Member Reviews
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for this ARC.
Wow. Just wow. I thoroughly enjoyed this read. I’ve read the first book, but not the 2nd or 3rd and I wondered if this would be as good as The Thames Path Killer. It was and if anything it exceeded my expectations. I think the author has created such a likeable and believable main character here, with a good team of work colleagues behind him. When a teenage girl witnesses a robbery, her DNA shows a familial match to an unsolved murder case 12 years earlier and the case is reinvestigated. The book had me hooked from the first page to the last and held my attention all the way through. I thought this was such a well written story with a great plot line and was full of tension and suspense. I loved the twists here, some I had guessed, some I hadn’t and the book raced to a thrilling conclusion with all loose ends tied up. Overall, a great entertaining read, one I would recommend and I’m looking forward to the next one (and will read books 2 and 3 when I can).
16 year old Rachael gets caught up in a high street robbery as she passes by. The police take her DNA and it has a familial match to a series of cold cases of the Boxhill Murders. 12 years earlier, Noah Palmer goes for a cycle ride and never returns. His body is found at Boxhill, in a white circle, with a pentagram carved into his chest. The killer has never been caught.
DCI Rob Miller reopens the case and realises not everything about the original case tallies up.
This is the first book in the series I have read and didn’t feel I needed to have read the previous. The characters are well described and learn lots of their past and home life’s too. I really enjoyed this book and read in one sitting! Look forward to reading more in the series.
This was the first Biba Pearce book I've read, and I can't wait to read the first three books in this series. Twelve years before, Suzie Palmer was worrying about her husband, Noah, who hadn't come home from his 50K training bicycle ride. They have three children under 7, and she finally calls their friend Sam Laurence, who is a detective with the London Met. Sam sends out searches, but arrives early in the morning to tell Suzie that Noah was found murdered on Box Hill. It was assumed to be the fourth Pentagram Killing. There was a circle drawn around the body and a star cut into the chest with candles at the points!
Now, 12 years later, a young woman, Rachel Norton, is walking down the street, when 4 mean on mopeds rush into a jewelry store carrying metal rods. She pulls out her phone, and the men grab her. When the police arrive, she is herded with the robbers, and they take DNA. It turns out that her DNA has a tie with DNA that was found on Noah Palmer's body 12 years before. She is interviewed by Rob Miller, who tells her that someone who was related to her had left DNA on Noah Palmer near the time he was murdered. Rob then interviews Rachel's Mom and finds she had been an escort and had spent the night with him the night before he was murdered, and Rachel is his child.
As Rob gets into the investigation, he ruffles some feathers and gets in trouble for trying to interview the top candidate for Mayor of London who worked with Noah years before. The investigation moves slowly, and soon there is a murder of a woman psychologist who works with the police and was the family liaison for the Palmer family. Rob is certain that the new murder is related to the 12 year old one, but his bosses are giving him a lot of trouble.
The plot is very well done and the characters are well developed and interesting. The book gets very exciting, and the ending is satisfying! Although the villain is fairly obvious, it isn't clear until the end how they will manage to arrest this person, and there are some surprises.
This was a new series for me and how I've only just discovered it is a mystery to me!
A cold case is reopened as new evidence is brought to light and DCI Rob Miller and his team are tasked with investigating the case of the pentagram killer.
This was a fast paced intense read with lots of layers brought to light as the investigation unfolds, the character are relatable and you find yourself completely absorbed into their world.
An engrossing crime thriller that has me intrigued right from the first page with no let up till the end the author certainly catches your attention with this one!
This is the first book I have read in this series, but it works as a stand alone, although I wished I had read the previous ones for knowing the characters better.
An innocent bystander is arrested for a crime and her DNA shows as a marker for a crime that was unsolved from over a decade ago.
As a result, Rob finds a way to re-open the old case of Noah Palmer and the mystery of his death and those that are related to it.... or are they?
