Another fantastic book from Daniel Cole, I'm so glad I heard of this author through my online book club! A new author to me, and a new favourite. I need the next book now please

Detective Emily Baxter is hastily promoted to DCI after catching the notorious serial killer Lethanial Masse known as the Ragdoll killer. This book makes heavy references to the Ragdoll investigation and Emily's fear and reactions towards Masse that you would probably benefit of reading that before this one. Thank you to Netgalley for allowing to review the sample of this book - and will be looking at downloading the full version after reading Ragdoll.

3.5 stars

Despite being branded as Detective William Fawkes #2, Fawkes does not appear in this book except in passing, instead we find Emily Baxter (now DCI) still coming to terms with the Ragdoll Murders and her part in them. She is, not to put too fine a point on it, a psychological mess, not to mention rude, bad tempered (but I don’t think this is new for her character) and doesn’t really seem to know what she’s doing, enter Alex Edmunds who does, he however, no longer works in homicide but still manages to extricate Baxter from many a scrape while holding down his job in fraud.

The premise really hooks you, a body strung up with the word ‘BAIT’ carved into their chest and the murderer found also dead with the word ‘PUPPET’ carved similarly into their chest. The story spans both UK and US involving teams on both sides, the body count is high with each murder more shocking than the last.

Hangman packs a wallop, it’s an adrenaline fuelled fun piece of writing that doesn’t take itself too seriously. Don’t try and attach any realism to it, there isn’t any and it will spoil your enjoyment.

The reason I haven’t rated it higher is that, for me, Baxter’s character although an interesting side character doesn’t have the pizzazz to hold the show and keep things interesting, in trying to do so she was reduced to childlike behaviour almost down to the stamping of her feet. Still really enjoyable though and am looking forward to the next instalment that will hopefully feature Fawkes.

Hangman is a fast-paced crime drama, riddled with secrets buried deep in the heroine's guilty conscience. The storyline dips into the unfinished business of Ragdoll, the previous book in the series. Right from the start, a seed of doubt is planted in reader's mind as to whether the actual mastermind killer was in fact comprehended in the Ragdoll case or whether he is still out there playing the part of the puppet-master in the shadows. That doubt is steeped in anxiety, which accompanies the reader through the opening chapters.
The dialogue drives the plot; itis realistic and witty. The characters are well drawn and multi-dimensional. A gripping start.

Wow! Loved Ragdoll by Daniel Cole and absolutely loved this one too. Detective Emily Baxter has been seconded to help the FBI and CIA investigate a murder in New York that has connections with the Ragdoll case. Before she gets to New York the actual Ragdoll killer is murdered in prison just after she and her colleagues had interviewed him. Non-stop from the start this story kept me gripped from beginning to en. Absolutely loved it.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and Daniel Cole for the ARC in return for an honest review.

Hangman is the second novel in Daniel Cole’s debut trilogy series.

Detective William Oliver Layton-Fawkes (Wolf to me and you) is still missing 18 months on from the Ragdoll murders, when Detective Emily Baxter watched him flee the old bailey after the sensational trial.

Newly promoted to DCI, Emily Baxter is trying to get on with her life with no one to trust apart from former colleague Edmunds, who has moved back to Fraud, away from the gritty world of murder and terror.

Meanwhile a gruesome discovery is playing out hundreds of miles away.

A body is found hanging from Brooklyn Bridge, New York, USA, with the word BAIT carved into its chest. The victim was strung up by someone who has the word PUPPET carved into their own chest.

Baxter is blissfully unaware of this until the authorities decide that they need her help.

When FBI Agent Curtis and British CIA Agent Rouche land (almost literally) at Emily’s desk, she is as you can imagine, not particularly thrilled at being dragged into the case. There have been literally hundreds of copycat Ragdoll murders and this appears to be no exception.

But when she learns of the name of the Brooklyn Bridge victim, she finds herself with little choice but to join the investigation.

