When a patient escapes from a psych ward it’s D I Hamilton that he comes under it .
He starts to come under his soul
Roll on book 5
Thank you from Netgallery

Book 4 in the series and it didn't disappoint. Having already read the first three I was really excited to get my hands on a copy of this. Tara's book is so good it had me hooked from the first paragraph and i read it in just over a day.
I love all the characters. It's great to learn more about the longstanding characters like DI Hamilton and his team, but I also love the attention to detail and depth that Tara gives her new characters in each book. The concept is stunning and the plot gripping. I found it shocking, thought provoking and incredibly moving in places. Yes I'll admit I did cry once or twice. It's one of those books that I got emotionally invested in and simply couldn't put down.
I'm already looking forward to book 5 (hint hint to the author) and would definitely recommend this book. I think you could easily read it as a standalone but it's well worth reading the other 3 in the series if you haven't already, because it makes this one just so much more thrilling.

A gripping crime thriller that will hook readers from the very first page and keep them engrossed until the very last full stop, The Stranger Within is an exceptional chiller featuring Tara Lyons’ terrific sleuth DI Denis Hamilton.

Forced into a briefing in the early hours of the morning of his weekend off with his family, DI Hamilton is not exactly in the best of moods. However, what he hears during this briefing pushes all thoughts of a weekend off out of his mind when he finds himself having to unravel an investigation which he had thought long closed. Having to put his personal problems to one side, Hamilton and the Murder Investigation Team have got a difficult job on their hands – especially when they come up against a mentally ill patient hell-bent on vengeance and revenge. With time not on their side and dead ends aplenty, will Hamilton and his team manage to get to the bottom of this impossible mystery? Or are there too many obstacles standing in their way to uncover the truth about this cold case?

A man with plenty of secrets in his heart and dark memories in his past, this case is proving to be anything but easy for Hamilton. Throwing himself into his work usually does the trick for him, but when he finds himself having to open his mind to the difficulties and challenges of mental illness to catch a murderer, will Hamilton be forced down a dark and dangerous path from which there is simply no going back? When a colleague’s life is threatened, Hamilton, however, is forced in a race against time to unlock the truth about the stranger within and find a killer. But is is too late? Will this case continue to stump Hamilton and his team? Or will they find the answers they are looking for at the eleventh hour?

The Stranger Within is everything you could possibly want from a crime novel and so much more besides. With a terrific sleuth, jaw-dropping twists and turns aplenty, nail-biting suspense and heart-pounding intrigue, The Stranger Within is a first rate crime novel from a writer you should definitely add to your list of favourites: Tara Lyons.

A fabulous crime novel that will keep you on the edge of your seat, The Stranger Within is not to be missed!

DI Denis Hamilton is called in to investigate a murder that took place in a mental health facility. The killer who escaped is a patient with a mental called Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) which developed as a result of being abused as a child. Now ... revenge is the sole reason that more people will die.

Comparing the present day with memories of his tragic past, can Hamilton open his mind to the difficulties of mental illness in order to catch a murderer? And when a colleague's life is threatened, can Hamilton unlock the truth of the stranger within before it's too late?

This is an action-packed, fast-paced crime fiction with characters that are well defined and come to life under this author's pen.

Even though this is 4th in the series, it does well as a stand alone. As always, I recommend starting at the beginning of the series to understand where the recurring characters come from and what molded them into the people they are.

Many thanks to the author / Bloodhound Books / Netgalley for the digital copy of THE STRANGER WITHIN. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

I love reading a series so that I feel connected to the core key players straight away with each new story. This is the fourth book in the D.I. Denis Hamilton series and although you could read it as a stand alone I feel that you would get so much more out of it by reading from the beginning. Hamilton has had massive personal tragedies in his past that do reflect the way in which he views certain people. His work and his personal life have often clashed in the past. This case will have a huge impact on him.
When a mental health patient escapes Manor Hall Psychiatric Unit, after committing a brutal murder, D. I. Hamilton and his team are called in to track the woman down. The case takes a dive when it becomes personal to the team and a race against time starts to tick down each valuable second. This is a heart breaking story that is littered with cries for help that everyone was deaf to, the reality of it all is chilling and terrifying, especially for someone in the team.
Tara Lyons has certainly got her feet firmly placed in this genre, with this book being my favourite so far. I found that the story played havoc with my own mind and emotions so much, for the little girl to what then evolved inside her. I felt that the character she created in this story will make any reader feel uneasy, but in a scary book reading way because wow it hits the mark for one hell of a story line!
I wish to thank NetGalley and Bloodhound Books for an e-copy of this book which I have reviewed honestly.

DI Hamilton is back and he’s up against it in The Stranger Within when one of his team is taken by an escaped convict. A dangerous convict on a mission. They say revenge is a dish best served cold; well let’s just say this individual wants their ice cream….

