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Detective Erika Foster #7
Fatal Witness
How do you find a killer who has destroyed all the evidence?
Detective Erika Foster is on a late-night walk near her new house in Blackheath when she stumbles upon the brutal murder of Vicky Clarke, a true-crime podcaster.
Erika is assigned to the case and discovers that Vicky had been working on a new podcast episode about a sexual predator who preys on young female students around South London, staking out his victims in their halls of residence before breaking in at the dead of night. When Erika discovers that Vicky's notes and sound recordings were stolen from her flat at the time of her murder, it leads her to believe that Vicky was close to unmasking the attacker, and she was killed to guarantee her silence.
The case takes on a disturbing twist when the body of a young Bulgarian student doctor is discovered in the same building, and this makes Erika question everything she thought she knew about Vicky. With very little evidence, the clock is ticking to find the killer before he strikes again.
Detective Erika Foster is on a late-night walk near her new house in Blackheath when she stumbles upon the brutal murder of Vicky Clarke, a true-crime podcaster.
Erika is assigned to the case and discovers that Vicky had been working on a new podcast episode about a sexual predator who preys on young female students around South London, staking out his victims in their halls of residence before breaking in at the dead of night. When Erika discovers that Vicky's notes and sound recordings were stolen from her flat at the time of her murder, it leads her to believe that Vicky was close to unmasking the attacker, and she was killed to guarantee her silence.
The case takes on a disturbing twist when the body of a young Bulgarian student doctor is discovered in the same building, and this makes Erika question everything she thought she knew about Vicky. With very little evidence, the clock is ticking to find the killer before he strikes again.
346 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 7, 2022
1046 people are currently reading
4995 people want to read
About the author
Robert Bryndza
35 books7,170 followersRobert Bryndza is an international bestselling author, best known for his page-turning crime and thriller novels, which have sold over seven million copies.
His crime debut, The Girl in the Ice was released in February 2016, introducing Detective Chief Inspector Erika Foster. Within five months it sold one million copies, reaching number one in the Amazon UK, USA and Australian charts. To date, The Girl in the Ice has sold over 1.5 million copies in the English language and has been sold into translation in 30 countries. It was nominated for the Goodreads Choice Award for Mystery & Thriller (2016), the Grand prix des lectrices de Elle in France (2018), and it won two reader voted awards, The Thrillzone Awards best debut thriller in The Netherlands (2018) and The Dead Good Papercut Award for best page turner at the Harrogate Crime Festival (2016).
Robert has released a further six novels in the Erika Foster series, The Night Stalker, Dark Water, Last Breath, Cold Blood and Deadly Secrets, all of which have been global bestsellers, and in 2017 Last Breath was a Goodreads Choice Award nominee for Mystery and Thriller. Fatal Witness, is the seventh Erika Foster novel.
Most recently, Robert created a new crime thriller series based around the central character Kate Marshall, a police officer turned private detective. The first book, Nine Elms, was an Amazon USA #1 bestseller and an Amazon UK top five bestseller, and the series has been sold into translation in 18 countries. The second book in the series is the global bestselling, Shadow Sands, the third book is, Darkness Falls and the fourth, Devil’s Way has just been published.
Robert was born in Lowestoft, on the east coast of England. He studied at Aberystwyth University, and the Guildford School of Acting, and was an actor for several years, but didn’t find success until he took a play he’d written to the Edinburgh Festival. This led to the decision to change career and start writing. He self-published a bestselling series of romantic comedy novels, before switching to writing crime. Robert lives with his husband in Slovakia, and is lucky enough to write full-time.
You can find out more about Robert and his books at www.robertbryndza.com
His crime debut, The Girl in the Ice was released in February 2016, introducing Detective Chief Inspector Erika Foster. Within five months it sold one million copies, reaching number one in the Amazon UK, USA and Australian charts. To date, The Girl in the Ice has sold over 1.5 million copies in the English language and has been sold into translation in 30 countries. It was nominated for the Goodreads Choice Award for Mystery & Thriller (2016), the Grand prix des lectrices de Elle in France (2018), and it won two reader voted awards, The Thrillzone Awards best debut thriller in The Netherlands (2018) and The Dead Good Papercut Award for best page turner at the Harrogate Crime Festival (2016).
Robert has released a further six novels in the Erika Foster series, The Night Stalker, Dark Water, Last Breath, Cold Blood and Deadly Secrets, all of which have been global bestsellers, and in 2017 Last Breath was a Goodreads Choice Award nominee for Mystery and Thriller. Fatal Witness, is the seventh Erika Foster novel.
Most recently, Robert created a new crime thriller series based around the central character Kate Marshall, a police officer turned private detective. The first book, Nine Elms, was an Amazon USA #1 bestseller and an Amazon UK top five bestseller, and the series has been sold into translation in 18 countries. The second book in the series is the global bestselling, Shadow Sands, the third book is, Darkness Falls and the fourth, Devil’s Way has just been published.
Robert was born in Lowestoft, on the east coast of England. He studied at Aberystwyth University, and the Guildford School of Acting, and was an actor for several years, but didn’t find success until he took a play he’d written to the Edinburgh Festival. This led to the decision to change career and start writing. He self-published a bestselling series of romantic comedy novels, before switching to writing crime. Robert lives with his husband in Slovakia, and is lucky enough to write full-time.
You can find out more about Robert and his books at www.robertbryndza.com
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 925 reviews
June 14, 2022
Not for the faint-hearted
Fatal Witness is a procedural about a grotesque murder with a lengthy list of suspects.
Walking home at night, Detective Erika Foster hears a blood-curdling scream that stops her in her tracks to discover a distraught woman and a dead body. She and her team are pulled into a murder investigation involving a case of mistaken identity, eccentric and strange witnesses, and a psychopath who will stop at nothing to cover their tracks.
Trigger Warning! This book starts on a violent note with a detailed account of a heinous murder. On top of that, the detectives investigating the murder come across the bodies of decapitated cats. This is all in the first 10% of the book. Thankfully, things calm down after this, and the brutality is limited.
This is the 7th book in the Erika Foster series. It can easily be read as a standalone.
It’s been quite some time since we last encountered Erika and her team. Book #6 was published in 2018. I forgot some details concerning her character and team members, but most came back to me. There are still a few details I’m fuzzy on, but overall I was happy to reacquaint myself with Erika and her team.
Fatal Witness is a dark and disturbing read with some good twists and turns. The mystery behind the killer kept me on my toes; there were so many slimebuckets and weirdos featured that I had a hard time identifying the murderer until close to the end. This installment set up Erika for the future with some new additions in her life, including Igor, a furniture delivery driver, and the best addition, George, the cat! I look forward to seeing them in book #8.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher.
Fatal Witness is a procedural about a grotesque murder with a lengthy list of suspects.
Walking home at night, Detective Erika Foster hears a blood-curdling scream that stops her in her tracks to discover a distraught woman and a dead body. She and her team are pulled into a murder investigation involving a case of mistaken identity, eccentric and strange witnesses, and a psychopath who will stop at nothing to cover their tracks.
Trigger Warning! This book starts on a violent note with a detailed account of a heinous murder. On top of that, the detectives investigating the murder come across the bodies of decapitated cats. This is all in the first 10% of the book. Thankfully, things calm down after this, and the brutality is limited.
This is the 7th book in the Erika Foster series. It can easily be read as a standalone.
It’s been quite some time since we last encountered Erika and her team. Book #6 was published in 2018. I forgot some details concerning her character and team members, but most came back to me. There are still a few details I’m fuzzy on, but overall I was happy to reacquaint myself with Erika and her team.
Fatal Witness is a dark and disturbing read with some good twists and turns. The mystery behind the killer kept me on my toes; there were so many slimebuckets and weirdos featured that I had a hard time identifying the murderer until close to the end. This installment set up Erika for the future with some new additions in her life, including Igor, a furniture delivery driver, and the best addition, George, the cat! I look forward to seeing them in book #8.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher.
May 7, 2022
*4.5 stars*
Author Robert Bryndza has been a long time favourite of mine, and ‘FATAL WITNESS’, #7 in the Detective Erica Foster series certainly doesn’t disappoint.
Whilst walking home late at night, Detective Erica Foster hears a piercing scream from a nearby apartment block. She discovers the brutalised body of Vicky Clarke, who was a true crime podcaster. At the time of her death Vicky was investigating reports in the past of a sexual predator breaking into student halls of residence and raping female students. Was Vicky killed because she was getting close to the the truth, and was she about to reveal the serial rapist?
Well this is a very strange case indeed, but strange in a good way. It’s definitely not as straightforward as it first appears, but of course I can’t say why without giving the whole game away!
This was a real page turner, gripping from the start. Bryndza continually produces fresh and inventive storylines, and by the way, I never guessed who the perpetrator was! Highly recommended.
*Thank you to Netgalley and Raven Street Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest unbiased review *
Author Robert Bryndza has been a long time favourite of mine, and ‘FATAL WITNESS’, #7 in the Detective Erica Foster series certainly doesn’t disappoint.
