Detective Scarlett Delaney is wanting to make her mark, from her background to her connections this book is a wild and crazy ride that is so intense and thrilling you won't want to put it down. There are twists and turns you won't see coming, there are some very shady characters and there is murder and mystery.

Love Scarlett and the way she conducts her investigations, love some of the crazy characters who make this book what it is and I loved that it had me hooked from page one through to the very last page. Well paces, very entertaining and quirky. Loved it and would highly recommend. 4 1/2 stars for sure.

Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

This book had me glued to each and every page. There were so many twists and turns. Detective Scarlett Delaney is assigned to the serial killer “Jackdaw” case whose calling card is leaving long scratches down the victim’s face. Jackdaw also will take small keepsakes from each murder. Henry Devlin is a hired criminal also searching for Jackdaw to turn them over to some shady characters. Detective Delaney and Henry Devlin make a secret alliance investigating the mysterious murders that leaves behind the victims head and no body to be found and no evidence of the murderer being at the scene. But, is Henry really being honest with Detective Delaney or is she the next victim??

If you were to ask me to describe ‘Jackdaw‘ with one word, I’d probably say “fun”. Which sounds rather odd when talking about a crime fiction book, doesn’t it?

The Jackdaw is a serial killer. To date, they are responsible for at least three murders. Murders that require an amazing set of skills, and there is something to be admired about this killer. Inventive, yes. But mostly, the killings seem near impossible to pull off. Nobody ever hears anything, or sees anything. And all that’s left of the victims is the head. This killer is audacious, has a flair for the dramatic, is seemingly invincible, and possibly even uncatchable.

Detective Scarlett Delaney would love nothing more than to solve this case, for reasons you’ll have to discover for yourself. So when help comes from a man called Henry Devlin, she is more than happy to work with him in the search for the Jackdaw. Ah, Henry. Handsome, charming Henry. Maybe it’s just because I’m naturally suspicious but I couldn’t quite put my finger on his character. Henry has his own reasons for pursuing the Jackdaw, but it quickly becomes clear he’s working for some ruthless and efficient people who will not be thwarted in reaching their objectives.

The murders and how they are accomplished are such a big mystery. I couldn’t at all figure out how things were done, but I loved the opportunity of being able to try to piece the puzzle together before it was all revealed to me. The victims seemed to be chosen at random, with zero connections between them. And yet, it felt as if this killer was most definitely on a mission.

The bodies are coming hard and fast in this one, always perfectly staged. As if an artist is at work, which is something Daniel Cole does extremely well. Something you’d know if you’ve read his previous books. Which you should, by the way. But I digress. And throughout it all, is this delicious dash of humour, and witty remarks, and banter that made me chuckle. If you’re looking for serious, gritty crime fiction, then this isn’t it. Sure, there were a few moments when things went a little ew and icky. And sure, yes, the murders are incredibly cleverly done, making you want to applaud the killer. Or the author. But I’d say the humour prevails in this one and it’s done really, really well.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time with ‘Jackdaw‘. It’s massively entertaining, maybe slightly crazy but such great fun and the perfect escapism. I was thrilled to see there will be follow-up and I can’t wait to see what happens next.

I received a copy of Jackdaw through Netgalley and my review is independent.
I have read one of Daniel Cole's book before and thoroughly enjoyed it so I thought I would give this book a go.
A serial killer is going round killing people and taking away trophies as part of the kill.
You have Scarlet Delaney and Frank Ash the 2 detectives with the task of catching the killer.
The relationship between these two characters is great with Frank treating Scarlett as his daughter.
You then have Henry Devlin a likeable criminal who is suave and has Scarlett wrapped round his finger in her quest to find the killer the Jackdaw.
There are some twists on the way to catching the killer and the characters are all likeable making you want more.
A excellent paced book and one I have really enjoyed.
Looking forward the the next installment

Brilliant read as are all Daniel's books. Can highly recommend this book as a wonderful way to forget the horrors going on in the world and to get lost in a good book.

