This was my first book in the DCI Fawley series, I loved Murder in the Family and similarly, I found this one super gripping and hard to put down.

I really liked the range of characters and unexpected and unpredictable twists in this story, and found it an easy binge listen but that was because of the story rather than the narration so would probably recommend reading the physical version over the audio! Reading this book has convinced this series commitment-phobe to pick up the rest of Cara Hunter's collection!

OMG binge listening high quality audio. I have so missed the team and it was so good to reconnect with them and see how they had moved on and could yet still work together to solve crime. This didn't feel the length it was. The narration was engaging and spot on. I was able to distinguish between the characters. I was very sad when it ended, please let there be more to this team. The actual plot was so entertaining linking a past crime that was felt solved and a current discovery of a body was captivating. There were so many twists and turns and when i thought i knew who did it and who each person was i was thrown again. I cant recommend this enough, it had me listening long into the night. Thank you so much netgallery, publisher, narrator and author for this absolute cracker.

I was really looking forward to this sequel that I hoped would fix the unconvincing lolita-esk ending and give us a realistic exploration of child kidnaping/grooming.

Instead we get an increasing amount of bad psychology (which, as someone in the field, is literally painful) before a breadcrumb of realism right at the very very end

If you put that to one side, an enjoyable read, and it's not put me off the author.

*Making a Killing* by Cara Hunter is a gripping addition to the DI Adam Fawley series. The story delves into a cold case involving the disappearance of an eight-year-old girl, Daisy Mason, whose mother was convicted of her murder years ago. When new evidence emerges, Fawley and his team must confront past mistakes and unravel a complex web of secrets. Hunter's storytelling is masterful, blending suspense, emotional depth, and intricate character dynamics. The narrative is enriched by clever formats like newspaper articles and journals, immersing readers in the investigation. This novel is a compelling exploration of justice, truth, and redemption.

This is book 7 in the DCI Adam Fawley series. Im a fan of Cara Hunter and this series. I loved the run down at the beginning of who’s who and where they are now just to give you a recap. I found the blurb intriguing but the format just did not work for me. A big part of the book is made up of emails, typed conversations, and notes with abbreviations of names etc which made listening very confusing and hard to follow. I found I was loosing track of what was happening and just loosing interest in the story to the point I was bored. I can’t say I was overly fond of any of the newer characters but still love the OG’s. Unfortunately this one just didn’t work for me.

Thanks to Netgalley and Harper Collins UK Audio for the opportunity to listen and review #MakingAKilling

I thoroughly enjoyed this. It's my first Adam Fawley book, and in retrospect maybe I should have started at the beginning. But I don't think it will matter, I am now a fan.

This is a good old-fashioned police procedural / detective, which I love. Adam, Alex and Lily-Rose are great characters, Daisy is fascinating, wicked and devious, and the remaining cast are well-rounded and relatable, from the good to the bad (and there are quite a few of both types here).

I enjoyed the narration and am curious to read more about them. I also enjoyed the history of the area, and the descriptions of the landmarks. I even went and looked up Scold's Bridle (shudder). Quite upsetting.

A healthy 4 stars, I look forward to more.

As a fan of Cara Hunter’s Adam Fawley series, I was excited to dive into Making a Killing, the seventh installment of the series. If you’re new to the series—don’t worry! Hunter does a solid job of giving you a character rundown at the start, which is super helpful (especially if you’re like me and tend to forget who’s who in long-running series).

Now, I listened to this one as an audiobook, and while the narration by Emma Cunniffe, Lee Ingleby, David Blair, and Alexandra Boulton was fantastic, the format just did not work for me. A big chunk of the book is made up of emails, typed conversations, and notes filled with abbreviations like “ffs” (which, let’s be honest, is fine to read but really awkward to hear out loud). It was confusing, hard to follow, and honestly, it kind of took me out of the story. I kept losing track of who was speaking and what was going on—definitely frustrating. I think this book is probably much better in print or ebook format.

As for the characters, I really liked Adam Fawley, especially his relationship with his daughter—it added a nice personal touch. But there were so many detectives working on this case that it became overwhelming. I get that in real life, investigations involve a whole team, but in fiction, it just felt cluttered and made it even harder to keep up (especially with the audiobook format).

