A Life for a Life

This is a book of mystery and intrigue…after reading the prologue, I became so confused, it took me forever to ascertain what was going on in this book…I maintain the mystery should be the murder…not determine which characters are which…the author has woven a story of intrigue, but getting to the gist of it took awhile…I do look forward to other books by this author…try this one…enjoy…the book was sent to me electronically for review from Netgalley.

It starts with one body, a man found with a hole in his head at a train station, but DI Kate Young soon finds herself awash in victims, all seemingly killed by the same person. With nothing apparent connecting the victims, the search for the killer becomes even more difficult. Are these just random killings? While she struggles with the case, she’s still actively trying to bring down crooked police Superintendent John Dickson, but how deep does the corruption run in the police force and is Kate risking her life trying to find out? I love this series, Kate is a beautifully flawed protagonist and Wyer’s background storylines are just as fascinating as the foremost plot

This book was full of everything I wanted to read. Unfortunately it took me a while to actually get into the book. But I enjoyed it

DI Kate Young is called to investigate when a young man is found on a station platform with a hole in his head. As more bodies pile up, she races to find the killer. Kate also must deal with her own demons, determined to expose corruption after her husband's death. Another good entry to the series - thrilling plot and keeps you turning the pages until the end. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of the book in return for my honest feedback.

Nobody can get into the mind of an erratic killer—except an unpredictable detective.

When a young man is found lying on a station platform with a hole in his head, DI Kate Young is called in to investigate the grisly murder. But the killing is no one-off. As bodies start to pile up, she is faced with what might be an impossible task—to hunt down a ruthless killer on a seemingly random rampage.

Meanwhile, Kate has her own demons to battle as she struggles to come to terms with her husband’s death. And she is hell-bent on exposing corruption within the force and bringing Superintendent John Dickson to justice. But with the trail of deception running deeper—and closer to home—than she could ever have imagined, she no longer knows who she can trust.

With her grip on reality slipping, Kate realises that maybe she and the killer are not so different after all. But time is running out and Kate is low on options. Can she catch the killer before she loses everything?

I honestly did not expect to love this book as much as I really did.
This author is now my new favorite and this series I think is also my favorite detective series.
I love Kate so much!!

This is another great installment in the DI Kate Young series. It's the worst type of case - when the crimes are seemingly random, not a single connection between the victims or locations. All she and her team have is the method that a killer is using to eliminate his victims - a gruesome, supposedly humane weapon used with animals. Aside from that, there are no clues at any of the crime scenes, nothing useful captured on CCTV, no relationships between the victims, or anything else that might help the officers determine who could be next. And at the rate the bodies are piling up, they know this killer has no intention of stopping. They make the decision to bring in a profiler, Samuel, and boy is he a character. His methods are a bit unorthodox, but Kate has no other option than to try and understand WHY the crimes are being committed, which may help them determine WHO would commit them.

Kate is also still working to bring down the Superintendent that she believes is responsible for her husband's death. She has a lot of circumstantial evidence, but not the absolute proof that she needs to take what she knows to her superiors. She's trying to locate crucial witnesses to his crimes, but fears they have either disappeared or been disposed of because of what they know. Dickson has no problem eliminating anyone that's even the smallest threat to him. Kate desperately wants to turn to her DCI for help, but she still doesn't know if it's safe to trust William. Especially because her sister Tilly insists that their father was the target of some unsavory accusations, and William was his best friend. She's never heard a word about this, so surely Tilly must be mistaken?

Kate clearly has a lot to figure out and it's safe to say that it's a bit much for her fragile state of mind. She's dead set on justice for her husband, but it may just destroy her in the process. There's quite an ending to this story, and I can't wait to see how it plays out in the next book!

Oh my word, what a thrilling read. Not a whodunnit, but a ‘how can they catch him’ story. I really like the main character and I’m pleased the ongoing story of her husband’s murder has finally been cleared up. I enjoy well written complex characters and this book has a couple; Kate herself, the first victim and the fabulously weird profiler. This series deals with the darkness of being bereaved and, even though it is crime fiction, it reminds you that the murdered characters will have grieving friends and family. Brilliant!

I’d like to thank netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. I have read many of Carol’s books and they never disappoint. This one was no exception . We follow Kate Young, a detective as she is solving murders and trying to gather and obtain more evidence against police superintendent Dickson. Both storylines weave together seamlessly until the finally climax, and a cliffhanger I didn’t see coming. Can’t wait to see what happens in the next book, I enjoy that Kate and the other characters all have flaws and how those flaws tie into the storyline.

Overall the book was very atmospheric, which is something I really look for when reading a mystery/thriller. I enjoyed following the protagonist too. Kate Young wasn't unbearable or annoying to read about. I don't have anything bad to say about the story, but I also don't think that it's super impressive.

Thank you NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for the eARC.
I didn't enjoy this book as much as the previous ones. I'm getting tired of DI Kate Young's constant obsession with Dickson and her need to revenge her husband Chris' murder. Even the murders committed by someone who, like her is suffering from PTSD and has an unbelievable wish to murder others because of his trauma. It just felt unrealistic. Sorry!

OMG! I was glued to this third installment of the DI Kate Young series. Carol Wyer knocked it out of the park with this book.

I love Kate's character as well as the other members of her team. I hope to see more of them soon.

Thanks to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

DI Kate Young is an officer permanently living on the edge. The last year has been traumatic and however hard she tries she knows its not going to get better any time soon. Her team, all three of them, are a familiar presence in her life but even with them she can't relax.

A new investigation begins when a young man is found dead on a small deserted railway station unfortunately with no witnesses or apparent reason for his demise. Someone must know something though, right?  A second killing happens far too quickly for anyone's liking doubling the team's problems and Kate juggles the current workload alongside her obsessive determination to find proof of corruption at the heart of her own police department.

With her mental health issues becoming more apparent once more Kate knows time is running out on all fronts. Does she have any chance of catching a seemingly random killer or will they and those defending the indefensible finally beat her down?

This is the third book in the series and once again Carol Wyer puts her main protagonist through the wringer! The murder investigation is Columbo-esque with the perpetrator and their reasons for killing clear to the reader from the start. The clues to understanding for the team are complex but expertly revealed and keep the pages turning long into night.

Kate and her team work. They are strong together as well as apart and I enjoyed seeing things from their pov alongside Kate's. Her sister is also here once again and showing a different side to Kate which I found lessened the tension for a short whenever she appeared. I hope there will be more from Kate and her team in the not too distant future, especially as once again the author left the reader with a cliffhanger to ponder in the meantime!

I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the opinions expressed are my own. This is an excellent addition to a very good series but the previous two books do need to be read first.

DI Kate Young series by Carol Wyer
This is a fantastic Detective series. Kate Young is a brave, valiant and very human character
She is reeling from the Violent death of her much loved husband
She is also a busy detective trying to investigate a seemingly random and baffling series of murders
Meanwhile the seed of corruption running through the force keeps her up at night
She wants justice!
Nothing will stop her...
I love this heroine. She is very real and you find yourself rooting for her all the way
Cannot wait to see where she goes next
Highly recommended

My thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing Uk for a copy of “ A Life For A Life “ for an honest review.

Carol Wyer was a new author to me, when I requested an advanced copy of the first in her Detective Kate Young series of books.She has now become one of my favourite writers
I was particularly interested ,due to “An Eye For An Eye “ being set in areas in Staffordshire that I live by..
How great it was to find that the story itself was really well written , with well rounded characters and full of suspense. The second , “ A Cut For A Cut “ was equally as good .I’ve recommended both books to many readers, who have all had the same opinion as myself.
This third didn’t disappoint, I couldn’t put it down ! The only problem now is having to be patient for the next in the series .

I really like Carol Wyer's writing style. I loved the DI Natalie Ward series and it's taken me a little while to warm to this one but I think I'm starting to get there!

I like Kate's team and I really enjoyed following the investigation with them. I love how even minor characters are well developed and realistic, and how well the scenes are set.

The only niggle is that I think the Chris storyline has gone on for long enough and I always find the main investigation much more interesting than the subplot.

A breathtaking book. I have loved all the Kate Young series of books and this latest addition was no exception. An excellent plot and ending - please let there be a next one?

This is the third police procedural story in the DI Kate Young crime series. In this novel we have two focal points to whet our appetites. The first intriguing case is a series of unfathomable murders, one every day, and always committed in the late afternoon or early evening using the identical method. These slaughters were definitely committed by the same person, but just why the team couldn’t fathom. Not only that, but the modus operandi is exactly the same without any deviances. When Kate and her team are really scratching their heads, a Profiler called Samuel is brought in to help them make sense of what sort of person the killer is. He immediately becomes engrossed with his task, using his skills and perception. Samuel is an eccentric man in many ways, and not always reliable either. The crimes appear to be arbitrary, which is surprising considering the perpetrator plans everything else to the last detail. The first victim was despatched with a Stun gun as he was walking away from the train he had just disembarked from. The murders ratchet up and the team are put under pressure to solve the case before more bodies line up in the morgue. In the middle of all this, DCI ‘William’, her mentor and once her father’s best friend, persuades her to go for promotion. He knows she is talented, determined and a great policewoman. Good luck there Kate.
The second focal point in this novel is the case Kate is managing on her own and with hired knowledgeable but civilian professionals. She has taken this course because she did not know who she could trust in her own station. Kate had taken on this case after her beloved husband was murdered before he could wrap up and present the evidence he had accumulated in the case he was working on: a case about police corruption involving her own Superintendent John Dixon. She is obsessed on completing the work that her husband had died for. Her anxiety levels and mental health issues have seen her having counselling, so devastated to lose her soul mate in such tragic circumstances. Still she ploughs on with both cases determined to bring Dixon down.
The story is set in the Stoke-on Trent area and also on Blithfield reservoir, as seen on the front gorgeous cover of the book. The suspense and tension is ramped up with non-stop action, thrills and spills. There is so much at stake for Kate. The story telling is superlative and the storyboard is managed to maximise the excitement, worry and dread. It is always lovely to read books in a series because you already know the characters and as their story continues you know more and more. However this could easily be read as a standalone novel. I really admire the writing of Carol Wyer, and the good news is that she gets better and better with each story. ‘A Life for a Life’ is richly envisaged and this novel is even more authentic because of the meticulous research and attention to detail. I highly recommend this thriller for you to read.
I was delighted to receive a copy of this novel through NetGalley and publisher Thomas & Mercer after requesting to review it in return for an honest review. These are my own uninfluenced opinions. This is a definite must read if you like novels with plenty of heart, a riveting plot and plenty of suspense.

Wowsers what a read ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Firstly huge thanks to the author for the ARC.
This is the 3rd book in the Kate Young series. Now this is a perfectly good standalone read as the sub plot backstory is covered well but I urge you, if you’ve not already read the first two, do, you’re in for such a treat and I envy you the back to back binge watch.
This book is told in three concurrent parts. Kate and her team are called to the murder of a young man at a train station, which is quickly followed by further murders, the only single discernible link being the method of dispatch. Apart from this the murders appear random and unsolvable because of their randomness
We also follow the villain as he commits the murders and while we the reader get, after a while, a possible understanding you can feel the sense of hopelessness within the team as they grapple to get any possible clues, and when they do, only to have them snatched from them. It’s a credit to the excellent writing that we feel a sympathy for him too.
Thirdly the sub plot, which is unbelievably brilliant, hurtles along until you think that this has finally got to be the undoing of Kate as she is faced with not only a complete distrust of almost everyone around her, isolation and crippling loneliness, but guilt for some of her methods. An explosive ending leaves her with just one possible real choice, but is it one she could life with?

DI Kate Young #3
3.5 rounded up

Happy family group heading to the airport, then a horrifying car crash. Meanwhile, DI Kate Young is seeking the proof she needs to bring down corrupt superintendent John Dickson any way she can and especially desperately for the death of her husband Chris for which she holds Dickson responsible. This runs covertly alongside the hunt for the killer of Tobias Abrahams, swiftly followed by more deaths.

I enjoyed the last book in the series and although this one is good, I don’t think it’s quite as good as that. Kate is a very interesting central character, she comes across as enigmatic, understandably a bit withdrawn after Chris‘s death but she’s still a good police officer, very determined and hard-working. In this the author conveys her many emotions, fury, grief and desperation for revenge and justice, this is done extremely well. You also sense her looking over her shoulder as who can she trust? There’s quite a sinister feel at times, are there eyes everywhere on her? The characters in the team are also very good, some are flawed and carrying baggage but that makes them feel authentic. Emma and Morgan are especially likeable. I like the addition of Samuel the profiler who seems fascinating and he adds an extra dimension.

The case really challenges the team as they try to figure out the identity of the perpetrator before someone else loses their life. There are plenty of shocks to be uncovered along the way with moments of tension and suspense. The ending is really good and I can’t wait to see what happens next.

However, the start feels a bit disjointed and maybe a bit messy before it gets into its stride and it also becomes quite psychological in tone which causes the pace to rise and then fall on occasions. Despite this, I do still enjoy it as I really like the series and I find Kate fascinating.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Amazon Publishing UK for that much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

Another cracking contribution to the excellent Kate Young series. Once I get past the obstacle of Kate trying to talk to her dead husband, I find this a very good, engrossing and involving series, and A Life For A Life is probably the best instalment. While attempting to solve her current case Kate continues to look into the past of her boss, in an attempt to bring him down. She is tasked here with joining the dots in what appears to be a succession of random killings and the case and its resolution are ultimately satisfying and revealing.

A life for a life is the third book in the Detective Kat Young series and what a great instalment it is.
The story starts with a happy family on the way to the airport looking forward to their family holiday. When tragedy strikes and an accident occurs. The wife and the kids died instantly for the father to live but devasted by his loss.
Detective Kate young is called to a young man murdered at a train station he was shot in the head. At first, they think it is a suicide but, after delving further that find that his death is the worse kind. It was a random killing and there is no idea why he was picked. As Kate and her team investigate the killer strikes again. The same random killing and locations and Kate is worried if they don’t find the killer soon, more bodies will turn up. She is also still grieving over the death of her husband Chris and often doubts her own mental health, but she has a great team, and she is up to the task to find the killer.
With all that going on she is also trying to find out who her husband’s killer is. He was killed while he was investigating some corruption in the Police Force. Kate is Brave. She wants to find out who killed her husband, but also must tread carefully as she thinks her boss is involved.
Thank, you once again Amazon for an ARC of Life to Life by Carol Wyer. This is another great instalment in the series. The storyline a bit slow at first to ascertain what it is going on but, it soon becomes clear. This is a great page turner. I like the character of Kate her determination to doing her job but also her vulnerability. And what a cliff-hanger? Can’t wait for the next instalment. 4 stars from me.

This book has it all: murder, police corruption, personal struggles, etc. The only thing missing in Kate's life is romance, but as a grieving widow, that is the last thing on her mind. While trying to solve a case involving multiple murders and few clews, Kate and her small team are chasing leads that go nowhere and racing to find the perpetrator before more lives are lost. If that's not enough to keep her busy, Kate is also still trying to find evidence that her boss is corrupt and responsible for her husband's murder. Burning the candle at both ends does not come close to describing her situation, unless it is dynamite instead of a candle. It's an exciting read and leaves us with a cliffhanger. I eagerly await the next book.

A bit of a slow starter for me but then it got going and it was a well written book with good characters and kept me on the edge of my seat until the ending.

