This was a good read. I enjoyed it although I felt there were similarities to the first book. This was a bit slower paced than the first one

This is the second book in the series and it was equally as good.
A great police procedural which is engaging and well written

The Soul Killer by Ross Greenwood is the second book in the DI Barton series, and It was another great book and i was hooked within the first few pages. This book has lots of twists and turns throughout that just had me wanting more.

I highly recommend this new DI Barton series.

Big thank you to Ross Greenwood, NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an ARC of The Soul Killer in exchange for an honest review.

The Soul Killer is the second book in the DI Barton series from Ross Greenwood but The Soul Killer works absolutely fine as a standalone book. Events that took place in the previous book are referenced though.

The story opens with a young boy suffering a difficult childhood as a result of his mother's fervent but confused religious views. He is not shown any love or affection as a result. But, in spite of this and bullying at school, he survives and thrives, making it into university and onwards into a job where he can make a real impact.

Time jumps forward to the present day, where DI John Barton's team has changed a little following events of the previous book. And since his previous DCI retired Barton has a new boss. Christmas is approaching when Barton is asked to check out a crime scene in a neighbouring county as they have no senior officer available. He carries out all the necessary duties at the crime scene and hands the case back to that force to deal with. Back in his own manor one family lose a member in an apparent suicide and another to a tragic accident, or so it seems. Those left behind are shattered. Then a body is found in a previously neglected allotment and the death is definitely suspicious. And things get way, way more complicated from there.

As with the previous book, The Soul Killer is told from two perspectives - we get a first person peek into the mind of the killer and a third person viewpoint for Barton's police investigation. I like this structure and find it an effective device. We're able to see the killer's thinking and his justification for what he does. I like the immediacy and intimacy the first person view gives us here.

Barton is good, solid man who cares deeply for his family, his job and his colleagues. He seems happy and stable, although is clearly affected by events that happened previously. The investigation is very much a team effort with input from everyone which meant some of the more minor characters came to the fore. I enjoyed meeting DC Clavell who is on secondment to the team but he wasn't an easy fellow to warm to!

For the reader the suspect pool is narrowed fairly early on and we learn the identity of the killer about two thirds of the way through. The police, however, do not. But as he gets more ambitious and twisted the net begins to close in. The denouement is bloody and violent - it made me wince!

The Soul Killer tells a story of social exclusion, obsession and murder and is a cautionary tale of the damage that religion can cause. Greenwood has created a complex antagonist - initially I felt sympathy towards him but that changed as time went on - set against an engaging protagonist. The result is a tense, exciting and shocking thriller with a great cast of players.

Repent in this life. Rejoice in the next....

After the shocking death of one of their colleagues during the Snow Killer investigation, moral is running low throughout DI Barton's team and the last thing they want to be investigating is another possible serial killer case.

But that's exactly what they finds themselves caught up in,they have two murders, no leads, plenty of dead ends and a investigation that has apparently hit a brick wall. But then, when the remains of another body are found, everything leads to a suspect.

The team is galvanised into action and the suspect is arrested. But death still lurks in the shadows, this killer is a cunning psychopath and no soul is safe...not even those of the detectives.

This enthralling tale is told from the dual perspectives of the killer and Di Barton, two men who couldn't have been further apart in personality and how they regarded their fellow human beings. I wasn't sure how I felt about the killer, I felt so much sympathy for him because of the abuse he received from his mother when he was younger. But that didnt excuse his behaviour as a adult, he must have had underlying mental health issues because millions of adults are unfortunately abused when they are children and they don't grow up to become killers. As for his motive, his crimes were definitely wrong but I could also fully understand his reasoning. I think a lot of people have wanted to get their own back on someone for one reason or another. I really liked DI Barton,I loved the banter and camaraderie between the members of the team. I also liked that DI Barton was more than a friend than a boss and that he wasn't the stereotypical heavy smoking, alcoholic cop with a broken marriage and a bad attitude.

This is a well written, gripping police procedural/Thriller that holds the reader's attention throughout, the characters were diverse and realistic, it has loads of twists and turns including a twist that was totally unexpected and shocking. Although events from the previous book were mentioned this book can be read and enjoyed as a standalone. I was a bit disappointed that the identity of the killer was revealed a bit early for my liking but that didn't spoil my enjoyment of this story and I would happily read more of this author's books in the future.

Wow intense and heady read. I tremendously enjoyed this and happy to be given early access. The characters are believable and relatable to me. What a star author

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

Repent in this life...rejoice in the next...

Having not read the first in the DI Barton series I wasn't sure what to expect from THE SOUL KILLER by Ross Greenwood. But I needn't have worried because, while readers are fully kept up to speed from the previous book, what I got was a police procedural of a different kind. We get perspectives from both DI Barton and the killer, making THE SOUL KILLER an edge of your seat crime thriller.

