The Briarmarsh Close Killings

DI Jemima Huxley Thrillers #2

by Gaynor Torrance

This book was previously published as Sole Survivor.

A family brutally attacked in their own home. One survivor. A troubled female detective who must uncover the truth.

The call comes through on DI Jemima Huxley’s day off. A family of five brutally attacked in their own home. Bradley and Sally Rathbone and their teenage niece and nephew are dead. Only fourteen-year-old Millie survives, found in a broken heap at the bottom of the stairs.

It’s an unlikely crime scene: a comfortable five-bedroom property in one of Cardiff’s most exclusive suburbs. Jemima quickly deduces this was no random burglary gone wrong. These killings were vicious, personal — and carefully planned. But why would someone target an ordinary family going about their everyday business?

With Millie in a coma and unable to help with enquiries, it’s up to Jemima and her team to unmask the killer.

And could they be waiting to strike again . . . ?

Genres: Crime

274 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 28, 2022

About the author

Gaynor Torrance lives near Cardiff with her husband and their rescue cat, Cleo. The area is the setting for her Detective Inspector Jemima Huxley Crime Thriller series of books. Like Gaynor, Jemima has a bachelor’s degree in psychology. Though, apart from them both having a keen interest in human behaviour, that’s where any similarity ends.

When she’s not writing or glued to her Kindle, Gaynor enjoys listening to music, playing the piano, walking, travelling, and eating far too much chocolate.

Find out more at: http://www.gaynortorrance.com
Follow me on Twitter https://twitter.com/gaytorauthor and Facebook https://www.facebook.com/gaynortorran...

Reviews

[Linda Strong · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 STARS

A family of 5 are viciously attacked in their home. Only a teenage daughter survived, but it is uncertain that she will recover from her brutal injuries, and she remains in critical condition.

Having been on medical leave following her last case, DI Emma Huxley and her team are called in to investigate. Since the sole survivor is unable to provide a statement, the team are having to investigate the family first.

Robbery has been ruled out, so a personal vendetta as motive remains. But who was the prime target ... and why? Or was this a random attack with more deaths waiting?

Although well written, this is a slower paced thriller with various twists and turns that lead to a surprising conclusion. There are plenty of suspects to look at ... from a teacher to the next door neighbor to an ex-wife who has spent time in prison for murder. Everyone seems to have a different version of the family .... so who's lying?

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

[StinaStaffymum · Rating 4 out of 5]

SOLE SURVIVOR is the second in the DI Jemima Huxley series set in the north Cardiff area of South Wales. If you missed the previous book, don't worry as this can be read as a standalone. After a particularly gruesome case in the first book "Revenge", which was one of the most shocking cases of her career, Jemima returns several months later after having to face some of her personal demons that often clouded her judgement.

Jemima is on a rare day off when she receives a call to another particularly gruesome murder scene. Details are sketchy but upon arriving at the scene in the exclusive Briarmarsh Close, she is shocked to learn that the entire Rathbone family has been butchered, leaving four dead. Only the teenage daughter Millie survived but her injuries are so brutal it is uncertain if she will recover and she remains in a critical condition in hospital.

Jemima and her team begin questioning friends and neighbours of the family, revealing some interesting family dynamics. Bradley Rathbone was a psychiatrist at the University Hospital of Wales while his wife Sally was a doctor in private practice. The two teenage children were Jonathan and Lauren and were Bradley's brother's children, their parents having been killed in a boating accident the year before. Millie, the sole survivor, is Bradley's daughter from his first marriage whose mother is currently serving a prison sentence for the murder of her 10 month old baby when Millie was 7 years old.

Robbery was quickly ruled out as the crime scene was particularly vicious. No burglar would expend so much energy into stabbing one victim thirty five times and seventeen for another. Particularly given that the two teenage victims were suffocated prior to being stabbed. Why even bother to stab them so viciously if they are already dead? This in itself displayed a huge amount of rage towards the victims. And if that was the case, why kill the parents? Is it some kind of personal vendetta? Was someone out for revenge against the family? Was there a prime target? Or was this just a random attack? So many questions left unanswered has Jemima searching for clues that will lead them to the killer.

Then when Jemima learns that Brad's first wife Isobel has been released from prison, she becomes their prime suspect as the team begin to search for her whereabouts and Jemima wonders if Millie, as the sole survivor, is suddenly at risk.

