First off Scott Jericho needs his own series. A disgraced detective and a traveller is asked to in investigate a series of abhorrent murders steeped in traveller legend. This is a real workout for the grey matter and I still got it wrong. So many twists and turns. I just had to keep on reading I HAD TO KNOW THE TRUTH!!! Intense, atmospheric with great characters and masterful story telling. A must read and almost five stars. Loved it!!!!!
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for giving an honest review.

It seems every new detective launched upon the reading public has to bring something novel to the party and here we have a UK version of Billy Bigelow, the tall, dark and hansome guy who was a barker at a Carousel (film 1956). He too was hot tempered and it was Scott Jericho's temper that got him dropped from the force as a detective. Scott Jericho is from the Traveller community and like Billy,,,,a showman. Whilst this may seem a bit of a gimmick as thrillers go, it actually was very interesting and really lifted the novel. The plot centres on a series of murders, very macabre they were too. Seemingly random, a nod to a past tragedy is postulated but what is the connection between each victim? This is what Scott works on, having been retained by a private individual who is interested in the past tragedy. Well, with nothing to be gleaned at each murder scene by forensics, Scott should have paid greater attention to Sherlock Holmes mantra, "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth." As all detective thriller readers know, that when there is no evidence, a professional is definitely favourite.
The conclusion left me certain that the tryst with the devil would lead to further encounters with our showman detective, I do hope so.

Scott Jericho has just left prison after serving time for GBH. Scott is a disgraced ex-police detective; a Traveller and he is also Gay. He is also a drug addict and has spells of violence and relives the horrors of three children being burnt alive. He has only one place left to go his Traveller family that he left behind. When he goes back to the fair ground that his father still lives, he gets a call from his old boss help him with a murder. He eagerly grabs the opportunity to solve the crime.
Thank you, Bonnier books, for a copy of Killing Jericho by William Hussey. I really wanted to enjoy this book from William Hussey. I found this to have a dark intriguing storyline. I found this really unique regards to the protagonist having a Police/Travellers background. I also thought it had a hint of supernatural elements to it. I found the first half of this book to be engaging but then felt that there was too much back story regarding his love life and time at the Police in the second half of this and not much of the actual plot that it dragged for me a little. 3.5 stars from me.

Scott Jericho is an ex-traveller and shamed CID officer who has recently returned to the fair his Dad owns following a stint in prison for GBH.

He's an angry man with lots of demons, hooked on prescription meds and is haunted by ghosts of an old case. When he's approached to privately investigate some murders tied to his own past, he gets caught up in a disturbing whodunit that could threaten the safety of the people he loves.

Absolutely gripping from start to finish, this is a brilliantly dark thriller that has you on the edge of your seat throughout. It's violent and dark, quite bleak but also has uplifting moments too, it kept me up late at night because I couldn't stop reading.

I also love that Scott Jericho is gay but his sexuality is not the driving force of the book. Normalise gay relationships in stories, people!

Absolutely loved this and I'm already looking forward to book 2.

It is out next month.

Thanks to Netgalley and Bonnier Books for the #gifted ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I will start by saying that murder mystery/crime novels aren't normally my cup of tea. I'm not sure why as I love a good crime drama on television but when it comes to books I generally struggle to stay interested. But from the very first page I was well and truly hooked on this one! I read it over a particularly difficult personal period and it was such an incredible experience that took me away from all my woes and had me completely captivated and determined to find out what on earth was going on! Will's writing is so engaging and draws you in so well that you just cannot put the book down!

Scott Jericho himself is a fantastic lead. Brooding, dark, mysterious with a past that is a joy to discover and gay! What more could you want? When it comes to book boyfriends, Scott has well and truly thrown himself into the mix and I for one am here for it! He's just so unapologetically himself which I loved. You don't get many gay leads especially in this genre so it is incredibly refreshing to read and downright enjoyable! All of the characters are so well realised and developed which sometimes in these sorts of books isn't always the case. They're there just for the sake of it, a throw-away character that is shoehorned in to make a certain aspect of the plot work, but here they all earn their place within the book and I really enjoyed that!

