I was completely hooked from the very beginning of this fantastic thriller, full of twists, turns and characters that range from the compelling to the horrifying. Scott Jericho is the first detective I’ve read about from the Traveller community and it worked brilliantly. Scott is a complicated and nuanced man with gifts that make him an excellent detective but flaws which put both he and the people he cares about at risk. He is the sort of character that I believe will be continuously compelling to follow in this series which I hope goes on for a long time. The case at the centre of Killing Jericho is gruesome and disturbing yet also darkly intriguing and I loved following Scott as he tries to figure out who is behind the violence and death. I was genuinely shocked by the answer. This is a truly engaging and utterly addictive thriller with so much going for it and I would highly recommend it to any fans of the genre. I can’t wait to read more about the troubled yet brilliant Scott Jericho.

This was my first introduction to William Hussey and I wasn't disappointed.
Scott Jericho was an ex police officer with a very troubled past. It was unusual for him to be a police officer as he came from the traveller community.
He put his trust in people thinking he was a good judge of character, but maybe he had it all wrong.
A fresh style of writing that I really enjoyed.
Thank you to Bonnier Books UK, Netgalley and William Hussey for an ARC in return for an honest review.

Every thriller writer seems to be searching to create their own special character, different enough to stand out from the crowded field, and yet smart enough to be engaging and believable. With Scott Jericho I'd say that Mr. Hussey, if this debut run out is anything to go by, may well have created a winner.
The story was well constructed, and to be perfectly honest, I saw the twist in the tail only when our hero finally set what he thought was his trap. Brilliant construction, plenty of clues, red herrings, blind alleys, family and love interest. Fully caught me by surprise. All based in an England that was both timeless, familiar and yet strange all at the same time.
The pantheon of characters have been created, a neat back story exists, where do we take him next.
I can't wait see.

I haven’t been reading as much crime fiction recently, there are a lot of formulaic books out there and I always feel like I know what is coming just from reading the blurb.

Killing Jericho is refreshing - it ticks all the genre boxes while being original and intriguing. The voice is wonderful, the plotting intricate, and I enjoyed the insights into the world of the travelling showmen. The murders are gruesome, which I sometimes find off-putting, but this story is more dark theatricality than gritty realism.

I raced through Killing Jericho and was genuinely was kept guessing to the end.
*
Copy from NetGalley

Well I was t expecting that! Darker than your average murder/ mystery with spattering of gothic graphic horror at times. Definitely different to any other “procedural” that I’ve encountered.
That being said I’m not sure I was into it, hence the three stars. And whilst I’m a fan of taking a tried and tested storytelling method and making it your own or giving it a twist, I think it dipped too far into the eccentric , like if Stephen king was allowed to mess around with a few Sherlock Holmes novels. It would be different but not nessecarily in a good way.
Great premise and was promising until about three quarters of the way through and then I really started to struggle with it. For that reason I give it a 3 star review.
Thanks to NetGalley for giving me a copy of this book many months ago. #netgalley #killingjericho #helterskeltervibes

I read this ages ago and forgot to update my netgalley....anyway - this was fab! I am not usually a crime person but this was written in such an engaging and easy-to-read way, yet not with the writing being -dumbed-down'. Just a fantastic, gripping story that kept me interesting and entertained the whole time! I loved the mix of the character backstory we learnt and the main plot of the book, the pair were balanced together nicely, and the book was really well paced to keep everything moving but give time for the story to grow. I look forward to the future book(s) in the series!

A chilling, gripping and dark read. Scott Jericho is unlike any detective character i've ever read, and I loved that. He's a traveller, gay, and is suffering with some real darkness from his previous experience as a police officer.

I found the way the story wove together so satusfying, and I'll be honest (SPOILER)

I didn't see the twist coming AT ALL. Really fantastic, and I hope that there are more Jericho novels cos the way that this book ends...there's more to tell.

Perhaps a little more gore than I typically like to see in my crime fiction, but it suited the Gothic vibe of the book. The description of the abandoned mansion and the tragic bridge were very atmospheric. As an anthropologist, I found the depiction of the Traveller/showman community absolutely fascinating, without any sugarcoating but also with much empathy.

A fresh take in the world of crime fiction, with a member of the travelling community as the disgraced ex-policeman Scott Jericho, called to investigate recent murders that tragically mirror historic murders of five Travellers. The story also gives Jericho space to re-connect with his former love Harry, and try and pick up what they had. This is unlike anything I've read before in crime fiction, a fab new take and a detective that I hope we hear more of!

Killing Jericho is a dark, original and addictive read. It's nice to finally see some crime thrillers with a bit of inclusivity and diversity. Very different from William Hussey's previous novels but thoroughly enjoyable and well worth reading.

Loved it! A fascinating protagonist and lots of twists and turns in the story. Can't wait to read the next instalment(s).

