The 2nd installment in the Dr Jo McCready series. This was a great read, couldn't put it down! I hadn't read the first book prior and still thoroughly enjoyed this one. A great read for crime fiction readers.

This book has strong female characters and is written so well. The characters are fascinating. The ending felt a little unbelievable.

A really good book full of twists and turns and great character development. I really enjoyed how thilling the book was, making me guess hwat would happen until the end

This is the first book I've read in the series and I felt that it was an enjoyable and easy read. Forensic Psychologist, Jo McCready, is involved in three separate cases that the author develops well and the multi stranded plot comes together satisfyingly by the end. McCready is a likable character and readers might like to start with the first in the series to get her back story.
For me, the plot moved at quite a slow pace and although I enjoyed The Killing Song I wasn't completely gripped or immersed in the novel.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC

This was such an incredible read. I loved the first in the series but this surpassed even that. The characters are so realistic and likeable and the story was so gripping that I devoured it within 24 hours. I worked out one of the twists early on but that didn't make it any less enjoyable as it was so fast so fast paced and I genuinely cared what happened to the characters, along with a deep intrigue to see how it would all play out. I'm really hoping they'll be many more to come from this series.

It's the first novel i read by this author and - WOW - it's brilliant. A gripping and twisty story that I couldn't put down.
Everything works: the plot, the mystery, the characters.
I can't wait to read other stories by this author.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Four years ago, forensic psychologist and criminal profiler Jo McCready successfully got a murder charge reduced to manslaughter, despite diagnosing the killer, Dominique de Benoit, as a psychopath – just not that kind of psychopath. Since then, Jo has kept in touch with Dominique who is due to be released on parole. Both women are aware that the father of the victim, a multi-millionaire property developer, has threatened to kill Dominique.
In her professional capacity Jo has been asked by the family of artist Leo Fielding to re-examine his murder, two years ago, which they think has been mishandled – written off too easily by the police as a homosexual hate crime.
At the same time, the police have asked her to help with an attempted murder which has been tagged as an Islamophobic hate crime. The perpetrator is an army veteran and ex-convict, who seems to have had a mental blackout before during and after the attempt. As Jo progresses with these three disparate cases she starts to see connexions.
This is the second book to feature Jo and there are frequent references back, but the story stands on its own. The three case plot is well handled but it isn't very complicated and solving it isn't too hard for the reader. The psychological details are sensible and based on solid research, so there is nothing wrong per se with the main plot device. However, the mechanics seem a bit contrived, although this is partly obscured by the pace. This is particularly so towards the dénouement where there is a lot of action and some implausibility. Throughout, there is an annoying tendency to repeat details which don’t need reinforcing, but overall it is a fairly enjoyable read.
I would like to thank NetGalley, the publishers and the author for providing me with a draft proof copy for the purpose of this review.

A brilliantly written thriller that packs a punch the characters are well written and portrayed Author knows how to write a good story that grips you right from the start.

Dr Jo McCready is asked by the parents of a dead man to investigate his death. The police have drawn a blank and it’s now a cold case. After what happened last time she worked with the police Jo has sworn not to get involved in any of their cases, cold or otherwise, but there is something about this one that intrigues her.
The police are investigating what appears to be a terrorist attack at a busy train station but need Jo’s help to profile the suspect.
The mistress of a billionaire is murdered and the scene is so similar to that of the death she is investigating that Jo fears the cases could be linked. But the things that link them lead to some very dangerous people and uncovering the truth could cost Jo everything.
This story is complex, gritty and brilliant. Jo McCready is a fantastic character, she is human, flawed, relatable and the kind of person you would want on your side when you are in trouble.
If you read the first Jo McCready book don't hesitate to read this one, and if you didn't, you really should!

I loved book 1 and this is fantastic read It is a well written story with great characters . I was hooked from the start. I look forward to reading more by Lesley

My first encounter with Lesley McEvoy and looking forward to reading more of his books a fascinating gripping storyline a series of seemingly unconnected murders but are they connected. Victims selected and subjected to a form of hypnosis to make them carry out the murders and then kill themselfs gripping story right to the very end.

