An utterly brilliant read that I read in one sitting, I just love this authors books . So gripping and full of suspense.

This is the fourth book in the DI Hamilton series, and unfortunately I have not read the previous books in the series, however I think this reads nicely as a standalone.
The book jumps between time periods, which could be confusing, but it makes sense the further you read and explains a lot of the back story of some of the characters. I really enjoyed the book, and can't wait to read some more by Ms Lyons!
Recommended.

This is my first novel by Tara Lyons and although this was the fourth book in the series, it held up as a stand-alone. Yes, the background of D.I. Hamilton and his team was obviously very much a part of the series but it did not spoil my enjoyment not having read the previous books. The plot was quite fast paced with short journeys to the past and the description of mental illness described was very interesting.
Many thanks to Netgalley/Tara Lyons/Bloodhound Books for a digital copy of this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

The Stranger Within – Tara Lyons

Welcome back DI Hamilton where have you been? I’ve missed you. This is number four in this series and for me they just get better and better. It is advisable to read the previous books before this, as there is a lot of background information on the team members. The writing style is pretty slick and there are twists, turns, thrills and plenty of spills to keep the reader entertained till the very last page,

It’s more personal this time due to a team member being kidnapped, by an escaped convict nonetheless. DI Hamilton’s back really is up against the wall in this one, he needs answers and he needs them quick. He really thought that this one was closed and he’d never have to deal with Grace/Carly again but she’s free again somehow. She’s sly, sleekit and most of all Grace knows how to elude them.

It was clear to see that the author had seriously researched the subject of DID Disassociate Identity Order and Mental Health issues not only the details (If that’s the right word?) It’s not been written about salaciously I felt that the author has taken great pains to be considerate almost delicate. Be under no illusions that this is a soft gentle book because it’s not, there’s kidnap and murder and that’s just for starters.


Read for an honest review. Thank you Bloodhound Books

I have been a fan of this author's books since she released her first a couple of years back so as soon as I saw that this one was being released I eagerly awaited for it to land on my Kindle.

I really enjoyed being able to catch up with Denis and his team, their interaction was as completely on point as I remember and I do enjoy how they work together. The writing style was excellent and the flow was good.

I started reading the book one afternoon and had finished it later on that same evening, it isn't a particularly long story but it has plenty of content to get your teeth in to. This one touches on quite a complex subject but from reading the book you can really see how much research the author has put in to the story.

You could probably read this as a stand alone if you are not looking to read any of the other books in the DI Hamilton series, but personally I do think that to get the most out of this book you need to read it as part of the series. There was quite a bit in this one that linked to other books that have been released so if you are planning on reading the whole series, this one would give you some major spoilers if you read them out of sequence and you will also have more of an understanding surrounding the past events that are mentioned.

4.5 stars from me for this one, rounded up to 5 stars for Goodreads and Amazon - a thoroughly enjoyable read and very much hoping that we get book 5 in the series!!

Another fabulous DI Hamilton book, full of action and great characterisation. I read it very quickly and thoroughly enjoyed Ms Lyons writing, as always. However, I feel she has been let down somewhat by her publisher/editor. There were some silly mistakes that should have been picked up. One moment Fraser can't swallow the saliva in her mouth and the next moment her mouth is too dry due to lack of saliva. Also it's military precision, not military position and an alibi gets corroborated not collaborated. Whilst these errors didn't detract from my overall enjoyment of the story, I did find myself looking out for them, which meant I wasn't giving the book my full focus. It's a shame because I can't give 5 stars to the book due to the amount of silly mistakes. If you're not a pedant, (I am), I highly recommend this book.

Format: Kindle Edition
This book, " The stranger within",was all I expected from Tara and more, the best book out of all the series! I love All the characters because they are all so believable you could imagine them walking in the door! Am hoping we get more from Tara in this series, in fact... I cannot wait! well done on a finely crafted story (again). I recommend this book to anyone if they like well written books with well developed characters!

The Stranger Within by Tara Lyons is the first book I have read and I enjoyed it.
I found this an Excellent read. fast paced and so gripping . Hamilton and his team are a great bunch of characters I loved them all.......However, I wished I had read the 3 books in this series.......So Amazon UK here I came!

