Bloody hell! Fast paced with so much going on this book is just fantastic. The twists were just brilliant and came out of nowhere. I read this authors first book and was slightly disappointed. The only disappointment with this book is that it finished! I can’t wait for what comes next from Sam Holland. This is worth so much more than the maximum five stars I can give. Bloody hell!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC in return for an honest and unbiased opinion.

https://lynns-books.com/2023/09/05/the-twenty-by-sam-holland/
4 of 5 stars
My Five Word TL:DR Review : Maybe One Twist Too Many

To be honest, I’m enjoying this author, I read and enjoyed The Echo Man and so of course was keen also to pick up The Twenty. Yet again we have a dark, gritty, sometimes quite violently graphic, police procedural involving a serial killer who seems to be marking the scenes of his crimes with roman numerals that in the clear light of day are counting down – to what though? I mean, in a way, this is even more creepy somehow – because this serial killer isn’t just planning out his next murder scene – he has a particular end in mind.

And, I would say that although this is set in the same world and period as the Echo Man, and in fact a character from that book makes an appearance here, this can definitely be read as a standalone.

DCI Adam Bishop is the man in charge of the investigation although as the plot twists his involvement becomes personal. It eventually becomes clear that the killer is carrying on the work of another serial killer who is now in prison, and that through those previous character’s Adam has a connection to both the past and present cases which puts him in a rather dubious position.

This book is very gritty. It’s fast paced and has a very cinematic feel with constant twists and red herrings leading readers over and over down the garden path. It does jump about a bit at first between the past and present but I like this form of storytelling and enjoyed the insights that this style brought to the plot.

On top of this, flipping heck, Sam Holland is brutal. If you’re going to pick this one up, beware of forming attachments. It feels like not only do potential suspects abound but also nobody is safe. And, Holland doesn’t take the easy approach taking victims that really tug on your heartstrings.

I’m not going to elaborate too much more to be honest as I’m keen not to include spoilers.

In terms of criticisms. Well, this book is very twisty turny. You know that point when you reach your saturation level, this one teetered on the edge of that but even with perhaps ‘one too many twists’ I was still pretty much hooked.

If you fancy a gripping, sometimes brutal, fast paced, twisted and crazy police procedural story with violent crimes and intense characters then give this a try.

I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.

A fantastic read that had my heart beating out of my chest and my bum in the edge of my seat. Atmospheric and claustrophobic with a story line so compelling and absolutely steeped with suspense and mystery. I loved it

Sam Holand does it again. I was such a huge fan of Sam's debut 'The Echo Man' and had high expectations for what follows. But it hit the spot for me! A dark police procedural mystery is right up my street. I enjoyed the dark evil atmosphere and loved how it all connected together. Truly binge-worthy & would love to see Sam's work adapted for TV!

Wowser this was a book and then some!!!! If you love thrillers, don't miss this gripping, suspenseful tale.

The Twenty is the second in author Sam Holland's Major Crimes series, and like its predecessor The Echo Man, is a tautly-plotted, intense read, with a cast of well developed flawed characters, and several shocking twists.
The Twenty opens with the macabre discovery of five corpses on a local wasteland site, each accompanied by a nearby tag featuring Roman numerals. DCI Adam Bishop is the senior investigating officer, aided by his associate DS Jamie Hoxton and newcomer to the team DC Ellie Quinn. Gradually, the bodies are identified and Bishop's team struggle to find links between them that might lead to a perpetrator.

Bishop and the police hierarchy are quick to dismiss his ex-wife Romilly Cole’s concerns that the present crimes are linked to a grisly past series, but as another victim is discovered and evidence supports her fears they must face the possibility that either a deadly copycat is at work, or that an imprisoned psychopath is pulling strings from behind prison walls...

The investigative narrative is punctuated with brief interludes from the perspective of a stalker-turned-killer, creating a sense of foreboding as they close in on their next victims. Meanwhile, we're also privy to reports of a 1995 criminal investigation with eerie parallels to the current series of killings. Events unfold to lead us towards a thrilling conclusion, with a final twist that will leave readers wondering.

