This is the second book in the Inspector Anjelica Henley series, the previous book being THE JIGSAW MAN.

I bloody loved this book. I enjoyed it just as much as THE JIGSAW MAN. It’s a very dark gritty detective thriller series which I am loving - it’s been a while since I’ve read one like this.

The plot for this book follows a series of ritualistic murders which I found to be very interesting. The writing style of this series fits that dark storyline. A big part of this book is mental health which I found was handled really well - not just the victims/suspects but the investigating team as well.

I found it very gripping, I literally couldn’t stop reading it and kept wanting to know more. The writing is fantastic and I love the character development for the investigating team. We knew a bit about them from the previous book, but this one has expanded on that a lot more for each of the characters. I am loving Henley and Ramouter’s friendship in this book. They bounced off each other really well.

The only negative thing I’d have to say about this book is that it’s an absolute CHONK of a book. I honestly think it could’ve been shortened by about 100 pages and still contain all the necessary details.

Overall, I loved everything about this book and I honestly can say that Matheson is one of my favourite authors, and an auto-buy author.

Thank you so much for the advanced copy of this book.
Wow, wow and wow again. My new favourite author. I read a the jigsaw Man a couple of weeks ago and started the Binding Room yesterday and have just finished it. I’m not giving any spoilers but twisted and exorcism!!!! Totally hooked on this series, I now need the next book, please say there will be one,
I cannot recommend this enough - 10 stars ⭐️

I received an E-ARC with a request for my honest review.

This book is the second in the Crime Thriller series featuring detective Anjelica Henley.

Henley is still recovering from her terrifying ordeal with serial killer Olivier, when she is called to investigate the death of a popular preacher who is found dead in his own church.

When searching for clues they discover another body in a part of the same building, and it seems to have involved a religious ritual including torture.

Henley and her partner DC Ramouter must balance both cases and with pressure from their superiors must make the preacher their priority.

When another body is discovered with similar signs of torture, this becomes more difficult.

Will she solve the cases? What ritual is being inflicted on its victims?

I loved the first in the Detective Henley series, so when I saw the opportunity to review this book I couldn’t wait. I wasn’t disappointed, I enjoyed this one just as much.

The descriptions of the victim’s bodies caused by the torture can be very graphic right from the start, but for me this just makes it more realistic and intriguing.

The storyline kept me gripped throughout, as I wanted to learn the truth behind who had committed the murders.

How the characters interact with each other, also added to the enjoyment of reading as they work really well together as a team. I can’t wait to read more from this author.

Overall, an intense and gruesome crime thriller where the investigation is looking into a suspected religious ritual.

Another great detective story from Nadine Matheson. Anjelica has PTST and is dealing with family issues when the head of a church is found stabbed to death. When searching the building, the police find a young man who is also more dead than alive with evidence that he had been starved and tortured. The crimes are seemingly related, though there are lots of twists and turns in the story .The crimes are relentless, lots of them and although they are not as graphic as in the first book, they do not make for easy reading.
The book is long but kept my interest throughout and I could not put it down towards the end. This is the second book in the series and the stories of characters and their lives are well told and add another human dimension to the book. I look forward to reading more about them in the future.
Thank you to Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

After reading The Jigsaw Man I was looking forward to reading more about these characters. In The Binding Room, we learn a lot more about them, their struggles and their pasts. It is another dark and gruesome police procedural, from Nadine Mathieson and certainly kept me intrigued.

This is a long book, at over 500 hundred pages. Long books don’t bother me in the slightest but I know that some people don’t like them. It was perhaps a little long, and I did work out one of the endings quite early in. That is not to say that I didn’t enjoy it, but it wasn’t as shocking as The Jigsaw Man for me.

The team are called to a church, where a pastor has been murdered. Whilst looking around the scene, they discover a man, bound and tortured, in a hidden room. Are the 2 things linked? Who is this man? Who would kill a pastor? at here are a lot of questions in this case, and they only get more as they start the investigation.

This books has a lot of dark and disturbing scenes, and it will not be for everyone. There are some themes that will not be comfortable for a lot of people as well. I don’t want to say too much so as not to spoilt it, but be warned.