There are a wealth of suspects to consider as the team dig further to uncover the truth. From a teacher to the next door neighbour to a psychotic patient to an ex-wife who was in prison for murder...everyone seems to have a different version of the family. So who is lying and who is telling the truth?

Meanwhile Jemima has problems on the home front. Ever since her husband Nick outed her self harming to her boss things have been strained between the couple. Not to mention the time she took an innocent walk with her godson Harry at his christening party, leaving everyone frantic with worry that she had kidnapped him, Jemima was shocked to discover that Nick believed she had done just that. Now the couple have Nick's son James living with them after the tragic death of his mother in a car accident, but Jemima appears to be more of a parent to James than Nick, who sits in the kitchen drinking from dawn till dusk...accusing Jemima of caring about her job more than them. But then the couple receive some devastating news that will turn their worlds upside down, as Jemima tries to stay strong for young James.

I have to say I much preferred Jemima in this book than I did in the first one, where she bored on self-absorption to the point of obsession. In SOLE SURVIVOR, she has been to counselling - albeit forced, but incredibly helpful - and while she was unable to have a child of her own, she now finds herself a parent to James who she loves just as much as if he were her own. She has a good camaraderie with her team who are all incredibly likable, making reading the book a pleasant experience. I must also add that I love the pathologist, John Prethero, and his wicked sense of humour.

I really enjoyed SOLE SURVIVOR even though I had worked out who was responsible from very early on. But that never spoils my enjoyment or detracts from the story as it is always a guessing game anyway...I could have been wrong.

Although incredibly well written, I did find SOLE SURVIVOR to be a little slower paced that the previous book which had me on tenterhooks from start to finish. However, Gaynor Torrance has a tendency to shock as both books so far in this promising series lead the reader through tension-filled moments culminating to shocking conclusions. While I did suspect the killer, there were definitely some shocking moments throughout the book.

An excellent addition to what is becoming a promising new series, SOLE SURVIVOR is a a unique mix of thriller and police procedural, though not for the fainthearted. Recommended for fans who like their crime thrillers dark.

I would like to thank #GaynorTorrance, #NetGalley and #SapereBooks for an ARC of #SoleSurvivor in exchange for an honest review.

This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.

[Bookworm86 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review for 'Sole Survivor' by Gaynor Torrance

Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Sapere Books

This is the first book that I have read by this author. I would love to read more.

This is the second book in the 'DI Jemima Huxley thriller' series. I read this as a standalone with no problem at all. I don't think there were any references needing to be made about previous crimes, if there were they would have been explained as I didn't notice them. Regardless I would still be interested in reading book one.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this suspense filled crime novel. An absolute page turner that was very well written with descriptions that really put me in the story.

This book is set in Cardiff and with a strong female lead. Both bonuses being a Welsh woman myself living about an hour from Cardiff =) I loved the fact that I have been to some of the places in the book and it really helped me picture everything that was going on.

I absolutely loved the characters especially John Prothero and his sense of humour!! They were all realistic and very strong. I look forward to seeing more of them and is a reason that I'd be interested in reading the first book in this series.

I was originally drawn to this book by its cover and blurb which both relate to the book very well.

I must say though that I did figure out the killer from the start which was a bit disappointing and this normally removes a star rating from the book. However 4/5 is I enjoyed it and 5/5 is I loved it. I would be lying if I didn't say I loved it even though I knew who the killer was. I wasn't expecting how things would happen which definitely made up for it.

I would highly recommend this book to
Fans of crime, murder, psychological thrillers, suspense, fans of Angela Marsons, M.J. Arlidge and C. L. Taylor and basically everyone looking for a good read!!

243 pages

Free on kindle unlimited or £2.99 to purchase. I think this is an absolute bargain for this book!!

Rated 5 /5 (I loved it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon.Com and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.

Feel free to add me on Goodreads for more reviews

#SoleSurvivor #GaynorTorrance #SapereBooks #NetGalley #BookReview
@GaynorTorrance @SapereBooks
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[Bridget · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sole Survivor is the second in the DI Jemima Huxley series set in the north Cardiff area of South Wales.

Jemima returns to her job several months after a particularly gruesome case and having had to attend for counselling. Jemima takes a call about another grisly murder scene and arriving at the exclusive Briarmarsh Close, she is shocked to find that the entire Rathbone family has been viciously stabbed. Four people are dead and only the Rathbone's teenage daughter, Millie has survived but her injuries are so severe that it is uncertain if she will recover.

