading experience.
This is definitely one of my favourite new crime series and I can’t wait to see what Will Shindler has in store for Alex Finn next.
I wanted to know what had happened to Sadie’s son following her murder, and why her attacker would take him. Is it possible that her son is still alive? This is what really keeps the police investigation focused, not just on finding Sadie’s attacker and bringing them to justice, but finding her son. This also makes the motive behind the crime interesting. The police know that the more the clock ticks forward, the less chance there is of them finding Sadie’s son. This is what continues to up the tension. You can really feel as well the impact that the crime on Sadie and her son has on the local community. It is such a horrific and terrible tragedy, even I, as the reader, felt angry that this could’ve happened, and I wanted to see those responsible caught and brought to justice.
Alex Finn is also still processing the trauma of losing his wife, and this is something that he has had to deal with since the start of this series. I think Will Shindler really handles this part of Alex Finn’s character well. It makes Alex feel much more human and it makes him someone who readers can connect to. The emotion really comes through and we experience the pain and the loss Alex has gone through. It’s part of what makes me want to follow his journey.
As the investigation into Sadie’s murder continues, Alex Finn meets some truly unlikeable characters. I mentioned earlier that the case becomes far more complex, particularly when Alex begins to look into past events and it makes the story even more intriguing, especially when he finds out that a very similar murder to Sadie’s took place in the same apartment decades ago. The story is very tightly plotted and everything comes together very well. The characters that Will Shindler has created really do pull you into the story and this created, for me, an utterly immersive reading experience.
This is definitely one of my favourite new crime series and I can’t wait to see what Will Shindler has in store for Alex Finn next.
December 3, 2021
My thoughts about Will Shindler’s The Hunting Ground,this one is very clever, dark and well written story Just when I thought this series couldn’t get any better it did just that! It will blow your mind.Having loved the two previous first 2 novels in the DI Alex Finn series, I couldn’t wait to get stuck into book 3 The Hunting Ground,with a clever, twisty plot and great team dynamics, The Hunting Ground is highly entertaining tale.Talented author Will Shindler again delivers yet another masterpiece,that is unique and breathtaking. The Hunting Ground sees the return of Detectives DI Alex Finn and DC Mattie Paulsen this time they investigate a gruesome murder.Will Shindler’s The Hunting Ground begins with the introduction of Sadie Nicholls has been found dead, brutally and strangely murdered, in her South East London flat. Her little boy is missing.DI Alex Finn and DC Mattie Paulsen know that, in the case of a missing child, it’s the first 24 hours that count. They don’t have many left to find out where Sadie’s son might be and the identity of her killer. Why would anyone want a struggling single mother, loved by many, dead.But when they realise a similar crime was committed at the same house nearly 20 years ago, a question is on everyone’s lips: is this more than just a coincidence. If you haven’t read Will Shindler’s books I urge you to start them.The Hunting Ground is up there with the best. I can’t give anything away without ruining the story. But Will Shindler will keep you in suspense until the very last sentance. The Hunting Ground has blockbuster written all over it.I would like to say thank you to author Will Shindler and Publishers Hodder Books Publication for giving me a gifted copy for me to read and review this spectacular thriller on netgally. The Hunting Ground is breathtaking and powerful.⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥💥💥💥💥💥
December 8, 2021
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for this early ARC.
