Death Rite: 1

by Kerry Watts

Their next breath will be their last Forty years ago, the name Rachel McMahon was synonymous with evil. After killing four men in the most brutal of ways, the world rejoiced as she was locked up. Now Rachel has done her time, repented for her crimes, and is ready to live a quiet life back in Scotland under a new name. But then the killings start again. As the bodies of fathers and sons appear on the streets of Perth, their deaths echoing those from Rachel’s murder spree four decades ago, DCI Hazel Todd and her squad are called in to track down a murderer taunting them at every step. Could Rachel really have reformed – or is a copycat killer trying to finish what she started? And as the murders get closer to Hazel, it’s a race against time to stop a psychopath with their own twisted agenda… Praise for Kerry ‘ WOW, WOW, WOW . I was hooked from the first page, could not put this book down. I read it in one sitting and it kept me reading late into the night … A gripping read.’ ☆☆☆☆☆ Reader Review ‘The storyline pulls you in from page one . I was very gripped… If you like a good twist, this is for you .’ ☆☆☆☆☆ Reader Review ‘I was absolutely hooked from page one … I had to rush back to it every time I had to put it down. An ending you won’t see coming .’ ☆☆☆☆☆ Reader Review ‘ I was totally absorbed in this book from page 1 ! I couldn’t put it down! Tense and chilling! It kept me guessing right up to the end !’ ☆☆☆☆☆ Reader Review

Paperback

Published November 25, 2021

About the author

.Kerry Watts was born and grew up in a small town in the East of Scotland where she still lives today. She is always writing and carries a little notebook and pen with her wherever she goes because at her age ideas need to be captured before they disappear.
Kerry specialises in crime fiction because she enjoys pushing the boundaries of what it is to be human. The nature versus nurture debate fascinates her. She loves to put her characters in impossible situations just to see what happens. Her experience as a psychiatric nurse heavily influences her writing. She also wants to create characters that people can relate to who might be facing the same struggles as anyone else.
Authors who inspire her are anyone capable of creating a character who lives inside her head long after she has closed the book. Her favourite fictional character's are Dexter Morgan, created by Jeff Lindsay as well as Hannibal Lechter created by Thomas Harris. She doesn't have a favourite genre as a reader. Kerry will read anything. Written by anyone. If the blurb has a good feel about it she's hooked.
When she's not writing she loves to spend time following her other passions - dogs, particularly rescue mutts and horse racing. The sight of a thoroughbred race horse at full stretch has been known to move her to tears, not just lump in the throat stuff but full on blubbing. And for that she is unashamed. One day she's going to buy a racehorse filly and call her Into Darkness.
She also had a small role in a film called The Rocket Post but decided acting wasn't for her. She would rather create a character than play one.

Reviews

[Kim Desnoyers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book! Loved the story and the characters. Can’t wait to read more of DCI Todd’s investigations. Enjoy!

[Lisa Willis · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good introduction to Detective Hazel Todd and her team. They leave no stone unturned no matter how much danger they put themselves in.

A murderer is released and wants to live just a quite life. The murders then start. Is she back to her old ways or is there a copycat? Things also get a bit too close to home for Hazel.

I enjoyed this, lots of twists and turns and some red herrings along the way. Once finding out who it was I didn't expect the plot twist that came. I have a feeling I'm going to enjoy this series.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5*
A very promising start to a new series. DCI Hazel Todd is a very likable character as are her team of detectives. Good plotting and with intense moments and the story got more gritty and grusome as it unfolded. A twisty read and a great page turner. I am definitely looking forward to book two.

[Emma Gregg · Rating 3 out of 5]

this book is a promising start to a detective series! the plot was very interesting and the writing was good. one thing that annoyed me however was how all the men were connected and also using prostitutes. how does that even happen. i know they’re all from the same area but something about it is very unrealistic to me.

[Sam Knight · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good read and a good story but I did find that it didn’t have the same appeal to me as some other crime authors. Seeing as it’s the authors first one it might get better on the next one.
Still would recommend people to read it

[Mary Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this to be a good start to a series. I like the interaction among the team and enjoyed the storyline. It was an easy read and I read it in under 2 days.

I look forward to reading the next one.

[Corinne Bell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Didn’t realise Perth was such a hotbed of murder and intrigue. Interesting lead female character Quick read with a final twist that catches you out
Would def read another of this authors books and not just because I am a Scot 😀😀

[Alix · Rating 4 out of 5]

I honestly really enjoyed this book with its mystery plot and police force investigating the insedent,I honestly don’t have much to say.

[Mari-Claire Parrin · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐

[Craig Gillan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great start to the series

[Karen Bryant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this read in a day waiting for next one to come out

[Sue Dorey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well written. I’ll read more in this series. Really 3.5

[Elizabeth]

DNF at chapter 7. Not engaging me

[that_dark_bookshelf · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

I really enjoyed this book and read it very fast. It was interesting, captivating and enjoyable to read, but it was not outstanding. It was a nice quick read, with nothing too challenging. A good book to read after a difficult one or to get you out of a reading slump. This is the first book in the DCI Hazel Todd series and I will definitely be reading more. It was told in third person, switching between different perspectives of the detectives and other characters.

TW: mentions of rape, drug abuse, fighting, murder, mild gory details, prostitution

Good things:
- The story was realistic and well paced
- I would’ve NEVER guessed the plot twist (who did it)
- Everything was followed up at the end/all loose ends tied
- The characters were likeable
- The story was easy to follow
- I found it a quick read (short chapters)
- Representation of vulnerable people (mainly women) involved in drugs and prostitution, in the sense that they are actually in need of help and shouldn’t be seen as ‘disgusting’ or ‘uncivilised’

Things I would change: (may include some spoilers)
- Katie said Daniel (and Sam) raped her as they had sex with her when she was drunk (Daniel said she was ‘sober enough for it’s (excuse me?!)) and the next day she reported it but then retracted it because she felt bad. And when Hazel found out she was kinda guilt-tripping Katie. Surely if she was drunk at all they shouldn’t have fucked her??
- There was some useless information. Eg: I don’t need to know all the pots and pans etc Rachel got when she first moved into her flat
- Craig Douglas’ flat was described as having nothing feminine like it’s a bad thing and makes him more likely to have committed a murder…….
- Nearly all the murder victims were found by dog walkers (unrealistic?)
- There wasn’t a lot of tension building. Things just kind of happened and then they moved on. Maybe if it had been in first person there would’ve been more of an impact? I feel this book would’ve been better with more tension-building to make it more exciting/interesting
- I wish more light was shone on Rachel’s life and her murders that the person was supposedly trying to copy, and what lead to them committing those murders. There was only one flashback right at the start when she was getting arrested. There were some hints that those men raped the women, but it was very vague and as that was a main point of the blurb, I would have liked that explored a little more, to be honest.

Overall I enjoyed this book and it was a quick easy read. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys crime books or just wants somethings relatively light and easy to read!

[Izzy🥂✨🐉🗡️🩷🇬🇧 · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.9

(I’ve read better books since then. So I’ve changed my rating but at the time it was…)

THIS WAS AMAZING!!!! Absolutely fell in love with the characters and amazingly written book. Exactly what a crime/mystery/detective book should be. If you enjoy working out and solving murders and following an investigation this is for you.

I went to look to see if we could follow Detective Hazel in another book. Happily anticipating where we see her next.

The twist was phenomenal and everything fell into place, it was like seeing something all come together.

One of my favourite books I’ve read, was a good length too and always felt like it kept a good pace, didn’t feel slow at any point.

Thoroughly enjoyed