This review is written with thanks to Aria and Netgalley for my copy of The Trophy Taker.
DC Charlie Stafford and her team are investigating a series of racially aggravated attacks when they are presented with the murder of Susan Barton. Susan was a teacher and appeared to be well respected in the community so the police are unsure why anyone would want to kill her, cutting her finger off and removing her heart from her body in the process. But when two other victims are killed using the same method, Charlie knows that she is hunting a dangerous criminal, and her team must find the link between the victims and catch the perpetrator before he is able to strike again.
The Trophy Taker is the second novel featuring Charlie Stafford, and although I have not read the first, I was pleased that I was able to become acquainted with Charlie and her team fairly quickly, In previous reviews, I have commented that it is often difficult to follow a novel which is part of a series if you are not familiar with what has happened before, but this is not the case for The Trophy Taker, as there is very little reference to the previous instalment. On one hand, this was beneficial, as it meant that I could follow the novel more easily; however, in some places, I did feel that some background information would have been helpful in order to give me some insight into the circumstances that have shaped the characters in their present form.
Charlie's team is a very eclectic mix of characters, and I found the various different aspects of their personal lives very intriguing, as the issues they present are well worth exploration in themselves; for example, Sabira is an Asian lesbian who has acted against the wishes of her family by joining the police force. Although I appreciate that these characters and issues are not the focus of the novel, I found that I wanted them to be explored in more detail. I suppose this bodes well for my enjoyment of the sequel!
As The Trophy Taker progresses, the plot becomes more intricate and several different investigations become intertwined with each other. At first, I felt that the subplots distracted me from the primary investigation, but was astonished to read how they all came together as the novel reached its ending. Flint structures and writes the plot so well, and I loved the way that small details that seemed inconsequential at the beginning played a major part in the resolution of the plot. The detectives in this novel often admonish themselves for not noticing certain things, but by the end of the novel I felt the same!
The Trophy Taker is a slow burner and it takes some time for its brilliance to shine through, but I thoroughly enjoyed it and will be looking out for the rest of the series.

This is the second book in the DC Charlotte Stafford series, and the first from the series that I've read.
I was really impressed by this novel - it had all the elements of police/ crime novels that I enjoy - great characters, a fast but not too fast paced storyline, and an ability to stay within the boundaries of ridiculousness. I often find with some novels in this genre, it strays a little too much in the high action/ drama and gets a bit stupid, but though this novel had some moments where I had to suspend my disbelief a little, it certainly didn't ruin my enjoyment and I didn't feel it was completely over the top, like many others.

Most of all, it has a great police lead character - and a female one at that! Charlotte Stafford is a likeable, caring and above all skilled detective who I enjoyed reading about throughout the novel.

The storyline is pretty gritty and shocking at times, both in terms of gore and horrific themes including racism and violent assaults. Sarah Flint writes very effectively to really get you behind the police force; I HATED with a passion one of the characters in particular (you'll know which when you read it) so I was willing the police force to succeed and find him, as well as a few other nasty characters... The story moves along quickly and is fairly straightforward - hunting a killer and a violent attacker - and easily succeeded at keeping my attention. The narrative draws to a great conclusion with a few twists along the way.

To me, this is just a great police novel which anyone - maybe apart from people who like their crime really soft (isn't that a bit of a contradiction?) is bound to enjoy. I now want to read the first in the series, Mummy's Favourite, and compare!

The Trophy Taker is a second book in the DC Charlie Stafford series and it certainly lives up to its first instalment. It’s clever, fast pacing and keeps you guessing until the end.

Charlie has been through the mill in the first book and seems somehow a little more mature in this novel. When the call comes in about a mutilated body of a woman found displayed in a local graveyard, Charlie is already handling a case close to her heart, a case of a local racist junkie attacking residents of any colour different to his own skin. She gets herself involved deep into each case she handles and makes it her own personal job to deliver justice for the victims.

