I love novels set in my part of London and I felt that the author got is absolutely spot on.

A great debut featuring an interesting main character who is given just enough of a back story to make one feel for her and her predicaments.

I'm keen to read a follow-up to this first book and thank NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

‘The Trigger Man’ is the debut crime novel from writer Nadine Matheson, who is getting a lot of good press and who I suspect will become a regular on mystery fan’s shelves. It’s a mostly successful and very readable serial killer thriller that mixes good central characters and a realistic depiction of modern London with a slightly hokey, overblown plot.
The book follows a black female detective, Anjelica Henley with the Metropolitan Police’s Serial Crime Unit, investigating a series of dismembered corpses. The crimes bear similarities to Henley’s most notorious previous case, serial killer Peter Olivier, nicknamed by the press the Jigsaw Man.
The spectre of an imprisoned psychopath hanging over a current investigation is a familiar one, but Matheson uses it well. Olivier is deeply creepy and the mystery of who is committing the current crimes is well handled. At times the high stakes, high concept plot feels a bit at odds with the humdrum police procedural detail, but it certainly kept me turning the pages.
What the book does best, though, is provide a believable cast of characters and a very real feeling London. Both are multi-cultural and convincing, with race and gender interwoven throughout the story. Matheson does a bit less with her black, female Detective Inspector than I expected her too, but the book works well and Henley is an engaging lead.
As in the best modern crime novels, the police feel like working Joes (or Janes) in ‘The Jigsaw Man’, balancing the demands of home against the pressures of the job. Henley and her sidekick both have a lot going on outside of work, but those details add to the book rather than slowing it down. Similarly, the sense of place in the book is spot on. The dirty bustle of London is very recognisable, and the book made me miss the city that COVID has kept me away from over the last year.
It’s a shame that the plot lacks the credibility of the book’s other features. It’s definitely an enjoyable page turner, but it’s a bit over the top and silly at times too. If Matheson can lift her plotting to the level of her characters, then British crime fiction may have found a big new voice.

‘The Jigsaw Man’ is the debut novel by Nadine Matheson.

When bodies start washing up along the banks of the River Thames, DI Henley fears it is the work of Peter Olivier, the notorious Jigsaw Killer. But it can’t be him; Olivier is already behind bars, and Henley was the one who put him there. She’d hoped she’d never have to see his face again, but Henley knows Olivier might be the best chance they have at stopping the copycat killer. But when Olivier learns of the new murders, helping Henley is the last thing on his mind. Now all bets are off, and the race is on to catch the killer before the body count rises. But who will get there first – Henley, or the Jigsaw Killer?

If you’re a fan of grisly murders and plenty of gore then this book is packed with it.

The story is primarily seen through the perspective of SDI Henley, who is having to relive a nightmare when a series of murders happen across London all baring resemblance to a serial killer that nearly killed her two years ago. Limbs are being found all the over place and no one can find rhyme nor reason why someone is copycating the ‘Jigsaw Man’ who’s behind bars.

The story flows at a fast pace as Henley tries to catch the killer along with her new trainee detective called Ramouter, who’s first case is attracting a media frenzy as the limbs count up. As Henley tries to catch the serial killer, the only way to do that is by confronting her fears and visiting the famous ‘Jigsaw Man’ aka Peter Olivier, the man who nearly killed her and is costing her marriage.

I loved this story, but be warned it’s not for the faint hearted. Congratulations to Nadine, who’s managed to create a fantastic serial killer who’s not only charismatic but chilling who really gets underneath the readers skins with his creepiness. Whilst Henley is trying to maintain her sanity and professionalism with the case but it’s difficult with so many similarities triggering unsettling memories for the detective. She’s a great character, a strong willed woman who refuses to be judged on her gender or race and takes no crap from anyone.

Although this book is a debut, it reads like a series and I’d love a prequel to the book, when we initially meet the famous ‘Jigsaw Man’.

Creepy, intense and filled with action that will literally fill you with fear, ‘The Jigsaw Man’ is a thrilling debut that is gruesomely great.

You can pre-order ‘The Jigsaw Man’ from Amazon and will be available to buy from good bookshops from 18th February 2021.

This was a true gritty crime and I loved it, body parts being left all over the show, can they match them up, and is it a serial killer? This was brilliant and I could not put it down.

I’d like to thank NetGalley and HQ for approving me for an ARC of this debut novel.

The story follows DI Henley and her team as they try to solve a series of gruesome and gory murders. Whilst trying to solve this mystery Henley has a trainee on her hands and a husband demanding she leave her job or else. To top it off Henley has only just returned to active duty, after an incident that put her life at risk! Is it any wonder that she is feeling the stress?

