My thanks to the Author publishers and NetGalley for providing me with a Kindle version of this book to read and honestly review.
As someone born and bred and who lived in Sheffield for twenty-five years before moving to Durham I was interested to read this Police procedural set in the city, however apart from about four mentions of specific areas this book could be set in any city. Well written this is a clever compelling story a real page turner. Taught and tense at times with engaging characters, there is one major surprise which had me staring at the screen open mouthed before reading the page again to make sure I had read it right. A later twist I am pleased to say came as no shock, but overall a terrific start to what hopefully will be a series featuring D I Claudia Nunn.
So why only four stars, well it's the disappointing for me at any rate ending, my counter said 94% read, as I turned the page our heroine having just been put in charge of a special task force, when seven more inconsequential lines before THE END. No completely closing of the case, I presume because this is the start of a series and the next book will see justice done, or will it be book three?
Recommended. ( )

I received a copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley.

I had a few issues with this story, the main one being the choice of DI Nunn as the officer to question DS Harrison about the disappearance of his wife. Without being too spoilery, it just wouldn't happen and this novel demonstrates many of the reasons why. I found her questioning petulant and unhelpfully hostile, and prone to violent mood swings. Then towards the end she goes out to meet the Sheffield Strangler (who helpfully phones and writes to her) without back-up, and is rewarded for this at the very end by being given a new special department.

The writing was quite repetitive in places, and the number of victims climbed so steadily that the impact was diluted. Finally, it was pretty obvious to me what had happened to Ruth, although I suppose that if you hadn't guessed, the ending was a bit of a twist. ( )