I can definitely recommend this book and thank you to Netgalley and Amazon Publishing for allowing me to read this book.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for this ARC.

I think this series just gets better with each book and I really enjoyed this read. DI Kate Young and her team investigate a number of similar yet random murders and are unable to find any connections between the victims. In the background Kate is still trying to get evidence about a corrupt officer and find out who was responsible for her husband’s death. I think this is a very well written and engaging book with strong characters who are realistically and believably portrayed. The main character is flawed yet still likeable and I was rooting for her throughout. I thought the book started off fairly slowly although it soon began to pick up pace. The author captured my attention right from the start and held it all the way through. I loved the many separate story threads here, and the last quarter of the book became a real page turner of a read where all the story threads begin to connect up and the book raced to a thrilling conclusion. Even the one member of the Police team I didn’t like at the start grew on me by the end. And the ending - wow, wow, wow I didn’t expect that. Overall a great read, and the best one in the series so far in my opinion.

I would recommend this for those that like police procedurals and also that you read the books in order.

I found it really hard to get into this title as I expected much smoother writing. The constant need of the main character to get into a conversation with her dead husband also became annoying after a while.

It did get a bit better at the end.

Another gripping instalment in the rolling series of detective Kate Young books!
Yet again the story is well written, thrilling, and unputdownable!
A great read.

Carol Wyer does it again! I was up late into the night reading this. Can't wait to get it from audible so I can start the series again.

Wow, what a roller cioaster ride. What a story. One of the best books I've read in a long time. This is the first Carol Wyer book I've read, she's an amazing writer. I'm now going back and reading the first two installments - it works well as a stand alone , but with how well it is written, I want to read more.

Loved it. A really human book.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher I read a free advance review copy of the book. This review is voluntary, honest and my own opinion.

#ALifeforaLife #NetGalley having just read A cut for a cut, I couldn't wait to get into this new installment in the DI Kate Young series and it certainly did not disappoint! Whilst this is capable of being read as a standalone, the reader will get more enjoyment having read the previous two books and knowing some of the back story surrounding Kate and her husband's and her relationship with Dickson and William. Excellent writing, as I have come to expect from Carol Wyer. A plot that keeps you guessing, plenty of action and twists and turns and an ending I definitely didn't see coming. I hope this series continues for many more installments! A superb 5 stars.

I read A Life for a Life without having read the first two books in the series and consequently this hampered my enjoyment initially as I struggled to catch up with Detective Kate Young's history and all the characters. I'd definitely recommend that anyone wanting to read these books, starts at the beginning.

We start with a major tragedy for a family, which leads into some horrendous crimes. Against this is the backdrop of Det Young's thirst for revenge against those she believes murdered her husband and other colleagues. Kate is decidedly flawed and on the edge most of the time, but somehow manages to keep it together - just. There are some twists and red herrings along the way as she and her team struggle to catch the rather unique killer, before we are led to a satisfying conclusion. Definitely not your run of the mill murders.

Fans of police procedurals and contemporary detective fiction with a female lead might enjoy this read.

A decent, if somewhat mediocre, police procedural. For a genre that should be about procedure, and the book keeps repeating that to us, the procedural part is lacking. The writing is decent, which helps a lot, since the book is overwritten in every sense, from the dialogue, to the (failed) attempt of internal monologue which is so repetitive to the point of exhausting the reader. It could honestly be half the size, and it would be a much better book.

Another gripping instalment in this now well established series with the return of several characters and a complex case for the team to solve.
Whilst Kate's need for revenge is understandable I do feel that too much of the book focuses on that as opposed to the main plotline.

Having read the Natalie Ward books and enjoyed I was keen to read this book. I hadn't read the first two but wasn't worried and indeed all you really need to know is recapped in first chapter. That said I do feel that the author has lost her way. Maybe I'm just being feeble, but I found the torture scenes at the beginning of the book absolutely shocking. as they had been orchestrated at the behest of a senior police officer. There does seem to be a trend, currently where authors compete for who can be the "grittiest", the "darkest" seemingly thinking that this is now the thing readers want. Well not this one. I enjoy a well crafted police procedural and whilst Natalie Ward could be annoying they were good reads. Quite sad really, as an author I previously enjoyed has gone so far off piste that the books are no longer enjoyable. The same story often goes on for ever. Very sad

Another fantastic read from Carol, I love this series.
Once I started reading I didn't want to stop. Kate is a great character who never gives up until she gets her killer. I look forward to reading more

I read ARC of #ALifeforaLife through #NetGalley , which is the third book of the DI Kate Young Series. I hadn’t read the first two novels of this series and I didn’t find any difficulty in understanding characters and back story etc. In #ALifeforaLife. DI Kate Young is investigating a series of murders along with secretly digging into who her husband’s killer is and gathering more evidence against the superintendent Dickson. The prologue was difficult to connect with the opening chapters and the concluding chapters were a rush. Nevertheless, #ALifeforaLife is a good entertaining novel detailing police procedure, with plenty of twists and turns, and an interesting ending. 3.5 Stars!

Kate is alone. Her husband Chris was murdered and she believes she knows the motive. He was uncovering corruption within the Police Force. As a detective herself, grieving for Chris, she is determined to investigate herself and expose his murderer. With only one ally and the possibility that any of her colleagues could be an enemy a serial killer starts a bizarre killing spree with no apparent clues or reason, Kate struggles with her grief and attempts to hold on to the sound if Chris' voice while heading the investigation. The book ends with jerk more of a jerk than a twist ! Where is the next book......

A young man is murdered, and it appears to be a random killing, no motive, no suspects. DI Kate Young is given the job of leading a small team of officers to look into this murder while still dealing with her grief following the murder of her husband, Chris, who died nearly a year ago. Not only that but she is also trying to bring down D/Supt John Dickson, who she believes is a corrupt officer and responsible for Chris’s death.

There is a lot packed into this murder/mystery and at times it felt a bit confusing. It took me a little while to get into the story and I didn’t particularly take to Kate at first. However, the other characters, such as Emma, Morgan & Jamie were interesting and believable, and it did become a page turner for me as the book and plot developed. One thing I found unbelievable was the way when the body count grew, no action was taken to expand the investigation team, and even with the premise that a senior officer was influencing this, there are protocols that would have had to be put in place. However, as a piece of fiction, it was an easy read.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I was given an ARC of this book and I enjoyed it because the plot was engaging and the characters pulled along the story very well.

Kate is a complex character – grieving due to the murder of her husband while balancing her job as a police officer to catch ‘the bad guys’ – yet, who exactly are they?

After the discovery of a bizarre killing, DI Kate Young is faced with a strange trail of events.

Themes such as murder, corruption, grief and insanity are the main ingredients in this book. There are parallels between Kate and...no spoilers from me.

I liked the writing style that had some great descriptions, thoughts and feelings. I haven’t read the previous stories in this series but that didn’t stop me from understanding what was happening, while the hints of the back story were enough to know the gist of its past meaning.

Some interesting characters also helped with the authenticity of the story.

A very good read and one I would recom

A Life for a Life by Carol Wyer is hands down one of the better crime/mystery novels I’ve read in a while. The story is captivating, and the writing is superb. The slow burn story transports the reader with life-like imagery. It just feels like you are there in the moment.

Kate Young, a detective with the local police, is trying to cope with the murder of her husband Chris while still running her special crimes unit. She used to hear him, speak to him, listen to him. But now that voice is gone, and she is desperate to get it back. She wants to avenge his death but maybe that’s the reason he left her. Maybe he doesn’t approve of her ways. But can she let go? Or will she sacrifice her morals and police oath in the name of justice?

When a young, intelligent accountant shows up dead at a railway station, DI Kate Young and her team set out to find why anyone could have wanted him dead. Sometimes the “why” isn’t what we expect. Kate and her team are baffled when another case with the same M.O. lands on their doorstep. With no leads, she knows the cards are stacked against her.

A saga of loss, dirty cops, and a reminder of karma, A Life for a Life will keep you guessing.
I intend to read more from this series and Carol Wyer. It is rare to find a book so well edited and clear. The words and storyline flow with ease.

I enjoyed this book. I thought it was well written and kept me interested enough to finish reading. I did like the characters who were not one dimensional! Yes all round good book

Wow I love Carol Wyers books normally but this seemed so chaotic and miss matched that I really found it hard to read. I finished it but I hope the next in the series is more balanced and paced. #ALifeforaLife #NetGalley

The latest in a stunning series
This one has two stories running in parallel. The main story for this book is what appears to be a totally random series of murders. The pure unexpected deaths of the people, in an original and grisly manner, is a complete mystery to the murder team. The only connection, the manner in which they are murdered
The second thread is the continuing story of DI Kate Youngs attempts to find justice for her murdered husband.
She knows a bent cop was at a sex club and witnessed a murder. She knows her journalist husband was just about to expose the club and it’s members, which included some powerful people.
She just needs to find the one witness, she knows is out there, who could tie up her investigation and get the justice her husband deserves.
Brilliant

This is book 3 in the Detective Kate Young series, which just keeps improving. Kate is a complex character, a very determined police officer, still recovering from the death of her husband. The team are investigating the murders of seemingly unconnected victims at the hands of a serial killer. Kate is still consumed with trying to bring down the corrupt Detective Superintendent John Dickson, who she believes is responsible for the death of her husband. A slow burner, but filled with suspense and tension, as Kate goes on a rollercoaster of a ride of emotions to catch a killer. I urge readers to read the first two books in the series, although there is sufficient background information to satisfy.as a stand alone. It's a 5* read from me. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

A Life for a Life is book 3 in the Detective Kate Young series. In this novel we have a Erika killer on the loose with seemingly no links between the victims. It’s a random rampage that leaves Kate and her team with very little evidence as they race against the clock before more bodies turn up. Meanwhile Kate is still battling her own demons struggling with her husband’s death and still trying to bring a senior police officer to justice. This book, like the previous two, had me hooked. It moves at a fast pace with plenty of action and you feel with this instalment that you can really experience Kate’s suffering. A great read that is hard to put down. I would rate it 4.5*. Thank you to NetGalley, Amazon Publishing UK and the author for the chance to review.

Kate Young is a very complex and troubled character and for very good reason. And it's fair to say that this is perhaps her most complicated case to date, which, given her current state of mind makes for one hell of an electrifying combination. If you are a fan of the series, then you are going to love this as it sees one element of Kate's very dark story brought to a rather dramatic head, whilst still giving all the twisted mystery and tension that we've come to expect from author Carol Wyer. If you are new to the series, this may not be the best place to start if you like to uncover every part of a character's history for yourself, but the case itself, the perplexing and seemingly unconnected murders that plague Kate and her team, are most definitely a standalone story that can be read in isolation.

Now the opening of this book is quite dramatic. It sets the scene for what comes to pass and it is fair to say that, once you have read it, you will automatically be on high alert. The killer in this case is no surprise to us as readers, the full circumstances of why they choose to do what they are doing may be. Although It's true that I've come to expect the unexpected in this series, and given Kate's own past, it is actually a very fitting way to take the series to the next level. It's tragic and emotional, but no excuse for what happens, and not something that the team are easily able to connect to the vicious, seemingly unconnected and almost clinical nature of the killings they are asked to investigate. It puts Kate and the team very much in the spotlight, and potentially gives those who want to see Kate's downfall, the ammunition they need to end her once and for all.

I really like Kate as a character. Yes she's a woman who is really on the edge, often battling with her conscience in pursuit of the truth, and there are many quirks to her character which give us, as readers, and her colleagues, pause for thought, but she is very likeable in spite of this. Her dedication to her job is never in question, although her private obsessions do prove to be often distracting and there is an element of her character which is in absentia this time around and it is really making a mark. That whole question over who she can trust, who is for or against her, is really brought front and centre over the course of the case, with surprising revelations throughout the book, If you know, you know. If you don't ... well start at book one and it will all be clear.

The book is packed with tension and emotion. There are scenes which are borderline uncomfortable, when you wonder if the author really has the darkness within to take the story where it appears to be heading. Whether she does, whether Carol Wyer is that twisted, you'll have to read to find out, but there were many moments when I felt my heart rate increase and I had that edge of the seat tension that I love in her books. Perhaps it is that question of 'can I really do this' that is reflected in the perpetrator of the crimes, that inner conflict and turmoil that prevents them from becoming a completely irredeemable character and amplifies the emotional impact of the crimes that are committed.

I have loved getting to know Kate and the team over the course of the three books, and seeing the development of Emma and Morgan, getting to know a bit more about each of them, has really added to the story. I like the camaraderie, and perhaps more, between the pair. They complement each other and they are fiercely loyal to Kate, even in her most abstract moments. Even Jamie shows another side to his character this time around which will only serve to make the next in the series an even more interesting prospect. And then there is profiler Samuel. It's fair to say he's a somewhat unusual character, although perhaps exactly what I'd expect in this particular team. Even by their standards though he's kind of out there and gives more reason than most for us to cast a sceptical and perhaps accusing eye his way.

This is another great addition to the series with an absolutely dynamite ending. Quite where Carol Wyer is likely to take us all next I do not know, but I'm damned sure I'll be going along for the ride.

I found the plot interesting to follow with all its twists, as well as Kate's struggle with the many troublesome issues she faces. It's a fast paced novel that I thought was going to have a satisfying ending but I was a puzzled how it closed - or didn't, as far as I was concerned. Is that the author's abrupt way of signalling a sequel?
I love the cover design, especially with the lone swan on it.
Many thanks for the opportunity to read this book for an honest review.

It took me a while to get back into this series, as it has been over a year since book two was released (maybe I would have been better off rereading the first two books as a refresher?). This picks up pretty much straight away, with Kate still trying to find justice for her husband’s death. You are reminded about what has happened before, but it’s not all in one lump sum; it’s spread out as and when is needed. This made it a little harder to remember everything but for new readers picking this up as their first read probably made it flow more fluidly.
The investigation was relatively tame for what I know this author is capable of. I did find the motives and reasons behind all that happened to be quite weak. I felt it was more a wake-up call for Kate about how she could have been rather than it being based on anything realistic. However, it did have an air of unjust throughout; the lives taken were such a waste.
Kate was quite frustrating throughout the book; instead of her complete focus being on getting the victim’s justice and finding the killer, she was preoccupied with her own troubles. She then threw in the mix applying for promotion; I didn’t feel like this was the right headspace for her to be in. It was just adding more into her troubled mind making her incompetent at her job. So I was finding her behaviour quite exasperating. Her constant need to reconnect and speak to Chris was too repetitive throughout the book.
Overall, it wasn’t a bad read, but I did take a while to get through it as there was just something missing from it to keep me hooked. Something was stopping me from picking it up and devouring it.

I love this series, great addition to the DI kate young set. Kate is called to a murder scene where a man has been shot in the head.. The bodies keep coming, someone is on a murder spree, its up to kate and the team to find who it is. Kate is still coming to terms with losing her husband chris and is convinced superintendent John Dickson is corrupt and knows exactly what happened to chris. Can she finally prove it or has she got it totally wrong? Highley recommend

I’m sorry but I wasn’t keen on this book. The beginning was confusing and it took me a while to work out what was going on. The writing was good, but the plot was too implausible and the long ‘conversations’ with the dead husband really got on my nerves. Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC and apologies for not being more positive.