I do like Denis Hamilton, he’s a no-nonsense kind of policeman. When he comes up against something new which in this twisted case is the concept of ‘dissociative identity disorder’, he needs get on board. And things don’t get any easier when he has to choose between his home and his work, especially when his wife drops a bombshell! 😲😲

Ms Lyons dropped enough clues to keep me guessing as to the whats and whys. Plenty of shockers to keep me turning the pages as fast as my eyes would let me. But that climax, my jaw dropped and stayed there. I could not believe what I was reading. I really did not expect that outcome!

I’ve read each of the Denis Hamilton books in order which is rare for me and each can be read as a standalone however I HIGHLY RECOMMEND YOU READ IN THE SHADOWS BEFORE VENTURING INTO THE STRANGER WITHIN. Yes I did shout that….it has to be said so that you get the full picture of what Denis and the team are up against.

Happy Publication Day! The Stranger Within is book four in the brilliant DI Hamilton series which I am absolutely loving! A fab series you must all add to your to read pile. I would recommend this series is best read in order.

Wow weeee. Where to beginning? What another brilliant story written by Tara. I flew through this story! This could possibly be the best story yet. Gripping, thrilling and a real page turner. A book you will want to read in one sitting. I think I may just have fallen inlove with DI Hamilton a little.

This time the case gets dark and personal for the team, could this be their worst case yet when one of their own is involved? When a killer wants revenge? Bloody brilliant. Cleverly written! A well deserved five stars from me… I now eagerly await book five… Hopefully 😉 Highly recommend!

This is book number four in the incredibly great and very consistent series featuring DI Denis Hamilton and his team. This story follows on a year later from the events in the very first story “In The Shadows” and explores the concept of Dissociative Identity Disorder which the author has clearly researched well. Unfortunately for the team this makes it so much harder for them to try to recapture the murderer who has escaped from a secure mental hospital in order to further tackle the demons that she still battles with. It is very interesting idea that she is both predator and victim at the same time. The book is well written, the pace is fast and it grips the reader right from start to finish. I loved it and I am already waiting for book number five (please!).

Tara Lyons is a crime writer who hails from London, UK, she has always had a love for both reading and writing. Lyons studied English Literature at Brunel University and was Assistant Editor at an in-house magazine for a period of eight years. Having held a lifelong dream of becoming a successful writer, after turning 30 in 2015 she turned her dream into a reality, with her solo debut "In The Shadows", the first book in the Detective Inspector Denis Hamilton series, being published in March 2016. "No Safe Home" and "Deadly Friendship", book two and three in the series came out in January and July 2017 respectively. She has also written books as part of a writing duo with New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author M. A. Comley, penning "The Caller" and "Web of Deceit" together.

Well, this series is turning out to be a corker and this book is no exception! Gripping right from the get-go, easy-to-follow and a flowing, accessible narrative coupled with a great story and developed characters this is a excellent addition to the DI Hamilton franchise. As the synopsis suggests, there is an emphasis on mental illness in this book in particular and it is done pretty believably. Lyons uses the symptoms of Multiple Personality Disorder to ratchet up the tension and it continues to build nicely throughout the reading experience. The pacing is perfect as it's quick enough to keep the story suspenseful but you never feel as though things have been rushed. It is intelligently written and has an air of authenticity to it that a lot of thrillers lack these days. It feels as if the author has properly thought about the concept and made sure she executed it well. It is clear that she has done her research on the topics explored here and I appreciated that I was also learning as well as relaxing.

In "The Stranger Within" the killer police are seeking is a complex and often confused individual making catching them much more difficult than it usually would be but time is also running out for them to find this elusive predator. Can they net them before it's too late? I must mention DI Denis Hamilton - I loved his character from when he was first introduced back in the series opener and you learn a lot about him throughout this series. As I always mention in this situation, although this can easily be read as a standalone novel, I would recommend perhaps beginning at the start and reading them chronologically to see the evolution of the characters. Even reading this one and if you enjoy it going back and acquiring the others would be preferable to not reading them at all.

I look forward to the fourth book and hope it will be up to Ms. Lyons high standards. Somehow, with each additional book Lyons surpasses her last offering - long may that continue!

Many thanks to Bloodhound Books for an ARC. I was not required to post a review and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

This is another gripping book in the D I Hamilton series.
A woman escapes from a secure hospital after killing a security guard and the takes another hostage.
She is suffering from multiple personality disorder and we find out through flashbacks what happened to her when she was a child.
This seems to have trigger her mental breakdown and turned her into a killer.
Hamilton and the team are really up against it trying to find the killer before she takes the hostage’s life.
Thanks to Bloodhound Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

Book 4 in the DI Denis Hamilton series, and what a thriller! This book had me hooked from the very first line, which is something I love about books. The breakneck speed of this brilliant read made putting it down very, very difficult. The team are searching for a killer who has abducted one of their own. The killer they are seeking is very evasive and complex. and time is running out. The plot which was intriguing and to me, terrifying. I honestly can't say too much about the plot for fear of giving a spoiler. This is such a great series and is going from strength to strength. Can't wait for book 5!

