After the success of the ‘Who Killed Luke Ryder?’ episode of the ‘Infamous’ TV show the producer, Nick Vincent, is looking for another hit. So, he’s more than happy when Kelsie Smith contacts him out of the blue with a story idea based on the notorious Daisy Mason case. The 8 year old’s body was never found and her mother, Sharon, is serving a life sentence for her murder. But she has always protested her innocence. Kelsie claims to have new evidence and Nick is hooked.
An inquisitive labrador, Flynn, is out with his owner in the Cotswolds when he digs up more than a bone. Speculation is soon rife that it could be the body of missing student, Ellie Harben. Forensics find a piece of metal wedged in the body’s mouth which is a reminder that it’s been found near the Crone Oak where, in the 1950’s, a group of children found a 300 year old skeleton wedged inside a tree. It was wearing a scold’s bridle and had starved to death. It is soon assumed that it must have been a local who buried the body because of the oak. And then, a single red hair is found and its that shouldn’t be there. It belongs to someone who’s been assumed to be dead for the last eight years.
DI Adam Fawley is taken off his counter terrorism secondment to Counter Terrorism and is told to reexamine the original investigation and to also look for a murderer. He and his team discover a labyrinthine web of a toxic family, an arch manipulator and a gullible, well meaning woman who was about to outlive her usefulness.
The story is told through a variety of media such as a journal, Wikipedia articles, newspaper articles and photos, which gives the reader information without the need for infodumps or long conversations. It really felt interactive. This technique has worked well in previous Cara Hunter books. And of course the book has her fiendish plotting! It twists and turns and nothing is what it seems. I love reading her books as I know I’ll be in for a rollercoaster ride. Absolutely unputdownable as new revelations keep coming.
However, I had problems with the formatting of the Kindle edition. One page was repeated three times, paragraphs were repeated in different fonts in other sections and the photos were hard to see as sections were spread over different pages.
This could almost be a stand alone and I am already looking forward to the next book by Cara Hunter!
My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC!

Cara Hunter is my 2nd favourite crime writer (just behind Val McDermid) and Making A Killing didn't disappoint. The storyline is the follow-up to Close to Home in which eight year old Daisy Mason goes missing. Adam Fawley and his team do everything they can to find her but sadly her body is never found and her mother is sentenced to life on circumstantial evidence. Making A Killing is set eight years later when a body is found in the same town and one of Daisy's hairs is identified by forensics! But is she really still alive? Hunter never fails to impress with the pacing of the storyline. She writes great page-turners and I love that the team are usually the same characters. I was delighted Ev was promoted and Quinn had found his way to being a decent bloke (thanks to marriage). I can see what this team looks like and so I always look forward to the next one. I hope Cara doesn't ONLY do stand alones in the future - she's got a massive Fawley Team fan club out there...we'd be devastated!

I was super lucky to get an ARC of the latest in the DI Fawley books from one of my all time favourite authors and Oh My Goodness 😱🤯 I had no idea there would be another one but I am so pleased @carahunterauthor decided to write another! I can’t reveal too much without giving away HUGE SPOILERS but this is one to be read for sure!

I love how it kept you guessing what happened till the end, I thought I had it figured out numerous times and even the references to the previous books changed my mind about those too! Very clever!

A huge thank you to @carahunterauthor , @netgalley and @harpercollinsuk for the ARC … roll on the next one!

Making a Killing by Cara Hunter is a gripping, atmospheric thriller that drew me in from the first page, and it has left me eager to read more of her work. This is the first book of Hunter’s that I’ve read—though I’ve had Murder in the Family on my TBR list for a while—and it certainly won’t be the last.

One of the standout aspects of Making a Killing is Hunter's distinctive writing style, which kept me hooked throughout the novel. Her writing is sharp and immersive, with an ability to balance tension with compelling character development. It reminded me somewhat of Catherine Ryan Howard's storytelling, particularly in the way it weaves in cultural and regional elements—there’s a subtle Irish influence that enriches the narrative and gives it a unique flavour.

