Great writing, great story, lots of action …though it doesn’t tell you how they always found the guy. It’s a sequel so I felt a bit behind in the story though it did tell some of it and why the events were occurring. Loved the detective work.

A taut, well-written, detailed police procedural. It has all (more) one could ask for - both supportive and antagonistic senior officers, a central character (Barnes) who is one of a kind, with a now settled home life. Then a mysterious chemical is released in a town and people drop down like flies, Barnes is there with his trainee DC. Barne's step daughter is kidnapped, found, he and family go on holiday, he's called back and family then kidnapped. It's non stop action. There's just too much action for me, the man never gets a rest but I suppose that fictional, maybe factual, police life can be like that. There are a lot of acronyms and, whilst I appreciate being told that they are expanded in a glossary, this loses the plot for me. Why not use them, followed by the expansion in brackets the first time and move on - that's normal for scientific papers. It keeps a visual image of the acronym in context at the time and I find it far easier to remember that context rather than visualising it at page whatever in the glossary, beside the 'set a bookmark, scroll to glossary, find acronym, move back to bookmark and, next page, another acronym'. Tedious and loses momentum of the reading. Essentially, Barnes has enemies and one in particular, currently in prison, who blames him for the death of his family, Barnes blames him for the death of his wife but that was never proven. Revenge will out, eventually. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy.

Adam Lyndon’s The Chalk Man is his fourth in the Detective Barnes series, and it was so thrilling that I couldn’t put it down until I had finished it! This book could have stood as a stand-alone book, too, for any who are considering this book and series.

Detective Inspector Barnes started off with the worst day at work ever, when he began working with the super eager Trainee Detective Constable Will Howlett. They were called out to investigate a suspected overdose in the public bathroom when everything went awry as a toxic chemical was released into the air in the middle of town.

At that moment, DI Barnes’ daughter had been lured out to a fake rugby practice by a false coach. Life just got more stressful for DI Barnes, and this was before his boss started biting his head off, and basically implying that Barnes had been responsible for the deaths in town because he hadn’t personally stopped those nearest to him.

DI Barnes has suspicions on who could be capable of these diabolical acts, but first, he desperately needs someone to focus on getting his daughter back. Will DI Barnes be able to overcome all of the obstacles in front of him as things go from bad to worse during his work week? Can he prove his boss wrong about his actions and motives, and convince him that his hunches are plausible, if not probable?

Thank you to NetGalley and Joffe Books for this thrilling ARC!!

Thank you Netgalley, Adam Lyndon, and Joffee Books for the ebook! This was a great detective thriller that had me so invested and enthralled! A great book if you love detective thrillers!

Thanks to Joffe Books (I love this publisher's offerings, and I am always thrilled when I am approved by them for a book) and Netgalley for this eARC.

The Chalk Man by Adam Lyndon is a riveting addition to the Detective Rutherford Barnes Mysteries series, marking its fourth installment. This novel is a testament to Lyndon’s experience as a police officer, bringing an unparalleled level of authenticity and grit to the crime thriller genre.

Personally, I loved that the author didn't "talk down" to the readers, rather some knowledge of police protocol was assumed, a refreshing change from the mysteries that explain, for example once again, what lividity or petechiae means, ad nauseam.

On to the plot - Set against the backdrop of a seemingly tranquil seaside town, the story quickly unfolds into a maelstrom of panic and mystery. Detective Barnes, who has finally found the familial bliss he longed for, is thrust into a nightmarish scenario when his stepdaughter, Maggie, goes missing. The disappearance coincides with a series of unsettling events in the town, including the discovery of a body and the sudden, inexplicable collapse of seemingly healthy individuals.

Lyndon masterfully crafts a narrative that is as much about the heart as it is about the mind. The emotional stakes are high, and readers will find themselves deeply invested in Barnes’s desperate search for Maggie. The tension is palpable, the pacing is relentless, and the small-town setting becomes a character in its own right, hiding secrets in every shadowed alley and quiet facade.

What sets The Chalk Man apart is its ability to perfectly blend the personal with the procedural. The investigation is meticulous, showcasing Lyndon’s insider knowledge of police work. Yet, it also chronicles the personal journey of Barnes, his partner Tamsin, and their family which will resonate with readers.

The novel’s twists, as promised, are massive and satisfyingly executed, leaving readers to grapple with the implications of the revealed truths.

