A Dark, Divided Self

Bernard Watts had hoped to take early retirement, but instead he is promoted to Detective Chief Inspector (DCI) and assigned to a high profile case. He is again assisted by criminologist Will Traynor to track down what appears to be a serial killer. PC Chloe Judd is also still on the team assisting with important research on the case, along with other detectives and academic experts.

This is the third book in the Will Traynor Forensic Mystery series. I read both of the prior books, but it could stand alone. Although the series is called the Will Traynor series, I think he and DCI Watts are both the main characters and Watts is my favorite. Will is dedicated and brilliant and is able to make many important contributions as to the kind of person who could commit the atrocious crimes that have been committed. However, Watts is responsible for leading up the whole investigation and dealing with all the various team members, securing the resources he needs, and dealing with the pressure to solve the case as soon as possible. He is a wonderful leader and his team members, especially Chloe, appreciate all she has learned from him. Chloe is young and can be impulsive, but I like that her character has shown growth and is becoming a very good detective.

I enjoy the details of a procedural and this story builds slowly and becomes suspenseful as the detectives and academics work to find a resolution to the case. At least five women are thought to have been victims of the killer they’re looking for. It is a very scary case that gets creepier as more and more about his methods is revealed. It reminded me of a Criminal Minds episode - the case is creepy but a (mostly) cohesive team works together to solve the case. I had some suspicions as to who the killer was, but ultimately I guessed incorrectly until the very end. I really like this well-written series and hope this isn’t the last we see of Bernard, Will, and Chloe and the rest of the team. (4.5 stars)

I received this ebook from NetGalley through the courtesy of Severn House. An advance copy was provided to me at no cost, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.

This is the second book I read in this series and I thoroughly enjoyed it as it's compelling, twisty, and highly entertaining.
It's a slow burning story, there's a lot going on and the pace is a bit slow, and there's a lot of technical discussions which are relevant to the plot.
The mystery is solid, full of twists, and kept me guessing.
Good character development and storytelling.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

A dark divided self by A.J. Cross.
A Will Traynor forensic mystery Book 3.
When the badly decomposed remains of a young woman are discovered in an isolated wooded area just outside Birmingham, the victim is quickly identified as Amy Peters, a Manchester University student who disappeared three years earlier. She is one of five young women who vanished from the streets of Manchester within a two-year period.Called in to assist the police investigation, criminologist Will Traynor believes they are looking for an intelligent, socially confident individual, someone adept at covering his tracks. But why would the killer transport the victim on an eighty-mile journey from Manchester to Birmingham? If he can find the answer to that question, Traynor believes he has the key to cracking the case.But at every stage of the investigation, the killer seems to be one step ahead of him. If he's going to outsmart him, Will realizes he's going to have to play this twisted individual at his own deadly game.
A really good read. Likeable story and characters. 4*.

When the decomposed remains of a young woman are discovered just outside Birmingham, criminologist Will Traynor is drawn into a baffling investigation.
When the badly decomposed remains of a young woman are discovered in an isolated wooded area just outside Birmingham, the victim is quickly identified as Amy Peters, a Manchester University student who disappeared three years earlier. She is one of five young women who vanished from the streets of Manchester within a two-year period.
Called in to assist the police investigation, criminologist Will Traynor believes they are looking for an intelligent, socially confident individual, someone adept at covering his tracks. But why would the killer transport the victim on an eighty-mile journey from Manchester to Birmingham? If he can find the answer to that question, Traynor believes he has the key to cracking the case.
But at every stage of the investigation, the killer seems to be one step ahead of him. If he's going to outsmart him, Will realizes he's going to have to play this twisted individual at his own deadly game.

This is a wonderful addition to this thrilling series!
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great suspense and action with wonderful world building that adds so much to the story.
Such a thrilling read that I couldn't put it down.
Can't wait to read more of these.
Recommend reading.

I was provided an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher. This is my own honest voluntary

Part of the series, when the decomposed remains of a young woman are discovered just outside Birmingham, criminologist Will Traynor is drawn into a baffling investigation. I thought it was well written, with absolutely flawlessly done characters, and absolutely unputdownable.

A cold case with unusual complications and implications

“A Dark, Divided Self” is the third book of “The Will Traynor Forensic Mysteries.” Each chapter is conveniently time-stamped to provide continuity and framework for readers. Characters are briefly introduced within the context of current events, and pertinent information from previous books is seamlessly included in the narrative.
The story is conversation driven, and readers see the participants both as casual, good natured friends, and as dedicated, focused, resolute professionals. The players have other things going on in their lives, but they work together to solve this case. The action is told from alternating points of view, so early on, readers learn something that investigators only learn much later.
The investigation begins as a “cold case;” the remains of a body are found in a remote field. The investigation progresses with purpose and determination, and details are documented day by day, sometimes minute by minute. More victims are identified, and more unanswered questions arise. There are investigations by different people, with different perspectives, and very different ideas about the crime. DNA is found, but without a match; evidence goes missing; the tension escalates.
“A Dark, Divided Self” brings the diverse details of a complex case into sharp focus. The perpetrator is clever and cunning but no match for the dedicated investigating team; they uncover him as the “creeping horror” that he really is. I received a review copy of “A Dark, Divided Self” from A.J. Cross, Severn House, and Canongate Books Ltd. It is compelling and twisted with surprises on every page.