I can’t say too much more about this novel as it’s one that you definitely need to read for yourself! And as for the ending..., well let’s just say I can’t wait for the next novel in the series!

I have received this book from Netgalley in return for an honest review .
I was lucky enough to have been given Ragdoll to review and I absolutely loved it and so I was looking forward to reading Hangman and I wasn't disappointed .This story takes us from London to New York and back to London again .Baxter is working with the CIA and FBI .trying to stop the Hangman Killer who is involved with bizarre murders .This is a thriller with a little humour thrown in despite the grizzly happenings .It was very gripping and I found it hard to put down and the story raced to a very satisfying conclusion that left me breathless .Fabulous .

I enjoyed this book being a follow up to Ragdoll which was excellent. This was fast paced and drew you in nicely with a few twists along the way. I wondered if the second book could live up to the first but it certainly did. I would recommend this book and thank Netgalley and the publisher a chance to review it and look forward to his next novel.

I’ve been anticipating Hangman, the second novel in this series, ever since I read the first, Ragdoll, last year (you can find my review here.)

Hangman takes place some 18 months after Ragdoll. Wolf hasn’t been seen or heard of since Baxter let him flee the Old Bailey courtroom. She herself is now Detective Chief Inspector Baxter, and is trying to get on with life, until two US Special Agents enter her London office. There has been a murder in New York and they have reason to believe it connected to the Ragdoll murders. The victim, whose chest was inscribed with the word “bait” shares the same name as Wolf – William Fawkes, and was strung up on the Brooklyn Bridge by a man bearing the word “puppet” on his chest.

Baxter isn’t inclined to jump to conclusions, but when a second ‘bait’ and ‘puppet’ murder occurs in London, that once again connects to Ragdoll, she finds herself headed to New York with FBI agent Curtis and the British CIA agent Rouche to work on the case. While also unofficially roping in the only person she trusts, Edmunds, to help her from afar.

I don’t want to give too much detail about this book. Like Ragdoll, this book is pretty dark, with some shocking and graphic scenes. Yet, Cole manages to lighten this subject matter with his humour, which most definitely appeals to me.

As Cole said himself of sequels (when referring to the film Home Alone 2) …

The first movie was, secretly, one of her all-time favourites, but she found the second an uninspiring imitation falling into the age-old trap of believing that by relocating to New York City, they would create a bigger and better sequel.

In this instance, I think the New York sequel was every bit as good as, if not even better than, the original (Ragdoll).

We enter the story in an interview room with Baxter facing questions from multiple agencies, before we rewind a few weeks and follow the sequence of events that ultimately culminate in that questioning.

When I realised Wolf wasn’t going to be the focus of this book, I was a bit nervous as Ragdoll was really all about him. I needn’t have worried. Baxter is a fantastic, snarky character, suffering no fools – no matter who they may be. She’s a bold, brilliant yet flawed character that really shines in this book.

Perhaps part of the reason she shines is Agent Rouche of the CIA. The interactions between the two are fantastic, making a great partnership. Rouche’s story, his personality, along with his choice of inappropriate songs made me fall in love with his character.

It says a lot of Cole that I’m writing about his book which is filled with blood, mutilation, horrific scenes and a significant number of deaths, and I’m gushing about his characters and humour. For me, this is what made such dark subject matter so readable. It’s truly an art, and one that Cole excels at.

I also liked that we got to check in with characters from the first book, particularly Edmunds who ‘goes rogue’ in the fraud department to help out his friend.

I know that this book won’t be for everyone. There are scenes which are all too close to that witnessed in reality. But I love Cole’s writing, the way he can make your stomach squirm with one sentence, then snort with laughter with the next. I truly look forward to the third book in this series – who knows what way things will turn next?!

After reading and loving Daniel Coles first title Ragdoll, I hoped that the next instalment would be as good. This is certainly the case as Hangman is a fantastic read. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves an action packed thrill of a ride. I cant wait to read the next instalment, recommend you read the books in order. A big thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for letting me read this book before publication.