Jemima and her team begin questioning the local community including friends and neighbours of the family, revealing some interesting Rathbone family dynamics. With Millie, as the sole survivor, at further risk, the team know they must work quickly to protect her, however, it's a difficult case as everyone has a different opinion of the Rathbone family and there is a host of suspects all with viable motives.

Gaynor Torrance has created a well-drawn protagonist and detective in DI Jemima Huxley. Although flawed and with many personal problems such as her husband, Nick, she was likeable and caring as were the others in her team. I enjoyed the camaraderie between the different team members and I really liked the way the author interlaced the main story with events and occurrences in Jemima's own life. Very well written, the novel had me on tenterhooks from start to finish as I was led through abundant tension-filled moments culminating in a shocking conclusion. I am delighted to have read Sole Survivor which was a rewarding experience.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Sapere Books via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

[Tracy Wood · Rating 4 out of 5]

Detective Inspector Jemima Huxley's last case was harrowing for her and her team and they were all hoping for a period of time when work would be a little more ordinary. Unfortunately a killer has struck in a quiet Cardiff suburb and four members of a family of five are dead, the fifth left fighting for her life. The Rathbone family's friends and neighbours aren't giving up any secrets other than those leading to previous tragedies which have beset them, add this to her increasingly chaotic private life and Jemima is beginning to struggle.

I really enjoyed this book even though I had it worked out almost immediately. For me it was the personal side of things which elevated the storyline to above the norm, it did surprise me, and there is scope for so much more in that area. Both Jemima's home life and her relationships at work are realistically and thoughtfully drawn and the author's style is one I find a pleasure to read. In the end that is the most important part and I hope Jemima returns, if she does I will be waiting.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers in exchange for an unbiased review and would recommend it to anyone who enjoyed the first book in this series or who likes well written psychological thrillers.

[Dawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Whilst this is a good read, the killer was obvious to me from the very early stages.

[Juliet Bookliterati · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sole Survivor is the second book in the DCI Jemima Huxley series, but if you have missed the first book don’t worry as this can be read as a standalone. In Revenge DI Jemima Huxley solved one of the most difficult and shocking cases of her career. Sole Survivor picks up a couple of months later, when Huxley has returned to work to another harrowing case, the stabbing of a family of five, with the only survivor being a teenage girl. With the young girl in hospital, DI Huxley and her team are under pressure to find who could commit such a frenzied attack on the family.

I am always cautious of second books if I have really enjoyed the first in a series; there is always the worry they may not be as good. This certainly was not the case with Sole Survivor, which grabbed me from the first page. The book starts a few months after the ending to the previous book, and Gaynor Torrance fills us in on that interim time, which I loved as an idea. The plot is very fast moving with plenty of lines of inquiry, and plenty of suspects to keep you guessing. Children being murdered is always a difficult subject, and I like the way Gaynor Torrance shows how this crime effects DI Huxley and her team personally as well as professionally. DI Huxley now has her stepson living with her, and has been trying for a baby, so she is sensitive to the this case which shows the human aspect of being a police officer. The tension rises as lines of inquiry come to a dead end, and the killer is still out there. The investigation is fraught and the DI Huxley is under pressure form both the public and her superiors to catch the killer before they strike again.

I really like DI Huxley as a character, she is brilliant at her job but has a sensitive role that a lot of female police protagonists are lacking. She is still having problems in her personal life, she is now a mother to James her stepson after the death if his mother, and her husband Nick is having trouble personally as well. We see that DI Huxley, like most women is torn between work and family, feeling she needs to be there for her stepson, but also knowing she loves her job and has to find out who killed the family, and this needs long hours. This personal side is a sub plot to the main murder investigation, but adds to the pressure DI Huxley is under and also shows a different side to her personality. The relationship between her and her team members is authentic, she is very aware of their needs, their strengths and tries to encourage their progression. In return, she is a very respected DI whom her team trust.

Sole Survivor is another well written and cleverly plotted crime thriller from Gaynor Torrance. The tension and pressure rise throughout the book, culminating in a shocking conclusion both professionally and personally for DI Huxley. Intelligent, with a relatable protagonist in DI Huxley, this is a thrilling and at times shocking read. I am really looking forward to the next book in the series due out in the summer.

