This is the fifth in the Fenchurch series by Ed James and the series just get better and better.
Simon Fenchurch is a detective in London, and the main story line is his investigation of the murder of a teacher whose body has been found in a hotel room. The victim has recently been outed, accused of having an affair with a pupil.
As the parent of two - a daughter who was kidnapped as a child and recently reunited with her family and a new and much longed for baby, who has serious health issues – Fenchurch is torn between his job and his family.
The book follows the twists and turns of the investigation and the various suspects and characters involved, and also the events in Simon’s own life. Nothing is straightforward and some initially unconnected crimes start to connect with the main plot.
Ed James deals well with the emotions involved with the major family issues and I found myself becoming involved with those as the main plot unfolded – but this was an enhancement rather than a distraction. Crimewise, in addition to the murder, a number of events are covered including acid attacks and drug use as well as teacher/pupil abuse. As you would imagine happens in real life, people lie to try to cover up either their own involvement or that of friend/relatives. Being alongside Simon, who is a likeable, human, main character, as he unravels all of this to get to what is really going on keeps the reader involved and intrigued.
I have read all of the Fenchurch books as well as Ed James’ Cullen series and can highly recommend them, I am now awaiting the next episode in the series. This book stands alone, but I would highly recommend reading the others in order which will give a more complete picture and understanding of some of the sub plots.
I have to thank Ed for an advance reader copy of this book, to which I was delighted to award 5*.

A little difficult and confusing story as I have not read any of the previous Ed James novels featuring DI Simon Fenchurch however a thoroughly enjoyable read and look forward to catching up on DI Fenchurch earlier cases.

Book 5 in the DI Fenchurch series and it just keeps getting better with each book. A very intricate story line which keeps you engrossed to the last page. Fast paced, well written with plenty twists, makes this another winner for Ed James. Thanks to Net Galley for my copy. Reviews on Facebook and Goodreads with Amazon to follow.

This was something out of the ordinary. It was an okay read but unfortunately not
enough to keep me entertained.

I am disappointed to find out that this is a series as it wasn’t marked when I signed up for it. Having said that I enjoyed it for the most part but found that the break into each scene stopped the flow of the book flitting from one section to another made it difficult to follow.

Really enjoy this series. They get better and better. Becoming a go to author for me now. . .

The latest book in the DI Fenchurch series and I read it in one sitting.

Simon Fenchurch has a new unsympathetic Boss and a Son who's ill in hospital, with the resulting family turmoil. Added to this he has the murder of a local school teacher to deal with who has been exposed in the tabloids for having an affair with a pupil. There are also a spate of acid attacks.

Its a good police procedural with characters that you care about. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.

Really enjoyed this rollercoaster ride of a book. Never read Ed James before so the bit of background helped. Great plot, characters and ending all you need from a thriller.. Definitely would read his next novel and have no trouble at all recommending it. Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the chance to review this great piece of writing.

Thanks to Netgalley and Thomas and Mercer for review copy.
This is everything I like in a mystery.. It is a British mystery with a serial killer set in London with a engaging DCI.
I loved these sort of books. And loved this one and will read more by this author.

Although now home, the Fenchurch's daughter, Chloe, had once been kidnapped. Now, DI Fenchurch and his wife, Abi, have a 10 month old son who has a heart that needs correction.

DI Fenchurch also has multiple happenings at work. The latest case involves an English teacher Gayle, who had died in a hotel room. All eyes are turned on her husband, Steven. Also, there is some evidence that Gayle was having an affair with Elliot, one of her students. A potent drug - blockchains - has a part in this mystery as do acid "splashes".

Many, many twists and turns brings this well- thought- out story to its' climax.

And, as before, Ed James has proven that all of the suspects are scrutinized.. (Even some of those who may seem perfectly innocent). The questioning during the police interviews is fantastic, as is the character development. An amazing story that truly captures the reader throughout the entire book.


A MUST read!


Many thanks to Thomas & Mercer as well as NetGalley for a great read from start to end!

This latest DI Fenchurch is very fast paced, I like the fact that there's always a few different things going on, recommend to anyone who loves police procedural and general crime books, very happy reader.

This is my first Ed James book and I quite enjoyed it. I realised while reading it that it’s actually part of a series which I was unaware of. I’m not sure if it was intended to read as a stand-alone book or not but I enjoyed it anyway. I will look to read the other books in the series. Overall a good book.

DI Fenchurch and family are trying to cope with health of young baby Al when an outbreak of acid attacks , bad drugs and a murder erupt in London. While trying to do his job finding the murderer, internal politics within the Department and being drawn into drug deaths he is trying keep focused. This is a really good read and as usual Ed James delivers this.

