Cara Hunter is one of those authors whose books I pick up without even reading the blurb, and she has yet to disappoint me. As all her other books I enjoyed reading Making A Killing, although it’s not my favorite in this series.

Despite plenty of helpful reminders about events and characters from the first book, I occasionally struggled to recall some key details, even after going back to reread the epilogue of Close to Home. For this reason, I don’t think Making A Killing works well as a standalone novel—I’d strongly recommend reading Close to Home first to fully appreciate the story.

As with Hunter’s other books, this one is written in her signature original style, with compelling characters and plenty of twists to maintain the suspense. While Making A Killing wasn’t a standout for me, I’m still eagerly looking forward to more from Cara Hunter, whether it’s a standalone novel or the next installment in the Adam Fawley series.

It seems like it has been a long time since there has been a DCI Adam Fawley novel and it was great to be back with him and the team of familiar characters. Time has passed since the last novel and Cara Hunter cleverly references covid and the changes in the characters lives. Adam gets to work with his team again as a link to a previous case is discovered when evidence from a new murder scene indicates Daisy Mason (close to home) is still alive. The mystery is, where has she been for 8 years and how did she stage a disappearance at 8 years old!! One thing I enjoy about Cara Hunter books is how the chapters of narrative are interspersed with emails, photos, crime scene reports, interviews so it feels like you are investigating the case alongside Fawley and the team. I will wait for my detectives badge!! A great read, thanks!

I don't know if it's just my particular Kindle or if others have this problem, but I find it difficult to read the various 'newspaper reports', 'tv outlines', and other things that are presented in image format. These are always somewhat fractured on my device. Also, some of the text was mangled and repeated several times over. Because of this my reading experience was not as pleasurable as it otherwise would have been and I found it difficult to fully get into the book.

However, it is a great story, well told, with fascinating characters - though there are rather a lot of them to keep track of!

I did find myself having to go back to check and reread bits where I wasn't sure what was happening. All this would probably have been a lot easier had I read the paperback instead of the Kindle version.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

Loved this - great characters and story

It's great to have Adam Fawley and co back and to return to the dreaming spires. At the centre of the story is a case from eight years ago when young Daisy went missing and whose body was never found. Fawley was in charge of the case and Daisy's mum is now serving a sentence. However, new evidence casts doubt on the crime and Adam is brought back. Gripping.

DI Fawley is back again with book 7!

This was an interesting one for me because I found this series by starting at book 3 so while I was reading this one I soon realised it was a follow up from book 1. Although I hadn’t started at the beginning I could work out what had happened and I still managed to read along quickly.

There were lots of police in this one and for me was a little tricky to work out who was who. The storyline was good though, the book also had chapters which included emails, reports and pictures which made nice extras.

Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC of this ebook in exchange for my honest review.

Cara Hunter delivers yet another gripping thriller with Making a Killing, the latest instalment in the DCI Adam Fawley series. True to form, Hunter masterfully weaves together a complex narrative, blending cold-case intrigue with fresh horrors.

The story revolves around a reopened investigation into the 2016 murder of an eight-year-old girl in Oxford, a case DCI Fawley himself once handled. When new evidence comes to light via a sensational true-crime show, Infamous, the case is thrust back into the spotlight. The discovery of a bound and buried woman’s body raises chilling questions: could the crimes be connected, and did the original investigation miss vital clues?

Hunter excels at building suspense and layering twists, ensuring readers are never certain of where the story will lead. The integration of media, through the lens of the true-crime show, adds a modern and dynamic dimension to the narrative, reflecting society’s fascination with high-profile cases.

Fawley’s connection to the case deepens the emotional stakes. The weight of past mistakes and the quest for redemption add a human element to the procedural aspects of the story. The plot's intricate details and shifting timelines are handled with finesse, keeping readers engaged while maintaining clarity.

As always, Hunter’s writing is sharp, and her characters are well-developed, with believable motives and emotional depth. The ending is both satisfying and tantalizing, leaving enough unanswered to eagerly anticipate the next instalment.