After thoroughly enjoying the two previous books in this series I was eager to read Will Schindler’s next book. I honestly think the author has wrote a cracker of a book here, and one I can’t fault at all. Finn, Paulsen and the team investigate the murder of a young mother, and find themselves in a race against time to find her missing son. I loved the many different story threads running throughout this book, and wondered quite a few times how they would all fit into the story and come together. Wow, the last 20% of the book was an absolutely riveting read and everything I’d read so far was just completely turned on it’s head. The book raced to a thrilling ending that took my breath away, and all loose ends were tied up nicely. I really like the two main characters in this series, I love reading of their working rapport and growing friendship and enjoyed following their investigation as it began to pick up pace. I love the authors writing style, I was hooked from the first page to the last and at times felt like I was unwrapping layer after layer and secrets galore. The author certainly knows how to draw his readers in and keep them (ok, me) guessing all the way through. I loved that Finn’s character had more depth here and had such empathy for him when he hit rock bottom. And I felt for Mattie as the case takes a personal turn for her. Whilst this is the 3rd book in the series, it can be read on it’s own although I’d recommend you start with The Burning Men to get a real feel for the characters. Overall a great read, one I thoroughly enjoyed and I’m looking forward to the next book. 4.5 stars
After thoroughly enjoying the two previous books in this series I was eager to read Will Schindler’s next book. I honestly think the author has wrote a cracker of a book here, and one I can’t fault at all. Finn, Paulsen and the team investigate the murder of a young mother, and find themselves in a race against time to find her missing son. I loved the many different story threads running throughout this book, and wondered quite a few times how they would all fit into the story and come together. Wow, the last 20% of the book was an absolutely riveting read and everything I’d read so far was just completely turned on it’s head. The book raced to a thrilling ending that took my breath away, and all loose ends were tied up nicely. I really like the two main characters in this series, I love reading of their working rapport and growing friendship and enjoyed following their investigation as it began to pick up pace. I love the authors writing style, I was hooked from the first page to the last and at times felt like I was unwrapping layer after layer and secrets galore. The author certainly knows how to draw his readers in and keep them (ok, me) guessing all the way through. I loved that Finn’s character had more depth here and had such empathy for him when he hit rock bottom. And I felt for Mattie as the case takes a personal turn for her. Whilst this is the 3rd book in the series, it can be read on it’s own although I’d recommend you start with The Burning Men to get a real feel for the characters. Overall a great read, one I thoroughly enjoyed and I’m looking forward to the next book. 4.5 stars
February 1, 2022
This is the third in the series featuring DI Alex Finn so you could do yourself a favour and play catch-up before starting this book. I have read and enjoyed both and I think it would be helpful to get to now the main characters fully before embarking on this book.
We start with the murder of a woman. Brutally, in her South London flat. After arriving home from a cash in hand job as a hostess at a club. On attending it is discovered that she has a little boy and that he is now missing. The police scour the area to no avail. This compounds the investigation as they are now on the trail of a murderer and potential kidnapper. But what motive and why that woman? They start their investigation in earnest and it soon comes to light that this is not the first death this house has seen. Years ago a similar crime occurred. But it's been so long, how could they possible be connected. But Finn is not a fan of coincidence...
DI Finn is a cracking character. He has his weird moments but I guess he is still grieving the loss of his wife, the love of his life, so I can forgive him his ways. It might soon become a bit irksome however as it does seem to be overshadowing the cases a tad now. He is teamed up with Matty Paulsen, another cracking character who is very easy to like. She has her own demons to face too and these are reflected in the case herein. A case that had me guessing and second guessing as it twisted and turned its way to what I found to be a wholly satisfying, and shocking, conclusion. There was quite a cast of suspects, with an eclectic mix of motives that I soon gave up trying and just sat back and enjoyed the ride. Roll on next time...
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
We start with the murder of a woman. Brutally, in her South London flat. After arriving home from a cash in hand job as a hostess at a club. On attending it is discovered that she has a little boy and that he is now missing. The police scour the area to no avail. This compounds the investigation as they are now on the trail of a murderer and potential kidnapper. But what motive and why that woman? They start their investigation in earnest and it soon comes to light that this is not the first death this house has seen. Years ago a similar crime occurred. But it's been so long, how could they possible be connected. But Finn is not a fan of coincidence...
DI Finn is a cracking character. He has his weird moments but I guess he is still grieving the loss of his wife, the love of his life, so I can forgive him his ways. It might soon become a bit irksome however as it does seem to be overshadowing the cases a tad now. He is teamed up with Matty Paulsen, another cracking character who is very easy to like. She has her own demons to face too and these are reflected in the case herein. A case that had me guessing and second guessing as it twisted and turned its way to what I found to be a wholly satisfying, and shocking, conclusion. There was quite a cast of suspects, with an eclectic mix of motives that I soon gave up trying and just sat back and enjoyed the ride. Roll on next time...
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
September 11, 2022
The Hunting Ground is the third book in the DI Alex Finn series, and it seems to be getting better with each book. After leaving an event that she was working at Sadie Nicholls is brutally murdered in her own home and her young son goes missing. Not only do Alex and DC Mattie Paulson have to try and work out what led to her murder, but they have a race against time to find the child and time is running out if they hope to find him alive. As they dig into her life and the community she lived in they discover that a similar crime happened in the exact same property 20 years ago. What they have to work out is if this is a coincidence or something much worse.