Whilst Henley had been through a lot I didn’t always agree with her choices. She was very brave to continue on the case and I admired her handling of it but I felt she treated Pellacia unfairly. He is obviously head over heels in love and I feel like she can’t make her mind up. I’d be interested to see where this story leads. Stanford and Ramouter were my favourite members of Henley’s team, they both seemed to work really well with her and as a trainee I thought Ramouter was a quick thinker and strived to prove himself.

Olivier was a charming character that oozed confidence. I could understand why he committed the original murders, even if they were horrendous. It’s strange to say but I thought he made a brilliant serial killer and the way he tormented Henley gave me chills. The final confrontation between himself and Henley was intense and dramatic, I was literally holding my breath during those final scenes.

What made this book stand out for me wasn’t the violence or the gruesome details but the addition of the copy cat killer! Yes the way the murders were carried out was completely different to anything I had read before but watching the team scramble trying to work out why these murders were happening again was very entertaining. I loved seeing all angles of the investigation, from Linh and Anthony on forensics to Ezra hacking devices, all members of the team showed the many steps involved. I hadn’t guessed any of the reveals so all the twists and turns added to an already brilliant read.

I can’t wait to see what DI Henley and her team face next, something tells me it’s going to be exciting!!

Wow that was intense!! Thoroughly enjoyed this read - Nadine Matheson certainly knows how to keep a reader gripped! I knew by the end of the first chapter I was going to enjoy this and I really did. Everything a crime thriller should have was there. I’ll certainly be looking out for more from this author!

DI Anjelica Hanley has been deskbound since she returned from injury & maternity leave when she is asked to investigate the gory findings of body parts by the river. Being paired with a trainee detective doesn't exactly fill her with glee but she is glad to be doing what she does best. The body count rises & the method of killing points to Olivier, the infamous 'Jigsaw Killer'- but he's in jail & she put him there. This is beginning to look like a copycat. Part of her investigation means speaking to Olivier- something that she is not comfortable with. When the investigation moves too close to home her husband moves out with their daughter, giving her an ultimatum- the job or her family.

This is not a book for those who shy away from the guts & gore, (some of the descriptions are pretty graphic!!) I did feel at times that the book was a bit overlong although the narrative kept the interest. Although this is the first in a series it did seem as if there was a lot of back story you were missing. I liked the relationships between the police team although I thought Henley's husband was a bit of a pain- however if my other half had been through what she had I would probably be the same!

Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book- I'm already looking forward to the next one.

Anjelica has been given her first ‘out of the office’ case since suffering from PTSD after her encounter with Olivier aka The Jigsaw Man. The case she has been given shares all the hallmarks of Oliviers kills however he is serving life in prison. Does Anjelica have a copy cat on her hands or is Olivier directing this from his cell.

If you are a fan of a dark, detective thriller then I recommend! It’s on the longer side however I never felt it dragged. I was fully invested in all the characters and story line. Anjelica was a great lead character, flawed and suffering but still gave her job everything. The only character I hated was her husband. He was just an awful man and the way he makes Anjelica feel broke my heart. She is no saint but he is just a *insert swear word here of your choice!*

A word of warning that this book is quite gruesome so you will need a strong stomach for some of the descriptions.

I received this book through net galley in exchange for an honest review.

I love a crime book especially with a female lead, and this book did not disappoint, i raced through this book and I hope we get to meet Henley again and her trainee as I think this could be a continuing series very easily.

I thoroughly enjoyed this debut crime Thriller by Nadine Matheson, plenty of twists and turns and totally believable characters. I flew through this book and hope that it is going to be the first in a series.

“I always find it odd when people say that of the dead. They had their whole life ahead of them. Clearly, they didn't because they're dead. We may not like the method of disposal but when it's your time to go, then it's your time to go.”