Overall, I don’t think this is a bad book—it just wasn’t the right format for me. If you’re planning to check it out, I’d recommend picking up the physical or digital version instead of the audiobook. That way, you won’t get lost in the endless stream of email exchanges and case notes.

Many thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollings UK Audio for the audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

I was really excited to hear/ read Cara Hunters return to DCI Fawley as it’s been a long while since the last story and this one follows on from the first story and eight years on from the mystery of Daisy Masons disappearance from a party held at her parents home, her body has never been found but she is presumed dead, and as much as I enjoyed it I found the ending really disappointing, so much so I actually missed the ending listening to the audio book and I had to go back 30 minutes to try and make sense of it, that said the narrators were great.

🎧Audiobook Review🎧

#adprproduct

I want to thank Netgalley for approving me for the ALC of this book.

This book is part of a series but it can be read as a standalone (which is what I did). When evidence found from a murder scene is linked to an old case DI Fawley and the team have to start their investigation again.

I enjoyed listening to this one and got through the audio very quickly. I love cold case stories so this was right up my street. There were a few twists and turns along the way and we were left with a bit of a cliffhanger. However I did find the ending felt a little flat.

🌟🌟🌟🌟

Synopsis-In 2016, eight-year-old Daisy Mason vanished from her Oxford home.
Her disappearance made the national press and the final culprit shocked everyone. DCI Adam Fawley remembers the case well, he arrested Daisy’s mother for murder himself.
But her body was never found.
Now, forensic evidence at a current murder scene calls the whole case into question. DCI Adam Fawley and the team are brought back in to investigate. And they all have one question on their minds.
What really happened to Daisy Mason?



My thoughts …


There’s nothing quite like diving back into the world of DCI Fawley and his team, and what a case to return to—Daisy Mason’s disappearance is the kind of mystery that keeps you turning the pages.

The way the story is told is clever—mixing in everything from WhatsApp messages to newspaper clippings. I Love when an author plays with format like that; it makes you feel like you’re part of the investigation, piecing things together alongside the detectives. And then you throw in Daisy’s own voice plus the psychological depth from Carl Jung’s theories? That’s adds an extra layer of intrigue.

The plot DNA twists, wrongful imprisonment, a tangled web of police forces… so much to unpack. The mix of new characters-gets a little confusing, but the police procedural element is strong.

As for Daisy herself—what a question! Is she a master manipulator or a victim of something bigger? That moral ambiguity makes for the best kind of thriller, where you’re second-guessing everyone right until the end. And speaking of the ending… “some loose ends, some questions”—frustrating or utterly brilliant. A great read !

A welcome follow-up to 'Close to Home' where 8-year-old Daisy Mason disappeared from her parents' home. Her was convicted of her murder despite no body being found. Now 8 years later Daisy's DNA is found on a recent murder victim. Can DCI Adam Fawley correct his past mistake? A clever plot with a fabulous ending. Great narrators.

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.
Now, a few weeks ago, I was very fortunate to receive an ARC of the digital book which I loved and since, then I've received a copy of the e-audiobook which is also fantastic, with the narration provided by Emma Cunniffe and Lee Ingleby, bringing the characters to life.
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.
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.

Making a Killing boasts the superb return of a much loved detective inspector - Adam Fawley. He is called back to an old case, which was the missing and presumed dead 8 year old Daisy Mason. Her mother is serving a life sentence for the crime, but a body was never found. In Making a Killing, a body of a woman is found, with hair from Daisy, which could only have been placed there i recent times. Could Daisy still be alive 8 years on from her disappearance? The case is reopened alongside the current case with detectives from both units on board. The format cleverly uses excerpts from case notes, profile pages, interviews and calls to relay the story. This translates well for the most part in the audiobook version - pictorial references are missed, but it does work well with the media links. The audiobook is a lengthy 12 hours, but the parallel cases, myriad persons, and plot reveals hold attention. There are clever links to other books like Murder in the Family and the podcast that will please fans of the series. You could read or listen as a standalone as you are given the bones of the first case, but you would be missing out on such a fab series! I enjoyed the audiobook and will also pick up a printed copy. #makingakilling #carahunter #netgalley

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

Haven’t read an ARC in a while or used NetGalley recently so when I was scrolling through what was available to request and saw the new Cara Hunter it was an immediate request!
I’ve been waiting for a new release from her for ages! And was so happy to see it was another DI Fawley instalment!

