This was an absolutely fantastic read that I found myself completely engrossed in from the very first chapter. A great book in a brilliant series.

Really enjoyable read. Good characters and a Good story. Well worth a read. Think others will enjoy.

Very good book, kept me guessing right to the end. The story was was engrossing and I was disappointed for Tom when he found out the truth. I would absolutely recommend this to friends and family and is the kind of book that can be read again to pick up the finer details you miss when trying to guess the killer.

To begin with, the triple storyline was quite difficult to follow as there was no noticeable break in the writing but it was entwined throughout. Although this made it difficult to become engaged, once I knew the characters and developed a love for them, it became easier to follow and more interesting.

The idea of following the mind of a child killer (Adrian Wicklow) is always intriguing as it is something that is rarely explored. The theme of secrets was particularly engaging and made the truth reveal more exciting.

The reason I gave the book 3 stars is because although the plot was gripping, I found it difficult to get into and struggled to follow the narrative often becoming confused. However, the storyline itself was exciting and unpredictable which was effective in keeping me on the edge of my seat.

I found the story of investigative journalists, Tom and Helen, realistic. I also found the same realism in the way in which the serial killer’s personal account has on DS Bradshaw. As the truth of the past is uncovered, Linskey does well in depicting what the consequences are for all the characters involved the day of the murder as well as the people trying to discover the past events.

I enjoyed the book but was disappointed that it took so long to grip me, but this may be due to the fact I have only read this particular book which is the third in the series.

Lucy

Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.

Sorry I really couldn't get into this book. Really hate giving up on a book.

I took a while to get completely into this story. It started well, then seemed to hang for a while, however it picked up and really held my attention. The story of a long laborious search for the answers to a cold case. I found it very good.

Brilliant. This is a well written and well put together book. The plot is full of surprises and gripping right up the end. I read this book in one sitting. I got totally caught up in the story. The characters and the story are so believable. I would definitely recommend this book and I will be reading it again myself.

Really easy to read book, I loved the dynamic of the characters,
The police officer Ian , Tom and Helen two reports /investigators , my favorite was Helen the way she was analyzing the sutations.
The story is about cold case of missing child, and detective opening the case to trying to find the body and what happened to her. It shows the process it takes to get things solved.
The ending was satisfying.
The process that the detective goes through to solve this case was fascinating.

Absolutely fantastic read, loved this book from start to finish, within 24 hours i had finished it. The three main characters i really like and would love to read maybe another cold case for them to solve. Definately recommend this author *****

Whilst I was initially really excited by the premise of this book, when I actually came to read it, I did not love it. In fact I found that it really dragged and on several occasions I almost put it down. In other instances when I've felt like this, I've often been glad I persevered as the book has picked up pace or had a stellar ending. Unfortunately this was not the case with 'The Search' and overall I was just left feeling annoyed at the time I'd wasted. Sorry!

I am thrilled to have found a new series to follow. I wasn’t aware that this was part of a series when I requested it- but I will be sure to follow Howard Linkskey’s work from now on.
This was a chilling story about a serial killer – set back in 1976 when a little girl went missing and today when the case was reopened. The killer Adrain Wicklow was convicted of a series of killings and was suspected to have killed Susan. But he likes playing mind games with the detectives saying that he knows where the bodies are buried and then denying responsibility.
He’s dying now and they think they will be able to solve Susan’s case. The detective works with 2 journalists on the reopened case. But will he just be playing with them and getting a kick out of sending them on a goosechase?
I love his writing style- taking you seamlessly from the days of the crime to the modern day investigation. You get a real sense of the timescales . His characters are so brilliantly drawn that you feel a part of the book which is always a great sign. It’s a real page turner.
There is a real sense of the underlying danger and suspense that draws you deep into the heart of the story.

Howard Linskey is a writer I have really got to know both via his books and the events he attends up and down the country and he's as nice a guy as he is a great writer. This book is a standalone but there is some background for the characters from other books although you can read this book with fresh eyes. And read it you should - this is a cold case which has echoes of real life cases of missing children not found years later - Ian Brady springs to mind - and a jailed man now saying he wants to give his dying breaths..
It's very compelling and the anguish of the family and friends years later is palpable on every page. It's different examining a cold case and so of course is not as fast paced as a recent crime - but having said that the suspected killer is dying so the race for the truth has never been as important as it is now. This is a dark and foreboding novel but a case handled with style and skill from an author who writes books I really need to keep reading.

Another great title by this author - really enjoyed reading this and can't wait for his next publication.

Thanks for the advanced copy

The long hot summer of 1976 and the small Durham village of Maiden Hill is rocked by the disappearance of a ten year old girl. Susan Verity went out to play with her friends but never came back. Although her body was never found, serial killer Adrian Wicklow was believed to have killed Susan and over time her murder seemed to be a curse on the five survivors. The summer of 1996 and, as England becomes obsessed with Euro '96, Wicklow is dying of cancer. Tasked to hear his final confession DI Bradshaw feels played by the monster but works alongside his consultants, journalists Helen Norton and Tom Carney, to find the truth. Meanwhile Carney is also engaged to look for a missing girl who may have been witness to a nasty crime.

