Cara Hunter is one of my favourite crime thriller authors and I was delighted to receive an arc of Making a Killing, the latest in the Adam Fawley series. The story revisits an old case from several years previously and the team reunite along with some new faces. I raced through the novel, intrigued by the characters and the twisting narrative. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher turn this highly enjoyable read.

Cara Hunter is an incredible author! This book is astonishingly creative in terms of plot. If you read book one, I bet you could never have come up with the ideas for this sequel. I suspect another book will continue the threads from here.

I find it amazing that any author can produce so many well developed characters in one book. Each person could easily command a book as the main character. That is quite a skill in itself. It is helpful, though, to have a recap at the start to remind you of each person in the investigating team.

In terms of being a police procedural style book I felt that it was very realistic and I do love Adam Fawley's leadership style. He is humble snd supportive to all his colleagues even if they do not share the same thought processes on solving a crime.

Yet again - hats off to the author. Thoroughly recommend the book. Although it is a sequel it is not essential to have read the first novel.

I was really excited to be given the opportunity to read an ARC of Cara Hunter's Making a Killing the seventh book in the Adam Fawley series.
Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy this book as much as the previous six in the series which were all five ⭐️ reads for me. I didn't particularly like the format of this book.
Making a Killing revisits the Daisy Mason case from book one Close to Home. Daisy was 8 years old in this book and went missing presumed dead. Her mother Sharon was convicted of her murder. Fast forward 8 years when in this book a body is discovered and some of Daisy's DNA is discovered at the scene.
Thanks to NetGalley, Hemlock Press and Cara Hunter for the opportunity to read and review Making a Kllling.

Thanks to Cara and NetGalley for allowing me to read Making a Killing before the publication date.
Although this book is a follow on to an earlier book which I had not read, that did not spoil my enjoyment of reading it. It starts quite slowly before gathering momentum and becomes a chilling page turner.

Cara continues to use some unusual and very effective techniques in her writing.
The inclusion of character summaries for the police team helps both new and returning readers to become familiar with them. (Cara’s stories are very much about teams and not the lone wolf detective and a loyal sidekick variety).

Starting with a trail of email conversations, Nick Vincent, a ruthless producer with Dry Riser Films, discusses the potential for an investigative report into the Daisy Mason story.
Extracts from the newspaper reports at the time are very effective in summarising the story and the media frenzy surrounding the case.

A “self help” app called a Shadow Journal, based on the concepts of Carl Jung, has been used as a method of characterising the individual who is using the app. Their responses to the questions posed in the app leave the reader in little doubt about the danger this person presents.

Phone conversations/interviews are transcribed, giving a sense of the pauses involved.

With the secrets, lies and red herrings, this book would make an excellent drama.

Thanks to the publishers and net galley for an advanced copy in exchange for a review. This is a mixed media thriller that follows on from a previous book which I haven’t read. The book is following up on Daisy who went missing as an 8 year old who was thought to have been murdered by her mum who is still serving time in prison. When another body is found and daisys hair is found at the crime scene the race is on to discover what really happened and if she is still alive is she now a murdered. The book was ok however didn’t really grab my attention. I did like the mixed media aspect but felt the journelling part didn’t really truly represent how a 16 year old would really write etc

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.

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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