Caged

Sam Becket #4

by Hilary Norman

The new ‘Detective Sam Becket’ novel  - Life is good in the Becket household. Sam is planning a surprise for Grace’s birthday, Cathy’s back from California and Grace is seeing patients again. And then the killings begin. A newly-wed couple is found horribly slain in Miami Beach. As Detective Sam Becket’s investigation gets into stride, a second couple is abducted. Soon, couples all over Miami-Dade are fearing for their lives, and Sam and the squad are battling an unseen enemy, against whom no one is safe.

Genres: Thriller

288 pages, Hardcover

First published July 1, 2010

About the author

Born and raised in London, loved reading but deeply lazy about writing at school, preferring drama. A brief acting career, then moved into the production side at the BBC's radio drama department - later at London's Capital Radio, by which time the writing "switch" had been flicked on. Spent as much time as possible travelling in the US, working and writing. First novel, IN LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP published in 1986 after five years of writing. Wrote sagas with big dramatic finishes in the early days, and then, as the body count rose, made the move into psychological suspense and thrillers. Last book LAST RUN soon out in trade paperback, and the latest (and 20th) -RALPH'S CHILDREN - out soon in hardcover.
Living in London with husband Jonathan, and dog Poppy.

Reviews

[Feyre · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mit dem vierten Band einer Reihe zu starten ist ungünstig, aber dem Fall an sich kann man gut folgen. Was die Charaktere und die Seitenhandlung angeht, die den Cliffhanger begründet, da wäre es bestimmt hilfreich gewesen, die anderen Bände zu kennen. So las sich das Buch leicht weg, aber der Schreibstil war wirklich wirklich gewöhnungsbedürftig für mich.

[Kelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Caged, Hilary Norman delivers a taut, high-stakes thriller that blends domestic serenity with sudden, relentless terror. Detective Sam Becket faces one of his most chilling cases yet a series of murders targeting couples in Miami-Dade. Norman’s mastery lies in her pacing and psychological tension; the narrative unfolds with methodical dread, showing how quickly normalcy can fracture under the weight of fear.

What makes Caged especially compelling is its intimate balance between personal and procedural Becket’s warmth and devotion to family deepen the story’s emotional stakes, making each threat feel devastatingly real. Norman crafts an atmosphere that lingers, equal parts suspenseful and haunting. For readers drawn to smart, character-driven crime fiction that refuses to let go, Caged delivers in every sense.

[Mike Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well written with an interesting plot. Pretty graphic in places but to make this the good book it is, it fits. Very good author.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wie immer hat mich die Autorin nicht enttäuscht 👍

[Sheri · Rating 2 out of 5]

The cover of the book states that it is a recommended page turner in the style of Chelsea Cain...not hardly. Chelsea has tightly woven dark stories that leave you turning the lights brightly on if they're dimmed. This story started out well enough, scary enough. Then it went off course into the lives of all the characters and left you wondering if you were reading another book entirely. Only in the end were all the pieces put together, but, not very cohisively. I tend not to tell the actual story when I review, but rather, my feelings about it. You can always look up and see what the book is actually about, or supposedly about.

[Yvi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Der vierte Teil aus Hilary Norman's Reihe mit Hauptdarsteller Sam Becket.
Die Geschichte ansich, ein Mörder tötet Paare und stellt sie als "Skulpturen" öffentlich zur Schau, hört sich im Klappentext interessant und spannend an, liest sich in der Realität allerdings sehr schleppend und stellenweise langweilig.
Die Nebengeschichte um die Romanze von Sam Becket's Kollegen wirkt völlig deplaziert und zieht die eigentliche Geschichte unnütz in die Länge.
3 Sterne nur für die Grundgeschichte, Hilary Norman hat weitaus bessere Thriller geschrieben...

[Kat · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked this book but the end was a bit meh... don't really know how to explain it but it's like it didn't really make sense. it was a bit like when a new culprit enters in the last scene and everything completely changes. also the whole Jessica storyline... what was that supposed to mean..? So unnecessary somehow...

[Marnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now this suspense thriller had me turning pages. When I thought I knew who the killer was, another twist was thrown in and ended up throwing me for a loop. Well written! Definitely will read more of her books!

[Sue van der Veer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe I should have seen the plot twist coming but I didn't...the gruesome crimes and the sickly sweet lovey dovey relationships of the cops and their family made quite a contrast. Part of a series - maybe I would have enjoyed it more if I started at the beginning?

[Gaia P · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this to be a good book, lots of plot twists that keep you guessing.