Thanks to HQ and NetGalley for my advanced copy of this book to read

After reading the description I was excited to read this novel. It sounded just up my street, with gory murders, twists and turns, etc. However, in the end it was ‘just OK’. I may have enjoyed it more if I had read the previous book because the frequent references to characters and events that happened in that story just had me confused. I also felt the book tried to deal with too many issues – adultery, mental health, the role of working mums, religion, sexism … the list goes on, and the plot seemed to go on and on forever with too many twists - to the point where I lost interest and wanted it to end. Another thing that frustrated me was the number of times Henley, or one of the other detectives, asked someone a question but ignored the fact that it wasn’t answered. For example, Henley asked Patrick “So why did Brandon decide to go off cycling if he’d just started his master’s?” Patrick just changed the subject and wasn’t pressed to answer. The main thing that spoiled a smooth read for me was the unbelievable number of grammatical and spelling errors throughout. I found myself looking for more errors instead of concentrating on the story. Yes, I know it was probably an early copy that I read, and hopefully the book was proofread and corrected before publication day, but I find this so annoying and totally unnecessary. Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the advanced copy.

Rating: 3.1/5

With this, her second novel to feature DI Anjelica Henley, Nadine Matheson has produced another intelligently written serial killer-themed police procedural. If you read and enjoyed the first book in the series, "The Jigsaw Man" then I am confident that you are likely to enjoy this sequel too. Events from that first book are referenced on a significant number of occasions throughout "The Binding Room", so I also suspect that readers who do not have the benefit of having read "The Jigsaw Man" prior to this one may find it a touch frustrating.

Unlike many novels from this genre, that revolve around serial killings, Nadine Matheson does not rely on shock tactics and horrendously graphic gory details to provide the entertainment. In common with the genre norm she does have a lead protagonist with a tainted backstory and flawed, but engaging, character traits. However, she displays a more impressive writing style than is generally found in this type of fiction. There is a lot of emphasis on characterisation, which is properly rounded and the backstories the writer has created for her protagonists are not only properly developed, but also genuinely credible and relatable, with real human complexities. Her handling of dialogue is also admirable. There is nothing stilted nor clunky - the discourse flows naturally and always comes across as entirely appropriate for the character and the situation.

Much as I admire this aspect of Nadine Matheson's writing, I also feel that it brings with it a downside, too. The amount of time and emphasis that the author places on her characters and their backstories can detract from the core storyline and have an adverse effect on the pace of the novel as a whole. I certainly felt that was the case in "The Binding Room", but I hope that the author can find a better balance in future books in this series.

Nonetheless, this is still a very enjoyable read that I would happily recommend. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for supplying an ARC in return for an honest review.

This book is absolutely brilliant.

Like the first book in the series, The Jigsaw Man, this one is dark, gory and totally riveting.

Who would want to viciously kill a respected Pastor and pillar of the community? Why is there a hidden room in his church with the body of a young man who's been tortured and left for dead?

These are the questions Henley and her team must answer before any more bodies are found. With tensions running high between Henley and her boss time really is against them.

With twists galore to keep you hooked I cannot recommend this book highly enough.

This was a very complex police procedural, murder story. Lots of twists and turn and multiple suspects. It was really good how it all unraveled and the culprits were identified. Great read!

This book hooked me almost instantly.

The story begins with a body being discovered, the tension builds as more information hooks you in. You get drawn into the questions and the strange circumstances that arise as you continue to read.

I loved the fact that there was a gruesome element to the crimes and that the protagonist is a strong character. The supporting characters were good but I was invested in Henley wholeheartedly.

I plan to read the previous title in the series, but found it easy to read this one first as there were references to the first book.

I will definitely be keeping an eye out for other titles by this author.

Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for gifting me this arc in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

DI Henley and the SCU are back with a mysterious case. A well-reknowned pastor is found murdered in his church, but it's what's in his back room that gets the team's attention - an emaciated young man tied to a bed with signs of torture. When another body is found in a similar condition, it seems that there may be someone taking advantage of those innocents - and it's up to the SCU to stop them before they find another binding room.

This is a worthy sequel to the Jigsaw Man - the characters' stories continue well from the previous book and the case is another headscratcher. The only reason it's not a 5* book for me is that the conclusion feels slightly rushed and certain characters' endings feel a tad abrupt.

Based on the premise of The Binding Room, I was looking forward to reading it as it’s one of my favourite genres. It’s the second book in the series and although I hadn’t read the first, I didn’t feel that this detracted from this book in any way. However, after an explosive start, i felt somewhat let down by the book. It deals with a wide range of issues but I felt it lacked pace. I would rate this book 3 stars. Thank you to NetGalley, HQ and the author for the chance to review.

