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DI Jemima Huxley Thrillers #1
The Cardiff Killings
The shocking start to a compelling crime series you need to read! Perfect for fans of Mark Edwards, Angela Marsons, Patricia Gibney and Leigh Russell.
Why are dead bodies appearing when no one has been reported missing…?
When mutilated female corpses are discovered in shallow woodland graves it becomes apparent that a serial killer is at large.
With no one reported missing, no apparent motive and no obvious suspect the investigation proves to be far from straightforward.
As suspicion falls upon those associated with the privately-owned woodland, it soon becomes clear that there are sinister secrets they are determined to hide.
Detective Inspector Jemima Huxley is put in charge of the case.
But Jemima has dark secrets of her own…
Can Jemima lay her personal demons to rest? Or will the case threaten to overwhelm her?
And can she catch the killer before more women turn up dead…?
Originally published as Revenge
Why are dead bodies appearing when no one has been reported missing…?
When mutilated female corpses are discovered in shallow woodland graves it becomes apparent that a serial killer is at large.
With no one reported missing, no apparent motive and no obvious suspect the investigation proves to be far from straightforward.
As suspicion falls upon those associated with the privately-owned woodland, it soon becomes clear that there are sinister secrets they are determined to hide.
Detective Inspector Jemima Huxley is put in charge of the case.
But Jemima has dark secrets of her own…
Can Jemima lay her personal demons to rest? Or will the case threaten to overwhelm her?
And can she catch the killer before more women turn up dead…?
Originally published as Revenge
256 pages, Paperback
First published May 20, 2014
1054 people are currently reading
1161 people want to read
About the author
Gaynor Torrance
13 books104 followersGaynor Torrance lives near Cardiff with her husband and their rescue cat, Cleo. The area is the setting for her Detective Inspector Jemima Huxley Crime Thriller series of books. Like Gaynor, Jemima has a bachelor’s degree in psychology. Though, apart from them both having a keen interest in human behaviour, that’s where any similarity ends.
When she’s not writing or glued to her Kindle, Gaynor enjoys listening to music, playing the piano, walking, travelling, and eating far too much chocolate.
Find out more at: http://www.gaynortorrance.com
Follow me on Twitter https://twitter.com/gaytorauthor and Facebook https://www.facebook.com/gaynortorran...
When she’s not writing or glued to her Kindle, Gaynor enjoys listening to music, playing the piano, walking, travelling, and eating far too much chocolate.
Find out more at: http://www.gaynortorrance.com
Follow me on Twitter https://twitter.com/gaytorauthor and Facebook https://www.facebook.com/gaynortorran...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 127 reviews
October 7, 2019
Several bodies were found in the grounds of Llys Faen Hall near Cardiff, the ancestral home of the Tremaine Family. The leading investigator was DI Jemima Huxley, ably assisted by her partner Dan Broadbent. I liked the way the book started as it drew me in and I liked the way it was written although initially it seemed a bit ponderous in style but the pacing picked up as the story progressed. I liked Jemima very much and it seemed that there will be more books to follow this one. Jemima on the surface was very confident. I liked the way she dealt with her male dominated team - there was a lot of testosterone in the room especially from the arrogant Sanders but she handled that well and left them in no doubt that she was in charge. I liked the way she stood up to her boss when he tried to take over the investigation. However, Jemima was putting on a front as she was struggling with infertility and she was punishing herself by self harming to get some release from her feelings of failure. At times I felt that this storyline got in the way of the investigation and the storytelling and certainly when they interviewed one of the murderers it definitely did and I found that intrusive as it halted the flow.
The Tremaines family put a whole new meaning on dysfunctional. They were so dysfunctional it almost beggared belief. Mother Helen and father David appeared glossy and shiny with their wealth so obviously on display and they seemed blameless for the bodies found on their land. As the truth was revealed my liking for the book diminished. There seemed to be Greek mythology elements to the murders and a ritualistic knife was used and pomegranate seeds found in the mouths of victims and initially I found this part of the story interesting as it was linked to Greek Gods. This was interesting, intriguing and quite a different aspect to a police procedural. However, about three quarters through the book after more mythological discoveries were made, Jemima burst into the Tremaine’s home and what ensued had me shaking my head in disbelief. It was so far fetched I found I couldn’t buy into it even though I really wanted to, as up to that point I’d enjoyed the book. The ending was an anticlimax in my opinion.
Overall, there was much to like. The lead character, there were some very good descriptions, the characters were well created and the quality of the writing was good. My reservations lie with the dual storyline which halted the pace and how the mythological elements related to the murders and the murderers.
The Tremaines family put a whole new meaning on dysfunctional. They were so dysfunctional it almost beggared belief. Mother Helen and father David appeared glossy and shiny with their wealth so obviously on display and they seemed blameless for the bodies found on their land. As the truth was revealed my liking for the book diminished. There seemed to be Greek mythology elements to the murders and a ritualistic knife was used and pomegranate seeds found in the mouths of victims and initially I found this part of the story interesting as it was linked to Greek Gods. This was interesting, intriguing and quite a different aspect to a police procedural. However, about three quarters through the book after more mythological discoveries were made, Jemima burst into the Tremaine’s home and what ensued had me shaking my head in disbelief. It was so far fetched I found I couldn’t buy into it even though I really wanted to, as up to that point I’d enjoyed the book. The ending was an anticlimax in my opinion.
Overall, there was much to like. The lead character, there were some very good descriptions, the characters were well created and the quality of the writing was good. My reservations lie with the dual storyline which halted the pace and how the mythological elements related to the murders and the murderers.
October 11, 2019
This was a very dark crime novel. Pacey, involving and rather gruesome, I read this over a span of just 24 hours. A start of a new crime series, I look forward to seeing what the writer does next.
If issues of rape, self-harm and detailed descriptions of murder make your stomach turn, then consider this your warning before reading Revenge. Torrance describes these elements in quite a lot of detail which literally had me squirming my way through the pages! The writer does not hold back and this was definitely something I am not used to in my reading. I guess this lack of being desensitised made the details more horrific; reading gruesome crime stories more often would probably make this story seem quite conventional.
I enjoyed how quickly the investigation progressed. Torrance does not prolong it with unnecessary questions and, whilst the team initially do not make rapid progress, it allows the reader to understand the full cast of characters (and subsequently, suspects) that are being introduced into the narrative. The final reveal fills in all of the gaps and the book finishes with a satisfying conclusion. I wonder if it was a little rushed but, on reflection, it suited the rapid development of the rest of the novel.
