Faceless

Oh my god!!!!!!!!! My review could never do this book justice the author is a genius. Creepy, gruesome but absolutely brilliant. This is most definitely an edge of your seat, chills all over your body, peeking through your fingers type of book. I can't recommend it highly enough and I would give it 100 stars if I could. Must read in my opinion.

I really enjoyed the authors Mechanic trilogy so have been very eager to read more by him. Not that I have had too long to wait but that wait was so very worth it!

Kray has returned to work after a life changing incident that robbed her of her husband as well as left her scarred, inside and out. She obviously isn't coping well with her personal life and throws everything she has into her work. I have to admit to feeling slightly infuriated on Kray's part with how she is treated at times. This made me get behind her even more, willing her to solve the case.

The story flicks between the team working on the case and the killer. Every time I read a book I think there seriously can not be anyone more sick and twisted than the serial killer I have just read about. All I can say is the author has raised the bar when it comes to a seriously sick and twisted individual and I absolutely loved every minute of it. 

Now don't get me wrong, this killer shocked and horrified me. There is also something about this killer that scares the beejeezus out of me but the less said about that the better! With out a doubt this individual has to be one of my all time favourite serial killers, I could not get enough.

Faceless is an exhilarating page turner of a read that will have you clinging on for dear life. Rob Ashman is an author who just gets better and better and this latest novel just blew me away. This is going to be one of this years most talked about reads. Loved it!

Oh my goodness, another amazing book by Rob Ashman. I came to know the characters well in this book and this enabled me to grow to love and hate them. DI Ros Kray has been through one hell of a journey and I found myself rooting for her throughout the book. The serial killer is one sick and twisted person, certainly one to give you nightmares. This book is written really well and this helps you to imagine the scenes and get your heart beating furiously. Tense, gritty and extremely depraved, I loved it!
I can not recommend this book enough

I would like to thank Netgalley and Bloodhound Books for an advance copy of Faceless, a police procedural set in Blackpool featuring DI Roz Kray.

Roz has recently returned to work after a horrific attack and is slowly getting back to work when she answers a report of a bad smell which turns out to be the decomposing murdered body of a young woman.

I thoroughly enjoyed Faceless which is a tense read with some good twists. The novel is told alternately from Roz's point of view in the third person and the killer's first person narrative. Mr Ashman manages it well and it's not as choppy a read as many novels which this approach. Much of this is down to strong plotting, writing and characterisation.

I wasn't overly keen on the killer's point of view which is basically psycho 101 with some neat embellishments as there is very little an author can add after the usual childhood abuse trauma. I do, however, think that the way the killer exacts his revenge is novel, clever and unusual, making the book a cut above the usual.

Roz is the stereotypical copper, smart and drinks too much but her backstory of her husband dying while trying to save her adds an extra layer to her character. She struggles to cope with life and has low self esteem which makes her a target for bullying from her ineffective boss. The politics and interpersonal relationships of her division thus play a large role in the novel. It makes for interesting reading.

The plot is relatively high octane for a procedural with developments in every chapter and the added bonus of seeing the killer in action, rationalising the murders and taunting the police. Most real life killers are not as smart as this one but it makes for a good read. Recommended.

I love a good serial killer thriller and this is one of the best that I have read. A damaged detective inspector named Ross Kray has the case of her career. This killer not only wants to kill they want to obliterate their victim. This book ticks all my boxes, ingenious ways of killing, nothing run of the mill for this killer. It is fast paced ,grabs you by the throat and does not let go until the Last page. This book is a must READ!!!!
I would like to thank the author Rob Àshman, Bloodhound books and Net.galley for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for giving an honest review

I was so excited to get an ARC of Faceless, I loved The Mechanic Trilogy and was keen to see what else Rob Ashman could come up with. He has not disappointed – this is a 5* read! The characters are great, a bullying boss and a DI back to work after her husband is murdered. Great writing skill - there were parts where I wanted to hide behind my hands – lots of gritty descriptions and an imaginative and ingenious story line.

Wow, loved this book, after reading the mechanic trilogy I didn't think Mr Ashman could do any better, he has, brilliant book, stayed up through the night to finish it

If this book doesn’t jump to the top of the bestseller list there is no justice! This is hands down the best book I have read in a long time and I am so sorry that I am almost done. In the beginning it was a little annoying that you keep getting references to DI Kray’s past that also include horrific scars all over her body and face. Then when you can’t stand it a moment longer we get the background perfectly orchestrated! This is a fast paced thriller that keeps you reading nonstop because even if you can’t believe it, it keeps getting better and better. There’s also a first person account from the killer who is truly one of the best characters ever imagined. Unfortunately I just reached the end which is just as great as expected. I sure hope to hear more from DI Kray and Rob Ashman in the future. I recommend this book to anyone who loves mysteries and thrillers. I thank NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for my unbiased review. This is a fantastic book and I happily give it 5 stars.

I have had this author's Mechanic Trilogy on my Kindle for ages and I keep meaning to get round to it but then things happen and it gets bumped again; too many books, not enough time! Anyway, after reading this book I am now going to make a determined effort to clear the decks enough to actually get it read.
DI Rosalind Kray is just returning from work after being signed off sick. She was the victim of a really rather nasty attack that left her severely scarred and her husband dead. Trying to ease her in gently, when a murder is discovered, her colleague gets the case and she is asked to assist. Before too long though, she has proved her worth and her colleagues plate is too full of both his other cases and his own agenda and so the case is handed over to her.
Going back to the actual murder and, oh my days, the author has created a veritable monster in the killer here. I'd love to share how downright creepy and horrible the baddie in this book was but I feel they are better met and got to know as the author intended. But I will say that this was probably the most deliciously evil baddie I have had the pleasure to read about in a little while; a total nutter, very clever, and very evidence savvy. And he has a plan and isn't going to stop. Gonna be hard to catch!
I wasn't as taken with Roz initially. There was something a bit off with her but as I got to know her I started to warm up to her. Yes she was annoying at times and she really should think a bit more before she does or says things. She's not really a one for focusing on repercussions but, after I found out the full story of what happened to her. How it all came to be - brilliant plotting by the way - I kinda empathised more with her and we came to a sort of understanding. Will this be the last we see of Roz or will she return again?
And the killer and his methods. Well, I have to admit to being a smidge in awe of his crimes and the way he planned and executed (see what I did there!?) them. At times, when his acts were being described, I wanted to look away but I couldn't, and I held my breath, and... it was just evil.
If you like your cops a bit wounded but basically sound and your killers sick and twisted then I can do no more than recommend this book. But don't forget to breathe...
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book

The author is so sick and twisted, but writes an unbelievably good story . With a fabulous main character and a villain you can't help but hate,who could ask for more

Faceless was a good read. DI Rosalind Kray returns to work after a long medical leave. Her husband was killed because he tried to save her. She was badly hurt by a knife welding criminal that though she had set him up on drug charges.