DI Angelica Henley, is back to working active duty on the streets after recovering from a stabbing upon apprehending the serial killer known as The Jigsaw Man two years ago. Her first day back she is called to the scene when body parts are found on the banks of the River Thames in Deptford, eerily reminiscent of the MO of Peter Oliver, The Jigsaw Man. When a severed head is delivered to Henley's home, she realises that the copycat is taking a personal interest in her and that the victims have not been chosen at random. To catch the killer, Henley must confront her own demons - - and when Olivier escapes from prison, she finds herself up against not one serial killer, but two.
This book has been one of my favourite reads so far this year. Such strong characters that are brought to life slowly throughout the story with their back stories coming out piece by piece. A thrilling murder case which was a real mystery with information becoming available in what felt like real time for the case. All the way through I wasn't able to catch up and guess and I loved that, I just wanted to find out what happened.
I was sucked into the story from the first page and hooked the whole way through. I loved Henley, she was strong headed and incredibly stubborn and I can see why she would have to be in that environment, but it was hard to see strain on her marriage and her relationship with her daughter. Henley and her relationship with her partner was brilliant and endearing and I loved that all their lives were full of personal drama as well as the ongoing investigation which just made me fall in love with them as they felt like real people.
I was a bit concerned that there was still a lot to be resolved in the last 5% but it all came together perfectly and with a twist at the end, leaving it open to another book which I really hope there is!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
5/5

This is not a bad read, however I just never felt gripped by it...the story felt at times like it was 'at sea', which can be a good thing in a thriller, but reading through I found the ending below par too. Many thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this book.

This is a great murder story which has taken me ages to read which seems strange during lockdown, but I have been so busy with projects at home and fitness training that reading has been taking a backseat. I say this because it does not reflect on the quality of the book. Writing style is an easy going style making ideal for reading in small sessions without loosing the enjoyment. The story is fairly predictable but very enjoyable and scary nonetheless.

Loved this! So good, so exciting, so gripping and great story. Can't wait to read more by this author - absolutely brilliant.

Thanks to Net Galley and HQ for an ARC of this book in exchange for a review.
This is a gripping read, a game of cat & mouse as The Jigsaw Killer, chases the copycat killer. Cleverly plotted, a gruesome, gory, violent fast paced read.
DI Angelica Henley has been called out to a crime scene where body parts, of only one, but two victims have are scattered by the river. She knows that Peter Oliver, The Jigsaw Man is behind bars in prison, she helped put him there, who is copying his his gruesome violent signature murders and why.
As Angelica investigates she one again puts herself in danger as she comes closer to solving the puzzle.
Will be hoping for a 2nd book featuring DI Henley and her team.

I am a little unsure about what to say here. On the one hand I couldn't put the book down, which is a very good thing. On the other hand I did not find the story original. Detective who has a history with and is a personal target for a serial killer is not new. Female detective with family issues and 'baggage' is not new. Sometimes I long for a straightforward detective novel. However setting aside the origins of the story the characters are interesting and the story is well woven. The description is, in places, gruesome and vicious which might trouble some readers. I have rated this on the fact that it is a page turner.

This book had a sort of Chris Carter feel to it. Short sharp chapters with the need to consult a killer in order to catch a killer. I did think personally that if it was a bit shorter it may have had more of impact. Otherwise was still a good read and i am looking forward to more from this author

The first point to make is damn this book is graphic. If you are squeamish then avoid this one because there are a lot of gory descriptions. Can’t really expect anything less from a book about a killer who chops up his victims. I enjoyed the murder/whodunnit part of this book but I found the pace a bit off and it was longer than it needed to be. It dragged in some places and took me a while to get into. I actually thought I was reading the second book in a series for a bit because there’s a lot of references to the past with no explanations. It is, however, all tied up and explained eventually. I also struggled to keep up with the sheer number of characters. There were just too many to keep track of. I loved Henley and Ramouter though and would love to see more of them. Henley's personal life definitely added to the complications. The way the killer acted in the end didn’t make a huge amount of sense and I hate cliff hanger endings but, all in all, it was a good read with a gritty murder that kept me reading.

I received a copy of the ebook via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Fantastic! What a roller coaster ride this one was, serial killer behind bars yet someone is still carrying out the killings they did in the same way, then said serial killer behind bars escapes so now we’ve two on the loose, you couldn’t make it up, it’s brilliant.

Great plot I thought and it’s very graphic and gruesome which I love, I thought there were many twists in there and a few red herrings and I really enjoyed this one, I didn’t know it was a debut as you’d think for sure it’s from a seasoned author, loved it, fantastic, hopefully we will see more from Nadine soon 😃

Hello new exciting author on the block!

I was blown away by the quality and maturity of this gripping book. The plot is tight and the characters are real. I particularly liked the way the author didn’t feel the need to join all the historic dots so we were fed the main characters’ back stories as the book progressed which almost had the feel of this being a second or third book in a series. Actually I looked this up and that’s when I discovered The Jigsaw Man was a debut novel. I hope we will have more books staring the SCU and the characters who work there.

If you only read one London based police procedural book this year, make it this one!