There are many confronting themes and gory crime scenes, and while these aren't gratuitous they don't make easy reading at times. However, for lovers of gritty and realistic crime fiction, The Twenty will prove a thrilling and engrossing read.

My thanks to the author, Sam Holland, publisher HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction and NetGalley (UK) for the opportunity to read and review this gripping title.

The Echo Man was a gritty, gory and tense thriller that I would not recommend to anyone who's queasy or faint of heart.
The Twenty is further on the dark spectrum and as tense and gripping.
I had fun but even if I wanted to to stop reading at time.
An excellent thriller.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

A propulsive serial killer thriller that overlaps nicely with Holland's debut 'The Echo Man'. Five murder victims, in varying states of decomposition, are found dumped near a homeless settlement, each with a Roman numeral marked above them. As the body count mounts, can DCI Adam Bishop of Major Crimes outrun his own demons long enough to stop a diabolical murderer? A shocking, gory tale that twists and turns unexpectedly.

Fasten your seatbelts folks, it’s about to get gruesome! Holland has followed up her belter of a debut, The Echo Man (Major Crimes #1) with The Twenty (Major Crimes #2) and it’s everything my cold black heart needs 🖤

If you like your thrills, kills, and chills, depraved, dark, and violently gritty, layered within a police procedural, you’re in the right place. It’s brutal and god help me but I loved it!!! Holland writes characters brilliantly!! She really gets into the psyche of a serial killer and not one character is unnecessary. Her characterisation is exemplary and the way she writes relationships is masterful. How a book which is so gruesome and brutally depraved can also have such beautiful delicate moments is a testament to Holland’s skill as a writer.

I suspected everyone in this book, and I mean EVERYONE!!! I liked the cameos of characters from The Echo Man and can see the foundations for a book series here (please, please, PLEASE 🙏🏻). Brilliantly paced, the bodies stack up quickly and it’s edge of your seat stuff until THE VERY LAST WORD!!!!

Holland is now solidified as one of my favourite crime fiction authors. Oh, and both would go down an absolute STORM on Netflix, just saying….

I loved The Echo Man so looked forward to a new by Sam Holland. A police procedural, a race against time story to find a serial killer before he strikes again. DCI Adam Bishop leads the team trying to solve clues.
Nail-biting, full of twists and turns. This tale was gripping until the last page.
You won't be disappointed.

Loved loved loved this latest by Sam Holland. I love a good police procedural and this did not disappoint.
Well written and fleshed out characters and a fast moving intricate plot. Highly recommended!

DCI Adam Bishop has never seen anything like this before. Five murder victims with numbers written above their bodies revealing the killer is counting down…

When Dr. Romilly Cole heard about the murders, her traumatic past resurfaces. She and the DCI have history and working together never ends well…

Sam’s second psychological thriller is a fast-paced, head-wrecking race against time to catch a serial killer and Sam knows how to give us twisted and disturbing protagonists! Be prepared for damaged characters, mutilated bodies and plenty of suspense. Like her The Echo Man, (a superb debut that still gives me the creeps thinking about it a year later!), this is a story not for the faint-hearted; graphic scenes of torture, grotesque crime scenes and brutal killings throughout - you’ve been warned!

Sam is an author who unnerves me. She’s able to get under your skin and plunges you into the darkest, grimiest recesses of a twisted mind. This story is dark, disturbing and at times truly frightening- you won’t see the twists coming!

Loved the little nod to The Echo Man. An author who I recommend constantly in the library- we love our twisted thrillers!

Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for the arc.

What a excellent read one of the best murder mystery I've read for a while. Would highly recommend this book to anyone who likes murder mystery stories.