A young girl was killed and Roz Kray was given her first case since she returned. The story takes off at 100 miles a minute. No doubt you will feel the same way.

Kray has two superior officers that do not like her getting her hands on this case and removes her. She still follows leads and finally connects the dots. Only to find out the killer might know her.

I thought the author Rob Ashman, did a great job at getting the story told. It was easy to follow along. I have it five stars because it deserved it.

I was giving the story in advance, by Netgalley, with the promise to be truthfull, good or bad

This is one of those books that you start and keep thinking one more chapter , one more chapter . Immediately we're faced with a murder and get to meet D I Ros Kray, a strong female detective, recently returned to work after a life changing event. The reason for this we find out later in the book but I loved how we were fed snippets of information until finally we see the big picture.
I love this character and am hoping to read more about her in the future.
The serial killer is complex and cunning and like all serial killers he leaves his "calling card". It's difficult to say too much without giving the plot away but the title of the book gives us a hint.
I loved this book and would highly recommend it for a fast paced and exciting read.

Thanks to Netgalley for my copy.

DI Roz Kray has returned to work after a tragedy in her personal life and some serious injuries. We are drip fed pointers to what these events are throughout the early chapters. This build up is very cleverly done and I was desperate to find out why and how Roz was so damaged emotionally. The reveal did not disappoint and had me enthralled.

A woman's badly composing body is discovered and Roz is called in to investigate. We hear the killers voice and the reasons why he is so badly damaged. The bodies start to pile up and the team must work fast to make the links.

This is my first book by Rob Ashman and I am understandably kicking myself as to why I have not discovered him before. His portrayal of a sick and twisted killer is told with such gruesome and unique detail. It is not for the faint hearted and the violence is told in a brutal and honest way. I LOVED it. Am a little worried about what it says about my taste in books but I didn't feel it sensationalized the depravity of the killer but told in a realistic way.

5/5 stars - Fantastic!

First things first: That. Ending. OMG.

It was the perfect way to wrap up the book, but it was also so intense that it has left me thirsty for more. I can't wait to see what comes next for Kray.

OK, back to the rest of the story. It was a great book, with plenty of twists and a bit of a gruesome edge - I mean, this bad guy is BAD. And Kray is great. She's a perfectly flawed hero, who we root for, but also worry for because she may be on a self-destructive path.

I also liked the secondary characters in this one, like Tavener and even Brownlow to an extent. I was totally invested in their story and the case. I can't wait for the next chapter in this story.

Faceless is a fantastic, jaw-dropping journey as I was introduced to DI Roz Kray. My god this is a character who has been through the mill as her is explained through the story. The way other senior members and colleagues treat her is despicable and the story is not just about the investigation she is on but, also about her battle with departmental attitudes. She is a character I immediately liked with her quirky ways and her stubborn bloody mindedness. The author gives enough history on her so that you get a real idea of what ,makes her tick.

There are other characters who you soon realise are sleazeballs, power trippers and there are also a smattering of good guys. A copper with a demon. As for the baddie.... he is twisted, evil and then some as I soon discovered as the story was developed and things start falling into place.

The plot is kicks off at a pretty quick pace and the author has not held back. A few f-words escaped my lips and a couple of variations of said word also joined in. The story has twists and a superb sense of suspense and edge of the seat feel to it, with an underlying darkness that gripped me.

If you like your police procedural crime thrillers dark and evil then this is definitely a book for you.   and a killer that It is a story that has shocks and the odd graphic scene, cosy mystery it ain't so be warned! I would highly recommend this book it is a bloody fantastic read and I did not want it to end.

This is my first read by this author and after reading this I know it won’t be my last as this was a great read.

DI Rosalind Kray has returned to work after a tragedy in her personal life. She throws everything she’s got into finding a serial killer. DI Kray is a flawed character and I was so backing her all the way.

This is a really well written police procedural story. I thought the author was very descriptive and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I’ll definitely be reading more from this author in the future. Loved it.

Wow, just absolutely loved this book from the start! The story flows easily and is so descriptive, it is like you are there. DI Roz Kray has only recently returned from sick leave and does not get on well with her boss.

When she attends a call out with a PC to a house where a neighbour is complaining of the smell. Once inside the premises there is the strong smell of a decaying body. Upon searching the flat, DI Kray can hear a buzzing noise behind the bedroom door.....

The book is well written and the story flows so easily, you just want to keep reading to find out what happens next! It's full of intrigue and plots, well thought out.

First time I had read this author but I will be reading more of his work. Thank you Net Galley for the opportunity to read and enjoy this book

Ever since I’ve read The Mechanic trilogy Faceless by Rob Ashman has been one of my anticipated reads of 2018. Now sometimes my most anticipated reads can turn out to be a big let down because I expect great things, but I’m thrilled to report this wasn’t the case, in fact Faceless made for a brilliant read and if anything it actually surpassed my expectations. Rob Ashman has such a vivid and dare I say fertile imagination I do wonder how he manages to sleep at night! I’m not adverse to a crime thriller that’s gruesome in fact I rather enjoy them if I’m honest, the fact Faceless has one of the most chilling serial killers who carries out the most repugnant killings I’ve ever come across made this book such a thrilling albeit a horrifying (in a totally good way) read

Full review to follow on my blog soon

The Mechanic Trilogy by this author, for me, was an amazing read and this new book Faceless is just as amazing.. Faceless is a gruesome gripping read. Which I read in one sitting. A great new character, Detective Roz Kray has been created and I look forward to meeting her again. The plot is intriguing and cleverly written.. Certainly not for the faint hearted but a fantastic thriller!

