A Killer in the Family: The gripping new thriller that will have you hooked from the first page

Product Information

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.

The beginning is very repetitive on all sides; from Ainsley wondering if she should or shouldn't spill the beans to her son about her past and from the stalled-out police investigation into the Bonfire Killer. So… if you’re looking for a fantastic group of flawed but lovable detectives, and a compelling read that makes you think, look no further! Needless to say things aren’t as straightforward as they seem and long hidden historical events play their part. When a second woman is found, however, this time untouched by fire but nonetheless posed on a pyre, the revelation strikes fear into the hearts far and wide. While all of the others had this leaning as well, I honestly had to remind myself several times that it was, in truth, a police procedural.The ending didn't thrill me because I'm not a fan of cliffhangers - and there are two gobsmackers here. Noticing their determination, he agrees to go along, convinced that they can never break Gary out without his help. Add to that a mysterious and twisty serial killer investigation for Jonah and his dedicated and likeable team and you’ve got a fabulous police procedural story!

The storyline is easy to follow and is told completely in the present day, so there is very little confusion.The characters are continued to be built up in this novel, with the plot being delivered into twisty layers. But,at the time I'd read so many news reports about found families that it scared the shit outta me! It was to the Bonfire Killer, someone who had the residents of Southampton terrified, after two murders where the women’s bodies were set on fire. How dark they might be don’t learn straight away, but it does leave big question marks dangling over the pair of them when it becomes clear that it is a make relative of Aisling who has been committing the murders. Read more about the condition New: A new, unread, unused book in perfect condition with no missing or damaged pages.

The actual mystery was also excellent - twisty and turny in a logical way, although the DNA ramifications and the inter-relatedness (or not) of the characters made my brain hurt at times. Dubbed the 'bonfire killer' because of the circumstances in which the victims are found, the killer shows no signs of slowing down. Finally, detectives catch a break when human blood is found at a partially burned pyre and it doesn't belong to the victim. This time, the story revolves around Aisling Cooley, a single mom raising her two teenage sons in the sedate suburban of Southampton.Overall, this is a dark, intense, and another well-written and unputdownable novel from the series that keeps growing on me. All in all, it was a sharp, perfectly crafted story that spoke volumes about the virtuoso behind the keyboard. More importantly, though, you’d miss out on all of the character development that truly makes these books what they are. Thanks NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group-Random House for this ARC that will be released August 8, 2023! With troubles and worries that stretched beyond the plot, their backstories created thorough, three-dimensional individuals to whom I could relate.