Whilst walking home late at night, Detective Erica Foster hears a piercing scream from a nearby apartment block. She discovers the brutalised body of Vicky Clarke, who was a true crime podcaster. At the time of her death Vicky was investigating reports in the past of a sexual predator breaking into student halls of residence and raping female students. Was Vicky killed because she was getting close to the the truth, and was she about to reveal the serial rapist?
Well this is a very strange case indeed, but strange in a good way. It’s definitely not as straightforward as it first appears, but of course I can’t say why without giving the whole game away!
This was a real page turner, gripping from the start. Bryndza continually produces fresh and inventive storylines, and by the way, I never guessed who the perpetrator was! Highly recommended.
*Thank you to Netgalley and Raven Street Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest unbiased review *
May 29, 2022
This is the latest in Robert Bryndza's London based crime series featuring the Met's Slovakian DCI Erika Foster, a widow who lost her fellow police officer, Mark, murdered by a drug dealer, and is still traumatised by his loss. In her efforts to move on, she has moved to Blackheath having bought a house that needs doing up. She moves in, despite it having nothing, sleeping on the floor and there is no hot water. She goes out for fish and chips, and on her way back hears a heartrending scream. Tess has just discovered the gruesomely brutal murder of her 27 year old sister, Vicky Clarke, a struggling actress who had attended Goldsmith's Drama Academy, and a true crime podcaster. So begins Foster's complex murder investigation, where little is as it appears, with her hardworking team of DI James Peterson, DI Kate Moss, Detectives John McGorry and Crane and her bestfriend, pathologist Isaac Strong.
Obstacles appear almost immediately over the arrest of an unofficial caretaker, Charles Wakefield, who had assaulted a member of the police, her bosses warn her to tread carefully as the man has influential family connections to a senior police officer. As the police look into the other occupants of the flats, such as Maria and Sophia Ivanova, and Vicky's ex-boyfriend, Shawn Macavity, evidence slowly accumulates that Vicky might have been getting close to unmasking a sexual predator preying on young women in the past who had made applications to attend the drama academy. In what turns out to be a far more dangerous case than expected, a killer is determined to do whatever it takes to protect himself as further murders take place.
It is wonderful to see Foster slowly beginning to rebuild her life with her new home, appreciating the help of friends and colleagues, and supported by the re-entry into her life of an old Slovakian flame from her past, Igor, who is now working as a delivery driver. This is an engaging and dark crime read that I think fans of the author and the series will enjoy, and which has me looking forward to the next in the series. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.
Obstacles appear almost immediately over the arrest of an unofficial caretaker, Charles Wakefield, who had assaulted a member of the police, her bosses warn her to tread carefully as the man has influential family connections to a senior police officer. As the police look into the other occupants of the flats, such as Maria and Sophia Ivanova, and Vicky's ex-boyfriend, Shawn Macavity, evidence slowly accumulates that Vicky might have been getting close to unmasking a sexual predator preying on young women in the past who had made applications to attend the drama academy. In what turns out to be a far more dangerous case than expected, a killer is determined to do whatever it takes to protect himself as further murders take place.
It is wonderful to see Foster slowly beginning to rebuild her life with her new home, appreciating the help of friends and colleagues, and supported by the re-entry into her life of an old Slovakian flame from her past, Igor, who is now working as a delivery driver. This is an engaging and dark crime read that I think fans of the author and the series will enjoy, and which has me looking forward to the next in the series. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.
July 4, 2022
EXCERPT: She cried out and kicked but he grabbed her legs, dragged her up off the floor and threw her back on the sofa bed.
He picked up the knife and she saw him looking around, working out what to do. He gripped the bottom of the folding frame and tipped it up, raising her legs. Her body was bent in half and then she felt his weight on top as he folded her into the mattress, the metal frame crushing her. He folded the mattress again using all his weight on top. She felt a roar of pain as her shoulders popped out of their sockets, and her knees were up around her head. The gag in her mouth moved down her throat, crushing her windpipe.
And then the knife sank into her back, and then sliced open the side of her cheek, it plunged into her hip and then the meaty padding of her calf muscle. He was stabbing the knife through the mattress.
She couldn't breathe, and the frenzied stabbing continued, the knife plunging into her body as she was crushed under the weight of the folded-over mattress.
She wanted death to come quickly, but the three long minutes before her wish was granted was an eternity.
ABOUT 'FATAL WITNESS': How do you find a killer who has destroyed all the evidence?
Detective Erika Foster is on a late-night walk near her new house in Blackheath when she stumbles upon the brutal murder of Vicky Clarke, a true-crime podcaster.
Erika is assigned to the case and discovers that Vicky had been working on a new podcast episode about a sexual predator who preys on young female students around South London, staking out his victims in their halls of residence before breaking in at the dead of night. When Erika discovers that Vicky's notes and sound recordings were stolen from her flat at the time of her murder, it leads her to believe that Vicky was close to unmasking the attacker, and she was killed to guarantee her silence.
The case takes on a disturbing twist when the body of a young Bulgarian student doctor is discovered in the same building, and this makes Erika question everything she thought she knew about Vicky. With very little evidence, the clock is ticking to find the killer before he strikes again.
MY THOUGHTS: Isn't it amazing what trouble buying fish and chips for your supper can land you in! In Erika's case, it's a particularly gruesome murder. I think in future I'll be ordering in pizza.
This is a complicated case. There's an issue of mistaken identity for a start. There are people who are not what they seem, and some who are exactly what they seem. The difficulty is sorting out who is which. And then there's the second body . . .
There's no shortage of suspects and plenty of red herrings. I formulated theories, and as fast as I could dream them up, Robert Bryndza scuppered them.
The characters, as always, are magnificently portrayed. Cilla, the Scots drama teacher was probably my favourite, although Charles Wakefield and the imperious Henrietta Boulderstone are absolutely brilliant, if totally unlikeable.
The plot is fast moving and twisty, the characters realistic, and I loved almost every moment of it. But Mr Bryndza, why oh why did you subject us to that overly dramatic denouement? It left me feeling deflated and a little ticked off, and cost you half a star.
Although this is book #7 of a series, the author provides enough background for Fatal Witness to be read as a stand-alone.
I was lucky enough to receive both a digital and an audio ARC of Fatal Witness and so was able to switch between the two. Both are excellent. Fatal Witness is scheduled for publication 07 July 2022.
⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
#ErikaFosterReturns #NetGalley
I: @robertbryndza #RavenStreetPublishing
T: @RobertBryndza #RavenStreetPublishing
#contemporaryfiction #crime #detectivefiction #murdermystery #suspense #thriller
THE AUTHOR: Robert Bryndza was born in the UK and lived in America and Canada before settling in Slovakia with his Slovak husband Ján.
When he's not writing Rob is learning Slovak, trying to train two crazy dogs, or watching Grand Designs all in the hope that hell be able to understand his mother-in-law, build his dream house, and get the dogs to listen.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Raven Street Publishing via Netgalley for providing both digital and audio ARCs of Dark Water by Robert Bryndza for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review is also published on Twitter, Amazon,Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
He picked up the knife and she saw him looking around, working out what to do. He gripped the bottom of the folding frame and tipped it up, raising her legs. Her body was bent in half and then she felt his weight on top as he folded her into the mattress, the metal frame crushing her. He folded the mattress again using all his weight on top. She felt a roar of pain as her shoulders popped out of their sockets, and her knees were up around her head. The gag in her mouth moved down her throat, crushing her windpipe.
And then the knife sank into her back, and then sliced open the side of her cheek, it plunged into her hip and then the meaty padding of her calf muscle. He was stabbing the knife through the mattress.
She couldn't breathe, and the frenzied stabbing continued, the knife plunging into her body as she was crushed under the weight of the folded-over mattress.
She wanted death to come quickly, but the three long minutes before her wish was granted was an eternity.
ABOUT 'FATAL WITNESS': How do you find a killer who has destroyed all the evidence?
Detective Erika Foster is on a late-night walk near her new house in Blackheath when she stumbles upon the brutal murder of Vicky Clarke, a true-crime podcaster.
Erika is assigned to the case and discovers that Vicky had been working on a new podcast episode about a sexual predator who preys on young female students around South London, staking out his victims in their halls of residence before breaking in at the dead of night. When Erika discovers that Vicky's notes and sound recordings were stolen from her flat at the time of her murder, it leads her to believe that Vicky was close to unmasking the attacker, and she was killed to guarantee her silence.
The case takes on a disturbing twist when the body of a young Bulgarian student doctor is discovered in the same building, and this makes Erika question everything she thought she knew about Vicky. With very little evidence, the clock is ticking to find the killer before he strikes again.
MY THOUGHTS: Isn't it amazing what trouble buying fish and chips for your supper can land you in! In Erika's case, it's a particularly gruesome murder. I think in future I'll be ordering in pizza.
This is a complicated case. There's an issue of mistaken identity for a start. There are people who are not what they seem, and some who are exactly what they seem. The difficulty is sorting out who is which. And then there's the second body . . .
There's no shortage of suspects and plenty of red herrings. I formulated theories, and as fast as I could dream them up, Robert Bryndza scuppered them.
