Wow, I really didn't see that one coming.
This, the third, book in the series, sees DCI Alex Finn and his team struggling to find a motive for a very nasty murder. Their confusion is compounded when they discover that a similar murder had taken place in the area but that was 30 years earlier and the perpetrator of this historic crime is still in prison..
I was as baffled as the cops in this book, I couldn't come up with any solution to the crime and as a result I was surfing through the story trying to get to the end as soon as possible. The author really pulled me in.from page one and kept me rapt until the shocking conclusion which left me reeling ,of all the possible motives I just didn't expect that. Absolutely awesome ending and the epilogue was inspired. What a great book

I've really been enjoying this series, seeing the development of the two central characters, Alex Finn and Mattie Paulsen. They are chalk and cheese and yet completely complimentary, but over the course of the three books there has been a steady change in their character as more of their personal lives come to bear on the stories, never more obvious than it is during The Hunting Ground. Now, the disappearance of a small child requires the team to be on top form, but both Detectives are distracted, for very different reasons, and seeing the impact of that on the investigation, as well as the investigation's impact on them, makes for an interesting interlude in what is otherwise a perplexing and tragic case, an investigation laced with deception, misdirection and prejudice.

Not only do the Detectives need to find missing boy, they also need to solve the murder of his mother, Sadie. Now we are privy to the final moments of her life, moments which certainly provide a number of key suspects, even if not all are immediately apparent. But as to whether her final night of work really did lead to something that cost her her life remains to be seen. And if her murder is all about that night, where is her son. The case if further complicated by the twisted and tragic history of the street, and specifically the house, in which she was murdered. The more we read of the book, the more uncertain the motives become and alongside out intrepid investigative team, we are led on a very merry dance, flitting between suspects and potential motives in a very clever and well executed case of misdirection.

I liked the way in which Will Shindler developed that sense of community that threads through this whole story. That. sense of a street that are both completely involved in and yet one step removed from what has happened. Long standing feuds, old hatred, and unbreakable friendships conspire to hide the truth in plain sight really effectively, and I found myself guessing and second guessing who was responsible several times throughout the book. Nobody seemed to be entirely trustworthy, and even when faced with almost certainty of suspicion, certain characters were still reticent in providing the truth, or even a valid alibi. I did guess a certain part of the plot quite early on, but by no means all, and what came to pass was still shocking and completely unexpected. There is a real sense of tragedy about the story, of the senseless nature of what happened, and how it could have all been so different. But there is also an emotional undercurrent, driven not just by Sadie's murder, but by the very heart of the book and the characters at the centre of our attention.

Finn has always been portrayed as a character on the edge and the way in which the author explores the devolution of his psyche is brilliantly observed. It seems shocking, but also almost inevitable, and marks a step change in the way in which he thinks about and deals with his wife's death. As for Paulsen, she is preoccupied by her father's rapidly declining health, something brought into focus by one of the residents from the street whose situation she finds she can completely empathise with. Both stories add an emotional layer to an already tense and tragic story, but both stories serve to propel the central case on in their own way, as both a distraction and a pure motivator.

And then there is that ending. Fluff a duck. Was not expecting that. made me smile, and grimace, in equal measure. Nicely played Mr Shindler.

I'll be intrigued to see what is next for our crime fighting pair. Clearly Finn is at a crossroads in his life, a point in his life that calls for decisive action. I'm hoping it's not the last we see of them, because I really do like them as a team, the clinical, methodical Finn and the slightly more emotional and explosive Paulsen. This was another well observed, emotional and often tense story that is full of deception and I loved it. Definitely recommended.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for an advance copy of The Hunting Ground, the third novel to feature DI Alex Finn and DC Mattie Paulsen of the Met.

When Sadie Nicholls is murdered in her home Finn and his team not only have to find her murderer they also have to find Liam, her three year old son, who has disappeared. When they discover that a similar murder of a single mother and her child was committed almost thirty years ago in the same house they begin to wonder what they are investigating.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Hunting Ground, which is an absorbing police procedural with so many possibilities about the perpetrator and motive. It is perhaps not as immediately impactful as the preceding novels in the series, which had big events at their core, but it’s none the worse for being lower key.