The next thrilling instalment of the Kate Young series and OMG WHAT A PAGE TURNER!!!!
Sat on the edge of my seat and tapping my kindle like a demented wood pecker. What a story I literally have no nails left and a pile of ironing. What the Heck. This book is that good . Packed to the rafters with tension and suspense and a story that blew me away. This series keeps going from strength to strength and I can't the next in this gripping and very addictive series. Loved loved it and another MUST READ!!!!
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for giving an honest review.

‘A Life For A Life’ is the third instalment in the Detective Kate Young series as she seeks the person who’s randomly picking victims and killing them with a humane bolt pistol. While this is happening, Kate is searching for evidence against a senior police officer who she believed to be responsible for her husband Chris’s death and other matters relating to corruption.
With the number of bodies increasing daily, Kate knows that until she and her team can find a connection between the victims they can’t begin to guess who the killer is going to target next and brings in a profiler, Samuel Links, to assist them.
I’ve been fortunate to have read the previous two books in the series so I’ve had good background knowledge and understanding of what’s happened previously, and as this latest instalment continues Kate leads her reduced team second-guessing who the killer is going to choose as his next victim.
This is an exceptionally exciting thriller that’s kept me totally engrossed from page one. It’s superbly written with a plot full of drama, tension, suspense and so many nail-biting twists and turns that I seriously doubted Kate’s ability to solve it. I love reading about Kate and her team of Emma, Morgan and Jamie, and with such a cliffhanger of an ending I can’t wait until I have the chance to read the next in the series to see where Kate’s job leads her. My thanks to Amazon Publishing UK and NetGalley for the opportunity to give my honest and unbiased review of this amazing thriller.

Another great book in the DI Kate Young series. Gripped from the first page with plenty of twists and turns but a tad confusing in places as seemed to jump about a bit. Still thoroughly enjoyed it and look forward to the next instalment.

I have not read the previous two books so found it confusing at the beginning. The main character obsessing about talking to her dead husband was very annoying throughout the book. As story picked up pace I began to enjoy it more. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review it.

This was my first outing with DI Kate Young, not realising this is book three in a series. Having said that, this book reads well as a standalone, with flashbacks to the important parts of previous books. The main thing - the murder of Kate’s husband, Chris.

His murder leads to Kate running an unofficial investigation into Superintendent Dickson whom she believes to be responsible, oh, and we also have a spate of seemingly random, current murders for her to investigate too! As the bodies stack up but the investigation stalls, Kate brings in a profiler, Samuel. I felt he was an odd addition to an already offbeat team, but I did warm to his quirkiness. Samuel’s profile helps Kate to understand that she and the killer are battling similar demons. Personally, I enjoyed the official investigation storyline more than the subplot, but they do come to intertwine successfully.

I really like how the author writes and will read more of her books, which is good, as the ending is quite the cliff-hanger, and I am keen to see what Kate does next.

Another fantastic episode in the life of DI Kate Young. Still grieving for her murdered husband, Kate now investigates a series of murders relating to another grieving widow. I can't wait for the next instalment.

This is a cleverly devised story of a serial killer being sought by DI Kate Young who has other personal issues to contend with. Her husband was pursuing DS Dickson as a suspect in underage sex trafficking. As he became close to revealing what he knew, he was killed. Kate is living with her personal grief as well as wanting revenge on her senior officer. She needs proof and that is the sub story of this book. It turns out that the serial killer has issues not dissimilar to Kate’s. The two strands are excitingly developed in this well written book. There is a caste of well drawn characters too. The plot is based in Lancashire. I recommend this book very highly.

DI Kate Young and her small team chase a serial killer. There is no apparent link between the victims and no obvious way to stop them. A profiler is brought in to help but his insights don't initially add much. So how do Kate and co figure out just what is behind the murders?

Meanwhile Kate continues to investigate the corrupt Superintendent Dickson. She knows he was behind at least one murder, and suspects his involvement in the killing of her journalist husband. This underlying story has run through the series and it seems Kate is getting closer to the truth as she searches for missing witnesses.

As a lead detective, DI Young is a fascinating character. She has come through trauma, although by no means unscathed. She retains a suspicion that one of her team is secretly working for Dickson, or is that just paranoia? She has to balance a very difficult case with her quest to bring Dickson down, while also dealing with revelations from her family's past. And there's a DCI post coming up that she could be a candidate for too. No wonder she is stressed!

The cast of supporting characters is excellent too. We get to know more about the members of Kate's small team, adding to the overall cohesiveness of the series. This is a complex novel, with several story arcs on different timelines, and this makes for a compelling read.

Carol has done it again, what a fabulous book, it just shows what an excellent writer Carol is. As I’m a massive fan of Natalie (another series) I did wonder how this series would be, but I have to say, it is gripping. Kate is suffering (as one would) with the loss of her husband, and she is sure that his death was murder, but cannot seem get to the bottom of what happened. With the pressures of work, members of the police whom she doesn’t know if she can trust, she feels she’s losing her grip on her sanity.

The murder of a young man, and more murders are piling up, but there doesn’t seem to be any rhyme or reason why random people are targeted, poor Kate is against the clock with the pressure from her superiors, and she’s still trying to find out who ordered the hit on her husband, although she has a good idea, but trying to prove it is another thing!

It is an absolutely fantastic read with a wonderful twist.

My thanks to Carol, and the publishers for the ARC.

A Life for a Life by Carol Wyer is the third book in the Detective Kate Young series. I have read the first two in the series and enjoyed reading the series.
A life for a life is a fitting finale to Kate’s investigation into her husband’s murder and may be her ready to move on and investigate Serious Crime in another in another police region.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this series.
Highly recommended

I started off confused by this book. It look me until about a third of the way to realize what was really going on. I did find out that this is the third book so there is info that I don’t have. This book is slow until about half way and then I couldn’t put it down. I really love murder mystery type books. I will say I loved the connection between Kate and Ben. They seem to be going through the same thing but handling it in different ways. The ending does leave a huge cliffhanger so I’m excited to see where the next book leads off.

A Life for a Life by Carol Wyer is a highly recommended procedural/crime thriller.

The novel opens with a family group heading to the airport when a horrible accident occurs, which will immediately capture your attention. Then we switch to DI Kate Young who is in the midst of an investigation into the death of Tobias Abrahams who was shot in the head at the train station. While she and her team are investigating this murder and other connected murders, she is also trying to bring a case against corrupt superintendent John Dickson for the death of her husband Chris, who was working a case against Dickson. As the murders increase, the pressure is on the team to solve the murders.

This is book three in the Kate Young series and it is set in the Stoke-on Trent area and also on Blithfield reservoir. It is an exciting thriller and an engaging investigation as the tension rises as does the concern and dread, however, you need to know that there is a rather slow start before things really take off. Although it works as a stand alone, I feel like it might have been best if I read the first two books before book three. I felt like I had been left out of receiving some important information that I needed to know to fully appreciate the novel. Nevertheless, it is a page turner with excellent writing that will hold your attention throughout. The ending is a cliff hanger which will have you waiting for the next installment.

Kate is a flawed character which makes her very relatable and sympathetic, but she is also an intelligent, determined, and astute woman. You know she is dedicated to her job in spite of her obsessions and mourning the death of her husband but to counter that she is also smart and clever. Emma and Morgan add to the story. They work well together and are loyal to Kate.

Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Thomas & Mercer via NetGalley.



The review will be published on Barnes & Noble, Edelweiss, Google Books, and Amazon.

BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'A Life For A Life ' by Carol Wyer.

Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Carol Wyer and Thomas & Mercer publishers.

Publication date 15th March 2022.

This is the sixth book I have read by this author. It is also the third book in the 'DI Kate Young' series and although I have read the first book called 'An Eye For An Eye' and the second book called 'A Cut For A Cut' and highly recommended both, they can also be read as a standalone. I have also previously Carol's 'Detective Natalie Ward' series which I would also highly recommend.

I was originally drawn to this book by its gorgeous eye catching cover and its intriguing synopsis and title. I am also a huge fan of Carol and if this is half as good as any of her previous books it is sure to be a fantastic read. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Aberration Press Books. I have yet to read a book published by Thomas & Mercer that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).

This novel consists of a prologue and 27 chapters. The chapters are short to medium in length so possible to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!


This book is based in Staffordshire, UK 🇬🇧. The bonus for me of books that are partly or fully based in the UK is that I live in the UK and have sometimes visited places mentioned in the book which makes it easier to picture. I have actually visited Staffordshire on several occasions so am looking forward to see if I recognise anywhere

This book is written in third person perspective and the main protagonist is DI Kate Young and DS EMMA Donaldson. I enjoy books written in third person with several protagonists as it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters.

OMG!!!! ANOTHER ABSOLUTE PAGE TURNER!!! What are you doing to me!!!!! Seriously!!!!! I hope you are writing your next book as I write this!!! I'm talking to you Mrs Wyer!!!!! Right, yes, well anyway let's give you my review....


Carol Wyer does it Yet again!!! ABSOLUTELY Fantastically written as always ensuring a smooth and easy read that sucks you straight into the pages. Vivid descriptions put me in the middle of the action looking at everything going on in High definition. The cover and synopsis works perfectly with the storyline.


The storyline itself was very fast paced, rammed full of action, murder, mystery, suspense, tension and twists and turns. OMG the bombshells and unexpected twists which I was not expecting (a rarity to surprise me after the amount of crime books I've read but Carol does it without fail every time!!!) and a major cliffhanger at the end!!! I CANNOT WAIT for the next in this series. The storyline was realistic so easily imagined and the killings themselves were unique which is definitely a positive when you have read the same ones over and over again!! An absolutely addictive and compelling page turner!!! If your going to start reading this then clear your schedules because it is absolutely unputdownable!!!! It is filled with crime, loss, some romance, excitement, tension, suspense and so so much more!! You could NOT get any better than this. This is the best book I have read this year. I have loved all Carol's books but she just keeps getting better and better!! How do you do it?!?! The research Carol has put in absolutely shines through as does all her trips to the Blithfield reservoir. The descriptions are perfect as is the atmosphere. The storyline is also unique in the fact that the killer chooses at random and the why he is doing it too. It is so rare to find a unique storyline when it comes to crime as there are so many out there but yet again Carol has absolutely blown my mind and slamdunked it. The ending was just WHAT THE HELL SHUT THE THE FRONT DOOR!!! I literally shouted when I read it which earned a few strange looks from my partner lol. Seriously I NEED to know what happens next!!!!!

IF YOU LOVE A GOOD BOOK THEN THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST!!! WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? GRAB YOUR COPY NOW!!!!

I absolutely loved meeting all the characters again!! Kate is just amazing, an extremely strong female lead who didn't hold back the punches while going through hell herself after the trauma she had been through. I always love it when an author brings in strong women. I also liked Kate's personality and really felt for her on several occasions. I wasn't sure about Morgan in the first two books on this epic series but he has definitely grown on me and it is nice to see how much he has developed and grown from book to book. Morgan had me on stitches laughing on several occasions and his headbutting with Jamie was certainly entertaining. Jamie is a character who I'm still not sure about even after three books, sometimes he seemed OK and then he gave me a bit of a funny feeling and not in a good way so it'll be interesting to see what he is up to. Jamie did surprise me towards the end but he hasn't gained my trust just yet so watch this space. Emma is another strong woman who I really enjoyed meeting again and getting to know more abut her. I really felt for her, especially on this book, with everything she went through with her mum. I loved watching Emma and Morgan growing closer in this book and I definitely sense a spark of, dare I say, romance. I would love to see them pair up as a couple so am looking forward to see where this is going. I'm still not sure what I thought of William either, I thought I liked him in the first bookbut I have a strange feeling about him. My feelings keep swaying with him and yet again in this book he seems to be growing on me more but, again, whether I trust him is yet to be seen. I absolutely adored Ervin who made me laugh on several occasions!!! He is such a unique character and one you won't forget for a while. I enjoyed meeting Bradley again and although he is a very secretive man I enjoy meeting him in the books and he definitely brings some dark mystery to the novel. Samuel was a new and intriguing character who was definitely unique in a strange way. I actually enjoyed watching how he worked and it will be interesting to see if we meet him again. The other main character is superintendent John Dickson. I'm not going to say much about him as not to spoil it for anyone who hasn't read any books in this amazing series but just to say that his name suits him perfectly!! Regardless of who I did or didn't like they were all very strong and well defined characters who I'm looking forward to meet in the next 'episode'. A great team who have definitely become friends that I look forward to meeting every time and have really come to life for me. I cannot wait to meet them all again.


I am really looking forward to the next book and would LOVE to see this made into a movie!!! It would definitely be a best seller along with this amazing novel which kept me up late at night (early in the morning) as I just could not put it down!!!!

Congratulations Carol on another absolutely blooming page turning success!! This is exactly why you are my favourite crime author and this is my favourite series because you lady have talent!!! Keep up the amazing work and here is to your next success 🥂

Overall a not to be missed, must read addictive, explosive page turner with a BOMBSHELL ending!!!

Genres covered in this novel include Thriller, Police Procedural and Crime Fiction amongst others.


I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as Angela Marsons, Tess Gerritsen, anyone looking for a good book and YOU, your friends, your neighbours, just everyone!!


363 pages.

This book is just £3.99 to purchase on kindle or free on kindle unlimited via Amazon (during time of review) which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!

Rated 5/5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.

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The latest in the Detective Kate Young series set in Stoke on Trent - a new case for Kate and her team.
Someone is shooting people with a slaughterer’s gun. The team cannot work out the connection between the victims or the reason behind them.
Alongside this Kate is still trying to prove her boss Dickson is corrupt and was involved in her husband Chris’s murder - this proves a big distraction for Kate - verging on illegal and extremely dangerous to her and those helping her.
Enjoyable read although the Dickson story takes up too much of the book.
Enjoyed the ending and excited to read the next instalment.
Recommended reading for anyone interested in police procedurals.
4 Stars ⭐️
Thanks to Netgalley for allowing me to read this book in return for a fair review.

DI Kate Young and her team have no clues as to why a young man has been murdered. With more murders occurring, finding the killer is becoming a daunting task.

With Kate still trying to get to the bottom of who was behind the hit on her husband, as well as exposing police corruption, she has plenty on her plate.

Kate is becoming a firm favourite with me. I find myself feeling for her and her fight for justice, which she is pretty much having to do by herself. This is a dangerous road that she is on and brings another edge to the story. Kate’s team work well together but you can sense their frustration at being unable to help Kate in her personal life as she keeps everyone shut out.

And as for that cliffhanger of an ending…. well, I will leave it there!

My thanks to NetGalley and the author for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

A rich fruit cake has a large number of ingredients, so too has A Life for a Life by Carol Wyer. There's a seemingly unsolvable series of murders, DCI Kate Young mourning her dead husband and a sub plot involving corrupt police, sex workers, hit men and ex SAS members. Did I not mention the criminal profiler? Yes, a very rich cake indeed. However, it was underbaked and somewhat soggy. The only couple of redeeming features were the interweaving of the murderer's mental state and Kate's realisation she was suffering similarly and the conclusion which pepped things up a bit.
I do have quite a few niggles though:
The murder weapon left powder and soot residues indicating it used an explosive propellant but no detective asked any potential witnesses if they heard a bang.
The detectives did not use HOLMES to check for similar crimes or indeed inputting their data from their present one. Preferring to ring round a few stations instead?
If a state-of-the-art sound recorder is the size of a paperclip, what's the size of the battery that powers it? Cloud cuckoo land.
Kates confrontation with Dickson might have ended with a staged suicide but instead he shot at her?