I decided to read 'Hangman' (a sampler taster) despite not having previously read 'Ragdoll'. The book was enjoyable, but i do wish that i had read 'Ragdoll' first. Nonetheless, it was an enjoyable read once i had got used to the character Emily Baxter. A well written book.

I would like to thank Netgalley and the Publishers for my copy. This is my honest review.

A review has been added to Goodreads and Amazon.

A couple of months ago I had the pleasure of reading and reviewing Daniel Cole's debut crime thriller, Ragdoll. I thoroughly enjoyed it, particularly the inventive ways Cole came up with to kill off a number of the characters. It's no secret that I like my crime thrillers edging on horror with lots of bodies and lots of blood, so Ragdoll held a lot of appeal for me. The second book in the Ragdoll series, Hangman immediately became a must-read. I just had to see what the author was going to do with his characters next...

And the answer is, he completely ignored his lead protagonist and focussed solely on a supporting member of his cast. Not what you would expect, right? I've seen Hangman mentioned in places as Detective Fawkes #2. It really isn't though. Fawkes hardly features in this novel and I absolutely flipping LOVED it! My one bugbear with Ragdoll was that I felt very little for either Fawkes or his sidekick, Emily Baxter. If anything, Baxter irritated me with her fawning over Fawkes and her (ugh) neediness. Having read Hangman from cover to cover I have completely changed my mind about her. I love the new 'slightly more damaged than she was before' Emily Baxter. Her sarcastic manner, her bossiness, her 'don't actually give a damn!' attitude and her secretiveness. I really like this new Baxter and hope she doesn't change back to her old, puppy dog ways in book three when Fawkes *may* return.

Baxter isn't the only character I loved in Hangman. I've already mentioned that Fawkes isn't really present. However, Baxter is instructed to work alongside the FBI and CIA as her current investigation spans continents and has links to the famous Ragdoll case she 'heroically' solved. Curtis (the FBI agent) and in particular Rouche (the CIA operative) really brought something to the story. We get to see Baxter's newfound barriers crumble a little as she warms to Rouche. I'm not sure there is any point in the story where she trusts him but I really enjoyed the relationship between the two.

I have to say, I found the story a little far-fetched in some places but in all honesty, I didn't actually give a hoot as I was utterly captivated by the characters and what was going to happen next. Daniel Cole had my full attention from start to finish and to me, that is more important than a little artistic licence. I also loved the humour Cole has written into the pages of Hangman. This is the first book in a long time that I found myself quietly chuckling along to.

Would I recommend this book? Totally. I loved it. I preferred it to Ragdoll. I loved seeing things from Baxter's perspective and I hope the *possible* return of Fawkes in book three doesn't reduce her character to what it was in book one. I would be devastated. So utterly gripping I couldn't put this book down. I described the need to keep turning the pages of Ragdoll as similar to catnip. Well, the author has done it again but this is super strength catnip! A perfect read for me.

Five out of five stars.

I chose to read and review an eARC of Hangman. The above review is my own unbiased opinion.

Let me start by saying how much I loved the first book in this series, Ragdoll was an addictive fast-paced thriller, and if I am honest, I was worried that this book wouldn't live up to the outstanding start to this trilogy. I reviewed it in full here, but have to say it was refreshing to read a book that wasn't predictable, yet hung together plausibly. Again, just like that review, I really don't want to spoil it, so please enjoy, read the book, and appreciate that the lack of detail is intentional!

Cole has most definitely done it again with this one! The writing style of this guy is insanely readable, and makes for a truly page-turning read. Unlike the previous instalment, this book doesn't solely take place on UK soil, but hops across the Atlantic for some New York action, complete with CIA and FBI involvement.