Making a Killing takes place 6 years after the last book and revisits one of the previous books cases, based on Daisy, an 8yr old who went missing and was believed to be murdered by her mother - despite no body being found and her mother who was sentenced by a jury, has been proclaiming her innocence for the past 7-8yrs and it might be time to start listening as a match for Daisy’s DNA has been found in a current murder case, and provides proof she’s been alive all this time.

Considering it’s been 8yrs since the original Daisy case, I was surprised how much I remembered but very much enjoyed that it did end up being the theory I had at the time!
It definitely answered questions that were left and didn’t seem right for a DI Fawley case when we know he likes Eve tided up. A great follow up story and so glad to have the series continue in general!
Really enjoyed and devoured the audiobook within 24hrs! My only struggle was with all of the emails and texts etc - that was more of a challenge to take in but great narration from all the voice actors and loved it was a full ensemble!

Overall, really enjoyed and would absolutely recommend reading the whole series if you haven’t already - at least the previous Daisy case book!
Was very intrigued by the end - especially the twist- which definitely suggests where the next book will be going! Very excited for more and really hope we don’t have to wait as long for the next book!

4.5 stars rounded down

An absolute gem of a thriller that will keep you guessing until the final page.
Loved the Oxford and Finstock references and this tale is beautifully thought out, well paced and difficult to put down, or switch off for the audio book version.
Colourful characters and a shocking story that leaves you chilled and slightly horrified by the complexities of the human psyche.
Utterly brilliant and perfectly narrated, I highly recommend this book/audiobook without a shred of hesitation.

This was my fifth book of Cara Hunter’s and from the DI Adam Fawley series that I have read. Although this book is number seven in the series but I was really excited to review Cara’s new book. I loved how this book was a sequel to Cara’s first book Close to Home and the Daisy Mason case.

I really like how the book was laid out with all the relevant information about the case and everyone involved- it made me feel like part of the investigation as I tried to solve the case myself. There were parts that left me feeling stumped and I really enjoyed the ending.

I can’t wait for book eight but while I wait I look forward to catching up on book five and six.

I really enjoyed this book. It wasn’t super twisty but there were a couple of surprises along the way. The drawback for me that there weren’t any particularly likeable characters. I also felt that elements of the book didn’t lend themselves well to audio. The emails being read out didn’t quite work.

3.75*

I bloody love a Cara Hunter takes on Fawley and the team story, but I sadly found that I was pre-guessing lots of details and felt the detectives weren’t quite living up to their previous ingenious.

Daisy is a little minx though, so loved revisiting her brain!

I’ve been luck to listen to the audiobook from NetGalley and it was very well read as all the DI Fawley series has been.

I have loved all the books however for me this one wasn’t as good as the others.

I enjoyed the story and was gripped all along, enjoying the twists and revelations as they unfolded.

I did feel slightly disappointed with an abrupt ending but overall was engrossed by this book.

Making A Killing by Cara Hunter. This is the seventh in the DI Adam Fawley series. I haven’t read any of the previous books and absolutely loved this one.

At the beginning of the book the narrator gives a run down of the various characters so you feel like you know them by the time the story starts. I loved that there were 4 different narrators.

It’s the summer of 2024 and a true crime producer gets a new angle on a high-profile case from 2016 – the case of Daisy Mason. He sends one of his researchers to Oxford to investigate.

A dog walker finds the body of a young woman who was tied and buried in a shallow grave in the woods. The DNA result from a hair trapped on the duct tape wrapped around the body, is that it belongs to the murdered 8-year-old girl, Daisy. Although the girl’s body was never found, due to forensic evidence, her mother was tried and imprisoned for her murder.

The original investigating officer, Adam Fawley, is called in again to go over his case. Where did they go wrong in the investigation? How could an 8-year-old just disappear? Could Daisy, who would now be 16, still be alive?

An absolute roller coaster of a book.

Shared to GoodReads and Bookstagram - unable to link here