The book itself had me guessing and second guessing at every turn but the ending took me completely by surprise. So much so that I threw my kindle down and had to calm myself down a bit before connoting. I just couldn't believe it! I think that part of my problem with the genre in general is that I often see the ending coming and often work it out early on in the book, but with Killing Jericho, I didn't have that experience and I absolutely loved it for it. It is just testament to Will's writing and the story itself!

I for one cannot wait to see what Scott gets up to next and am waiting on tenterhooks for the follow up! You may have a convert on your hands here Mr. Hussey!

A dark, atmospheric page-turner that will have you guessing until the very end! Killing Jericho is a joy to read and I cannot wait for more!

Killing Jericho is a riveting read from award-winning author William Hussey. The novel follows Scott Jericho, a former detective who was sent to jail and is now forced to seek refuge with the fairground family he once rejected.

Hussey brings to life the unique and exotic world of fairgrounds and travelling carnivals as Scott Jericho attempts to piece together the bizarre and deadly series of murders which are echoing a centuries old fairground legend. Through Scott's investigations, we gain a unique and rare insight into the fascinating history of fairground folklore and a closer understanding of the Travellers.

This gripping read contains numerous twists and turns which will keep the reader on the edge of their seat. There is also a strong hint of mystery surrounding Scott and the danger he may be facing from the killer's list, adding a layer of suspense to the plot.

Overall, Killing Jericho is an engrossing read, captivating readers with a well-paced and exciting narrative. William Hussey has created a captivating and intense story, filled with intriguing characters and surprising plot twists, which will keep readers on their toes until the very last page.

Well, hello Scott Jericho. What a character and what a case to introduce him to readers who, if they are anything like me, are just going to eat it/him up. Traveller, disgraced detective, and, if that's not enough to have about half the population of the UK prejudiced against him, he's also gay. But more importantly that that, he's complex, he's troubled, he's prone to moments of darkness in which anything can happen, and he is absolutely bloody fascinating. I was drawn in by him right from the off, compelled by his story, wanting to know more about his secrets, and completely and utterly intrigued about where this case was going to lead us all.

William Hussey has created an absolute corker of a character in Scott Jericho, one I am so happy we will see again. It's a somewhat memorable and perhaps less than auspicious introduction to our hero that opens the book, but it certainly gives you a good flavour of where he is as a character right at that moment in time. Safe to say it's not a good place and for very good reason. But the more the author explores Scott's backstory, the more we see of him on the page, the more certain I was that this was a character I was really going to like. There is just something about his personality, spiky as it often is, that was utterly engrossing. A literary loving, tough acting, purveyor of justice ... albeit in his own, sometimes violent, style. His actions are never without cause, some might argue often a noble one, and perhaps that's why those lapses into darkness are easily forgivable. But beneath the hard exterior, there is a man who cares deeply for people and who is completely and utterly drawn in by mystery. And, as mysteries go, this is a fairly big one.

This is a serial killer story. Three murders, different MO, different locations, not clear link between victims, but with aspects that, to someone, draw parallels with a part of Scott's family history. The build up of the case if perfectly pitched, scratching an itch that Scott did not know he had, and pulling me in as a reader too. Each murder was set up in a kind of grim tableau, but one that would mean little to anyone who didn't understand the significance. But as that significance is explored, as all the various players in the story are brought to our attention, it really did spark that curiosity, in both our protagonist and me as the reader. So many people to be wary of, so many coincidences, and plenty to draw our attention away from what should have been fairly obvious. I loved the way the author pulled together the various threads, using them to expose more of the backstory and weaving them amongst the echoes of a tragedy that had become almost a folk tale passed on from generation to generation.

