DI Marnie Rome is up to her ears in a series of assaults, that seem random and without purpose, but she's sure they're linked. On top of that, her childhood home is burgled, her tenants badly beaten, and all signs point to it being done by somebody who knows a lot about her. Could her step-brother, Stephen Keele, be behind it? He's currently behind bars for killing her parents, but something is taken from the house only she, and possibly he could have known about.

When another assault goes bad, and it becomes a murder investigation, Marnie, assisted as ever by DS Noah Jake, have enough of their own personal issues bubbling away as a distraction. Marnie is haunted by what happened to her parents, and why she hadn't seen it coming. Noah worries constantly about his younger brother, Sol, who's mixed up in a local gang.

As ever, you can't help but get swept along by some fabulous characters. Marnie and Noah bounce off each other perfectly. The supporting cast of Dan, Sol, Welland and Ed, to name but a few add enough layers to the world Sarah Hilary creates to drag you in and keep you there for the duration. Beautifully written, and as ever, looking forward to the next instalment in one of my favourite series around at the moment.

This is the fourth in the Marnie Rome series of books, and is a fantastic crime novel. Marnie and her partner Noah are investigating a series of assaults which seem to be connected by the fact that each of the victims has a criminal record. As she researches more into the crimes, Marnie thinks a vigilante could be carrying out the attacks. Now she just has to find out who, and why!
However, there is also a separate investigation being done by a specialist team about gangs and their younger members. From the beginning of the investigation, Marnie wonders if there is a link.
Although this book could be read alone, I do recommend that the series is read in order as there is an ongoing storyline that runs throughout the books about the relationship between Marnie and her foster brother Stephen. He is currently in prison for murdering her parents when he was a teenager.
Sarah is a great writer, she has created such a strong character in Marnie Rome. To a certain extent she seems to be a woman in a man’s world which I love. In this instalment you also learn more about her partner Noah and his own family relationships. This isn’t a nice read, there are some really violent scenes throughout the book but it just adds to the suspense. Sarah is now firmly placed in my list of favourite authors.
Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC.

This is the 4th in the wonderful DI Marnie Rome and Noah Jake series set in London. Sarah Hilary's writing just gets better and better. Stephen Keele returns, we know from previous books that he is Marnie's foster brother and when he was fourteen, he murdered her parents. We observe the long term repercussions of child abuse. The running theme in this story is that of justice, and the nature of vigilantes. Marnie's boss, Tim Welland, is on leave and DCS Ferguson is drafted in from Manchester leading to inevitable friction between Marnie and her team over their independence. This dark, murky and compelling tale moves beween the run down council estates.

There have been a number of violent attacks which Marnie's team have been dealing with. All the victims have criminal records and there are no witnesses or clues. Marnie and Noah think they are a product of vigilantism. Whilst her team may not be wholly convinced, in the absence of any better leads, they run with this. Then a victim dies and it turns into a murder inquiry. In the meantime, Marnie's old family home is broken into and the tenants hospitalised. Evidence seems to suggest to Marnie that her foster brother, Stephen, is behind it. Marnie visits him in prison and has difficulties comprehending his accusations and allegations. In a story full of twists and danger, is Marnie right to believe that all these crimes are connected to her?

This is an intense, atmospheric and character driven series that continue to centre on important contemporary social issues. We have Marnie's tough family backstory and complicated relationship with her foster brother. Marnie's team are well drawn, particularly Noah, and are compelling characters. This is a novel I highly recommend to others who like gritty police procedurals. Many thanks to Headline for an ARC.

Well she has done it again. I absolutely loved this instalment and cannot wait for the next one. I really like the main character and am so glad that she is establishing a good relationship with her partner. Strong, independent, but she is also a little vulnerable, which keeps the reader hooked and keeps her humanised. Her past story, returns yet again to haunt her and I will not tell you whether we are able to shed any more light on the fascinating relationship that she and her foster brother have. Suffice to say more layers of the onion are peeled back. I think it is important to read the previous books in the series as there is so much that does into each one, which is a necessary part of the chain of events and certainly impact what happens next, Thanks for the opportunity to read this ARC.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Headline for an advance copy of Quieter Than Killing, the fourth London based police procedural to feature DI Marnie Rome and DS Noah Jake.

Marnie and Jake are called out to a vicious assault and what they find seems to confirm their theory that there is a vigilante attacking people with criminal convictions for assault. In the meantime Marnie's house where her parents were killed has been burgled and her tenants violently assaulted. It takes a visit to her foster brother, incarcerated for the murder of her parents to see a link between the two cases.

Quieter Than Killing is an absorbing novel which I read in one sitting, unable to put it down. The plotting is intricate and masterful - none of it is outwith the bounds of possibility, especially taken as a whole and it paints a sickening picture of how childhood abuse can warp the personality and have long lasting if not permanent effects.

Marnie and Jake, along with the other members, make a great team. You get a real sense of the camaraderie and support they have for each other, like a family and it brings a warmth to the novel that the subject matter can't.

The recurrent theme of Marnie trying to understand why Stephen killed her parents crops up again. It is the only part of the novel that is not fresh as it takes one tiny step forward every novel and then re-hashes the same old ground. It's time to put it to bed and concentrate on what Ms Hilary does exceptionally well - difficult crime and it's investigation.

I think Quieter Than Killing is an excellent read, intelligent, warm and cleverly plotted and has already made it into my top ten reads of 2017 so I have no hesitation in recommending it.

Really enjoyed this book, yet again Sarah Hilary has written another excellent novel.
The twist and the end I felt was really well written.
Looking forward to the next one and seeing where the on going relationship between Marnie and Stephen will go.

Would highly recommend 5 stars