This is such a good series and I’m thrilled that DI Hamilton is still one of the main focuses in Tara Lyons books. I fell in love with him after reading Tara’s first book In The Shadows so it has been wonderful catching up with him again here. Although The Stranger Within can be read as a standalone novel, you may want to pick up the previous books to read as well as there is background information contained in them you may prefer to have the full facts about.

Now how to review The Stranger Within without spoiling the plot for anyone?! All I will say is that an escaped inmate from a psychiatric facility is hellbent on seeking revenge and it looks like it could get rather personal for the investigating team! With lives in danger can DI Hamilton solve what’s probably his most difficult case so far?

Tara Lyons is a natural storyteller and as soon as I started reading A Stranger Within I was swept away into her strongly constructed narrative and the mind of a criminal that I felt a very strong connection to. The themes explored were delicately handled especially the issues raised by the treatment of patients with mental health problems. It was very difficult not to feel torn by the emotions stirred up as the nature of the crimes committed was revealed. And that’s all down to the way the character development, meaning that you really get inside their heads.

I’m so pleased that this series seems to be getting better with every book released and I’m now quite invested in both the private and professional lives of Denis Hamilton. With a contemporary feel, great characterisation and a gripping storyline The Stranger Within proved to be an addictive read to the very last page. More please!

With thanks toNetgalley and the publishers for the book in exchange for an honest review.
It is a long time since I have read a book and felt the tension coming off the page, as I did whilst reading ‘The Stranger Within’. It was a very compelling read and talked and tried to explain the reasons for the the victims mental illness. It was not an easy read but it was really interesting and informative. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this story.
Recommended.

Had me gripped from the first page, a definate case of could not put down till finished. Would recommend this book to all fans and those who are looking for a compelling read

My first book by Tara Lyons & already I’m looking forward to reading the others in the series.

This had me hooked from the beginning. Fast paced & enthralling. Left me wanting to find out more about DI Hamilton & his life.

4.5 stars

The fourth book in the DI Hamilton series is a powerful psychological thriller. The human mind is fascinating and this gripping book gives a good insight with it's fast pace and the build up of tension. I love the character development showing a softer side to Hamilton. Another super read from Tara Lyons. Thanks to Net Galley for my copy. Reviews on Goodreads and Facebook with Amazon to follow.

This is the latest in the DI Hamilton series following the MIT team based in London and this one sees the return of Grace Murphy, a character we first met in the first book, In the Shadows, where she was fighting many demons, due to events of her past.  This one brings Grace/Carly back to us, where she is now in a secure hospital diagnosed with Dissociative Identity Disorder and still fighting those demons.  When Hamilton and his team are called to the hospital to investigate a murder, they are faced with a case that they considered well and truly closed and it opens up a whole new can of worms when one of his team goes missing, but will the team get to their colleague before it's too late?

It's very clear throughout the book that the author has researched the topic of DID thoroughly and tells the story with the greatest respect of a condition that needs to be treated with kid gloves, as no two patients with this condition deal with it in the same way. 

After reading the first three books in this series, I had very high expectations of this latest one and Tara Lyons did NOT disappoint! Her characters are all very plausible and true to life and i enjoyed seeing a bit more background from each of them this time, I was hooked from page one, right up to the end and finished it in less than a day, I really hope that there will be a book five!  Although these books can be read as standalone, I urge anyone that hasn't read this series yet to read them in order to fully understand the characters.

I would like to thank Bloodhound Books for the approval of this book and will post my review on Goodreads now and on Amazon on publication day.  A very well deserved 5 stars

Once again a riveting storyline that keeps you guessing all the way through. A tense story that will take your breath aay in places I love the characters .

In this the latest in the DI Hamilton series (No:4) the author once again weaves a gripping tale that drew me in from the start.
Grace Murphy who suffers from a multiple personality disorder escapes from an allegedley secure hospital after killing a security guard. She has one thing one her mind to exact revenge on the people she blames for her situation.
We learn the background causes of Graces illness and why her disorder was triggered.
A lot of research was obviously done and the character of Grace comes to life showing how the effects of childhood trauma can manifest itself.
Can Denis Hamilton and his team stop her before she kills again?
I found this an interesting as well as exciting read that moved along at a fast pace, I even found I had sympathy for Grace.
Thanks to Netgalley and Bloodhound books for the opportuninty to read this as an ARC.
I hope there will be more books in the DI Hamilton series.

Wow Tara Lyons has done it again with denis Hamilton and her latest book. I wasn't sure how well this book would come across as I have loved the previous books but this definitely didn't disappoint.

This is probably the best book in the series. It was so emotional and the characters really struck home many times.