Aside from the obvious mad murderer theme, this is also a book which challenges perceptions and highlights the prejudice and hatred which is, sadly, still teeming in our society. Be it preconceived ideas of the traveller community, or the blatant racism that frames the story by way of a Nazi loving child murderer and an anti-mosque demonstration that takes place in the town of Bradbury End, it serves to demonstrate that it has become almost natural to demonise communities who are perceived to be different from the majority, and in Bradbury End it goes without saying that the majority are white. The hate forms a back drop to the story, drawing attention and challenging assertions without preaching. It certainly opens the mind to a different way of thinking about the traveller community, to not accept a few bad headlines as being representative of them as a whole.

The pacing of the book is spot on, the mystery just fascinating and the murders grotesque and twisted, explored in enough detail without being overly gratuitous. There are scenes in the book lend a really emotional edge to the story, one of which is of Scott and the love of his life, the one that got away, Harry. The moments of tenderness between them as they reconnect contrast beautifully with the darkness and the moments of violence which feed through the book. Whether I've done the book justice I don't know (probably not), but I do know that I was hooked from the start and loved every bit of it.

If you are looking for an intrigue laden mystery, a tale of a devious and manipulative murderer, with a very unique and utterly enthralling protagonist then you should read this book. The ending may take you by surprise, but it is very fitting for the book. Is justice served? Well you will have to read to find out, won't you. Definitely recommended.

Sorry, this just wasn't for me. I didn't like Scott and couldn't get on with the style of writing either. Despite trying I could get to the end. Apologies to the author. I'm sure many will enjoy this because of its unique character hence I've given a neutral 3*.

Such a brilliant weaving of the traveller community, a legend and a crime spree. Add to that a messed up character, a romance and some really dark twists in the road.

I will never tire of the way William writes and how he builds a world and sucks you into it. I was left NEEDING the next instalment of Scott Jericho!

Scott Jericho is one of the most multi-faceted characters I have come across in recent years. He's a traveller, an ex-thug for hire, an ex-police officer, gay and capable of explosive violence. When we first meet him, he is also a recovering drug addict. A lot for one man to deal with, you might say. But wait, there's more. He is also haunted by the ghosts of three badly burned children, one of whom talks to him. It's a lot of balls to keep in the air for one character, so how does William Hussey do?
Jericho and Hussey's shared heritage is richly drawn in, with tons of atmosphere and authentic jargon. To me, this was the best part of the book. The plot is convoluted (nothing wrong with that) and involves multiple gruesome murders. My problem with it was that it was too simplistically presented. Jericho moved in a linear fashion from clue to clue but in no great depth, the bulk of the story being taken up with his continual rumination (in some cases, repetitively) and the denouement, when it came, took pages of explanation. My biggest disappointment was the I guessed the murderer very early on because a vital clue was flagged too early. My second disappointment was that I failed entirely to buy into the reasoning behind the crimes.
I wanted to like Jericho but he was largely unlikeable. Even so, I think I would read another story featuring him if the plot and characters were less overwrought.
I voluntarily read an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Killing Jericho is a brilliant and different story .Scott Jericho is an ex policeman ,thrown out of the police force because of his violence towards a murder suspect and now back living with his traveller family in the fairground .When he gets approached to solve a murder he grabs the chance .This is such a unique crime thriller ,fast paced wonderful characters ,full of mystery with an excellent plot and no I didn't guess the ending .I look forward to reading book 2 of this series .Thankyou to NetGalley for my ARC.

Having enjoyed Simon Mason’s Oxfordshire-based detective novels recently, I was on the look-out for another similarly gritty series to get into. This fitted the bill perfectly, and then some! The insight into Ryan’s trailer park background in Mason’s novels, and which I valued, is here served by Scott Jericho’s traveller (showmen) context and the realities of life on the itinerant fairground today. It was informative, praises public libraries, and had several twists that completely caught me out! I have ordered the second in the series, which is already out in the US.

Wow! What can I say about Killing Jericho? It is my FAVOURITE book of the year, so far, and I raced through it, captivated, not wanting to put it down!

Scott Jericho is crime fiction’s first-ever gay Traveller detective. Fresh out of prison, with anger and addiction issues, he fills that clichéd, flawed detective stereotype well but with the added interest of his fairground Traveller background.

