Really enjoyed this. Was hooked from he beginning to the end. Def a thrill ride for me and will be recommending to others

Thank you for the opportunity to review

A Violent Heart is the 4th book in the Grace Archer series and it is another excellent addition.

The pacing throughout is spot on and the author cleverly uses all the main characters to keep the pages turning.

A definite recommendation from me.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the advance copy.

This is book 4 in the Grace Archer series. After most of the storyline being tied up in the first three books this book felt like it was taking a new path.

As much as I love Archer as a character and Fennells writing I did struggle to enjoy this one as much. Whilst the pacing is great and the writing is brilliant as we have seen in the previous books it was sadly lacking for me.

I missed the slightly macabre and gruesome stories from the previous books.

That said if you've enjoyed the others in the series I think you will still enjoy the next installment and coming back to familiar characters.

If you are a fan of this series, you will know that our protagonist, the brilliant DI Grace Archer, has not had an easy time of it, either through the course of the previous investigations, or even her private life. Much of what has gone before was resolved in the previous book, a closure of various threads as it were, making A Violent Heart, a sort of stand alone investigation. Previous characters, and even investigations, are referenced, but are not central to the plot of the novel, so, in that sense, you don't need to have read the earlier books to enjoy this story. Quite why you wouldn't, I don't know, as they are all fabulous, but I'd be hypocritical to say you shouldn't jump in here, as I start part the way through series all the time. That said, I did come into this book wondering if this would be the case where, at long last, Grace may finally catch a break and have a little bit of good luck for a change. As to whether that does happen or not ... well that's a discussion for a later time, as the case she picks up is far from one that will result in happy endings.

Grace finds herself on the periphery of a murder investigation. I say periphery as she is only called in our of courtesy for having known the victim, The SIO role is handed to a DS from another station, one whose commitment and methods leave a lot to be desired and cause of concern for Grace and her own DS, Harry Quinn. They soon land their own case, with connections to the recent murder - a young woman whose remains have lain undiscovered for several decades. The similarities between the cause of death are undeniable, as much as DS Lee Parry and Grace's new Chief Inspector, Les Fletcher, may wish to deny it. But this is only the start and there are many more macabre facts to be uncovered as a disturbing pciture starts to become clear for both of our favourite detectives and us, as readers.

David Fennell has created a really complex and compelling story here. Whilst the murders are important, and it is inevitable that the details of what has, and does, happen need to be made clear to readers, it is the way in which he highlights the importance of the victims as much as the identity of the murderer, that really hits home. The victims are, by and large, sex workers, and in the time that the majority of the murders take place, their murders are largely dismissed as unimportant, by a community, and a police force, steeped in misogyny. This is all to easily believable, given all the revelations in recent months, and adds a layer of authenticity to a story that is already undeniably tragic. We are shown how easily the people fall victim to a heartless predator, and how easily their deaths are overlooked and forgotten. Cold cases, never resolved and never really given the attention they deserve. A sad indictment of society that we remember the names of murderers far more readily than we do their victims, something Grace is determined will not happen in this case.

I really like Grace as a character, and David Fennell has made her sympathetic and believable in portrayal. There really is a step change in her circumstances in this book, but no difference in her resilience or determination, which is what I like about her. She faces conflict from all angles, and is challenged by incompetence from above and below and the frustration bled from the page, echoed in my own frustrations in relation to the characters. You know the type. The ones where, if the author has done their job, as Mr Fennell has here, make you want to slap your book. It wasn't over done, particularly the disconnect between Grace and her new DI, which can often be the case where authors introduce an antagonistic authority figure, but it was just the right balance to make me want to see all the people getting in Grace's way face their comeuppance, Do they? Well - read the book and you'll know the answer.

The book is paced perfectly, the tension really ramping up as we move towards the end and the final showdown. Just as each thread of the investigation seems to be slowing the detectives down, we are faced with the facts of what happened to each of the victims, a kind of flashback the reinvigorates the investigation, rather than holds it back. And, for once, Grace is helped, sort of, rather than hindered by the involvement of Vlogger, Mallory Jones, someone who she has a checkered history with but develops a new, grudging, respect for as the case progresses. I liked Mallory, as much as I liked Grace, although at times you do just wish the two women would take a few less risks than they do. Then again, where is the fun in that?

With plenty of misdirection, another, unexpected antagonist making an already complex case one that is packed with tension and an overwhelming sense of jeopardy, and a high stakes showdown that will have the adrenalin pumping and had me perched on the edge of my seat, racing through the pages, hoping against hope that there was a chance of a positive outcome, this is a book that ticked all the boxes for me. I had my suspicions about a certain character before the final reveal, but that is all I will say here. The book was packed with emotion and surprising revelations, with a conclusion that was most definitely satisfying. And it's a read that is definitely recommended. What are you waiting for?

A Violent Heart is book 4 in the Grace Archer crime series. I hadn't read the previous three prior to this, and now that I've finished book four, for me, it gave enough background throughput that I was comfortable reading it as a stand-alone. That being said, I now need to go and get them and binge read the series.