The characters, as always, are magnificently portrayed. Cilla, the Scots drama teacher was probably my favourite, although Charles Wakefield and the imperious Henrietta Boulderstone are absolutely brilliant, if totally unlikeable.
The plot is fast moving and twisty, the characters realistic, and I loved almost every moment of it. But Mr Bryndza, why oh why did you subject us to that overly dramatic denouement? It left me feeling deflated and a little ticked off, and cost you half a star.
Although this is book #7 of a series, the author provides enough background for Fatal Witness to be read as a stand-alone.
I was lucky enough to receive both a digital and an audio ARC of Fatal Witness and so was able to switch between the two. Both are excellent. Fatal Witness is scheduled for publication 07 July 2022.
⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
#ErikaFosterReturns #NetGalley
I: @robertbryndza #RavenStreetPublishing
T: @RobertBryndza #RavenStreetPublishing
#contemporaryfiction #crime #detectivefiction #murdermystery #suspense #thriller
THE AUTHOR: Robert Bryndza was born in the UK and lived in America and Canada before settling in Slovakia with his Slovak husband Ján.
When he's not writing Rob is learning Slovak, trying to train two crazy dogs, or watching Grand Designs all in the hope that hell be able to understand his mother-in-law, build his dream house, and get the dogs to listen.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Raven Street Publishing via Netgalley for providing both digital and audio ARCs of Dark Water by Robert Bryndza for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review is also published on Twitter, Amazon,Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
June 13, 2022
Detective Erika Foster never has down time. She can't even go for a late-night walk without stumbling upon a murder scene. Vicky Clarke, a true-crime podcaster has been brutally murdered. Vicky has been working on a new podcast which focuses on a sexual predator who preys on young female students. Just how close was Vicky to naming the predator?
Erika is on the case and the body of a student has been found. This causes Erika to wonder if the cases are related.
The killer seems to be adept at covering his tracks and getting rid of evidence. All Erika must go on is her instincts and impressive detective skills.
This was another great installment in the Detective Erika Foster series. I'm always excited when I see a new book is coming out. This one did not disappoint. I had the audiobook and the kindle version, and I enjoyed going back and forth between the two.
Bryndza also pulled the wool over my eyes as I did not guess the big reveal. If you enjoy this series, you won’t be disappointed.
Thank you to Raven Street Publishing and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
Erika is on the case and the body of a student has been found. This causes Erika to wonder if the cases are related.
The killer seems to be adept at covering his tracks and getting rid of evidence. All Erika must go on is her instincts and impressive detective skills.
This was another great installment in the Detective Erika Foster series. I'm always excited when I see a new book is coming out. This one did not disappoint. I had the audiobook and the kindle version, and I enjoyed going back and forth between the two.
Bryndza also pulled the wool over my eyes as I did not guess the big reveal. If you enjoy this series, you won’t be disappointed.
Thank you to Raven Street Publishing and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
May 4, 2022
The tragedy of a heinous crime is not only the loss of the victim but the decimation of those that are left behind.
Make no mistake about it. Fatal Witness showcases some brutal goings on here. Robert Bryndza is precise in his telling of crime focused on the dark inner corners of the demented mind. He uses no flowery touches or elaborate descriptors to soften the scene. The words jab and they deliver.
We enter into the Prologue and find ourselves standing next to a young woman who easily unlatches the door to her apartment. After all, it's a secured building with an entrance card to open the heavy outside door. And that was her mistake.....trusting. He pushes her down and overpowers her. In a matter of moments, it's over.
Vicky Clarke is a twenty-seven year old young woman who's still trying to find out who she is and what she wants out of life. She's obligated to step up and work as a waitress at her sister Tess' restaurant. She's dabbled as an actor, but jobs are few and far between. Vicky has gone so far as to set up a recording studio in her bedroom to enable her podcast. True crime interests her and she's on to something big. Something that involves a sexual predator who hasn't been caught. And there will be a cat and mouse game afoot here. Has Vicky dropped too many bread crumbs along the way?
Now enter our favorite female detective who came on the scene back in 2016. Erika Foster is a member of the Metropolitan Police in London. She holds dual citizenship with her native country of Slovakia. Erika is also a widow who lost her fellow officer husband, Mark, in a shoot out that went horribly wrong. Bryndza is beginning to humanize our Erika about now. She's bought an old fixer house and all the pains that go with it. No heat. No hot water. No bed. Plenty of headaches and never enough time to attend to them all.
It's just by accident that Erika comes upon the crime scene just blocks away from her house. It's a shattering scream that alerts her. Someone has found that aforementioned body. Erika alerts her team of detectives and Isaac, Forensic Pathologist, makes his entrance. Erika, true to her personal inner metric system, will be locking horns with the higher ups as she tries to solve this multi-layered crime. Bryndza, true to his writing style, will make this a shifting scene with characters moving in and out of the focus of the guilty heat lamp.
This is the seventh offering in a highly successful crime series. Fatal Witness reads as a standalone. You may want to pick up earlier editions as well to get a feel for this very complicated detective and her team. Fatal Witness is not for the timid. Know that going in. But crime is never pretty and details should bear that out. Great job, Robert Bryndza. Arms already outstretched for the next one.
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Raven Street Publishing and to the talented Robert Bryndza for the opportunity.
Make no mistake about it. Fatal Witness showcases some brutal goings on here. Robert Bryndza is precise in his telling of crime focused on the dark inner corners of the demented mind. He uses no flowery touches or elaborate descriptors to soften the scene. The words jab and they deliver.
We enter into the Prologue and find ourselves standing next to a young woman who easily unlatches the door to her apartment. After all, it's a secured building with an entrance card to open the heavy outside door. And that was her mistake.....trusting. He pushes her down and overpowers her. In a matter of moments, it's over.
Vicky Clarke is a twenty-seven year old young woman who's still trying to find out who she is and what she wants out of life. She's obligated to step up and work as a waitress at her sister Tess' restaurant. She's dabbled as an actor, but jobs are few and far between. Vicky has gone so far as to set up a recording studio in her bedroom to enable her podcast. True crime interests her and she's on to something big. Something that involves a sexual predator who hasn't been caught. And there will be a cat and mouse game afoot here. Has Vicky dropped too many bread crumbs along the way?
Now enter our favorite female detective who came on the scene back in 2016. Erika Foster is a member of the Metropolitan Police in London. She holds dual citizenship with her native country of Slovakia. Erika is also a widow who lost her fellow officer husband, Mark, in a shoot out that went horribly wrong. Bryndza is beginning to humanize our Erika about now. She's bought an old fixer house and all the pains that go with it. No heat. No hot water. No bed. Plenty of headaches and never enough time to attend to them all.
It's just by accident that Erika comes upon the crime scene just blocks away from her house. It's a shattering scream that alerts her. Someone has found that aforementioned body. Erika alerts her team of detectives and Isaac, Forensic Pathologist, makes his entrance. Erika, true to her personal inner metric system, will be locking horns with the higher ups as she tries to solve this multi-layered crime. Bryndza, true to his writing style, will make this a shifting scene with characters moving in and out of the focus of the guilty heat lamp.
This is the seventh offering in a highly successful crime series. Fatal Witness reads as a standalone. You may want to pick up earlier editions as well to get a feel for this very complicated detective and her team. Fatal Witness is not for the timid. Know that going in. But crime is never pretty and details should bear that out. Great job, Robert Bryndza. Arms already outstretched for the next one.
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Raven Street Publishing and to the talented Robert Bryndza for the opportunity.
July 24, 2022
Erika Foster's new case lands on her lap by chance. Erika has moved to her new home which is in need of many repairs and furniture but at least it is hers now. She knows she needs a new bed but more importantly she needs food. She goes out walking to find food when she hears a woman's scream coming from a house just two blocks from hers. When she runs to the scene she finds a young woman's body. The person who screamed is the sister of the deceased. She discovered the body when she came looking for her when she didn’t show up for her shift at the restaurant.
Erika takes the case and starts looking for a killer. During the investigation, other issues will arise, including a case of mistaken identity, a podcast about a rapist from a decade earlier, an ex-con, and another dead body keeping the team quite busy.
I read only the first two books but I was happy to see that Erika is doing better in regards to her grief. She looks more stable in her position at work too. Sadly, Peterson is with someone else and has a kid with her but Erika is not alone, Igor is a nice addition to the mix. (Igor is her old boyfriend from back home).
In regards to the perpetrator and the hunt for him, I liked how Erika is able to follow the leads she discovers and her instincts are still quite admirable in guiding her to the right place but maybe not at the best time.
I was happy with the ending, I’m glad that Erika is not having Christmas alone this year.
Cliffhanger: No
4/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Raven Street Publishing via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Erika takes the case and starts looking for a killer. During the investigation, other issues will arise, including a case of mistaken identity, a podcast about a rapist from a decade earlier, an ex-con, and another dead body keeping the team quite busy.