A well written crime thriller - thoroughly enjoyed this book and will be reading the previous books in the series.
This is the first book I have read by Biba Pearce so I can confirm it works perfectly as stand-alone.
12 years ago Suzie Palmer waved to her husband, Noah, as he set on a long cycle ride. That was the last time she would see him alive. The murder was the same MO as 3 others and the investigation went nowhere leaving 4 bodies and 4 families without closure.
Then we move to present day and an innocent victim is arrested in the aftermath of a robbery. The DNA results flag up a match to Noah Palmer.
The case is reopened but with the Bosses watching the budgets and a suspect being friends with the big bosses will Rob be able to make any more progress than the team investigating the original crimes. The clock is ticking Rob must find a reason to reopen the investigation or it gets pulled.
Secrets, fraud, infidelity, revenge, jealousy and more all play a part in this gripping thriller.
In a way I wish I had read the first 3 books as I would have known the characters and their history more but it didnt affect my enjoyment of the book. The characters are realistic with very human flaws and all contribute to the story.
A very well written, gripping detective story.
Title: #TheBoxHillKiller
By: #BibaPearce
Source: #NetGalley
Read on: Kindle Paperwhite
Published by: #JoffeBooks
Pub Date: 21 July 2021
Genre: Mystery & Thrillers
Rating: 4/5
First of all, I want to thank #NetGalley for putting this on their #ReadNow list. Also, for #JoffeBooks for publishing #BibaPearce #TheBoxHillKiller. This is the very first book that I'm going to review for NetGalley - very first post on my blog as well, and can be seen on goodreads too.
When I signed up for NetGalley I thought that books that are worth reading has to be requested and books that are on ReadNow aren't, but this book proved me wrong. It's not a 100% 5/5 for me as I do like very good and crazy twists and turns, but this book still got me hooked with the stories and characters. I felt like I was swallowed into their world and got carried away as well as the story went on. Like most books that I get hooked to - if I didn't have to do adulting, I would've finished this book straight away.
Plot: Noah Palmer went for a bike ride and went missing shortly after. He was found in the Box Hill woods with a five-pointed star carved in his chest. Noah Palmer, husband and father, is the fourth victim of a serial killer who has never been caught even after 12 years has passed. In the present times a young woman named Rachel was involved in a burglary in central London and surprisingly for some strange reason her DNA shows a match to the Box Hill cold case. It was now up to Detective Rob Miller to lead his team to re-open this cold case and get to the bottom of this unsolvable case. This mystery lead him to go off the books, which could possibly put his long term career on the line. Will they ever stop the Box Hill Killer in time? Or will they find another body 12 years after the first four murders?
I didn't know that this book was part of a series. One thing that I liked about this book is that it can stand alone on its own, but that won't stop me from reading the rest of the books just to find out more about DCI Miller and his complicated life. What's also great about this book is just when you thought they got it all figured out - a curveball would be thrown at them, and it's up to them to find a way over the hurdle. It's amazing to see DCI Miller and his team figure out how things have happened, but then they'd be challenged with the task to prove their theories.
I highly recommend this book, especially to those who love detective themed mysteries. I love the fact that this book has short chapters, and it's fast-paced as well. Biba Pearce made sure that every chapter was interesting - that there was always something outstanding about each chapter. It has excellent character development and some mind-blowing twists as well. I am looking forward to reading the rest of Biba Pearce's work. Once again, thank you, NetGalley for putting this book under my radar. Cheers to more great NetGalley finds!
A cold case needs looking into after twelve years since the last of four killings by a serial killer has suddenly had a surprising result concerning matching DNA . As the past throws up more discrepances that were missed with the initial investigation we are drawn into a complex story with love, infidelity, and trust leading to an exciting conclusion that will satisfy all crime readers.
When it comes to police procedure then Biba Pearce is up there with the best.
