Paradise is the ironically named, run down London estate, where the unfortunate souls who live there, try to keep their heads down and survive, as unscathed as possible.

It’s an attention grabbing start to the book. Footage on a camcorder comes to light, giving a grim insight into a film company’s latest work. Red Rose Films is not your usual mainstream production company, not by a long chalk. Unfortunately, this dubious footage comes into the hands of a teenager, his future was decided from that very moment. Kasper, a Private Detective, is asked to look into this unsettling case.

A Killing in Paradise is the second book in the Dylan Kasper series. I haven’t read book one, and have clearly missed a huge amount of action, but this didn’t spoil my understanding or enjoyment of the book. Elliot F Sweeney, the author, gave me all of the backstory I needed to understand Kasper. He has a complex history, which causes him to make some questionable decisions; which considering he is ex Met police, make them even more questionable.

I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Elliot Fitzpatrick. Elliot brought the story to life, and made all the characters distinct and separate in my mind

It is a story based in the depraved criminal underbelly of London. It is dark and gritty, the descriptions of the crimes committed are graphic, it is certainly not a book for cosy crime fans.
I enjoyed this intense, disturbing rollercoaster of a book. 4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ from me.

This is a disturbingly dark and gritty detective story featuring private detective Dylan Kasper, a flawed hero who gets pulled in reluctantly to solve a murder that the police have already dismissed as unsolvable due to lack of credible witnesses and it having taken place on the notorious Paradise estate, famed for its criminality and vice.

With an engaging and charismatic central character in Kasper and a vivid portrayal of a community abandoned by the establishment, the novel has a compelling dystopian feel to it which makes you keep on listening. The narrator Elliot Fitzpatrick does a great job in bringing the story to life and it did make me want to seek out more books in this series.

With thanks to NetGalley, the author and Wildfire audio for the opportunity to listen and review this audiobook.

Okay, so where has Kasper been all my life! I loved this, so gritty, I was completely hooked. I will definitely be giving the first book a read.

This had so many twists and turns, some of which I didn’t see coming, there are some dark and graphic moments, which I am completely there for.

The characters were all well explained, so I never felt there were too many.

The narrator was also fantastic!

An exciting and gripping story with good well formed characters. The 'tough guy' main character was a bit silly at times, making terrible decisions and for some reason holding back a brutal murder from the police while he single handedly saved the world.but having said that I really enjoyed the book and couldn't put it down. Didn't particularly like the audiobook reader but the content was good.

A Killing in Paradise is a true crime novel that is written from the perspective of Dylan Kaspar, a current private investigator and former cop. I think here's a good time to tell you, potential reader, that if you do not like stories with police procedures, police presence, or police POVs, don't read this novel! It is not for you!

However, if you do like those things, read on!

Kaspar is familiar with Paradise, a neighborhood in London, because he grew up there, and bad things happened to him. When approached with an opportunity to find a missing person, Kaspar decides to take it into his own hands instead of turning this potential case over to the police force, which his ex wife is a part of. While searching for evidence and clues, Kaspar comes across a tape that will open his eyes to what is happening to young girls around him, and he will befriend anyone he needs to discover the truth.

However, at the same time, Kaspar is dealing with the anniversary of his daughters death, his inability to pay rent, and his unwillingness to talk to the police about any of it, not wanting to involve them until he has hard evidence. What will this case cost him? And is he willing to sacrifice those he loves to figure out who the culprits are?

Sweeney is a superb storyteller, and I immediately felt compelled to care about these characters, especially Patience and Kwame. While I did see some of the twists coming, it didn't take away from the fact that I enjoyed the story nonetheless. The narrator was also great for this story, as those can truly make or break one!

My only criticism is that this story was rather long, and it could've been chopped down and condensed.

I think this is a great book for anyone who enjoys any type of thriller, especially those who enjoy ones from the POV of detectives and cops!

Thank you to Headline Audio and NetGalley for the ARC!

Rated 3.5 stars

This book follows an ex police officer that is now a private investigator. He is trying to solve one murder and that turns into multiple horrific killings.

I really enjoyed this book. It is a thriller mystery that was quite dark. It had me on the edge of my seat wanting to know what was going to happen. The MMC was a great character but i also loved how the author delved into his flaws and that was part of the focus of the book.

