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Professor Maxie Reddick Files #3
My Sister's Killer
Somebody knows what happened to Maxie’s sister – why are they staying silent?
If Professor Maxie Reddick is honest with herself, there’s a very personal reason she pursued a career in criminology: the unsolved murder of her sister, Susan, nearly thirty years before, and her belief that the local police force let her family down.
Now Maxie has been drafted in to help investigate a murder – nothing particularly unusual about that, except when a fingerprint at the scene provides a shocking and unexpected link to her sister’s suspicious death.
The link means that Maxie can’t be involved in the official police investigation – but Susan’s cold case is heating up, and there’s no way Maxie is going to let go now, even if she has to stand up to the people who want to make sure the past stays frozen.
If Professor Maxie Reddick is honest with herself, there’s a very personal reason she pursued a career in criminology: the unsolved murder of her sister, Susan, nearly thirty years before, and her belief that the local police force let her family down.
Now Maxie has been drafted in to help investigate a murder – nothing particularly unusual about that, except when a fingerprint at the scene provides a shocking and unexpected link to her sister’s suspicious death.
The link means that Maxie can’t be involved in the official police investigation – but Susan’s cold case is heating up, and there’s no way Maxie is going to let go now, even if she has to stand up to the people who want to make sure the past stays frozen.
- GenresThriller
338 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 21, 2023
8 people are currently reading
21 people want to read
About the author
Helen Bridgett
14 books25 followersHelen has always loved books and always loved writing. One year she decided her New Year’s resolution would be “Write a novel to give as a Christmas present”. She spent the year writing and The Mercury Travel Club was born.
Helen hails from the North East When not writing, Helen can usually be found walking or drinking wine – not usually at the same time.
Like many people, Helen believes that the music you grow up with as a teenager stays with you for the whole of your life. Being a child of 80’s rock, when she hears the opening riff to Sweet Child of Mine, she cannot be held responsible for her actions!
Helen hails from the North East When not writing, Helen can usually be found walking or drinking wine – not usually at the same time.
Like many people, Helen believes that the music you grow up with as a teenager stays with you for the whole of your life. Being a child of 80’s rock, when she hears the opening riff to Sweet Child of Mine, she cannot be held responsible for her actions!
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
January 31, 2023
Professor Maxie Reddick's career in criminology saw her often helping the police out with their cases, so when her good friend and colleague, Detective Andrew Dawson, contacted Maxie about a fingerprint in the case he was working on, which connected to the death of Maxie's sister Susan almost thirty years ago, Maxie knew she needed to bring Susan's cold case out into the open again.
With three of Maxie's students taking on the cold case for their studies, Maxie was determined to uncover the secrets which had been hidden for so long. Someone out there would know the answer - they just had to find that person or persons. But could they? Maxie was letting her classes slip and it was noticed by the Dean. Could Maxie continue to give her job her all, as well as work her sister's murder? Or would whoever held the secrets close, refuse to let them go?
My Sister's Killer is the 3rd in the Professor Maxie Reddick Files by Helen Bridgett, and I enjoyed it very much. Maxie was passionate about her career, and her paranoia about finding Susan's killer saw her get into trouble on more than one occasion. I'm looking forward to seeing what Maxie gets up to next! Recommended.
With thanks to ChocLit Publishing for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
With three of Maxie's students taking on the cold case for their studies, Maxie was determined to uncover the secrets which had been hidden for so long. Someone out there would know the answer - they just had to find that person or persons. But could they? Maxie was letting her classes slip and it was noticed by the Dean. Could Maxie continue to give her job her all, as well as work her sister's murder? Or would whoever held the secrets close, refuse to let them go?
My Sister's Killer is the 3rd in the Professor Maxie Reddick Files by Helen Bridgett, and I enjoyed it very much. Maxie was passionate about her career, and her paranoia about finding Susan's killer saw her get into trouble on more than one occasion. I'm looking forward to seeing what Maxie gets up to next! Recommended.
With thanks to ChocLit Publishing for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
April 22, 2023
‘My Sister’s Killer’ had me hooked from the first page. I love Maxie’s character and really felt for her in this book. The difficulty of trying to stand back from her emotions long enough to attempt to solve the mystery of her sister’s long-ago murder was at times painful to read, but brought incredible depth to the story.
March 10, 2023
Things get more personal for Maxie in this latest installment of the Maxie Reddick Files (but each book is easily read as a standalone!) as her latest investigation allows her to try to help solve the mystery that has plagued her for 30 years, and that is the murder of her sister. And it's another pulsating thrill ride as we follow her on her quest for justice.
She's been asked for help in solving a recent murder, and when a fingerprint found at the scene shares a link with her own sisters' murder, she can't walk away from this one as she is desperate for answers and to find out what happened and to quash the feeling of guilt she's carried with her for so long, that she wasn't there to help her sister.
I love the mix of modern methods and the good old fashioned way of solving crimes mix in these stories. She leaves no stones unturned as she delves in to various theories and revisiting the past is never going to be easy for her.
There's lots of twists and turns and the pace of the story trots along nicely, and the whodunnit aspect of the story places out really well!! Great read!!
She's been asked for help in solving a recent murder, and when a fingerprint found at the scene shares a link with her own sisters' murder, she can't walk away from this one as she is desperate for answers and to find out what happened and to quash the feeling of guilt she's carried with her for so long, that she wasn't there to help her sister.
I love the mix of modern methods and the good old fashioned way of solving crimes mix in these stories. She leaves no stones unturned as she delves in to various theories and revisiting the past is never going to be easy for her.
