I would like to thank Netgalley and Cameron Publicity and Marketing Ltd for an advance copy of Absent, the fourth novel to feature Salford based DS Kevin Coupland.

When the decomposing body of a child is found stuffed into a gym bag in a vacant flat Kevin and the team are called in to investigate but before they attempt to find her killer they have to identify her. When the answers come the case widens considerably and Kevin has to cede control of his case to the National Crime Agency.

I thoroughly enjoyed Absent which is an excellent police procedural with its mixture of investigation, politics and personalities. It is the first novel in the series that I have read but I'm so impressed I'll be backtracking to the previous three as I really love a good procedural. There is nothing not to like about this novel. The investigation is difficult with little to go on so the team is reduced to interviewing neighbours and checking the children on the at risk register but just as a change of approach starts to yield results the NCA sweep in to take over. The novel seems very realistic from the team's determination to get justice to their dispiritedness as the leads come to nothing and their despair when the case is taken over by a bunch of swaggering shinies.

The characterisation is great. The banter between the team members is natural, sometimes amusing and just as work place conversation often is, of the take no prisoners variety. The novel is told in the third person from Kevin Coupland's point of view. His grumpy, jaundiced view of life is frequently amusing but never dull. Trouble at home is not helping his world view so he doesn't hold back when issuing criticism so visits to the Superintendent's office happen more frequently than usual. He is, however, a very likeable character and the reader can't help but root for him through all his tribulations.

Absent is a well paced, gripping novel which held my attention from start to finish. I like the realism of both the plot and characters and the way Ms Salisbury weaves it all into a coherent whole. I have no hesitation in recommending it as a good read.

Thank you Netgalley and Cameron Publicity and Marketing for this arc.

I really enjoyed this book.....but I like nice twisty, complex stories with equally twisty, complex characters and I've always been a sucker for grumpy old men!

Absent is the 4th book in this series and while I have not read any of the previous books, I was easily able to track the various characters and their relationships with each other. I'm sure if I'd read books 1 - 3, I'd have enjoyed this read even more. While the topics/crimes covered in this this book are pretty sickening, I did not find it/them overly graphic in their presentation (and my stomach appreciates that).

This was a great read! I had not read the previous books, but didn’t feel like I was missing any information.

Not read any of the DS coupland series before but will definitely pick up the rest following this. Great novel

This is a great read. Fast paced and gritty. Human trafficking is a horrific topic. The pain and suffering it causes is dealt with in this book. This is a really good plot with a lot happening. This is the first book that I have read in this series. I felt that it worked well as a standalone. I would like to read the rest of the series.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

Excellent story line which was gripping from start to finish. Great characters. I would highly recommend this book.