I liked this book but I didn't love it. The story of the killer who is picking victims seemingly at random would have been a really strong exciting read but unfortunately it was completely overshadowed by Kate's obsession with bringing down the people who she believed had her husband murdered. This would have been fine had she found out anything new but she just seemed to continually go over the same thing. All this made for a story that I found myself skimming through and which, in my opinion, not suitable for reading as a stand alone.

I always enjoy Carol Wyer's work and this was no exception.
A solid police procedural thriller which jogs along to a satisfying conclusion at a good pace.
My only criticism is that the opening scenes (After the prologue) relate to the back story which is only clear if you are already invested in the series. Therefore it may put readers off a little from the start.
That said it soon concentrates on the main plot which is, as usual, exceptionally well written.
looking forward to the next one already.

DI Kate Young is investigating the murder of a young man on a deserted railway platform. There is no motive and no suspects. Then another body is found, murdered in exactly the same way and then another. There is no connection between them and it seems like random shootings but why?
Kate is also dealing with suspected corruption in the force which is close to home but could the two be linked.?
This twists and turns and will keep you guessing to the end .

A Life for a Life starts out strong and never lets up.

Kate and her team ( love them all) are desperately trying to find out who is killing people it seems not only erratically but randomly.

It's tough to find a killer if you have no idea of the motive and when they will strike again.

In the meantime Kate is still trying to prove corruption in the police force and she is stretching herself very thin.

Kate can we talk? You are making me nervous.

The pages fly by as the team continues to find this monster.

Although this is book 3 in the Kate Young series you could easily read it as a stand alone but it will leave you wanting to go back to book one.

I am a huge fan of Carol Wyer, she is a great story teller that keeps me on the edge of my seat and by the end of the book, I could use a wine.

Thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for a nail biting read.

Third book in the Kate Young series. She is still trying to investigate corruption of a certain person in the police force while also dealing with a new case in which several seemingly unconnected people have been murdered. I wasn't sure when I started this one if I would want to continue this series because I haven't really loved the plot with Dickson running through the books, but I liked this one better and I'll probably try another one after all. 3.5 stars rounded to 4

3.5 stars rounded up.

Unfortunately this is not a whodunit or even a whydunit as it is pretty obvious from very early in the book. Of course the police, specifically DI Kate Young’s small team, don’t know these things so you have to watch them flounder around trying to find a link between the victims when there really isn’t one!

A random series of people are being killed by a captive bolt stun gun like the ones often used in abattoirs. The deaths seem to have nothing in common except that they all occur in the early evening in kind of public places (but at this time these places are not very crowded). Soon a profiler is called in and eventually Kate starts to realise that maybe the killer is feeling a similar grief to her own.

Luckily this story had another plot line. Since Kate’s husband, Chris, died around a year ago she has been determined to seek justice for him and unmask the people behind a sex trafficking ring. Unfortunately she suspects that a senior officer, Superintendent John Dickson, is behind Chris’s death and a number of others. She suspects Dickson of being very corrupt and of killing anyone who gets close to exposing him. So of course she must proceed with the utmost caution. By now she is pretty strung out - trying to do her day job while secretly collecting information to unmask Dickson and his cronies. She doesn’t know who she can trust.

She has also been relying on Chris’s ‘voice’ to guide her actions but he has been silent of late. Is this because she is close to crossing a line she may not be able to uncross? Even though Kate is becoming slightly unhinged, the members of her small team are just delightful characters and try to look out for her. DS Morgan Meredith is a gentle giant and DS Emma Donaldson has her own demons so she understands grief. But it is young DC Jamie Webster that Kate suspects is reporting to Dickson so she must be careful around him.

Kate’s constant imploring Chris to ‘speak’ to her got a bit tiring. What saved the book for me was Wyer’s excellent writing, the cohesiveness of the plot and the excellent pacing. The characters also behaved logically and there were none of the silly heroics we see in some crime thrillers. It will be interesting to see where the author takes DI Young from here - if, indeed, the series is continued. Many thanks to Netgalley and Amazon Publishing UK for the much appreciated arc which I reviewed voluntarily and honestly.

I was a bit confused by the start and had to check if i was reading the right book but once I continued, I really started to enjoy it. I did like that we saw more than Kate’s background story this time and hope that is the same in the next book. I would like to thank the publishers and Netgalley for letting me have an early copy to read and the opinions expressed are entirely my own views and are completely unbiased.

The third book of the Kate Young series.

I loved the intensity of the plot. Kate is still struggling with finding out the truth while hunting down a deranged killer.

I must admit I enjoyed the policing part of the story more than Kate's personal crusade as, for me, that just seemed very repetitive.

On the whole I enjoy reading these books and it will be interesting to see what Kate does next.

I really enjoyed this book and couldn’t put it down. It is the third book in the series but could be read without having read the others. I have read all 3 and enjoyed them all.

A Life for a Life is the third book in the Detective Kate Young series. I have read the previous books and enjoyed them and this third instalment was no exception. I like the characters and their development and this was a good solid story that I could not put down.

Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for my ARC.

DI Kate Young is called in to investigate the gruesome murder of a young man who is found on a station platform. He has a hole in his head ,which they discover has been caused by a bolt stun gun. An unusual weapon of choice.
As they look into this horrific death, more victims are found with the same injury. It is looking like there is a serial killer on the loose who is killing without pattern, or apparent motive. None of the victims are connected, and none of the murder sites make sense. How do they catch a killer who has no rhyme nor reason, and choses his victims & venues at random?

Kate also has her own demons to tend with. The voice of her late husband, Chris has been 'in her head' since his death. This has given her some comfort, but for some reason, his voice has now left her and no matter how much she 'talks' to him, he won't answer her. She also wants to bring Superintendent John Dickson to task, as she suspects corruption within the force, and thinks that he is the one responsible for her husband's death.

I enjoyed all aspects of this book. Carol Wyer has created a great set of charaters, and I look forward to reading more from her.

Another gripping story from Carol Wyer. Kate is called in to investigate another murder while still coming to terms with her husband's death, and taking down a corrupt Superintendent. No rest for the weary. Even though this wasn't my favorite, it still had me hooked and will read anything the Wyer writes. She just needs to write faster!!

A Life for a Life is my first introduction to author Carol Wyer and the Detective Kate Young series and although there is a continuing thread in the story regarding a corrupt police officer and the murder of Detective Young's husband I never once felt at a disadvantage having not read the previous two stories. Yet, on finishing this book I can say for certain I will be picking them up as this was a really enjoyable story that along with Kate's personal determination to prove her superior officer is not only corrupt, but ordered the murder of her husband Chris there was a twisty crime to solve, and I found the similarities between the killer Kate is chasing and her own predicament very intriguing and cleverly worked. And with plenty of suspense, this was a very engaging tale and I'd definitely look out for book four, especially with how this story ended.

Once again DI Kate Young is on the case. A young man has been found at a local train station with a hole in his head. This killer seems to be like no other and nobody can predict who he will kill next or why. The bodies are piling up and they cannot second guess him. A completely random rampage and an impossible task for Kate and her team. Meanwhile Kate is worrying about her own demons and secret investigation that if she’s caught could destroy her career and put her own life in danger. I highly recommend this book. It’s fast paced and once again has you guessing at every twist and turn. It was slow going to begin with but it quickly picks up and has you struggling to put the boom down. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest views and opinions.

My thanks to Carol and NetGalley for allowing me to read A Life for a Life before the publication date.

After the death of her husband, Chris, DI Kate Young has been moved to run a smaller specialist team.
Chris was a journalist investigating a paedophile ring and corrupt police officers.
Still struggling with her loss, Kate is determined to continue the work which Chris started in her own time as she does not have sufficient evidence to carry out an official enquiry.
This raises questions about who can she trust as the officer who she believes is at the heart of the corruption is no less than a Superintendent.
When 22 year old Tobias Abraham is found dead in a railway station, having been shot with a captive bolt pistol, Kate’s team are assigned to investigate.
As the body count starts to rise and with no obvious connection between the victims, Kate asks for more staff, only for the request to be denied.
When a profiler is brought on to the team, it is difficult to determine whether he is helping. His perceptions of the killer lead Kate to consider whether he could be talking about her own quest to bring down the superintendent.

Can Kate stop the killer and keep her job?
With the 2 parallel investigations, Carol has introduced so many characters in the book.

In the prologue, the reader is introduced to Ben and his extended family who are involved in a horrific road accident.
Two narrators are used effectively throughout the book, Ben and Kate. Ben’s chapters are particularly intriguing.

A deliciously twisty read ! I highly recommend this book ! Thanks to Netgalley and Amazon Publishing UK for the opportunity to read and review this book !!
Opinions are solely my own ! #Netgalley #AmazonPublishingUK
#ALifeForALife

As with most detective stories, you can pick up in the middle of a series and understand what’s going on. Although that was a big win, the drawback is approximately 15 characters in the first three chapters and sometimes they are called by their first names, and sometimes they are called by their last names which adds to the confusion of characters. I got the hang of it after a while and realized who was more important to the storyline and who wasn’t.
I didn’t feel as though the story really picked up until about 70% and it wasn’t a whodunnit as the killer is very obvious and forthright from the start of the book.
I really appreciated the double storyline with two different cases present at the same time. That added a bit more depth to the book and helped me learn more about the main character.
Although there were some great elements, I didn’t find anything very original or mind-blowing. However, if you’re looking for a mild and relatively short detective and police work type of book, this could be right up your alley!
A big thank you to NetGalley for sending me an ARC of this book.
3.25 ⭐️

Thank you to net galley and the publisher for an advance copy in return for an honest review.
This is the first book I have read by Carol Wyer and it is the third in a series. In this instance, it would have been of great benefit to have read the previous two prior to reading this book. I found the first chapter somewhat confusing as it appeared to be a direct follow-on from the previous book, however as the story unfolded elements of the backstory became clearer. The book follows two storylines one being a current murder investigation and the other being the continuing efforts of the main character, D I Kate Young, to prove corruption by a senior officer. The plotting of the murder investigation is very well done and held my attention throughout. I cannot say the same for the ongoing story where I did not find the actions of Kate Young very believable but that may be because I have jumped in at book three. Based on the main murder investigation I can however give this four stars and I am sure that D I Kate Young will get a loyal band of readers.

Good book. This a 3rd part of series, good character development. Would of liked to read the other 2 beforehand to understand more of the story. I will go back and read the other 2 books in the series. Thanks to Thomas & Mercer, netgalley and the author in exchange for this review.
Publishing date March 15th 2022.

DI Kate Young is back and this is probably her most important case .
Just to prove to everyone that she is coping with the death of her husband Chris.
She is still struggling to cope and she is still convinced that Superintendent Dickson had ordered the hit on her journalist husband when he got to close to finding out what happened to the underage sex traffic ring.
But when a new case comes along Kate has a difficult time trying to juggle the two investigations, especially when she believes that Dickson has put a mole into her very small crime investigation unit.

There is a random killer on the loose, he kills them with a captive bolt pistol.
And always at point blank range .
There is no connection to the murders and no rhyme or to reason why the people are being targeted.
As Kate slips in and out of reality to try and connect to her dead husband and try and solve this case. She even stats to doubt her own team and sanity.

Can she find a way out? And come back from the brink?

Superintendent John Dickson, superintendent is corrupt. Detective Inspector Kate Young finally has just enough proof. Just a little bit more and Kate is certain she will prove just who Dickson is. More importantly, Kate is convinced that he is responsible for the murder of her husband. She will not rest until justice is served.

Despite her determination when it comes to Dickson, Kate has another case. When a body is found on a train flatform, after evidently being shot, Kate has to find focus in order to find his killer. Before long, however, even more murders occur, and the clock is ticking. Kate must find a way to stop this killeer.

Meanwhile, Kate begins missing something, the husband the voice of her deceased husband has quieted. He had been with her since his passing keeping her strong in her endeavors. However, the closer she gets to finding out what happened to him the less she hears his voice. There is no doubt that her personal investigation is at conflict with the murder investigation. Kate becomes more and more distant from her team, and at least a few of them begin to get worried.

What a riveting story! From beginning to end the tension never once let up. Compassion and concern for Kate equalled pride her determination shone through time and again. She is a fabulous protagonist and Carol Wyer has developed her character just right - no doubt leaving every reader in her corner. A Life for a Life ended with a bang, leaving me more than eager to read the next book in this series.

Many thanks to Amazon Publishing UK and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

A Life for a Life is the 3rd book in the DI Kate Young book from Carol Wyer.

"Kate and her team are called out to a grisly murder on a rail station platform. As the bodies start piling up Kate realizes they are faced with an impossible task - hunting down a killer on a random rampage.

Kate is still struggling with her husband's death. She is determined to expose the corruption in the police department. She is worried about who she can trust and just what line she is willing to cross to find justice."

Wyer pushes Kate to the limit here. Kate is dealing with pressure from all sides - dealing with her grief, trying to find the evidence she needs to prove corruption and trying to find a killer. It's amazing she can function at all. (Carol - please give Kate a holiday) Wyer explores the limits of just how far good, moral people are willing to go for justice.

A very unusual weapon is used by the killer - not sure I've seen that in any crime fiction before.

There is some resolution to part of the corruption case but we are left with the aftermath for the next book. Hopefully the final answers are coming then.

Fans of crime fiction procedurals will enjoy this, especially if you're looking for a strong female lead.

Kate is investigating two different crimes. One is linked to the previous book, her husband’s death and corruption in the force. The other is the random killings happening locally. There are parallels drawn between he response to trauma and its effect on her behaviour and that of the killer. I did find how far she was willing to go really disturbing and it spoiled my enjoyment of the book. The police work is described well and at pace but not my favourite. Thanks to Netgalley fir an ARC.

So this is book three in the Detective Kate Young series and the drama just keeps on coming.

Kate continues to battle with her personal demons after the loss of her husband, add to that her suspicions about corruption within the force and the cherry on the cake a murderer is on the loss killing victims with no fathomable motive.

Carol always writes with great attention to detail and it's as if you are there living the experience with the characters in the book.

And the ending OMG! talk about cliffhanger had me reeling and looking in hope for another chapter so my verdict another fantastic instalment that didn't disappoint.

This book is in a series. I read it as a standalone and could keep up but I think reading the rest of the series would have helped. I love the writing style and the non stop action. Something was always happening in the book as the police chased the killer.

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book

as victims of a bolt gun are found there seems to be no rhyme or reason for the why these victims were shot, so DI kate young and her small team have their work cut out for them to find this murderer

but kate is also struggling with the loss of her husband murdered by who she suspects is high up in the police, and one she has been trying to bring down since...

i found this one a bit of a struggle to get into and it wasnt till i was half way through that i found the rhythm that i liked

With an initially confusing prologue this soon settles into being a great mystery- I did work out the killer very early on (I suspect the author intended that) but the continued killings and seeming randomness of the attacks left the motive muddy for some time.
Some great investigative work from Kate but her preoccupation with also bringing down her boss and exposing him as crooked and implicated in underage sex trafficking and the death of her husband did make the story a bit disjointed and harder to follow.

Another great read from Carol. Really enjoying the DI Kate Young series and looking forward to where it takes her.