Lots to think about with this thriller. Absolutely chilling in places!

Thank you for the opportunity to read this book. I look forward to reading Lesley McEvoy’s next offering.

The Killing Song’ was a gripping, intricately plotted crime thriller. It kept me glued to the seat from start to finish. I found it full of twists and turns through out and it kept me on the edge of my seat all the way through

Such a clever, twisted book with plenty of revenge around every corner. There were plenty of links I didn’t see coming which made the book all the more enjoyable. Well written with identifiable characters and believable events. Thank you to Netgalley for the advance copy of this book.

This has been my most eagerly awaited book for a long time. I read the first book in the series "The Murder Mile" in 2019. Which became my book of the year. Since then I have been checking lists of upcoming books in anticipation of a follow up. Could Ms McEvoy follow the first one? Yes she could, the writing is on a different level to most other writers. When I started to read this, I was instantly reminded of the brilliance of book one. I have to go back and read the first one soon, which is something I only do for very special books.

This can easily be read as a standalone, but I most strongly encourage you to read the first one as it is such a fantastic novel and this is a equally superb follow up.

I sincerely hope there is a third book, soon although writing of this standard can't be rushed!

My thanks to Bonnier Books U.K. Zaffre for a review copy via NetGalley of ‘The Killing Song’ by Lesley McEvoy in exchange for an honest review.

This is Book 2 in her crime series featuring forensic psychologist Dr Jo McCready set in Yorkshire. The novel is told from Jo McCready’s point of view. While it works fine as a stand-alone, I was glad that I had read ‘The Murder Mile’ as it gave me a better perspective on the characters, including why Jo is suffering from PTSD following those events.

Given the nature of this novel, I am wary of saying too much about the plot. So just a little taster: throughout the novel Jo is dealing with a few cases including consulting for the police on a knife attack on a train platform that has some unusual aspects.

She is also asked by the grieving parents of an artist murdered two years previously to look into their son’s case that has since gone cold to see if she can provide a fresh perspective. This investigation steps on a few toes in the police department.

‘The Killing Song’ was a gripping, intricately plotted crime thriller. It kept me glued to the seat from start to finish.

Author Lesley McEvoy is a behavioural analyst, profiler and psychotherapist with a 25-year career, so she is writing on these subjects from long experience. As Ian Rankin is quoted on the cover: “McEvoy knows her stuff.” She also includes a fascinating Author’s Note about historical aspects of her plot.

I will definitely be on the lookout for the next in this excellent series.

The Killing Song is the second book involving Forensic Psychologist Dr Jo McCready. I haven’t read its predecessor, The Murder Mile, but that did not taint my enjoyment of this novel.

A man is viciously attacked on a busy train platform - yet the perpetrator appears to have no awareness of what he has just done. The mistress of a controversial billionaire is found dead in a seemingly unrelated attack. Dr Jo McCready is the only one to identify a link between the two.

Lesley Mcevoy writes with all the confidence and self-assurance one would expect, given her real-life experience as a behavioural analyst, profiler and psychotherapist.

An intelligent and captivating thriller. Highly recommended.

Thank you to NetGalley and Zaffre Publishers for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I think I've found a new favourite series. Having recently read The Murder Mile I was delighted to receive a copy of the next in the series from Netgalley. I was apprehensive that this next instalment would not be as good as the first. I needn't have worried if anything this one is better. Mcevoy gives away just enough of a trail for you to think you know what is going on but she never ever gives you all of it. I thought I'd worked it out but then BAM you realise you are wrong.

I cannot wait for the next one now.

Because this was the second book with the same character I was unaware of the back story. This always makes it a little difficult to get your head round what is actually happening.
I found that I did not really enjoy the characterisation and therefore did not really get into the plot.
Probably well written.
It was not for me.

This was a quick, easy and intriguing read that was compelling the whole way through. I couldnt put it down, It completeky sucked me in and I felt like I was in the pages with the characters. It was so unpredictable and kept me guessing the whole way through. A really enjoyable read.