The lead character, Jemima, is a troubled, lonely soul. Struggling to conceive, she throws herself into her work, thereby isolating herself from her husband even further. There is an obvious divide between Jemima and Nick; I wanted them to be able to open up to one another and talk about the pregnancy issues and their true feelings. I could not anticipate what the writer reveals about Jemima’s character and hope that support is provided to her in the next one of the series. Hopefully there will be some happier times for our protagonist!
Despite the awful crimes depicted, I enjoyed how different this is to other novels that I have read of a similar genre. I am definitely going to keep my eyes open for the next one of the series because I think it has been a brilliant opening. Yes, it is rather gruesome, but the writing style moves so quickly that it doesn’t mean you are left dwelling on it for too long.
With thanks to Sapere books for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
If issues of rape, self-harm and detailed descriptions of murder make your stomach turn, then consider this your warning before reading Revenge. Torrance describes these elements in quite a lot of detail which literally had me squirming my way through the pages! The writer does not hold back and this was definitely something I am not used to in my reading. I guess this lack of being desensitised made the details more horrific; reading gruesome crime stories more often would probably make this story seem quite conventional.
I enjoyed how quickly the investigation progressed. Torrance does not prolong it with unnecessary questions and, whilst the team initially do not make rapid progress, it allows the reader to understand the full cast of characters (and subsequently, suspects) that are being introduced into the narrative. The final reveal fills in all of the gaps and the book finishes with a satisfying conclusion. I wonder if it was a little rushed but, on reflection, it suited the rapid development of the rest of the novel.
The lead character, Jemima, is a troubled, lonely soul. Struggling to conceive, she throws herself into her work, thereby isolating herself from her husband even further. There is an obvious divide between Jemima and Nick; I wanted them to be able to open up to one another and talk about the pregnancy issues and their true feelings. I could not anticipate what the writer reveals about Jemima’s character and hope that support is provided to her in the next one of the series. Hopefully there will be some happier times for our protagonist!
Despite the awful crimes depicted, I enjoyed how different this is to other novels that I have read of a similar genre. I am definitely going to keep my eyes open for the next one of the series because I think it has been a brilliant opening. Yes, it is rather gruesome, but the writing style moves so quickly that it doesn’t mean you are left dwelling on it for too long.
With thanks to Sapere books for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
October 7, 2019
DI Huxley and her team are called out when a body is found partially buried in shallow grave in a privately woodland. When two more bodies are found in the same location, suspicion falls on the owners of the woodland area.
Huxley is going to have to tread through quicksand to get to the truth. Many potential suspects all have secrets that they will do anything to prevent them coming to light.
What links these brutal murders? Why were they not all reported missing?
Amid this very intense investigation, Huxley is dealing with her own personal problems. The question becomes .. can she get herself under control long enough to solve this crime?
The story premise is a good one. The mystery/crime is well written. I did not particularly like DI Huxley. She comes across as a woman trying too hard to prove that she's good at her job. Although married, she doesn't seem to like men in general. A new member of her team is reputed to be a ladies man. Huxley has never worked with him before, but 'assume' the reputation and she berates him at every opportunity. She's just not a likeable character. The rest of the team lend a bit of credibility in showing police procedure.
Many thanks to the author / Sapere Books /Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
April 2, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley for a Kindle ARC of
Revenge.
** TW: self-harm, domestic abuse, rape, incest, torture and mutilation. **
This was a straight forward police procedural which I enjoy, generally, but Revenge was a big letdown.
** Minor spoilers ahead **
When a series of bodies is discovered on the grounds of a lavish estate, DI Huxley is called to investigate.
As the identity of the victims are revealed, Huxley discovers they are all linked to the matron of the estate and to horrific family secrets.
I'm always on the hunt for a mystery series with a strong female lead with plenty of flaws because we're human and we all have problems.
But DI Jemima Huxley is all about her problems.
The author spends way too much time on Huxley's desire to have a baby, on her repeated self-harming, on her looking jealousy at pregnant women or women with children, on her snapping at her colleague, Broadbent's slovenly appearance, mostly because she's envious of his newborn son.
There is also too much telling, where the people involved in the case get their 15 minutes of fame and explains to Huxley and Broadbent in a monologue about who did what, and why, how the murders were committed and why.
I love revenge tales and I think this would have worked for me if I had liked Huxley and the themes hadn't been so dark.
** TW: self-harm, domestic abuse, rape, incest, torture and mutilation. **
This was a straight forward police procedural which I enjoy, generally, but Revenge was a big letdown.
** Minor spoilers ahead **
When a series of bodies is discovered on the grounds of a lavish estate, DI Huxley is called to investigate.
As the identity of the victims are revealed, Huxley discovers they are all linked to the matron of the estate and to horrific family secrets.
I'm always on the hunt for a mystery series with a strong female lead with plenty of flaws because we're human and we all have problems.
But DI Jemima Huxley is all about her problems.
The author spends way too much time on Huxley's desire to have a baby, on her repeated self-harming, on her looking jealousy at pregnant women or women with children, on her snapping at her colleague, Broadbent's slovenly appearance, mostly because she's envious of his newborn son.
There is also too much telling, where the people involved in the case get their 15 minutes of fame and explains to Huxley and Broadbent in a monologue about who did what, and why, how the murders were committed and why.
I love revenge tales and I think this would have worked for me if I had liked Huxley and the themes hadn't been so dark.
September 12, 2019
When a local landowner discovers a dead body on his land he has no idea of the nightmare he is about to unleash on himself and the local police force. His estate houses a eclectic collection of employees who add personality and problems which all need to be overcome as lead detective, Jemima Huxley, struggles to make any major advances in what could become the biggest case of her career so far.
I was amazed that this is the beginning of a series; DI Huxley and her partner, Dan Broadbent, were well rounded and had none of the problems sometime experienced with the first outing of main characters especially in a murder mystery story. That isn't to say they don't have personal problems to deal with. Dan is suffering from little or no sleep even before the case begins along with other easily recognisable consequences of being a new dad and Jemima is keeping big secrets which threaten to overwhelm her throughout the investigation.
The case was detailed and disturbing with a realism which drew me in and meant I read this in just two sessions, happily continuing deep into the night to find out what happened. The only thing I felt was missing was the part social media and the intrusiveness of the press would surely have played once the news broke that more than one body had been discovered at the same location but such were the complexities of the investigation that it didn't seem important until I had finished the book.
Jemima is a fascinating character who I am eager to read more about. There are many things to be discovered about her and serious problems she needs to face. Hopefully they will take more than a few books to deal with and if they are anywhere near as compelling as this first outing I will definitely be there for the entire ride.