Big Thank you to Bloodhound Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

Thankyou to NetGalley, Bloodhound Books and the author, Tara Lyons, for the opportunity to read a digital copy of The Stranger Within in exchange for an honest and unbiased opinion.
I was gripped from the outset. I thought the storyline was well thought out and written. The characters were engaging and realistic. A definite page turner.
A book and series well worth a read.

A great read with some good twists and turns. I haven't read anything else in the series but that didn't seem to matter here. I was gripped from the start and couldn't wait to see how it unfolded. Grace was a compelling character thanks to her issues and her unpredictability really ramped up the tension. Also enjoyed the character of DI Hamilton as he tried to unravel the case and why Grace was trying to issue her revenge. Will definitely look out for more books by Tara Lyons in the future!

Another fabulous installment! Totally gripping. Edge of the seat crime drama. Five stars! Look forward to the next instalment of the series!

A stranger within.... mmmmm..do we all have one? We surely have the capability to...most can control it...in this story the main character cannot due to abuse and trauma suffered as a teenager that causes it to manifest itself........
It seems strange to mention Prisoner Cell Block H in my review but on our re run through at the mo there is a character called Brandy....she has Disassociative Identity Disorder and has been a fascinating few episodes and it was actually quite forward thinking ( 1983 ) to feature such a storyline....and then I started to read this book and realised the book is about this as well.....so I had an understanding ( basic ) of the disorder and this book goes much more into depth about it as the main charcater has it....I can only congratulate the author on talking about this and Mental Health in general, as many of you know I am a great believer in talking about mental health, so, firstly the whole basis of the book impressed me
The story itself is dark and includes abuse, rape, murder and vile secrets all alongside a very interesting set of characters including a reader friendly D.I. Hamilton and other Police characters that I quickly liked
The authors writing style is easy and warm and welcoming to a reader and drew me into the story and kept me there, so much so I read the book over 5 hours, I was keen to know the outcome!!
I thought I had it all sewn up and who the ‘baddy’ was......I was wrong, that shocked me as I was convinced.....but that was the Authors intention I am guessing 😃
A really great read that was unusual re the mental health side of the book
Loved it and am keen to now read the first 3 in the series (this book is fine as a stand alone if you havent read the other 3 )
10/10 5 stars 😃

Thank you for the opportunity to read the book and I will be be recommending this series to many as it's an addictive story. Tense in parts but well written

Tara Lyons is truly a great writer. Her books are going from strength to strength and her new book releases cannot come quick enough for me. For me this is Tara's best book yet.
Maybe it's because i feel i am really getting to know Denis Hamilton now as he has starred in all 4 books. He is a great, thought out character. He is battling his own demons regarding his daughter Maggie and things aren't getting any easier for him. And then.. a patient escapes a mental health hospital - shes on the run and very dangerous!
This book deals with Multiple Personality Disorder and for me was a fascinating read as well as a fast paced crime novel. I highly reccomend this book - its the fourth in a series but could be read on its own!
5*****

OMFG where do I start other than the fact Tara Lyons is back with her best book yet! I am a massive fan of this series so has you can imagine I couldn't wait to get my teeth into this latest installment, after what feels like I have been waiting yonks for.

In this story we catch up with Hamilton in his toughest case yet when he has to unravel a case that he thought was long gone….

Those of you that read my reviews with know I am a sucker for a good prologue, after all it's what starts the story off and I can tell just from that whether I am going to like the book or not. Well this is definitely an OMG prologue….hat gripped me from the very first page. That was it for me I couldn't read it quick enough.

I feel like Tara has taken her writing back to where she first started. A style that I love her for. It is dark, creepy, fast-paced and engaging which tells a story that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Not forgetting the OMG moments.

Loving every single page of it I actually devoured this in one day. I almost forgot to mention the fact that after struggling to get into a few books I lost my reading mojo. Well you all know what it feels like to lose that, It’s not a good feeling at all. But this book gave me mine back, so I have the author to thank for that….Thank You Tara

What more can I say but be prepared for a story that will grab you round the throat and not let you go until the very last page!. I am just gutted to of finished it so soon, I hope that I don’t have to wait has long for the next one.

This can be read has a standalone there is plenty of background information so you don’t feel like you have missed anything. But it is to good a series not to miss which I highly recommend giving it 5 massive stars.

Set in London, the reader is faced with rejection, revenge, abuse, guilt, blame, inability to cope, mental health issues, the past, feeling let down and a search for the truth. There are some uncomfortable themes, which the author handles sensitively and balanced.