This is the story of DI Adam Bishop and his friend and colleague who are called to a murder site, only to discover several badly mutilated bodies and some numbers daubed above the corpses. They are off on a roller coaster ride to try and find the killer before they can strike again.
This is a descriptive and gory read, a police thriller, that will raise your heart rate and keep you guessing right to the very end. I very much liked the character of Adam and his ex wife, Romilly, both damaged characters. Excellent writing, building suspense and a satisfying ending.
With thanks to Netgalley and Harper Collins UK and Harper Fiction for an arc copy in return for an honest review.

Quite the violent and gory Police thriller which I tend to enjoy. I didn't feel that I had to have read the book prior to this (it's a sequel) as any back story was more than adequately filled in by some excellent writing. Very well written characters and many plot twists to keep you thinking and on your toes. The story builds to a climax and there is an extremely satisfying end. Lots of suspense throughout and guaranteed to keep you turning those pages.

This is a shocking and gory serial killer thriller, which I enjoyed reading.

DCI Adam Bishop is trying to solve a series of murders, with the help of Dr Romilly Cole. Will they be able to catch the killer before they kill again?

This is a dark and twisty book, which is very intense and full of action. Highly recommended!

Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this book.

The book teases throughout with little clues and lots of red herrings along the way – so you need to pay attention to see if you pick up on the clues left behind.

It took a little time to get into the book – mainly due to the hopping of the timeline but then bam, you’re hooked, and the book was a real page turner, that got darker as the book went on.

If you like a graphic, twisty, violent crime novel, then you will be a fan of this very dark thriller - although personally I didn’t find it as good as the Echo Man.

Well this is a book that will increase your blood pressure… terrifyingly good is how I would describe it. Sam keeps the pace throughout which is a must with this kind of read!

I loved Sam Holland’s debut book and in fact I re-read it before I read this one as I thought I followed on but it doesn’t! I still enjoyed reading The Echo Man for the second time and still didn’t work it out totally!

The Twenty was good although in my opinion not as good as The Echo Man. Perhaps it was because I was still looking for the links between the first and second book!!

I won’t précis the book other than to say that ‘the twenty’ is the number of murders the murderer aims to do and each body is numbered - at least initially.

It Is a different set of characters doing the investigating and the only real reference back to book one is when they call in the Inspector who was in charge of the ‘’The Echo Man’ as a consultation.

Why was it not so good? I felt there was just a bit too much needless horrific violence and there was a point in the middle of the book where I felt it was just a bit slow.

Having said all that, it was still a 4* read for me and I read through it pretty quickly. I’d definitely still read another by this talented author.

Thanks to Sam Holland, the publishers, and NetGalley for an advanced e-reader copy. However, the views expressed are entirely my own!

A truly twisted and terrifying thriller, I LOVED IT!

SYNOPSIS:
"When DCI Adam Bishop arrives at the crime scene in the dead of night, the sight of the body is bad enough—but what Adam notices next chills him to his core. More bodies surface. And the spray-painted numbers daubed above the corpses reveal the horrific truth: the killer is counting down. But to what end?

Adam has no idea—until Dr. Romilly Cole knocks on his door with damning evidence pointing to a series of murders fifteen years earlier—a case she knows intimately from her past. Now, it’s personal—and the next knock on his door could be fatal."

MY THOUGHTS:

🩸 Holland does it again with her 2nd book and sucked me right into this story after the first paragraph! And it didn't let go!

🩸 The serial killings are dark and disturbing so not for the faint-hearted, but if you love TV shows like Luther and movies like Nightcrawler / Seven, it's that level of darkness. Which I LOVE!

🩸 The main and supporting characters are so well written, they are complicated, they are far from perfect and you can relate/understand them.

🩸 Fantastically written characters + a plot never ceases to surprise you, Holland writes the perfect combination for a jaw-dropping thriller.

🩸 Talking of jaw drops, there were at least 3 moments in the book where I shouted "Noooooooo" as the chapter ended. Holland you are sooooo good at this!

🩸 And this thriller has short punchy chapters with depth, my favourite thing in books and especially thrillers!

🩸 This is book 2 in her Major Crimes series, the first being The Echo Man (also 5 ⭐️ from me) but I would say this one could be read as a standalone, however, I recommend both books highly.