Ha! How about I start the review with this; I hope the 9th Erika Foster book will be just around the corner. Because. Damn.

Lethal Vengeance is the long awaited 8th isntallment of the DCI Erika Foster series. Even though this is a part of a series, it does work very well as a stand-alone (and as an introduction to DCI Foster).

Fast-paced, intense and shocking.

This was a solid cat and mouse-game between the serial killer and Erika, with personal life and political agendas mixed into the story.

A huge shout-out and thanks to Raven Street Publishing and to Robert Bryndza for letting me read Lethal Vengeance in advance!

This is a brilliant series so I had high expectations going into this book but Bryndza definitely exceeded those expectations.

This was a brilliantly, complex, dark novel where Erika Foster is on the trail of a killer who is targeting high profile targets who have a track record of not treating women well. Each crime scene contains polaroid pictures of the victims with the name 'Annabelle' on them. But who is Annabelle and how is Erika going to catch her?

As I say, this novel was dark but very well plotted. It moves along at a steady pace and builds to a thrilling conclusion.

Thanks to Netgalley and Raven Street Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review

In Robert Bryndza's latest crime thriller, Lethal Vengeance, Detective Erika Foster takes center stage in a relentless pursuit of justice through the dark and treacherous streets of London. Bryndza masterfully crafts a narrative that intertwines suspense, psychological depth, and unexpected twists, showcasing his protagonist's resilience and complexity. As Erika confronts a series of gruesome murders, the story unfolds with a seamless blend of crime-solving intensity and moments of vulnerability, providing readers with a nuanced and authentic portrayal of the detective. The cat-and-mouse game with an intelligent and calculating killer keeps the tension high until the final pages. With its gripping exploration of the human condition and a compelling plot, Lethal Vengeance stands as a testament to Bryndza's prowess in the crime thriller genre, leaving readers eager for more from this captivating series.

Thank you to Net Galley, the publishers and of course Robert.

Well, what is so important when reading serial books, is read them all in order, from the start.

Robert Bryndza books are a series I have followed from the start, I enjoy the characters, especially the outspoken and sharp Erika Foster, and also her whole team.

The man lay on his front, his arms and legs bound and pulled up with a rope connecting the two. His head was arched back, so he faced the curtains, and there was masking tape over his mouth. Erika gingerly reached out and checked his pulse.

Yep. Dead all right.

When Detective Erika Foster finds politician Neville Lomas naked, hog-tied, and dead in his own bed, skittish higher-ups at the Met quickly rule the death from natural causes. Case closed . . . until two months later when a well-known casting director and a star footballer are found murdered and tied with the same knots. The Met can no longer ignore what’s staring them in the face: there’s a serial killer loose in London, and they’re out to settle a score.

As Erika and her team investigate, things take a strange turn as CCTV footage turns up five female suspects . . . and they’re all identical.

In the hunt to identify the women, Erika is outpaced at every turn by an elusive sex worker with dirt on enough powerful men to make the Met’s top brass nervous – and desperate.

As time ticks away until the killer strikes again, it’s up to Erika to untangle the web of evidence and answer the critical questions: What ties the victims together, who else is caught up in this scandal, and how far are the higher-ups willing to go to protect their own?

A terrific gripping, multi-layered thriller, a crime thriller, with her team, her private life, politics, characters who you are not sure are good or bad.

A clear four star.

Actually this is book eighth from the series and also my first read from the author. But the author doing great job gave enough ground for new reader as me to take enough grabs into the characters and the story.

This series featuring DI Erika Foster and her team. The MC is fierce, smart and humanly. Not only I got relatif senior woman as main lead, the author also provide us with depth and real personal emotions from Erika. The serial killer hunting and investigation going slow pace at beginning but very engaging. It will pick up later and I cant put this book down.

I got fun reading time with this book and cant wait to pick another installment from the author.

Thank you to Netgalley and Raven Street Publishing for providing a copy of this ebook. I have voluntarily read and reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

On a romantic night out with her partner Igor, DCI Erika Foster is panicking as she thinks Igor is about to propose. Popping out for some air and to get her emotions under control, Erika makes the mistake of going back into the building through the wrong door, and ends up being the first responder on a murder scene. However, the case is soon taken out of her hands by the powers that be, as the victim is an MP, and his dubious activities are a cause for concern within the government. After a complete whitewash by the authorities, the case is declared natural causes. However, a few months later, another suspicious death comes under Erika’s jurisdiction, and the MO, plus items left at the scene are too similar to the first death to be ignored. With the bit between her teeth, Erika is out to find the murderer, but there are several obstacles to overcome in doing so, not least the top brass who are determined to scupper all her efforts.