I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers in exchange for an unbiased review and would recommend it unreservedly to anyone who enjoys murder mysteries and wants to begin a new series with great promise of things to come.
I was amazed that this is the beginning of a series; DI Huxley and her partner, Dan Broadbent, were well rounded and had none of the problems sometime experienced with the first outing of main characters especially in a murder mystery story. That isn't to say they don't have personal problems to deal with. Dan is suffering from little or no sleep even before the case begins along with other easily recognisable consequences of being a new dad and Jemima is keeping big secrets which threaten to overwhelm her throughout the investigation.
The case was detailed and disturbing with a realism which drew me in and meant I read this in just two sessions, happily continuing deep into the night to find out what happened. The only thing I felt was missing was the part social media and the intrusiveness of the press would surely have played once the news broke that more than one body had been discovered at the same location but such were the complexities of the investigation that it didn't seem important until I had finished the book.
Jemima is a fascinating character who I am eager to read more about. There are many things to be discovered about her and serious problems she needs to face. Hopefully they will take more than a few books to deal with and if they are anywhere near as compelling as this first outing I will definitely be there for the entire ride.
I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers in exchange for an unbiased review and would recommend it unreservedly to anyone who enjoys murder mysteries and wants to begin a new series with great promise of things to come.
October 6, 2019
I would like to thank Netgalley and Sapere Books for an advance copy of Revenge, the first novel to feature DI Jemima Huxley of the Cardiff police.
When a buried body is unearthed in the woods of the local stately home DI Jemima Huxley is put in charge of the investigation. When more bodies are discovered it becomes apparent that she’s hunting a serial killer.
I enjoyed Revenge which is a tale full of twists and turns before an incredible denouement. The novel opens with the unnamed killer about to bury a body and my first thought was oh no, not another novel exploring his psyche as I hate them (poor psychology and nothing ever new) but thankfully that was the last of that until his final interview. It is told in the third person from Jemima’s point of view which is good in that it gives the reader something to get their teeth into but bad because Jemima is such an unappealing character. Nevertheless I found the novel compelling and absorbing so was always impatient to get back to it to see what was coming next.
The novel is, however, all about Jemima and her inability to conceive. She is obsessive about it, to the extent of walking a room containing either a pregnant woman or one with a small child and it gets old very quickly for a crime fiction reader. I would have screamed if it had been mentioned one more time. If this is supposed to make her an interesting character it fails badly as this, her mood swings and another mental health issue make her unconvincing as a senior police officer. She is a woman teetering on the edge of a meltdown and the emphasis on it detracts from what could have been a very good read. I feel that the author has the balance wrong.
When a buried body is unearthed in the woods of the local stately home DI Jemima Huxley is put in charge of the investigation. When more bodies are discovered it becomes apparent that she’s hunting a serial killer.
I enjoyed Revenge which is a tale full of twists and turns before an incredible denouement. The novel opens with the unnamed killer about to bury a body and my first thought was oh no, not another novel exploring his psyche as I hate them (poor psychology and nothing ever new) but thankfully that was the last of that until his final interview. It is told in the third person from Jemima’s point of view which is good in that it gives the reader something to get their teeth into but bad because Jemima is such an unappealing character. Nevertheless I found the novel compelling and absorbing so was always impatient to get back to it to see what was coming next.
The novel is, however, all about Jemima and her inability to conceive. She is obsessive about it, to the extent of walking a room containing either a pregnant woman or one with a small child and it gets old very quickly for a crime fiction reader. I would have screamed if it had been mentioned one more time. If this is supposed to make her an interesting character it fails badly as this, her mood swings and another mental health issue make her unconvincing as a senior police officer. She is a woman teetering on the edge of a meltdown and the emphasis on it detracts from what could have been a very good read. I feel that the author has the balance wrong.
February 5, 2023
Brilliant
Couldn't put it down. It's weird when you live close to the area and all the names of places that you have visited some of them
Couldn't put it down. It's weird when you live close to the area and all the names of places that you have visited some of them
September 6, 2019
3 stars
DI Jemima Huxley and her partner DS Broadbent investigate the discovery of a shallowly buried body of a woman found on an estate. The woman has been mutilated. More women are found on the estate. Do the police have a serial killer on their hands?
This book tells the story of the investigation and also discusses ad nauseum Jemima's wish to have a child.
I didn't think that DS Broadbent was quite the worthless individual that Jemima thought he was. And Jemima was way too obsessed with having a baby. The book sort of rambles in places, but does contain some surprises and a few twists. It is fairly well written, but need plotting help.
I want to thank NetGalley and Sapere Books for forwarding to me a copy of this book to read and review.
DI Jemima Huxley and her partner DS Broadbent investigate the discovery of a shallowly buried body of a woman found on an estate. The woman has been mutilated. More women are found on the estate. Do the police have a serial killer on their hands?
This book tells the story of the investigation and also discusses ad nauseum Jemima's wish to have a child.
I didn't think that DS Broadbent was quite the worthless individual that Jemima thought he was. And Jemima was way too obsessed with having a baby. The book sort of rambles in places, but does contain some surprises and a few twists. It is fairly well written, but need plotting help.
I want to thank NetGalley and Sapere Books for forwarding to me a copy of this book to read and review.
April 3, 2022
A most unpleasant police detective
Jemima Huxley is a rude, whining, self-harming, petulant person. Even her boss tells her to get over herself. Her presence is an irritation throughout the whole book. The mystery is outrageous and ugly with totally unbelievable characters. I cannot recommend this book
Jemima Huxley is a rude, whining, self-harming, petulant person. Even her boss tells her to get over herself. Her presence is an irritation throughout the whole book. The mystery is outrageous and ugly with totally unbelievable characters. I cannot recommend this book
January 11, 2024
A good detective murder story. I had moments of ‘ooooh’ followed by moments of ‘meh’ but I was committed to find out the outcome.
Detective Huxley was a hard to like character I found but that might have just been me. The main story itself was intriguing as most murder mysteries are although my interest did keep waining. The audiobook I listened to was good so I can’t fault that but sometimes as is the case with audio, it can be easier to breeze in and out.
It gets an extra star for place setting as I have a soft spot for Cardiff and it was nice to read a book based in one of my favourite places. The narrator was also welsh so I could listen to that lilting accent forever.
I’m happy to have read it and may consider the others in this series but I think I’m happy for where it was left!
Also, massive trigger warning for self harm so take that under advisement when picking this one up!