This is a great read which will have you on the edge of your seat.
Kray has recently returned to work after a horrific attack when she is called out after someone reports a bad smell in a property. This turns out to be the decomposing body of a young woman, and Kray soon realises she’s faced with a murder investigation.
The story alternates from Kray’s point of view and the also the killers point of view.
The killer is seriously twisted and whilst sometimes you feel sorry for them, in this case I didn’t.
The story moves at a fast pace and I really enjoyed it.
Thanks to Bloodhound Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

OMFG I am so excited for you all to read this book it is absolutely amazing and will leave you hyperventilating! I am a massive fan of Rob's Mechanic series and he has totally smashed it and brings us something that you can certainly get your teeth into..... This is without a doubt his best book by far.

You know how much I love a good prologue right?! has it always sets the scene for whats to come. Well this starts off with a brilliant prologue which kept me on tender hooks

So in this story we are introduced to DI Kaye who I adored. She is a strong kick ass character who doesn't give up I cant wait to find out more about her in the next book with her author dropping snippets of information out along the way.

Set in Blackpool a place that I love and know well so I loved the setting and felt right there in the story wiling Kaye along. The story is written with chapters told from the killers point of view. Which I have to admit I am not a big fan of unless it's done right, but Rob has totally nailed it.

Faceless will grab you round the throat and doesn't let you go until the very last page
It is dark and disturbing with some very gruesome descriptions which actually made me feel physically sick, so do be warned this isn't a book for the faint hearted. It's not every day I am half way through a book and know that it is going to be a five star read, but I did with this one.

It is jam packed with tension and OMG moments in fact there is nothing not to like and is the best book I have read this year so far.... what more can I say but this is a must read which I can not recommend enough giving it all the freaking stars.

Well done Rob I am left now dying to read the next book in the series.

If you had told me two years ago that I would be reading severely dark and twisted novels such as this one, I would have laughed in your face and would have thought you were talking out of your 'youknowwhat'. Believe me, I am as surprised by my reading choices as a lot of people are. 'Faceless' couldn't be further away from my comfort zone if it tried, it really couldn't. This book is everything I would have wanted to stay away from two years ago, but now? I say keep books like this coming because I aim to be the first in the queue for many more of Rob Ashman's novels!

I wouldn't advise eating whilst you read 'Faceless' as the content is enough to turn stomachs more than once. Although, I would love to know if anyone has read this book before bed and whether they ended up being scared faceless? I had to ensure that I had reached the end of the book before I went up to the land of nod, purely because I didn't fancy seeing the images that I managed to conjure up thanks to Rob Ashman, replayed in my head when I tried to sleep. I'm stupid, but not that stupid haha.

Rosalind Kray is back to work after falling victim to an attacker who wished to skin her like a chicken. Unfortunately for her attacker, she got away, but, unfortunately for Roz, her husband died because of it. With an extremely famous surname such as 'Kray', I was half expecting the main character to have a twin who worked alongside her in the force. She didn't though!

I am trying to be exceptionally vague with this review as I don't wish to slip up and give anything away. However, I can tell you that 'Faceless' is severely twisted. I am actually quite proud of myself seeing as this storyline contained references to two things I am extremely scared of; maggots and snakes. But I read it!! I didn't like those parts, but I read them haha.

Whilst themes like the one used in Rob Ashman's novel are ones I would usually steer myself away from, I couldn't help but be hooked on what I was reading. Yes, this book is twisted beyond belief, and yes it is extremely dark, but the way in which the author brought everything together to form the conclusion he did, was incredibly gripping and very well written. The graphic nature of 'Faceless' adds intense depth to an otherwise already highly charged read, which allowed me to visualise every eventuality in the story a lot clearer than I usually would have done. I'm not too sure whether that is 100% a good thing as I did feel slightly sick, but it most certainly wasn't a bad thing as it worked. I honestly don't think that the storyline would have been able to carry itself at such a level if the author hadn't included graphic scenes.

All in all, 'Faceless' is, once again, TWISTED but oh so addictive. I am so glad that I had the chance to hop, skip and jump out of my comfort zone with this read. Saying that, I don't think I will be looking at tools in the same away ever again.

Dark, nauseating, intense, destructive, yet incredibly written - I am more than happy to be 'Faceless' if this is the outcome!*


*not literally....

DI Roz Kray has only been back at work for short time after a vicious knife attack, she is called out to investigate the complaints of a bad smell which turns out to be a young woman who has been brutally attacks and seemingly dead for a long time. Another body shows up and it seems they have a serial killer on their hands. Can Roz battle her own demons and get to the bottom of the case?

Now Rob Ashman has been on my radar for a while now but I’ve never actually read any of his books so I’m so glad that I finally got to read this one! This book is gritty, realistic, brutal and absolutely terrifying which to many people would seem off putting but I absolutely loved it.

This is a seriously addictive read. There were so many shocking twists and revelations I gasped out loud on several occasions (cue a lot of are you okays from my family).

Roz is a little OCD with bad eating habits (.i,e barely eats at all) and she is incredibly depressed but after losing her husband and being horribly scarred herself who wouldn’t be? I found myself really rooting for her especially as she ends up clinging onto the case with her fingertips as her senior officers start doubting her sanity.

I’m going to say that this book has one of my top fears in it, I’m not going to tell you what in case of spoilers but still I just couldn’t put this book down. Okay yes, there are certain aspects of the story which I found a little unbelievable but it’s so well written that I personally didn’t really think about it until I started writing this review.

Overall not for the faint of heart or those that are overly squeamish but a fantastic read and I hope to read more DI Roz Kray books in the future!

