A Violent Heart is the first novel I’ve read in the Archer and Quinn series and I’ll definitely be reading the previous novels in the series.
When a body is found in a house Archer and Quinn soon connect this decades old crime to the murder of a sex worker.
I loved this police procedural which brought together the many different strands of the story brilliantly and moves along at a good pace.
Recommended.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.

I absolutely loved this book. It drew me in from the start and I couldn’t put it down. There are some great characters, some I liked and some I didn’t! I certainly didn’t guess who did it until right near the end.

First of all thank you for approving my request!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! The authors writing style had me hooked throughout this book.

I didn't want it to end, a book I really couldn't put down.

I have been so excited for the next instalment of this series, can we have book 5 already?! Pleeeeaaaassseee.

It is always interesting to follow Grace and her team, whilst this wasn’t as violent as the previous books, the reasons behind the murders seemed far darker, women being killed for the job they do.

The attention to detail that the author gives, always makes me feel that I am part of Grace’s team and I’m figuring it out with them. The different timelines were addictive as was Grace and Mallory’s ‘working’ relationship and how they bounced off of each other.

Elena Zoric, a survivor of trafficking, has been forced back onto the game by a lack of money and has a bad feeling about the man whose car she has just got into. He turns on her and as she flees her attacker, she calls DI Grace Archer, one of the few people she trusts but Grace misses the call. The next day Elena’s body is discovered by a stream with a head injury and a nasty hole in her chest. Whilst it isn’t their case, Grace and her DS Harry Quinn are determined to take an interest, especially when the post mortem reveals a shocking link to a young woman’s body which has just been discovered in an empty house on their patch. A woman who was killed in 1987. When true crime podcaster (and the thorn in Grace’s side recently) Mallory Jones contacts Grace with details of a third very similar victim from 1991, the big question is whether they have a copycat, a series of coincidences or a killer who has gone undetected for over thirty years? How many more related cases will either set of detectives unearth? And of course, how will they catch him?
There’s lots going on in this very engrossing and brilliantly told police procedural. I really liked Grace and Harry, dedicated and empathetic detectives, and also Mal and Bruce who were obviously spurred onto their current careers by their devastating and unresolved joint loss. Grace’s childhood and back history have clearly made her the strong and determined detective she is today. The team, including Klara, Marian, Joely and Os who all work very well together, also has to suffer a new and rather awful DCI in the form of prehistoric Les Fletcher when DCI Clare Pierce has to take leave to care for her sick husband, and it’s not long before sparks are flying. This is a gripping story from start to finish, gritty and full of action with an exciting ending, and the first book I’ve read in the series. It works perfectly well as a stand-alone but I’m definitely going to catch up on the rest of the series and look forward to more stories. Highly recommended!

4/5 stars: Misogyny, systemic apathy, and the battle against societal indifference.

A gutsy police procedural, A Violent Heart by David Fennell, unflinchingly exposes the dark underbelly of policing toward those on the fringes of society in a perfectly paced story that you simply can’t - and won’t - put down.

A Violent Heart is a high-octane thriller that offers more than a compelling police procedural. We are plunged into the dank underbelly of North London, where justice is marred by unconscious bias, violence, and corruption against society's most vulnerable, in this case, sex workers. With a collection of solid, empathetic characters and a plot that tackles uncomfortable realities, it's a must-read for fans of crime fiction who appreciate a story that resonates emotionally and nods to complex societal issues. Fennell's deft handling of challenging characters and morally ambiguous situations makes this book a knockout that will leave the reader eager for the next chapter in the Grace and Quinn story.

It's worth noting that A Violent Heart is the fourth instalment in David Fennell's popular Grace and Quinn series, following The Art of Death, See No Evil and The Silent Man. In his author's note, Fennell describes A Violent Heart as a "reset for our heroes" and considers it a "standalone mystery", making it an excellent entry point for new readers. If you haven't yet read the previous books, as I hadn't done, don't let that deter you from diving into an utterly engrossing story.