Now that prologue – AMAZEBALLS! My heart was racing as I wondered who the killer was and would they be caught. 😱 I thought this was a cleverly crafted and interesting storyline. The author takes our hand and makes us believe one thing and then 💥 BOOM 💥 sneakily misguides us but I must admit, I was a little giddy with glee … if you’ve read IN THE SHADOWS, you’ll know exactly why!

I really felt that DI Hamilton has definitely grown as a character and I was once again drawn to him and the journey he has been on. He is determined and dedicated, but sadly his demons still haunt him and I was pleased to see some resolution as the novel ended. All the return characters, in fact, made me smile as I saw each develop into well written, interesting and extremely believable “people”.

Would I recommend this book? Oh HELL YEAH, I most definitely would. Ms. Lyons just gets better and better as a writer and each novel just makes me want more! Fast paced, edgy and most intriguing – delve into The Stranger Within and see what I’m talking about!

Keep reading for a fantastic #guestpost which gives you a little insight into how it all began!

Oh wow, this was a fantastic book to read. Full of twists and turns but very well written so it kept you hooked so you didn't want to put the book down. I love crime thrillers and this will be an author that I will now add to my list. I will be catching up on this series!

Really enjoyed this book, I am a big fan of this series and Tara Lyons so I was excited to read it. It didn’t disappoint it was full of action, suspense and twists that kept me turning the pages and kept me engaged and interested the whole way through the book. I enjoyed the storyline and characters and it it had a well thought out plot. This was the best in the series so far, I loved it and I highly recommend it and don’t hesitate in giving it 5 stars.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author, but it won’t be the last.

While the fourth in a series, it works as a standalone novel. There are not the usual references to previous cases. (If there are, they are seamless enough to be transparent.) The end does not have a cliffhanger for the next book. I’ve seen too many of those lately.

The story is set in England and begins with a grisly murder. The murder is solved within the first couple of chapters. That was unexpected. It took me into the next chapter to realize that the author wrote to the structure of establishing the “normal” world of the protagonist, D.I. Denis Hamilton, and his team.

The first case introduces the major members of the police team and gives a feel for their personalities and working relationships. It also has clues for the upcoming case when Fraser, “computer wizard of a sergeant,” receives a bouquet of rotten flowers.

The second case moves to a hospital facility where mentally ill convicted criminals are treated in a relatively low security environment. A patient with multiple personalities, called dissociative identity disorder, killed an orderly and escaped. Hamilton refers to the facility as a joke because the criminals are referred to as patients, and treated as though they have no committed heinous crimes. Now the hunt begins for the escaped killer who has murdered seven people.

At this point, the author intersperses scenes of sexual abuse from a thirteen-year-old girl’s point of view. The scenes are well done: they are horrifying without becoming too graphic. It doesn’t take much speculation to understand that this sexual abuse is the event that caused the victim/killer’s personality to split into multiple characters of various ages, with the dominant one a murderer.

The writer develops the major personalities well, and the makes the serial killer an almost sympathetic character, even though she kidnaps Fraser with the intent of killing her.

The last half of the book raises the escalates tension right up to the final scene as Hamilton and his team search for their coworker.

The book is well written and has introduced me to another good author.

I love DI Denis Hamilton and I was really looking forward to hooking up with him again in this, the fourth book in a series that just gets better and better with each book.

A face from Hamilton's past is back and this time the case forces him to examine parts of his life that he would rather forget. The pressure is really ramped up when one of his colleagues is kidnapped and he's told he has just twenty-four hours to find them but with a list of multiple places to look will he find the right place before time runs out?

It's abundantly clear that the author has thoroughly researched the mental health issues raised in the book and she deals with them with such an understanding that I felt a genuine empathy for the killer. I know that there's never a good reason to kill someone, but as I read the flashback parts of the story I could see just why things turned out the way they did.

I really enjoyed finding out more about Hamilton as well. He's a character who has his own demons but he battles through and is always focused on his job, sometimes to the detriment of his wife and although they speak, it never seems to be about the important stuff.

The Stranger Within is a breathtakingly tense and fast paced thriller that left me feeling like I'd lost a friend as I read the final words. Although it's book four of a series, I think that it could easily be read as a stand-alone but you'd be missing out on some amazing books, so I would definitely add the previous three little beauties to your TBR.