There's lots of twists and turns and the pace of the story trots along nicely, and the whodunnit aspect of the story places out really well!! Great read!!
January 25, 2023
Maxie Reddick is back for a third book, and I'm happy to report I enjoyed it as much as the previous two. It's an upsetting case for her this time, as she investigates the murder of her sister, that happened in 1995 when they were in their late teens (Maxie's students have funny comments on how different things were in that pre-internet era they haven't experienced) but has unexpectedly been linked to a recent murder by a fingerprint match. So this time the criminology theme is familial bias, and Maxie herself an example of what she teaches.
It's, of course, a must-read for those like me who had enjoyed the previous books. As for others, they could easily get to know Maxie starting with this story, but I would still recommend reading the books in chronogical order to avoid partial spoilers when characters refer to past events in this one.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
It's, of course, a must-read for those like me who had enjoyed the previous books. As for others, they could easily get to know Maxie starting with this story, but I would still recommend reading the books in chronogical order to avoid partial spoilers when characters refer to past events in this one.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
February 17, 2023
4.5* A real page turner.
In the third of the series, professor of criminology, Maxine Reddick is invited by her friend DS Andrew Dawson to assist in his case of a recent murder.
At the same time Maxie has an opportunity to reopen the cold case of her sister’s unexplained death of more than 30 years ago. For years she felt guilt for her sister’s death and is now relentless in the pursues of the truth, it seems that others are determined to stop her.
As both investigations progress, clues appear that Andrew's current case is linked to Maxie's sister‘s death. As she's now personally involved, Maxie has to step back from her investigation, meanwhile her university students continue their search for the truth.
Not absolutely necessary but I would suggest reading the Reddick Files in the correct order for full enjoyment.
An engrossing plot within an excellent book cover.
In the third of the series, professor of criminology, Maxine Reddick is invited by her friend DS Andrew Dawson to assist in his case of a recent murder.
At the same time Maxie has an opportunity to reopen the cold case of her sister’s unexplained death of more than 30 years ago. For years she felt guilt for her sister’s death and is now relentless in the pursues of the truth, it seems that others are determined to stop her.
As both investigations progress, clues appear that Andrew's current case is linked to Maxie's sister‘s death. As she's now personally involved, Maxie has to step back from her investigation, meanwhile her university students continue their search for the truth.
Not absolutely necessary but I would suggest reading the Reddick Files in the correct order for full enjoyment.
An engrossing plot within an excellent book cover.
February 26, 2023
When you have the chance to find the answer to the question that has defined your adult life -how does it feel? Professor Maxie Reddick finally has the possibility to discover who killed her sister. Following the trail puts everything on the line-her relationships, her work and herself. Can she do it or is the cost too great? This story develops a momentum of its own as you read and follow the twists and turns as modern technology and old fashioned methods intertwine and Maxie has to take big decisions both professionally and personally. A great follow on to the previous two stories.
February 21, 2023
This is a serious who dunnit which will have you guessing throughout the book. There are a lot of lessons for our heroine Maxie to learn. Her lecturing suddenly becomes very personal and she can only go so far into the cold case of her sister's death before things get too dangerous for her to continue. Yet she must. It is a tale which also shows how we all see and remember things from different perspectives. Enjoy, but prepare to read on for longer than you planned to!
March 2, 2023
This is the first Professor Maxie Reddick novel I've read - and it kept me enthralled.
Maxie is a well-drawn character and the first true crime podcaster I've come across in fiction - I liked the extra dimension this added to the book. She investigates a cold case, with both personal and present day repercussions adding to the tension.
I'm now tempted to go back and read the first two books in the series.
Maxie is a well-drawn character and the first true crime podcaster I've come across in fiction - I liked the extra dimension this added to the book. She investigates a cold case, with both personal and present day repercussions adding to the tension.
I'm now tempted to go back and read the first two books in the series.
March 22, 2023
‘My Sister’s Killer’ kept me turning the pages and guessing right through to the unexpected end. A personal cold case for Maxie involving her sister’s murder thirty years previously made the story all the more poignant. So difficult for her at times, the reader is willing her to solve the case with the help of her university students. I particularly liked the contrast between crime solving methods when her sister’s murder took place and those used to day. Recommended.
February 22, 2023
A really gripping thriller. I was hooked from start to finish and so delighted to see Maxie Reddick back again. This time her latest case is personal. A cold case that had never been solved, but was she too involved at the time to make sense of any of it. Helen really is the master of thrillers. You won’t want to put this down. A fabulous read.
October 28, 2025
Really enjoyed main character until midway.
Her aplomb and professional demeanor often too rare in this type of mystery. Then midway, she fell apart. Reminded me of chase scene where viewer expects the female to fall. A shame as more of the former characters needed. Last third of story a real slog for me, sadly.
Her aplomb and professional demeanor often too rare in this type of mystery. Then midway, she fell apart. Reminded me of chase scene where viewer expects the female to fall. A shame as more of the former characters needed. Last third of story a real slog for me, sadly.
March 6, 2023
Enjoyable read Not easy to put down. Well thought out. Not focussed on the sex and violence that characterises so many films and TV series. Human, caring and well observed characters. Hint of romance. Great cocktail for a holiday read. Cyprus March 2023.
March 2, 2023
Great Book
I would recommend this book highly , get downloading and reading asap you will not be able to put it down Maxie is a great character and you will not be disappointed
I would recommend this book highly , get downloading and reading asap you will not be able to put it down Maxie is a great character and you will not be disappointed
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews