A silent killer walks the streets, breaking into houses and suffocating his victims by wrapping their heads in duct tape and drawing a crude smile over their mouths. Ordinary people are being targeted, and it is up to Grace Archer and Harry Quinn to work out their victims' connection before another family are targeted.

This was a tough book to review - on the one hand the story is very compelling, but on the other it is written entirely in present tense, so is very hard to judge the timeline of the story in places. I'm aware that it's the conclusion of a trilogy of books, so my mileage may be different if this wasn't my introduction to the series, but I think three stars is a fair judgement.

Talk about starting with a bang! I love books that get stuck straight in and this one does exactly that. It's a fast paced, roller coaster that I flew through in a day! I loved the characters, the multiple povs gave such an insight into not just our protagonists but the killer himself. It also almost makes him a quite tragic, sympathetic character.... aside from the insane murder tendencies. I really enjoyed it, it gave me everything I'd want from a serial killer type police procedural and the some

A sadistic killer is on the loose in London. In the dead of night, he suffocates his victims by wrapping duct tape around their heads. DI Grace Archer and her team need to track down the killer before he claims any more victims.

The Silent Man by David Fennell is book 3 in the DI Grace Archer series. Fans of the series will enjoy this outing just as much as they did the previous two, however, the author certainly puts your emotions through the wringer this time around.

If all you are interested in is a serial killer thriller then The Silent Man will do the job but if you really want to see how the story-line has developed I implore you to read the previous two books in the series, The Art Of Death and See No Evil, to gain a greater understanding of the dynamics.

The story picks up shortly after the second book in the series. During the night a killer enters the home of a father and his young son. The intruder immobilises the adult, wraps his head in duct tape and draws a face on the duct tape. The child is left unharmed. The police are puzzled, the only possible motive seems to be jealousy from his ex-wife's new boyfriend. When a second murder takes place under very similar circumstances the police realise they have a serial killer to contend with.

It's the mundane, everyday situations that quickly turn to terror that grip you at the beginning of the novel. It is frightening when you realise how easy it could be for someone to gain entry to your home.

For me, however, the hunt for the serial killer is not the main part of the story. DI Grace Archer is still dealing with the vendetta against her and her family by Frankie White, the local crime lord. White was responsible for the death of Grace's father and now White blames Grace for the death of his grandson.

No one close to Grace is safe from harm. There are some extremely tense moments. At one point I was so shocked and numb by the turn of events I wasn't sure if I could read on. I'm really not sure how it's possible to read while covering your eyes!

There are some lighter moments in the story. Trying to hide out from White and his gang leads to Grace staying in her partner's flat. This results in a group of old women becoming lookouts and bodyguards. Their actions and conversations will make you chuckle.

As the serial killer is tracked down there are some more tense moments and we gain an understanding of his motives. All the threads seem to be neatly tied up but author David Fennell can't resist one final gut-wrenching moment.

A father is murdered in his own home while his son is in the bedroom next door. The killer has an unusual signature. Detective Grace Archer and her partner Harry Quinn are investigating. At the same time Grace is still dealing with the fall out of her last case and the ongoing threat to her from gangster Frankie White. He blames her for the death of his grandson while in prison - it was classed a suicide but it's more likely that a rival gang killed him. When her beloved grandfather is threatened by White and ends up hospitalised Archer has to move in with Quinn for her own safety. As the killer strikes again Grace and Harry face a threat from someone much closer to them.

Another cracking read from this series - can't wait for the next instalment. Will recommend to my reading friends.

Thanks to Netgalley, Bonnier Books UK and David Fennell for the ARC of this book in return for an honest review.

There’s nothing I like more than a chilling opening scene. I’m one of those readers who prefers a crime thriller to hurl me straight into the action. The Silent Man opens with a horrifying crime. A father is murdered, his head wrapped tightly in tape, a crude sad face penned over his facial features. The killer leaves the victim's only child alive and unharmed at the scene. See what I mean? How could you not want to read more? This is the third book in the Grace Archer and Harry Quinn series, and if you like a crime series that veers to the darker side with disturbing crime scenes that might just give you nightmares, then this book is definitely for you.

As if Quinn and Archer don’t have enough to contend with, notorious gangster Frankie White has placed a target on Archer’s back, and there’s no one he won’t harm to get to her. As you can imagine, tracking down a serial killer whilst trying to stay alive ensures the pace never wavers. Talking of serial killers, I love how Fennel includes chapters from the killer’s perspective. This allows the reader to experience all sides of the killer’s personality. It’s obvious they are a very disturbed individual. But as Fennel reveals the killer’s backstory, which is brutal and desperately sad, I couldn’t help but feel a level of sympathy for them.

Archer and Quinn’s characters have developed throughout the series.I like the uncomplicated relationship the pair seem to have. The story line is fast-paced, and as the body count rises, there’s a heightened sense of menace and dread. One thing I NEVER expect from a crime thriller is an emotional read, and yet it’s written in such a way even the most hardhearted crime reader will struggle not to feel some emotion. The Silent Man made for a tense, gripping read and one I throughly enjoyed from start to finish. Highly recommend.

Review will be shared to my blog, Instagram account and all relevant book sites nearer to publication day.

#TheSilentMan #NetGalley
Outstanding story.
A father is murdered in the dead of night in his London home, his head wrapped tightly in tape, a crude sad face penned over his facial features. But the victim's only child is left alive and unharmed at the scene.
Met Police detectives Grace Archer and Harry Quinn have more immediate concerns. Notorious gangster Frankie White has placed a target on Archer's back, and there's no one he won't harm to get to her.Then a second family is murdered, leaving young Uma Whitmore as the only survivor. Once again the victim's face is found wrapped and inked. With a serial killer at large, DI Archer and DS Quinn must stay alive long enough to find the connection between these seemingly random victims. Can they do it before another child is made an orphan?
Adored it in a single sitting.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bonnier Books Zaffre for giving me an advance copy.