As usual this instalment of the DCI Erika Foster is a gripping read. Lots of clever writing and a very involved plot with great characters. There is a cliffhanger, which I do not like, but apart from that very good!

Almost perfect, now looking forward to the next set of adventures for Erika and her team.

Thank you NetGalley and Raven Street.

This was such a good one! Erika is back with a new case. Some high profile people have been murdered, so of course, she’s being stonewalled by the higher ups. Is that going to stop Erika? Absolutely not. I think this was a formidable opponent that she was chasing. I honestly didn’t know if I was rooting for Erika or the killer to be honest. This was probably my favorite of the series & I would love seeing more from this particular killer & Erika. Great installment!

As ever, another gripping book in the Erica Foster series. I like the shorter and to the point chapters as it makes it easier to pick up the story and read a quick chapter when you get the chance.

I really do love that you know who the killer is and gradually find out why they did it, and how they were caught by Erica. I really thought that Annabelle might actually get away with this one - she nearly escaped!

Great series Robert, keep them coming! Looking forward to the next one.

Robert Bryndza the author that just keeps giving. After a break from erika Foster he slips right back in. The story is slick, the characters as usual are brilliant. Erika is such a strong character but I think in the future she should use her skills in another city where they willbe appreciated. I would like her to continue a future with Igor. TV producers please please give this author the platform he deserves.

Waiting for a new Erika Foster is like waiting for Christmas! It was certainly worth the wait, and it did keep me on the edge of my seat!
Slow to start, Erika is having dinner with her boyfriend when she accidentally stumbles on a murder scene of a prominent figure.
Jump forward a couple of months and another murder - this time a famous footballer.
We know who is committing these murders and why relatively early, but seeing how Erika discovers it kept my heart in my mouth a little! If I have to raise one issue - I was left wanting a bit more!! Will there be more answers in the next one - or will we have to accept the conclusion!! Who knows but I can’t wait!!

This was a great book so happy to read about Erika and how she is getting on, like all his books once you read the first page you’re hooked so you have to put your life on hold. Erika does have her work cut out as she has to investigate numerous murders of very influential people the first being a politician tied up in his bed the next victim has the same done to them.
She has to find the murderer before they strike again. I have to say I did have sympathy for the killer once you knew the story,

I can’t say enough about this book it was thrilling and tense and I loved it and can’t wait for book 9

Thank you to Netgalley and Raven Street Publishers for an ARC

*4 3/4 Stars*

Copy kindly received via NetGalley for an honest review.

Wow, what a read. Great characters. Erike and her team had to work long hours to find out who was killing these people, with very little evidence. The ending was really interesting and I can't wait to read the next book. Highly recommend.

Thank you, @netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read Robert Bryndza’s latest Erika Foster novel, Lethal Vengeance (digital copy), ahead of its release in February 2024.

Erika Foster is back, and she’s wiser and feisty as ever! I have missed Erika’s character so much; she’s a badass, in my opinion. I never like to give much away, as it spoils the excitement. The story starts when a local MP is found dead, bound in ropes with no suspicion of foul play. Of course, this isn’t the case; as you follow the story, it starts to get more sinister. More murders are committed, which can’t all be a coincidence. Erika realises she has a clever serial killer on the loose who won’t stop at anything to cover their tracks. I love how the perspective changes between Erika and the murderer. As you read more chapters, you start putting pieces together. There’s a madness to the murders that are committed in this book, but they're so good and revengeful. The story ended on a cliffhanger, which I love but also hate as I need to find out what happens next. I loved this book and I always fly through them, eager to know what will happen next.

I love how Robert always keeps you guessing. I’m yet to find an author who beats this guy on crime and thriller novels. I’m so glad I came across his books in 2016. Of course, I will be buying the paper copy next February! You must buy this book next year if you’re a fan of his books. 📚 🔪 🩸 🪦

What a joy it is to have Erica Foster back in Lethal Vengeance.
This is book eight in the series but can easily be read as a stand alone, but I'd urge anyone to read the first seven as they are brilliant.
When a prominent politician is found murdered on his apartment Erica just so happens to be out on a date on the same building even though she is first on scene the case was quickly taken away from her.
But when a famous footballer is murdered in the same manner and on her patch Erica has to fight to have her and the team assign to both cases.
But with no CCTV, fingerprints and evidence to go on this is one of the teams hardest cases to date.
When another body turns up Erica is struggling to patch them altogether, there aren't any obvious clues that link the victim's together.
Can Erica and the team find this elusive killer before they strike again?
Bravo Mr Bryndza for yet another cracking read!