Can DI Kate and her small team investigate seemingly random murders while at the same time as Kate continues her personal quest to take down corrupt officers and come to term with her husbands death.

I enjoyed the writing and the character development. However on this occasion I did feel that I skimmed a couple of pages as it was slightly repetitive and very close to DI Kate demons.

I read it as part of a series but it could be read as a stand alone as there is quiet a bit of back story detail in it.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an Arc in exchange for an honest opinion

I'm a huge fan of Carol Wyer having read her DC Robyn Carter series in part, most of her DI Natalie Ward series and now following DI Kate Young on her quest for justice whilst simultaneously fighting crime on a daily basis. While every book follows a standalone investigation, each one follows on from the previous outlining a much bigger picture. Therefore it is highly recommended that readers begin the journey with Kate from the beginning in "An Eye for an Eye" and then "A Cut for a Cut" , as each book is another important piece of the puzzle that Kate is piecing together. Without them, I fear the reader will flounder for the most part.

This third book continues to pack a punch in conjunction with the first two as it opens with a devastating prologue with only one possible outcome. The result is crime that falls on DI Kate Young's patch as she juggles her personal and professional investigations. This time, to the reader, the crime is not really a whodunnit as it is pretty obvious from early on who is behind the random attacks. The question is WHY? I mean really WHY?!

Kate is heading the investigation into what appears to be random attacks on random people at random places, killing them with a captive bolt gun (the kind of stun gun that is often used in abattoirs). The deaths have nothing in common, the victims have nothing in common leaving Kate and her team stumped. The only commonality is that the killer strikes in the early evening during the same window of time in public places that are winding down for the day, leaving them virtually empty and ripe for the picking.

Then a witness comes forward from the site of the third murder, little realising how narrowly she herself escaped the attentions of the killer, with her observations of someone she thought was the victim. Kate's antennae went up. Could this be their killer? Or could it be another witness? Either way, the team needed to track them down...and fast, before anymore innocent people died. But when a profiler is called in sharing his thoughts on the perpetrator, Kate starts to realise that she might have something in common with this killer, uniting them grief.

It's been over a year since Kate's husband Chris was killed and ever since she has been determined to seek justice for him and the many others who have died as a result of this domino effect. Her determination to unmask those behind the underage sex ring, and the deaths that followed, lead her to a corruption that extended high into a senior officer under whom she works - Superintendent John Dickson, who she believes was behind the death of her husband as well as many others. But if the corruption has gone that high, who knows how much higher is has reached...and will Kate be safe to go after those responsible? She must tread carefully and proceed with the utmost caution if she is to come out of this unscathed.

Parallel to her day job at hand, Kate has also been stealthily collating information to unmask Dickson and the corruption that has followed him. Her secret investigations have alienated her from everyone as she is unable to know who she trust. To date, her only ally upon whom she relies for the covert operation is a former SAS officer who has his own axe to grind in seeking justice for his friend who was murdered upon orders from Dickson. But is this a step too far for Kate? Has she crossed a line in taking the law into her own hands to garner information and find the witnesses she needs before it's too late? Is this why she no longer hears Chris' soothing voice? For so long he has been her voice of reason, her conscience, but for months now he has grown silent and Kate yearns to hear his voice once again.

Kate's behaviour has not gone unnoticed by her team. DS Emma Donaldson, who has her own demons to battle, watches her and understands her grief but is concerned she may be in over her head. DS Morgan Meredith follows her lead but is quietly observant. Young DC Jamie Webster, the newest member of her small team, sees and hears all and Kate suspects that he is a mole planted by Dickson and reporting back to her senior officer, therefore she watches everything she says and does around him ensuring nothing untoward could be communicated in any event. But is it enough? Dickson has eyes and ears everywhere...therefore, Kate can trust no one.

The case at hand challenges the team as they try to figure out who is killing innocent people and why. It is clear to the reader his identity but is there something else we're missing? This riveting installment delivers plenty of shocks and a few twists along the way filled with just the right amount of tension. But it's the ending that delivers the final shock...which I certainly did not see coming! And I eagerly await the fourth book to see what happens next.

While I had barely begun the Robyn Carter series and grew to enjoy Natalie Ward, Kate Young is a different kettle of fish altogether and the issues she finds herself up against are a whole other ball game. I can't compare this book to the previous two as they each offer something different to the story and give us yet another piece of the puzzle that Kate has worked hard to piece together. I barely have the words to express the flood of emotions I feel when reading Kate's journey. But I do know each story, as well as A LIFE FOR A LIFE, is addictive reading from beginning to end.

Carol Wyer's expert writing and skillful storytelling weaves together a tale that draws us in from the beginning and leaves us wanting more by the end. It's engaging, enthralling and completely absorbing. Bring on book 4!

I would like to thank #CarolWyer, #Netgalley, #AmazonPublishingUK and #ZoolooTours for an ARC of #ALifeForALife in exchange for an honest review.

This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.

Book 3 in the Detective Kate Young Series and whilst it can be read as a stand-alone part of the story is a thread that has been running through the series, reading the other books will provide additional background. I am loving this series and relish the suspense of the ongoing story. This is a real police procedural; the reader gets to see the motivation and the killer in the first chapter but then we watch the team trying to understand the dreadful killings. I love how this author writes this series and I find them a really good easy read, hits the spot for me.

Briefly, Kate and her team are investigating a spate of murders where the victims are shot with a captive bolt gun. With there seemingly no connection between the victims, and no leads, the team are floundering. Alongside this Kate is still secretly investigating the death of her husband and the corruption within the police force, in particular her boss Superintendent John Dickson. Can Kate keep the two things separate and prevent further murders?

Kate is still battling her grief over her husbands death and the portrayal of the effect of loss on those left behind is dealt with really well. In this case Kate is still a good determined police officer but she can’t hide her grief from those who know her best. The characterisation is excellent, as it is with the other main characters. I particularly liked Morgan, a strong and reliable officer but with a great sense of humour and a caring side. I enjoyed this so much I read it in a day, in two sittings, and oh that shocking ending and the cliffhanger! I can’t say more without spoilers other than I hope book four is out soon! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Carol Wyer is one of my fave authors.
i love Kate Young she is a great DI, she fights for justice for those that have died and she gives it her all.
This book has some strong emotions, grieving, anger, murder and determination make this fast paced plot worth reading.
This is book 3 but if you have not already you need to start this series.

Loved the story of DI Kate Young who is trying to find a serial killer who strikes at random for no reason., but she is also trying to deal with the death of her husband who she believes was killed by Superintendent John Dickson and is hell bent on revenge.
This is a fast paced murder mystery which has lots of twists and turns.
Can't wait for a follow up book and would highly recommend.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a advanced copy.

This is the third book in the Detective Kate Young series, and I would say that you definitely need to read the previous two books first. I think the stand-alone story of the murder works alone and Carol does summarise the key events of the previous books but without the full knowledge I could imagine that this instalment could be confusing in places. Besides, you’d be missing out on a brilliant series and the character development and a second plot needs that in-depth knowledge form all the books in order.
I love Detective Kate Young but it’s becoming clear that her life is spiralling out of control. The lines between her private and professional lines are well and truly smudged all over and her mental health is not in a good place. Part of me wants to give her a big hug and wrap her in a cosy blanket, the other part wants to give her a good shake and tell her to step away from work for a while. She’s such a strong character, and amazing detective but really needs someone to take charge and look after her.
Most of her spare time is consumed with hunting down her husband’s killer but that seems to be at a dead end. So many leads and suspects leading to nothing concrete and with several colleagues on her list of people who could be involved, Kate finds herself with nobody to trust, and nobody to really ask for help.
At work Kate is hunting down the killer of a young, promising accountant with no visible motive or clues. She has a good team behind her but with her increasing paranoia, she finds it hard to allow any of them close. The procedural aspect of this book is fascinating and the way the clues are pieced together is really cleverly thought out.
The Detective Kate Young series has always been really dark and Kate never seems to catch a break. She was unhappy and troubled on the very first meeting with her and things didn’t really get any better. I found this book the darkest out of the three as Kate’s continuing decline in health and difficulty trusting anyone really tore me up inside.
An even darker foray into the life of Kate, a new case to crack and twists and turns make this detective novel a thrilling read. In true Carol style we are left with a cliff-hanger that was almost unbearable and I am now desperately awaiting the next novel in the series.

I read this book although it is really a psychological thriller which is not really my thing, having said that it took me a while to get to grips with the storyline and the characters. Thanks to the skill of Carol Wyer and the main character DI Kate Young I started to enjoy the book,. As the story evolved and the killings grew the pressure mounted on the team to solve the murders - I found the ending leaving me with the feeling that there was more to come - perhaps a follow up in the next book? I recommend this book for you to read and enjoy.

The third in the Detective Kate Young series. As with all these it could be read as a stand-alone but is best to be read as part of the series, as you will miss out on a lot of the backstory.

A young man is found dead on a train platform. He has been shot in the forehead with a captive bolt stun gun. There are no witnesses and no clues as to the perpetrators identity. Who would want this young man dead ?

Kate and her team are assigned the case and they soon have another dead person on their hands. Are these random attacks ? Or is there a connection between the victims ?

As well as trying to find the killer, Kate is determined to expose her boss for the calculating corrupt officer that he is. She is determined to find evidence that he had her husband killed. But time is running out and she seems to be one step behind him at every turn.

This is a great addition to the series and the return of Emma and Morgan add to the great storyline and characters. If you’ve read the previous two books then this is just what you would expect. Definitely can’t wait for the next instalment in the series !!

Thank you to Amazon Publishing UK and NetGalley for a digital copy of this book.

Nobody can get into the mind of an erratic killer—except an unpredictable detective.
When a young man is found lying on a station platform with a hole in his head, DI Kate Young is called in to investigate the grisly murder. But the killing is no one-off. As bodies start to pile up, she is faced with what might be an impossible task—to hunt down a ruthless killer on a seemingly random rampage.
Meanwhile, Kate has her own demons to battle as she struggles to come to terms with her husband’s death. And she is hell-bent on exposing corruption within the force and bringing Superintendent John Dickson to justice. But with the trail of deception running deeper—and closer to home—than she could ever have imagined, she no longer knows who she can trust.
With her grip on reality slipping, Kate realises that maybe she and the killer are not so different after all. But time is running out and Kate is low on options. Can she catch the killer before she loses everything?

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 review.

I really enjoyed reading this book ,I haven't read any of the previous books in the series but it is a good standalone .This is a gripping story of seemingly random murders with a bolt gun with apparently no motive ,an almost impossible task to investigate but Kate and her Team are determined to solve the mystery and stop more people being murdered .There is also a sub plot of Police Corruption by Senior Officers and Kate is determined to solve her husbands death .Altogether a very exciting and interesting Police Procedural with a very unexpected ending .I look forward to reading the next book in the series .Thank you to NetGalley for my ARC .

I LOVE this series! Every Kate Young book gets more bone chilling and twisted than the next. Do NOT miss this next installment!!

Another fantastic outing for DI Kate Young in A Life For A Life by Carol Wyer. As with the two previous in this series, Ms. Wyer has managed to continue the high octane story and advance it in truly interesting ways. I did not know where this would end, but it was a treat to read! Anxiously awaiting the next!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer for this ARC!

Carol Wyer has done it again and written another brilliant book as part of the Detective Kate Young series. This one is completely different from the others in the series but still very much a page turner!

Kate and her team are investigating a series of murders, which initially appear targeted at completely random people. I loved that element to the book and how we see Kate’s team figure it out!

As well as this, there is the ongoing story as to Kate seeking revenge for her husband’s death. I felt this took more precedence than the murder investigation at times, but it was important for comparisons to be made and for Kate to identify exactly what she needed to do.

This book has left things nicely for a follow up so I’m very excited to see what Carol has to offer us in A Truth for A Truth!

I found this to be a book of two parts. The storyline centring around the police investigation into the spontaneous murders of a number of people is good. I found the other storyline involving a corrupt senior police officer very tedious and repetitive.. This spoiled the overall read for me.

When I realise that Carol Wyer is bringing out another book, it is a no-brainer that I read it. I am always excited to read another story by this author, regardless of the series, or the genre, for that matter!

Kate is trying to figure out why all these people are being killed on her patch, with a bolt stun gun, which is a bit of an unusual weapon. There also doesn't seem to be anything connecting the victims and the body count keeps on growing. She brings a profiler to help out her team but he adds another layer of confusion and he is more than a bit eccentric. At the same time, Kate is also coming to terms with the death of her husband and trying to bring down John Dickson who is up to his eyeballs in shady dealings but is clever about hiding his tracks.

Kate clearly has her hands full but she is a dedicated police officer and I was cheering her on and hoping not too many other people were going to lose their lives - although it wouldn't be much of a book if there wasn't a complex case to solve.

A good, solid police procedural. Looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

4.5 stars from me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture.

Publishing March 15, 2022

Carol Wyer is setting this one down with a heavy grip. Although it can be read as a standalone, your best bet is to have read the prior two novels to get a sense of the characters and the happenings thus far.

D.I. Kate Young experiences life in split views. She works in the Special Crimes Unit of the Stoke-on-Trent Police Station. She's fully aware of the challenges of the here and now as an officer of the law. But she also has a back vision as well into the past. And her past has not been kind......

Kate's husband, Chris, was found dead after pursuing an investigative lead into the disappearances of underage sex workers. Kate's grief was so deep that she swore she could hear Chris' voice even after his death. Somehow it gave her comfort. Somehow it would be the last thing that she would share with others. It was just too personal.

So Kate now travels two highways. One is the demand of her daily work load and the other is to try and find more information on Chris' death. She's climbing the highest of mountains as she suspects Superintendent John Dickson of being involved and orchestrating events at the Maddox Club. Dickson is keeping an eye on Kate. She's stepping closer and closer to a bad end.

Back at the station.......There's been a body found in the Blythe Bridge train station. Have mercy! There are shades of No Country For Old Men happening here. The unfortunate victim had been shot dead with a dead bolt pistol in the forehead. just like in that movie. And soon more tones of death set in. Kate and her partners, DS Emma Donaldson and DS Morgan Meredith, are on the hot trail. Are these random deaths or is there a magnetic personality pulling the strings? And is this connected to Chris' death?

Wyer has presented another fast-paced edition to her Kate Young Series. Prepare yourself for the first chapter that entails quite the car crash. Wyer doesn't shy away from explicit descriptors. But this series reflects real life crime in real time. These perpetrators don't attend Sunday School on the weekends. And after this third book, I wonder where she'll take Kate Young next. You can bet it will be with high impact crime. Check it out.

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Thomas & Mercer and to Carol Wyer for the opportunity.

A young man is found dead on a train station platform, with a hole in his head caused by an unusual murder weapon. DI Kate Young is called in to investigate the grim case. Then some bad news comes over the radio - another body is found. The bodies quickly start to pile up and DI Young and her small team are faced with the task of catching a killer before the body count increases even further. The only problem is they can’t seem to find any connection between the killings. They seem to be random. There are no clues at the scenes, no CCTV, no witnesses. How do you get into the mind of such a killer? Di Young brings on board an eccentric profiller, and throws all that her and her team have to try to solve the case.

While in the middle of this undeniably stressful case, DI Kate Young is struggling with some issues of her own. She is still struggling to come to terms with her husband's death. Convinced it was murder, she is trying to uncover evidence to expose corruption within the force. She uncovers some secrets long buried, and they shake her already fragile state of mind. She needs to push through and keep her secret investigation going, and under wraps, and catch a serial killer before they kill again.