Baxter is definitely back, and promoted, and is as entertaining and awesome as ever. Wolf, after the events of the first book, is not really featured too much (I won't say more for fear or spoiling the first) and as much as I liked him in the first instalment, I didn't miss him. Edmunds takes a more back seat role, featured more over phone conversations and short meetings. His friendship with Baxter has evolved and solidified to make them best friends in every sense (to the chagrin of his suffering partner Tia) and their trust and reliance on one another is a backbone of the story.

So, with these two taking a back seat, the story centres mostly around Baxter and her trans-Atlantic efforts to catch another murderer. Helping her are two officers from the USA, Rouche from the CIA and Curtis from the FBI. Barely going by their first names, Damien Rouche is a laid back and enigmatic character (who is possibly my favourite of this novel) whose dedication is unquestionable yet motives unclear. He is the butt of every name mis-pronunciation joke (it's Rouche like whoosh guys!), but is capable and follows Baxter in bending rules, and drinking more than they should. Elliot Curtis is much more straight laced and by the book. She is wary of the other two, but helps them as much as Lennox (her boss) will permit. She is hard working, and doesn't like to follow the less conventional path Rouche and Baxter set, which probably helps them stay on the straight and narrow(ish). 

One thing that Cole does so well is write strong, normal, independent female characters. The men are as reliant on the women as the women are on the men. I have as much faith in the female characters to get the job done without it feeling forced, or the point of the piece. Many of the superior female character are women which is rare in a thriller, a rarity I am happy has been embraced. Yes, Baxter's boyfriend is a welp, but he fits well with her and embraces her in a way other writers would not have pursued.

The events in this book are somewhat unbelievable. I don't want to say that they're farcical or impossible, but I'd like to think that the events couldn't logistically happen as they do. That said, we're witness to some truly horrendous crimes that, in a world of terrorist atrocities and murder, really make you think about the lengths that people will go to but also how we and others cope in the wake of such events. I'm not sure if the bodies could or would be found where they are, or that the timelines and happenings could quite occur as they do, but they're written in such a way that it makes complete plausible sense in the context of the narrative, and is so gripping.

I, once again, don't think I predicted the ending as it happened. It's so refreshing to have a story that makes sense, yet hasn't been spoon fed to the point that it removes all thought. Cole relies on you retaining information and making necessary links for yourself, something that should be applauded in the modern day world of churned out thrillers. I read the last half of this book excitedly in 24hrs, I really struggled to tear myself away long enough to do something else, and declare it an absolute must read! It came out today, so pick up a copy!!

I can't wait for book 3 in this trilogy!!

Thank you to NetGalley & Orion Publishing Group for letting me read Hangman, the sequel from Daniel Cole. 18 months after the Rag Doll Murders bodies have started turning up on both sides of the Atlantic. Daniel has done it again with the second book in the series. This is a real page turner with a lot of suspense. A definite read for anyone who loved Rag Doll. 5 worthy stars and looking forward to book 3 in this series.

I reviewed Ragdoll last year, and loved it. So I was thrilled to get the chance to check out the follow up!

My love for Ragdoll was down to the uniqueness of the novel, and thankfully Daniel Cole manages to not only match this but exceed it. And he seriously turns up the scale of the crimes.

Is the plotline bordering on over the top? Yes. Do I care? No. The writing is great, the characters are fantastic and there’s some great side stories going on. All this means that you just get sucked right in, and you’re fully along for the ride.

There’s also a great edge of dark humor to it, which makes it such a unique read.

If you can stomach a dark and gory read, this one is for you!

Opening my bookmarks to pick a quote for this review, I realised that I had only highlighted one passage. At a grand 16% of the way through the book.

Normally, when this happens, it’s because there are no passages that stick out for me, no lines that grab my attention.

This time, however, it is because I spent the majority of the book trying to remember how to breathe, let alone bookmarking specific passages.

Hangman was such an intense, chilling and gripping read. It may only be March, but so far, this has just become the best book of the year.