As Charlie and her team face this new case where nothing seems to link together, they once again prove that team work gets things done. We get little glimpses and notes of their personal lives and the author cleverly hints at the developing relationship between Charlie and Ben whom we have met in the first book.

Sarah Flint has a 35 years’ experience working as a Police Constable for the Metropolitan Police and it shows throughout her books. From the forensic evidence to all the members of the team and their behaviour, you can tell that this is written with an insider’s knowledge.

I cannot wait to see what is waiting for Charlie next. I really enjoyed both of the books and just wish someone would pick it up for TV adaptations. It would make a brilliant crime drama for those long winter nights.

A massive thank you goes to the author, publisher and NetGalley for giving me access to this.

My rating: 5/5

DC Charlotte Stafford aka Charlie has a great team with Hunter, Paul, Naz & Sabira. They makeup the Community Support Unit. It's like a big lovable family and you really connect with their connection. They have two cases the team is investigating with the Slasher on the loose and a serial killer removing ring fingers. Charlie is very likable and she cares about people. Investigating cases on her off hours and visiting her deceased brothers grave every week.

There was a quick pace to the book. I never got bored. I laughed quite a few times throughout this read. As well as got angry with the prejudice exhibited by the Slasher and priest. I hope to be along on the next case Charlie and the team is on.

I received this book from NetGalley for my honest review.

Good pacy thriller, if a bit gruesome in places, but that seems to be par for the course these days, I must admit I tend to skip over the descriptions some times there are only so many gory scenes I want to read.But there is more to the book than that, I like the pace and the short chapters kept me page turning, just wanting to read one more, I found it quite addictive because the story was good and I liked Charlie and the other team members and I enjoyed this thriller.Thanks to Netgalley and the Publishers for an ARC in return for an honest review.

Fantastically horrid! The story grips you until the very end, and whist being a little gruesome in some places, is literally unputtdownable!!!!! Sarah Flint is going from strength to strength.

This book was pretty good but there was just something that can't put my finger on that was off with it.

This is an easy four star from me. Told from three points of view, Charlie's, the killer and the evil Cornell. Well written, great characters, suspense, descriptive, imagery and a cracking plot. It kept me intrigued until the end but it stopped just a bit too sudden, otherwise it would have been five stars. An easy read but well worth reading. many thanks to Net Galley for my copy. I would recommend this book. I reviewed on Goodreads.

This was a very well written book and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The characters were likeable, apart from the murderer!!! It kept me on the edge of my seat, and I would have read it straight through had I had the time and not had to stop for other things. Thank you for letting me have an advanced copy.

This is the second of the D.C. Charlotte Stafford mysteries, based out of London. Charlie has been trying to get scum like Cornell Miller off the street and this time it looks as though the charges may stick.When that doesn't happen, Charlie will have to put Cornell on the back burner as she and the entire department must know look for a killer who is even worse than Cornell.

As Charlie and team delve into the bodies being left in cemeteries, all with the same general MO, hearts ripped out and tossed carelessly on the ground, items left in the cavities and one ring finger missing on each victim.

Everyone is keeping some kind of secret, but is any of it worth murdering to keep quiet about it?
Will Charlie end up on a slab before she can figure out who is behind these killings? It will keep you guessing!

Flint's descriptions are great, and her characters are pretty well developed.

As far as my own opinion, the book seemed to go at a pretty steady pace and then at the end things just were over. I would have liked to have seen a little more depth in the characters.

I would like to thank Aria and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘The Trophy Taker’ by Sarah Flint in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.
This book is the second in the series featuring DC Charlotte ‘Charlie’ Stafford who, along with DI Geoffrey Hunter and her colleagues, are hunting for a serial killer who drugs his victims, removes their heart and one finger which he keeps for a trophy. Added to this, Charlie is searching for Cornell Miller who has been arrested for racially motivated GBH and robbery and who then escapes from custody whilst feigning illness.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book which had likeable characters, an intricately woven storyline and enough red herrings to keep me guessing till I reached the end. I’m looking forward to the next one!