My review is written with thanks to Sarah Hardy at Bloodhound Books for inviting me on the blog blitz, and for my copy of the book via Netgalley.
Detective Inspector (DI) Rosalind Kray is back at work after an incident on her previous case. Her first assignment is a serial killer who removes the faces of his victims after he has killed them. As the investigation gets deeper, Kray realises that there is a personal element to this case, and she could be next. Can she find the killer before her own life is in danger?
I've heard a lot about Ashman, but I've not had chance to read his previous trilogy yet, so I was delighted to be invited to read this first instalment of his new series featuring Rosalind (or Roz to her friends) Kray. I have been missing out! His writing is so slick that you cannot help but be drawn into this fascinating novel. At times, I felt like I was investigating the murders with Roz, right in the thick of it, and I could not rest until the killer had been caught.
There's no "whodunnit" element to Faceless: the reader is privy to his identity from very early on, although his motives are not immediately clear. The thrill is in the chase in this novel. Just when you think that the killer is about to be apprehended, he slips from their grasp. I could feel Roz's own frustration as I turned each page. At times, Faceless can be gruesome, not least through the killer's horrifying methods to obliterate his victims, but I enjoy a bit of gore, and in this novel, it adds to a brilliantly tense atmosphere, which had me hooked!
As a new fictional detective on the scene, I like DI Roz Kray. She's a determined maverick, and she has a heartbreaking yet compelling back story. I know that she is a character who has a lot more to give, and I can't wait to see where Ashman takes her.

Despite seeing Rob Ashman’s name floating around various blogs and hearing quite a lot of buzz about his Mechanic Trilogy (and actually owning those), this is my first introduction to his work and what an introduction it was! Bloody hell!

I started reading Faceless minutes after finishing dinner and pretty much regretted that instantly as the description of the murder scene burnt itself onto my eyelids and shot right up my nose. I may have uttered the word “eeww” and pulled faces. A lot. And I loved it because that’s just the type of grossness I like in my crime thrillers. No, it doesn’t say weirdo across my forehead, thank you.

DI Rosalind Kray returns to work after surviving an attack, which left her husband dead. This background story is revealed along the way and already kept me intrigued without even digging into the murder investigation. Unsurprisingly, Roz has quite a few demons to deal with but I took to her pretty quickly and I especially enjoyed her “inner voice” when dealing with the stupidity of those around her.

As for the killer, well, they are quite unlike any other killer I’ve had the “pleasure” of meeting. A meticulous planner with a master plan to rid the world of evil, they are somehow able to remain under the radar, invisible and unnoticeable. While the victims seem to be chosen at random, this serial killer knows perfectly well who is next and why. It took me a while to figure out who was responsible. Actually, it took me until Rob Ashman gave the game away. Up until that point, I was pointing my finger at pretty much everyone.

It’s quite obvious that Rob Ashman knows perfectly well how to spin a story and keep the reader gripped throughout. There was always a sense of time running out and even though I felt one instance was a tad on the predictable side, that didn’t matter to me as I was desperate to see how things would be wrapped up. And boy, what a zinger to end with! Faceless is a gritty, compelling and thrilling serial killer thriller that kept me utterly engrossed and I look forward to seeing what Rob Ashman comes up with next!

One chapter, it's all you need, trust me.....

I say that because even before the end of the first chapter I knew I was going to love Faceless. DI Rosalind Kray is just the kind of female protagonist I love.  A feisty, no nonsense, straight talker she is everything that compels you to keep on reading, not only to discover the messes she'll get herself into, but to revel in the way she gets out of them too.

Told in alternating narratives between Kray and the killer, it's a read that will keep you guessing from page to page, it will at times have you horrified, the killer is more depraved than any I have read for some time.

All this said you will still be unable to put the book down.  I sat and read it in one sitting  and recommend you find yourself a comfy corner and huddle yourself up with all things cosy so you can enjoy.  Don't do a LifeOfCri.me and sit in the dark, during torrential rain and a thunderstorm.....

This book was an absolute pleasure to read and review. The story is dark and gruesome, featuring a wonderfully merciless killer with an agenda that makes perfect sense to him but takes our detective heroine a little longer to figure out. Some chapters are related by the killer himself, giving the reader a good insight into his motives and twisted world. The characters are well described and the reader comes to know them pretty quickly. I hope there is more to come from this author featuring DI Kray as it would be a shame to say goodbye to her. I was gripped from start to finish - it's one book you really can't put down till the very end!

Five big, fat, shiny stars for this absolute stonking read, with a gruesome and twisted storyline that refused to let go of me. Definitely not for the feint-hearted.

Many thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this ARC for which I have given my voluntary and unbiased review.

This was a gripping, gruesome serial killer police procedural. It was very descriptive and didn't shy away from any of the gory details. This made for a very atmospheric and terrifying read and it definitely got the adrenalin pumping! Definitely not for the faint of heart but anyone who enjoys a dark and disturbing read will love this.

A bold statement from me, Rob has rendered me speechless. I’m sitting here trying to adopt a course of action on how I can encapsulate what Rob has produced so effectively, in truth my brain is addled, the review function is fragmented, Faceless has accomplished what few others have done.

DI Rosalind Kray returns to work after suffering from physical and mental injuries and the death of her husband, the harsh reality is the scars are not just visible but internalised, imprinted on her memory, Kray throws everything she has into work, trying to escape the fact she is finding it hard to cope, but the flaws are there for all to see.

The killer has purpose, has meaning to the crimes, the deaths are not random, they are exact, a meticulous choice, can Kray and the team bring the killer down, will the killer trip up, make mistakes, only time and flipping of the pages will tell.

The alternating sequence of narration between Kray’s point of view and the Serial Killer’s is spot on, it flowed effortlessly, allowing the plot to unfold without the needless fill-ins which can detract from the whole scenario of the book, allowing me the sense of being in the very pages, walking in the footsteps of Kray and the Serial Killer.

I was giddy with a sense of intensity reading about the killer, the dark and twisted disparity of the serial killer. Rob painted a picture, a true piece of art, a reflection of what I believe a deviant of this nature truly becomes. Rob drew a picture of the killers past, how the past reflected on the present, yes I felt sorry for the killer at times but this was their chosen path, a path that could have been avoided, if that switch hadn’t been flipped.