This story explores the depths of revenge and the resilience of the human spirit.

The Chalk Man is a compelling read that will appeal to fans of Joy Ellis, Helen H. Durrant, and Peter James.

This book confirms Adam Lyndon’s place among the ranks of contemporary masters of crime fiction. With its intricate plot, well-drawn characters, and authentic police procedural details, this book is a must-read for anyone who loves a good mystery with multiple shocking twists.

Sometimes you request an ARC because you like the author or are attracted by the cover. Other times, it’s a gut feeling that tells you you’re going to love the book, and this is what happened with this book.
It features a gripping, tightly-knit, and twisty plot that kept me on the edge of my seat, guessing throughout.
It was an entertaining and well-plotted read, and I was glad to catch up with the characters. I rooted for Rutherford and his family. The twists always surprised me, and I was satisfied with the solution. The author is a good storyteller who never let my attention wander.
It’s the right police procedural for me: well-plotted, full of suspense, and entertaining.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to Joffe Books for this ARC; all opinions are mine

Rutherford Barnes knows he has to keep looking over his shoulder for a danger no one else can see. But when his partner and her daughters are taken, will he be able to convince anyone that this was a deliberate act against him? And will he be able to rescue them in time?


This is book 4 in an ongoing series, and was exactly the fast, easy, read I needed at the moment! The plot kept me engaged throughout the entire book, and I was very glad to not see the twist be telescoped early on. Will definitely have to seek out the other three books in the series, as I really enjoyed the world building and characters featured in this book.

The chalkman by Adam London

Was his book was definitely fast paced and thrilling to say the least. The authors writing style is good relatable and believable as well. Nothing that couldn’t happen today that’s for sure. I enjoyed this book.

Detective Barnes has it all the perfect job family… you name it! Life is good. Someone is coming for him and then Bam! Two catastrophic moments happen at once!!! There is a chaos around someone leaking a chemical substance that is killing people and his step daughter is kidnapped!

That all happens in the first part! The chaos really starts! I did not read the previous book but I believe it is still good as a standlone.

Detective Inspector Rutherford Barnes finally has the family he always longed for but someone is coming for them. Barnes crouches down by the body of a young man near the seafront when suddenly his eye is caught by an abrupt movement. A woman has fallen over on the pavement opposite. ‘Looks like someone’s feeling crook,’ says Howlett, his detective constable. Then another person collapses nearby & his body starts to convulse on the ground. As panic spreads through the crowd, Barnes’s mobile rings. It’s Tamsin, his normally unflappable partner. Maggie his stepdaughter is missing
The fourth book in the series & whilst it could be read on its own, I’ve loved how relationships have developed. Oh this was so good, I was kept on the edge of my seat & found I couldn’t put it down nor go to sleep until it was finished. A very well written thriller with strong characters & a fast paced story & I now lok forward to the next book
My review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

I was given this book by NetGalley for an honest review-
Barnes investigating a death sees people collapse- what is going on? A call from his girlfriend saying Maggie is missing! What is going on?
Someone he put away wants him to pay and is targeting his family? Grab this page turner as Barnes fights to save his family,

Barnes finally has the family he has always longed for, but someone is coming for them....

Detective Barnes crouches down by the body near the seafront. Male, mid-twenties. The face is blue-white, mouth stretched open in a silent yawn. Suddenly his eye is caught by an abrupt movement. A woman has fallen over on the pavement opposite. "Looks like someone is feeling crook," says Howlett, his detective constable. Then Barnes sees another person collapse nearby. A young man, fit. He hasn't tripped. His body starts to convulse on the ground. As panic spirals through the crowd, Barnes mobile starts to ring. It's Tasmin, his partner, she tells him his stepdaughter is missing.

This is an action-packed, gripping and well-written story. Everything seems to be happening to Barnes, from his personal and work life. When his stepdaughter goes missing, and there's a chemical attack, Barnes is the only one to think the two crimes are connected. I liked the authors writing style. I was quickly pulled into this story. It takes us on a rollercoaster ride.

Published 7th May

I would like to thank #NetGalley #JoffeBooks and the author #AdamLyndon for my ARC of #TheChalkMan in exchange for an honest review.

This was a amazing installment to this series.
I enjoyed the twists and turns
Would recommend it to others

Thank you to NetGalley and Joffe Books for my copy of The Chalk Man by Adam Lyndon.