I wasn't aware when starting Making a Killing that it was part of a series, and, in hindsight, I think I’d have benefited from reading the previous books first, especially since a significant storyline from book two plays a key role here. That said, this didn’t detract from the enjoyment of the book itself. The story works well as a stand-alone, though I did feel a bit lost in parts when certain characters and plotlines from the previous book resurfaced. This was mostly a minor inconvenience, though, and didn’t overshadow the overall experience.

What truly set this book apart for me were the newspaper articles interspersed throughout the narrative. They offered a clever and quirky way to reveal information, breaking up the traditional narrative structure and adding depth to the unfolding mystery. This technique kept the pace fresh and engaging, giving the reader multiple perspectives and adding layers to the investigation.

There is, however, a rather large cast of characters in Making a Killing, and at times, it felt a bit overwhelming trying to keep track of everyone. While each character plays a role in the story, the sheer number of them can become confusing, particularly when some characters have only minor but pivotal appearances. This might be more of a challenge for readers new to the series who aren't familiar with the relationships from earlier books.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed Making a Killing and will definitely be adding Cara Hunter’s other books to my reading list. Her ability to blend suspense, character development, and innovative storytelling makes her a stand-out author in the crime thriller genre. If you're a fan of dark, twisty mysteries and creative narrative structures, this book is well worth picking up.

Delighted to be back with Adam Fawley and his team - possibly the most multi-faceted bunch in crime fiction land. I love how Cara Hunter constantly innovates and is creative with format. ‘Making a Killing’ is an ambitious undertaking, as it revisits an old case from a previous book. You don't have to re-read the first Daisy Mason case because there are plenty of recaps scattered throughout the narrative to keep us up to speed. This one also ended on quite the cliffhanger, so I'm looking forward to perhaps some further exploration of that in future. Overall, a very engaging read.

I did find ithis book a bit confusing at times and I’m not a huge fan of the ambiguous ending - but it was very entertaining and readable - except the newspaper clippings didn’t work on my kindle and some of the text was repeated and confusing. Hopefully that will be sorted out before the book’s release. Despite these issues, I didn’t want to give up and I enjoyed it.

Rating: 3.8/5

Although this is the seventh book in the Adam Fawley series, I have only read the three most recent of them. I have commented previously on my admiration for Cara Hunter for not only writing the best examples of police procedurals I have come across, but also for making an established series accessible to new readers who are arriving late to the party.

The author achieves this latter point by including a background précis of the central characters at the start of the book, which shows wonderful practical consideration for her audience. In terms of writing such impressive forms of the police procedural genre, Cara Hunter also makes great use of some literary / publishing mechanics that really embellish and enhance the overall impact of the book. In contrast to most types of fiction, I feel that police procedurals often work better as televisual dramatisations rather than on the printed page. Cara Hunter has found a way to present her work in a way that comes close to offering the best of both worlds. I have no doubt that this series would translate extremely well onto the small screen, but even in book form it offers a enjoyably immersive experience to the reader.

Having heaped such fully desrved praise on the writer, I do have to say that, although it is still very good, "Making a Killing" is my least favourite of the three Fawley novels I have read and I think there is a combination of factors that led to that. Firstly, this particular plot picks up on a case first investigated in the series opener, "Close to Home", which I haven't read. Although Cara Hunter is very good at accommodating new readers of the series, there were elements I felt I was missing out on to a degree as a result of not being familiar with that first book. Secondly, I don't think the pacing of the story was quite up to the author's usual impecceable standard. I have lauded her in the past for being practically faultless with regards to the pace of the narrative, with some sections being somewhat more considered - but only when it is appropriate for them to be so - combined with other occasions when I was left almost breathless as events briskly unfurled. This time around, I felt there were too many occasions when the procedural aspects of the story stimied matters a little too much. Thirdly, although, this is more of an observation rather than necessarily being a criticism, there was less focus on the central character of Adam Fawley. This may bother other readers more than it did me. All of the books in this series show good, in-depth characterisation and the reader is encouraged to become intimately familiar with other members of Fawley's team, rather than just with him as an individual. In "Making a Killing" there is increased focus on those other players, but it could well be argued that this approach is far more representative of reality.