I like the procedural genre with its open ended suspect pool and the gradual winnowing of facts and information to narrow the focus. This novel does it well. Who would want to kill a struggling young woman with a sunny disposition and no known enemies and abduct her son? Does the previous murder have a part to play or is it coincidence? These are the questions that keep the reader turning the pages furiously, desperate to get the answers, and while the author is initially parsimonious with information the pace soon ramps up, along with the implication that there is more going on. I liked the solution and the crimes associated with it as it all made a twisted kind of sense and the little ambiguity thrown in was clever, rather than annoying or frustrating, in a judge for yourself way. For me it was a very satisfying read.

Alex Finn is still a troubled man having never got over the death of his wife. I must admit that I am beginning to find it a bit tiresome after three novels. Fortunately he’s beginning to see it himself, so there may be a new Alex Finn in the next novel. Mattie Paulsen also doesn’t have her troubles to seek as her father has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and she’s struggling with it. I thought that it was a touch of genius to have one of the characters have it, so that she and the reader could confront her fears.

The Hunting Ground is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

4/5 - Excellent

Will Shindler is probably writing some of the best crime fiction right now with his team of Finn and Paulsen.

This is as good as the first 2 books and is about the brutal murder of a young mother. With all the neighbours under suspicion, will Shindler creates a cast of characters that keep you guessing.

It’s extremely good, the main protagonists are growing with each book and the arc of Finn is particularly intriguing.

Well paced, addictive crime from one of the best out there right now.

After reading the first two books in this series I could not wait to get stuck in to this cracking triology. A complex, dark and utterly chilling tale. This author certainly knows how to tell a story. This book kept me reading late into the night I HAD TO KNOW THE TRUTH!!!! When it was finally revealed I was shocked and as for the ending I was blown away. Highly recommended.
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for giving an honest review.

This is the latest brilliant addition to Will Shindler's terrific crime series featuring London based police officers DI Alex Finn, leading the Major Investigations Team, and DC Mattie Paulsen, both with their own particular demons. Finn is still struggling with his grief for his dead wife, Karin, although he has managed to give the false impression at work that he is recovering, and Paulsen, living with her social worker partner, Nancy Deen, is wondering how to cope with her father's downward spiral as his symptoms of dementia increase. After a nightmare evening waitressing at The Knight's Association dinner where the sexual harrassment hits horrendous levels, 24 year old Sadie Nicholls leaves early to go home, unable to tolerate any more. This is despite the fact she desperately needs the money, she has to take care of her 3 year old son, Liam, but her principles and self respect win out.

Finn and Paulsen find themselves at a brutal crime scene, the murder of Sadie, and her son, Liam, is missing. The police team pull out all the stops to try and find Liam, afraid of the worst, but leads are scarce. We are given a picture of some of the locals in the surrounding area, including the racist landlord of The Lamb's Head, Alan Baxter, Charity executive, David Hermitage, Ronnie Fordyce, a good friend of Tom Daws, a former Railway Union man, now suffering from dementia and being looked after his daughter, Abi, and a black ex-con trying to rebuild his life, the enigmatic Patrick Clarke. A strange fact soon emerges, almost 30 years ago, similar murders took place in the same flat, when another single mother, Vicki Stratford, and her young son, Ben, were found murdered. Is this merely a coincidence or is this a relevant connection? A local burglar was convicted for the earlier murders, but is that conviction safe?

One of the highlights of this standout series is the character development of Finn and Paulsen, the black dog of depression has Finn firmly in its grip, his mental health in a precarious state as he hits rock bottom. Paulsen finds herself drawn to Abi with the parallels between their common circumstances of their dementia afflicted fathers, but is this connection clouding Paulsen's ability to see Abi clearly? This is a dark and intensely engaging crime read that had me gripped throughout with all the twists and turns, packed with suspense and tension, and with protagonists I really come to care about. I recommend this to crime and mystery readers, if you have not come across the series, I urge you to give it a try. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.