I read only the first two books but I was happy to see that Erika is doing better in regards to her grief. She looks more stable in her position at work too. Sadly, Peterson is with someone else and has a kid with her but Erika is not alone, Igor is a nice addition to the mix. (Igor is her old boyfriend from back home).
In regards to the perpetrator and the hunt for him, I liked how Erika is able to follow the leads she discovers and her instincts are still quite admirable in guiding her to the right place but maybe not at the best time.
I was happy with the ending, I’m glad that Erika is not having Christmas alone this year.
Cliffhanger: No
4/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Raven Street Publishing via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
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June 22, 2022
I like to thank netgalley and Raven street and the author Robert Bryndza for a copy of this book to read.
This book is a brilliant series and the 7th book,Detective Erika foster and her team on another murder case of Vicky Clarke shes does crime podcasts is this anything to do with her murder.theres a twist.theres many suspects this keeps me guessing.and you also get some of Erikas home life.Another fantastic read from one of my favourite authors.hope theres more to come.highly recommend.
This book is a brilliant series and the 7th book,Detective Erika foster and her team on another murder case of Vicky Clarke shes does crime podcasts is this anything to do with her murder.theres a twist.theres many suspects this keeps me guessing.and you also get some of Erikas home life.Another fantastic read from one of my favourite authors.hope theres more to come.highly recommend.
September 2, 2022
I started reading Erika Foster books less than a month back, and this is my third book featuring her. I love her strong well-developed character. This book nevertheless is the least satisfying of the three I have read.
Erika Foster has moved homes and is just about settling in. One night, as she is out near her house, she hears screaming in a nearby block and finds a lady who identifies herself as Tess crying and distraught. There is blood all over and the body of a young lady who Tess says was her sister Vicky is on the mattress. There were only a few neighbours around and the behaviour of one of them is somewhat odd. Vicky worked at her sister & her husband’s restaurant part-time and also freelances as a podcaster. Her laptop hard disk has been wiped clean and it seems that a podcast she was working might have brought danger to her doorstep. There are complications of a suspect’s connections, mistaken identity and others to follow.
It is nice to see continuity of characters with Kate Moss, James Peterson and Isaac Strong. Though I jumped from book 2 and book 7, had no trouble reading along. The story is just about average and the pace is slow. The last sections introduce an unexpected twist but feel force-fitted. In all the books, Erika faces a life threating attack at the end – feels very repetitive and avoidable.
My rating: 3.25 / 5.
Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and author for a free electronic review copy.
Erika Foster has moved homes and is just about settling in. One night, as she is out near her house, she hears screaming in a nearby block and finds a lady who identifies herself as Tess crying and distraught. There is blood all over and the body of a young lady who Tess says was her sister Vicky is on the mattress. There were only a few neighbours around and the behaviour of one of them is somewhat odd. Vicky worked at her sister & her husband’s restaurant part-time and also freelances as a podcaster. Her laptop hard disk has been wiped clean and it seems that a podcast she was working might have brought danger to her doorstep. There are complications of a suspect’s connections, mistaken identity and others to follow.
It is nice to see continuity of characters with Kate Moss, James Peterson and Isaac Strong. Though I jumped from book 2 and book 7, had no trouble reading along. The story is just about average and the pace is slow. The last sections introduce an unexpected twist but feel force-fitted. In all the books, Erika faces a life threating attack at the end – feels very repetitive and avoidable.
My rating: 3.25 / 5.
Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and author for a free electronic review copy.
June 20, 2022
It has been a long time between books for Detective Erika Foster but neither she nor her author have lost their touch.
Erika is still grieving for her husband, Mark, but she is beginning to put her life together again. There is even a tentative start to a new relationship which is good. The book opens with a violent murder and Erika and her team are on the case. There are suggestions that the main suspect is being protected due to family connections and there are plenty of red herrings and some excellent police work.
I enjoyed this slightly warmer Erika as she starts to make her new home liveable and makes friends along the way. Moss and Peterson are still with her and they make a great team. This is an excellent series and I hope the author writes us some more.
My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Erika is still grieving for her husband, Mark, but she is beginning to put her life together again. There is even a tentative start to a new relationship which is good. The book opens with a violent murder and Erika and her team are on the case. There are suggestions that the main suspect is being protected due to family connections and there are plenty of red herrings and some excellent police work.
I enjoyed this slightly warmer Erika as she starts to make her new home liveable and makes friends along the way. Moss and Peterson are still with her and they make a great team. This is an excellent series and I hope the author writes us some more.
My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
June 5, 2022
After recovering from injuries sustained in the previous case DCI Erika Foster has just moved into her new (very rundown) home in Blackheath. She walks to the local chippy for a fish and chip dinner and, on her way home she hears a bloodcurdling scream. She investigates and finds the scene of a brutal killing in one of the apartments in a block of six. The victim, Vicky Clarke was a true crime podcaster.
Erika is assigned the case and she learns that Vicky had been most recently working on an episode about a serial sexual offender who stalked his victims and preyed on them in their halls of residence. It is not long before it is discovered that the victim in Vicky’s flat was not actually Vicky but Bulgarian medical student Sophia who bore a passing resemblance to Vicky and lived in the flat opposite. Is it a case of mistaken identity? But where is Vicky?
There is not much to go on and CCTV is inconclusive. The case stalls until there is another death. A tiny amount of DNA is recovered, but now they just have to find a match. Erika will leave no stone unturned and as she zeroes in on her target she puts herself in danger yet again. It all got very tense as the book raced to a suspenseful ending as Erika unmasks the wolf in sheep’s clothing.
These are characters we have grown to love over the course of the series. But this time - could it be that love is in the air for Erika. The man who delivers some furniture for her new home turns out to be from Erika’s home town in Slovakia (or is it Slovenia?) and, as it turns out, was her first boyfriend back home. Naturally they have quite a bit of catching up to do. Erika has another long recovery ahead of her from her latest injuries but I look forward to catching up with her again and I hope we hear from Igor again too. Many thanks to Netgalley and Raven Street Publishing for the much appreciated arc which I reviewed voluntarily and honestly.
Erika is assigned the case and she learns that Vicky had been most recently working on an episode about a serial sexual offender who stalked his victims and preyed on them in their halls of residence. It is not long before it is discovered that the victim in Vicky’s flat was not actually Vicky but Bulgarian medical student Sophia who bore a passing resemblance to Vicky and lived in the flat opposite. Is it a case of mistaken identity? But where is Vicky?
There is not much to go on and CCTV is inconclusive. The case stalls until there is another death. A tiny amount of DNA is recovered, but now they just have to find a match. Erika will leave no stone unturned and as she zeroes in on her target she puts herself in danger yet again. It all got very tense as the book raced to a suspenseful ending as Erika unmasks the wolf in sheep’s clothing.
These are characters we have grown to love over the course of the series. But this time - could it be that love is in the air for Erika. The man who delivers some furniture for her new home turns out to be from Erika’s home town in Slovakia (or is it Slovenia?) and, as it turns out, was her first boyfriend back home. Naturally they have quite a bit of catching up to do. Erika has another long recovery ahead of her from her latest injuries but I look forward to catching up with her again and I hope we hear from Igor again too. Many thanks to Netgalley and Raven Street Publishing for the much appreciated arc which I reviewed voluntarily and honestly.
June 29, 2022
Wanting to move on from the death of her husband Mark, DCI Erika Foster of the London Met has bought her first house, a fixer-upper in Blackheath. Despite having no hot water or heating and no furniture, she has moved and is sleeping on the floor until she can find time to buy a bed.
Returning from buying fish and chips for dinner, she hears a woman’s scream coming from a nearby flat. The body of a young woman, identified as Vicky Clarke has been found in her flat by her sister. It is clear she has been stabbed multiple times and died a horrible death. A struggling actress, Vicky had been making true crime podcasts in a recording studio she had set up in her flat. Erika discovers that she was working on a story about a sexual predator who targets young woman staying in student housing belonging to a drama academy and her notes and recordings are missing.
This is another exciting episode in this series. The steadily paced, multilayered plot culminates in a suspense filled ending after several suspects and many false leads. Erika is such a great character, dedicated and fearless with a great team around her, who it’s good to see continuing to develop. During the eventual delivery of her new bed, she’s delighted to recognise the delivery man as an ex-boyfriend from Slovakia and I expect we’ll be seeing more of him in the future.
With thanks to Raven Street Publishing via Netgalley for a copy to read
Returning from buying fish and chips for dinner, she hears a woman’s scream coming from a nearby flat. The body of a young woman, identified as Vicky Clarke has been found in her flat by her sister. It is clear she has been stabbed multiple times and died a horrible death. A struggling actress, Vicky had been making true crime podcasts in a recording studio she had set up in her flat. Erika discovers that she was working on a story about a sexual predator who targets young woman staying in student housing belonging to a drama academy and her notes and recordings are missing.
This is another exciting episode in this series. The steadily paced, multilayered plot culminates in a suspense filled ending after several suspects and many false leads. Erika is such a great character, dedicated and fearless with a great team around her, who it’s good to see continuing to develop. During the eventual delivery of her new bed, she’s delighted to recognise the delivery man as an ex-boyfriend from Slovakia and I expect we’ll be seeing more of him in the future.