Rob has managed to turn my insides, inside out, the sick behaviour of the serial killer, the imagination Rob has too run riot throughout the book with twisted and gruesome scenarios is beyond my comprehension believe me that’s in a good way. Loads of hand over mouth, peering over the top of the book to see if your life is secure, no danger to your life. All that’s left to say it OMG what an ending……..

Thanks go to Bloodhound Books, Rob Ashman and Sarah Hardy for an advanced readers copy of Faceless in exchange for an honest and unbiased opinion. Thanks to Sarah Hardy for letting me join the Blog Blitz.

I have not read this author before. But I hope this is the start of a series.! A serial killer is operating who steals the face of the victim. This is a chilling scenario which gets creepier as the characters develop. The main police officer is returning to work after a death, but even that is effectively woven into this spellbinding book. I devoured this book in a day. I then went and bought his other books. Highly recommended!!!

WOW! I previously loved Rob’s last series of books so this was a must read for me with high expectations. I was not disappointed! Rob has done it again… Blown me away. Outstanding. Brilliant.

Faceless is a dark, fast paced, disturbing, edge of your seat thriller. It will have you hooked from the first page. You will not be able to put it down! Parts actually had my stomach clenching and turning parts were that dark and twisted! I must also mention I loved DI Rosalind Kray’s character.

Faceless is one of those books that makes you go… AHHH THAT’S WHY IT’S CALLED THAT! A brilliant start to a brand new upcoming series that is bound to blow us all away! I cannot wait to see what lies ahead for this series. A well deserved five stars, highly recommend to you all… BUT! Don’t read it alone, at night, in the dark. Not for the faint hearted!

I was such a big fan of The Mechanic Trilogy so I was very excited to have the opportunity to review Rob’s new book and I’m pleased to say I was not disappointed.

Faceless gripped me from the start with its unusual and graphic opening, the like of which I haven’t read before. The descriptions of the crime scene were so brilliantly described I felt that I was experiencing everything first hand amongside the police. I could smell the stomach churning smells which caused me to feel very sick and could here the buzzing of those nightmare inducing flies. I actually ended up dreaming about the flies so vividly were they described.

I liked Kray the main detective on the case. She is a very strong, determined woman who seems to know her stuff concerning police investigating. She knows what should be done and likes to conduct investigation by the book, her way, not allowing anyone else to have her say. She is just back to work after the murder of her husband and feels like she has a lot to prove regarding her performance. My heart went out to her in this as I can imagine how hard it must be having everyone watching you, waiting for you to mess up. Her relationship with her boss seemed fraught with competition and anger. I enjoyed reading about her ability to play her boss and felt like cheering when she got one over on him and made a huge discovery in the case.

The story is told from the point of view of Drake and the murder which really fascinated me. It was interesting to be able to see into the murder’s mind, learn more about them and why they were doing what they did. The murder was definitely, as they described themselves, a psycho and some of his thoughts and reasons sent a shiver down my spine. They seemed to have a lot of hatred and it was interesting finding out more about their background and what had happened to make them do this. As the reader has a first hand account of the murders there were times when I worked stuff out before Kray which was very effective as it made me reader faster and faster as I willed her to make the connection for herself. It also helped make some of the situations in the book more tense as I knew stuff that the characters didn’t, which I thought was brilliantly done.

The story is very fast paced with lots happening and lots of twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat, sometimes quite literally! I managed to read this book in two days no mean feat for a woman with three kids on half term. I thought it was absolutely brilliant and I urge everyone to read it.

Rob is the author of quite a few amazing books and I think I’ve read most of them. His thrillers are always fantastically written, unusual and quite dark which combined makes for a great read. I really look forward to reading more from him in the future.

Huge thanks to Sarah Hardy and Bloodhound books for inviting me onto the blog tour and for my copy of this book.

Bloody hell ..(sorry) what a read. This book plunges you straight into the action and does not let up. You hurtle along at 100 mph and there is no pausing for breath. The story centres around D I Roz Kray (who is absolutely top class ) and her hunt for a serial killer … who is one sick freak by the way. There is enough gruesomeness, tension and humour to keep everyone happy. This is the first book that I have read by Rob but it will certainly not be my last. Cant wait for the next in the series. If I could give this more than 5 stars I would. Fantastic.

4.5 Stars

DI Rosalind Kray isn't a particularly likable person. She comes across as rude and obnoxious, especially when her efficiency as a law enforcement officer is questioned. She can't sleep without drinking and she subsists on mostly junk food .. when she eats at all.

But maybe there's a reason she is the way she is ... she narrowly survived a knife attack and carries multiple scars. Her husband wasn't as lucky .. he didn't make it. Just now returning to the job she loves, she is charged with investigating the acts of a serial killer.

This serial killer not only wants to kill, he wants to obliterate his victims' very existence. He sedates his victim, injects her with snake venom, and then removes their faces. A few days later, he will kill a man. Are these random acts .. or the plan of a demented mind?

Kray has the ability to think like a killer and her skills lead to a series of horrifying revelations that turn the case on its head. She believes she is getting close, then her world comes crashing down with devastating consequences.

This is a well-crafted crime fiction with outstanding characters. The reader is treated to the killer's background .. a physically abusive father and emotionally abusive mother molded him into what he is now. The reader gets to hear what he's thinking at almost every moment ... and it's enough to have you up and checking to make sure the doors are locked and the curtains drawn.

Kray is excellent at what she does .. but her superiors watch her very closely. They do not particularly want her to succeed at finding things that they themselves have missed. And they constantly snigger at her 'gut feelings'. I would love to see her in a series .. just to see her get the credit she deserves.

There is plenty of suspense with questionable suspects and the ending really got my attention! Highly recommended for those who love crime fiction.