Finn and Paulson definitely have their work cut out this time and neither one of them seems on top of their game. Alex is still suffering from the loss of his wife and after meeting some of the residents where Sadie lived Mattie finds she has something in common with them and it is pushing her family’s health worries to the forefront of her mind and making her face up to what lies ahead.
You can really sense the frustration of Finn and the team as they struggle to find a motive for the murder of Sadie Nicholls. There is more than one suspect but each of them somehow manages to have an alibi for the time of the murder and they just can’t shake the fact that the old case has something to do with it, but with the killer in that case in prison they are coming up against brick walls.
The pacing of this book never wavers, and you are sent down many different paths before the killer and the motive is revealed and it is definitely not what you are expecting. With characters hiding secrets that may or may not have a bearing on the investigation you are drawn into the story and the lives of everyone affected. We are really starting to get to know Finn and Paulson now and what makes them tick as their personal lives are revealed further. They are very different from each other, yet it is those differences that bring out the best in them and make them a good team. Even though this is a series you can easily pick up and read the books as standalones. I am looking forward to what comes next for them and cant wait to see if they have managed to come to terms with their own issues
Finn and Paulson definitely have their work cut out this time and neither one of them seems on top of their game. Alex is still suffering from the loss of his wife and after meeting some of the residents where Sadie lived Mattie finds she has something in common with them and it is pushing her family’s health worries to the forefront of her mind and making her face up to what lies ahead.
You can really sense the frustration of Finn and the team as they struggle to find a motive for the murder of Sadie Nicholls. There is more than one suspect but each of them somehow manages to have an alibi for the time of the murder and they just can’t shake the fact that the old case has something to do with it, but with the killer in that case in prison they are coming up against brick walls.
The pacing of this book never wavers, and you are sent down many different paths before the killer and the motive is revealed and it is definitely not what you are expecting. With characters hiding secrets that may or may not have a bearing on the investigation you are drawn into the story and the lives of everyone affected. We are really starting to get to know Finn and Paulson now and what makes them tick as their personal lives are revealed further. They are very different from each other, yet it is those differences that bring out the best in them and make them a good team. Even though this is a series you can easily pick up and read the books as standalones. I am looking forward to what comes next for them and cant wait to see if they have managed to come to terms with their own issues
January 16, 2022
The Hunting Ground is the latest outing for DI Alex Finn and his assistant Mattie Paulsen: they are investigating the brutal murder of a young single mother, Sadie, and the disappearance of her toddler son which has taken place on a quiet residential street in South London.
Intriguingly they soon discover that there had been a similar murder on the street in the very same house thirty years previously but it is difficult to work out if there is any connection between the two events.
The race is on to find the murderer and try and track down the child who may have wandered off or been abducted.
Alex Finn is still suffering issues after the death of his wife even though it happened four years earlier and the pressure of the case starts to take a toll on his mental health. Paulsen is worried about her father who is suffering from dementia and when it becomes apparent that one of the local residents is also suffering from the same condition, it really starts to affect her..
This is a dark and compelling murder mystery which examines some difficult themes including bereavement, mental health and dementia. There are an interesting group of suspects and several of them appear to have had the opportunity to murder Sadie but the motive remains unclear.
The story is cleverly plotted as well as thoughtful and despite being a regular thriller reader I did not guess the final outcome which which turned ou to be incredibly sad.
The final pages of the book set up the return of Alex and his team in a further novel and I look forward to reading more about them in due course. Definitely recommended as a five star read.
Thanks to NetGalley and Hodder for my arc.
Intriguingly they soon discover that there had been a similar murder on the street in the very same house thirty years previously but it is difficult to work out if there is any connection between the two events.
The race is on to find the murderer and try and track down the child who may have wandered off or been abducted.
Alex Finn is still suffering issues after the death of his wife even though it happened four years earlier and the pressure of the case starts to take a toll on his mental health. Paulsen is worried about her father who is suffering from dementia and when it becomes apparent that one of the local residents is also suffering from the same condition, it really starts to affect her..
