CW: child death, violence, gore, references to paedophilia

Disgraced former police detective Scott Jericho is newly released from prison - for beating the prime suspect on his last murder investigation to a pulp - and back at his dad's fairground. Depressed, bored and feeling disconnected from both his identity as a police officer and the community of travelling showmen he grew up in, Jericho resists attempts by friends, family and former colleagues to help him get back on his feet, until he finds himself drawn into investigating a series of brutal murders with a mysterious connection to Jericho's fairground family.

I can always be tempted by the promise of a new voice in British crime fiction, and my family on my dad's side have been travelling showmen for generations, so I am definitely the target audience for this twisty, theatrical story. The brilliant detective who must overcome his demons to crack the case is a well-worn archetype, but Scott Jericho is an exciting, original addition to the genre, his character and background illuminating a corner of society still shrouded in mystery and prejudice. Author William Hussey does an excellent job of bringing the vibrant showman community to life and celebrating its rich history and the unique bond its members share. The fact that Jericho is also gay adds a further refreshing dimension to the troubled detective trope.

With all this in mind, I wanted to love Killing Jericho, but ultimately I found the overwritten prose and far-fetched ending really detracted from a novel which had the potential to be really enjoyable.

Hussey's descriptions of the various murder scenes are graphic and gruesome, reminiscent of Se7en or the Hannibal television series, and one early scene is described in genuinely sickening detail. However, it is the way that the author overwrites mundane moments with unnecessary attention to detail that I found tedious. I don't need to know that Jericho has purchased his hot drink from 'the ubiquitous Costa Coffee', for example, and descriptions such as a businessman letting out a 'cattish shriek' when Jericho bumps in to him just made me laugh and took me out of the scene. Jericho also constantly tells the reader how good looking he is (irrelevant) and what an incredible detective he is (not true, based on the evidence of this story, wherein Jericho is repeatedly deceived and wrongfooted by the most obvious subterfuge.)

The conclusion is at once eye-rollingly pat and utterly wild.

However, there was much I did like about Killing Jericho, which would convince me to pick up the next in the series. Jericho himself is an interesting protagonist, I loved the way the story showcased the showman community, and the mystery was pacy and intriguing. I was unsurprised to learn that Hussey has made his name writing YA horror, and I'm looking forward to seeing how he develops his voice in future Jericho books.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bonnier Books UK for the opportunity to read and review an ARC of this book.

I've seen this book everywhere! This really has been mega hyped.

The opening of this book is really gripping and although I found Hussey's writing quite difficult at times, he really knows how to create a world and create an atmosphere.
I hate to say, despite the promising start, the more the book went on, the more I lost interest.
Overall I enjoyed this book but it wasn't as gripping and enjoyable as I thought it would be based on the blurb and opening few pages.

The first in the Scott Jericho series & the author better hurry up with the second; I need more of this man.

Jericho is ex police, ex prisoner, gay, self-medicating with pills & sex, going nowhere fast. He is back living in the traveller community he once rejected & his friends are trying to rediscover the old Scott. Nothing works until a Cambridge professor asks for his help in solving several deaths which appear linked to an old fairground legend.

This was a brilliant read; almost an anti-hero, Jericho is a fabulous character & I can’t wait to see where he goes next. The setting is great too, the author helpfully provides a glossary of travellers vernacular, such vivid descriptions of the community & place. Read it.

Crikey! That was quite the ride!! I think I’ve gone through a whole rainbow of emotions while reading!

Killing Jericho is a crime thriller like none I’ve read before. Featuring crime fiction’s first Traveller detective in Scott Jericho, who also happens to be a former police detective - now disgraced after beating a suspect in a case and doing time in prison.

Now out, he’s returned to the Traveller family he once rejected and is not doing well at all. Until a case sparks his attention, a serial killer is staging murders in horrific ways, and it all harks back to an old fairground legend.

Scott is a very complex man. Predisposed to anger and violence, yet he also has a sweet, caring and vulnerable side.

Killing Jericho is a brilliant start to a new series. It’s cleverly written, definitely on the macabre end of crime fiction, and there’s lots going on. Yet, there’s also a real heart to the story. The Travelling community and their familial bond, and several relationships which feature throughout are really heartwarming.