Detective Huxley was a hard to like character I found but that might have just been me. The main story itself was intriguing as most murder mysteries are although my interest did keep waining. The audiobook I listened to was good so I can’t fault that but sometimes as is the case with audio, it can be easier to breeze in and out.
It gets an extra star for place setting as I have a soft spot for Cardiff and it was nice to read a book based in one of my favourite places. The narrator was also welsh so I could listen to that lilting accent forever.
I’m happy to have read it and may consider the others in this series but I think I’m happy for where it was left!
Also, massive trigger warning for self harm so take that under advisement when picking this one up!
May 20, 2024
DI Jemima has a new case. Several bodies of women have been found on a local property belonging to a wealthy couple. The wife has been volunteering at a women's shelter--could this be connected to the killings? She informs Jemima and her team that she is estranged from her two children and her brother. Could this be related in some way. The team is determined to explore every option before the killer strikes again. The setting for this very dark mystery is Wales. TW: infertility, incest, grisly psychopath murders, cutting, domestic violence.
September 5, 2023
A gripping thriller.
When a woman's body is discovered in a shallow grave on an estate near Cardiff, DI Jemima Huxley and DS Dan Broadbent have no idea of what they are to become embroiled in.
There is one twist after another in this gripping murder mystery, with family ties, Greek mythology and ample suspects. Excellent characters and an intriguing plot make this a compelling read.
Gaynor Torrance is a brilliant storyteller, and I am looking forward to reading more of her books.
Highly recommended to fans of this genre.
When a woman's body is discovered in a shallow grave on an estate near Cardiff, DI Jemima Huxley and DS Dan Broadbent have no idea of what they are to become embroiled in.
There is one twist after another in this gripping murder mystery, with family ties, Greek mythology and ample suspects. Excellent characters and an intriguing plot make this a compelling read.
Gaynor Torrance is a brilliant storyteller, and I am looking forward to reading more of her books.
Highly recommended to fans of this genre.
Read
October 4, 2022It seems to be all about DI Huxley's failure to get pregnant. I just gave up with boredom at 5%
November 30, 2019
When bodies are discovered on the land of a wealthy and powerful family questions need to be asked – but how far will they go to protect their reputation?
Revenge for me was a bit like its name – not really a standout and a bit bland. On one hand I enjoyed the idea of a flawed female main character and Jemima certainly has her share of problems; from self-harming to infertility and all the mental health and relationship issues that go along side. Although I think it does help to have a relatable and imperfect main character, I honestly just found Jemima a little bit too much and irritating at times. I get that she wanted a child but having full on mental breakdowns during interviews and bringing absolutely everything back around to children and her own issues made her seem pretty selfish.
I found the crimes themselves to be quite interesting and the story started off at a nice pace. I did feel that there were far too many people introduced by name and it got a little hard to keep track of who was an important character and who was just supposed to be in the background. I didn’t really find myself liking or wanting to find out about any of Jemima’s colleagues as we see them through her very judgemental lens. I thought the investigation was proceeding quite normally and all of a sudden a curve ball was thrown in which changed the field past the realm of plausibility for me. The last 30% of the book was also very disappointing - having caught the killer we then got an endless monologue of what had happened and when and why which wasn’t really that interesting compared to the rest of the book.
The ending for me completely fizzled – rather than neatly setting the book up for the rest of the series and making me want to pick up the next one I just found myself asking ‘Who’s that again?’
Overall Revenge is an ok thriller but is as flawed as Jemima with characters you find it hard to sympathise with and a plot with too much exposition and explanation needed to tell the story. Thank you to NetGalley & Sapere Books for a chance to read the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
For more of my reviews go to www.kindig.co.uk
Revenge for me was a bit like its name – not really a standout and a bit bland. On one hand I enjoyed the idea of a flawed female main character and Jemima certainly has her share of problems; from self-harming to infertility and all the mental health and relationship issues that go along side. Although I think it does help to have a relatable and imperfect main character, I honestly just found Jemima a little bit too much and irritating at times. I get that she wanted a child but having full on mental breakdowns during interviews and bringing absolutely everything back around to children and her own issues made her seem pretty selfish.
I found the crimes themselves to be quite interesting and the story started off at a nice pace. I did feel that there were far too many people introduced by name and it got a little hard to keep track of who was an important character and who was just supposed to be in the background. I didn’t really find myself liking or wanting to find out about any of Jemima’s colleagues as we see them through her very judgemental lens. I thought the investigation was proceeding quite normally and all of a sudden a curve ball was thrown in which changed the field past the realm of plausibility for me. The last 30% of the book was also very disappointing - having caught the killer we then got an endless monologue of what had happened and when and why which wasn’t really that interesting compared to the rest of the book.
The ending for me completely fizzled – rather than neatly setting the book up for the rest of the series and making me want to pick up the next one I just found myself asking ‘Who’s that again?’
Overall Revenge is an ok thriller but is as flawed as Jemima with characters you find it hard to sympathise with and a plot with too much exposition and explanation needed to tell the story. Thank you to NetGalley & Sapere Books for a chance to read the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
For more of my reviews go to www.kindig.co.uk
October 27, 2022
At best a mediocre detective story, with not a lot of actual serious detecting going on. I decided to make myself finish reading it so that I would know whether it did get better as it went along. It didn't. I found the end of the book dull with the guilty party explaining the crimes - my favourite detective stories have the detectives working out the crimes and how they were carried out.
It's possible fans of chick lit will enjoy the book more than I did. For me there was far too much emphasis on the inner workings of the lead character's selfish troubled head, and wordy descriptions of characters majoring on stuff that really didn't interest me.
Should you choose to read the book, or even the series, I hope you enjoy the experience. I won't be reading any more of this author's publications.
It's possible fans of chick lit will enjoy the book more than I did. For me there was far too much emphasis on the inner workings of the lead character's selfish troubled head, and wordy descriptions of characters majoring on stuff that really didn't interest me.
Should you choose to read the book, or even the series, I hope you enjoy the experience. I won't be reading any more of this author's publications.
October 7, 2019
This is the first book in what looks to be a new series and was a good read.
The bodies of some young women are found in shallow graves in the grounds of a private estate and the attention is soon on the family who live there.
They’re a strange bunch of people and it’s clear they’re not being completely up front with the Police.
Jemima is tasked with finding the killer and is led down various dark avenues in her attempt to find the killer.
Jemima has her own issues but tries to put them aside to work on the case.
I found there was quite a lot of descriptive paragraphs that maybe weren’t needed but overall the story came across well.
Thanks to Sapere books for sending me a copy to read and review.
The bodies of some young women are found in shallow graves in the grounds of a private estate and the attention is soon on the family who live there.