It’s been over a year since the Ragdoll murders and Emily Baxter has been promoted. She regrets it though; she isn’t destined to sit behind a desk and have to do paperwork, not when she is good at her job out in the field.

I love Baxter’s character. She has the tough-cop routine down to an art when it comes to not caring about procedures: she has a job to do and she will do it, not waste time playing politics. But she also cares deeply about what she does and is affected emotionally when things go wrong. The reader is never once led to believe she is cold and detached, which would be so easy to portray given her attitude. She is an in-depth character and the reader witnesses her at her strongest, and most vulnerable, throughout the course of the book.

The secondary characters are also well-developed. Curtis is prim and proper, but is desperate to prove herself. Rouche is a complicated man, and it takes the majority of the book until both Baxter and the reader knows exactly what drives him. The mystery surrounding Rouche’s character makes him engaging and likeable.

Returning characters also made me smile, especially Edmunds. No longer in the force, he can’t help be involved when Baxter turns to him for answers. He’s good at finding the clues, and is such a likeable character that I wanted him to take centre stage the entire time.

Hangman might have some of the most chilling murder scenes I’ve ever read. One particular set up literally left me gasping in the middle of a commuter train, unable to tear my eyes from the page. It was creepy, it was chilling, and the results were so disastrous for the team that you’re left wondering if they’re ever going to get their bad guy.

The tension was high from the start, with events spiralling out of control very early on. The pacing is fast, but I was literally holding my breath throughout the last few chapters in anticipating. Terrifying murders, fantastic characters, great settings made all the more chilling by atrocious weather conditions… It’s been a while since I’ve been gripped to a book the way I was to this one.

The only thing I regretted was that it has been a while since I read Ragdoll so didn’t have the consistencies in the characterisations. Brilliant read!

Fascinating book that keeps you involved right up to the end. Definitely recommended.

I was so excited to read the follow up to the hugely successful Ragdoll - and Hangman, the second in the Detective William Fawkes series, definitely doesn't disappoint! Much like the first, it's a rollercoaster of a ride of tension, mystery and general craziness as the focus turns to Baxter this time, and a string of gory murders in the US which have worryingly familiar elements to them...

I have to say, at first I was a little worried that I wouldn't get to read about Fawkes, who I loved in the last book - however, Baxter more than makes up for it, truly shining with her cutting comments and no-nonsense attitude. I absolutely loved reading about her, and some new characters to add to the mix in Curtis and Rouche who, although very different to Baxter, is another brilliant character who kept me wanting to read on. The characters are really what makes this story such addictive reading; that mixed with brilliant humorous scenes (with a heavy dose of black humour, which I loved) and fantastic situations (some completely crazy and unbelievable, but who cares?) which kept me laughing throughout. It may have even beaten Ragdoll for me (no mean feat!), as I felt like I had more of a grasp on what was going on in this novel - well, to some extent - there was plenty to craziness to keep track of!

I'd forgotten how brilliantly entertaining Daniel Cole's writing is, and Hangman left me desperately wanting more - that ending too! Bring on book 3 (and quickly, please!).

