Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

Some really good and genuinely surprising twists along the way. I enjoyed the characters and the plot was intriguing, especially the Pale Child element.

A very enjoyable book with a great plot. I didn't realise this was the third in a series and although I was able to read it, I do think I would have enjoyed it more had I read the previous books in the series.

I’m a massive fan of Roz’s books, there’s always a topical sinister edge to the plot with compelling flawed characters, brilliant.

Wow! Meg Dalton is surely on a difficult case to investigate this time. Abattoirs, sneaky suspects and creepy, creepy villages with secrets makes this a scary read. I have to say I was on the edge of my seat for most of this and although I flinched a few times, I was compelled to keep on going. I love the uncanny edge to Watkins's books - they really set my spine tingling and this was no exception. Highly recommended

Cut to the Bone by Roz Watkins

When social media star Violet Armstrong, a glamorous advocate of eating meat, vanishes it is strongly suspected that she died in the abattoir in the Derbyshire Peak District town of Gritton, a place where she worked. No trace of her can be found but then there are pigs, hungry pigs. The suspicion of such a gruesome and terrible crime casts a shadow over the community, tinged with a superstitious fear of the circumstances of Violet’s possible death – there are rumours of a strange figure, the Pale Child, the sighting of whom means death and it is believed that Violet saw her just before she disappeared.

Emotions are high as vigilante groups join the fray, threatening to execute animals if the puzzle behind Violet’s disappearance isn’t solved. DI Meg Dalton is caught in the middle of an angry and upset community as she faces the question that perhaps Violet isn’t even dead at all and maybe there is something to be discovered in the dark past of Violet’s own family.

Cut to the Bone is the third novel in Roz Watkins’ fine series featuring Detective Inspector Meg Dalton. I love these books, which all stand alone brilliantly, especially because they so richly evoke their setting in the Peak District, a place that means so much to me, and also because of Meg. Meg is wonderful! There’s no darkness to her, she’s kind, witty and well-liked, with such a good team working beside her. Despite the disturbing crimes she must investigate, it’s always a pleasure to spend time with Meg in this atmospheric place. This novel is set during a hot summer and so there is a different feel to it as everyone must struggle in the heat. And once again it was wonderful to hear those names of familiar places.

This case is a little different because Meg, and us, don’t even know if there’s a body. There is so little to go on and what there is is focused on an abattoir, a place of misery (I’m a vegetarian so I am possibly biased!). Also perhaps because I’m a veggie, I did find the character of Violet quite difficult to like but she is quite a force to be reckoned with and there is much to admire in such a young woman. But it’s the parallel story from the past, of Violet’s parents and family, that I found especially engrossing. Roz Watkins is a fantastic writer and she is so good at fleshing out her characters with mood and feelings. It is a dark tale but it is a beautifully written one.

As usual with this series, it’s the figure of Meg who counteracts the darkness of the crimes and their perpetrators. She reminds us why this is such a special place. Meg doesn’t jump to conclusions. She’s methodical and yet trusts her instincts. We know that right is on her side and that, although the journey might be troubled, she will get there in the end. She’s tested to her limit in Cut to the Bone, tension is high and it’s visceral. You can imagine the squeals of the animals in their last moments, the blood and the violence, which isn’t just against animals. Because of the theme, I did find Cut to the Bone quite disturbing at times but, as always, it’s the Peaks and Meg that drew me in. I can’t wait for Meg’s return.

You can always tell when I love a series. I don’t only have the review book of this, I also have the smart hardback and the audiobook! I listened to the audiobook and it was brilliantly read by Caro Clarke.

Other reviews
The Devil’s Dice
Dead Man’s Daughter

This book had an intriguing storyline that really caught my attention. The twists and turns you were lead through as the story progressed really added to the enjoyment of this read, and the ending really was completely and utterly unexpected.

I really like the character DI Meg Dalton and the ways in which she interacted with her fellow colleagues. Some characters were not so likeable or realistic, however I do think this added a more authentic feeling to the book.

An enjoyable read for anyone who enjoys a good thriller.

I started this but somehow never went back to it. There was nothing wrong with it and the themes of animal rights and social media both interest me, but there are so many police procedurals that it has to be distinctive to make me want to read it. This one just didn't stand out. DNF

Cut to the Bone by Roz Watkins **** 3.60
I read Cut to the Bone with mixed feelings. Sometimes I got lost in the plot, found it plodding along but just as you were getting to the end it all turned around. Shocking and totally unexpected.
I liked the character of DI Meg Dalton and the banter between her colleagues but found the character of Violet Armstrong and her mother a bit off, just not believable.
A good read if you keep going with it.
Thank you to Roz Watkins, HarperCollins and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this novel for which I have given an honest and unbiased review.