Recommended for fans of:
- Steve Cavanagh, Karin Slaughter, and M. W. Craven
- Peter James' Roy Grace series and M. J. Arlidge's DI Helen Grace series
- A fast-paced book you can finish in a day

Thank you to Random Things Tours (blog tour), Zaffre Books, NetGallery, and the author, who generously gave me early access to the book in exchange for an honest review.

#ZaffreBooks #AViolentHeart #BlogTour #DavidFennell

When sex worker Elena Zoric is found murdered, DI Grace Archer is devastated to discover that on the night of her death, she had missed a call from her. Could she have prevented her death? She desperately wants to be the investigating officer but is prevented from doing so by her new boss, Chief Inspector Fletcher. When the remains of another woman are found with similar injuries to that of Elena, Grace is determined to find a link. With help coming from an unexpected source, could these two deaths just be the tip of the iceberg?

After the previous Grace Archer book, I felt as though that would be the last we would see of the detective so I was thrilled to see that we were being treated to another book! If you have not read the previous three books, this one can definitely be read as a standalone although I thoroughly recommend going back to the start as this is such a good series with likeable characters in Grace and DS Harry Quinn.

The murder of sex workers is a subject that has appeared in many fiction books but what I particularly liked here is that we don’t just see the victims as dead women. The author has, by going back in time to before they met their fate, given them a voice and made them real characters in the book. Usually, we discover the life of a victim through their loved ones so it was refreshing to read their stories via the women themselves.

David Fennell has shown how police attitudes towards sex workers has changed when Grace realises that these murders have been going on for decades. If only there were police like Grace around when these deaths started instead of the officers who were not keen to investigate ‘another prostitute death’, then maybe the case would have been solved earlier!

A Violent Heart is a fantastic addition to the series, full of tension and very well-written. I am so glad that we have the opportunity to read more about Grace and hope that there is still more to come.

I read the first book in this series a few years but not yet read the other two books. The only reason for this is because the fact that they had been published completely passed me by. I plan on rectifying this mistake at the first opportunity. Luckily this novel worked perfectly well as a standalone and I had no issues with missing any storyline continuation.
I think Archer and Quinn, the detectives who feature in this novel, are fantastic. Dedicated to their work but with just the right amount of cynicism that is mainly reserved for their colleagues. They are not afraid to admit that there have been a lot of failures within the Met with regard to protecting sex workers. The attitude displayed by some members of the police in the novel is unfortunately believable. But it also highlights that there are those who want answers.
The murders are more upsetting to read about than in other novels. I’ve read books before where the reader ‘meets’ the victim just before their death. It always has an impact, feeling more real but because the victims are so vulnerable it had more of an effect. Even more so because the police investigating at the time weren’t interested enough. I’m sure I won’t be the only reader who thinks the same.
There is also a podcaster, Mallory, who is interested in the murders. She isn’t initially appreciated for her efforts, especially from Archer, but they soon realise that she has the power to help them find who was responsible. I liked her character, and I’m sure I will enjoy catching up with her exploits when I read the earlier novels.

Fast paced, gritty and unrelenting it tells a story of murders throughout a longer timeline than is first considered. Can be gorey but this always adds to crime novels. Liked the normality of the detectives life set in the midst of heinous crimes. Havent read this author before but definitely something i will look into.

I met David Fennell at Capital Crime last year at the launch of The Silent Man and have been obsessed with his books ever since! A Violent Heart is the next in the Grace Archer series and has a recurring character from past novels which made it very interesting to read and explore. Tense police procedural thriller which kept me hooked! I love a multi layered story which you uncover more about as you go on.

DI Grace Archer is back and as great as ever!
Faced with a murder investigation of a sex worker and then the skeletal remains of another body this case will stretch Grace Archer and her team.
It’s not long until they make a connection between the two bodies increasing the tension of the investigation taking them down some twisty paths.
Even though this is the forth book in the series it can still be read as a standalone as there is enough of a backstory in it to make it as enjoyable. I do highly recommend the other books in the series as well as they are all good and you get a good connection from Grace reading them in order.