Many thanks for the author / Bloodhound Books / Netgalley for the digital copy of FACELESS. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

Rob Ashman has got a pretty dark and twisted mind and if you have read his Mechanic series you will know exactly what I mean. With Faceless he continues in this vein and right from the start there is no shortage of jaw dropping and WTF moments! It definitely has the #KillerHook alert! The prologue captured me immediately, it drew me right in leaving me in no doubt that I wanted to know more, I had to know more!

We are introduced to the killer pretty quickly and follow their macabre journey with a sense of revulsion and terror. The narrative is powerful and provides great insight into their behaviour. I am writing this review biting my tongue as there is so much I want to say but I want you to get the same twisted pleasure as I did from reading this book! Watching this killer unravel is disturbing, let me warn you right now, Rob Ashman is never going to be a "cosy crime" kinda guy! Thank goodness!

Faceless is fast paced, it's twisted and it packs one hell of a punch into every page! Dysfunctional families and consequences all wrapped up into a blood-red bow for you to untie! Each chapter ends with that hook that pulls you in for "just one more chapter" which means you might as well discount the rest of the day once you pick it up because you are not going to be able to put it down!

Roz Kray is one of those Detectives that just get under your skin, her inner turmoil combined with a "two-fingers" to the world approach might seem to be the archetypal detective but there is something quite different about Roz, there is a real depth to her despair and a real unquantifiable approach to her policing, I engaged with her immediately especially when she was at loggerheads with her superiors! Roz was a compelling character to read; we know there is a history and a tension exists between her and her bosses and right away I was intrigued, what had happened to her? Why is she self-neglecting? I was behind her from the beginning, I didn’t know her whole story but I had her back. Watching her engage and disengage with the team and other key characters throughout the novel makes for fascinating reading! As the book progresses we get to find out more about the woman behind the Detective.

Faceless ticked all my boxes, there was enough complexity to keep my brain ticking but not too much that it lost me. This is a fantastic read for fans of the serial killer genre, it has a well thought out plot, twists that would make a corkscrew look straight and characters that claw their way right under your skin! If Carlsberg done serial killers...then they would be hooking up with Rob Ashman for tips!

DI Roz Kray has recently returned to work after an attack which left her a widow with terrible scarring. Her superior officers would like to ease her gently back into work but her first call out is to a murder. This sets the scene for the entire book as the plot interchanges between the killer and the police.

If you like your thrillers dark, gory and deeply disturbing then this is a book for you.

Highly recommend!

I will start my review with my initial thoughts before I started this book and they were quite simply that the author would struggle to top his Mechanic Trilogy which I absolutely LOVED...

Well now I have read this one, I am thrilled to be able to say that he has only blooming gone and done it - this book was BRILLIANT!!

I loved the story, the characters were brilliant and the pace was superb, I was hooked straight away and completely addicted to the whole thing and I read it in a few hours the evening it landed on my Kindle. Everything to do with this book worked for me, the blurb drew me in and the cover is spot on. One of my highlights so far of 2018!

Five stars from me, would have been six if Amazon and Goodreads went up that high!! very, very highly recommended!! (Can you tell I enjoyed it?!)

‘Faceless’ by Rob Ashman published by Bloodhound Books and out now

Hey, I haven’t read any of Rob Ashman’s previous books but fellow readers have and this book was recommended ( thanks Audrey Gibson )
I guess to give you an idea of the book I will say...Hannibal Lector ( but even nastier!) venomous snakes,depravity and a cast of very colourful characters.....that give you an idea!?
The book is based around Roz, a D.I. who enjoys a good drink and doesn’t enjoy food and who is recovering from a terrible knife attack on her and her husband.......she survived......her first case back is a ‘routine’murder of a woman....but routine it Isent as the dead woman is then seen on CCTV and she murders a man......more grisly murders happen in this fashion until Roz is eventually targeted but we don’t know why, until the end.........
Foe me the last couple of pages had 2 endings, that you could take as to which way you wanted it to end, I maybe wrong on that but I choose the one I wanted!!!!! ( let me know what you think on that when you have read the book!!)
All this is based around Roz’s grief, PTSD and anger, it makes for fireworks and Roz certainly explodes, regularly......I liked her and her very unconventional police character and the way she doesn’t conform
An enticing REAL drama, there are many fiction books on serial killers at the mo and to stand out you have to be different, and this book certainly is
10/10 5 stars

I loved this so much I actually read it all in one sitting. Ok, I did use the bathroom lol. Someone is out there killing women and dressing up just like them and killing men. But who is it? I love serial killer books. And I loved the twist in the end. Definitely 4 Stars. Thank you to NetGalley for letting me review this book. #Faceless #NetGalley

Faceless follows DI Rosalind Kray's return to work after surviving a knife attack that left her scarred from head to toe and her husband dead. Her return starts off with a bang when a routine check turns up a gruesome crime scene that leaves investigators puzzled. Time lines don't fit, the dead shouldn't turn back up on camera at a bar either, right?
I absolutely hated the superiors that Kray works with. Jackson has absolutely no backbone and assigns the case to DI Brownlow who can't manage the case at all and sets the investigators back immensely. The investigators make much more progress when Kray takes over and I have to admire her instinct as an investigator. Unfortunately for her, again the superiors don't seem to feel the same.
I really enjoyed this book and the twists and turns the investigation took. It says this is book one and I will be on the lookout for this to be a series.

Rob ashman is establishing himself as a premier crime writer who isn’t afraid to delve into very dark places.

This first in the series introduces us to Rosalind kray, a somewhat maverick policewoman who gets caught up in a serial killers web. The story moves at pace and gives us both perspectives, from the police and the killer, which really fleshes out the dialogue.

I am delighted to recommend this book and also very happy to see a sequel.

What a fantastic start to a brand new series, a sick and twisted serial killer, graphic descriptions that keep you firmly on the edge of your seat.
The main character is DI Roz Kray, a woman who suffered a personal tragedy and has just returned to work.
Gradually as the book progresses we learn her personal story and find why she reacts as she does during the investigation into the discovery of a womans badly
decomposing body, a woman who has had the flesh literally pealed away from her face.
We learn from the killer his reasoning behind the crimes he commits and as Roz and her team try to follow the few leads they have the bodies start to pile up.
The story is full of gruesome detail, plenty of twists and leaves you hoping to hear more from DI Roz Kray and her team.
I read this book in a day it is gripping!
Thanks to Netgalley and Bloodhound books for the chance to read this as an ARC.