They’re a strange bunch of people and it’s clear they’re not being completely up front with the Police.
Jemima is tasked with finding the killer and is led down various dark avenues in her attempt to find the killer.
Jemima has her own issues but tries to put them aside to work on the case.
I found there was quite a lot of descriptive paragraphs that maybe weren’t needed but overall the story came across well.
Thanks to Sapere books for sending me a copy to read and review.
May 19, 2022
This is a poorly written book. The killer is revealed with 30% of book left. I thought a twist must surely be coming with so many pages left. Nope. No twist. The remaining 30% of the book was filled up with lazy exposition where a killer just talks about everything that happened. Boring and unlikable characters. Truly a waste of time.
October 8, 2019
This was a twisted story that kept my interest to the very end!! I liked the mystery and was kinda surprised by the ending. Definitely will have to check out the next one. Thanks to Sapere for the early copy
October 12, 2019
Whoa! What did I just read?
As the first in a new series by Gaynor Torrance featuring the somewhat troubled DI Jemima Huxley, it goes without saying that REVENGE is a very dark and incredibly twisted crime novel. It is nothing like you would expect. What starts out as a slow moving narrative into Jemima's obsession with conceiving soon becomes an all too real reminder to be careful what you wish for.
But before I go any further, I must begin with a trigger warning. This book is packed full of triggers - rape, domestic abuse, infertility, self harm, incest - not to mention the usual run-of-the-mill gruesome factors of a murder investigation, which are also incredibly detailed and graphic in nature. If any of these issues are a trigger for you or make your stomach turn, then I would consider this as a warning before choosing to read REVENGE.
The Prologue is somewhat graphic, leaving little to the imagination, and yet it is puzzling to the reader as to what it might mean. So we shelve it in our minds to return to when things start to become clearer. If nothing else, this killer is both relentless and sadistic.
We then open with two chapters of narrative surrounding DI Jemima Huxley and her innermost thoughts and the demons with which she struggles in her attempts to conceive. It is almost slow going, bordering on irritating when she passes silent judgement on her DS' inability to form some sort of routine with their now three month old baby - as if she's suddenly the expert on parenting.
DS Dan Broadbent hasn't had a complete nights sleep since the arrival of their little screaming bundle of joy, and habitually turns up to work dishevelled, tired and often wearing the same clothes for three days previous. Jemima silently envies him of having what she so desperately wants - a baby - and thinks him ungrateful to moan about the sleepless nights and nappy changes when he should thank his lucky stars he has been blessed where she has not been.
Thankfully, the tirade of judgement does let up when the investigation begins, but then we find Jemima comparing herself to others whenever she comes across a pregnant woman. It is a little irritating at times, but for anyone who has known the emptiness of being unable to conceive, the struggle is indeed real.
Despite what I have already outlined, it isn't long before what started out as the discovery of one body has turned into several bodies being unearthed in shallow graves on the grounds of Llys Faen Hall, the ancestral home of the Tremaine family, located on the outskirts of Cardiff. David and Helen Tremaine were on their morning constitutional of the grounds when their staffy Corbett sniffed out a hand poking from beneath the dirt in the woodlands, promptly calling the police on their return to the house.
What ensues is an investigation that isn't all it seems. The Tremaines are a strange couple, and their staff are also somewhat questionable, and it's clear from the outset that they're not being completely honest with the police. But what is it that they are hiding? Do they know who the bodies are? Maybe they know who the killer is and are protecting them? Or is it something more sinister? Whatever it is, something strange is afoot in that household and Jemima is determined to get to the bottom of it.
The murders are revealed to be ritualistic in nature and incredibly sadistic. And it isn't long before Jemima connects the victims to a women's refuge that Helen Tremaine had set up some years before. Helen identifies some photographs of missing women as those to have been at the refuge as dental records systematically confirm their identities. So what has the refuge got to do with these murders? These women lived in fear of their partners finding them, so they would only go with those they trusted. Did that mean Helen was somehow involved or knew more than she was letting on?
While the bodies are being retrieved, Jemima and DS Broadbent start to look into the backgrounds of the Tremaines and their staff. They claim to have no family, except Helen's brother, with whom they have had no contact for fifteen years after he shamed the family after being convicted of the brutal rape of several women. Was he, Bernard Shackleton, somehow responsible for these murders which involved a brutal and sadistic form of simulated rape?
In the midst of what she sees as the biggest case of her career, Jemima is left with feelings of inadequacy in both her professional and personal lives. She is a DI and a woman in a man's world, who has to work twice as hard to gain the recognition and respect of her peers, but she is also a wife and woman who yearns to be a mother. Her desire borders on obsession at times as it is all she can think of. And yet, when disappointment looms once again...how does she deal with it? She doesn't talk it over with husband Nick and work it out together or even see a specialist. No, she locks herself in the bathroom, takes out the razor blade she has hidden in a tampon box and cuts herself. Just one small shallow cut, but enough to feel the pain. She even leaves in the middle of an interview to cut herself in an effort to maintain control of her investigation.
Then at the end she has some sort of epiphany and begins to question the stability of her marriage. She doesn't talk to her husband, and yet she yells at him when she comes home to find he hasn't cooked for her or cleaned the kitchen. In (not only) my opinion, it takes two to make a marriage but it also takes two to break a marriage. Laying it at her husband's feet that he hasn't noticed her pain (when she doesn't talk about it, 'cause let's face it, men don't really notice things unless they are naked and in front of them) or saying he doesn't understand her, just doesn't cut it with me.
I didn't really like Jemima very much - she is incredibly self-obsessed in my view - but I would be interested to see more of her and DS Broadbent in the future. I'd like to see how things progress for her both personally and professionally, particularly with the addition to their team at the very end, opening the floor for further investigations in the series.
REVENGE is a hard book to categorise as it is a police procedural but it is also very dark, very gruesome and very twisted. It reads more like something from the gritty streets of Glasgow than the sleepy Welsh locale in which it's set.
Filled with more secrets, more lies and more twists than you could imagine, REVENGE is not for the faint-hearted. And despite it's slow start, this well-plotted tale is a riveting and compelling crime novel of disturbing proportions.
★★★★ 3.5 to 4 stars
I would like to thank #GaynorTorrance, #NetGalley and #SapereBooks for an ARC of #Revenge in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
As the first in a new series by Gaynor Torrance featuring the somewhat troubled DI Jemima Huxley, it goes without saying that REVENGE is a very dark and incredibly twisted crime novel. It is nothing like you would expect. What starts out as a slow moving narrative into Jemima's obsession with conceiving soon becomes an all too real reminder to be careful what you wish for.