An independent review thanks to NetGalley / Joffe Books
Detective Rob Miller is back and as exciting as ever. The great thing about this series is that they work perfectly well as stand-alone novels and what you mainly lose out on is character development rather than continuous plots.
The incorrect arrest of a teenager at a robbery leads Rob back to a old serial murder case that was never solved. His boss isn’t too pleased using financial resources to investigate and continuing to do so puts Rob’s career at risk but he just cannot let go. The more he finds out the deeper int a dark place he goes and twistier things get.
I loved ‘watching’ the investigation unfold and was constantly surprised by red herrings or turns in the story line. The plot is intense and gripping and I enjoyed experiencing rob overcome all the obstacles put in his way. The balance of professional and personal story is spot in. Not too much to slow down the crime drama but plenty enough to humanise Rob and give him a lot of depth beyond his job.
I rally enjoy Rob Miller novels and I cannot wait to read the ones I have left. They are great police procedurals and a must for crime lovers. Highly recommended.
Thank you netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this.
This is the first of Biba Pearce books I have read, I didn't realise it's actually part of a series but don't let that put you off aa it is a great stand alone book.
I was hooked from the very start!
A 12 year old case gets reopened when DCI Rob Miller finds new evidence but that is just the start of the twists, suspense and rule breaking
I have read this book as stand alone and have enjoyed it. The story is well described and there is a nice built up through out it. If I come across I will read this author again. It is a solid 4 out of 5.00 for me.
The only thing is that there was a clue given early in the book that allows to frequent mystery readers or those with a suspicious mind to hint to a possible killer. It could have been omitted and only introduced later.
Thanks Netgalley for a free copy.
I have recently discovered Biba Pearce and she is fast becoming one of my favourite authors. An intriguing murder mystery with interesting characters and a gripping storyline. Well thought out. I am looking forward to reading more Detective Inspector Rob Miller mysteries.
I have been a fan of Biba’s work since I had the good fortune to read her first book called ‘The Thames Path Killer’. Since then I have read each and every book that she has released to date. The latest addition to the series, featuring Detective Chief Inspector Rob Miller, is called ‘The Box Hill Killer’. It is another corker of a read, which I thoroughly enjoyed reading but more about that in a bit.
As with all of Biba’s books, I was drawn into ‘The Box Hill Killer’ from the very first word on the very first page. The book seemed to develop a hold over me and it was a hold that I wasn’t willing to break. I would pick the book up only intending to read a couple of chapters to fill in the odd half hour but I would become so wrapped up in the story that I would still be sat there reading over two hours later. The crimes involved intrigued me as did the characters and I was interested to see in which direction the story was going to take me next. Despite my best efforts to ration myself on how much I read at once in order to prolong my enjoyment of the story, I still finished the story within the space of a single day. I found ‘The Box Hill Killer’ to be a gripping read, which kept me guessing and which kept me on the edge of my seat throughout.
‘The Box Hill Killer’ is superbly written but then I have found that to be true of all of Biba’x books. She has the knack of catching your attention with an intriguing synopsis and as soon as you start to read, then she reels you in much like a fisherman reels in a catch. For me the story hits the ground running and maintains a fast pace throughout. Reading ‘The Box Hill Killer’ felt like being on an at times scary and unpredictable rollercoaster ride with several twists and turns along the way.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘The Box Hill Killer’ and I would recommend it to other readers. I will certainly be reading more of Biba’s work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.
Thank you to #NetGalley and #JoffeBooks for allowing me to read #TheBoxHillKiller by #BibaPearce
Noah Palmer went for a bike ride and was found dead hours later.. That was 12 years ago
Now a young girl has been caught up in a robbery, when a DNA test shows a familial match to evidence found on Noah.
Detective Rob Miller is in charge of finding out just what happened.
This is a great read with lots of twists and turns on the way to the truth.
An engaging police procedural involving well written characters and a complex plot spanning both unsolved, historical murders and contemporary crimes.