Would have rated more but i guessed the the twist. Highly recommend this read!

Was a good listen, the story follows an ex copper now a PI who gets asked to find out what happened when there was a fatal killing. He doesn’t realise how deep he will need to dig to get to the truth. The beginning did drag slightly but I enjoyed it towards the end.

I listened to the audiobook of 'A Killing in Paradise' and both the book itself and the narrator were excellent. Paradise is an ironically named council estate that is anything but its namesake! The death of a teenager leads to a snuff movie enterprise being uncovered and the pull of investigating this is too much for Kasper to resist but ultimately at risk too.

This was the second book in a series (which I didn't realize until I'd finished it) but it certainly didn't detract from my enjoyment of the book. The book had pace, lots of twists and turns and was really enjoyable to listen to. I'd definitely listen to, or read, more from Elliot F Sweeney in the future,

I listened to this with thanks to Netgalley, Wildfire & Headline Audio for the opportunity to review this with an honest review.

This book covers various aspects that can be viewed in their own right primarily the darkness that is a reality was brought to light with some graphic details making it potentially difficult at times. So i have to point out because the visionary you can conjure from this it is evidently so well done. The characters all had various different attributes that made them potentially relatable in some form or fashion but most of all I found myself working through the plot to unveil who was doing what as the private investigator Dylan Kasper was doing.

The character Nate was brought to life in an amazing unbearable way through the narration as I found myself at one section in particular extremely repulsed by the nature of his behaviours to me this showed how well this story was written and narrated because in that moment you are submerged in the details.

By the end of the book I felt I could understand the various aspects brought to light such as how corruption is or isn't handled, how innocent people can become involved in something as a survival method, a means to an end to get by type way of life. These things happen in many areas around our world and this story has so much deeper meaning than a simple psychological thriller.

I haven't read the 1st book by this author so this was new to me but I didn't feel the need to as it covers all bases from the very beginning.

The narrator Elliot Fitzpatrick is absolutely perfect for this book he captures all characters on all points and truly feels like your watching a movie inside your own head by sound of his voice your able to visualise the storyline with ease.

Compelling read only thing I would say is it would be extra bonus if the beginning of audiable had a trigger warning of sorts due to the extreme graphic details, to be expected to some degree of course with the genre however on the outset your unaware of how graphic and dark this novel will get. Definitely a gripping story with so much more than I could even write here!

I haven’t read the first book for this series but it can be read as a stand alone and I will be reading the first book as I really enjoyed the author’s writing and the narrator. It was an easy and captivating read.
You get a good feel for all the characters and with not reading the first in the series I never felt confused and you understand enough to follow the story and understand the thoughts and choices of our main character.

Thank you to Headline Audio and NetGalley for the audiobook. The review below is based on my own opinions.

Despite not reading the first book, A Killing in Paradise can be read as a standalone as we immediately get to know Kasper and do not feel like we were missing any information. Immediately, you feel draw in by the characters and keen to investigate alongside Kasper as to who the murderer is. I did find that some sections were a bit repetitive, however you are draw in by its unpredictability. It keeps you guessing right up to the end and still wasn't who you suspected. I was not expecting the ending and enjoyed going back to see the mystery unfold.

The narration of the story is engaging and helped convey the different characters in the piece. It was an engaging read, that I kept listening to and didn't want to put down as I wanted to know the next twist.

Do love a crime story and when I saw this was the 2nd in a series I made sure to find the 1st book and managed to get it on audible to listen to too!
It was the same narrator for both which I liked as I got used to his voice and thought he did a great job!
I wasn’t to sure on Kasper in the first book but the second book had me warming up to him, and I liked the other reoccurring characters/his circle of friends - they’re an interesting bunch for sure!
The story is about an ex-policeman who’s just trying to get by in life and has decided to put his investigative skills to use by helping those he would prefer his help instead of the police. Patience comes to him after her brother is murdered and the police leads have gone dead and she finds something in his room that she doesn’t trust the police with.
It’s well paced, a good story line and has a great twist in the end that I wasn’t expecting! I was actually surprised when I thought we’d got to the end and still had about 20% of the story to go! Twist was perfectly done and will defo look out for further instalments in Kasper’s series!