Overall, "Making a Killing" is another fine example of how to write a modern police procedural and, while this may not be my personal favourite, there is no doubt I will be back for more.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for supplying an ARC in return for an honest review.

I will always run to read any Cara Hunter books, especially when they involve Adam Fawley and his team. I love that Making a Killing picked Daisy's case back up, especially when the first book was left on such a cliffhanger - and it was one of my favourites!

I'm always grateful that Cara goes to the effort of reminding the reader who everyone is as there are a lot of (very strong) characters to remember. Logistically and realistically, I appreciate that another police team needed to be introduced to make the plot work but it did feel like too many characters and I felt like not enough time was spent on old favourites as a result.

Lots of newspaper clippings, emails, voicemails etc are woven throughout the book as always, an aspect I've always enjoyed about Cara's books as it helps keep the format fresh and exciting. I also thought the Shadow Journal was a really nice touch.

There are also plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader on the feet as Adam and team try to workout what on earth has happened to Daisy. I feel like the ending was resolved rather quickly for my liking but perhaps I was just disappointed the book was over! Another must read from Cara Hunter.

I enjoyed this book, however, I didn’t realise when I requested it that it was part of a series so now I’m going to read all of the others! Looking forward to learning more of the story!

I love the Adam Fawley books by Cara Hunter so was delighted to see her latest book, Making a Killing. This revisits a case from an earlier book Close to Home. Although the background of the key characters are listed at the beginning of the book, it would be an advantage to read some of the earlier books. The mixed media format does not translate well to Kindle, making reading difficult. Also, keeping track of such a large cast of characters detracted from the enjoyment of the story. I look forward to reading the printed version when it is published
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Making a killing by Cara Hunter is the 7th
A woman is found dead in the woods and when they go to identify her, they find a hair on the body that belongs to Daisy Mason. Daisy Mason disappeared 8 years ago, and her mother was convicted of her murder. The team is in shock. If she is not dead than where has she been all these years.
DI Adam Fawley returns to lead the case as in the previous novel to find out what the hell is going on.
This is another great read from Cara Hunter. That I devoured in one sitting I couldn’t put it down. The only qualms I has was the formatting of the book with the newspaper cuttings where a bit all over the place. Otherwise, another great episode in the series. 4 stars from me.

Unfortunately I couldn’t make it past the first few chapters as I found it quite boring. There was no hook and I couldn’t get into it.

have always loved Cara’s books and was so excited to be reunited with Adam Fawley and the team and the familiar towns of Oxford, Newbury etc.The initial character summary was very useful to refresh memory too!
Making a killing was a last faced read that kept you guessing with plenty of twists and turns along the way!
The use of different types of media is one that I like and have enjoyed previously but this format on kindle this time was very glitchy and difficult/impossible to read at times so I did feel that I was missing some vital information at times which was a pity and slightly detracted from the storyline.
Overall a read that I really enjoyed despite the formatting issues and look forward to more from Cara
Thank you NetGalley for this early read

I’m a huge fan of Cara Hunter’s Farley series so I couldn’t wait to delve into the latest instalment. Cara Hunter’s Making a Killing, is the seventh book in the DI Adam Fawley series, revisits the 2016 disappearance of eight-year-old Daisy Mason, whose mother was convicted of her murder despite no body being found. Now, forensic evidence at a current murder scene calls the whole case into question. Fawley and the team are brought back in to investigate.


One of my favourite fictional detectives Fawley, who led the initial case, must confront new forensic evidence and reexamine the past. The narrative is enhanced by its use of multiple formats, such as interviews and media snippets, adding layers of realism to the plot.

The plot twists and turns as new evidence and unexpected revelations come to light, keeping readers guessing until the very end. Making a Killing is a compelling read for fans of crime fiction, offering a blend of psychological intrigue and procedural detail that keeps the tension high from start to finish.

I would recommend buying a physical copy of this book when it’s released in 2025 as some of the media snippets are difficult to read due to the formatting

Welcome back Adam Fawley, I have so missed you!

This is one book you will not want to miss.

Car Hunter revisits the Daisy Mason case, first mentioned in "Close to Home". This story introduced the reader to Adam Fawley and his team. I have always felt there was more to this tale and I devoured "Making a Killing" in one sitting. In fact, as soon as I turned the first page, I was right back at the beginning.