The story opens with the first several chapters from the killer's perspective as he details his unpleasant childhood and abusive delusional mother whose overt religious views simply confused him as a child. As the story progresses, these views are later twisted to rationalise his bloodlust for killing all who stood in his way. The reader can almost feel sorry for him for the childhood he had that shaped the man he became.

As the years progress up to the present day, we meet the woman he believes to be his soul mate. For him, nothing will stand in his way. But he feels her slipping away and he must put a stop to that. After all, they are destined to be together - in the here and now, and in the afterlife. His biggest obstacle is her father who is already dying of lung cancer and had but weeks to live. Maybe the illness has become too much and he can no longer bear to live in such pain. Maybe taking his own life is the answer. Be the master of your own fate, so to speak.

But when his twin daughters - one of which is the killer's girlfriend Claudia - arrive on Christmas morning to find their father hanging from the banister, they immediately suspect foul play. Their father would never have killed himself. But after careful examination and the post mortem, all evidence is consistent with suicide.

Then there is sister's husband, Malcolm. He too has always hated Claudia's boyfriend. And while the sisters grieve together, he and Claudia remain apart no doubt with Malcolm adding his two cents worth. He'll have to go as well. So is it just by pure coincidence he happens upon Malcolm along the dark bike path late one night after a few bevvies with the lads. A sneer here, a snide remark there...and POW! Malcolm falls down the embankment and into the river. Of course he considered helping him, especially after Malcolm's cries pleading "I can't swim!" but no...he will only continue to come between him and Claudia. He has to go.

Naturally, he assumes Claudia will be on the phone to him and he will rush to her side to comfort her. So why is it everything seems to be against him? Even as a child, he didn't stand a chance. But as an adult, he's played it a lot cleverer...and still, it doesn't seem to be good enough. So when his neighbour continues to play music at full volume consistently every day, he's had enough. And he loses control...and makes a mistake...

Then there is DI John Barton. Still reeling after the snow killers case that claimed one of their own, Barton is now burying his good mate Ginger. Along with his team DS Zander, DS Strange, DCs Whitlam and Malik and a couple of new members, Barton heads up the Major Crimes squad under the watchful eye of new DCI Cox. On Christmas morning, they are called to a suicide soon followed by the disappearance of the man's son-in-law a few weeks later. It seems bad luck appears to be following this family.

But it's not until the discovery of human skeletal remains are found in a compost heap of an allotment, that the team begin to sink their teeth into what is clearly a murder. But the bodycount doesn't stop there...and the team begin to wonder if they have a very cleaver serial killer on their hands.

Told from the killer's and Barton's alternating perspectives, THE SOUL KILLER is an exceptional read. There is no real mystery as to who the killer is although the reader doesn't discover his actual identity until about halfway through. And you wonder, so where to go from here? Well, there is plenty more to come on this rollercoaster ride that is sure to give you whiplash as Barton and the team chase down leads and follow up enquiries in the hope that the "soul killer" doesn't get the chance to outsmart them.

I love DI Barton and his family. It makes a refreshing change that he is a stable family man as well as senior investigating officer instead of being the stereotypical boozed up divorced detective. The banter and camaraderie of the team makes for a lively lot.

Although THE SOUL KILLER is the second in the series, it does read easily as a standalone. As well as having enough recap to keep the reader informed as to what went on before. I haven't read "The Snow Killer" but no doubt starting from the beginning is always advisable when reading a series but again, this does suffice as a standalone.

The finale, when it comes, was unexpected. Because given then build up, I had expected something entirely different. But it was still a satisfying conclusion.

A unique style in crime thrillers, THE SOUL KILLER is perfect for fans of gritty fast paced police procedurals that give you something extra, like Stuart MacBride, Val McDermid, Ian Rankin and Angela Marsons.

I would like to thank #RossGreenwood, #NetGalley and #BoldwoodBooks for an ARC of #TheSoulKiller in exchange for an honest review.

Brilliant Read. I really enjoyed the first book in the DI Barton series "The Snow Killer" but this book exceeded my expectations, it was even better than the first. I Can't wait for the next one.

A dark and unsettling thriller that will make every single hair on the back of your neck stand on end, Ross Greenwood’s terrifying chiller, The Soul Killer, is one grisly page-turner you will not want to put down.

DI Barton and his team’s latest investigation is going to require all hands on deck as it could well prove to be their most testing and challenging yet. A family’s life seems to be unusually and unnaturally marked by tragedy with a murder having taken place that was made to look like a suicide whilst another was made to appear like an accident. These cases are baffling Barton and his team – especially as there are no clues or leads that could bring them close to uncovering who this macabre killer could be. After what seems like ages of fruitless digging and investigating, Barton and his team discover the remains of a dead body. A dead body that leads them directly to one suspect. All the evidence is pointing in this direction, but could this neat conclusion to their investigation be a little bit too…convenient. Is this case truly concluded? Or are there any further surprises in store for Barton and his team?