It’s strength lie within it‘s shades, taking the reader from heartfelt moments to gruesome discoveries from reflective scenes, to high action all within a blink.

Exciting and unique, I am very much looking forward to reading more from William Hussey.
Rated: 4.5/5

This is the first story that I have read by William Hussey but hopefully it won't be the last, I was hooked from the first page to the last, I am an avid reader but I must admit this was the first book that I have read that centers round the travelling community and I found it fascinating, the author had obviously researched it well.
Scott Jericho had been born into the travelling community, working for his fathers travelling fair from a young age, but this wasn't the life that Scott wanted and much to his father's disappointment he joined the police force and became a detective, that was until............the murder of the Malinowski children, roasted alive, a vision that was to haunt Scott, a vision that left him relying on drugs and alcohol, a vision that put Scott in prison and kicked off the force for attacking the perpetrator, a vision that put Scott back working on the fair, an angry, alcoholic druggie.
Scott found a reason to live again when he was asked to investigate a series of murders that were hideous reconstructions of the murders of members of the travelling community many years ago creating the legend of the Travellers Bridge.
This story has so many twists and turns, blind avenues, red herrings that the end came as a complete shock.
I really enjoyed my peep into the travelling community, their rules, their language, their insularity. I loved how Harry came back into Gay Scott's life.
A really enjoyable thriller.
I received a free copy of this book and my review is voluntary

A thrilling dark mystery.

Scott Jericho is an ex police detective with a difference. He is also a fairground traveller with a dark past, but with a Sherlock type skill at solving crimes.
This story didn't grab me initially, the murders are particularly gruesome and I thought this was more of a horror than a thriller. But the story drip feeds you the clues, making you more and more invested in the outcome, and even if the conclusion felt a bit untidy, I was enthralled throughout and will definitely read a sequel.

This is dark, devious and damn good. I enjoyed everything about it, the writing, the characters and the plot. The main character has a Sherlockian skill of deducing things about people from their clothes/ surroundings etc, that never strays too far into the unrealistic. The denouement was completely unguessable. I was mesmerised by this book and just couldn’t put it down. I loved the insights into the lives of showmen and their language. I’m so pleased to read that this is part of a series and I can’t wait for the next one.

This book felt like the second in a series because of the many different references to the main character's past. For me, the final twist didn't work and wasn't convincing. Although the story was readable, I couldn't engage with the main character. Not for me, I'm afraid.

Neutral rating for a DNF.
It didn't take very long to realise the authors style of writing is not for me. A shame because most people have rated highly.

I enjoyed reading this with it's anti-hero main character and drip-fed puzzle, but, while I liked the twist, the reasons for everything didn't leave me fully satisfied.

📘📘BOOK REVIEW📘📘
Killing Jericho by William Hussey

What a cracking good read that was, from the first page to the last it’s a one day read, I just didn’t want to put it down. A completely unique concept to my knowledge with the main protagonist, Scott Jericho, being a traveller, gay, a former police detective and ex- jailbird - you’d have to go some to match that! Jericho is haunted by a case from his police days which resulted in his prison sentence and subsequent reliance on non prescription drugs and casual sex to hide his demons. The author has included a glossary of terms used by travellers which came in useful. Brilliantly written with a fabulous storyline (apart from a trigger moment with a dog that I struggled with) this is a great read.

Briefly, living back at the fairground Jericho is a mess, his friends, including his former boss have tried to rouse him out of his self imposed stupor but with no success. Until he is contacted by a former Cambridge professor asking for his help in finding a serial killer who seems to be targeting people and leaving them posed like the victims of an old fairground legend. Intrigued he accepts the job.

I love just about everything about this. It was so good with such a damaged, angry man as the main character, but underneath all the angst you can see the good in him just fighting to get out and banish his overly aggressive side. I have a number of showmen friends and know just what a close and supportive community they are and this comes across in spades. And what a shock ending, I didn’t have a clue, even though the hints were there. A brilliant LGQBT novel but actually just a brilliant novel, no labels needed; I seriously hope book 2 won’t be long coming out. Gripping.