There is a lot happening in this book, and at the beginning you wonder how the threads will all weave together. However as the book progresses, you get drawn in further and further, and find yourself feeling as anxious as Kate, looking for evidence in her husband’s murder, linked to the corruption. You feel as tense as her entire team hoping for the serial killer to be caught before they strike again. It was very well written, and DI Young is a brilliant character, with an excellent sense of realness about her, with the grief she is trying to hide through her work.

This was my first read in this series and it certainly won’t be the last - particularly not with that cliffhanger ending!!
*I received this book for review from NetGalley but all opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed reading this book and thought it was very well written.

Each chapter end made you want to carry in reading to the end. Which I did!

The book begins with an awful accident and the aftermath of that event,

Kate, the detective, must find the murderer, whilst at the same time bring a high ranking officer down, who she believes is involved in a sex ring. At the same time she is still grieving for her husband who was killed and she believes the officer was behind this to.

Kate is a great character in the book and I am hoping the next book is just as good as this and those before it.

Read it it’s great.

Highly recommended if you liked the popular police television series ‘Line of Duty’ and are into psychological thrillers. It was my first Carol Wyer's book and it will not be my last. I had a good time with ‘A life for a Life’ and the strife of detective Kate Young and her team. Halfway through the book it turned into an absorbing and compulsive reading. Once finished, it left me with a sense of awe and appetite for more Kate stories.

A plot fueled by intrigue, incertitude and confusion that eventually became an entertaining page-turner. And though it is not a flawlessly outlined crime story, and despite some briefly repetitive expositions, the author finally persuaded me with what seems a well-researched analysis of trauma. So it's a 3,7 rounded up.

Let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Amazon Publishing UK, and of course Carol Wyer, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A life for a life by Carol Wyer.
Detective Kate Young Book 3.
Nobody can get into the mind of an erratic killer—except an unpredictable detective.
When a young man is found lying on a station platform with a hole in his head, DI Kate Young is called in to investigate the grisly murder. But the killing is no one-off. As bodies start to pile up, she is faced with what might be an impossible task—to hunt down a ruthless killer on a seemingly random rampage.Meanwhile, Kate has her own demons to battle as she struggles to come to terms with her husband’s death. And she is hell-bent on exposing corruption within the force and bringing Superintendent John Dickson to justice. But with the trail of deception running deeper—and closer to home—than she could ever have imagined, she no longer knows who she can trust.
With her grip on reality slipping, Kate realises that maybe she and the killer are not so different after all. But time is running out and Kate is low on options. Can she catch the killer before she loses everything?
Omg what a read. I love Kate can't wait for next book. Brilliant. 5*.

A Life for a Life is the third book in the Detective Kate Young series by Carol Wyer.
In short, we follow DI Kate Young in her latest case which will question her own ongoing quest to avenge her husband’s death…the only way she was going to make any headway was to cross a few lines!
This is such a good series, Kate’s gritty determination simply oozes from the pages, her desperation to catch a serial killer, “You won’t be able to catch them because they don’t know who they’re going to kill next!” and her equally dangerous mission of fulfilling her promise to find the truth about her husband’s ultimate death. It’s a totally engaging, brilliantly characterised read which left me wanting to read more. Finger’s crossed it won’t be too long until the next book…it’s a cracking series.
Big thanks to Carol Wyer, Thomas and Mercer and NetGalley for this eARC which I chose to read in return for my honest review.

Loved it!!! I would give it 4.5 stars. Hopefully it's not the final book in the series. The ending left me with so many questions. What happens to Kate after the encounter in the park? Did the truth about Dickson finally get released? I had no clue why the killer was murdering people at random. I completely forgot about the tragic accident in the beginning of the book and never put two and two together. The death of family members can affect people in many ways, unfortunately in this case it lead to murder. Kate was very tenacious in her pursuit to bring down Superintendent Dickson. Dickson has always been shady and a horrible person/police officer. He doesn't let anything/anyone stand in his way. Loved getting to know Morgan, Emma and Jamie better. Samuel the profiler was one strange guy. There's definitely a story there. Hopefully Kate can remember the happier times with her husband and realize that she doesn't have to keep imagining his voice to keep the memories alive. She has definitely come far since the first book.

Definitely recommend the book and the previous ones in the series. It was a great mystery/thriller. Loved the characters, story and writing style. I hope that's not the last we see of Detective Kate Young. Look forward to reading more books by the author. Loved the cover of the book.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Amazon Publishing UK through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

First things first, thank you to NetGalley for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book had all the promises of things I genuinely enjoy as a reader, however it was a let-down on how it was approached. it seems it took me way too long to understand exactly what was going on, and it seems I spent more time trying to figure out which character was which, and not enough time focused on the actual murder.

The writing style of Carol Wyer is what saved the book in my opinion. I love how she gets into the characters, and I do love a character-drvien book, so for that. 3 Stars.

Thank you again to NetGalley.

Third book in the series,
Although each one is a different crime and can be read as standalone is strongly recommend reading them in order to follow the back story / police plot, it’s explained throughout but sometimes I felt confused wishing I remembered the previous book more clearly.

This book kept me engaged throughout,
Finding the bodies and waiting for the police to find the suspect. At one point I felt suspense but I wish I had this feeling more often

DI Kate Young and her team were called to Blythe Bridge Station where a young man had been killed by a shot to the head. They had a name so went to inform next of kin but there was nothing to suggest he defended himself. His mum was in bits and didn’t know of anyone that wanted to harm him. The team drew a blank with their enquiries.

The next day there was another death, this time a woman but no ID with the body. She worked in the parade of shops close to where she was found and again the family could think of no enemies. It appeared to be the same killer. On the next day, there was another killing, a jogger after his run, but this time there had been a sighting of someone sobbing in his car and walking up and down talking to himself. Could it be connected to their killer? It was worth considering.

Meanwhile Kate was still working on trying to bring Superintendent John Dickson down but it was difficult to find the time as she was working in her own time. She had asked Bradley to help and found she was beginning to cross the line a bit. He worked to different rules to get answers but they had already lost Tom Champion and Cooper Munroe was dead. She was still looking for the girls to try and help them, to get them to safety.

This was a brilliant book to read, it had me hooked from the start. DI Young’s team worked tirelessly although there are no clues. Cleverly written with descriptive text, making me feel like I was there. I have loved this series with DI Kate Young and her team. I hope there is another book to come.

DI Kate Young is still struggling to get her life on track following the death of her husband Chris, and it seems peace is not going to be coming her way any time soon. Kate's secret crusade to bring down her corrupt boss Superintendent John Dickson seems to be hitting brick walls and the valuable eye-witness she needs has disappeared like a ghost - hopefully they have gone into hiding rather than having been consigned to a grave...

Just as Kate starts despair that she will ever be able to come to terms with Chris' death, a new case demands the attention of her and her small team. A young man has been found dead on a station platform, brutally killed by a point-blank shot to the head, and there are very few leads to go on. Before long, more bodies start to pile up, each one killed in the same brutal way, but there are no links between them and it is very hard to track down a killer who appears to be acting at random.

As Kate starts to drown under the pressure of an investigation that is going nowhere, and the shock of a new discovery in her inquiry into corruption in the police force, it dawns on her that her own fragile mental state might be just the tool she needs to find the killer. Can she succeed before her personal and professional lives come crashing down?

A Life for a Life is the third book in the Detective Kate Young crime series, and it certainly lives up the promise of the books that have come before. At the start of this story, Kate's quest to hold to account all those responsible for the death of her husband has gone just about as far as it can go, and she is spiralling downwards once more without the sense of purpose her private investigation has given her. When a new case that seems impossible to crack lands on her desk, bringing her unbearable pressure from the very man she has been trying to topple, Superintendent Dickson, it appears she might finally succumb to the darkness that plagues her... but all is not lost. It is the very fact that Kate herself knows what it means to face despair that proves to be the key to unlocking this investigation - even if the reasons why she can identify with the killer cannot be shared with her team.

Talking of Kate's team, there are some very interesting developments in this department as we get to know a bit more about them, with the hint of a possible will-they-won't-they romance in the air, and an intriguing understanding developing between one person in particular who Kate has been very wary of up until now which helps her to confirm some of her suspicions about Dickson. I always love how Wyer portrays the police procedural side of her stories, and this tricky case gives them a lot of work to do.

As to be expected in Wyer's very tense crime thrillers she takes us all round the houses before the truth becomes clear about the current case, dropping in a sinister side plot with an unsettling Stephen King-esque character that I can see making an appearance again in the future, and the suspense builds nicely towards a gripping climactic scene that had me holding my breath. But it doesn't end there, because there has to be a slap in the face development in Kate's corruption inquiry too, and my goodness this one is an absolute stunner... as cliffhangers go, this is high stakes and as jaw-dropping as they come, and I cannot wait to see what Wyer has up her sleeve for the next book! 

Another first-class crime thriller from Carol Wyer, with everything to keep lovers of the genre very happy indeed!

3.5 stars

A Life for a Life by Carol Wyer is the third n the Detective Kate Young series.

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Thomas & Mercer, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.


Series Background:  (Warning – May contain spoilers from previous books)

DI Kate Young witnessed the aftermath of a massive shooting on a train.  She saw her husband’s body. He was a journalist, hot on the trail of corruption.  Her boss is DCI William Case, and his boss is Superintendent John Dickson.  She is sure that Dickson is corrupt,  responsible for the death of her husband.  She also no longer trusts Case.  She is fairly certain that Jamie was placed on her team to spy on her.  Kate's other team members are DS Morgan Meredith and DS Emma Donaldson.


My Synopsis:   (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
The body of a young man is found on the platform of a train station.  He had been shot in the forehead with a  captive bolt pistol.  More bodies start turning up, and the team can't seem to find anything that links them.

Samuel,  a profiler joins them to try and help the team figure out who is killing random people.  As things progress, Kate feels that the perpetrator may be on a similar path to her own, although their reasons may be different.

Kate is still trying to find evidence that Superintendent John Dickson is corrupt, but everyone that could help is either dead or missing.  Without help, she can't go much further.  She no longer hears the voice of her dead husband, so it looks like Chris has moved on too.  It's been a year, but Kate can't move forward.


My Opinions:   
Although I am somewhat annoyed with some of the actions that Kate is taking, I still like her.  She is a strong character, and a good police detective.  Emma and Morgan are also class acts.  These characters are all growing on me.  It was interesting to learn a little more about Emma's background.

The story is told from different perspectives, one of them being the killer.  I really like this approach, especially since the book dealt with mental illness.

The topic of grief, and how it can be handled so differently between people, is explored extensively.  Kate, Emma, and the killer are all handling their grief differently.

However, I am not a fan of books about corruption in the police force, and thus far it has been an an on-going story-line in the series.  Thankfully, the current murder mystery is really good and is taking up some of Kate's time.

As well, the book ended in a bit of a cliff hanger, which I'm not fond of.  Actually, I'm not sure I liked the ending at all.

All that being said, the actual crimes that are being investigated are very good, and I certainly can't complain about the writing, so I will be reading the next in line...

Set in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, DI Kate Young’s mental health issues since the loss of her husband a year ago are getting more obvious to the reader as she feels he is slipping away from her. The only way to keep his memory close is by discussing her thoughts with him and by pursuing the man she knows is responsible for his murder, as well as others including one of her own officers. Kate has spent the last months trying to get enough evidence to bring down her boss Supt John Dickson, the man behind the death by hitman of her journalist husband Chris after he tried to expose Dickson of involvement in the death of a young sex worker. Her latest witness confesses to killing on Dickson’s behalf and then vanishes. It’s looking like she’s going to fail, despite drastic and illegal help from the ex-SAS man Bradley and his men, and after a conversation with her step-sister Tilly, she really doesn’t even know who she can trust anymore, not even those closest to her. She receives a new case, the killing of a man on a quiet railway station. The man was shot with a captive bolt gun, something used to stun animals for slaughter. The close nature of the shot makes it look like an execution. As the case progresses the detectives only have two suspects, one still unidentified, and a complete lack of witnesses. Progress is stalling when a second shooting takes place. The detectives struggle to link the victims and have to think the unthinkable – they have a random attacker on their hands and no clue as to where they might strike next. Will the pressure of juggling work and her private investigation prove too much for Kate? Will the team finally get a lead on the killer before anyone else dies? And will Kate ever get justice for Chris?
This is a great solid police procedural with the added twist of the lead detective conducting her own personal investigation under the radar. There is a continuing story which leads from books one and two, although the back history is well explained enough to allow this to be thoroughly enjoyed as a stand-alone. The reader is privy to the words and actions of the killer as he carries out his plan, and the tension grows waiting to see if the detectives will ever learn the truth. With plenty of surprises and shocks along the way, it’s a clever and well written story with plenty to keep the reader hooked right from start to finish. 5*

This is the 3rd book in the series and although Kate is still trying to cope with the death of her husband, she is also seeking to bring down her corrupt boss.

I will admit, I am struggling to really like or understand Kate and although this was a good story and well written, it didn’t wow me.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for my review.

A LIFE FOR A LIFE is the third book in the Detective Kate Young Series by award-winning author of mystery and romance novels, Carol Wyer. Having enjoyed reading some of her other series; Detective Robyn Carter and Detective Natalie Ward, I was looking forward to continuing with this new detective series. This book can be read as a standalone, but these books are better read in order for clarity in the storyline of the continuing personal investigation by Kate into her investigative journalist husband, Chris’ murder. This is the review of A Life For A Life.

The novels in the Detective Kate Young Series Include:
Book 1-An Eye For An Eye (2021)
Book 2-A Cut For A Cut (June 2021)
Book 3-A Life For A Life (Publication: March 15th 2022)

In Book 1 DI Kate Young had been on leave after suffering a traumatic experience. She’s the force’s best detective, but suffered from nightmares and her bosses knew she was under pressure, on medication and booze to overcome the trauma. Kate was still grieving the loss of her husband, Chris, who was murdered by a hitman. Her boss, Superintendent John Dickson placed her on mandatory sick leave, after a breakdown on a train.

A few months later, Kate’s friend and friend of her late father, DCI William Chase comes to tell her that her boss wants her back at work, to hunt down a serial killer. Kate accepted the offer and chose two of her fellow officers from her old team, DS Morgan Meredith (dedicated worker that had worked closely on several tough cases in the past) and DS Emma Donaldson (an expert in marital arts).

Then in Book 2, A Cut For A Cut, DI Kate Young and her team are called to a crime scene where a woman had been brutally raped, and dumped. There are few clues and no suspects.
Nobody can get into the mind of an erratic killer—except an unpredictable detective.

Prison guard Tom Champion, under torture admits to killing Cooper Monroe and was paid to make it look like a suicide, by Kate’s corrupt boss, superintendent John Dickson. Kate also believed he was behind the murder of her husband, Chris.

Bradley Chapman (SAS), ex-military, and friend of Cooper, job was to watch over a murderer, but Champion after supplying Kate with the confession video, had disappeared…or Dickson had already got to him. Now Kate was trying to gather evidence to bring down her boss.

When a young man is found lying at the train station, shot in the head, DI Kate Young is called in to investigate the murder. Then further bodies start to pile up.

With time ticking away, Kate must catch the killer before it is too late.