With the suspected killer behind bars, everything can go back to normal. The evidence has been stacked up, the answers have been found and Barton and his team can move on to investigate their next case. Until things take a shocking turn nobody could have possibly foreseen. Death still lurks in the shadows and nobody is safe.
As evil begins to emanate from every corner, Barton and his team find themselves back on the case – only this time they need to be even more vigilant than before because the killer has them in his sight and they won’t rest until victory is claimed.

In a race against time, can Barton and his team find the Soul Killer and ensure that justice is served? Or will they end up paying the ultimate price in their quest for the truth?

A fast-paced, densely plotted and brilliantly written crime thriller, The Soul Killer is a twisted and chilling read with shocks and revelations aplenty you simply will not see coming. Ross Greenwood’s DI Barton books are action-packed, heart-pounding and spine-tingling and The Soul Killer is a crime novel sure to satisfy fans of the genre and readers who enjoy the novels of Stuart MacBride and Jeffery Deaver.

Gritty, terrifying and riveting, The Soul Killer continues to cement Ross Greenwood’s standing as a crime writer to watch out for.

This is a brilliant book. I've not read anything by this author but I most certainly will be after reading this. It's the second book in the series but can easily be read as a stand alone. Brilliant, dark, and so clever it's scary. Thoroughly recommend it.

My thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read and review honestly.

The Soul Killer is the second book in the DI Barton series after reading and loving The Snow Killer I couldn’t wait to see what the author had in store for us. And boy are you guys in for a treat. I didn’t think Ross could get any better but how wrong was I. He has totally nailed it. I cannot begin to tell you how much I love this book.

I actually listened to this on audio David Thorpe has done a brilliant job of narrating this. The story is told in alternate chapters from the POV of the killer…..(a killer we have no idea who it is) and DI Barton and his team. David as done a brilliant job of bringing the characters to life.

This is a truly addictive gripping audio that I couldn’t stop listening to. It is full of twists and turns with plenty of OMG moments. Ross Greenwood just got darker.

Towards the end I found myself laughing. I have to admit that I loved the dry humour. It’s all part of the plot……You need to read it for yourself to see what I mean.

This book certainly ticked all the boxes for me and I feel that the author has definitely found his writing style. DI Barton is a brilliant character I cannot wait to see what happens in the next book.

I cannot recommend this book enough it is flipping brilliant.

Hello again DCI Barton and team nice to have you back. Yes this is the second book in the series but works as well as a standalone. You may find you’re curious about the previous book THE SNOW KILLER which i was also privileged to review on my blog way back in November so check it out. In this encounter Barton is called to the scene of a suspected suicide which to all intents and purposes that’s what it looks like. Then another seemingly unrelated death occurs , and another. What is the reasons behind them and if they are connected then who is it becomes the biggest question. The story is told from two points of view, the killer and Barton. As it unfolds you get to see both sides of the story which gives insights into the minds of both those involved. The chapters from the killer POV give us insight into his life and the events that shaped him to the man he has become. The chapters from Barton POV help us see the man who tracks down the bad guy and type of character he is that drives him to do the job he does. The investigating team are all still coming to terms with the events in the previous book but that helps give you more insight to how the author is crafting them to become a believable, creditable set of characters. As the clues unfold and the identity of the killer is revealed the team must look deeper for the ways and means they need to bring them to justice. The killer proves to be a worthy adversary for Barton and brings out the best in him as a police officer. Fast paced, unpredictable, tense it serves up a great psychological thriller with a flourish of an ending.

This is the second book in the DI Barton series, the first being The Snow Killer. This book can easily be read as a stand alone.

The author tells this story through two narratives, that of the team searching for a clever killer and that of the killer. This is interesting as not only do you see the efforts DI Barton are going to but you see how motivated the killer is. The how and why of their actions, the way they can reconcile their deeds.

This is a brilliantly written book full of twists, that I really didn’t anticipate. The story is dark but it is really an edge of seat thriller that will keep you turning the pages.