[Mr Robin Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book in a series featuring Detective Inspector Jemima Huxley and her colleagues on the Lisvane (north Cardiff) police force. I would also recommend the earlier book (Revenge), which introduces us to Jemima, her team, and her personal problems, but it is not an essential read, as each book stands alone with its own plot, and Jemima’s guilty secrets are further explored in this book, with an adequate look back at their history. Returning to work after a period away on sick leave, after a particularly gruelling murder case only a few months back, DI Huxley and her team are thrust straight back into a further, even more gruesome, case involving multiple killings. Called to a large detached house in an expensive part of town by a neighbour, the police discover an horrific scene where an entire family has been attacked by what appears to be a frenzied knife-wielding assailant. Both parents are dead, as are two of the three children, the third child, Millie, was also seriously injured, but still alive, was found lying at the bottom of the stairs, where she was seen through the letter box by the neighbour, who had called expecting the mother Sally to be at home. With no obvious pointers from scene of crime forensics, the team start digging into the family background and discover that both parents, Sally a GP and Brad a psychiatrist, have had past issues with patients. Sally had had a patient who became infatuated with her and had to be warned off by the police; Brad had a more serious incident with a psychotic patient who had attempted to kill him; the team also discovered that Brad’s first wife, the mother of Millie, had been convicted of killing their second child and had served time in jail for this. The investigation of this awful crime thus gets into gear and the team lose no time in following up on the initial leads, this all goes on against the background of Jemima’s personal difficulties with an unsupportive husband and the emotional turmoil resulting from her inability to have a child of her own, which had led to her self-harming and the recent period off sick being counselled for this. On the positive side she has willingly agreed to adopt James the son of her husband and his ex-wife Wendy, who had died in a tragic car crash. I can say no more about the development of the thrilling story line and the hunt for the murderer, without giving away too many spoilers, but I can tell you, you will not be disappointed by this book, as it heads inexorably to a startling and completely unexpected finale. This really was a book that was difficult to put down and I loved the surprise ending; and I have no hesitation in recommending it to anybody who enjoys a good murder mystery. Thanks go to Sapere Books for providing me a copy for review.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Returning to work after a forced leave for counseling, D.I. Jemima Huxley’s first case is a rough one. She and her partner D.S. Broadbent are called to a brutal murder scene in which the parents and two of their children were massacred. One daughter, fourteen-year-old Millie, survives but is hospitalized with serious injuries. Jemima must put her personal and family issues aside to focus on finding a dangerous killer.

“Sole Survivor” is the second book in this series and is even better than the first. It reads as a standalone, although starting with the prior book will allow the reader to become more familiar with Jemima and her personal struggles. Because of events in the first book and others the readers learn about at the beginning of this book, Jemima and her husband Nick are having problems just when they need to pull together for the sake of Nick’s son James. It’s hard on Jemima balancing her own recovery from self-harming, being there for James, and solving this difficult murder case. I admire Jemima’s strength even when she is unsure she can go on. Her struggles as well as the murder case kept me engaged in the book from the very beginning. Jemima is not perfect, but she tries her best on the job and at home to be the best detective, wife, and step-mother she can be.

As I discovered in the first book in this series, this author has the ability to surprise. Once again, I was shocked by all that is revealed when the investigation comes to a close. The solution was completely unexpected and I love that with all the “twisty thrillers” out there, I could still be surprised. There are huge developments on the home front for Jemima as well. Each book in this series is a unique mixture of police procedural and thriller, and I look forward to reading the next book in this excellent series.

I received this book through the courtesy of Sapere Book. The book was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.

[wendi wigham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Right in front of you.

James is now living with Nick &Nick Jemima permanently, and it's working well.
Jenkins was forced to take time off work regardless her self harming and baby obsession. Much to her surprise, the therapy is helping and she has recently returned to work.
It was her day off until the phone rang, announcing the latest murder for her team. A family's life extinguished - parents, two children and bushes sheer fluke one teenage girl has survived, but is critical. This storyline is very cleverly thought out, as you start to have ideas as to who is responsible, but tend to put the thought aside, as it is far from the norm.
Meanwhile, at home , Nick has received some medical information, which has wrecked his peace of mind. He deals with it by diving into a bottle 24/7 and treats both Jemima and James horribly. They cling to each other for support until Nick takes things too far.
The story grabs you from the start, as things don't add up, and like the piece of jigsaw that falls in the floor, you're looking for the missing link, but it is there all the time.