Inspector Anjelica Henley#2

When Detective Anjelica Henley is called to investigate the murder of a popular preacher in his own church, she discovers a second victim, tortured and tied to a bed in an upstairs room, He is alive, but barely, and his body shows signs of a dark religious ritual. With a revolving list of suspects, and the media spotlight firmly on her, Henley is left with more questions than answers as she attempts to untangle both crimes. But when another body appears, the case takes on a new urgency. The next victim might be Henley herself.

I wasn't sure what to expect with this book, but I was instantly gripped by this descriptively written book with great attention to detail. Some of the murders are quite graphic, so not advisable for the faint hearted. Henley and her team are back investigating the murder this new murder case, and Henley is battling her own personal issues. It shows us how disturbing and cruel a fragile mind can be. With lots of great twists, I was kept guessing right to the end. I can't wait to read what the third book has in store for us.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #HQ and the author #NadineMatheson for my ARC of #TheBindingRoom in exchange for an honest review.

Overall 4.5*

I will start by saying that this book may not be for everybody. There is a lot of gory parts to it, and it also deals a lot with mental health from the point of view of the police, the victims and the perpetrators. That being said, it is a great read and for me slightly up on Nadine's first book - The Jigsaw Man. D.I. Henley and her team are still mentally dealing with the aftermath of that, however this story would also read well as a standalone as you are given the relevant points throughout. It has a great pace and I certainly look forward to the next book in this series.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC to review.

Sometimes you start a book just to check the style of writing. Sometimes you think that you will only read some pages and then, some hours later, you turn the last page after having read it in one sitting.
This is what happened, it was a long and adrenaline fuelled ride that kept me on the edge till the last page.
It starts with a bang and it's a like series of fireworks, unexpected twists, and a solution that I never saw coming.
I loved it, loved even the goriest and most horrific parts.
It's a disturbing, gritty, and gripping story that brought me to some very dark places and never let me stop reading even when I was thinking this is too much.
There's a lot of sufferance, there's a respectful approach to mental health issues, and there's a lot of empathy toward the victims.
There's something truly terrifying in this story and there's a lot sufference.
DI Henley and DC Ramouter are suffering from their personal issues with their families and from the PTSD due to the torture of a serial killer. I wasn't a fan at the beginning but they grew on me and I loved their humanity and empathy.
Ms Matheson is master storyteller and deliver a gritty and gripping story, a page turner I could stop reading.
It's highly recommended.
Many thanks for this ARC, all opinions are mine..

DI Henley and DC Ramouter from the Serial Crime Unit are called to a murder in a church. The victim is the enigmatic Pastor Caleb Silas Annan. Whilst inspecting the scene, Henley discovers a hidden room containing a barely alive man tied to a bed. His body is covered in torture marks. When another body is discovered in similar circumstances the race is on to find the killer or killers.

Taut, tense and gruesome, this is an addictive read. The opening paragraph is jaw dropping. This is an uncompromising novel which explores very dark themes of exorcism, fanatical religion and the treatment of individuals with mental health issues. The plot is skillfully constructed with plenty of red herrings. The pace is perfect for the action. The characters are well created and the dialogue between them is authentic. I was completely drawn into the world of a police investigation and the impact it can have on their personal lives. This is a real page turner, not for the faint hearted!

Many thanks to NetGalley and HQ Stories for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4⭐️
Gore score 4/5

#2 DI Angelica Henley.

I was excited to read this as I loved the audiobook of the jigsaw man. It’s a very dark gritty police procedural series by a UK author.

A series of ritualistic murders is investigated. A subject which I find intriguing. The dark subject matter suits the authors dark gritty gory writing style.

The characters are diverse, well written with a good depth making them interesting and engaging. I like the relationship between Henley and Ramouter. It also has the complicated relationship between Henley and Pellacia, and Henley and her husband. I’m keen to see how that works out.

It’s really dark and gritty which I love, but it’s coupled with a lot of emotion and empathy especially from Henley who has experience of family members having mental health issues.

It’s VERY long at 512 pages. I feel it would benefit from being shortened especially the mid section as I feel it really lagged for me, at times it felt a chore to get to the end.

I think the difference for me between the 2 books is that the narrator carried the slower elements for me in the jigsaw man, where as reading it I had no buffer.