This police procedural story had me gripped from start to finish. I loved the depth the characters had and the empathetic way in which the victims were written. I liked how David Fennell gave each of them their own little piece of story. I felt a real sense of who they were. It made me feel compassion towards them. Completely the opposite to how the police had treated them and the crimes committed.

This book had me fully immersed in Archers world, a compelling and addictive read. With a clever plot full of suspense, twists, and turns that had me stumped throughout. A must-read for any crime thriller fan.

Featuring DI Grace Archer, this is an excellent addition to the series. It is well plotted and opens with the murder of a young sex worker with a connection to Grace. I found the intricate plotting to be totally compelling and very addictive, keeping me engrossed to the end. I like the writing style and the empathy which the author has for the victims. Please don't keep us waiting too long for the next installment in this series! thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

My thoughts about David Fennell’s A Violent Heart is a masterful addition to the DI Grace Archer series, delivering an electrifying blend of suspense, intricate plotting, and deep emotional resonance. David Fennell’s Fourth police procedural thriller series, kicks off with the murder of Elena Zoric, a woman who was rescued from sex trafficking and whose final call was to Detective Inspector Grace Archer. David Fennell’s vivid storytelling and intricate plot twists make this book hard to put down, ensuring that fans of crime fiction and new readers alike will be thoroughly engrossed. David Fennell’s portrayal of Grace Archer is both nuanced and powerful. David Fennell’s exploration of themes such as corruption, human trafficking, and the fight for justice is handled with sensitivity and depth. David Fennell’s A Violent Heart story begins with Elena Zoric is murdered, her body concealed beside a stream in North London. Her phone lies nearby, the last number dialled was to the woman who had rescued her from sex trafficking: Metropolitan Police Detective Inspector Grace Archer. Archer desperately wants to lead the murder investigation but her new boss, Chief Inspector Les Fletcher, makes it very clear it’s out of her jurisdiction. Then the thirty-year-old remains of a woman are found in the attic of an abandoned house, the victim dying in similar circumstances to Elena Zoric. But Archer's North London colleagues have bigger priorities than the murder of 'a drugged-up prostitute.Archer needs answers. Who killed Elena? Why did she call Archer moments from her death? And what rules must she break to stop a killer in his tracks. Overall David Fennell’s A Violent Heart stands out as a superb entry in the DI Grace Archer series, masterfully combining edge-of-your-seat suspense, deeply layered characters, and a meticulously crafted plot. I would like to say a big thank you to writer David Fennell, and Publishers Bonnier and Zaffre Books, for kindly letting me read and review this brilliant book on netgalley. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

As a fan of the three previous books in this series, I was excited to see where the story would go next.
And I did like that this was a bit of a departure from the previous stories.
It maybe lacked a bit of the creepy atmosphere that the last three books had but it still had me on the edge of my seat throughout.
I also appreciated seeing Grace continue to grow and mature.
Whether you're a fan of David Fennell's previous work or are looking for an absorbing thriller based on a serial killer case, I would definitely recommend picking up A Violent Heart.
I also can't wait to see what the author does next and where the series continues to go.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The skeletal remains of a young woman are discovered in an empty house shortly after a sex worker is brutally murdered. Both women appear to have been killed in the same way, with a bolt gun. Is there a link between the murders which took place thirty years apart?

A Violent Heart by David Fennell is book 4 in the DI Grace Archer series. The first three books in the series, especially the first one, are terrifying. Book 4 sees a re-set as Grace's nemesis no longer features. A Violent Heart is much more of a police procedural and while the terrifying element doesn't feature, the method of killing used throughout the story is a chilling one.

Grace is still coming to terms with the changes in her life, thankfully she still has the stability of work to help her get through. Unfortunately being forced to work with another team, alongside some changes in management means that Grace has to deal with outdated and misogynistic officers. You can feel her gritting her teeth as office politics rear their head. Initially, it is a case of who you know, rather than what you know and we discover that not everyone is as dedicated to the job as Grace, Harry and the rest of the team.

The murder that kick-starts the investigation is very personal to Grace as the victim is a sex worker who helped the police previously. The discovery of thirty-year-old skeletal remains hints at a link between the murders, and even points quickly to a suspect. A third, and then a fourth, unsolved murder all point towards a serial killer who has been at work for years and never identified. I could feel the growing anger from Grace, the outrage that the victims weren't considered important because they were addicts or sex workers. She also begins to wonder how many more victims there may be, especially as the ones she knows about are spread across the country.

A new case in Berwick forces Grace to leave London and confront the office politics that have been hampering the investigation. The lives of people close to the investigation are in peril as there is a frantic race to uncover the killer.

I'll admit I do miss the creepy, terrifying and atmospheric tone of the first three books in the series, but I also enjoyed the more mature side of Grace, a woman who is beginning to accept that she has a right to happiness. Grace is still haunted by events in her past, things that make her empathetic towards the victims she seeks justice for. I am sure that when the time is right David Fennell will use Grace's trauma to dial up the macabre, until then I'm more than happy with the direction the series is taking.