As always, before the main event we have an update on the characters and where they are at now, which I really appreciate.

The police procedural element of this story is second to none. This author is exceptional at bringing her characters to life. Each member of the team is essential to the plot, whether they be good cop, bad cop or even the "get on your nerves" cop. I love how the friendships are still evolving and the little nuggets she drops which I know will be picked up in the next DCI Foley novel.

The twists are stunning and by the time I have reached the ending my imagination was on fire!

Superb!

In this gripping 7th installment of the DI Adam Fawley series, Cara Hunter masterfully revisits the case that started it all: Daisy Mason. Eight years after her mother’s conviction for Daisy’s murder, new DNA evidence surfaces, throwing the verdict - and a whole lot more - into question.

Hunter expertly weaves twists, revelations, and callbacks to her debut while integrating elements from her standalone novel, Murder in the Family, creating a thrilling and interconnected narrative. It’s the crossover I didn’t know I needed!

The narrative structure is immersive, combining emails, transcripts, and journal entries etc. Without traditional chapter breaks, it’s bloody hard to put down.

It was great to reunite with the gang. Hunter seamlessly updates on familiar faces while introducing compelling new characters. The team list at the front, with updates, is a brilliant touch and especially helpful for new readers.

DI Fawley remains a standout protagonist, balancing authority with humanity. Daisy Mason’s eerie journal entries add a chilling psychological depth, and I couldn’t help but compare her to Avery from Everyone Here Is Lying. When Shari Lapena was mentioned, it felt like a sly nod 👏🏻

The story is meticulously crafted, with an open-ended conclusion that invites speculation—and hopefully another sequel 🤞🏻While this could work as a standalone, I highly recommend starting from the beginning to fully appreciate this outstanding series.

I’ve been a fan since book one and am already excited to see what Cara Hunter has in store next.

A huge thanks to NetGalley and Hemlock Press for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

Another brilliant read. In my top 5 writers. This is a follow up to her first Fawley book. You could read as a standalone but I’d suggest reading book 1. I would suggest reading every book she’s written too!
I can see the Daisy character popping up again sooner or later.
Cara Hunter is a genius.

Cara Hunter’s “Murder in the Family” stands as a testament to her prowess as a thriller author, earning its well-deserved five-star rating. This gripping novel is a testament to Hunter’s skill in weaving intricate plots, creating authentic characters, and crafting an atmosphere of unrelenting suspense.

In “Murder in the Family,” Hunter once again proves herself a master of tension and mystery. Hunter’s writing style is immersive, pulling readers into the heart of the investigation and making them feel like active participants in solving the crime.

The strength of the novel lies in Hunter’s ability to meticulously construct a plot that keeps readers guessing until the very end. The carefully placed twists and revelations are delivered with precision, resulting in a narrative that is as unpredictable as it is engrossing. Hunter’s intricate storytelling skills ensure that even seasoned thriller enthusiasts will find themselves captivated.

“Murder in the Family” is a testament to Hunter’s ability to craft an atmosphere of tension that permeates every page. The book’s pacing is well-calibrated, alternating between moments of heart-pounding urgency and poignant introspection. Hunter’s expert manipulation of pacing contributes to the story’s immersive quality.

In conclusion, “Murder in the Family” by Cara Hunter is a gripping and expertly crafted thriller that solidifies her position as a top-tier author in the genre. With its intricate plot, compelling characters, and unrelenting suspense, the novel deserves its five-star rating. If you’re a fan of masterful crime fiction that keeps you on the edge of your seat and craving more, Cara Hunter’s “Murder in the Family” is an exceptional choice.

Well written thriller beginning with a Jane doe murder with some evidence which suggests that a once missing and presumed dead girl is still very much alive. Great story and investigation led by the fabulous Adam fawley

I have not read anything by Cara Hunter before but did not feel at a disadvantage reading this as a stand alone. The storyline was different and the characters were intriguing. I enjoyed the book but I agree with other readers that it was not ideal as a Kindle book. I found the mixed media a little distracting. I would recommend this book and will look out for Cara Hunter in future.