D.S. Butler

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

First book I've read by this author and I really enjoyed it. This is the fifth book in a series involving Detective Karen Hart. I didn't feel like I missed anything by not reading the first 4 books. I will probably go back and read them. Karen Hart is at a Christmas fair with her boyfriend when she discovers a body in a church near the fair. As she starts investigating the murder, her superior receives a letter with some pretty serious allegations and hints that her superior may be next. Then, 3 officers from another precinct come in and take over the investigation in place of her superior. Karen and her partner, Sophie, do not like the head guy and come to find out that he is under suspicion of corruption within the police force. Then two more bodies are discovered. Are these bodies tied to the corruption? What about the hit-and-run accident which left a young boy dead? There are no obvious links but Karen and Sophie wonder if they are all connected. Either way, they are determined to find out who "The Cleanser" is.

Good storyline, great plot and good character development.… (meer)

My thanks to the Author publisher's and NetGalley for providing me with a Kindle version of this book to read and honestly review.
Well written clever intelligent Police procedural with excellent characters throughout. This is the second book in this series, but there is little reference to the previous book so can be read as a standalone story. A modern day story but with an old fashioned kind of feel, whilst there are several deaths, there is little in the way of gruesome violence.
Recommended.… (meer)

This is the seventh book in the Detective Karen Hart series but this book can easily be read as a standalone, without spoiling the enjoyment of the book. The books are set in Lincoln which gives a nice backdrop to the series.

Karen and her team are supporting in the investigation of women being drugged in pubs, and then being abducted and assaulted. A friend also reports to Karen that her friend seems to have gone missing after dropping off her cat for one night and not returning, but her family says they saw her the next day. This sets Karen off on an investigation of her own. Could events be connected?

I feel this book kept up the good standard of previous books in this series, and the author has done a great job of getting a good group of characters together who you enjoy spending time with. It is also layered with rivalry and friction between different detectives within the station, people that should really be pulling together.

There was a well-developed plot in this one, that was almost revealed layer by layer due to Karen’s tenacity. I also liked the way Karen was there to support one of her team who was going through one of the most difficult times they were ever likely to go through. It also feels as Sophie has finally matured and developed as a character in this one, but missed her being a more integral part of this book.

Overall I would strongly recommend this book, and the series, to those that like good quality crime fiction with a strong female lead, and with books that move along at a good pace. I look forward to returning to this series with the next book.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.… (meer)