This was a fast paced, well-written novel full of action, mystery and suspense, with a major cliffhanger at the end. Can’t wait for the next book!

Many thanks to the author, Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for my digital copy.

I love Carol Wyer so was excited to receive her latest book. A murder occurs followed by more all by the same method but such random people with no connections. How do you solve that? A really good story leading to a great conclusion.

This review was originally posted on <a href="https://booksofmyheart.net/2022/03/19/%f0%9f%8e%a7-a-life-for-a-life-by-carol-wyer/" target="_blank"> Books of My Heart</a>
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<i>Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.</i>

<strong>A Life for a Life</strong> might be the end of the <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/290914-detective-kate-young" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em><strong>Detective Kate Young</strong></em></a> series, but I hope not. The plot gives us some layers with a serial killer, Kate's personal grief and career aspirations and her investigation into her husband's death and department corruption.  The ending is a bit vague so I'd like more to see what happens.

Kate is smart but still burdened by the death of her husband.  She has shut herself off a bit with still trying to feel her husband with her.   She talks to her sister Tilly but otherwise keeps isolated so others don't know she is still investigating.  It's dangerous to her and potential witnesses if the corrupted realize her efforts.  Her father's best friend, William, is retiring and encourages her to try for a promotion.

The serial killer is taking out another person daily.  It takes a few days and a profiler and Kate's intuition to grasp that the killer suffered a tragedy and is grieving.  It takes a lot of good police work to narrow down and find the killer.

Kate continues to collect evidence and witnesses, to finish the story her husband was killed to stop, into police corruption.   She argues with herself about how to safeguard witnesses because all of them she has found have been murdered, including an officer who caught on to the corruption.  Kate can't trust people she knows well and expects to be on her side. She learns her father and his best friend, William, might have known or been in on it.  She finally makes some real progress which is exciting!

Even though this book was the third in the series it read as a stand alone book. I enjoyed this one with its twists and turns but, I wouldn’t say it was the best crime novel I’ve ever read. I would consider reading another one of hers in the future. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

Oh wow! This was bloody packed with action, it’s dark, twisted, full of thrills, murders, corruption and has kept be enthralled the entire time I’ve read it.

The prologue and opening chapter really packed a punch. Honesty the series just gets better and better, of the three books written so far this certainly has the most tension. This series is one you’ll want to start reading and follow as both the primary case and secondary storylines are just so good.

The main storyline involves what seem to be random murders, the bodies keep piling up and DS Young is at a loss where to find evidence. It’s unfathomable how the victims are linked, only the MO is the same. The case certainly has the team on their toes.

The second storyline is following the corruption within the police which is linked to the death of her late husband DS Kate Young is not someone to mess with. She is out for revenge!

This third instalment had everything I love from a police procedural novel. Kate is a strong character with a kickstart attitude. The series also touches on mental health and grief which is dealt with, with great sensitivity.

Kate Young and her team are a secure tight team, I can’t wait to delve back into their next case! How am I ever going to wait for book four?

I loved this book so much. I’ve read the previous books in the series and was looking forward to see where the author will take Kate’s character and her strong but also vulnerable heart and mind. And what a ride! So many twists, so many turns, so many more dead ends and intriguing puzzles that made me question myself if we ever going to get an end to the story because as the bodies would pile up, so the secrets and mismatched clues.

Brilliantly done and such an addictive story.

In my review of A Cut For A Cut I named Carol Wyer as Queen of Police Procedurals, and with A Life For A Life she has revalidated her title. For me, few writers do police investigations as she does, making me feel as if I’m part of the team, right there at the station investigating along them.

DI Kate Young’s life is being consumed by her desire to bring to justice those responsible for her husband’s death, but corruption in the police force reaches further than she expected, and without knowing who she can really trust, her endeavor is proving nearly impossible and her mental health is suffering from it. Called to investigate a series of murders, in which the killer seems to select their victims at random, will put all her capabilities to the test. Will she manage to catch the killer before it’s too late to save her career?

I really love this series. DI Young makes such an interesting lead. The author conveys Kate’s emotions in such a believable way. You can feel her grief over his husband’s death and her frustration and desperation while trying to get justice for him. Her whole journey in this regard has been done really well from book one. She’s flawed and she may not always abide by the rules, but she’s really relatable.

Her team is also very good. We’re slowly getting to know some of their backstories, what’s making me get much more involved in their lives, especially Emma’s. Her pain was so palpable it hurt. Also, the team has had a great addition in the figure of Samuel, a quirky psychological profiler.

This was not a typical whodunnit, cause we know the killer’s name right from the start. The challenge for Kate’s team was to try and get into the killer’s mind to comprehend their motivations, to predict their next move and thus avoid more deaths.

I found the parallels between the killer’s story and Kate’s really interesting, as it shows how a similar traumatic event can impact people in similar yet different ways, and how those demons can unravel your whole mind if you don’t learn how to keep them at bay.

Carol knows how to leave her readers wanting more and the ending is proof of that. What an ending! It was so, so good I’m already counting the days until book four comes out!

A Life For A Life was another enjoyable installment in the series and, although the psychological aspect of the story made the pace a bit slower than usual, I was still glued to the pages and could not turn them fast enough. If you’ve still not read Carol Wyer’s books, you’re missing out!

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I did not realise that this book was the third in a series when I requested it. Having not read either of the first two, it took me some time to get to grips with all the characters. However, I’m afraid I baulked at the gratuitous violence in the shocking torture scene, especially when it seemed to have been done on the orders of a senior police officer.
There is too much that is completely implausible about this story, supposedly a police procedural. It has very little police procedure about it that I could establish.
The internal musings and ‘conversations’ with her dead husband by Kate, the central character, just set my teeth on edge. This book is not for me, and is a DNF, I’m sorry to say.
My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my advance copy of this title for review.

'A Life for a Life' is the third book in the Detective Kate Young series by Carol Wyer and I would recommend that you do read the previous two novels in the series before embarking on 'A Life for a Life' as the author is weaving a particularly complex web and there are many strands to follow that have been developed in the previous books.
The action commences on the opening pages with a horrific car crash and then we are introduced (or re-introduced) to our DI Young.
DI Young is based in the Special Crimes Unit of the Stoke-on-Trent Police Station and runs a small team there. Her old team are no longer under her command due to her struggles in coming to terms with the death of her partner, Chris. Chris was murdered a few months earlier while investigating several disappearances of underage sex workers. Continuing to struggle with her grief, Young now suspects several senior officers to be involved in the coverup and must keep her investigation to herself as she battles everyday cases while trying to find the truth.
This is a hard-hitting and fast paced book which took me a while to get into due to the history of the storyline and characters of which I was unaware. Worth a read and now that I'm familiar with the characters, I'll be keeping an eye out for the next book.

This was a good read. Unfortunately I haven't read the other books in the series, which I think would enhance things a little.

Not my first read by this author, but the first in this series, but it reads well as a stand alone. There are plenty of twists and turns and the plot moves quickly. My problem with this title was the repeated conversations Kate attempted to have with her dead husband, Chris. It overpowered the first section of this title. Once this obsession faded a little, the story was able to take over and it was more satisfying.
Many thanks to Netgalley/Carol Wyer/Amazon Publishing for a digital copy of this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

A Life For A Life disappointed me on several levels. There is too much going on, for starters. We have murders then we have police corruption. We have a dead husband of the lead investigator, and she herself is pursuing her own demons, all the while carrying on "conversations" with her dead husband! All of this is revealed painfully slowly, with descriptions of things that often need no describing. The final scene is ludicrous.
Thanks NetGalley for the ARC.

Loved this book, brilliantly written and keeps you guessing! I couldn't put it down. I just loved how the storyline unfolded and still leaves room for another whilst being tied up eat the same time.

I chose this book, not realising that it was not quite a stand-alone. Usually I find that too disappointing to enjoy the book, but this one worked quite well as a stand-alone and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
There were some very complex characters within the story and some of them quite sinister.
It was a very well thought out plot which raised my eyebrows at times. Definitely a few "Gosh" moments
A very good read and I enjoyed it.

Another fabulous read by Carol Wyer.

This book had me gripped from the first page and kept me gripped throughout.

People are dying and there doesn’t appear to be a link at all. DI Kate Young is up against it and find out who’s committing these crimes before more innocent people die. At the same time she’s dealing with her own personal issues.

I love this series Kate is a strong character with lots of issues herself that unfold with each book in the series.

A great read

This is the third in a series but the first that I have read of Detective Kate Young. I think the author does a decent job of giving some background so it can be read as a stand alone but I think I would have benefited in reading these in order. I didn’t get a good enough idea of who Kate was as a character. The writing is quite good was engaging. I like the multiple plot lines, as since the main plot was quite obvious who the villain was. Overall a quick detective story that definitely has me wondering what happens next.

This is the third of the series about DI Kate . She is a detective in Staffordshire and is now a widow , her husband having been murdered. She has problems, with some colleagues and in dealing with her grief. The crimes are seemingly random murders, with few clues as to who the perpetrator might be. Running alongside this, is her own investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of her husband and other members of the police and into crooked coppers who have been involved with these crimes.
The pace of the book is fairly quick with twists and turns and the investigation is hampered by the small team of colleagues;, the lack of clues and restrictions from the bosses. A pattern of sorts emerges and a profiler is asked to help with the case. Not having read the previous books in the series perhaps put me at a disadvantage here because some of Kate's problems, actions and thought processes made me wonder whether she should be at work , especially involved in such a case . At last progress was made, after several twists and turns. The profiler was superfluous in my opinion, otherwise a reasonably believable investigation.
I would have liked to know more about the main characters, the characterizations felt a bit shallow in places. I am still a bit puzzled by the ending ... not sure what to make of it ....
If you like police procedural books, this is a good read, though also takes some concentration to think about how the different puzzles fit together
Thank you to Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

A really great, twisted story which gives you lots of potential as to who is behind what is going on. Written well, keeping you hooked in.

This is the 3rd book in the Detective Kate Young series and I could not wait to read this as I loved the other 2. This did not disappoint and was a real page turner. I could not put this book down. It ended on such a cliff hanger of a moment though I hope we do not have to wait long for book 4!

The third book in a new series by carol and a great series at that
You do not have to have read the previous two books to read this book
It will have you hooked from the first page
Plenty of twist and turns
Can’t wait for carols next book
One of my favourite authors
Thanks NetGalley

When a young man is found lying on a station platform with a hole in his head, DI Kate Young is called in to investigate the grisly murder. But the killing is no one-off. As bodies start to pile up, she is faced with what might be an impossible task—to hunt down a ruthless killer on a seemingly random rampage. What a rollercoaster ride this book was!… Totally gripped from the beginning… Grab yourself a copy of this book!

I very soon realised that I needed to read the whole series to know what was going on and I have happily paid to do that in the past with other series (e.g. Parekh and Helen Fielding).
But I didn't think it very likely that a driving instructor would be water-boarding someone, even if they were ex-SAS, so I decided this wasn't for me.
Sorry.

*** 3.5 stars ***

*** 3.5 stars ***

I will admit I haven't read the first nor the second book in this series, so I haven't been able to see Detective Kate Young's journey from the very beginning or seen how she has/hasn't developed... But what I will say is this is a fast paced detective series which holds nothing back. This may sound weird, but I really liked the graphic descriptions and the author certainly doesn't shy away from this! It immersed me more into the book.

My only gripe was well the author got all the thrilling component into the story, the mystery element was just... okay. It was pretty obvious from the start, so when the mystery was "revealed" to the reader further on in the book, it was like an "oh wow moment, I would of never of guessed" it was a more "oh I knew that already" sort of moment.

The writing style was something I did really like so, I would definitely like to get my hands on the first two books in the series just so I can compare.

Great suspenseful novel that I would highly recommend to others. Great plot, characters and premise that made me want to keep turning the pages to get to the conclusion.

Really enjoyed this book. This is a fabulous series that just gets better and better with each book. It will grip you from the beginning and I thought I had worked out who it was but was wrong which I loved. Can not wait for the next book.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of A Life for a Life.

Kate lost her husband a year ago. He was killed in the line of duty. Well, that’s what it was made out to be. Then Kate, as a DI, gets put in charge of a major investigation, a seeming random set of murders with no obvious leads. Is the murderer a crazed individual, or does Kate have more in common with them than she thinks?

I believe this is the third book with DI Kate Young as the main character. Some parts were difficult to follow as I hadn’t read the other 2, but it can be read as a standalone. There was some time at the end of the book dedicated to tying up the story which had been running through the series, and also I felt there were some bits where I thought the story was stretched somewhat. However, it kept me entertained, so 3.5 stars rounded up.

The story delves into seemingly random murders and Kate Young's ability to put her own personal struggles aside to solve.
I liked the premise of the book but thought that in areas it was very repetitive and did not move the story on much. There were parts of the book, like near the end that I couldn't put the book down but in other parts I was struggling to stay awake whilst reading. A bit of a mixed bag.

Barely Two Stars for this one... I really enjoyed the first two books in this series. They were well written and the plots were tightly focused. However, A Life for a Life opened with a scene featuring water torture, yes, exactly like that done at Black Ops sites and considered war crimes. It is revealed that "good cop" Kate is watching a video of man being tortured by someone she is working with to retrieve information on a "bad cop" who may or may not have murdered her husband. The murder of Kate's husband is a long riding story arc going back to book one so you don't want to read these books out of order. The plot of this book, however, aside from torturing people, is a serial killer. Kate and her team are having a tough time with this one so, I don't know, maybe they could torture some innocent witnesses and come up with something. Nah, eventually they solve the crime and Kate goes on to murder someone else in the end. Great cop story, right? Now, tell me again, who is the good cop and who is the bad one? Yeah, I don't know either. What I DO know is that I won't read any more of Wyer's books. Yes, I know there are crooked cops in this world. Trust me, I know this. What I don't have abide is fiction that makes the bad cop the good guy. Nope.

Oh no, another series that I need to go back and read from the beginning.
DI Kate Young is called to investigate the murder of a man found dead at a railway station with a hole in his head. It soon becomes evident that he wasn’t killed by conventional means and as the bodies start to mount up Kate and her team struggle to find a connection between these seemingly unrelated deaths (other than the method of dispatch).
They must first find the connection before they can apprehend the murderer.
As though this case wasn’t difficult enough Kate is still dealing with the death of her journalist husband . She is convinced he was murdered while investigating missing under-age sex workers and believes his death is linked to her suspicions of police corruption. However, she must investigate this alone as she doesn’t know who she can trust. She struggles at times with self doubt and her ability to bring both investigations to a successful conclusion.
I enjoyed this read from beginning to end and the different storylines running side by side kept suspense levels high. I look forward to reading the rest of the series.

Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for the ARC.
First publication by this author I've read and it certainly won't be the last.
Good strong characters with an equally strong storyline this one kept me hooked from the start.
Look froward to reading others by Ms Wyer.

DI Kate Young does worry me! She hovers constantly on the edge of her sanity although in A Life for A Life she seems to be veering back towards the more stable side of the path.

Here she is faced with an apparently random series of crimes - albeit all sharing the same MO - yet with no other obvious connections. 

I loved the addition of fruity mcfruitloop the profiler! He was a brilliantly unsettling character to drop into the mix.

I also enjoyed hearing the killer's voice throughout and witnessing first hand what was going on with them and how/why they were choosing their victims. 

