Anita is a new author to me and I am really impressed with how she creates the best plot with plenty of other asides yet never loses the way. There is plenty going on to keep your attention, from murder to romance. Lots of pizza and detectiviness (is that a word?) you know what I mean though 🙂

Fatal Secrets is a gripping story that revolves around Matt and Hermia Forrester and the untimely death of their father. Matt is a DI in the police force and wants to bring to justice the killer or killers who took their father away. There are some very nasty gangland characters that made me shrink back with their brutality. Every character is created with a level of reality that brings you into the story wholly. Matt, Hermia and Steve bounce off each superbly and keep the story bonded all the way through.

However in amongst all the gritty drama there is another side involved that makes it feel warm and cosy. The strong relationship that Hermia has with her brother is heart-warming and then Steve, Matt’s best friend is equally strong and they all support each other.

This is a excellent start to a brand new Mystery Detective series and I for one will be looking out for the next instalment.

Well well well the start of what I will say is no doubt going to be another cracking series from Anita Waller, a firm favourite author of mine whose books I don’t even bother reading the blurb anymore, I just know I’m in for a great read. With my review I’m not going to write about the storyline it’s a job for the blurb (the ones I don’t read hahaha) but if you have read Anita’s Kat and Mouse series or the connections series and enjoyed them, then you will love the Forrester Agency.

Fatal Secrets by Anita Waller is a crime thriller. It is the first book in a new series called The Forrester Detective Agency Mystery series.
It is a thrilling and twisty read. There’s lots of action and suspense. There’s a little romance. There’s a little humor. The main characters are endearing. You become invested in their well-being so the danger they find themselves in is palpable.
I did not read the synopsis prior to reading the book. I would recommend readers to do the same as I feel the synopsis will spoil certain events in the book that surprised me since I hadn’t read it.

Anita Waller, the author who gave us the “Kat & Mouse” and “Connections” series has now written "Fatal Secrets" the first of three books involving the Forrester Detective Agency. I felt as though Christmas, New Year and the Easter holidays had all come at once!

I know of no other writer who would be able to interlock the wonderful Forrester family, who within minutes of meeting them I felt an infinity with, against the dark underworld of Sheffield’s gangster culture, depicting characters who literally sent shivers down my spine.

There are some extremely gruesome scenes which led me to reading these chapters through my fingers. I also held my breath most of the way through fearing for the lives of Matt and Hermia.

But this author is adept at pulling many strings whilst at the same time keeping her sight on the main plot, so there is never a dull moment. Romance is simmering, football is being played, food is being eaten ( I love the nod to McDonald’s ) and, always there in the background, is Waller’s wicked sense of humour!

I have to admit that even though I closely followed all the police procedural evidence, kept track of all the suspects’ movements and made notes of all the twists, I failed miserably in spotting the identity of the killer before the big reveal!

Anita, you have only gone and done it again! I am on tenterhooks waiting for the next instalment of the Forrester Detective Agency!

The story starts off at a very fast pace and sets the tone for the whole book. When DI Matt’s father is murdered he is desperate to find the killer. He quits his job to fully investigate the murder and take over his father’s investigation business. This is the first book in a series and I can’t wait to read where Matt and his family’s story goes from here. I anticipate a lot of action filled stories!

I’ve read a lot of this authors books and they are always good. This is no exception. The first in a new three book series called The Forrester Detective Agency, set in Gleadless, a suburb of Sheffield. In the distressing prologue it’s January 2013 and DI Dave Forrester is shot in pursuit of a criminal and left unable to walk. Well written this was a real page turner and I finished it in an evening. I loved the main characters, Matt, his sister Hermia, best friend Steve and former colleague DS Karen Nelson, they are well introduced and I look forward to finding out more.

Briefly, 9 years after the shooting Dave Forrester runs a succession PI agency with his friend Johnny. Dave’s son Matt, a DI like his father, is at a football match with his sister when he gets a phone call. Rushing to their fathers office they find their father dead and Johnny seriously injured. When Matt is then told he can’t be involved in the case he resigns. No one is going to stop him finding out who killed his father.

Excellent plot with some good twists and turns I thought this was probably going to be a cozy read but with the gruesome, one in particular, killings it definitely wasn’t. Alongside the investigation both Matt and Hermia start new romantic relationships, we will see where they go but both have been brewing for a while. A good entertaining read, and I look forward to book two.

Wow, this book kicks off at a fast pace . It was such a page-turner that I couldn’t stop reading it. Very descriptive which I loved . Not read this author before but, I am looking forward to the next in this new series. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

Fatal Secrets by Anita Waller

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

Nothing is more important than family . . .