Set in the mid-90s, Linskey's books are set in the North-East and the sense of time and place is very evident. Little snippets about Euro '96 are gems, the overt sexism of the police and tight-knit nature of communities really work well. I enjoyed the way Linskey does not focus solely on the police but also on the journalists and his commentary on the fact that people try to put individuals into categories that don't always fit (serial killers) was clever. It's not the most complex story ever and, although the third in a series, it sits well as a stand-alone.

Excellent book. Great main characters and plot. I would recommend this book.

This a book, third in a series set in Durham. I haven't read the others- but I don't feel like I needed to get the best of this book. It's a book set in the 1970s & 80s and looks at disappearance of a child! It's well told and paced, has a very dark and damp feel about it, almost like you can feel chill of the last decades of the 20th century. The serial killer is written very well and left me feeling particularly disturbed. It's a well written story with clear well developed characters. I enjoyed this book enough to read the others in the series.

Do you know that moment you used to get at the end of books when you wondered if it would become part of a series. In the days before a book would be labelled the "first DI Dopey Dingle" before it had even come out. And you'd find yourself hoping it would be. I finished this thinking this.....only to realise it was the third in a series! And that my friends is a very good sign. Because I was able to read this as a standalone, and quite often with detective series you need to have been there since the beginning.

In this book Detective Ian Bradshaw is handed the thankless task of approaching convicted child killer Adrian Wicklow. Wicklow has been incarcerated for 15 years for the killing of three children, he's never revealed where their bodies are. Bradshaw's​ objective is to try and get him to reveal where their bodies were hidden and to finally reveal the fate of Susan Verity a young girl who vanished in the heatwave of 1976. He admitted her killing initially.....and then denied it. And he's been playing with the minds of experts ever since in a sick game he uses to entertain himself in prison. But Bradshaw, initially resistant to the job, becomes determined to break him. So with the help of friends and journalist Tom Carney and Helen Norton he goes into Wicklows game, and he's playing to win.

For me this was a great read. Set in 1996 it took me back to my misspent youth, and really captured the feel of that summer. The characters are engaging and the story well paced and expertly plotted. I may have just added to my ever growing list of must read series.

I received this from Netgalley for an honest review.

This is one of my favourite genres but for some reason I just couldn't gel with this book even though it's based in an area I'm very familiar with. Sorry but this just wasn't for me.

So Tom, Helen and Ian Bradshaw are back. During the mid 70's a young girl by the name of Susan Verity went missing and was never found. Adrian Wicklow was arrested and charged with her murder along with other victims and is now behind bars. Detective Ian Bradshaw is given the task of re-opening the case and trying to find the truth as Adrian Wicklow is dying. With no body and no closure they want the real story and the answers as to where Susan can be found. Bradshaw is given the task and enlists the help of journalists Tom Carney and Helen Norton.

Having read the previous 2 books in this series I was looking forward to seeing what came next for this unlikely trio. I absolutely love Tom and Helen but for some reason have never gelled all that well with Bradshaw. However I started to warm up to him in book 2 and to be honest am warming up to him even more in this latest instalment. Ian has to be careful as Adrian Wicklow is a typical serial killer and his manipulation skills are first class. Ian has to work to try and prevent being pulled down by the man himself and you see him struggle sat times to do this.

As usual Tom and Helen start to scour and dig deep which they are used to doing as journalists and in all honesty they make a great team. The book gives you the back story in parts and you get to see chapters based in the 70's and I enjoyed the fact that you got to hear the story first hand from all the children involved. You also see the current timeline as Tom, Helen and Ian investigate what has since happened to all those children. In addition to this storyline Tom meets a girl by the name of Lena and helps her try to uncover where her missing sister is.

I particularly liked that fact that I felt like we are starting to get under the skin of each of these characters and more of their personalities are revealed. I always feel like I am more invested in a series when you connect with all the key players! I have to admit that this book holds the edge in this series so far and I was totally absorbed in the storyline. Read over two days it kept me captive from the first to the last page and I cannot wait to read more by Howard Linskey. A fantastic read and a series that I would highly recommend.

The 3rd book in the series and it is a cracker.I think you could read this as a standalone book but probably better if you get a chance to read them in order, although I am notorious for not doing that and haven't this time.It is easy enough to get the hang of the main characters Ian, Tom and Helen.All the characters are well written including the alleged killer Adrian Wicklow. As this is a cold case it has a different feel to most of the usual books in this genre I have read recently,but its good because it brings a new dimension, and a new angle to the story.The characters are well drawn and realistic and the pace of the book and the story is good I enjoyed it.I would read more books in this series and thank the publishers and Netgalley for an ARC in return for an honest review.