A good read that lost my attention for a while in the middle but the beginning and end made up for it

I would read this author again.

Action Littered..
The fourth entry into the Detective Rutherford Barnes series of mysteries and the cynical detective is about to be ambushed by an alarming array of serious issues - as if the body on the seafront were not enough. Another non stop, action littered instalment with a deftly drawn and credible cast of characters, a firm sense of place and a propulsive plot bubbling with unexpected twists.

I’ve been waiting for this one to come out and I was not disappointed. Barnes must have the worst luck of any character I read about. Adam Lyndon really takes that writer’s suggestion to think about the worst thing you can do to your character, then make it even worse. So of course, I knew what was coming with this book. It was inevitable. This is a fight Barnes has been involved in for too long. I did figure out who the ringleader was the second the character was introduced. But as I’ve said in other reviews, I’m a cynic. It did make sense, but holy cow, what a piece of work this person turned out to be! I think out of the whole series, this one was the most action-packed. It did not let up, and I loved every second of it. I can’t wait to see what happens in the series next!

Huge thanks to Joffe Books and NetGalley for sending me this ARC for review! All of my reviews are given honestly!

A drug addict is found dead of an overdose. A promising young trainee DC is killed. Poisoned fumes are released in the town center forming a toxic, deadly cloud. A young girl is kidnapped. And that is only in the first few chapters of the action packed The Chalk Man, fourth in the excellent Rutherford Barnes series by Adam Lyndon, a twenty year veteran of police work.

With Barnes’ nemesis in jail with a long sentence, Barnes finally feels safe and ready to move on with Tamsin and her two young daughters, Maggie and Ellie. He has misjudged how much Pearce hates him and how far he will go on his quest for revenge, believing that Barnes is responsible for the deaths of his wife and son. Pearce has a long reach and many friends outside of prison. Barnes sees patterns and leaks that make sense of the recent crimes. His Assistant Chief Constable Gabby Clover does not leaving Barnes alone with his theories that quickly become very real. He is helped only by his friend Superintendent Samson Kane and Tina Guestling, a feisty, independent department analyst. Barnes is desperate to help his family before they become one more crime statistic.

The action never stops in The Chalk Man. Barnes seems to run from one crisis to another, all in an attempt to save his increasingly endangered family and to convince his superiors that Pearce is behind the threats. Familiar characters return and new ones make powerful debuts. Trainee DC Will Howlett is so real in the short chapters before his death that you want to warn and save him. I hope that Tina will continue as an addition to this series. And Eastbourne, with its rural surroundings is an evocative location. I can’t wait for the next in this series. 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Joffe Books and Adam Lyndon for this ARC.

Non-stop action start to end. A small thing happens, then a bigger thing happens, then an even bigger thing happens. Eventually one of the things is resolved, but the book is only 30% through. So of course many more things happen, then there's a twist, until we get to a satisfactory conclusion at the end.

That's all I can say without spoilers.

As it sounds, the pace of this book is fast, but not so fast that you get lost, and there are only a couple of main threads to keep track of.

As a first time reader to this series I followed it easily without reading the earlier books. The acronyms I followed less easily and had to check a few to understand what police procedure was happening.

Thank you NetGalley and Joffe Books for the pre-release read. I’m not much of a mystery girlie and I had not read the first 3 books but thought I’d give it a try. With not having read the first 3 books I don’t feel like it hurt the read of this book. If anything I want to start from the beginning now. I really enjoyed all the characters. Scary even the bad guys characters were perfect. The story line was intense and had me on the edge of my seat the whole time. Nothing was predictable and I even teared up on the last several pages.

Thank you to Netgallery and the publisher for this ARC. The publication date is the 7th May. This book had me hooked it had everything from an intriguing suspenseful plot, to murder mystery to everything else in between.

There were many action packed twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat I loved it! The author is a serving police officer I think that really made the book come to life.

This is the first book I’ve read from this author and I can’t wait for the next one! I’d highly recommend everyone to read this book if you love an action packed murder mystery that keeps you on the edge of your seat to the very last page!

Another good book with Barney’s and Kane.I enjoyed the style of writing. A solid four star read. Great premise. Good characters. Page turner. Plenty of suspense to keep me guessing Would definitely read the next novel. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review it.