Blinding good detective novel. I haven't read Sarah Flintstone debut novel but I will after reading this.
The two main characters DI Hunter and D.C. Stafford have a race against the clock to find the serial killer 'Trophy Taker'. He loves each of his victims, maybe too much as they always let him down.

1/4/17 The Trophy Taker

****

I would like to thank Netgalley and Aria for an advance copy of The Trophy Taker, the second London based police procedural to feature DC Charlotte "Charlie" Stafford.

Charlie has just charged Cornell Miller with racially aggravated wounding and robbery after an intensive investigation and is feeling good about it until he escapes custody overnight. She cannot, much to her dismay, lead the hunt for him as she is called in to assist the murder squad in the death of Susan Barton whose mutilated body has been found in a graveyard. As the bodies count rises the team struggle to make sense of the little evidence they have.

I enjoyed The Trophy Taker. It is a more or less straightforward police hunt for a killer with some interesting side steps. There are three points of view (not my favourite approach) - Charlie's, the unnamed killer and Cornell Miller during his spree of violence. I thought the killer's viewpoint was a bit pointless and didn't add anything to the plot except motive. Omitting it would have ramped up the tension and got me more invested in the hunt. The Cornell Miller point of view is much more interesting and a good counterpoint to the murder investigation, although you have to wonder if a drug addict could be as sharp in this thinking as Cornell is. Charlie's point of view covers most of the novel.

The plot is, as I said, fairly straightforward with various pieces of information leading to others and helping to build the case. I must admit that I guessed the perpetrator before the police but it took me a couple of goes. To me, the best bits in the novel were about Cornell Miller as I think Ms Flint does an excellent job on his motivation and his impact on his victims. My heart went out to Moses, his first victim, for his injuries and the way the attack changed his life. It seems very realistic and sad to me.

Charlie Stafford is a good protagonist. She is smart, scruffy and very caring. Her desire to recapture Cornell Miller to ease Moses's worry is admirable, as is her desire to get justice for Susan Barton.

The Trophy Taker is an easy read so I have no hesitation in recommending it.

Awesome book, loved it! Really enjoyed this read from Sarah Flint, couldn't put it down, loved every minuted of it. A solid 5 out of 5.

Possibly the best crime series I've read this year. The authors history gives the writing a very authentic feel. Combined with well written, complex and damaged characters and a well paced plot Flint' s second book is gritty, gory and refreshingly different to many books in this genre.
Great to see the return of Ben too, highly recommended and looking forward to the next instalment already.

Sarah Flint has written one detailed and surprising mystery. Between her surprising cast of characters, well thought out plot and descriptive scenes she’s able to set a story you won’t figure out ‘til the end.

She uses vivid imagery to set her scenes so you have an accurate picture of your surroundings and the people. It was a nice touch how she included real world political elements such as Brexit and Europe’s ongoing problem with Islamophobia.

She’s created a well-developed set of characters and you can actually connect with the law enforcement in this book as she’s made them into real people instead of just props for the criminals to do battle against. Even her plot lines with the coroner are so realistic I felt like I was watching scenes from CSI episodes or one of its spin-offs. The group dynamics between her law enforcement characters feels real and supported by the personalities and plot lines she’s created. The way she describes how the families of victims process their own trauma from dealing with the death or severe injury of a loved one seems psychologically accurate. Reading the heartbreaking description of what happened to a detective’s brother will squeeze your heart.

Her crime scenes are incredibly descriptive to the point your skin will crawl and stomach heave as you will be forced to confront some of the worst humanity has to offer. Scenes of child molestation and how pedophiles think are vomit worthy and tear jerking. ‘Hearing’ a pedophile justify his actions will make you tap into that hidden side in all of us where we could kill another person with absolute justification.

The bits of historical context she included about various buildings and places was a fun touch that showed Flint really makes an effort to grip her readers attention.

If you’re into suspenseful crime thrillers you should like this.