Fresh out of prison, and forced to take refuge with the fairground family he previously rejected, Scott Jericho is in a bad way. He is existing rather than living. His former boss tries to interest him in some of the cases he is working on, but nothing seems to reach him. When he is approached by the mysterious Professor Campbell about a bizarre series of seemingly unconnected ritualistic murders that recall a 150-year-old legend linked to the Jericho Travelling Fair, he is compelled to investigate.
This wonderfully unusual book stands out in the crime fiction genre. The main character is gay, but this is not the main focus of the book, it is just who he happens to be. We gain insight into the traveller way of life, including the unique patois spoken by the fairground people. In addition to the main story, the theme of prejudice in modern society runs through the narrative, often linked to the person Scott believed was responsible for the deaths of three young children when he was a police officer, and who is still a troublesome presence in his life.
Lincolnshire author William Hussey has written about what he knows. His background as a gay man brought up in a travelling fairground gives the story authenticity. His knowledge of the history, folklore and culture of fairground people is used to good effect. Scott Jericho is a flawed character, but not in the usual cliched ways. He doesn’t really fit in anywhere – the traveller community mistrust him because he was a police officer, and he is viewed with suspicion both because he is a traveller and has been in jail. This gives him a unique perspective. This is the first book I have read by William Hussey, but it won’t be the last as I am looking forward to reading more books in this series. Thanks to Zaffre and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review Killing Jericho.

The start of an exciting mystery series featuring gay traveller detective Scott Jericho. Fresh out of jail, the disgraced former police detective seeks refuge with his fairground family. But when people start being killed in a series of macabre murders linked to a century old legend, Scott puts his unique detective skills to the test to hunt the perpetrator. Gleefully twisted, brittle and brilliant.

There is a dark and gruesome murder at a fairground in this unique crime thriller. This enthralling story follows Scott Jericho, a former detective from the travelling community, on a roller coaster of curiosities.

A perfect read especially to celebrate Pride

Scott Jericho is a detective with a difference. An Oxbridge educated detective is nothing new but one who is from the travelling community is unusual. He is also charismatic and good looking, but treated with suspicion both within his own community and outside it. No longer an employed detective, he is pulled into an investigation due to his links with the fairground and the assistance of his old mentor. This has plenty of twists to keep the reader engaged and the writing is vivid and brings the story to life. A story with potential for a film or TV series and plenty of scope for more stories in the series.

With thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review a copy.

What an interesting book that was! Lots of going on here and it might not be to everyone. There are gruesome descriptions of the murders with a little edgy goth style. It is a dark thriller with a dark main character.
Story is based in a small town in England. Scott Jericho is an ex-cop, who was sentenced for badly beating up a suspect in the ongoing murder case, who happened to be a Nazi, who hates all the immigrants. And this is just the beginning of the book.
One day a Cambridge professor contacted him about the strange murders that are connected with his background. Because Scott's family and friends are travellers working at the fairground.
It is not easy for him to look for a killer, when he is hunted by the past, unresolved case with Nazi guy. And when suddenly an ex-boyfriend appeared from years ago, when he was studying at Oxford .
Despite all the flaws the main character is likable. He is damaged because of years spent in jail, but you root for him, even when he makes a bad decision.
Even you like a killer until you find out that he committed all those crimes.
Plot was interesting and the story itself very engaging. A little different from the usual thriller stories, here we have a glimpse to the travellers life, which is just fascinating, how they view people outside from the fairground. The dialogue was English to the bone, with all the slang.
The author in the book also cleverly makes a reference to islamophobia and xenophobia that happens in small towns.
Overall I can’t read another book about Scott.

A unique crime thriller with dark and gruesome murders set in the world of fairgrounds. An ex detective from the travelling community, Scott Jericho is an unlikely hero and we are taken on a roller coaster ride of curiosities.

William Hussey is in top form in his latest novel Killing Jericho. Scott Jericho lives on the periphery of society in a community of traveling circus folk. After serving time in prison Scott is trying to leave the past behind him, but a professor reaches out to him to find out who has committed a number of recent murders. Scott is intrigued and begins to investigate.

Powerful and frightening in places, Killing Jericho is a compelling and exciting read.

The plot is totally original, moves quick and flows well always leaving you wanting more and it is hard to put down. The descriptions of the environments place you right in the scenesèl, its so vivid at times it's scary. You won't see the twists and turns coming and the climax is something quite spectacular.

It wasn't quite what I was expecting from the blurb. It was weirdly both entertaining and not in different places. I usually love Zaffre Books, but this fell a bit short of the mark.

I liked the story when it was at the fair depicting the travelling family unit. It was also fun watching the character traits reveal themselves. Whilst I struggled with the final twist, I did enjoy exploring the motive for it - that was a nice addition which made for a different viewpoint.

I can't say I ever fully invested as I felt it was slow going. Scott's "amazing detective skills" were just a bit too unbelievable for me. I also found some parts predictable and wondered how Scott didn't see or pursue them given how he's "so talented".

Overall, it was an alright read with highlights and lowlights. It hasn't put me off the author, but I probably wouldn't read another book in the series.