Matt Forrester has followed in his dad’s footsteps, climbing the police ranks to become a DI. But when he receives an urgent call for help, Matt has to rethink his career. His dad has been murdered, and Matt’s not going to let this case go. It doesn’t help that his current boss is sleeping with his ex-wife.

Hermia Forrester didn’t follow her brother into the police force, instead she works in research at the university. But, she’s not going to let that stop her from helping her brother find out what happened to their dad.

But the siblings soon find themselves surrounded by more danger than they ever imagined. Can they both survive this case or will there be more of their family in the morgue?

My Opinion

This is the first book I have read by Anita Waller, but this was such a good opening book to a series that I have no doubt I will be back for more. There was a very strong sense of family in this book. I thought that this book had a great, fast-paced plot that held my attention very well.

Will Matt be able to find the killer? Will Matt be able to save the agency? Give this book a read to find out!

Rating: 4/5

With an adrenaline-fueled beginning, this story maintains its intensity, with each event immersing the reader in fast-paced and twisty crime fiction. A terrible family tragedy with connections to the past causes changes in Matt and Hermia's lives in ways they never expected. There is a sinister ethos to this story and some disturbing events and unpleasant characters who reflect a city infected with crime-noir. The action and introspection are well-balanced. The main protagonists are likeable, and the plot is full of surprises. I like the dynamic between Matt and his sister, the romance that balances the heinous crimes and the clever plot twists.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

Waller sets the pace of this novel right from the prologue and doesn't let up on the action throughout the book. With surprising twists and turns, heart-wrenching moments, surprising twists and a well though out puzzle to untangle, Fatal Secrets has a little bit of everything.

Fatal Secrets is a skillfully drafted gritty crime novel that takes us into the darkest underbelly of Sheffield's streets whilst tempering the brutality with some light-hearted moments and a dusting of romance.

I think what made reading this novel so compelling was the very human nature of the characters. I found myself really rooting for them and at times thinking (shouting out loud to an empty room) NO, don't do that! or please don't let that happen. Each of the four main characters has their own distinct nature and quirks which makes them an entertaining quartet when they are together and a formidible one when they are apart. The women characters are strong, able and determined, whilst the men are also strong, but they listen and it was such a feel good moment when one of the women achieved something totally unexpected (no spoilers so that's all you get on that one) .

Fatal Secrets is a beautifully devised blend of police procedural and private investigator novel and that made it a very unique read that kept me hooked to the last pages. Waller's sassy dialogue and attention to detail made this a flowing read that just kept delivering page after page.

I know she has started writing book 2 in the series and I hope she finishes it quickly because I for one am hooked. I can't wait to see how this series develops and to reacquaint myself with the characters .

An easy FIVE WHOPPING STARS from me!

Thank you to #Netgalley and #BoldwoodBooks for my copy of #FatalSecrets by #AnitaWaller
The start of a new series and it looks like it’s going to be a hit. Matt Forrester has followed his dad into the police and he’s now a DI
but when his own father is murdered he’s not allowed to investigate, but would that stop you?
Matt and his sister Hermia are determined to solve the case, not realising the danger they are in.
Great read, already waiting for the next.

What a cracking beginning to a new crime series! With likeable characters, a fast-paced plot, and an interesting storyline, “Fatal Secrets” is a winner!

Set in Sheffield, this crime thriller features members of the South Yorkshire Police. It has a strong family vibe, while also dealing with a lot of violence and some lowlife criminals from the city’s organized crime leaders.

The events that lead up to the creation of the Forrester Detective Agency were trying to read, yet the business survived to be manned by the founder’s son and daughter, along with the son’s best friend. Besides arduous police work, there was a lot of danger and also more than a little romance.

I can hardly wait for the next instalment of this series! Highly recommended!

What a superb start to a new series. After a family tragedy, DI Matt Forrester resigns from the police force to privately investigate the murder of his father. With the assistance of his sister Hermia and best friend Steve, they hunt for the people responsible.

This story had me reeled in from the first chapter. The story was very good, but what I enjoyed most were the characters. They were so likeable and relatable, and i could immediately visualise them. Because of that, I am already looking forward to reading more of what I know will be a successful series.

In so many ways this book was a pleasant surprise that grabbed me from the very beginning. The mystery/murder is almost immediate and is the catalyst for what follows. This is not a cozy, and the brutality may be relatively graphic for the cozy fan, but not unnecessarily so. It isn't a hardboiled police procedural. The life-long friendships between the main characters, Matthew, Hermia, and Steve are always a draw for me; along with the ongoing professional loyalty afforded DI Forrester (senior and junior). The relationships and dialogue are intelligent but fun. I like these people. Their tendency to quote Shakespeare out of the blue, is also entertaining.