It was a lot of fun, entertaining, and gripping. Strange bedfellows and alliance to catch a kille, a fast paced and action packed plot.
It's the first I read by this author and won't surely be the the last
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Delaney and Henry made a good team! Detective and criminal. I knew pretty early on who was Jackdaw but the twists & turns kept me on the edge of my seat! I love how it played out, all the drama, action, and suspense. Lots of mini surprises that kept me thinking! I enjoyed reading “best deceit wins” come full circle at the end. Delaney had major growth throughout the book and I was happy to see her goal met (even if only temporally).

It was ok - not very believable in places but hey, it's fiction! Besides, Scarlett is pretty cool

Thank you to the publisher, Netgalley and the author for an advanced copy

Jackdaw by Daniel Cole
Published on 10/10/23 by Storm Publishing

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

NO SPOILERS

Fast paced quirky thriller with unexpected humour thrown in, this was a great read. I thought I’d worked out the twist but I was completely wrong. Suspend a little bit of belief and just enjoy the ride. I look forward to the next book.

Thanks to the author, publisher and netgalley for providing me with this advance digital copy in exchange for my honest n unbiased review.

Jackdaw by Daniel Cole.
Daughter of a notorious murderer herself, Detective Scarlett Delaney hasn’t been on the force for long when she finds herself heading up a mystifying new case. With three seemingly impossible murders to date, leaving each of the victims with calling-card scratches, the killer known only as “Jackdaw” feels untouchable... uncatchable , always claiming a shiny keepsake before disappearing into thin air. That is until Scarlett encounters Henry Devlin, a charismatic but dangerous criminal with his own reasons for pursuing the Jackdaw.
I really enjoyed this book. I did like Scarlett. I loved the banter between Frank and Scarlett. Wasn't sure about Henry. I didn't trust him. What a twist. Although I sort of knew it my jaw was still on the floor as I read it.
Wow. I'm looking forward to the next book. 5*.

Who doesn’t love a killer trying to catch a killer. Get some snacks, cuddle up and Just read this book.
Thank you for an advanced copy.

The book "Jackdaw" by Daniel Cole is a thrilling read that follows Detective Scarlett Delaney as she sets out to solve a series of seemingly impossible murders committed by the notorious killer, The Jackdaw. With her partner Frank, who is like a father to her and the charming yet dangerous Henry Devlin, Scarlett takes bold risks and puts everything on the line to catch the killer and bring justice to the victims.

The narrative is fast-paced and engaging, drawing the reader in from the first page. However, as the story progresses, the plot becomes increasingly without any sense, and some situations and solutions presented may leave the reader confused and overwhelmed. One of the main issues was the unrealistic portrayal of Detective Delaney's actions, which sometimes seem to contradict police procedures. While this may add to the story's intrigue, suspending disbelief can be challenging. Despite this, the book still has many good moments, though some readers may sometimes roll their eyes.

A fast paced, twist filled crime thriller with interesting, charismatic characters. I love Daniel Coles quirky style of writing and look forward to the next instalment in this series. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc.

This is a good fast paced thriller! This was entertaining start to finish and I can't wait for more books in this series! Special Thank You to Daniel Cole, Storm Publishing and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Phew, what a cracking read. Daniel Cole has done it again. This is a fast paced serial killer read. DC Scarlett Delaney and DS Frank Ash are assigned to the Jackdaw case. A serial killer who decapitates his victims. But is the killer a male or a female, it seems that they think it’s a woman. But Scarlett is not new to serial killers her father had been one. This makes it difficult for Scarlett to fit in with the other officers, but she is a strong, intelligent sassy officer.

Then she meets Henry Devlin, a charismatic, good looking well dressed male, but when he offers a proposition is Scarlett wrong to take it? When more bodies turn up wherever Devlin is you have to wonder if Scarlett has made a deal with the devil.