This was an interesting book, I wasn't sure at first as I'm of the generation that didn't have social media before so I wasn't sure if it would be easy to follow. The opening scenes are a bit strange, I only have to think of the word abbatoir and what it entails to be upset about all those poor animals, I always wonder how people can actually work there. But nevertheless this led on to the main storyline. I didn't realise that this book is part of a series surrounding Meg, the investigator, but you could still follow it nevertheless. I'm still not sure about the theme but enjoyed reading it.

A great book but a bit too gritty for me. Although the book is well written with a good plot and characters, I didn't enjoy it. I could appreciate why she would be popular with other readers hence the 4*.

I very much enjoyed this book. It has a good story and excellent main characters. I would definately recommend this book.

This review is based on a free copy sent to me by NetGalley to provide a review in exchange.

As a bit of a summary, a young girl goes missing from an abattoir, and the detectives have to determine the reasons behind it.

When I started this book I didn’t realise it was part of a series, but was able to follow the bit of background for the main characters to get an idea of what had happened previously. There is a bit of humour in the writing, which helps humanise the characters, especially as the story does get a bit weird due to the setting of an abattoir.

I enjoyed the book, and if you like British detective novels, then this is a good one to add to your list.

The welcome tropes crime fiction are all here: cerebral v female detective c with problems of her own (which involve past) and an eerie plot (cringe-making involving a pig pen .. need I say more?) But what really impressed me is its setting .. fully observed and also important to the story.. adds depth. I will look out for more abt Meg!!!

I love a good thriller and throw in a detective then you have me sold. Rox Watkins is a new to me author but I liked how she created the dynamics between all the characters with tension and how the storyline went.

It was full of tension and so much atmosphere. It had me on the edge of my seat and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I really enjoyed this book and although I hadn't read the other Meg Dalton books it really didn't matter as the story alone made it a stand out book. When a well known vlogger goes missing and her car is found at the local abbatoir DI Dalton has to wonder why, when hair and blood is found in a pig pen it seem that the vlogger may have come to a violent end but the more she looks into the case the stranger it seems and then there is the story about a pale child who it is said if you look at her directly you will end up dead. There is also a back story from the 1990's running alongside this mystery and also DI Dalton has problems of her own to deal with which makes for a great read, I did find some over narrated bits but that all added to the tension. Beware though this is quite a blood thirsty and violent book but well worth it.

This is the third book in the Meg Dalton series but can be read as a stand alone. I haven’t read the previous two but this didn’t detract from the story, although some of the relationships and in jokes left me a bit puzzled. Meg Dalton is a likeable but flawed character, which seems to be the zeitgeist of a lot of crime books. The setting of the Peak District was clearly defined and added an extra dimension to the book.
Some readers may be put off by the references to commercial pig farming and abattoirs but possibly those readers shouldn’t be looking for murder/crime plots! I was slightly irritated by the romantic fantasies of Meg Dalton and one of the characters and I found myself flicking back in the book to see if I’d missed something, but found that her obsession was pretty unfounded.
Overall I enjoyed the story and didn’t predict the ending, which I like to try to do. However this is the reason why I’ve scored this book 3 stars, rather than 4 stars as I like there to be some hint however subtle of the denouement.

Well I requested the book because of the possibilities raised in the blood and hair of a young woman being found in an empty pig trough at the local abattoir. I wasn't disappointed! The setting around the Peak District was a well described bonus.
A fast-paced involved crime thriller with relatable characters.

Cut to the Bone is the third book in the DI Meg Dalton series, it is the first one I have read and it was easy to read as a stand alone. I think I maybe would have connected a bit better to the characters and their sub story lines and understood their need for banter with each other (which did become rather annoying) if I had read the earlier books, but it didn't affect the actual story line.

I really enjoyed this fast paced crime thriller, the plot was unique and full of twists and turns with a missing person, angry animal activists and creepy folk lore of The Pale Child.
I think I suspected everyone in the book at some point, but I didn't expect ending which was very cleverly done.

What a fantastic read. Non stop action and some clever ideas that make you reel. This is both chilling but with occasional humour. I really enjoyed this. Definitely a top star read.