Having not read previous books in this series I can say this works well as a standalone novel too.
After reading The Thames Path Killer, which was the first in the DI Rob Miller series, I got the second and third in the series, and I’m now thrilled to have read the latest: The Box Hill Killer. I’ve been totally hooked on each book from the very first pages and devoured them greedily.
Rob Miller is a bit of a maverick; he’s a fantastic detective but sometimes does things his own way rather than by the book. His relationship with Jo has developed and there’s just enough of his personal life included; too much would spoil the story. This time, his latest murder case takes him back to three murders that occurred twelve years ago. Surely they must be connected?
If you like a police procedural thriller that is accurate and gripping, then this is the book for you. And read the other three as well!
Thank you to NetGalley and Joffe Books for an advance reader copy in return for an honest review.
Twelve years ago there was a serial killer who was never caught. Four men were found in the Box Hill woods, a star carved on each of their chests.
A teenage girl witnesses a shooting and as a result her DNA was taken. Surprisingly, her DNA shows a family match to the final man killed in the now cold case.
DI Rob Miller is finally given his first case as Senior Investigating Office, but this case may not be as easy as it seems. Miller is going to find that in order to solve the cold case, he's putting his career on the line .. and his personal life might tank.
On top of trying to solve a years-old cold case, Miller is going to be a father, his new Superintendent is having some kind of personal issue, and a brutal murder of a psychologist is added to his workload. The story line is attention-holding and I really enjoyed the relationships between Miller and his team and the blend of personal with the professional.
Twists and turns keep this case .. and the detectives ... in a state of uneasiness, strain and suspense. Possible suspects are many and varied ... most who have hidden motives for wanting these people killed. And more bodies will fall. The characters are solidly defined, some are multi-layered. The suspense holds steady from start to finish .. and the conclusion is quite surprising.
Many thanks to the author / Joffe Books / Books n All Book Promotions / Netgalley for the digital copy of this British crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
THE BOX HILL KILLER by Biba Pearce is a tension filled, intricate mystery with multiple suspects and well-developed team of detectives that is solved in a stunning conclusion. Fourth in the DCI Rob Miller series and it is page turner. The team has been together for awhile and work smoothly together. There is enough of their backstories woven into the narrative making the characters very reliable. Going to be looking for future books with this team of detectives and also for the backlist that I've somehow missed.
Thank you to Biba Pearce, Joffe Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book.
I would like to thank Netgalley and Joffe Books for an advance copy of The Box Hill Killer, the fourth novel to feature DCI Rob Miller of the Putney Major Investigation Team.
A chance arrest leads to a familial DNA link in an unsolved twelve year old serial murder case, where four men were killed and mutilated by the so called Pentagram Killer. Rob re-opens the case but nothing is as it seems and politics make the job harder.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Box Hill Killer, which is an engrossing read with plenty of twists and turns. It is told entirely from Rob’s point of view so the reader can get immersed in the story without distraction and investigate alongside him. And there’s plenty to investigate without a shady politician throwing his weight around and hampering the investigation. Cold cases are never easy with fading memories and a lack of physical clues, but, boy, can the team dig up circumstantial evidence and several juicy secrets. It certainly holds the attention.
If I have one criticism I think the novel is slightly long. It does pack a punch with event after event, both reveals and developments, but it seems slow at times with the team flogging a dead theory and an over-emphasis on the office politics. It may simply be my belief system but the outlandishness of the latter was impossible to take seriously.
The Box Hill Killer is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.
A tense and thrilling novel. A chance DNA testing on a young girl who was in a store where a crime took place has a familial link to a murder that happened 12 years ago. DCI Miller gets the case, one of a series of four murders where a pentagram was etched on the victim's body. The case becomes more complicated when a politically sensitive figure may be involved and Miller is baulked at every turn by the "higher-ups" He doggedly perseveres by devious means to a tense and thrilling conclusion. This is the first book I have read by this author but it won't be the last