Killing Jericho certainly kept me on my toes. With the twists and turns, it had me suspecting a variety of the characters of being the killer. As with all good murder mysteries, this one is a little bit gruesome and, perhaps, not for the faint-hearted. It’s a must-read for any crime fiction lover!

My only problem is that this book isn’t even out yet and I already want to jump into further forays with Scott Jericho.

It's become a bit of a cliche that any sort of detective, whether private, police or simply an amateur drawn into a mystery, has to have a difficult background. I remember this being parodied once as 'the whistling detective with a problem who lives on a barge'. To have a hero who is just out of prison, has a travelling fairground background with some anger issues and addictions issues as well as poor mental health could be seen to fit this trope, but this nonetheless feels fresh. And it is welcome that Jericho being gay isn't part of this - its just there as what he is.

Jericho begins to investigate some apparently unconnected murders and we take it from there. It's well plotted and well written. This is the first in a series and I will be happy to read more.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for a review copy.

One of my favourite YA authors is here with the first in a brand new adult crime series, following the Traveller detective Scott Jericho as he unpicks a twisty mystery that seems to be connected to the dark history of his family’s travelling show…

For the first in a series, this is off to a blazing start! I haven’t returned to any detective-protagonist-driven thriller series in a very long time, and here we have something that is as quietly groundbreaking as it is shatteringly ingenious. Scott Jericho is a complicated tapestry of a man, recently out of prison for a crime that saw him banished from the police force. Back with his family, he soon finds himself tied up in a gory plot that leads him right to the gates of his family’s own carnival…

There’s so much to love here! A plotty mystery with a denouement so satisfying you’ll kick yourself for missing it, a beautiful commentary on otherness and bigotry, and a warming gay love story too. I’ll be rushing to read every Scott Jericho mystery from here on out.

Is William Hussey capable of writing a bad book? My reliable sources say no.


RELEASE: APR 27TH

RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Killing Jericho

An unusual hero and one who is not easy to empathise with, or, as I found, to like. He is muscled and large, has PTSD and verges on the edge of violence. He has been to prison for attacking an offender when a Detective Constable so now out on his own and back in the fairground world where he grew up. But although the offender had committed an awful crime I did not find this a defence for his violence.

There are interesting parts about the fairground travellers which rang true for me as a former teacher of showmen’s children. Some history there too. Interesting.

This is well plotted and written in a page turning style. A compelling twisty tale but I will not be reading any more in the series as too dark for me. A cross between a detective drama and a thriller. If you like this genre this will appeal to you.

I read a copy provided by NetGalley and the publishers but my views are my own.

A uniquely twisting crime thriller, Killing Jericho pulls you headlong into the world of disgraced former detective and fairground traveler Scott Jericho as he attempts to solve a series of grisly murders that all seem to be connected to an old travelers' tale. A flawed man haunted by the mistake that lost him his career, Scott is in a constant struggle to keep the darker parts of his psyche at bay while making use of his staggering intuitive ability to connect the dots across seemingly unconnected murders. A pacy, tense, gruesome take on the genre.

This was a Did Not Finish (DNF) for myself. I am a huge fan of crime which blends horror, with with the supernatural or not. But this book about a disgraced police detective who has returned to his traveller roots fell well short of the best of the genre. The main plotline was so flimsy and I found the main character to be bland and unengaging. Give me John Connolly's Charlie Parker every time.

DNF. On pause, for now.
Due to illness, I have not been progressing with this book at a good pace. I'm afraid I don't think I'll finish before the archive date but if I manage to finish somehow, this review will be steers on my goodreads account.
Apologies to Will and the publishers.

Many thanks to the publishing team for my digital copy for review
My first read from the author and a different genre and I really liked it.
One thing I really liked was the character developments and challenging the flaws in them. It helped elevate the book rather than keeping mundane characters.
It was a page turner and really interesting to read and the ending was a surprise!