DI Grace Archer book 4.

Absolutely brilliant! I flew through this in two sittings and stayed up way past my bedtime because it's just too good to put down. Some characters wanted to make me scream and others I wanted to slap. When you get emotionally involved in a plot you know you're on a winner. Brilliant book in a brilliant series. Loved it!

Elena Zoric, a sex worker and addict, is murdered, her body concealed and left near a stream in North London. Her phone lies nearby, the last number dialled was to a former NCA Investigator, a woman who had saved her from sex trafficking: Met DI, Grace Archer.

When questioned by North London police, a devastated Archer has no answer to why Elena would call her moments from her death. Archer wants to lead the investigation but its out of her catchment area and she is warned off it by her new boss, the charmless old school copper, Chief Inspector Les Fletcher.
The thirty year old remains of a woman are found in the attic of an abandoned house. Archer takes over the case and discovers the victim died in similar circumstances to Elena Zoric. Archer pushes for an alliance with her North London colleagues but it seems they have other priorities than looking into the murder of "a drugged up prostitute". An incensed Archer goes rogue and searches for proof that both women were murdered by the same man.

Another fantastic addition to the DI Grace Archer series. I've read the previous books in series and they just keep getting better. The DI Archer series has quickly became one of my favourites, filled with twists and turns to keep you reading well beyond bedtime.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.5⭐

DI Grace Archer returns in an unflinching crime thriller. That is not only compelling but unafraid to go where very few crime stories go and highlight just how shitty the police can be when it comes to crimes against women, particularly sex workers and those on the fringes of society.

As Grace and DS Harry Quinn are in the midst of investigating a series of murders that span over thirty years. When a decomposing female body is found wrapped in a rug in the attic of a London home.

But just as the investigation gets underway, Grace and Harry are called to another crime scene. Where Grace is heartbroken to find a victim from an old trafficking case and friend Elena Zoroc murdered. And the cause and manner of death are similar to those of the body in the attic. Despite the fact that she was killed at least thirty years ago.

However, Grace and Harry have a new boss, and he has no interest in linking the two cases. So he assigns a DS who is wet behind the ears to handle Elena's case and instructs Grace to concentrate on the body in the attic.

But Grace and Harry are determined to continue their investigation. As the similarities are too significant to ignore and when podcaster Mallory Jones contacts Harry with another possible victim, Grace realizes she is right to follow her instincts and ignore her boss.

Yet the more Grace, her team, and Mallory dig, the more they realize just how letdown these victims were. As every linked disappearance or murder, they uncover just seems to have been ignored and forgotten about. With friends and loved ones dismissed and derided for bothering to care about missing young women who were living rough or working on the street.

But now Grace and Harry are determined to change that and get justice for them and their families. As well as hopefully shaming all those police officers who stood by and did nothing.

And with big twists and turns, including a killer I did not see coming. This was a riveting read. That was perfectly paced and extremely hard to put down. Which is why I would happily recommend it to all.

The fourth book in the Grace Archer series and they just keep getting better. Navigating the path after the tragedy in book 3 (not going to spoil it if you haven’t read it) Grace is facing uncertainty at home and with changes at work which aren’t very welcome. When. When a sex worker calls Grace late at night fearing for her life and a 30 year old skeleton turns up could these cases be linked?
This was an absolute belter of a read. I love Grace and Harry as characters and I really hope Mallory and Boo get more in the next book- fingers crossed.
Thank you to netgalley for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

I’ve never read a David Fennell book that I didn’t enjoy, he’s a superb storyteller with a knack for creating characters with great depth and stories that keep the reader turning those pages into the late hours. A Violent Heart is another such book. I can’t recommend him and these books highly enough!

The story opens with the murder of Elena Zoric, a sex worker whose final call was to DI Grace Archer. Soon after, the remains of another woman, similarly killed, are found.

