Thrilling and chilling story ( )

Death in the Lakes is a mystery, suspense police procedural novel set in modern day Cumbria. It follows our heroine, Beth Young. She is a bright, ambitious detective who has promoted to the elite FMIT team. FMIT is a specialized group of investigators who specialize in murders that are considered strange, or unusual. Beth catches her first case when the body of Angus Keane turns up posed in a ritualistic manner. Angus has bird wings surgically fused to his back, and his body shows signs or internal burns. The odd nature of the murder lands it squarely in the wheelhouse of FMIT. Beth is looking to make a good impression on her boss, and prove that she is a worthwhile member of the team. She throws herself behind solving the case. The ante is upped when 3 more bodies are discovered in the cellar of a long abandoned older building on the coast. When it becomes clear the bodies are the work of the same killer, the pressure is ramped up on Beth and FMIT to catch the psychopath newspapers have deemed The Dragon Master. The story is told from the perspective of Beth, the killer known as the Dragon Master, and an odd duck called Harry Quirke. He is a disabled war veteran who uses his time to quietly stalk beautiful women, even if it is only from a distance. It is not immediately clear the role that Harry the perv has to play. As the reader we are privy to his inner monologue, and is evident that he is an individual who is unnaturally obsessed with the opposite sex, especially when they are very attractive. Beth is a clever, driven character who is young and ambitious, but also flawed. She has inner struggles and is also physically damaged by a scar she received when a bar fight got out of control, and Beth ended up with a broken bottle in her cheek. Despite her physical defect, she soon attracts the attention of the Dragon Master, and he sets his sights on making her his crowing achievement in his mission. Beth is a relatable heroine who has a genuine gift for puzzles and dissecting a problem. The story is engaging and fun to read. I look forward to future novels in this series. ( )