This is a dark and compelling murder mystery which examines some difficult themes including bereavement, mental health and dementia. There are an interesting group of suspects and several of them appear to have had the opportunity to murder Sadie but the motive remains unclear.
The story is cleverly plotted as well as thoughtful and despite being a regular thriller reader I did not guess the final outcome which which turned ou to be incredibly sad.
The final pages of the book set up the return of Alex and his team in a further novel and I look forward to reading more about them in due course. Definitely recommended as a five star read.
Thanks to NetGalley and Hodder for my arc.
January 28, 2022
This intelligently written and compulsive novel from the hugely talented Will Shindler is the third in the series featuring DI Alex Finn and DC Mattie Paulsen; The Burning Men and The Killing Choice being the previous two.
Set in a residential street in South London, Sadie Nicholls, a well-liked and popular young woman, has been found brutally murdered in her flat, and her little boy is missing. The race is on to find the child, could he be a witness to her murder? The team soon discover that a similar crime was committed at the same address almost 20 years ago, is this a coincidence or is there something more to it?
This is a terrific crime series which just gets better and better and I would thoroughly recommend it to fellow crime fiction fans. This novel has everything I look for in a gripping police procedural: a tense, pacey and multi-layered plot with twists and turns, threats and violence, together with moments of heartbreaking sadness.
Every character in this book is well fleshed out and the setting is richly described and realistic. However, for me, the standout features are the superbly crafted characters of Alex Finn and Mattie Paulsen. The distressing events in their personal lives are authentic and add another dimension to the narrative, enhancing the reader’s understanding of their actions and humanity.
Overall, this is a terrific read and another triumph for Will Shindler. I can’t wait to read what comes next!
I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher, Hodder and Stoughton for the very much appreciated ARC in return for my honest review.
Set in a residential street in South London, Sadie Nicholls, a well-liked and popular young woman, has been found brutally murdered in her flat, and her little boy is missing. The race is on to find the child, could he be a witness to her murder? The team soon discover that a similar crime was committed at the same address almost 20 years ago, is this a coincidence or is there something more to it?
This is a terrific crime series which just gets better and better and I would thoroughly recommend it to fellow crime fiction fans. This novel has everything I look for in a gripping police procedural: a tense, pacey and multi-layered plot with twists and turns, threats and violence, together with moments of heartbreaking sadness.
Every character in this book is well fleshed out and the setting is richly described and realistic. However, for me, the standout features are the superbly crafted characters of Alex Finn and Mattie Paulsen. The distressing events in their personal lives are authentic and add another dimension to the narrative, enhancing the reader’s understanding of their actions and humanity.
Overall, this is a terrific read and another triumph for Will Shindler. I can’t wait to read what comes next!
I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher, Hodder and Stoughton for the very much appreciated ARC in return for my honest review.
February 20, 2022
Reading a Will Schindler is like seeing one of your favourite aunts or uncles. You know they're only going to visit you once a year but you also know you are going to have an absolute ball of a time and saying goodbye is always sad.
This is definitely one of my favourite series! Not only is their brutal crimes to be solved but there's also a lot of depth to the characters.
This is the third instalment in the series but you don't have to read it from the beginning to absolutely love the story. There is enough of the backstory for you to understand the characters.
Sadie Nicholls is struggling financially and because of that, she took a job as a waitress at the Knights Association dinner. A dinner attended by men with waitresses that are all female and young.
Soon it becomes clear that more is expected of her and although she needs the money to look after herself and her son she decides to hang up her apron and go home. Sadie is brutally killed just after she got home and her son goes missing. Does this have anything to do with what happened at the dinner or is it something more sinister? Is there a link between this murder and the murders that happened 30 years before in the same house and are the neighbours all who they seem to be or is there evil lurking close by......
Finn needs to figure this out very quickly but it is also two years since his wife Karen died and he hits rock bottom. Will this affect his work?
Another brilliant read! I can't wait for the next book!
Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
This is definitely one of my favourite series! Not only is their brutal crimes to be solved but there's also a lot of depth to the characters.
This is the third instalment in the series but you don't have to read it from the beginning to absolutely love the story. There is enough of the backstory for you to understand the characters.
Sadie Nicholls is struggling financially and because of that, she took a job as a waitress at the Knights Association dinner. A dinner attended by men with waitresses that are all female and young.