'The Soul Killer' is the second book to feature DI Barton and his team. I read, reviewed and loved the first book in the series called 'The Snow Killer'. When I heard that the second book was due for imminent release, I just knew that I had to read it as soon as I could manage to get a copy. Well I managed to get my hands on an early review copy and I can say that 'The Soul Killer' is even better than 'The Snow Killer'. I absolutely loved reading 'The Soul Killer' but more about that in a bit.
Detective Inspector Barton is an interesting and a bit of a complex character. When the story opens we meet a rather depressed Barton, which isn't surprising given the events of his previous case. I won't go into specifics as I would hate to spoil the first book for anybody if they haven't read it yet. Needless to say that what happens has impacted greatly on Barton emotionally and mentally. I quite like Barton and warmed to him from the start. He works well as part of a team but he works equally well on his own. Barton is kind, compassionate, determined, stubborn and he has a gut instinct that is almost always spot on. The case of 'The Soul Killer' promises to test Barton and his team as they have never been tested before. Will Barton manage to solve the case and apprehend the killer? Well for the answer to that question and so much more you are just going to have to read the book for yourselves to find out as I am not going to tell you.
To say that reading 'The Soul Killer' was addictive, is a massive understatement. As soon as I picked the book up and met the main characters, that was it for me. I just knew that I wouldn't be able to put the book down. Well I must be psychic because that is exactly what happened. I became so wrapped up in the story that I wouldn't have been able to put the book down even if I had wanted to. The book wasn't exactly glued to my hand but it might as well have been because the book travelled everywhere with me. The baddie (as I call them) made my skin crawl and gave me the heebie jeebies and I just had to keep reading to find out if Barton could stop the killer in his tracks or whether or not the baddie would harm Barton. The pages turned over at an increasingly quick pace as I raced my way through the story. At one point the page numbers became a blur. I was so immersed in the story that I lost all track of time and I didn't realise just how quickly I was getting through the story. I was staggered to realise that I had read 33% of the story when I looked up to check on my progress.
'The Soul Killer' is superbly written but then I thought that to be true of 'The Snow Killer' too. The author has one of those writing styles that is easy to get used to and easy to get along with. The story is narrated from two different sides. One side being the voice of the baddie and the other side follows Barton and his team as they go about their work. I did wonder if I might get a bit confused with which chapter was from which point of view as they are not clearly marked. I needn't have worried though because the different chapters interlinked well and the story flowed seamlessly.
Reading 'The Soul Killer' was like being on one hell of an at times scary and very unpredictable rollercoaster ride with more twists and turns than you find in a bag of fusilli pasta. Just when you thought that you could take a minute to allow your heartbeat to settle, you could reclaim your stomach and you could take a moment to gather your breath, then off the action would go again.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'The Soul Killer' and I would definitely recommend this book to other readers. I will definitely be reading more of Ross' work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.

The Soul Killer is a noir crime thriller. The antagonist's, first-person point of view, gives unique insights into an abusive childhood and motivation for subsequent crimes. Alongside this is a third-person perspective detail the police investigation.

There's an authentic mix of psychological suspense and police procedural. A complex plot keeps its clues well hidden. DI Barton's character continues to develop in a realistic and relatable way. This is the second in the series but reads as a standalone too.

The Soul Killer is riveting crime fiction with a twist of psychological suspense.

I received a copy of this book from Boldwood Books via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

I haven’t read anything by Ross Greenwood before but I love a British crime series so when @dawn recommended this I downloaded it straight away! The story splits between the perspective of the killer and DI Barton. Barton and his team are very likeable characters and this is something I really enjoyed about this book. This is the 2nd book in the series and although I haven’t read the it could easily be read as a stand alone and I didn’t feel I was missing anything. It did leave me wanting to go back and read book 1 though as I’m intrigued now! As you would hope for a thriller it has plenty of suspense and I really enjoyed it. Thanks to netgalley and rossg555 for the preview of this book!

This was a great police detective book. The chapters were very short and it was extremely fast paced. I absolutely loved this book and can’t wait to read the others in the series.

This starts with the disturbing childhood of a young boy and his ultra religious mother…he is used to pain!

DI Barton is still recovering from dealing with the Snow Killer, when he starts investigating sudden deaths in a family.

As the body count grows Barton is drawn into the dark mind of the Soul Killer….

I can’t say too much for fear of spoiling the plot, but this is a dark, psychological serial killer thriller. It’s disturbing, action filled, truly chilling and thoroughly engrossing.

Thank you to the author, the publishers and NetGalley for an eARC of the book. This is my honest and unbiased review.

The Soul Killer is the second book in Ross Greenwoods D.I Barton series. The first being The Snow Killer, which was an explosive read in it's own right made me wonder exactly where the author could take this one.I needn't have worried. This book is even better. The story is told in two ways,we get to basically be inside the killers mind and we get to understand the reasoning. The other is the Police investigation thats ongoing throughout the book.We also learn a lot more of the killers history from his point of view and this helps to keep the tension increased as the horror builds with every sentence as we learn more and more! The very fact that we aren't certain who it is but the clues are being drip fed to us throughout the narrative.
D.I Barton and his team are tasked with investigating a suicide that the family are adamant wasn't and as events unfold the team have no time to lose. D.I Barton and the team have such good banter and are a great team, they work well together, specially when the pressure is on!
The characters are all well written to the degree that you invest in them and are swept into the story with all the horror, chills and suspense that comes with the narrative and then the unexpected twist that is shocking in itself as well. With thanks to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for an Advance Copy of the book.