Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the eARC.
Great book! Normally I'm not that crazy about serial killer books, but this one was different from the norm. It wasn't as gruesome as many are and the chapters are split into DI Barton's and the killer's
viewpoints. At the beginning I actually felt empathy for the killer; he had an terrible childhood with a cruel, crazy mother as well as an awful time being bullied at school. He feels undervalued as an adult and that life finally owes him a break.
DI Barton is a very sympathetic character, I liked him a lot. He has a great, understanding wife and 3 children. He wishes he had more time to spend with them, especially as Christmas nears. But several deaths (maybe murders, maybe suicide or accident) keep him and the team extremely busy. We know the truth because we read the killer's account and his reasoning for the killing, which makes for an intriguing read.
I liked the jokes between the members of the team, it lightened the atmosphere and gave me time to catch my breath.
A good, tense ending made this a book that I had a hard time putting down. Highly recommended!