Given all that, I intended to give this book a 5 Star rating, but then two offensive but totally unnecessary things happened. First, the language deteriorated. Perhaps there is a time and place for the use of foul language, but this book is not one of them. It would have been just as good, better, in fact, without sprinkling the "f-bomb" throughout. In my opinion, the use of that kind of language is evidence of lazy writing. The other is the adulterous relationship between 2 of the characters. That complication was completely unnecessary, not to mention ironic. The professional issue was sufficient to carry the storyline without stooping to writing in the marriage.

More than likely, I will read the next book in this series, in hopes that the language and adultery will not be continuing factors.

A great start to a new series from this author and featuring ex DI Matt Forrester who has inherited his father's private investigation business. Plenty of drama, violence and characters to both love and loathe all in a good paced story which will have you constantly turning the pages of it. I will eagerly be awaiting the next book in the series.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC to review.

When Matt Foster is hanging out with his sister Hermes add a footie game he gets an urgent call from his dad. Years before his dad and best friend Johnny were both high ranking cops and they were after a very dangerous man. Right when they were about to arrest him the bed got shot in would be in a wheelchair for the rest of his life but him and his best friend Johnny starting in investigation service with Johnny be in the legs of the operation and they were both pretty tough guys. So when Matthew got the distress call him and his sister immediately went to the dad‘s business/home. Unfortunately their dad was in a pool of blood and had been knocked out of his wheelchair and was clearly deceased and Johnny was hanging on by a thread. Needless to say mat in Hermes were very distressed over the death of the father in Matthew knew he was going to investigate this and find out who did this to his family. Matthew himself was a very respected investigating detective for the area but unfortunately his wife cheated with one of his superiors in who immediately took him off the case and why Matthew turned in his warrant card and resignation letter. This is how Matthew Steve and Hermes decided to investigate the case together and first on the agenda what’s the talk to Johnny when he woke up out of the coma and when they do Matthew was blown away by what Johnny has to say. It seems whoever killed his dad and almost killed Gianni who is trying to get to his sister Hermes but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. I really liked this book and I liked all the characters I did think Matthew and Hermes relationship was borderline cringe he… Not exactly cringing but came close. I mean who called a 26-year-old PhD graduate sweet sister and baby girl in other endearments I mean may be that says something about me I just thought that was weird. Now having said that I loved the story I love Matt I loved Steven and even loved sweet sister Hermes. If this would become a series I would definitely be down to read it. I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it. I received it from NetGalley and boldwoodBooks but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

First in a new series involving Matt Forrester and his sister Hermia. Their father who runs a private investigation business is murdered and this book follows their journey to solve the crime. A good read.

This is a brilliant start to a new Detective series.
The story starts with a bang as an ex policeman is attacked and killed in his office.
His son, Matt, is a Detective and starts the investigation straight away. Within a day he is taken off the case as his father is the victim, which he kind of expected but Matt hates the person who takes over so immediately resigns.
Matt’s Dad ran an investigation agency and Matt wants to take this on but first he needs to find his Dad’s killer.
His sister Hermia is soon the centre of the investigation and a Matt needs to work with an ex colleague to get things moving.
I loved Matt, Hermia, Steve and Karen and can’t wait to find out what is in store for them next.
I highly recommend this brilliant new crime series.
Thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

The first of a series, I felt that the scene was being set too much in the first chapters of the book. The main character, Matt, walks out of his DI job having been taken off the case of the murder of his own father (an ethical nightmare, I would have thought) . Determined to keep looking into the case, Matt is kept up to date on the case by collegues. The reasoning behind his dislike for his replacement only becomes apparent as the book progresses.
Lots of action in the Sheffield underworld and the reasons for the crimes do slowly become more obvious. The investigation involves Karen, A detective sergeant who becomes romantically involved with Matt, his university researcher sister and friend Steve. A lot happens quite quickly in the first half of the book (perhaps too quickly) but this settles down in the second half and the investigation is well described and believable. Some of the conversations between family members/ friends felt a bit contrived, though this also improved later in the book.
I reckon that this has the makings of of a good series, strong characters and an interesting location.
Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

I've never been disappointed with previous books by this author and Fatal Secrets is no exception.. Delighted that it is a first in series as there will be more to come featuring the believable and very likeable characters of Matt Forrester, his sister Hermia, and their friend Steve. I was gripped from the start of this crime novel and it continued to do so throughout the book. . A great yet sad circumstances introduction to the series, but it has certainly set the scene for the future books.