OMG. I couldnt put this book down. Its totally gripping. I loved the characters, with just enough background. The story was very thrilling and I cant wait for the next installment.

4.5 stars

In the high heat of the summer of 2009, there’s a terrifying kidnap of an 18-year-old girl and boy which follows closely on the heels of another 18-year-old having been taken a couple of weeks earlier.

It’s winter and the present day and DI Alex Finn and his team are still struggling with the loss of a colleague a few months earlier. When a call comes in concerning the body of a dead female, the past and the present collide for Alex. This develops into an incredibly difficult case in a multitude of ways and Alex is about to learn a hard life lesson.

The latest in this stellar series has a very thought-provoking premise of threads that connect lives, be they tenuous or otherwise, and of being anchored in the past. Alex certainly is, it’s not just recent events that haunt him, but so has the 2009 original case. The two timelines fuse well and I especially enjoy how you feel the heat in more ways than one of the 2009 inquiry which contrasts so well with the depths of winter chills of the present day.

Alex is an excellent central protagonist
but he is surrounded by equally good characters. He’s definitely not run-of-the-mill, he’s deep, he’s suffered, he’s carrying burdens but as a policeman he is thorough and intuitive, which is a fascinating combination. DS Mattie Paulsen, DCI John Skegman are also terrific characters and we are introduced to DC Vanessa Nash on whom the jury is initially out, but to whom I later warm. In the 2009 timeline DCI/AC Culley could have numerous words ascribed to him and none would be pleasant.

This is a dramatic storyline from the get go and it’s a hard novel to put down. It’s raw, gritty and emotional with the danger levels set high, and of course many plot twists to keep you glued. There is an excellent red herring towards the end, nicely played Will Shindler as I so happily bought into it! The ever changing plot is fast paced, it’s exciting and there are shocking revelations and some tragedy to get to grips with. It’s very good at looking at the impact of crime on a victim and on the victim’s family and this is woven well into the storytelling. I also enjoy Karin’s inclusion (Alex’s late wife) and it sheds some light on their relationship. The ending is good and it feels absolutely right.

Overall, another cracking read which I enjoy very much. I highly recommend this well written series.

With thanks to NetGalley, and especially to Hodder and Stoughton for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

The abduction of three teenagers, 15 years ago, is a solved crime, or is it? DI Alex Finn and newly promoted DS Mattie Paulsen are forced to reconsider after the murder of one of the victims, swiftly followed by other linked crimes.
Finn, we discover, found the original crime scene and stayed in touch with the victims and their families.
A real masterclass in crime thriller writing. Shindler creates very believable characters, giving detail on their home lives which helps enrich our understanding of them. Paulsen comes across as gruff and unsupportive of her gregarious starter Vanessa Wade, but in the background she's worried about her father's reaction to being sent to a home for those with dementia.
The crime itself is wonderfully complex with links to the dark web.
The pacing is masterful as is the final reveal: I honestly had no idea what the final outcome was going to be.