Making a Killing is a must-read for fans of the Adam Fawley series and anyone who loves a tightly plotted, emotionally-charged crime thriller. Cara Hunter proves once again why she is a standout voice in the genre.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

Absolutely amazing! I've followed this series for years so always have high expectations and one again, this surpassed them! The characters are familiar but still evolving and showing growth so they're not stale. The plot is original and not just a version of a previous installment in the series. The twists are as amazing as ever! I love how the writing style was a bit different from some of the other books and starts with the journal entries which make you so invested from the start! It certainly opens woth a bang and the pa e doesn't let up until the last page. A must read! As I said, I have been reading the entire series over the years but this could just as easily be read as a standalone as there's enough backstory to give any context needed

Cara Hunter once again proves her mastery of the police procedural genre in Making a Killing, the thrilling seventh installment in the DI Adam Fawley series. Picking up almost six years after Hope to Die and revisiting the infamous Daisy Mason case from Close to Home, Hunter crafts a fast-paced and twist-laden narrative that keeps readers guessing until the very last page.

The story kicks off with journalist Nick Vincent, host of Infamous, uncovering new evidence in Daisy’s case—evidence that coincides with her DNA being found at a recent crime scene. This startling revelation forces Fawley and his team to confront past decisions while investigating a gruesome new murder. Collaborating with South Mercia police, they delve into a web of deceit, betrayal, and haunting family secrets.

Hunter’s interactive storytelling is a highlight, seamlessly blending traditional prose with media snippets like news articles, Wikipedia entries, emails, and Daisy’s chilling shadow journal. This immersive style brings the case to life, making it feel as though the reader is piecing together evidence alongside the team.

While the focus on DI Fawley’s personal life is more subdued in this book, his love for his wife and daughter provides a tender counterbalance to the dark themes. Longtime fans will appreciate the updates on familiar team members, though the addition of numerous new characters may be a challenge to track at times.

The pacing is impeccable, with twists that leave you breathless and an open-ended conclusion that begs for another installment. Whether you're a newcomer or a seasoned follower of the series, Making a Killing delivers an engrossing and emotionally charged experience.

A heartfelt thank you to HarperCollins UK and NetGalley for the ARC. As always, all opinions expressed are my own.

I have read the previous books in the Adam Fawley series and loved them. Cara is a superb author who really takes you into the story and the characters. I liked the idea of introducing all the characters at the start as this would help those who have not read the previous books but it also reminded me about some of the characters that I had forgotten from before. This was truly a stand alone book or one that could be read as part of a series.
Daisy is 8 years old and missing her mother is convicted of her murder, even though body was ever found. Some 18 years later DNA evidence turns up that shows that Daisy did not die and the search for her begins. It is a very twisty story with an unexpected ending. I would suggest that it would be easier to read in paper format as the newspaper articles were not easy to read on my kindle, I have to say that this did not take anything away from my enjoyment of this great story.

I think this series is better read as an actual book because some of the pictures don't show up well on a kindle.
I was a bit wary starting this book as it's been some years since the last installment however I needn't have worried as it was written in a way that refreshed your memory of things. A bit disappointed with the ending but a great read.

I loved this twisted thriller about a suspected murdered child whose DNA is found on the body of an unknown female. As they discover the presumed dead child must have been alive at least until recently the old investigation team are brought back in to work out what happened and how they ended up convicting the child’s mother if she did not get killed. If she has been alive all this time who helped her back then to stay hidden and how was her mother framed for the crime also what is the link and who is the dead body. This is a great page turner which I could not put down!

Brilliant twisted story that you won't want to put down.
Did the mum kill her 8 year old daughter? She is sentenced for it. However a body found 8 yrs later has a link to the first.
Definitely recommend.
Thank you netgally for the arc of this book in exchange for my honest review

I have read Cara's books earlier and loved them. This one proves why again. Liked the element of the previous case and the linking today. The introduction in the beginning helps refresh the characters. It was quite an engrossing read that kept me hooked. Definitely recommend!

Thank you HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction, Hemlock Press and NetGalley for this e-arc in exchange of my unbiased review.

A wonderful twisted story that will make you turn the pages compulsively.
An eight year old girl is killed by her mother. All the evidence is circumstantial but a life sentence is handed down.
A body is found 8 years later that has DNA to link to the first murder.
Two murder investigations are running with overlaps, the original team with new additions.
A story that I really enjoyed

A case that Adam Fawley thought he had solved 8 years previously has to be reopened as DNA places the victim at a recent scene. Liasing with a police department from the next county Adam tries to discover what happened to Daisy Mason.
I'll admit, I haven't read any of this series before but there is a list of the characters at the beginning which definitely helped. I also liked the inclusion of newspaper articles and social media posts during the book.
Overall I enjoyed the novel, it kept me enthralled throughout

ARC review - 4,5 ⭐️
Publication date: 13 February 2025

“Making a Killing” is the 7th book in the DI Adam Fawley series. I did not know that when I received the ARC so of course I read the other 6 books first.
This is highly recommended, especially since this book is a continuation of the Daisy Mason case from the first book.