I was excited to read Killing Jericho and my excitement only increased the deeper into this twisty and surprising thriller I got. Scott Jericho is a fresh and delightful character. He comes laden with a set of familiar tropes. He is a disgraced former CID detective who has served a prison sentence for violent behaviour. Haunted and damaged by his past, he is dependent on medication and alcohol to help him get through the days and nights, with some casual sex thrown in. His former partner in the force is sending him case files in the hope that it will stimulate his interest, but he can’t raise the energy.

Scott is also a Traveller, returned to his dad’s fair to earn his keep. Now he’s back with his family, he soon finds himself in the midst of a serial killer story that puts his family’s carnival at the heart of the most serious of threats. This is an aspect of the story that I really loved. The Traveller community has been -and still is – the subject of so much prejudice that it is great to gain insight into this world which William Hussey imbues with lots of colour and great dialogue.

David Mark did that to some extent with his character, Roisin McAvoy, the Romany wife of his protagonist, Aector McAvoy, but I can’t think of any actual traveller detectives before. As an ex-cop Scott is regarded with some suspicion by his fellow travellers, so this is a detective who walks alone – though that may be about to change.

Scott is finally roused into action when he is commissioned by a convicted paedophile to look into three grotesque murders. It is clear from the nature of the murders that each is connected in some way, but Scott will have to find out what that connection is.

At the same time, the carnival is about to travel to the small town of Bradbury End, where they are preparing to commemorate a 150 year old tragedy that has reverberation for Scott and his family. What Scott is not expecting when he travels to Bradbury End is to find people whose lives have significantly impacted on his own.

Someone he hates with a vengeance is on his doorstep taunting him and doing his best to goad Scott into the rage that simmers just below his surface. That person also seems to be engaged in a campaign of hatred against the Muslim community with a team of thugs and bully boys at his heels.

Scott also finds someone he thought he would never see again. In this sleepy town there is a confluence of coincidences that cannot bode well for Scott’s investigations.

As the temperature rises and more murders occur, can Scott keep on an even keel long enough to work out how everything is connected and find the serial killer?

William Hussey has written a dark and disturbing novel with lots of layers and in the middle a twisting puzzle that needs to be pieced together to get to the truth. His writing is propulsive and compelling, but it also carries a real depth of emotion which is what makes Jericho a three dimensional character.

Verdict: Scott Jericho is an interesting and refreshing addition to the detective genre and I enjoyed this dark and twisted serial killer chiller. So much so that I am very keen to read the next book in the series. I’d welcome a little bit of dialling back on the tropes though.

This was my first ever William hussey book and it will not be my last. I was fascinated until the very last page

We all know I love a gritty thriller/murder mystery so this one was right up my street and I really, really enjoyed it!

Scott Jericho; ex-con, ex-detective, openly gay, traveller. Bet you've never read all that in one sentence about a character before! I loved Scott as a main character! He's flawed as all hell but it makes him human. He's not the perfect, squeaky clean guy and I loved that about him. He has such a big heart too, you can't help but root for the guy!

The story itself was so dark and I loved it! A solid murder mystery that I couldn't figure out. I had a list of suspects, all wrong haha. I enjoyed how the narrative would dip into Jericho's past so we could find out more about him and the events leading up to the present. It was also really interesting to get an insight into the fair itself and its history. It's not something I've seen a lot of in books but I enjoyed reading about it! It gives you such a sense of the  community and how tight-knit it is. There are some truly awful characters in this novel but the love, acceptance friendship seen throughout was so lovely to see!

Overall, this is a must-read for any thriller lover! Thank you so much to NetGalley and Zaffre for this copy, I can't wait to see what's next for Jericho!