Soon it becomes clear that more is expected of her and although she needs the money to look after herself and her son she decides to hang up her apron and go home. Sadie is brutally killed just after she got home and her son goes missing. Does this have anything to do with what happened at the dinner or is it something more sinister? Is there a link between this murder and the murders that happened 30 years before in the same house and are the neighbours all who they seem to be or is there evil lurking close by......
Finn needs to figure this out very quickly but it is also two years since his wife Karen died and he hits rock bottom. Will this affect his work?
Another brilliant read! I can't wait for the next book!
Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
February 8, 2022
The Hunting Ground is the third book in the DI Alex Finn series. I have been reading this series since the first book came out and it just keeps getting better and better. I love the character of DI Alex Finn. He is relatable, honest, and well-developed. Two years after the death of his wife Karin, he’s still going through the grieving process and, in this book, it reaches an important and breaking point.
DI Alex Finn and his team are called on the scene of a murder. A young woman, Sadie Nicholls, has been found murdered in her flat and her three-year-old son Liam has disappeared. Sadie was a single mother with money problems, but everyone loved her. With not many suspects and in a race against time to find Liam, Alex starts to wonder if Sadie’s murder is somehow connected to a double murder that happened twenty years earlier in that same apartment…
While the story focuses mainly on the murder case and it is suspenseful and full of surprises, the detectives’ personal lives also take center stage adding a more emotional side to the story. DI Alex Finn’s grief is well-written and it feels authentic. It makes this character more realistic and human and I really felt for him as he grieves not only for his wife, but for the future they won’t have together. DC Mattie Paulsen is one of my favorite characters in the series. I love how determined and strong she is, but in this book we see her struggle with her own demons as she faces the reality of her father’s Alzheimer.
The Hunting Ground is a book that kept me on the edge of my seat. It is a gripping and engrossing story, at times even emotional. Highly recommended!
DI Alex Finn and his team are called on the scene of a murder. A young woman, Sadie Nicholls, has been found murdered in her flat and her three-year-old son Liam has disappeared. Sadie was a single mother with money problems, but everyone loved her. With not many suspects and in a race against time to find Liam, Alex starts to wonder if Sadie’s murder is somehow connected to a double murder that happened twenty years earlier in that same apartment…
While the story focuses mainly on the murder case and it is suspenseful and full of surprises, the detectives’ personal lives also take center stage adding a more emotional side to the story. DI Alex Finn’s grief is well-written and it feels authentic. It makes this character more realistic and human and I really felt for him as he grieves not only for his wife, but for the future they won’t have together. DC Mattie Paulsen is one of my favorite characters in the series. I love how determined and strong she is, but in this book we see her struggle with her own demons as she faces the reality of her father’s Alzheimer.
The Hunting Ground is a book that kept me on the edge of my seat. It is a gripping and engrossing story, at times even emotional. Highly recommended!
December 16, 2021
This is book 3 in the DI Alex Finn series and well what can I say it was just brilliant and Will Shindler has done it again in bringing us a thriller and a half. So the team is back together investigating the brutal murder of a woman and looking for her missing child and Finn and Paulson have a real tough time with this crime the pace doesn’t let up and as more and more mysteries come up this turns out to be a far more complex case than it first seemed.
What I loved about the book was the way we see a different side to Alex Finn he is struggling in this book with the ongoing pain of the loss of his wife and it’s beginning to have an affect on the case. If you haven’t read the first two books of this series I would urge you to give them a go as although this book can be read as a stand-alone reading the previous really gives some great background not just on Finn but other members of the team and they are in my opinion too good to miss.
This a marvellous police procedural I couldn’t put it down and I can’t wait for the next , brilliant writing Mr Shindler thank you so much !
My thanks also to NetGalley and Hodder and Stoughton for giving me the chance to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
What I loved about the book was the way we see a different side to Alex Finn he is struggling in this book with the ongoing pain of the loss of his wife and it’s beginning to have an affect on the case. If you haven’t read the first two books of this series I would urge you to give them a go as although this book can be read as a stand-alone reading the previous really gives some great background not just on Finn but other members of the team and they are in my opinion too good to miss.
This a marvellous police procedural I couldn’t put it down and I can’t wait for the next , brilliant writing Mr Shindler thank you so much !
My thanks also to NetGalley and Hodder and Stoughton for giving me the chance to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
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