Lethal Vengeance Book Review

Two deaths very similar to each other both victims found bounded by ropes in a hog-tie position facing the window. Both crime scenes are left with a calling card of Polaroids and a signature that reads " Annabelle "

The first murder a Politician Neville Lomas found naked hog-tied in his apartment building he was discovered by the cleaning lady

the second murder a Premiership footballer Jamie Teague found the exact same hog-tied, naked facing outward towards the window of the apartment complex

Detective Erika Foster is assigned the two cases that are linked to figure out who is committing these murders and why ? There are skittish higher up's within the metropolitan police who quickly ruled Lomas's death from natural causes. As Erika and her team investigate the case further things take a strange turn as CCTV footage emerges showing five female suspects all identical.

This book had me hooked from start to finish it is definitely a five star rating for me. Thank you so much to Robert Bryndza for giving me the opportunity to read this brilliantly written arc,

I will definitely be purchasing a copy once it is released and I will be reading more of your work once again thank you for letting me read it, I really loved reading the detective genre more

Thank you to Robert Bryndza and Netgalley !

It always feels weird to say 'i loved this' when referring to a book about murder, but i really did! I do love a good revenge story and 'Lethal Vengeance' was just the ticket. Another great addition to the Erika Foster series!

Thank you to the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review

I’ve been a fan of this series since the beginning, and it keeps getting better and better. This time, Erika is trying to find a killer while facing opposition from the highest level. After a long, complicated life, Erika is finally in a good place. I like how her character has evolved and changed, while maintaining her core traits and values. She is also different from other fictional detectives in that she has aged along with the readers, and is now close to retirement. Her interactions and dialogues with her colleagues and foes are organic and have changed with time too. And the plot? Well, it is fantastic. At one point by the end there is a sequence so suspenseful that I was almost screaming at my Kindle. The resolution felt maybe a little rushed, but I was satisfied with the ending. I can’t wait to see what’s next.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, #NetGalley/#Raven Street Publishing.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for this ARC of book 8 of Robert Bryndza's fantastic Erika Foster series. As always we are drawn straight into the action as Erika has the high profile murders of a politician and a footballer to solve not to mention the extras she collects on the way! She is hindered every way she turns by bureaucracy trying to protect reputations that really do not deserve protecting. Erika does her usual ducking and diving in her drive to get to the truth and takes us on a fantastic ride with her. A wonderful read in every way. I can't wait for the next one.
All opinions are my own.

Lethal Vengeance by Robert Bryndza is the 8th in the Detective Erika Foster series.


First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Bookouture and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.


Series Background: (Warning – May contain spoilers from previous books)
DCI Erika Foster has not had it easy.  Her husband Mark and most of her team was killed in a botched drug bust years ago, and although she is now re-acquainted with and dating her childhood sweetheart Igor,  she is hesitant about moving on.  She lives in her own home, which she bought and fixed up (with help from Igor). Her  team consists of DI James Peterson (with whom Erika had a brief relationship), DI Kate Moss, Detective John McGorry, and Detective Crane.  Their boss is Superintendent Melanie Hudson. The forensic psychologist is Isaac Strong, and he has become a good friend to Erika.



My Synopsis:    (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
In an effort to escape a romantic evening with Igor, Erika re-enters the hotel from a different door, only to find a maid trying to contact the police.  There is a dead man, laying on the bed, naked,  face-down, his arms and legs hog-tied behind him, tape over his mouth.  It is politician Neville Lomas, and Erika is quickly removed from the case, presumably because it is out of her jurisdiction.  The death is quickly ruled accidental. Erika doesn't buy it.

But when Erika starts to investigate the death of a star football player, in a situation identical to Lomas, the powers that be don't really want to admit the similarities.  But then she ties the deaths to a casting director, and they can't ignore the fact that they have a serial killer out there.  But heads will roll, and Erika's hands will be tied.



My Opinions:
I think this was the first Erika Foster book that I struggled with.  Don't get me wrong, it was good, but as soon as it became evident that there was going to be a political agenda, I became a little less enthused.

The story alternated between Erika and Annabelle, and this was done quite well.  It was interesting to read the killers story and background.  As always, Bryndza creates really good characters.

As well, it was interesting to see the relationship between Erika and Igor expanded, and to see her vulnerable.

I did not like the ending....it felt like a cliff-hanger, and when an author resorts to this, I feel like it is only to sell his next book.  Not impressed.

Anyway, overall it was a good book, but (and I'm sure I'll be in the minority), not his greatest.

Loved this book. Great story and characters. I think Erika Foster is my favourite detective. She never
gives up.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the book.