With thanks to Raven Street Publishing via Netgalley for a copy to read
July 10, 2022
The long awaited return of Erika Foster is here and I am so happy to have her back. 4 years we have been waiting for this book and I was absolutely thrilled to be approved for an early copy. I dropped everything and dove straight in... and I am not at all sorry!
Ever since The Girl in the Ice, Erika has been one of my favourite characters. She is strong, determined and she really cares about her work and the victims. Her team of Moss and Issac - brilliant. I love how they bounce off and support each other.
In Fatal Witness, Erika stumbles upon a murder scene on a walk in her new neighbourhood. A wannabe true crime podcaster has been brutally murdered in her apartment. Finding out what she was working on and who her connections were proves difficult for the team. As they dig deeper and deeper it appears things are not as they seem. And then there is another body in the apeartment block.
Bravo Robert Bryndza and thank you so much for bringing Erika back. Easily all the stars. Thank you Raven Street Publishing and Netgalley for my advanced copy. Published July 7th.
Ever since The Girl in the Ice, Erika has been one of my favourite characters. She is strong, determined and she really cares about her work and the victims. Her team of Moss and Issac - brilliant. I love how they bounce off and support each other.
In Fatal Witness, Erika stumbles upon a murder scene on a walk in her new neighbourhood. A wannabe true crime podcaster has been brutally murdered in her apartment. Finding out what she was working on and who her connections were proves difficult for the team. As they dig deeper and deeper it appears things are not as they seem. And then there is another body in the apeartment block.
Bravo Robert Bryndza and thank you so much for bringing Erika back. Easily all the stars. Thank you Raven Street Publishing and Netgalley for my advanced copy. Published July 7th.
July 8, 2022
This was another excellent addition the the Detective Erika Foster series. I enjoyed reading about these characters once again, though it did take me a moment to reacquaint myself with them.
I was certainly surprised by some of the twists that happened. I also honestly thought I knew who the bad guy was, but was wrong. Bryndza also included something in the storyline that has become cliche in detective stories, so I thought I knew where that was going as well. I was really hoping I was wrong and he would not bring the story there and I was wrong on that too! I've added more details in the spoiler below, but don't want to give anything away here.
My only issue with this series is that Erika tends to
I look forward to reading the next in the series. #ErikaFosterReturns #NetGalley
I listened to the audio narrated by Jan Cramer. She has narrated all of the Erika Foster series to date and she does an excellent job. If you have the opportunity to listen to the series, it is a great choice.
Thank you to NetGalley and Raven Street Publishing for providing me with a complimentary electronic copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Previous review:
I can't believe that I didn't know a new Erika Foster book was coming out! It's been four years since the last one, so I guess I stopped checking for it. What an excellent surprise! Really looking forward to this one. It is a great series!
I was certainly surprised by some of the twists that happened. I also honestly thought I knew who the bad guy was, but was wrong. Bryndza also included something in the storyline that has become cliche in detective stories, so I thought I knew where that was going as well. I was really hoping I was wrong and he would not bring the story there and I was wrong on that too! I've added more details in the spoiler below, but don't want to give anything away here.
My only issue with this series is that Erika tends to
I look forward to reading the next in the series. #ErikaFosterReturns #NetGalley
I listened to the audio narrated by Jan Cramer. She has narrated all of the Erika Foster series to date and she does an excellent job. If you have the opportunity to listen to the series, it is a great choice.
Thank you to NetGalley and Raven Street Publishing for providing me with a complimentary electronic copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Previous review:
I can't believe that I didn't know a new Erika Foster book was coming out! It's been four years since the last one, so I guess I stopped checking for it. What an excellent surprise! Really looking forward to this one. It is a great series!
July 5, 2022
Erika Foster #7
Detective Erika Foster is on a late-night walk near her house in Blackheath when she stumbles upon the brutal murder of Vicky Clarke, a true-crime podcaster. Erika is assigned to the case and discovers that Vicky had been working on a new podcast episode about a sexual predator who preys on young female students around South London, stalking out his victims in their halls of residence before breaking in at the dead of night. When Erika discovers that Vicky's notes and sound recordings were stolen from her flat at the time of her murder, it leads her to believe that Vicky was close to unmasking the attacker.
It's so nice to have Erika Foster back. The opening chapter captured my attention. With lots of twists to keep us guessing, and some likeable characters, I could not read this book quickly enough. I don't want to say too much about this well written and cleverly crafted story. The pace is perfectly set. I do enjoy Robert's new crime series featuring Kate Marshall, but Erika Foster will always be my favourite detective. I hope we don't have as long to wait for the next book in this fantastic series.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #RavenStreetPublishing and the author #RobertBryndza for my ARC of #FatalWitness in exchange for an honest review.
Detective Erika Foster is on a late-night walk near her house in Blackheath when she stumbles upon the brutal murder of Vicky Clarke, a true-crime podcaster. Erika is assigned to the case and discovers that Vicky had been working on a new podcast episode about a sexual predator who preys on young female students around South London, stalking out his victims in their halls of residence before breaking in at the dead of night. When Erika discovers that Vicky's notes and sound recordings were stolen from her flat at the time of her murder, it leads her to believe that Vicky was close to unmasking the attacker.
It's so nice to have Erika Foster back. The opening chapter captured my attention. With lots of twists to keep us guessing, and some likeable characters, I could not read this book quickly enough. I don't want to say too much about this well written and cleverly crafted story. The pace is perfectly set. I do enjoy Robert's new crime series featuring Kate Marshall, but Erika Foster will always be my favourite detective. I hope we don't have as long to wait for the next book in this fantastic series.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #RavenStreetPublishing and the author #RobertBryndza for my ARC of #FatalWitness in exchange for an honest review.
May 17, 2022
I have just read Fatal Witness by Robert Bryndza.
This is the 7th book in the Detective Erika Foster Crime Thriller series.
I really have enjoyed every book in the series, and this one was no exception.
Robert Bryndza has really done a good job with the character development of the main character Erika Foster in this series.
Erika has just moved into a new house in Blackheath, which is a real fixer upper, when she is out to grab a bite and hears a loud scream coming from a house nearby.
A horrific murder has just taken place, the murder victim is Vicky Clarke, a true-crime podcaster.
Thank You to NetGalley, the Author and Raven Street Publishing for my advanced book to read and review.
#ErikaFosterReturns #NetGalley
This is the 7th book in the Detective Erika Foster Crime Thriller series.
I really have enjoyed every book in the series, and this one was no exception.
Robert Bryndza has really done a good job with the character development of the main character Erika Foster in this series.
Erika has just moved into a new house in Blackheath, which is a real fixer upper, when she is out to grab a bite and hears a loud scream coming from a house nearby.
A horrific murder has just taken place, the murder victim is Vicky Clarke, a true-crime podcaster.
Thank You to NetGalley, the Author and Raven Street Publishing for my advanced book to read and review.
#ErikaFosterReturns #NetGalley
December 3, 2023
Thanks to NetGalley and Raven Street Publishing for an egalley in exchange for an honest review.
How excited was I to learn just a few months ago that Robert Bryndza was not quite finished with one of the best literary detectives ever created? The even better news was in the author's note that we have not yet seen the last of DI Erika Foster!
Book Synopsis:
Detective Erika Foster is on a late-night walk near her new house in Blackheath when she stumbles upon the brutal murder of Vicky Clarke, a true-crime podcaster.
Erika is assigned to the case and discovers that Vicky had been working on a new podcast episode about a sexual predator who preys on young female students around South London, staking out his victims in their halls of residence before breaking in at the dead of night. When Erika discovers that Vicky’s notes and sound recordings were stolen from her flat at the time of her murder, it leads her to believe that Vicky was close to unmasking the attacker, and she was killed to guarantee her silence.
The case takes on a disturbing twist when the body of a young Bulgarian student doctor is discovered in the same building, and this makes Erika question everything she thought she knew about Vicky. With very little evidence, the clock is ticking to find the killer before he strikes again.
My Two Cents: If you are going to bring a fictional character back after a 4 year absence( book 6 was published in 2018), then you have to do it with the style and grace of Robert Bryndza. I absolutely adored the arc of Erika's personal life. I love career driven Erika but this woman needs a little happiness in her life and if it comes in the shape of an old boyfriend from Slovakia, then bring it on!
The crime scenes are pretty grisly and though it didn't stop me from reading onwards, trigger warnings for my fellow cat lovers! If you've never had a chance to read this series, technically, you could read this as a standalone but I would highly recommend starting from the beginning.
Expected Publication Date 07/07/22
Goodreads review published 04/07/22
ErikaFosterReturns #NetGalley.
How excited was I to learn just a few months ago that Robert Bryndza was not quite finished with one of the best literary detectives ever created? The even better news was in the author's note that we have not yet seen the last of DI Erika Foster!
Book Synopsis:
Detective Erika Foster is on a late-night walk near her new house in Blackheath when she stumbles upon the brutal murder of Vicky Clarke, a true-crime podcaster.