As Archer and her team investigate, they uncover links to a series of older cases, revealing a serial killer who has operated undetected for decades. Throw in some unhelpful police politics, and Archer has her work cut out!

It was great to be back with Archer, who remains a strong and determined detective. Her partnership with DS Harry Quinn is always a highlight, providing something solid amidst the investigation’s complexities.

There’s some maddening characters too - like Archer’s Boss and some rather inept and misogynistic colleagues. The introduction of these antagonistic forces within the police adds tension to Grace's situation. It was great to see investigator / podcaster, Mallory Jones again :)

I thought the pacing was spot on; the perfect balance of suspenseful investigation and action. I love a then and now timeline, and this shifts well between the two, without causing confusion or feeling forced.

Fennell also explores the impact of unaddressed violence against vulnerable women. The police treatment of sex workers for example, is incomparable to those in supposedly more accepted jobs. Are ‘drugged up prostitutes’ somehow less deserving of justice?!

This is the fourth in the series, and while it works well as a standalone, I’d recommend reading in order to benefit from character development. The strong pacing, plot twists and emotional depth made it another favourite for me.

A huge thanks to NetGalley and to Zaffre, for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own. A Violent Heart is out August 29 (UK)

There are so many Crime detective series on the market that it’s almost impossible to keep up with them all. But there are a few series that come high or hell water I wouldn’t miss. David Fennel’s Grace Archer series is one of them! So much so that I didn’t even read the book description for A Violent Heart. But then I have such faith in this author’s ability to deliver a riveting read. Was my faith misplaced? Hell no! Despite this being the fourth book in the series, David Fennel has only gone and written another worthy nail biting addition to what is an unmissable series.

A Violent Heart is a dark tale fuelled by a sense of malevolence. The plot focuses on the gruesome murders of sex workers spanning thirty years. I liked the fact David Fennel gives his victims a voice, creating characters who are victims, rather than victims lacking character! This allows the reader to learn more about the girl’s background. We learn about the unfortunate and heartbreaking events that led them to take a dangerous and often a violent and abusive path. Sadly, their murders appear to be low down on the police’s list of priorities because of their deeply ingrained prejudice against sex workers.

Grace Archer is a likeable character with an intriguing back story. She’s resilient and persistent, paired with her sharp intuition, which earns her the respect and support of her team. Her partner DS Harry Quinn is a likeable character. This book isn’t as gruesome as the other books in the series, but that’s not a bad thing. I prefer it when an author mixes things up a bit, it keeps us readers on our toes. David Fennell ensures A Violent Heart is packed with tension, misdirection which certainly heightened my enjoyment of this book. Highly recommended

Whilst a bit less gory than the previous installments, this one is such a good read! I absolutely adore this series of books. David Fennell has such a dark mind, I truly cringe (in a good way) when reading is gross descriptions of the untimely deaths these poor people endure!!

Police procedural is my fav sub genre and serial killer thriller is an extremely close second, so these books tick all the boxes for me.

Well written, lots of dialogue but not too much that it dilutes the story. Grace is an excellent character, full of backbone and back story. We can empathise with her reality and I think she's written particularly well for a female lead in such a male dominated profession.

Loved it.

This is a great crime series and I loved this latest book.
DI Grace Archer is contacted when a woman’s body is found and when her phone is checked, Grace was the last person she tried to call.
The victim had a troubled past and Grace had helped her a while ago. Through flashback chapters we find out what happened just before she died and it’s clear that Grace regrets missing her call.
Another body is soon found and when it’s discovered that she died the same way, Grace wants to work on both cases.
Her new boss is not keen on this as they are under different areas so Grace has to push to get her own way.
With other victims being linked to the same type of death, it’s clear that the killer needs to be stopped as soon as possible.
This is a gripping crime thriller that I really enjoyed.
Thanks to Bonnier Books UK for the opportunity to read this book.