If you haven't read any of the previous Adam Fawley novels, fear not! It's not required. For those of you who have this a terrific new instalment. As ever the mystery at its heart is complex, winding and in this case far reaching, across both counties and countries. Enjoyable for all.

‘Making A Killing’ by Cara Hunter is an addictive, intriguing crime novel starring D.I. Adam Fawley, the protagonist of six previous novels who absolutely doesn’t expect to be drawn back into a case from eight years ago that led to the successful conviction of cold-hearted Sharon Mason for the murder of her 8-year-old daughter Daisy. However, DNA evidence at the scene of a separate crime in Hescombe leads Fawley and his team questioning everything they thought they knew about one of North Oxford’s most compelling and upsetting cases…

I will start by saying that I re-read ‘Close To Home’ - the 2016-set series opener featuring Daisy’s disappearance and THAT explosive ending - specifically before opening this book, and I think it enhanced the experience. Even if you don’t want to read the whole series, I think that the experience of reading this novel is enhanced by feeling connected to the original case, though there is enough background given in dialogue and newspaper cuttings for this to work standalone if needs be. Speaking of which, the author’s actual standalone book - the sensational ‘Murder In The Family’ - and its fictional true crime TV series ‘Infamous’ is referenced more than a few times throughout the chapters, giving a treat to Cara Hunter’s avid fans (me included!)

I read this book in two totally captivated sittings and was breathless as the narrative jumped from location to location, incorporating transcripts, articles and messages alongside prose to really embed the reader in the investigations. The plot was so incredibly clever, and managed to be both shocking and expected given what we know of the characters. I enjoyed (if that’s the right word) the exploration of shadow journaling and revelled in the darkness of the story.

Perhaps a bit more focus on Adam himself wouldn’t have gone amiss, but even so, this was a jam-packed, unputdownable five star read for me! 100% recommended - and despite the mixed media elements, it worked well as an audiobook too, with multiple talented narrators.

Thanks to the publisher for the advance listener copy!

Having only read the first book in this series, I wondered had I made a mistake in requesting the 7th, whilst I’m keen to catch the rest I really needn’t have worried, the author gives an insightful recap of prior events at the beginning of the title, yet actually this also worked really well as a standalone.

I love a police procedural, particularly when there’s a complicated case to solve, and it doesn’t come more complicated than the dna of a girl murdered 8 years ago appearing on a newly murdered victim.

Delivered from multiple perspectives I found this novel to be fresh, bang up to date, whip-smart and with plenty of fresh on the bones of the story. The whole team were easy to get to know, and I’m sorry that I’ve missed the others in the series. A catch up is imminent.

I loved the narration 🎧
Highly recommend.

Huge thanks to HarperCollins U.K. Audio via NetGalley for the opportunity to review this ALC 🎧

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

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

“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.

Also, I listened to the audiobook narrated by Emma Cunniffe, Lee Ingleby, David Blair and Alexandra Boulton. This is a good companion to the book/e-book. I like that there are multiple narrators and listening to the story with the accents helps me immerse in the story. The audiobook also has an exclusive Adam Fawley short story at the end.

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.

FROM THE COVER📖

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?


REVIEW⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
BOOK/ARC OF THE YEAR 2024🏆

Full disclosure, I previously gave this book a review but due to an unreadable arc. I felt my review wasn’t as insightful as it could have been since accessing a fully working arc I am now able to give a full review.

This a stunning and ingenious novel that is complex, immersive, sharp witted, clever, ground-breaking in style ,original, inventive and so 21st Century. I loved everything about this book!!!! A true one of a kind

This instalment of the going ons in Oxford with DCI Fawley and his team takes place six years on from the last, and eight years since Daisy went missing. Cara Hunter and in particular the DI Adam Fawley series have been firm favourites of mine since the beginning so was very interested to see where this follow up on the case would go. This book reflects on first case from book one which has me hooked from the very start, the first book wrapped incredibly well with a brilliant twist I was unsure where Cara would go next after reading all I can say is equally brilliant.

The book begins with a refresh of each of the main players which is particular useful knowing how many characters are in these novels and given the time that has passed between the novels settings. The characters within these novels are well written and developed the books are a real insight to police procedural work but the small snippets into the characters personal lives stop that procedural parts being dragged out. I find Hunter’s writing is involving and fluent with some welcome flashes of humour I believe this down to how she presents her characters and how she has developed them as the series has processed. There is proper real life feel to how she interlinks the previous books from the series and also her stand alone novel, it is done smartly and no way feels like she repeating or reusing anything it’s fresh . If you haven’t read the previous books you can read this as stand alone but be warned because of the little links you will want to back to book one and read them all, that being said I would read book one in the series at the very least before reading this.


There isn’t really proper chapters, but over dates using a mixture of formats first POV from Adam, the third person POV when hearing about the other characters then in all different media formats used like emails, transcripts, photos and in the very unique format of a shadow diary from Daisy. This is what sets Hunters writing apart for me these different ways of telling and moving the story along really hold interest and make you feel part of the investigation. There is a solid well written plot that along with these quirks on traditional writing really take what is good plot to next level. It was fascinating to see how the Daisy Mason story was deconstructed and put together again and presented in a totally different way - what a twisty, brilliant idea! Her shadow diary really give us a look at the real Daisy and it was a great intriguing riveting way to do so.

Cara as writer has unique style of writing that is easy to engage with despite the many characters and complex plots sage writes with true style, there has been recent number of books using different ways of telling their stories however I have try to read a book that uses the mixed formats as well as Hunter. There are many writers who write series of books but there isn’t many that written in a way that keeps the series fresh there isn’t a hint of cut and paste write by numbers here in the way that even the best of series can have. For Cara’s writing keeps on getting better and better. This is great edition to the series with an ending that leaves you wanting more and more.

The above is my review for the print version the story is equally good as an audiobook but I felt despite the great narrators the book didn't transfer well to audio u believe this was down to the mixed approach the book had the articles from newspapers and blog post didn't work, but still a great story and the audio worked well in places with good tone from all the voices