DI Kate Young, although tenacious and determined to catch the killer - and quickly before the Superintendent (who she suspects had a hand in her husband's death) takes great delight in passing the case over to a bigger team - is dangerously focused on revenge for her husband's death. Will this be her downfall?

Battling a variety of demons, including the slurs against her father's good name, Kate fights to keep hold of her mind and her focus to catch the killer before it is too late. But has just jeopardised the safety of the team in the process?

An excellent story, good investigation as hardly any clues and I did wonder if he wasn’t the dirty cop. Love this character as she really gets into the head of a cop and how they think. Another best seller I feel.

A Life for a Life by Carol Wyer is the third book in the superb Detective Kate Young Series. I have enjoyed all Carol's books and this latest one was excellent, I was gripped from the very first few pages. Carol has a way of writing that just gets you drawn in when you start to read her books and they keep you looking forward to her next book.This book can be read as a standalone, However, I do suggest you read from the beginning as you would be missing out on two excellent books..

I highly recommend these books in the Detective Kate Young Series. and all Carol's books.

Massive Thank you to NetGalley and especially to Amazon Publishing UK for that much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

This is third book in the Kate Young series and I was really keen to see what happens next. Although this technically works as a standalone it would definitely make more sense to have read the previous two books as there are lots of references to events in Kate’s long running investigation into police corruption.

Kate is still struggling to cope with the loss of her husband. And his voice in her head is getting quieter and less frequent. Kate is concerned that she is losing her connection with Chris as she continues to pursue events that led to his death.

The book begins by throwing you straight into the action followed by a shocking murder. There’s a lot going on and a lot of characters, but the book soon settles down as Kate and her team start investigating.

With no obvious suspects, the investigation begins slowly reflecting the reality of crime detection. A second murder leaves the team baffled as there is seemingly no connection to the first. The pressure is on Kate to join the dots.

This book also explores Kate’s family more, particularly her father. She finds out some information that shatters her image of him and makes her reevaluate events in the past. She is also trying to find out how all of this links to Superintendent Dickson. Convinced that one of her team is feeding information back to Dickson, Kate becomes increasingly wary and secretive. There is a real sense of paranoia in this book.

This is great series and Kate is such an interesting protagonist. The relationships between the team continue to develop as we get to know Emma, Morgan and Jamie better. The dialogue is often fun and there are some great scenes between Morgan and Jamie.

I have thoroughly enjoyed this series – every book is compelling and a complete page turner. And the ending – well, it will definitely leave you wanting more!

Another absolutely brilliant read.
Not going to lie, didn’t want the book to end but when it and my name was there in the acknowledgments, I may have let out a little squeal and a tear may have escaped the corner of my eye.

Carol Wyer certainly knows what her readers want, and she manages to deliver each and every time. A gripping, thrilling read that really will have you on the edge of your seat.
The books by this author are worth reading in order, for me i think it adds to the enjoyment of the read.

This killer seems to enjoy his killing as often as possible. When it all seems random how can the killer be caught? That's up to the detective with some mental issues of her own
Thank you netgalley and the publisher for this arc

This series continues to compel me! The back story of Kate's husband's death provides a strong context. Who is corrupt in the police service and who can Kate trust? The twists and turns in this are intriguing. A series I will definitely keep reading!

This was a good book but unfortunately for me this series is not anywhere near as brilliant as previous ones. The damaged detective story line is quickly becoming all too common and puts me off.

DI Kate Young lost her husband Chris about a year ago and is still agonizing over his death. At the same time, a body has been discovered killed by a dead bolt pistol (the kind used to dispatch animals) shot in the head. Apparently the tip of the iceberg as there follows additional deaths by the same MO. The problem is the absolute lack of correlation as they appear totally random and the descriptions get rather graphic.

I thought the start of the book slow, a little disjointed, and it was some time into the book before I was able to engage. Kate struggles with the gradual loss of Chris’ voice and she is paranoid about trusting anyone regarding her investigation into superintendent Dickson, whom she feels is responsible for his death. I liked the characters of DS Emma Donaldson and DS Morgan Meredith as they help to form a solid investigative team of unique persons.

The tension ramps up closer to the end of the well-plotted narrative, adding suspense, switching goals between the quest for vengeance (or justice), and the solution to the bolt murders.

This might be one of those series that makes more sense to begin with Book 1. While the novel is engaging, it might be better appreciated knowing the back story. 3.5 stars

A really enjoyable thriller - I hadn't read the first one in this series, so I sometimes felt a little confused and overwhelmed with information. But it didn't stop me from enjoying it and rooting for some of the characters. I would definitely read the follow up to this!

First of all, I wouldn’t recommend skipping book one and two.

I have mixed feelings for this book, although the first ones had me devouring the pages all day, this one was kinda hard to get into sometimes.
The ending was enjoyable, it did not disappoint me in this scenario, but I feel that what wasn’t it for me was the narrative.
It’s not a bad book, at all, it’s quite enjoyable and entertaining! If you are not familiarized with Carol’s books. That’s probably what disappointed me, ir doesn’t live up to the previous ones.
That being said, It’s still a book I would recommend, but do not skip the other ones, something’s about the murder will spoil or confuse the stories for you.

DI Kate Young is back trying to keep her place in her team and win back support from her superiors, all the while trying to bring down her corrupt boss Superintendent Dickson and get over the loss of her husband Chris. But when a man is discovered shot dead at point blank range at a train station with no leads, and then more victims are killed in the same way, Kate finds it hard to work out why the killings are happening.
Kate’s mental health seems to suffer but she begins to realise that her suffering may help in the solving of the crimes and to find the perpetrator.
A good read that maintains its pace throughout!

An Impossible Task…?
The third in the Detective Kate Young series finds Kate grappling with the warped mind of a killer. A gruesome murder and the bodies are beginning to pile. Is it an impossible task? If anyone can do this, she can with the help of her team. Immersive and compelling and with a complex protagonist with her own backstory, a well crafted cast and a solid plot. A worthy entry in the series.

Detective Kate Young is a complex character driven by a dedication to her career and her need for revenge. The juxtaposition of personal and professional is well written, making this story resonate. I like the investigation team's dynamic and the menacing ethos, which is chilling and suspenseful in a well-paced and twisty plot.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

This is the first Carol Wyer book which I have read, which is the third in the Kate Young series of books and it was amazing. I will definitely be purchasing the first 2 books.

The start of the book was about a family who were on their way to go on holiday, however an awful crash happened. Then the book went on a completely different tangent about Kate Young, at first I thought what is the connection??!! However as the book goes on, you sort of forget about the beginning and get lost in Kates world.

Kate and her team are investigating what appear to be random murders and they struggle to find a connection, so they bring in profiler Samuel - he is strange, is very much in his own little world, does things out of the norm - I flipping loved his character!!!

Towards the end, everything all ties in and it was such a gripping fantastic read - Thank you Carol Wyer - I have discovered a new author!!!! x

Brief Synopsis: Chris has died and his wife Detective Kate Young thinks it’s because he was close to uncovering a ring of corrupt law enforcement. Kate is also working to solve a string of murders. With no weapon, no suspect, and no motive to kill… the detectives are struggling to close the case.

Thoughts: Though this is book 3 of the Detective Kate Young series, it can be read as a standalone novel. With the personal vendetta and the murder investigations, there is plenty going on within the storyline. At times the pacing felt slow. I think this was largely due to the dialogue between characters and the internal monologue Kate has with herself. A lot of text is spent chatting, but the information doesn’t help move the narrative along. That said, at around the 80% mark the pacing picks up as the team starts to make headway. It ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, BUT I will say I found closure with both storylines.

Thank you to Carol Wyer, Amazon Publishing UK, and NetGalley for access to this! If you enjoy police procedurals, this ones for you. In fact, it has the feel of a Criminal Minds show.

Thank you to Netgalley for an arc of this book in exchange honest review.

I had not read any previous books by this author, so I was at a slight disadvantage. However, an enjoyable read not the best crime novel in the world but recommended nonetheless.

This is the third book in the series featuring DI Kate Young. Kate is still coming to terms with the death of her husband, a fellow police officer, who was murdered. He was working on a case involving police corruption when he was murdered and Kate is convinced that her own Superintendent Dixon is involved and responsible for his death. She is determined to bring his killers to justice but doesn’t know who she can trust in her own station. Her mental health is suffering even though she is having counselling. Alongside investigating this, Kate and her team are having problems trying to solve a spate of murders. A young man is found dead on the platform of a country railway station with a bullet hole in his head. There were no witnesses or leads and then the following day a young woman is found dead in a retail park with a bullet in the head too, also no witnesses. This is a puzzling case as more bodies turn up, one each day and always in the late afternoon or early evening with a bullet in the head. Kate and the team are baffled as all the victims have no connections. They wonder if they are being targetted and decide call in a profiler to help solve the deaths. This book had me hooked from the first page. It contains plenty of drama, suspension and tension with so many twists and turns and an explosive ending. I can’t wait for the next book in the series.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

*5 Stars*

ARC kindly received via NetGalley for an honest review.

This was a really good read. Kate and her team put many hours into their cases and finding murderers. She also has her own journey trying to find another killer. Good characters and an interesting finish to the book. Looking forward to more from this series. Would recommend.

Another excellent book by Carol Wyer starring DI Kate Young investigating a murder of a man discovered shot in the head and the continuing story of the Superintendent John Dickson's corruption. Kept me enthralled to the final pages.

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of this title. This is the third novel in the DI Kate Young series by Carol Wyer - I have not read the previous two but will remedy that if they are as good as this. Kate and her team are after a killer who picks victims seemingly at random and uses an unusual weapon - a bolt gun usually used to kill cattle. She is struggling with the death of her husband and, as well as trying to solve the case is investigating, off her own bat, corruption within the police department. IIt ends with confrontation and a cliff-hanger ending - roll on the next book. Recommended.

This book is simply superb. Featuring D I Kate Young who is an officer living on the edge following the death of her husband. She is struggling to juggle her grief with the need to solve a complex and pressurised case. As if that's not enough, it seems that her husbands death may not be as straightforward as it seems. Gripping from first page to last, make this the next book you read.

I have been a die hard fan of Carol’s work for a while. It doesn’t matter whether Carol writes a romance novel or a gritty crime novel, as soon as I see Carol’s name on a book that I haven’t read then I grab a copy as I know whatever Carol writes is bound to be amazing. ‘A Life For A Life’ is the third book in the series featuring Detective Inspector Kate Young and it’s another cracker of a read, which I thoroughly enjoyed but more about that in a bit.
What can I say about Detective Inspector Kate Young? I really like this character and warmed to her from the start. She hasn’t had the easiest of times because her husband was killed and she has been mourning his loss. She has sort of channelled her grief in that it drives her on to track down his killer and at the same time expose police corruption and that’s without her day to day police work. I feared for Kate’s mental health as she seems to be on the edge more than ever in ‘A Life For A Life’ and I think that it wouldn’t take too much to tip her over the edge. Kate has a lot to juggle with her latest investigation, her personal life and her work life. I kept everything crossed that Kate wouldn’t tip over the edge and that she would succeed in her mission to find her husband’s killer. What happens? Well for the answer to that question and so much more you are just going to have to read the book for yourselves to find out as I am not going to tell you.
I was drawn to this book by the fact that I saw Carol’s name on the cover of a book that I hadn’t read. The synopsis grabbed me by the throat and as soon as I started reading the story itself that was it. I knew that it was pointless planning to do anything else, other than reading, for the rest of the day apart from reading because I knew that I wasn’t going to be able to put the book down. The book wasn’t exactly glue to my hands but it might as well have been because it travelled everywhere with me. I just couldn’t bear to miss a single second of the story. This was one of those books that really got under my skin in the sense that it was always on my mind- if I wasn’t reading the book then I was thinking about it. Well you get the picture. I became so wrapped up in the story that I lost all track of time and just how quickly I was getting through the story. All too quickly I reached the end of the book and I had to say goodbye to Kate. I found ‘A Life For A Life’ to be a tense, gripping and dramatic read, which kept me guessing and which kept me on the edge of my seat.
‘A Life For A Life’ is superbly written but then I have come to expect nothing less from Carol. Carol has a writing style that is easy to get used to and easy to get along with. For me the story hits the ground running and maintains a fast pace throughout. Carol clearly cares about her characters and this shines through in the very vivid way in which she describes them. She makes them sound so realistic that they seem just as real as you and I. Reading ‘A Life For A Life’ felt like being on a scary and unpredictable rollercoaster ride with several twists and turns along the way. Just when you think that you can take a moment to have a breather, gather your thoughts and reclaim your stomach then off the action goes again. I thought that the first two books in the DI Kate Young series were good but for me, this is the best book in the series. Carol is one of those authors who keep raising the bar with each new book that she releases.
In short, I absolutely loved reading ‘A Life For A Life’ and I would definitely recommend this book to other readers. ‘A Life For A Life’ has to be one of my top reads for 2022 and Carol Wyer is one of my ‘must read’ authors. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.

Having read the other Carol Wyer series and the first 2 books in this series I was slightly disappointed with this offering. As always with the author's books, it's very readable but I found this a little dull. The continuation of the Dickson plot felt a little repetitive but the main story is ok. I will continue with this series but I found this particular instalment a little average.

After really enjoying the first two books in the series I had high hopes for another enjoyable read, however unfortunately I was left a little disappointed.
The ongoing plot surrounding Dickson is getting a little tedious and I felt it just interrupted the flow of the other story line, which I would have enjoyed if it didn't keep flitting back.

DI Kate Young is called to the death of a man on a station platform , more killings take place , they seem linked but the victims appear random . Can Kate get to the root of this before it gets out of hand and finishes her career . After the death of her husband Chris , Kate is hellbent on trying to bring Superintendent Dickson down on corruption charges that she believes her husband was investigating prior to his death.

superb follow on from the DI Kate Young series, love the style of this writing and the character in this book and the cases Kate works, can't wait for the next installment

Third in this series featuring Detective Kate Young. Struggling with. her husband's death,trying to root out police corruption and solve the murder of a young man. Lots happening in this story,fast paced with twists.

I received a free e-copy of A Life for a Life by Carol Wyer from NetGalley for my honest review. I always look forward to anything from Carol Wyer. Another, absolutely amazing police procedural. Such an amazing talent at writing and keeping the reader hooked from the beginning.

A Life for a Life by Carol Wyer was an intriguing thriller that kept me turning pages. I enjoyed thus installment t in the series. Looking forward to more by this author.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to review this book. A fast paced thriller with lots of sub stories. I loved it from start to finish.

I’m really invested and engrossed in the Detective Kate Young series. I started reading out of order and then stopped and corrected myself. I’m glad I did. While each book has its own crime to solve, there is the continuing story of Kate putting together evidence against a senior officer who may or may not have been involved in the death of her husband Chris, the love of her life. Struggling to pick up the pieces of her personal and emotions, life, Kate has always felt Chris’s presence and speaks with him as Chris guides her investigation into his death. Although she keeps this aspect of her life quiet she begins to question her reliance on Chris and this new case challenges her resolve in a deadly and depressing way. The crime story is fascinating and I’m enjoying Kates journey. On to the next on!.

Love all carols detective series and Kate is no different, I don’t think there’s a book of Carols I haven’t read 🙈 this one again was pure class as always and had me racing through pages like there was no tomorrow! Can’t wait for the next one….