[Billie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Forget what you think you know…
After dealing with the most harrowing case of her career, Detective Inspector Jemima Huxley was pushed to breaking point.
And now another brutal murder case has struck the local community.
A family of five were attacked in their own home. Four are dead – repeatedly stabbed in a frenzied attack – and the fifth, a teenage girl, is in a critical condition.
With the sole survivor unable to provide a statement, it is up to Jemima and her team to unmask the killer.
Was this a personal attack? Who in the family was the main target?
And could the killer be waiting to strike again…?

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 believeable.
Great suspense and action with 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.

[Nancy]

MEET DETECTIVE INSPECTOR JEMIMA HUXLEY IN THIS BRILLIANT NEW CRIME SERIES FULL OF STUNNING TWISTS.

Please note this book was previously published as Sole Survivor.

A family brutally attacked in their own home. One survivor. A troubled female detective who must uncover the truth.

The call comes through on DI Jemima Huxley’s day off. A family of five brutally attacked in their own home. Bradley and Sally Rathbone and their teenage niece and nephew are dead. Only fourteen-year-old Millie survives, found in a broken heap at the bottom of the stairs.

It’s an unlikely crime scene: a comfortable five-bedroom property in one of Cardiff’s most exclusive suburbs. Jemima quickly deduces this was no random burglary gone wrong. These killings were vicious, personal — and carefully planned. But why would someone target an ordinary family going about their everyday business?

With Millie in a coma and unable to help with enquiries, it’s up to Jemima and her team to unmask the killer.

And could they be waiting to strike again . . . ?

Didn't read.

[Jase · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good book but…

…the premise stacks up well, but the problem I had was the number of children losing parents and going to live with family members and or adoptive parents. This happens, but so many in so few families, all linked, a little unbelievable. It also seemed that DI Jemima Huxley has issues, they link too easily to the investigation. It might be that her backstory/character would affect the narrative, but the first two books in the series are too much.

The perpetrator was easily spotted from early on and confirmed halfway through, I also succeeded in putting the plot points together.

The escalation towards the end happens quickly, and almost seems a bit too over the top. Not sure if it was rushed for a conclusion or was felt required to ‘juice’ up the book.

I’ll continue reading the series cos it has local connections, but I hope it improves.

[Bob Hurley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jemima Huxley working all the hours God sends knows she has a potential problem at home with Husband Nick and stepson James but she does not know just how big it is. Then she gets called out to a savage murder which starts to dominate all her available waking hours and some of those where she is sleeping. No matter which trail she follows there seems to be no answer to who the murderer was but her "sixth sense" drives her to investigate further. What follows is a truly scary journey prior to the eventual discovery of the murderer, however whilst she has been focused on that he problems at home have escalated. Once again very well written by Gaynor Torrance and you are pulled between the two competing agendas in Jemima's life. Very enjoyable, thrilling and scary.

[Ruth Matheson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story opens with a mass murder of a family, killing four of them violently and severely injuring the fifth one. D.I. Huxley is still recovering from her last traumatic investigation and is in counselling for her addiction to cutting herself when stressed. This has been going well for her and it takes a lot of strength for her to run this investigation , without resorting to old bad habits. Add to this that she now has her partner's son living with them full time and Jemima is pushed to her limits.
Gaynor weaves the public and personal stories of Jemima very deftly and at times you have a great empathy with Jemima as she tries to do the right thing all round.
Thanks to Sapere Books for the ARC to review

[Kim Melbourne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Second of this authors books I have read and again I was not disappointed.
Jemma is faced with a harrowing murder scene, 4 family members brutally murdered and the remaining daughter critically injured.
Whilst both parents potentially have worked with people who could be considered as high risk to comit murder, family ties are also pulled into this story.
Outside of work, Jemma has formed a strong bond with her stepson and is coming to terms with the fact that she still can't have children. However her relationship is thrown into turmoil as her husband receives devastating news, resulting in his dependence on alcohol and the destruction of his marriage.
Although I guessed the murderer quite early I still really enjoyed this book and would highly recommend.

[Anne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Book 2 disappoints

This is the sequel to “The Cardiff Killings” but is less well plotted and I deduced the culprit from the get go. It was implausible that Di Huxley, albeit distracted by domestic problems at home, would overlook the diary entries of one of the victims of the vicious murders of four members of the Rathbone family. And the ‘gobbledegook’ code entries were too easy to decode. Added to this, given the early disclosure that the Rathbone children were dispatched before the arrival home of the parents, and the excessive number of stab wounds in all of the deceased victims, it was implausible that the police would not have looked more closely at the only surviving child.