4.5 rounded up

Alex Finn #3

Sadie Nicholls,24, waitresses for extra cash at the Knights Association dinner at a London hotel but unfortunately their behaviour is anything but knightly and she’s had enough and leaves early. She makes her way home to a brutal encounter which leaves her dead and her three year old son missing The race is on to find the little boy - did he witness his mother’s killing? Who would want her dead as all who knew her spoke highly of her. Does it link to a crime that bears similar hallmarks in the same flat twenty years ago? A coincidence or .....?

This is a cracking crime series and number three is an excellent addition and one I can recommend to fellow crime fiction fans. There’s a lot to praise here but the absolute standout feature for me are the characters who are so well fleshed out and authentic. DI Alex Finn carries the demon of grief over his wife’s death from a brain tumour and complex DC Mattie Paulsen carries several demons, one of them being the spectre of Alzheimer’s hanging over her father. They are both equally fascinating and you become invested in following their progress (or not). The community in which the crime takes place is richly depicted too, you can easily visualise the characters and try to filter out the number one suspect in the ‘pool’. I like how the pandemic is used to show how it impacts lives in various ways but it’s just there in the background to add realism. The story has all the essential ingredients, a fast paced plot with twists, turns and tension, heartbreaking tragedy, sadness, threats and violence so there’s plenty to keep you gripped and immersed. I do figure out part of the outcome but by no means all and the ending is excellent.

Overall, this is another winner for Will Shindler. It’s clever, complex in a good way and it’s multilayered. I await the next instalment with eager anticipation!

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Hodder and Stoughton for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

This is book 3 in the DI Alex Finn series and well what can I say it was just brilliant and Will Shindler has done it again in bringing us a thriller and a half. So the team is back together investigating the brutal murder of a woman and looking for her missing child and Finn and Paulson have a real tough time with this crime the pace doesn’t let up and as more and more mysteries come up this turns out to be a far more complex case than it first seemed.
What I loved about the book was the way we see a different side to Alex Finn he is struggling in this book with the ongoing pain of the loss of his wife and it’s beginning to have an affect on the case. If you haven’t read the first two books of this series I would urge you to give them a go as although this book can be read as a stand-alone reading the previous really gives some great background not just on Finn but other members of the team and they are in my opinion too good to miss.
This a marvellous police procedural I couldn’t put it down and I can’t wait for the next , brilliant writing Mr Shindler thank you so much !
My thanks also to NetGalley and Hodder and Stoughton for giving me the chance to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Is the Alex Finn series really a trilogy? Let's hope not as crime fiction needs characters of this quality to go on and on. Alex is a very disturbed man in this instalment and at times only his work keeps him going; his oppo Mattie Paulsen is an excellent creation who adds to the high standard of the characterisation. The case involved the murder of Sadie Nicholls and the disappearance of her son, and it is soon linked to another case from 20 years earlier. Brilliant!

I was delighted to see that the series with Finn and Paulsen was continuing in The Hunting Ground after two stellar books The Burning Man and The Killing Choice. This book did not disappoint!

All three have been very well written with great plot lines that stand apart from most other Police procedural/thrillers, however like any great series it is the main characters that grab you and have you wanting more. What both Finn and Paulsen have been through, which to dumb down are everyday traumas, make both so relatable and engaging that they pull you in and have you sitting with them along the way. It's what great books do, take you along with them.

I'll keep everything crossed that there is fourth book.