I really enjoyed this novel the characters are great the relationship between Scarlett and Frank is complex, like a father and daughter as well as partners at work. Although when Frank finds out about Devlin he is concerned.
I loved the banter between Devlin and Scarlett his dark humour is fun and despite wanting to not like him I couldn’t. Devlin is also protective of Scarlett.

Overall this is a really good read, if you haven’t read any of Daniel Cole’s previous work then this is a good one to start with. Gripping, engrossing, fast paced, heartbreaking read

I loved this book. Quirky, humorous and gory in equal measures - absolutely perfect as far as I’m concerned. I also loved the chapter titles - a clever touch that I’ve come to expect from Daniel Cole. A fitting follow up to the Ragdoll trilogy.

Having read 'Ragdoll', I thought I knew what to expect of Daniel Cole's books - and I went into this anticipating something twisty, gruesome and fast-paced. I wasn't disappointed!

In this book, Detective Scarlett Delaney is on the trail of the killer they call 'The Jackdaw' - a murderer who seems to commit impossible crimes and then disappear with a sparkly memento. Delaney is a maverick and finds herself in a tricky situation with the charming Harry Devlin, a deadly criminal himself. The pair join forces to track down the Jackdaw, but it's a dangerous and volatile pairing that puts them in danger. Can Scarlett really trust her attractive partner or is she unwittingly exposing herself to his lethal underworld bosses?

Like the previous books, this is high-concept and cleverly put together. It is genuinely so fast-paced that I couldn't put it down as I reeled from one twist to the next. I loved how the impossible murders were staged - there are some mind-boggling tricks going on here but I didn't pause long enough to question the credibility of the events. This is a book that won't let you go until you've reached the final pages!

The only aspect that I found a bit harder to get on board with was the way that Detective Delaney was seemingly left to her own devices, despite being new to the police. It seemed that she blithely walked into some horrendous situations - of course it's a trap! - and did some things that probably aren't in any police code of conduct! I liked that she was independent, but I did wonder at the police force who didn't ever seem to know where she was or that she was crossing lines into illegality with ease.

Morality aside (this is a whole book of grey areas), this is a fun and lively thriller with some very clever elements. I enjoyed it a lot and would recommend it to fans of high-concept thrillers such as M. W. Craven's 'Fearless' or the excellent M. J. Arlidge series of police procedurals.

Thanks to NetGalley for my copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the Arc of Jackdaw by Daniel Cole in return for my honest review.
I loved the Rag Doll series by Daniel Cole so was excited to read Jackdaw and I was not disappointed, although its not as gritty as his first series, the story line had me hooked from the beginning, I really enjoyed the humour between the two main characters DC Scarlet Delaney and Henry Devlin a very suave hitman, as they try to catch a serial killer, loved this book and will be recommending to everyone, can’t wait for the next book in the series.

I have mixed feelings about this one. The plot was quite disjointed and not always easy to follow and Scarlett, the main detective does not always follow the rules. Parts of the investigation were a little far fetched too . Saying that, I did not dislike the book and would like to read more from this author and in the series.
Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC

Plenty Of Action.
Detective Scarlett Delaney is the daughter of a serial killer who has become a detective and Frank Ash is her mentor and is coming to the end of his career. They find that they are soon on the hunt for a serial killer as three grisly murders happen. At each murder, they find each victim is left with calling-card scratches. The killer becomes known as the “Jackdaw killer.”
So, when the daughter of a serial killer Scarlett encounters Henry Devlin who is a dangerous criminal, they form an uneasy alliance as Scarlett teams up with the charming assassin and they begin their hunt for the serial killer. Jackdaw by Daniel Cole Is a fast-paced book, with plenty of action and some edge-of-your-seat moments and plenty of twists and turns in this book and an enjoyable read. Thanks to NetGalley and to the publishers of this book for giving me a free advance copy of the book to preview and I am leaving this review voluntarily.