Erika is assigned to the case and discovers that Vicky had been working on a new podcast episode about a sexual predator who preys on young female students around South London, staking out his victims in their halls of residence before breaking in at the dead of night. When Erika discovers that Vicky’s notes and sound recordings were stolen from her flat at the time of her murder, it leads her to believe that Vicky was close to unmasking the attacker, and she was killed to guarantee her silence.
The case takes on a disturbing twist when the body of a young Bulgarian student doctor is discovered in the same building, and this makes Erika question everything she thought she knew about Vicky. With very little evidence, the clock is ticking to find the killer before he strikes again.
My Two Cents: If you are going to bring a fictional character back after a 4 year absence( book 6 was published in 2018), then you have to do it with the style and grace of Robert Bryndza. I absolutely adored the arc of Erika's personal life. I love career driven Erika but this woman needs a little happiness in her life and if it comes in the shape of an old boyfriend from Slovakia, then bring it on!
The crime scenes are pretty grisly and though it didn't stop me from reading onwards, trigger warnings for my fellow cat lovers! If you've never had a chance to read this series, technically, you could read this as a standalone but I would highly recommend starting from the beginning.
Expected Publication Date 07/07/22
Goodreads review published 04/07/22
ErikaFosterReturns #NetGalley.
May 7, 2022
Finally after waiting 4 years! The seventh book in the Erika Foster series is here and Robert Bryndza doesn't disappoint! I always look forward to catching up in this series. The characters are excellent and the plot is always tight, intriguing and high energy.
Late one evening, Detective Erika Foster comes across the murder of a true crime podcaster, Vicky Clarke. Erika starts working the case and discovers Vicky was developing a new podcast about a certain sexual predator. The predator has been stalking young female students in London. As Vicky seems to be closing in on naming the attacker she is murdered. When another murder happens within the same building, Erika and her team is in question of what is really going on and the investigation heats up.
Fatal Witness can be read as a standalone but you really need to read the series to feel the building of all the team. Always not for the faint of heart, this is one series that will leave you wanting the next Erika book.
Huge thank you to Raven Street Publishing and NetGalley for an advance copy that is not to be missed!
Late one evening, Detective Erika Foster comes across the murder of a true crime podcaster, Vicky Clarke. Erika starts working the case and discovers Vicky was developing a new podcast about a certain sexual predator. The predator has been stalking young female students in London. As Vicky seems to be closing in on naming the attacker she is murdered. When another murder happens within the same building, Erika and her team is in question of what is really going on and the investigation heats up.
Fatal Witness can be read as a standalone but you really need to read the series to feel the building of all the team. Always not for the faint of heart, this is one series that will leave you wanting the next Erika book.
Huge thank you to Raven Street Publishing and NetGalley for an advance copy that is not to be missed!
August 31, 2022
Fatal Witness by Robert Bryndza is the seventh instalment in the Detective Erika Foster series but it reads well as a stand-alone. This is such a tightly written novel that I now will be looking to read all the preceding books. This is a murder mystery in its highest form. The police procedural is so well-detailed that the reader feels like they are observing the action in person. The mystery begins with a vicious murder, before the victim is introduced to the reader. It shocks and captures the attention. Detective Erika Foster is immediately involved in the case because, while walking in her new neighborhood, she hears a scream which brings her to the murder site. The victim, believed to be Vicky Clarke, is a true crime podcaster who has been investigating a serial predator who preyed on students years ago. All the evidence she had painstakingly uncovered is missing. This leaves Erika and her team without much to go on. This mystery has an original and fascinating plot. The characters, whether good or criminal, are shown in great detail and the reader will have no clue who the criminal is. The tension keeps the pages turning and the author takes his time with the conclusion. This is a superior novel to be enjoyed by anyone who enjoys a plausible mystery. Highly recommended. Thank you to Raven Street Publishing, NetGalley and the author for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 23, 2022
My thanks to Raven Street Publishing, Robert Bryndza and Netgalley. I loved it! Yep! That's my full review. Want to know more? Read other reviews. I'm tired.
November 26, 2023
'Tis the season for tackling those titles lingering on my NetGalley shelf for too long. I remember the excitement I felt when I first saw a new book in this series. Yet, for reasons I can't quite explain, it just sat there, untouched, till now.
The story bursts into action with a violent, odd murder that promises a thrilling ride. I was holding on to my reading glasses from all the excitement until it took an odd turn involving deceased cats and another turn after that. My initial excitement started to wane and hit a snag as the story unfolded. Maybe it's because I haven't hung out with the series characters in a while, and I lost touch with Ecria. It's a good read, but it didn’t quite achieve the page-turner status I expected, and I struggled to stay entertained.
I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley.
The story bursts into action with a violent, odd murder that promises a thrilling ride. I was holding on to my reading glasses from all the excitement until it took an odd turn involving deceased cats and another turn after that. My initial excitement started to wane and hit a snag as the story unfolded. Maybe it's because I haven't hung out with the series characters in a while, and I lost touch with Ecria. It's a good read, but it didn’t quite achieve the page-turner status I expected, and I struggled to stay entertained.
I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley.
July 9, 2022
First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Robert Bryndza, and Raven Street Publishing for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.
Long a fan of Robert Bryndza and his writing, I rushed to get my hands on the latest DCI Erika Foster thriller. A short hiatus could not extinguish my eagerness to see how Foster would storm back onto the scene with a crime that is both chilling and mysterious. Bryndza picks up as though no time had passed and creates a stellar story sure to impress many who love the genre, as well as fans of Erika Foster.
Many changes are taking place for Detective Chief Inspector Erika Foster, not the least of which is a move to a new flat. While trying to iron out all the details of organising, Foster hears screams and rushes to the scene of a nearby apartment complex. There, a woman’s body is discovered by her sister and Foster is ready to call in the team to begin a new murder investigation.
Soon identified as Victoria Clarke, the body is found to have been mutilated by the killer. Foster and her team begin sifitng through the evidence and commence interviews, only to stumble upon something odd. Victoria was a podcaster and worked on something in the true crime genre. Her fans loved the work, but there would certainly be those who failed to see the glory in turning over every loose stone.
With a handful of potential suspects in Victoria’s life, Foster and her crew will have to narrow it down, especially when a second murder takes place, putting things into better perspective. Victoria Clarke must have been on the trail of a ruthless killer whose victims came from a single place. Now, it will be time for Foster to set the trap or risk being another victim. Bryndza does a wonderful job at laying the groundwork, letting things develop from there.
While I cut my teeth on this series by Robert Bryndza, I have also come to love some of his other recent thriller work. He has a way with words, spinning stories that are sure to impress the fans of the genre. Great characters and an ever-evolving DCI Erika Foster, the stories takes on a new life and keeps the reader flipping pages well into the night.
Bryndza has long been using a recipe for success when it comes to storytelling, proving the reader with a strong narrative on which things are sure to build. He builds up the suspense and keeps readers wondering, while injecting an entertaining list of characters to provide some great balance. Erika Foster receives some deserved development, both in a personal and professional sense. Plot lines crescendo as the story advances and the reader must wonder what is to come. The book reads so easily that I devoured it in under twenty-four hours, without needing to invest huge swaths of time or concentration. That’s my kind of summer read!
Kudos, Mr. Bryndza, for another success. I will have to keep my mind fresh as you publish both your series in tandem.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
Long a fan of Robert Bryndza and his writing, I rushed to get my hands on the latest DCI Erika Foster thriller. A short hiatus could not extinguish my eagerness to see how Foster would storm back onto the scene with a crime that is both chilling and mysterious. Bryndza picks up as though no time had passed and creates a stellar story sure to impress many who love the genre, as well as fans of Erika Foster.
Many changes are taking place for Detective Chief Inspector Erika Foster, not the least of which is a move to a new flat. While trying to iron out all the details of organising, Foster hears screams and rushes to the scene of a nearby apartment complex. There, a woman’s body is discovered by her sister and Foster is ready to call in the team to begin a new murder investigation.
Soon identified as Victoria Clarke, the body is found to have been mutilated by the killer. Foster and her team begin sifitng through the evidence and commence interviews, only to stumble upon something odd. Victoria was a podcaster and worked on something in the true crime genre. Her fans loved the work, but there would certainly be those who failed to see the glory in turning over every loose stone.
With a handful of potential suspects in Victoria’s life, Foster and her crew will have to narrow it down, especially when a second murder takes place, putting things into better perspective. Victoria Clarke must have been on the trail of a ruthless killer whose victims came from a single place. Now, it will be time for Foster to set the trap or risk being another victim. Bryndza does a wonderful job at laying the groundwork, letting things develop from there.
While I cut my teeth on this series by Robert Bryndza, I have also come to love some of his other recent thriller work. He has a way with words, spinning stories that are sure to impress the fans of the genre. Great characters and an ever-evolving DCI Erika Foster, the stories takes on a new life and keeps the reader flipping pages well into the night.