Recommend reading order with my rating:
1. Close to Home - Daisy Mason case - 5 ⭐️
2. In the Dark - 4⭐️
3. No Way Out - 4,5 ⭐️
4. All the Rage - 4,5 ⭐️
5. The Whole Truth - 5 ⭐️ (my favorite)
6. Hope to Die - 4,5 ⭐️
7. Murder in the Family - 4 ⭐️ (standalone, but it has a few connections with the series)
8. Making a Killing - 4,5 ⭐️

The plot takes place almost 6 years after Hope to Die.
I like that the book starts with updated information about the team, on a personal and professional level.

Journalist Nick Vincent, the host of Infamous, the true crime show from Murder in the Family, finds new evidence about the Daisy Mason case and wants to film a new season about it. Police also found her DNA at a crime scene.

The story has multiple locations and a lot of new characters that were a bit hard to follow. Still, Adam Fawley’s team is involved and they collaborate with South Mercia police.

I love that Cara Hunter’s books are interactive. This book includees news articles, wikipedia entries, police reports, e-mails, pictures and a shadow journal through which we learn more about Daisy.

Even if in this book we do not have as much insight in the personal life of the other team members, I like the glimpse we get in Adam’s life. The love he has for his wife and daughter is a sunshine in the dark and they deserve to be happy.

The story has a fast pace, many twists, suspense and the ending is open. I hope we get another book in the series, because I need to know what happens next.

Thank you HarperCollins UK and Netgalley for the ARC. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I have read all of Cara Hunter’s previous books and loved them, so I was delighted to be lucky enough to receive a copy of Making a Killing to review, the latest in the Adam Fawley series.
This book returns to the Daisy Mason case, whose mother was convicted of her murder in book 1. New evidence emerges that suggests Daisy is still alive so Fawley and his team must try to find out what has happened to her whilst also attempting to solve a new murder.
The pace of this book is perfect. Just when you think you’ve got a grip on where the story is headed, the direction changes and you’re left guessing again.
For me, it was very much a “Just one more chapter…” read. This is a perfect example of a police procedural in my eyes.
Thank you to Harper Collins and Netgalley for the advance copy in return for my honest review

As a fan of Cara Hunter,, I was delighted to receive a review copy of the latest book in the DI Adam Fawley series. This story revisits the story of Daisy Mason whose mother was convicted of her murder in book 1. Now evidence emerges that suggests Daisy is still alive and the team must try to find her whilst also attempting to solve a new murder.. As the story unfolds, we learn Daisy's story and those of people close to her. The suspense racks up until it reaches a shocking climax that cleverly manages to create a satisfactory ending whilst leaving a question mark which is sure to carry over to subsequent episodes in the series. This is the best kind of procedural crime fiction with plenty of psychological insights into the characters, both police and suspects. Thanks to Harper Collins and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read such a well-crafted story.

A few years ago, I came across a thriller called "Close to Home" by Cara Hunter in my local bookshop and, thinking the storyline sounded interesting, I decided to buy the book. I didn't know back then, that Cara Hunter would become one of my favourite authors and that I would eagerly await each new book,whether part of the DI Adam Frawley series, or a standalone.
The author commences the novel with a brief intro to the team, which is an inventive idea and one that I would love to see other authors adopt as this makes it easier for new readers to follow the series and also serves as a handy reminder for fans.
"Making A Killing" is the seventh novel in the series, and this time around, Hunter has opted to return to one of her most popular storylines - the case of Daisy Mason from "Close to Home". While it's not necessary to have read the earlier work in order to read this upcoming book, I decided to indulge myself my re-reading the first book and choose the -eaudiobook book, with the fantastic narration provided by Emma Cunniffe and Lee Ingleby, bringing the characters to life.
In Making A Killing, Frawley and his team, must face the shocking reality that they made a terrible mistake 8 years earlier and that Daisy and Kate are now responsible for a vicious murder. They must both track down the duo, and also determine, if they are really working together, or preparing to betray each other.
The storyline moves at a cracking pace and I love how Hunter has included her trademark elements such as comments from social media, interview transcripts, reports etc. This adds an extra element to the storyline, showing the reader that the case is perceived in the wider community and also where the ideas of the team are being directed.
Hunter has a knack for developing a twist and it's impossible for me to tell where the storyline is going. Each story is completely different but equally entertaining and I always look forward with excitement to her latest novel.