This is the follow-up book to the amazing Ragdoll and, if I do have it right, is the middle book of the trilogy. Unlike series books, trilogies really need to be read in their entirety and in the right order so, if you haven't already, stop looking at this book and go check out Ragdoll first.
So, we don't follow on straight after the Ragdoll murders. Instead we revisit things some 18 months later. Emily Baxter is deemed to have been responsible for solving the Ragdoll murders and has welcomed a promotion on the back of it. We know the truth however (I told you, read Ragdoll first) and it is a truth that really doesn't sit well with Baxter herself. The other member of that successful team, Alex Edmunds, has bowed to the home/ work life pressure and is languishing in a 9-5 job in fraud. Luckily he still manages to inveigle himself into the mix.
So, one day, Emily is called into the boss's office and is met there by two US federal agents. There have been a few rather interesting murders stateside which, on face value, appear to have connections to the Ragdoll murders. As the number one expert on all things Ragdoll, they need Baxter's help. She's not too keen to be honest, especially when one of the things they want is to interview the Ragdoll killer himself. I mean, he knows the same truth as she does, a truth that has not yet come to light, a truth that if it came out, could bury her. But she has no choice in the matter and what happens next is the catalyst that brings the action back to this side of the pond. But, with things hotting up stateside, Baxter accompanies the agents home and what happens next is one heck of a ride!
Yes, it's well over the top in places, gruesome and macabre to say the least, but it's also so very funny in parts which redressed the balance somewhat, even if the humour at times is a little blacker than black. Apart from the spider scene, that was just downright farce, but you know what, it worked! Where book one was lead by Fawkes, he is notably absent in the majority of this book, and Baxter has to take up the mantel and she does so really rather well, albeit in a very different vein to Fawkes. Her inclusion is more acerbic, her humour more pointed rather than being clever but she takes the lead quite nicely throughout, despite all the adversity and initial exclusion she suffers at the hands of the agents.
The action flits between the UK and US and there are noticeable differences in the way that the two countries operate. Some delivered with more than a little tongue in cheek. But the main prize is the same, to get to the bottom of what exactly is going on with these Bait and Puppet murders. And the threesome eventually cotton on to the fact that they really need to work together. With some really rather interesting results!
I'm finding it quite hard to examine this book in its parts. Some rather gory, some just ridiculous, others quite poignant; it's difficult to define. But all put together, it really is more than just their sum. Anything I write here will in no way do justice to the amazing story and the clever way the author delivers it. And that ending. O.M.G. That had me reeling and left pretty much gagging for more. I don't remember needing a next book as much as I need this one's. And soon. Very soon. Please don't leave me hanging too long Mr Cole.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

Hangman had been burning a hole in my kindle for about three months and it was SO worth the wait! I almost didn’t care what the synopsis was: after Ragdoll, I would practically read the phone book if Daniel Cole had re-written it in his particular style.

“Freaks be freakin’”

The first few pages drop you straight into the story and it was brilliant just to be back in the dramatic, twisted and darkly comic Ragdoll universe. Cole wastes literally zero time before dropping in a couple of surprises and the pace rarely slows down from there.

I’m not going to say anything more about the plot than can be seen from the blurb because I don’t want to spoil even the tiniest of the book’s surprises. Suffice to say that nothing is ever quite what it appears but it is great fun trying to put all the clues together.

“I think we need to be more concerned about whoever it is who’s holding the strings”

Cole’s style is pretty unique and Hangman is another great combination of murder mystery, action thriller, gruesome horror and black comedy. It is brutal, clever, tense, witty and shocking.

The story is brilliantly plotted, the characters are three-dimensional and believable and the book is full of twists and turns. Cole also has his tongue knowingly planted in one very self-aware cheek throughout:

“She finally decided on Home Alone 2…The first movie was, secretly, one of her all-time favourites, but she found the second an uninspiring imitation, falling into the age-old trap of believing that by relocating the same story to New York City, they would create a bigger and better sequel”

I strongly recommend that you do not read this as a standalone book, because a) why miss out on the wonder that is Ragdoll, and b) the events of this book are so very closely related to the outcomes of the first; you could probably follow it ok but you would definitely be spoiling Ragdoll for yourself in the process.

Hangman is an excellent sequel and I highly recommend it to anyone with a strong stomach, a dark sense of humour and a detailed knowledge of the first book! Is it gory? Yes. Is it disturbing? Hell yes! Will you ever trust a complete stranger again?? No! Was I left with any questions? Actually yes, but I don’t care. This is a spectacularly warped and entertaining ride and I loved it – there’d just better be a third book coming round the corner soon!

Thank you to NetGalley, Orion and Trapeze for the ARC of Hangman.