Bryndza has long been using a recipe for success when it comes to storytelling, proving the reader with a strong narrative on which things are sure to build. He builds up the suspense and keeps readers wondering, while injecting an entertaining list of characters to provide some great balance. Erika Foster receives some deserved development, both in a personal and professional sense. Plot lines crescendo as the story advances and the reader must wonder what is to come. The book reads so easily that I devoured it in under twenty-four hours, without needing to invest huge swaths of time or concentration. That’s my kind of summer read!
Kudos, Mr. Bryndza, for another success. I will have to keep my mind fresh as you publish both your series in tandem.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
July 10, 2022
4.5*
Fatal Witness is another solid instalment in Robert Bryndza’s series featuring Slovak-born DCI Erika Foster.
Erika and her team investigate the vicious stabbing murder of actress-turned-podcaster Vicky Clarke, a crime scene Erika herself stumbles across while off-duty. Many twists and turns follow as Erika, Peterson, Moss and their colleagues sift through the details of Vicky's life and her close contacts, under additional pressure due to the relationship one suspect has with a senior police officer. Eventually, the detectives zero in on the subject matter of Vicky's latest podcast, in which she investigates a series of break and enters with an apparent sexual motive, as a likely motive for her killing. But this is a devious villain who's not ready to be brought to justice - can Erika close the case before she becomes the next victim?
After a long break, it was great to return to the DCI Foster universe. She's a complex and tenacious character, not always willing to abide by the instructions of her superiors in the MET hierarchy. The supporting characters are also well-developed and memorable, both recurring characters in the shape of Erika's police and forensic colleagues, and those to whom we're introduced through the plot of this book. True crime podcasters have become a fairly frequent feature in the crime-mystery-thriller genre over recent years, and certainly provide fertile territory for plots featuring amateur detection, the exploration of "cold cases" and/or the device of the stalker/investigator becoming an unwitting target. Robert Bryndza's execution is effective as ever in Fatal Witness, with a well-paced plot, several unexpected twists and a surprising but satisfying conclusion.
I'd recommend Fatal Witness to any reader who enjoys gritty, character-driven crime thrillers. While I believe the book would read well as a standalone, I wholeheartedly recommend Robert Bryndza's whole DCI Erika Foster series to those who are yet to discover it. There are significant character arcs over the course of the series, although these are deftly alluded to in the narrative of Fatal Witness for the assistance of new readers who may be unfamiliar with the backstory.
My thanks to the author, Robert Bryndza, publisher Raven Street Publishing, NetGalley and NetGalleyUK for the opportunity to read and review this title, released 7 July 2022.
Fatal Witness is another solid instalment in Robert Bryndza’s series featuring Slovak-born DCI Erika Foster.
Erika and her team investigate the vicious stabbing murder of actress-turned-podcaster Vicky Clarke, a crime scene Erika herself stumbles across while off-duty. Many twists and turns follow as Erika, Peterson, Moss and their colleagues sift through the details of Vicky's life and her close contacts, under additional pressure due to the relationship one suspect has with a senior police officer. Eventually, the detectives zero in on the subject matter of Vicky's latest podcast, in which she investigates a series of break and enters with an apparent sexual motive, as a likely motive for her killing. But this is a devious villain who's not ready to be brought to justice - can Erika close the case before she becomes the next victim?
After a long break, it was great to return to the DCI Foster universe. She's a complex and tenacious character, not always willing to abide by the instructions of her superiors in the MET hierarchy. The supporting characters are also well-developed and memorable, both recurring characters in the shape of Erika's police and forensic colleagues, and those to whom we're introduced through the plot of this book. True crime podcasters have become a fairly frequent feature in the crime-mystery-thriller genre over recent years, and certainly provide fertile territory for plots featuring amateur detection, the exploration of "cold cases" and/or the device of the stalker/investigator becoming an unwitting target. Robert Bryndza's execution is effective as ever in Fatal Witness, with a well-paced plot, several unexpected twists and a surprising but satisfying conclusion.
I'd recommend Fatal Witness to any reader who enjoys gritty, character-driven crime thrillers. While I believe the book would read well as a standalone, I wholeheartedly recommend Robert Bryndza's whole DCI Erika Foster series to those who are yet to discover it. There are significant character arcs over the course of the series, although these are deftly alluded to in the narrative of Fatal Witness for the assistance of new readers who may be unfamiliar with the backstory.
My thanks to the author, Robert Bryndza, publisher Raven Street Publishing, NetGalley and NetGalleyUK for the opportunity to read and review this title, released 7 July 2022.
June 26, 2022
Fatal Witness is the seventh book in the Erika Foster police procedural series about a Slovakian DCI working in South London. There’s been quite a gap since the last one, which was published in 2018, as the author has published three books in his other crime series, which I’ve read but didn’t enjoy as much. I was therefore excited to receive an ARC of this, but sadly must confess I found it difficult to get into, full of silly mistakes, with a predictable reveal and annoying behaviour from the lead character.
Set about a year after the events of the last book, pre-pandemic, this has Erika moving into her ramshackle new house, and adopting a cat called George. Passing a nearby house, she hears a terrible scream and finds that the body of a young woman has just been discovered by her sister. The other inhabitants of the building are behaving suspiciously, leading the team to arrest one of them, but after learning that he’s the brother of a senior policeman, and with insufficient evidence, they are forced to release him. Then a similar-looking young woman is also killed - how do these murders connect to a True Crime podcast broadcast by one of the victims?
Firstly, a warning - this book discusses killings and decapitation of cats in a way that felt completely gratuitous and unnecessary for the plot, other than for shock value and an excuse for the first arrest. You don’t read about it happening, but the image presented was distressing to this cat lover, even when there’s an explanation presented for it. A serial killer of cats is also mentioned but this element goes nowhere. Had this not been a review copy I would’ve given up then and there, but after about 10% in it’s not really mentioned again. No harm comes to George however, other than being fed pate instead of cat food and frequently left to his own devices - luckily it turns out he’s good at catching mice.
For an experienced and bestselling author, I’m rather shocked by the laziness of the plotting, the lack of basic research and how many errors slipped past the editor - hopefully some have been corrected for publication. For example, Charles is described as punching a paramedic, but arrested and charged for assaulting a police officer. London is not freezing cold in mid-October - it may be damp and miserable but you don’t get frost. A police officer of Erika’s rank would not be running around visiting suspects and doing interviews, she has juniors for that. And in one scene the wrong character name is mentioned repeatedly. I could go on…
Despite an array of deeply unpleasant characters, there were so few actual possible suspects that it was completely obvious whodunnit, and yet Erika unmasks them pretty much by accident. Then she is once more put into a life-threatening situation, which she (spoiler alert) survives also by luck not skill. I did like the development in her personal life but it felt like rather too much of a coincidence. And several plot threads are left unresolved. So all in all this was a disappointing instalment for a series that I had previously very much enjoyed, and it’s probably time for me to give up on this author. If these issues don’t bother you, do read other reviews as clearly I’m in a minority.
2.5 rounded down for the animal abuse.
I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley and am posting this honest review voluntarily. Fatal Witness is published on July 7th.
Set about a year after the events of the last book, pre-pandemic, this has Erika moving into her ramshackle new house, and adopting a cat called George. Passing a nearby house, she hears a terrible scream and finds that the body of a young woman has just been discovered by her sister. The other inhabitants of the building are behaving suspiciously, leading the team to arrest one of them, but after learning that he’s the brother of a senior policeman, and with insufficient evidence, they are forced to release him. Then a similar-looking young woman is also killed - how do these murders connect to a True Crime podcast broadcast by one of the victims?
Firstly, a warning - this book discusses killings and decapitation of cats in a way that felt completely gratuitous and unnecessary for the plot, other than for shock value and an excuse for the first arrest. You don’t read about it happening, but the image presented was distressing to this cat lover, even when there’s an explanation presented for it. A serial killer of cats is also mentioned but this element goes nowhere. Had this not been a review copy I would’ve given up then and there, but after about 10% in it’s not really mentioned again. No harm comes to George however, other than being fed pate instead of cat food and frequently left to his own devices - luckily it turns out he’s good at catching mice.
For an experienced and bestselling author, I’m rather shocked by the laziness of the plotting, the lack of basic research and how many errors slipped past the editor - hopefully some have been corrected for publication. For example, Charles is described as punching a paramedic, but arrested and charged for assaulting a police officer. London is not freezing cold in mid-October - it may be damp and miserable but you don’t get frost. A police officer of Erika’s rank would not be running around visiting suspects and doing interviews, she has juniors for that. And in one scene the wrong character name is mentioned repeatedly. I could go on…
Despite an array of deeply unpleasant characters, there were so few actual possible suspects that it was completely obvious whodunnit, and yet Erika unmasks them pretty much by accident. Then she is once more put into a life-threatening situation, which she (spoiler alert) survives also by luck not skill. I did like the development in her personal life but it felt like rather too much of a coincidence. And several plot threads are left unresolved. So all in all this was a disappointing instalment for a series that I had previously very much enjoyed, and it’s probably time for me to give up on this author. If these issues don’t bother you, do read other reviews as clearly I’m in a minority.
2.5 rounded down for the animal abuse.