Not what I was expecting! Once I started it was fast paced with lots of gruesome details about the crimes committed. The main character was easy to connect with - flawed, troubled, determined. If you are looking for a good, gritty British crime book, this is one to check out.

This is the first book I've read by this author and I will definitely be looking at some his others.

Thank you #NetGalley and #bloodhoundbooks for the copy to read and review.

This book was great, just the right amount of gore and mystery to keep you going. it has a chris carter feel to it, which i really enjoyed. I liked the story going between the killer and the police, was a great book and i cant wait to read the next one.

This is the first on a new series from Rob about DI Roz Kray. She has just returned to work after horrific attack that left her physically and mentally scarred and her husband dead, so she is desperate to prove that she is ready to get stuck back in. The first case she is called to is at a flat where other residents have complained of a smell. What she finds is the decomposed body of a young woman who has been killed in a horrific way that leaves them all confused and starts the ball rolling on an investigation that will challenge Roz more than she could have imagined.

Elsewhere the killer is plotting their next move and we are given an insight into their twisted thoughts and the meticulous planning behind the killings. They are not random and the killer has a very clear and well rehersed system which Roz and her team are going to have to work to try and figure out.

The switching narratives between Kray and the killer is done very well and keeps the story moving along at a lightning fast speed.

I loved the setting in Blackpool, a place not far from me, but was surprised to find part of it set in the Trafford Centre, which is literally up the road from me! Always seems to make stories feel more 'real' to me if I know thame setting well!

This was my first book by Rob and it won't be my last. I loved the writing, how the story was paced and am looking forward to hearing more from Roz very soon!

I had Faceless by Rob Ashman recommended to me by a friend. It’s the first on a series of books featuring DI Rosalind Kray. She’s a ballsy detective with plenty of her own demons to conquer as well as hunting for a serial killer on the streets of a north west seaside town.

This book is well written with short, punchy chapters. The plot line progresses well and gathers pace all the while. I was gripped from chapter 1 and found this book hard to put down.

Thank you to NetGalley, Bloodhound Books and the author for the chance to review.

So glad I found this author Rob Ashman from a Facebook page I am in............I requested his 2 latest books to read. WoW......Just finished Faceless what a brilliant read.
DI Rosalind Kray as been through one hell of a journey in her personal life where she is left badly scared and a loss of someone who was very close and dear to her. DI Rosalind Kray isn't a particularly likeable person, who drinks too much and eats crap and puts her self at risk to get results, She is fighting her superiors, but Kray must conquer her own demons, which are tearing her apart.

She returns back to work and she is called out after someone reports a horrible smell coming from a property.
This then turned out to a be a decomposing body covered in flies/insects. She soon discovers that its of a young girl, a vital part of the girl is missing and has been murdered.
But why? Where is the missing part?

A young man was found murdered. Is this related to her other case?

There's a serial killer who is very different. They want to kill their victims, they want to obliterate their very existence. The murders appear random but the killer selects they quarry with meticulous care. They come across ruthless and very skilled in their work.

I was screaming at the book "Why! Come on Kray get a grip!!! especially the last few chapters!"

I liked this book and will read more from Rob Ashman..........So looking forward more from DI Rosalind Kray............

I would like to thank Netgalley and Bloodhound Books for an advance copy of Faceless, Great read. Thank you x

Today you're getting a double whammy- Two reviews in one post. The first and second books in Rob Ashman's very creepy Detective Roz Kray series: Faceless and This Little Piggy
So, I joke you not, these books should come with not one, but three warnings ... a warning not to have anything else planned for the rest of the day. A warning to makes sure you're not home alone when reading them and, perhaps the most important warning of all - a warning to avoid hot drinks at crucial points in the book. Rob Ashman, a bill is in the post for the dry cleaning of my trousers (No - it was only a coffee spill - not the other - although that was a close call) and for the purchase of various scald remedies. After his thrilling and ever so very warped Mechanic series, Ashman has done the impossible and damn well out done himself. the new series is great. read on for my reviews of the first two books. I believe the third will be released later in the year - I for one am waiting with bated breath.
Faceless
As, I quipped on Facebook , this book could equally have been called Sleepless because that's what I
was after reading it. Seriously though, the title is fab and very, very apt - we're talking about a book entitled Faceless and a serial killer - I'll let you join the dots.
Ashman's new character Roz is inspired. Vulnerable yet tough, with a backstory to leave you bawling for hours, Roz Kray is well rounded and believable. You'll love her!
I loved the way Ashman gets right into the killer's mind and juxtaposes that with fantastic insights into Roz and her story. I'm not going to go into the plot too much as I know you'll all rush off to read it anyway, but it is quite unique. Don't think I'll ever look at an Iced Slice in quite the same way again. As well as Rosalind Kray, Ashman has created a cast of subsidiary characters that are believable and very distinct form each other. You have the lazy copper, the cover your back copper, the I don't know what I'm doing but i'm the boss copper and the trusty side kick. Alongside that, Ashman isn't afraid to take us to the brink with his creative choices. There were a few moments when I could cheerfully have throttled him for his decisions, whilst knowing deep down that he, as the author, did the right thing. If you can provoke a visceral reaction in your reader then you're doing a grand job ... and Rob Ashman certainly did a grand job. He's upped his game with Roz Kray and I couldn't wait to read on.