Dark detective thriller audiobook. Nicely narrated and produced. Listeners to this book’s story will be brought face to face with the grief of loss and the impact of lives broken by circumstance. I liked that the author doesn’t try to solve the problems of the characters lives, no real happy ending. Life goes on, we find ways to survive. Thank you to Headline Audio and NetGalley for the audio ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.

A fusion of Hard Boiled and Contemporary Crime Noir, with a marked darkness in its subject matter. This is not for the faint hearted. Personally I loved this story!
It is perfectly narrated.
The author captures the the mood of life on a deprived London housing estate, and has a clear understanding of the complexity of the human mind and condition. Realistic characters are brought to life in a plot that goes where most of us dare not imagine to tread.
A Killing in Paradise is the second book in the Private Investigator Kasper series. It can easily be read as a stand alone novel. However, if you enjoy it as much as I have....you will be left eager for more from this author.

A killing in Paradise was fast paced and a good psychological thriller but very dark with twists and very intriguing.

A private detective (ex copper) gets involved in a mysterious crime that ends up much more than what he bargained for with great characters.

This should be a movie, honestly so good
Highly recommended

Elliott Fitzpatrick was excellent for this audio

Thank you to Netgalley

Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to listen to this audiobook in return for an honest review. This book is the second book in a series but can easily be read as a standalone. A dark, gritty and sometimes disturbing tale about a private investigator who gets involved in a mysterious crime that ends up being much more than he bargained for. A really engaging story with a great set of complex characters. I would highly recommend this psychological thriller and I will definitely be looking out for the next book in the series. 5 stars.

Paradise estate is not a great place to live in with neglected tower blocks and residents. Dylan Kasper is asked to investigate the death of a young man. Kasper will follow clues as to what happened and lead him to a dark world of horror and murder.

Well written and well narrated novel (I listened to the audiobook). Good strong characters who will need to be brave when faced with the truth and the horror surrounding this and other murders. Can Paradise ever be a good place to live in and call home?

The book plot has a high degree of complexity. Almost all the characters had an amazing amount of issues to deal with in their lives.

A most enjoyable read considering the darker aspects. The main character was flawed but seemed to have amazingly perceptive detection skills as well as an ability to maintain a good sense of values.

I was intrigued to see what happened! I felt I had a good grasp of what was going on but my confidence took a few hits as there were quite a few unexpected twists! I simply could not guess the final discovery and was shocked!

I am encouraged to read more books by this author!

I didn’t realise that this is the second book in a series featuring former police officer Kasper. It certainly works well as a standalone and on the strength of this story, I’ll be looking out the first volume. This is a hard hitting thriller set on a deprived estate in London. Kasper has been asked to investigate the brutal death of a teenager that the police aren’t interested in pursuing. It explores the grim territory of social disadvantage and economic deprivation, often in detail.

Kasper becomes embroiled in the activities of a gang and is also a victim and there are tense moments where it’s uncertain who will win. It’s not a jolly tale and it certainly reinforces the belief that social divisions are set to remain a part of Britain’s culture. The plotting is skilled with twists that keep your interest and I liked the Kasper character, despite his flaws. The narration grew on me; at first I found it a little flat, but as the story progressed, it was in keeping with the tone.

This is the second book in the Dylan Kasper series. I read the first one so was happy to pick up this one as I enjoyed the dark storyline of the first book.

Kasper is asked for help from his friend Mani. A local girl he knows Patience is distraught after her brother is stabbed on the infamous Paradise Estate, a place Kasper knows only too well having lived their himself when he was growing up. Patience believes that her brothers murder has been brushed under the carpet and this is where Kasper comes in and Mani know’s he will find it hard to not investigate.

And investigate is exactly what he does and it isn’t long before Kasper finds himself in the middle of yet another dangerous mess.

This is another very dark story, so if you are triggered by delicate subjects, it could be one to avoid. That being said, I enjoyed this second book as much as I did the first one. I know Kasper and his close friends and you get to know him and them a little more.

Would I go for book 3, yes, would I like it to be a little different, yes, there is a risk they could a be a little samey. I give this a fair 5/5. Thanks once again to Netgalley for this ARC.