I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley and am posting this honest review voluntarily. Fatal Witness is published on July 7th.
July 7, 2022
4.5 stars
Fatal Witness by Robert Bryndza is the 7th in the Detective Erika Foster series.
First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Bookouture and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Series Background: (Warning – May contain spoilers from previous books)
DCI Erika Foster has not had it easy. Her husband Mark and most of her team was killed in a botched drug bust 4 years ago, and she has been trying to get past it. Her new team consists of DI James Peterson (with whom Erika had a brief relationship), DI Kate Moss, Detective John McGorry, and Detective Crane. Their boss is Superintendent Melanie Hudson. The forensic psychologist is Isaac Strong, and he has become a good friend to Erika.
My Synopsis: (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
Erika has just purchased a fixer-upper in Blackheath, and on her first night there, she goes for a walk, only to discover the brutal murder of Vicky Clarke, a true-crime podcaster.
But nothing is as it seems, and it appears that there was more to Vicky than they originally thought...and to Sophia, another tenant in the building.
Eventually, the team is lead to a podcast that Vicky was working on, and dealt with attacks on young women while they were attending a drama school interview. Perhaps she was getting too close to the perpetrator.
Meanwhile, Erika seems to be stepping on someone's toes every time she turns around.
In addition to this case, Erika is trying to move on from her relationship with Peterson, and trying to get her new home in a livable condition.
My Opinions:
First, there was a LONG time between series installments....too long Mr. Bryndza! Hope we don't have to wait another 4 years for the next one.
Okay, let's talk characters. There's a big case or two of mistaken identities. Then....there were lots of suspects. A creepy neighbour (not to mention the bitchy landlord and other tenants), a sketchy boyfriend, rather strange teachers, and a brother-in-law that may need looking into. No one is quite what they seem. Anyone of them could have been the perpetrator. Bryndza always has great characters in his book....love them or hate them, they are always interesting.
The plot was really good, and it moved at a good pace. I was kept entertained from start to finish. Speaking of the finish....it felt a bit rushed.
Anyway, if you are a fan, this is a must read...and if this series is new to you....go back and start at the beginning!
For a more complete review of this book and others (including the reason I chose to read/review this book, as well as author information and contact details), please visit my blog: http://katlovesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
July 4, 2022
This is a favorite series, and I must say I enjoyed this latest entry (the seventh). It checked all the boxes for a great crime story, put the star of the show, Chief Detective Erika Foster, in all kinds of situations in which she doesn't want to be (including possibly dead) and kept me turning the pages right up to the end. The only downside is that it was four long years in the making.
The story begins as Erika makes her way back to her new fixer-upper home in Blackheath after fetching fish and chips and hears blood-curdling screams. Coming from a flat near her home, she learns the screams are coming from a woman who has just found her brutally murdered sister inside the flat. The woman, named Vicky Clarke, was a true-crime podcaster, making Erica and her team suspect that the victim had stumbled onto something her attacker didn't want broadcast for all the world to hear.
From that point on, things quickly become complicated - and revealing much more wouldn't be prudent. I'll just say that relationships dominate the story - those of the victim and her circle of friends and neighbors and those of Erika herself. Her old fling and coworker Detective Inspector James Peterson, for instance, is no longer the former but still the latter (with a new main squeeze, no less), which creates a few moments that are awkward at best. A couple of sets of sisters bring out the worst in sibling rivalry, and a prime suspect must be treated with kid gloves because of his ties to department powers-that-be and an old friend makes a surprise appearance.
All told, it's an engaging page-turner that brings Erika back into action after a four-year-or-so hiatus; I'm happy to see her, and I'm sure other readers will be as well. Many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to get to know her again through a pre-release review copy. And to the author, please, pretty please, don't wait so long to write the next installment!
The story begins as Erika makes her way back to her new fixer-upper home in Blackheath after fetching fish and chips and hears blood-curdling screams. Coming from a flat near her home, she learns the screams are coming from a woman who has just found her brutally murdered sister inside the flat. The woman, named Vicky Clarke, was a true-crime podcaster, making Erica and her team suspect that the victim had stumbled onto something her attacker didn't want broadcast for all the world to hear.
From that point on, things quickly become complicated - and revealing much more wouldn't be prudent. I'll just say that relationships dominate the story - those of the victim and her circle of friends and neighbors and those of Erika herself. Her old fling and coworker Detective Inspector James Peterson, for instance, is no longer the former but still the latter (with a new main squeeze, no less), which creates a few moments that are awkward at best. A couple of sets of sisters bring out the worst in sibling rivalry, and a prime suspect must be treated with kid gloves because of his ties to department powers-that-be and an old friend makes a surprise appearance.
All told, it's an engaging page-turner that brings Erika back into action after a four-year-or-so hiatus; I'm happy to see her, and I'm sure other readers will be as well. Many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to get to know her again through a pre-release review copy. And to the author, please, pretty please, don't wait so long to write the next installment!
May 14, 2022
Award winning author Robert Bryndza's new release Fatal Witness is a thrill to read. This is Bryndza's seventh installment in the Detective Erika Foster series and it is a real page turner!
Synopsis:
After Detective Erika Foster is assigned a case involving true crime podcaster Vicky Clarke, Erika soon discovers that Vicky is not afraid to investigate dangerous cases in order to further her career. Vicky is seeking a serial rapist whose victims are young female college students in South London. She was close to identifying the perpetrator. Was Vicky murdered to stop the truth from being revealed?
Fatal Witness is a twisty psychological whodunit that has readers guessing until the last chapter. Bryyndza's writing unwinds into a mind blowing conclusion that I did not anticipate. It is a murder mystery with an unforgettable high level of suspense.
Fatal Witness (Detective Erika Foster #7) by Robert Bryndza is available on July 7th.
4.25 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
*It is important to note that Fatal Witness does contain some trigger warnings so review them in advance.
Thank you, NetGalley and Raven Street Publishing. Your kindness is appreciated!
#ErikaFosterReturns
Synopsis:
After Detective Erika Foster is assigned a case involving true crime podcaster Vicky Clarke, Erika soon discovers that Vicky is not afraid to investigate dangerous cases in order to further her career. Vicky is seeking a serial rapist whose victims are young female college students in South London. She was close to identifying the perpetrator. Was Vicky murdered to stop the truth from being revealed?
Fatal Witness is a twisty psychological whodunit that has readers guessing until the last chapter. Bryyndza's writing unwinds into a mind blowing conclusion that I did not anticipate. It is a murder mystery with an unforgettable high level of suspense.
Fatal Witness (Detective Erika Foster #7) by Robert Bryndza is available on July 7th.
4.25 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
*It is important to note that Fatal Witness does contain some trigger warnings so review them in advance.
Thank you, NetGalley and Raven Street Publishing. Your kindness is appreciated!
#ErikaFosterReturns
July 3, 2022
Detective Erika Foster is back! She’s about to start a new life in a new neighborhood, but unfortunately, it doesn’t get off to a rosy start in Robert Bryndza’s seventh installment of the series, Fatal Witness. Just as Erika is moving into her new flat, she hears a scream, which is never good news when you’re a police detective. She discovers a woman claiming to have found her sister – dead – in a pool of blood.
Despite the fact that there’s a suspicious neighbor, there is no evidence to pin the crime on this person, so the investigation goes on. Later, things get more complex when another body is discovered…and still, the same person is on her list as the most likely suspect. But there’s a problem with that. I think I’ll let you discover that for yourselves, however.
Bryndza does an excellent job creating suspense and intrigue in this book. Oh, and even though Erika still misses her late husband, there is a wee hint of a relationship, which may make future books all that more interesting. Stay tuned.
Thanks to NetGalley, the author, and Raven Street Publishing for this ARC of Fatal Witness. Opinions are my own.
4 stars
Despite the fact that there’s a suspicious neighbor, there is no evidence to pin the crime on this person, so the investigation goes on. Later, things get more complex when another body is discovered…and still, the same person is on her list as the most likely suspect. But there’s a problem with that. I think I’ll let you discover that for yourselves, however.
Bryndza does an excellent job creating suspense and intrigue in this book. Oh, and even though Erika still misses her late husband, there is a wee hint of a relationship, which may make future books all that more interesting. Stay tuned.
Thanks to NetGalley, the author, and Raven Street Publishing for this ARC of Fatal Witness. Opinions are my own.
4 stars
April 26, 2022
The wait is finally over and Erika Foster is finally back! I cannot begin to tell you how excited I was to catch up with her. She first made an appearance back in 2016 when The Girl in the Ice was published.....6 years ago!
Now she is back in Fatal Witness. Another exciting page turner. Grabbing you from the very first page, I devoured this in one sitting! I literally couldn't tear myself away. It is so incredibly good. Bryndza certainly hasn't lost his touch.
You guys are going to love it.
Full review to follow
Now she is back in Fatal Witness. Another exciting page turner. Grabbing you from the very first page, I devoured this in one sitting! I literally couldn't tear myself away. It is so incredibly good. Bryndza certainly hasn't lost his touch.
You guys are going to love it.
Full review to follow
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