But before I go any further, I must begin with a trigger warning. This book is packed full of triggers - rape, domestic abuse, infertility, self harm, incest - not to mention the usual run-of-the-mill gruesome factors of a murder investigation, which are also incredibly detailed and graphic in nature. If any of these issues are a trigger for you or make your stomach turn, then I would consider this as a warning before choosing to read REVENGE.
The Prologue is somewhat graphic, leaving little to the imagination, and yet it is puzzling to the reader as to what it might mean. So we shelve it in our minds to return to when things start to become clearer. If nothing else, this killer is both relentless and sadistic.
We then open with two chapters of narrative surrounding DI Jemima Huxley and her innermost thoughts and the demons with which she struggles in her attempts to conceive. It is almost slow going, bordering on irritating when she passes silent judgement on her DS' inability to form some sort of routine with their now three month old baby - as if she's suddenly the expert on parenting.
DS Dan Broadbent hasn't had a complete nights sleep since the arrival of their little screaming bundle of joy, and habitually turns up to work dishevelled, tired and often wearing the same clothes for three days previous. Jemima silently envies him of having what she so desperately wants - a baby - and thinks him ungrateful to moan about the sleepless nights and nappy changes when he should thank his lucky stars he has been blessed where she has not been.
Thankfully, the tirade of judgement does let up when the investigation begins, but then we find Jemima comparing herself to others whenever she comes across a pregnant woman. It is a little irritating at times, but for anyone who has known the emptiness of being unable to conceive, the struggle is indeed real.
Despite what I have already outlined, it isn't long before what started out as the discovery of one body has turned into several bodies being unearthed in shallow graves on the grounds of Llys Faen Hall, the ancestral home of the Tremaine family, located on the outskirts of Cardiff. David and Helen Tremaine were on their morning constitutional of the grounds when their staffy Corbett sniffed out a hand poking from beneath the dirt in the woodlands, promptly calling the police on their return to the house.
What ensues is an investigation that isn't all it seems. The Tremaines are a strange couple, and their staff are also somewhat questionable, and it's clear from the outset that they're not being completely honest with the police. But what is it that they are hiding? Do they know who the bodies are? Maybe they know who the killer is and are protecting them? Or is it something more sinister? Whatever it is, something strange is afoot in that household and Jemima is determined to get to the bottom of it.
The murders are revealed to be ritualistic in nature and incredibly sadistic. And it isn't long before Jemima connects the victims to a women's refuge that Helen Tremaine had set up some years before. Helen identifies some photographs of missing women as those to have been at the refuge as dental records systematically confirm their identities. So what has the refuge got to do with these murders? These women lived in fear of their partners finding them, so they would only go with those they trusted. Did that mean Helen was somehow involved or knew more than she was letting on?
While the bodies are being retrieved, Jemima and DS Broadbent start to look into the backgrounds of the Tremaines and their staff. They claim to have no family, except Helen's brother, with whom they have had no contact for fifteen years after he shamed the family after being convicted of the brutal rape of several women. Was he, Bernard Shackleton, somehow responsible for these murders which involved a brutal and sadistic form of simulated rape?
In the midst of what she sees as the biggest case of her career, Jemima is left with feelings of inadequacy in both her professional and personal lives. She is a DI and a woman in a man's world, who has to work twice as hard to gain the recognition and respect of her peers, but she is also a wife and woman who yearns to be a mother. Her desire borders on obsession at times as it is all she can think of. And yet, when disappointment looms once again...how does she deal with it? She doesn't talk it over with husband Nick and work it out together or even see a specialist. No, she locks herself in the bathroom, takes out the razor blade she has hidden in a tampon box and cuts herself. Just one small shallow cut, but enough to feel the pain. She even leaves in the middle of an interview to cut herself in an effort to maintain control of her investigation.
Then at the end she has some sort of epiphany and begins to question the stability of her marriage. She doesn't talk to her husband, and yet she yells at him when she comes home to find he hasn't cooked for her or cleaned the kitchen. In (not only) my opinion, it takes two to make a marriage but it also takes two to break a marriage. Laying it at her husband's feet that he hasn't noticed her pain (when she doesn't talk about it, 'cause let's face it, men don't really notice things unless they are naked and in front of them) or saying he doesn't understand her, just doesn't cut it with me.
I didn't really like Jemima very much - she is incredibly self-obsessed in my view - but I would be interested to see more of her and DS Broadbent in the future. I'd like to see how things progress for her both personally and professionally, particularly with the addition to their team at the very end, opening the floor for further investigations in the series.
REVENGE is a hard book to categorise as it is a police procedural but it is also very dark, very gruesome and very twisted. It reads more like something from the gritty streets of Glasgow than the sleepy Welsh locale in which it's set.
Filled with more secrets, more lies and more twists than you could imagine, REVENGE is not for the faint-hearted. And despite it's slow start, this well-plotted tale is a riveting and compelling crime novel of disturbing proportions.
★★★★ 3.5 to 4 stars
I would like to thank #GaynorTorrance, #NetGalley and #SapereBooks for an ARC of #Revenge in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
October 23, 2022
Picture this…….15 weeks to climb a hill, 5 minutes to roll back to the bottom.
That’s how this book was. Took too long to get to the point and then all of a sudden, miraculously overhearing a conversation, case solved.
Couldn’t bond with the main character either. She was rude and I found I wanted to slap her! I couldn’t connect or sympathise with her character. Not sure if that was the point or not but I usually connect in some way and this fell way short.
That’s how this book was. Took too long to get to the point and then all of a sudden, miraculously overhearing a conversation, case solved.
Couldn’t bond with the main character either. She was rude and I found I wanted to slap her! I couldn’t connect or sympathise with her character. Not sure if that was the point or not but I usually connect in some way and this fell way short.
May 25, 2020
Revenge by Gaynor Torrance.
This is book 1 of DI Jemima Huxley series.
Why are dead bodies appearing when no one has been reported missing…?
Really enjoyed this book. Good story and some good characters.
Hope there is more to come. Read in a few hours. Looking forward to reading more about DI Jemima. 4*.
This is book 1 of DI Jemima Huxley series.
Why are dead bodies appearing when no one has been reported missing…?
Really enjoyed this book. Good story and some good characters.
Hope there is more to come. Read in a few hours. Looking forward to reading more about DI Jemima. 4*.
January 28, 2025
New to both the author and her female crime-solving protagonist, we were put off by the constant discussion of Jemima's fertility problems and (rare for a cop) self-harming cutting fetish, both elements of which tended to tire the reader, as they did nothing to advance the plot.