* Please look up any trigger warnings before reading *

Crime books can get a bit samey after a while so it is always good, and refreshing to find something that's a bit quirky. And we have that here for sure. Meet former DC Scott Jericho, recently released from prison, after being convicted of assault on a violent suspect whilst in custody, he has been sacked and, being unemployed and broke, has had to return home to his family for support. A family who really didn't like him being a cop in the first place being as they are a travelling fairground family. His old friend, boss and mentor, DI Pete Garris, has been trying to kick Scott out of his slump by popping by with case notes he wants help with, Scott having been a very promising investigator before it all went wrong, but to no avail. Has has spiralled into depression and medication abuse, shutting everyone out.
Until the day he is summoned to meet a former history professor and convicted paedophile Prof Ralph Campbell who has a task for him. It appears that someone is murdering people in gruesome ways that are connected to a 150 year old traveller tragedy. The same tragedy that Scott's father's fair is about to "celebrate" in Bradbury End. A tragedy where an ancestor and a few associates were killed when a bridge collapsed. This piques his interest and he engages Garris to assist his investigations...
I loved this book. It is rich in traveller history, lore and vocabulary! All of which I found fascinating. I do love it when I get a cracking mystery to solve along with a side order of learning something new. I took to Scott right from the off too, warts and all, and it wasn't easy as he was a bit of a downer. That said, there was something in his character that made him easy to like...
And the crime - well - that took us all round the houses and back again - a couple times! Keeping me on my toes as I read, often without a clue where we were going. And with an ending that both shocked and satisfied. Brilliant!
All in all a cracking opener which I have no hesitation in recommending. Really hanging for book two now though! My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

This is a great start to a new series.
Scott Jericho is back with his family, helping with their travelling fair. He’s been to prison following an incident when he was in the Police and he’s now intrigued by a new case that has been given to him.
Jericho takes a while to understand what’s been happening as the information is being trickled to him by a third party but he soon realises there’s lives in danger, and knows he had to stop the killer.
It took a while to warm to Jericho but once I understood his character, I really liked him.
This is a great crime thriller and I’m looking forward to reading the next one when it’s out.
Thanks to Bonnier Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

A refreshingly different storyline; Scott Jericho used to be a detective. Before that, he was a showman - travelling with the show bearing his family's name, a show that is steeped in history with old tales of the elephant man, bearded lady.....that kind of travelling show. Returning to his family to lick his wounds after leaving the force unable to bear the responsibility of his actions that allowed a child killer to go free, and the break up of his relationship with Harry, he realises that his 'sixth sense' is still alive and well, helping him to unravel mysteries and problems. The upcoming Anniversary of a terrible accident involving his family when a bridge collapsed seems to conspire with fate to make Scott face his demons - and people from his past. Turning to his ex-mentor from the force he tries to figure out just why so many coincides keep occurring only to find that his sixth sense is leading him round in circles.

Killing Jericho by William Hussey is an introduction to a new troubled detective who thrown out of the force and jailed after assaulting a prisoner. Scott Jericho is not a detective from the same stable as the likes of Morse, Frost or Vera; he is a much darker character. When we first encounter him in the story he is back with his traveller family having just been released from prison. Existing on painkillers and living in an old caravan alongside the fair he gets drawn into investigating a series of macabre murders which seem linked to the history of his showman ancestors.
The story moves along at a good pace and kept me interested (and guessing) to the last page.

An enjoyable and intriguing new character and series begins in Killing Jericho but not a start I’m completely convinced or won over by.

Whilst as a crime thriller, the book has it all, I almost felt like it’s trying to hard to be different and edgy and though well written, and plotted out very well indeed, i was left having to completely suspend belief - which is fine - it’s fiction, but the finale did leave a somewhat sour taste.

With all that being said, I did enjoy the traveller setting, the broken protagonist trying to reignite himself and it’s darkly twisted and macabre. William Hussey definitely has the talent , and I will read more to see where he takes Jericho and how the series and characters develop.

A good if flawed start but potentially has a very bright future to this series

"Killing Jericho" by William Hussey, is an enjoyable read that, without giving away any spoilers, asks the reader to suspend their disbelief and just enjoy the ride. For that, it works very well with a gruesome series of deaths that Scott Jericho, a 6 foot plus well built handsome genius ex-policeman recently released from prison for GBH, is asked to investigate.
The plot moves at a fairly quick pace and I enjoyed William Hussey's writing style and his willingness to tackle difficult and uncomfortable subjects.
There was a point during the middle of the book where I almost stopped reading as I found the pace begins to crawl following Scott's reacquaintance with an old boyfriend and for the tendency to use the character as a device for foreshadowing something bad. I am glad I didn't as the pace picked up fairly quickly again and the story entered into a more bizarre territory and eventual conclusion.
This is well recommended and a lot of fun.