There’s so much I loved about this book. The concept, plot and characters are 5⭐️ easily. I had some minor issues with medical matters and terminology. The BIG drawback for me is that it’s just too long and drawn out. The brilliance of the parts I loved have swayed my judgement as my gut for the struggle through much of the middle section says 3⭐️.

It might put me off reading the next instalment which is a shame as the author has so much to offer.

A gripping crime thriller / who dunnit that draws you in with well drawn characters and plenty of twists and turns. The book alluded to earlier books in the series so I will definitely be sourcing those to understand the history behind some of the characters.

Well ... If you wanted to know how you follow up a story like The Jigsaw Man, the answer appears to be with a story which is equally as disturbing, intriguing, suspense laden and full of tension, that's how. From the very beginning the author taps into those chills, the ones that pique the interest whilst crawling down your spine. You know that something very unsavoury, something not quite right is in play, but the what whys and wherefores remain just out of your reach, almost guaranteeing that you are going to keep turning those pages until you reach the dark, twisted and somewhat unexpected conclusion.

I was intrigued by book one, by understanding how dark and depraved the eponymous Jigsaw Man might become, but there is something almost pedestrian about the depravity in this book that makes the reality of what we are reading seem even darker, at least to me. Whilst we are perhaps used to the bog-standard (if there is such a thing), loves to ramp up the gruesome, serial killer, the like of which is thankfully extremely rare on our shores, seeing the way in which the story unfolds in The Binding Room seems scarily plausible, taking an everyday situation, one which is becoming more and more a topic of discussion in the wider community, and amplifying it to a point of tragic inevitability. Add in a touch of religious fanaticism of almost cult like, americanised proportions, and you know that the scene is set for a very dark and troubling investigation.

I do like the way in which Nadine Matheson has continued to develop the characters within this series. DI Anjelica Henley is a very troubled soul, with a difficult situation at home, exacerbated by recurring panic attacks driven by what occurred during the first book. I won't say too much about that, but it's fair to say that the investigation has taken a toll, and whilst it does not derail her from the task in front of her this time around, it does often amplify her reactions and creates challenges she really doesn't need. Alongside her we have DC Salim Ramouter who has his own set of issues to deal with on a personal level, the least of which is his recovery from injury from the previous case. They make a great team, working well together and drawing me into their worlds in a way that makes me as curious to learn about them as much as the case. Nadine Matheson has created two very likeable, authentic characters, easy to spend time with, and ones that I am am completely invested in as a reader.

The main premise in this book surround the topic of mental health, one which is reflected in both the investigation and the personal lives of our protagonists. The subject is handled in a careful, respectful way, whilst also highlighting the dismissive and almost aggressive way in which certain characters view the issue. The way in which radical thought and extreme beliefs can lead to manipulation by those who spot a weakness that they are all too ready to exploit. There are scenes in the book which will make any person cringe, ones that may make you want to look away but that will also pull you in with a kind of morbid curiosity. There is a strange mixture of characters I quickly loathed and felt contempt for and others I could understand it not entirely sympathise with, their actions infuriating at times and downright anger inducing at others. The author has done a brilliant job in capturing the story in such a way that is does create this wide range of emotions without ever alienating me as a reader. I wanted to see justice done. And I'll admit, I was kind of there for the darkness too. Who doesn't like a dark thriller?

Pacing is spot on and the tension ebbs and flows but never really leaves the page. There is a constant undercurrent, that sense that there will be a new discovery, a new atrocity, just around the corner, and an ever present sense of jeopardy for one very innocent party to this whole case. it's safe to say the the only Holy (holey?) thing about this case, is the Pastor after he finally meets his maker. Did he get his just desserts or is he another innocent victim? You'll have to read to find out.

Dark, twisted and pulsating with tension, it's another cracker from an author who really knows how to hit their mark. Recommended.

This is a great crime thriller.
We join DI Anjelica Henley and the team as they are called out when a Pastor is found brutally stabbed to death in his church.
It’s a shocking discovery for the cleaner of the church but when Henley takes a look around she finds a young man tied to a bed, barely alive.
Henley and the team start to look into the Pastor’s life and discover he had a few secrets and has not been living a pure life.
Another dead body is found and it seems there is a baby missing so the pressure is really on the team.
Henley tries not to let her personal problems affect her job but it’s getting harder and harder to push them aside.
This is a gripping crime thriller.
Thanks to HQ and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.