This is the fifth novel by this author. D I Fenchurch has personal problems, his baby Al needs a life changing operation . An illicit affair results in murder, a spate of acid attacks and a new killer drug is on the streets. Just a normal week for DI Fenchurch and his team and his boss has her own agenda.
This book is well written and fast paced. As usual there are lots of twists and the ending was definitely not what I was expecting. A really good read.
I would like to thank the author Ed James, Amazon Publishing UK and Net.galley for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for giving an honest review.

I gave up reading this after a few chapters, I couldn't get to grips with the characters, I just couldnt warm to them at all. This book really wasn't for me.

When a body is found in a seedy hotel Fenchurch knows he should recognize her but the name escapes him. Trying to juggle his time between the new case, his infant son in intensive care and a boss he has serious issues with means, as usual, his life is far from smooth.
Once again Ed James weaves many different strands together to form a satisfyingly intricate story that keeps you guessing. The regular characters are, as always, mixed in with a variety of people who hinder or help things along in a way which feels realistic and pertinent to their view of the case and place in it.
The only problem I had, hence four stars, was the amount of time Fenchurch didn't spend with his son. Maybe it's me but he didn't fight that corner quite enough.
This series has improved with each book and, apart from my slight gripe, I found this story to be complex and well thought out. I was delighted to have the chance to read an advanced copy thanks to Netgalley; it engaged me from page one and you can't ask for more than that.

Chaos and mayhem abound is probably the best way to describe the fast actioned Kill With Kindness by Ed James which is the latest in his Fenchurch series.

The story is fast moving as Fenchurch and colleagues try to solve the murder of a local teacher who us found dead in a hotel room. The twists, turns, red herrings and dead ends appear in abundance hence the chaos and mayhem description of this police procedural.

I hadn't read any of the previous books in the series but the hints provided made me want to read them as well

A thoroughly recommended book

I would like to thank Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for an advance copy of Kill with Kindness, the fifth novel to feature DI Simon Fenchurch of the Met.

Fenchurch is at the funeral of his late boss when he is sent to a murder scene. A young woman has been found dead, handcuffed to a bed in a posh hotel. The handcuffs make it murder and the state of the body suggests poison. When she is identified as Gayle Fisher, a teacher who has recently made headlines for an affair with a pupil, the suspect pool narrows considerably.

I thoroughly enjoyed Kill with Kindness which is an engrossing read with a bit of everything, personality clashes, personal drama, popular culture, twists and some interesting subplots. Fenchurch is working his case with an influx of deadly, extra strong drugs and a spate of acid attacks in the background but, as he digs deeper the cases start to overlap. I like the way Mr James incorporates these topical themes, not forgetting the teacher/pupil sex angle, into his narrative, making it modern and relevant in a readable way, rather than baffling the reader with all sorts of technical jargon and detail as most authors do.

There is rarely a dull moment in the novel, whether the reader is trying to puzzle out who did what and why (it's a given that all suspects and witnesses are hiding information, if not lying), getting caught up in the plentiful action or fretting over Fenchurch's baby son who is in intensive care. The plot unfolds gradually as Fenchurch and the team dig deeper and deeper, although much of it comes about by his freelancing on apparently unconnected side issues.

Simon Fenchurch is an interesting protagonist who always has something going on. In earlier novels it was the hunt for his kidnapped daughter, Chloe, but now that's she has returned to the fold it is his seriously ill son, Al. He is not the angry, blinkered man he once was unless the subject is Acting DCI Dawn Mulholland, now his boss and personal bête noire. Their interactions are tempestuous. I must admit that I don't think this is one of the best novels in the series as Fenchurch seems all over the place and undisciplined. This is blamed on his worry about Al so it probably accurately reflects his state of mind, unfocused but makes for a bit of a messy read. Mr James has, however, set his bar very high so it is still a very readable novel.

Kill with Kindness is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.

Another gripping instalment in this series with the return of a good cast of characters and a healthy dose of dark humour.

Another great read from Ed James, with a few twists and turns before the real killer is unveiled. Alongside this, DI Fenchurch also has his own personal story aside from his efforts to crack the case. I always find his books to be gripping and I'm pleased to say that this one was no exception! I couldn't wait to get to the end and find out what had really happened.

I have read each of the previous books in this series, although this one could easily be read as a standalone book. There are references to things that have happened in the previous books but there is background included so you won't feel that you've missed anything vital if you come to this one without having read the others.