The morbid story was about eight murdered women's bodies being found in shallow graves in the woods behind a wealthy couple's mansion. The investigation dragged on for quite awhile before some discoveries about (we are not kidding) Greek mythology helped explain what might have happened -- then one of the perps spent pages and pages explaining all. Frankly, by then, we could have cared less. Themes of incest only added to the disgust that such a truly sick tale could unfold even for crime thriller fiction. Gads!
The morbid story was about eight murdered women's bodies being found in shallow graves in the woods behind a wealthy couple's mansion. The investigation dragged on for quite awhile before some discoveries about (we are not kidding) Greek mythology helped explain what might have happened -- then one of the perps spent pages and pages explaining all. Frankly, by then, we could have cared less. Themes of incest only added to the disgust that such a truly sick tale could unfold even for crime thriller fiction. Gads!
October 17, 2019
Revenge is the first book in a new crime series by Gaynor Torrance featuring DI Jemima Huxley. Set in Cardiff and the surrounding countryside this is a fast paced read with a dark and twisted serial killer. When several women are found in the woods on a private estate, gruesomely murdered, DI Jemima Huxley and her Sergeant Dan Broadbent are in charge with the investigation and finding the killer before they strike again. The problem is that there are no reports of these women going missing, and no clues as to the killer. This is no straight forward investigation and DI Jemima Huxley and her team find themselves in a race against time to find the depraved killer of these women.
I love a good crime thriller that gets my mind going trying to work out who the killer is, why they have committed the crime and working out any twists and turns along the way. Revenge had all these elements and much more to the extent that I sat and read it one sitting. Gaynor Torrance has written a clever and intelligent plot that has so many red herrings I had no idea where this was going and who in the end would be unmasked as the killer. If you like your crime books a little gruesome then this is for you, the details from the autopsy of one of the victims had my stomach turning, as did the detail of the depravity of the killer, but this was in a good way as I love a bit of gory detail.
The new team of DI Jemima Huxley and Sergeant Dan Broadbent really worked for me. Jemima is a brilliant detective, with a proven track record, but is facing personal troubles, including infertility problems that are starting to impact her work. She is an incredibly complex character with a troubled past, and is very aware how hard it is for a female DI so can't talk about her problems incase it impacts her career. Broadbent is her opposite, being a new father, always tired and unkempt, his problems are known by everyone. With a less serious personality I thought they bounced of each other well and had a great relationship, both personal and professionally. I am exited to learn that this is the first in four books involving this partnership and am really looking forward to see how the characters grow and develop through the books.
Revenge is fast paced, gruesome, intelligent and addictive read. Full of procedural detail, and a complex plot this shows great promise for the future books in the series. I loved the chilling murders and the twisted and warped mind of the killer that really added to the suspense of this book. Dark, twisted, and thrilling, what more could you as for; brilliant.
I love a good crime thriller that gets my mind going trying to work out who the killer is, why they have committed the crime and working out any twists and turns along the way. Revenge had all these elements and much more to the extent that I sat and read it one sitting. Gaynor Torrance has written a clever and intelligent plot that has so many red herrings I had no idea where this was going and who in the end would be unmasked as the killer. If you like your crime books a little gruesome then this is for you, the details from the autopsy of one of the victims had my stomach turning, as did the detail of the depravity of the killer, but this was in a good way as I love a bit of gory detail.
The new team of DI Jemima Huxley and Sergeant Dan Broadbent really worked for me. Jemima is a brilliant detective, with a proven track record, but is facing personal troubles, including infertility problems that are starting to impact her work. She is an incredibly complex character with a troubled past, and is very aware how hard it is for a female DI so can't talk about her problems incase it impacts her career. Broadbent is her opposite, being a new father, always tired and unkempt, his problems are known by everyone. With a less serious personality I thought they bounced of each other well and had a great relationship, both personal and professionally. I am exited to learn that this is the first in four books involving this partnership and am really looking forward to see how the characters grow and develop through the books.
Revenge is fast paced, gruesome, intelligent and addictive read. Full of procedural detail, and a complex plot this shows great promise for the future books in the series. I loved the chilling murders and the twisted and warped mind of the killer that really added to the suspense of this book. Dark, twisted, and thrilling, what more could you as for; brilliant.
September 24, 2019
DI Jemima Huxley is put in charge of an investigation in which bodies of young women are found buried a wooded area of a large, private estate. Jemima must try to put aside her personal problems to solve this baffling case.
“Revenge” is an unusual book that is hard to characterize. A lot of it flows like a police procedural, and I really enjoyed that element of the book. Sometimes I could picture myself in the police station along with Jemima, her partner Dan Broadbent, and the rest of the team reviewing evidence and following up on leads. However, the book is a little darker and more complex than the typical procedural. Jemima is smart, ambitious, but her unsuccessful attempts at becoming pregnant have left her deeply troubled. I was shocked the first time I read the details of her self-harming behavior. Surprisingly, she gained insight into her own situation during an interrogation, so hopefully this will lead her to get help before it affects her personal life or career any further.
The plot of the murder is also unusual. Those up on their Greek mythology may do better, but I was astonished when the killer and the motive were revealed. Without revealing anything, I couldn’t have guessed it because my mind wasn’t even going down that path. It was dark, but very clever and well-written. Since the description of the book says “Book One” and because of how the book ends, I assume there will be a follow-up book. I hope so because I am eager to see how things progress for Jemima and seeing her lead up another investigation.
I received this book through the courtesy of Sapere Books. The book was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.
“Revenge” is an unusual book that is hard to characterize. A lot of it flows like a police procedural, and I really enjoyed that element of the book. Sometimes I could picture myself in the police station along with Jemima, her partner Dan Broadbent, and the rest of the team reviewing evidence and following up on leads. However, the book is a little darker and more complex than the typical procedural. Jemima is smart, ambitious, but her unsuccessful attempts at becoming pregnant have left her deeply troubled. I was shocked the first time I read the details of her self-harming behavior. Surprisingly, she gained insight into her own situation during an interrogation, so hopefully this will lead her to get help before it affects her personal life or career any further.
The plot of the murder is also unusual. Those up on their Greek mythology may do better, but I was astonished when the killer and the motive were revealed. Without revealing anything, I couldn’t have guessed it because my mind wasn’t even going down that path. It was dark, but very clever and well-written. Since the description of the book says “Book One” and because of how the book ends, I assume there will be a follow-up book. I hope so because I am eager to see how things progress for Jemima and seeing her lead up another investigation.
I received this book through the courtesy of Sapere Books. The book was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.