[Haydn Pope]

Jemima Huxley is very good detective, and what a case she has to solve in this novel! The sort of stuff that nightmares are made of. She is methodical and disciplined in her work, all with background of vanishing husband with big problems, a foster child left to fend for himself for most of the day, and her wanting to get home so as she can slice herself with a razor blade. Very dysfunctional! After a rather bizzare incident towards the end of the book, she solves the case, and what a result she comes up with!

[Karen Goodwill 'Seddon' · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to Sapere Books for the opportunity to review thus book.

I really like the way the book is written - it sets the scene early on and introduces you quickly to the main story line along with the characters.

Very quickly we discover that there has been a murder - 4 ! With one survivor but many twists n turns as the investigation takes place.

DI Huxley is balancing her own well being due to self harm and also family matters along side these murders.

A greet read - well written second book

[Ollie Gee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third book I’ve read from this author and it didn’t disappoint. It’s well written throughout, and events towards the end of the story came as quite a shock. Gaynor Torrance has a style which is very readable. She manages to construct a gripping storyline, whilst opening doors to the main characters’ strengths and weaknesses; it’s quite easy to feel that you know Jemima Huxley well, only to be surprised as another layer of her personality is revealed. I’m already looking forward to the next book in the DI Huxley series.

[Margaret Yelton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 2 in the DI Jemima Huxley Thrillers series, involves a mass murder of a family with only one person surviving but in critical condition. What follows is a search for the killer, and all the ups and downs the police encounter in their search. I figured the outcome pretty early in the book, but overall I really enjoyed the book. I would definitely recommend it to those that enjoy thrillers. I received a Advanced Readers Copy from Sapere Books, and this is my fair and honest review.

[Di Paterson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was disappointing, after the first of the DI Jemima Huxley books. I found the book to be extremely predictable, and the sections about Jemima's personal life were more annoying and repetitive rather than doing anything to add to the story or to Jemima's growth as a character. In fact, I didn't feel that there was any real growth in the characters at all. Having said that, I enjoy the writing style, and will give the series another go when the next book comes out.

[Sue Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sole Survivor by Gaynor Torrance.
This is book 2 of the DI Jemima Huxley series.
A family of five were attacked in their own home. Four are dead – repeatedly stabbed in a frenzied attack – and the fifth, a teenage girl, is in a critical condition.
With the sole survivor unable to provide a statement, it is up to Jemima and her team to unmask the killer.
I really enjoyed this book. Great story. Some Good characters. I hope there is more to come. 4*.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Much preferred this to the first story in the collection - felt like it flowed a lot better and the story developed in a more natural way. Perhaps that is down in part to the fact that a lot of the 'scene setting' in regards to the characters was carried out in the first book and this time, it was more about the story but I felt more invested in what was going on and enjoyed it much more as a result.

Looking forward to reading book to see what comes next...

[Sandy McKenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding!

Four members of a family are brutally murdered in their home, and DI Jemima Husley and her team are faced with continual dead ends during their enquiries. Meanwhile, at home things are far from rosy for Jemima.
This is a well devised plot with interesting characters and plenty of twist and turns.
I am thoroughly enjoying this series set in and around Cardiff and am keen to read more.

[kenneth Fowler · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is first novel by gay or I have read , I liked the pace of the plot , enjoyed the mis direction and red herrings making the read more interesting, I admit to solving the crime early , the clues were their but it did not detract from my overall experience, I shall certainly recommend this author and look for more of her work

[Allan Tapscott · Rating 1 out of 5]

To many detectives in thes books have so many emotional problems that they totally detract from the story which after all is about detecting and solving crimes too much of the books are tied up in these emotional problems with the result that they become a very poor read. Please stick to the theme of the book

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good book About A sociopath. Kept me reading all the ins and outs to see who’s doing the killing very well written where you can actually see in your mind what was happening looking forward to reading more by this author

[Annette · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second in the series. It seemed a bit wordy at first. Most of the action takes place in the second half of the book. It quickly became a page turner with a twist at the end. Looking forward to the next one in the series. Thanks to Sapere for the early copy

[Rose Weiss · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the second book about DC Huxley.
This was an easy read but there was not much in the way of deep story and it was easy to figure out who did the crime and why as it followed a format that has bee used before.
The ending was rushed.