About the book…

Kate Marshall was a promising young police detective when she caught the notorious Nine Elms serial killer. But her greatest victory suddenly turned into a nightmare. Traumatized, betrayed, and publicly vilified for the shocking circumstances surrounding the cannibal murder case, Kate could only watch as her career ended in scandal.

Fifteen years after those catastrophic events, Kate is still haunted by the unquiet ghosts of her troubled past. Now a lecturer at a small coastal English university, she finally has a chance to face them. A copycat killer has taken up the Nine Elms mantle, continuing the ghastly work of his idol.

Enlisting her brilliant research assistant, Tristan Harper, Kate draws on her prodigious and long-neglected skills as an investigator to catch a new monster. Success promises redemption, but there’s much more on the line: Kate was the original killer’s intended fifth victim…and his successor means to finish the job.

My thoughts on Nine Elms…

There’s always a worry when you pick up the first book in a new series that you won’t enjoy it, won’t be able to engage with the character. Worry turns to fear when that new series has been written by one of your favourite authors, and that author has already created one of your favourite female detectives of all time, Erika Foster.

It probably no surprise then to say I was slightly anxious when I picked up Nine Elms, the first in the Kate Marshall series. Thankfully, any worries I had were quickly erased in those first few pages. Once again, Bryndza has created a memorable opening and a great introduction to a strong female protagonist, one I can’t wait to get to know better. And what is nice here is that, while that protagonist was once a police officer, now she is a lecturer having had her career ruined by scandal.

It means that a lot of the elements I might have expected, a team of hardened detectives, for example, weren’t there. This meant the book felt different and fresh, and I liked that.  What wasn’t different was Bryndza’s way of telling a story with twists, turns and plenty of red herrings.  I never quite know whether I’m coming or going – leading to lots of page-turning and late nights. You can’t ask for more really, which is why I highly recommend Nine Elms – a great start to what will hopefully be a great series.

Emma

Note: I received a copy of this book in return for a fair and honest review. All thoughts, feelings and opinions are my own.