Another great installment in this long running crime thriller series.

Several male victims found naked and hog tied. Polaroid pictures signed with the name Annabelle left at the scenes. A secret dossier full of evidence that powerful political and connected men want to keep hidden. Seems there is a sex worker with a vendetta.

I really like Detective Erika Foster and have read all of the previous books. As a character, she radiates strength, competence, and professionalism in her job. She has no screwed up past that makes her do stupid things or make bad choices. She's independent but ethical. I enjoy reading about the investigations as they are typically complex and make good police procedural stories. And, Erika is older than the typical female police officers and detectives that populate this genre and I really appreciate this maturity. I have grown to relish the interaction between Erika and her colleagues, all of whom are valuable contributors to the cases in which they are involved. The plots are interesting and intricate.

Recommend this series to anyone who likes complex crime investigations with great characters. I personally don't think this is as good as a standalone and suggest reading all of the previous books in order from the beginning. ( )

A romantic meal turns deadly for DCI Erika Foster after she stumbles across the murder scene of a prominent MP. However she is left frustrated when she is unable to investigate properly due to pressure from the Met 'top brass' to accept the death was not found to be suspicious. Case closed ....... or is it ?

Two months later, when a famous casting director and a well known footballer are found murdered, their bodies left in the same way as the MP was, even the Met cannot play these murders down. It seems Erika and her team are hunting a possible serial killer but what connects the victims. The case gets even stranger when CCTV turns up film of five identical female suspects at the club where the footballer was last seen.

The story and investigation build slowly and is told from both the perspective of Erika and her team and that of the killer. As it progresses we find out more about the killer and the lives of the victims which might just be the vital clues which help Erika solve the case. We readers are kept one step ahead of the investigation team and are routing for them to connect the victims and solve the case.

Another thrilling and clever story from Robert. ( )

Yay! Another Erika Foster book. I have followed the entire series and waited for this eighth book. I was glad to find Erika was no longer alone but with her new boyfriend, Igor. Also, I am pleased she hasn't lost her straightforward bluntness and stubborn determination to solve crimes. Lethal Vengeance has a complicated plot and lots of twists. Is someone killing the elite, or is it a violent sex act gone wrong? The only clue left behind is some Polaroid pictures signed by Annabelle. It was a little frustrating how the "so-called privileged" blocked the police at every turn to avoid scandal, but they couldn't keep Erika and her team—Moss, Peterson, McGorry, and Isaak—from digging to the truth. I found myself rooting for the criminal in this one. Annabelle made a worthy adversary for Erika. I also liked how the author ended the story in an open-ended manner. The Erika Foster books are always gritty and gripping. All in all, there was lots to love in this one. ( )

Robert Bryndza has become another “go to” author for me. This is the 8th in his DCI Erika Foster series.

When a naked man is discovered murdered, having been hog tied and humiliated, Erika is first on the scene. The victim is a top level politician and almost immediately the case is wrested away from Erika and his death ruled natural causes. Then a popular footballer is found dead in the same circumstances. As Erika investigates, she discovers an earlier case with the same MO. Clues suggest sex worker involvement and it seems the higher ups are trying to keep Erika quiet and out of the loop. Nothing, though, will keep Erika from her pursuit of the perpetrator.

I like fifty year old Erika, despite her propensity to being rather brash and often annoying to her superiors. They put up with her because her solve rate is outstanding. Told from two POVs, Erika’s and the killers, this is yet another riveting, can’t put down mystery/thriller from Bryndza. The focus here is on the relentless pursuit of the very clever criminal as well as unraveling the why of choice of victims. I really liked the shifting narratives that explained the motivation behind the crimes.

You always know with Bryndza’s books that there will be a well plotted story that will hook you from the beginning. This book can work as a standalone. By the way, I also like his series featuring private investigator Kate Marshall.

Thanks to #netgalley and #ravenstreetpublishing for the ARC. ( )