DI Alex Fin and DCI Mattie Paulsen are back for a third outing.
Sadie Nicholls is found dead,brutally murdered in her home and her little boy is missing.
The first 24 hours are the most important and they are running out of time to find him,and the killer.
Why would someone want to kill a loving mother and take her son?
They find out that 20 years ago in the same house a crime very much like this one occurred.
It must be more than an coincidence.
Well plotted and fast paced I really enjoyed this book a brilliant crime series.
Thanks to Netgalley and Hodder and Stoughton for the ARC

I enjoyed the author's debut novel but feel that this series keeps getting better. In this, the third case for DI Alex Finn and DC Mattie Paulsen they are investigating the murder of Sadie Nicholls from her South East London flat and the disappearance of her young son. 20 years ago a similar crime was committed in the same flat by perpetrator who is now in prison, are there any connections with the current crime ? I found this to be an excellent police procedural with a small group of suspects all from the same street and I loved the way the reader is immersed in their lives by the author. Finn and Paulsen are portrayed as complex and likeable individuals and the author writes sensitively about bereavement and complicated grief. I would recommend reading the first two in the series but this still works well as a standalone. Recommended.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for this early ARC.

After thoroughly enjoying the two previous books in this series I was eager to read Will Schindler’s next book. I honestly think the author has wrote a cracker of a book here, and one I can’t fault at all, Finn, Paulsen and the team investigate the murder of a young mother, and find themselves in a race against time to find her missing son. I loved the many different story threads running throughout this book, and wondered quite a few times how they would all fit into the story and come together. Wow, the last 20% of the book was an absolutely riveting read and everything I’d read so far was just completely turned on it’s head. The book raced to a thrilling ending that took my breath away, and all loose ends were tied up nicely. I really like the two main characters in this series, I love reading of their working rapport and growing friendship and enjoyed following their investigation as it began to pick up pace. I love the authors writing style, I was hooked from the first page to the last and at times felt like I was unwrapping layer after layer and secrets galore. The author certainly knows how to draw his readers in and keep them (ok, me) guessing all the way through. I loved that Finn’s character had more depth here and had such empathy for him when he hit rock bottom. And I felt for Mattie as the case takes a personal turn for her. Whilst this is the 3rd book in the series, it can be read on it’s own although I’d recommend you start with The Burning Men to get a real feel for the characters. Overall a great read, one I thoroughly enjoyed and I’m looking forward to the next book. 4.5 stars

I don't think I've read the previous books in series so can say it works well as a standalone read.
This is a complex, dark and ultimately sad case for Finn and the team while he is very much fighting his own demons.
Despite the heavy issues raised it is a well written book with a hint of hope running throughout.

The opening scene had me hooked straight away. I had to finish it straight away, and I found it to be a page turning and compulsive read. Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for giving me a copy of the book.

My thoughts about Will Shindler’s The Hunting Ground,this one is very clever, dark and well written story Just when I thought this series couldn’t get any better it did just that! It will blow your mind.Having loved the two previous first 2 novels in the DI Alex Finn series, I couldn’t wait to get stuck into book 3 The Hunting Ground,with a clever, twisty plot and great team dynamics, The Hunting Ground is highly entertaining tale.Talented author Will Shindler again delivers yet another masterpiece,that is unique and breathtaking. The Hunting Ground sees the return of Detectives DI Alex Finn and DC Mattie Paulsen this time they investigate a gruesome murder.Will Shindler’s The Hunting Ground begins with the introduction of Sadie Nicholls has been found dead, brutally and strangely murdered, in her South East London flat. Her little boy is missing.DI Alex Finn and DC Mattie Paulsen know that, in the case of a missing child, it’s the first 24 hours that count. They don’t have many left to find out where Sadie’s son might be and the identity of her killer. Why would anyone want a struggling single mother, loved by many, dead.But when they realise a similar crime was committed at the same house nearly 20 years ago, a question is on everyone’s lips: is this more than just a coincidence. If you haven’t read Will Shindler’s books I urge you to start them.The Hunting Ground is up there with the best. I can’t give anything away without ruining the story. But Will Shindler will keep you in suspense until the very last sentance. The Hunting Ground has blockbuster written all over it.I would like to say thank you to author Will Shindler and Publishers Hodder Books Publication for giving me a gifted copy for me to read and review this spectacular thriller on netgally. The Hunting Ground is breathtaking and powerful.