This Little Piggy (released 19th June 2018)
This Little Piggy is a play on the children's nursery rhyme and , of course, this immediately sets your hairs on end. however, Ashman did something very clever in writing the sequel to Faceless. He shifted gears a little. He's extremely good at creating serial killers that make your heart thud and your skin crawl and he still does that. however, this serial killer is a completely different kettle of fish from The mechanic and the Faceless killer. There I was expecting more of the same, and although I got something different , I wasn't disappointed.
In This Little Piggy, Roz is called into a vicious murder where the body is suspended upside down after being tortured and covered in boiling water.b A surprise discovery at the scene, tells Roz that this victim is not the first. In an edge of the seat cat and mouse we see Roz get inside the head of the killer, following her instincts and sticking with them even when her beliefs seem impossible.
Again, the suspense is high, but for me it is Ashman's attention to the detail of his characterisation that raises his writing high ... well that and the twist near the end - truly inspired and despite the amount of literature i consume, i didn't see it coming. you truly are an evil man Rob Ashman! (But in a good way)
So advice to the reader -
1 - Buy Faceless today and read it now!
2/ Then you'll be right on time to download This Little Piggy tomorrow when it's released.

Faceless was my introduction to Rob Ashman, but I suspect we shall meet again.

DI Rosalind Kray is the protagonist and she is set against a serial killer, but a killer with a difference. Not content to kill his victims, he wants to obliterate them. Kray must deal with the search for the killer, her unsupportive senior officers and her own demons because she is scarred both physically and emotionally from an incident which resulted in the death of her husband. To say she is maverick and driven is putting it lightly. The plot unfolds along the investigator’s time line but is interspersed with the killer’s viewpoint.

Enough said really. Except it is brilliant; fantastic plot (that I didn’t guess); great characterisation (don’t you always hate the senior officers?); horrifying and, just brilliant.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for providing an ARC via my Kindle in return for an honest review.

This is NOT the book to read late into the night, this police procedural may bring to mind Silence of the Lambs, in more ways than one! Kray doubts herself, witnesses doubt what they have seen, and everyone is running like crazy trying to solve the murders before more occur. You're almost afraid to turn the pages to see what wil happen next, as the serial killer stays 2 steps of Kray through most of the book. Still stunned from her horrendous attack, her intuition if off and it's a race to the end, to see if it will save her and help her catch the killer. Don't Miss this one!

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

DI Roz Kray has returned to work after the murder of her husband when her first case is a murdered woman missing her face. Roz has to investigate the case facing a backlash from her superiors but can she solve the murder before her own life is in danger?

Wow,this was such a good read. I love police drama and this ticked all the boxes for me and the explosive ending was brutal! Now to book 2!

Faceless is the first of the D I Kray novels and it does not disappoint , having read Rob Ashman's mechanic trilogy I was very keen to read more by this excellent writer. D I Roz is just newly returned to work after a viscous knife attack left her badly scared, near to death and a widow, as her husband was killed trying to save her. In her fist case since returning to work, DI Kray is called out to a suspicious smell coming from a flat where she discovers the murdered and mutilated body of a beautiful women.
The novel is written in two voices, D I KRAY and the murderer, this split ensures you are totally drawn into the two sides, torn between DI Kray's ability to put her instincts into actions and the murderers calm exterior and almost pathological excitement. Once again Rob Ashman has written a sick and twisted tale that both frightened and enthralled me in equal measures. As I read I found myself shouting out loud at the blatant mysogny of her boss Jacko and willing Roz to solve the case despite being passed over and excluded.This book was so well put together that as I read, I found myself reacting to the incredible gory depictions of mutilated bodies, to say nothing of my fear of snakes. Once again a wonderful read by Rob Ashman and I am truly looking forward to read the D I Kray's second outing in This little piggy.

Wow! What a start to a series. I loved it. Tense, gritty, extremely gruesom but brilliant. Could not put it down and cannot recommend it highly enough. More please!
Many thanks toRob Àshman, Bloodhound books and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

Rob Ashman is the master of gruesome murders. How he manages to come up with such scenarios is mind boggling. I have to thank all my gods that he chooses to write about them, as opposed to carrying them out. If you don't like descriptive crime scenes, this is not the book for you. Ros Kray is a wonderful heroine, a believable and well drawn character that I felt fully invested in. Faceless is a work of creative genius, the descriptive passages are so well written it was easy to feel you were at the crime scene. There are plenty of edge of your seat, OMG moments. In fact, I felt quite emotionally drained once I'd finished reading, as though I'd kept pace with Ros Kray, matching her, pace for pace and emotion for emotion. A genuinely brilliant book by an excellent writer.

This book hits the ground running and just keeps you hooked! I was reading this in bed, while cooking, in the bath, on my walk to work. I could not put this down!
Rob Ashman is an author I'd not followed before, but I will be now!
Faceless is clever, gruesome and gripping

I previously read this author’s Mechanic Trilogy and was gobsmacked. This book does not disappoint. DI Roz Kray is the female feisty police officer set the task of finding a serial killer in Blackpool, The murders and what they involve are ingenuous and gruesome.

I highly recommend Faceless if you want a book that keeps you enthralled. A definite 5* read.

Thankyou to NetGalley, Bloodhound Books and Rob Ashman for the opportunity to read an advanced readers copy of Faceless.
I have read other books by this author in the past and have never been disappointed. And I certainly was not disappointed with this book either. It was a fast paced thriller with plenty of twists and turns that will keep you perched on the edge of your chair. And I love that the main character is a woman with a lot of guts who never gives up.
Definitely well worth a read for fans of the genre.

DI Roz Kray has returned to work after being viciously stabbed - an attack in which her husband was killed. She has accompanied an officer to investigate a bad smell coming from property, Inside they discover the body of a young woman - she has been dead for some time and her face has been removed. Then further murders occur - one victim is someone close to the investigation - and the police struggle to find a connection between the victims and a motive for the killing. The Roz suddenly realises what the connection is and who the next victim is going to be.

A fantastic read from start to finish. Looking forward to reading the rest of the series.

Thanks to Netgalley, Bloodhound Books and Rob Ashman for the ARC of this book in return for an honest review.

Faceless was a warped book that I really did enjoy.

The story was great and showed different facets of police work and what and how different officers handle the situation.

Roz Kray is definitely an interesting character and you can see the scars she bears on her soul. She is a powerful character who you want to find out more about.

What a wonderful debut for this character.

I have never read anything by Rob Ashman and I was pleasantly surprised.This book kept me captivated from the very first chapters. I would definitely recommend and glad to see there is more books coming in this series! loved!