October 20, 2022
Thankfully, I found this book on Kindle Unlimited because, sadly, I had to DNF it. Typically, I love a well-written, flawed character, but Jemima was NOT it. From the first time we meet her, she is consumed with the fact that she desperately wants a child with her husband but is struggling with infertility issues. A fact that should have made me more sympathetic toward her, but her infertility seemed to be her only character trait (other than her self-harming).
In fact, that is all that she seems to be able to focus on, going so far as to hope she doesn't see her co-worker's wife and child because she's jealous. This, in turn, causes her to think poorly of said co-worker just because he has what she wants. She then goes into these long internal monologues about how hard it is to be a woman on the police force, so she cannot let her emotions get the better of her (or her mental state), but she still can't seem to stop herself from focusing on HERSELF and HER issues. It began to seem as though everyone and everything (including the murder investigation and the victims) came second to her and her feelings and to be honest, I stopped caring about the ending because of it leading to me deleting it from my kindle and reviewing only the parts that I read.
In fact, that is all that she seems to be able to focus on, going so far as to hope she doesn't see her co-worker's wife and child because she's jealous. This, in turn, causes her to think poorly of said co-worker just because he has what she wants. She then goes into these long internal monologues about how hard it is to be a woman on the police force, so she cannot let her emotions get the better of her (or her mental state), but she still can't seem to stop herself from focusing on HERSELF and HER issues. It began to seem as though everyone and everything (including the murder investigation and the victims) came second to her and her feelings and to be honest, I stopped caring about the ending because of it leading to me deleting it from my kindle and reviewing only the parts that I read.
July 16, 2023
Obsession
Jemima & Nick had been trying for a baby for some time , and each month Jemima became more disappointed. She envied and resented pregnant women, those with new borns.
When the feelings became too much, she cut herself. The pain giving her control over her body. It disobeyed her wishes to conceive a child, but she could make it bleed.
Her husband, Nick, didn't remark on the small wounds on her upper thighs.
Both were busy with their careers, and following the discovery of multiple bodies, Jemima was embarking on the biggest case of her life.
Little did she know how her obsession with becoming a mother would be reflected in her latest case.
Good story, the eventual family obsession from two stone lions at their country house to the implement of torture used on the victims reveal how nurture has beaten nature in this incidence.
Jemima & Nick had been trying for a baby for some time , and each month Jemima became more disappointed. She envied and resented pregnant women, those with new borns.
When the feelings became too much, she cut herself. The pain giving her control over her body. It disobeyed her wishes to conceive a child, but she could make it bleed.
Her husband, Nick, didn't remark on the small wounds on her upper thighs.
Both were busy with their careers, and following the discovery of multiple bodies, Jemima was embarking on the biggest case of her life.
Little did she know how her obsession with becoming a mother would be reflected in her latest case.
Good story, the eventual family obsession from two stone lions at their country house to the implement of torture used on the victims reveal how nurture has beaten nature in this incidence.
September 24, 2019
A body is found in a shallow grave in the grounds of the Tremaine family estate by the owners, however once the police are called in, it soon transpires that there is more than one body and so the search begins. First book to feature DI Jemima Huxley and her partner Dan Broadbent and set in South Wales which made for a change to most recent novels that I have read.
There are lots of twists and links within the story along with the normal personal problems which seem to blight our police force , although in this case, we are given a deeper insight into Jemima's issues although we are not told in this book what causes them.
Overall a good read for a first novel, however there are some points in the story that some readers may find slightly disturbing. I will mark it as 3.75*
Thanks to Sapere Books for the copy to review.
There are lots of twists and links within the story along with the normal personal problems which seem to blight our police force , although in this case, we are given a deeper insight into Jemima's issues although we are not told in this book what causes them.
Overall a good read for a first novel, however there are some points in the story that some readers may find slightly disturbing. I will mark it as 3.75*
Thanks to Sapere Books for the copy to review.
October 9, 2019
Detective Inspector Jemina Huxley is having problems with fertility and possibly her marriage while also investigating a body dump site in Revenge.
Called to investigate a body buried on a rural farming estate, Jemina has many personal issues to overcome. She can’t get pregnant. Her partner is a disheveled new father, who constantly complains about his new baby’s interruptions into his married life. When more bodies are uncovered in the same location, the police know that there is a serial killer in their midst. But what could be the motive? And why were none of the victims reported missing?
The suspects were well-characterized and the mystery was difficult to figure out. Jemina had flaws like most people but seemed very genuine. Overall, Revenge is a good solid British police procedural. 4 stars!
Thanks to Sapere Books and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.
Called to investigate a body buried on a rural farming estate, Jemina has many personal issues to overcome. She can’t get pregnant. Her partner is a disheveled new father, who constantly complains about his new baby’s interruptions into his married life. When more bodies are uncovered in the same location, the police know that there is a serial killer in their midst. But what could be the motive? And why were none of the victims reported missing?
The suspects were well-characterized and the mystery was difficult to figure out. Jemina had flaws like most people but seemed very genuine. Overall, Revenge is a good solid British police procedural. 4 stars!
Thanks to Sapere Books and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.
October 15, 2019
I was excited to read this book as the blurb completely drew me in but unfortunately I was disappointed. I thought the plot was intriguing and the mythology angle interesting but this was overshadowed by the M.C 's fertility problems and her need to self harm that didn't seem to be necessary to the story. I understand it can be good for our main characters to be flawed but this was too much for me. I found the dialogue to be poorly written, and seemed often to be an opportunity for a huge info dump.
I am sorry to give a negative review but please remember that this is purely my opinion and nothing more. I am sure that there are many who will enjoy this book but unfortunately it was not for me.
I am sorry to give a negative review but please remember that this is purely my opinion and nothing more. I am sure that there are many who will enjoy this book but unfortunately it was not for me.
November 14, 2022
Who's who?
A buried body is discovered in the grounds of a Country Hall. Huxley and Broadbent are asked to investigate. What follows is a tale of a very unusual family and their relationships with each other. Huxley meanwhile is fighting a metal battle of her own which leads her to self harm. The story starts quite slowly but then on discovery of the initial body steps up in pace until at the end it thunders and shudders to an abrupt and shocking stop. Good read
A buried body is discovered in the grounds of a Country Hall. Huxley and Broadbent are asked to investigate. What follows is a tale of a very unusual family and their relationships with each other. Huxley meanwhile is fighting a metal battle of her own which leads her to self harm. The story starts quite slowly but then on discovery of the initial body steps up in pace until at the end it thunders and shudders to an abrupt and shocking stop. Good read
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