I would like to thank Netgalley and Penguin Uk - Michael Joseph for an advance copy of The Keeper, the third police procedural to feature the newly minted DCI Antonia Hawkins and her team.

Antonia Hawkins and her team are called in when two metal detectorists (makes a change from the ubiquitous dog walker) find a body buried in a shallow grave in a wood. Almost as soon as the body is identified they develop a prime suspect but this is thrown into doubt when the CSIs find two more bodies at the same site and they can't link them to the suspect. The hunt is on. The novel is interspersed with someone called Rupert looking back on his childhood with his friend Ash and now apparently waiting for him to turn up.

I really like police procedurals, especially those involving the hunt for a stranger killer and I think Mr Gunn does it well. The Keeper does not have a particularly original premise as many fictional serial killers have been uncovered along with their buried victims but it's where he takes the novel from this inauspicious start that makes it such a good read. I would never have imagined the turns it takes or the outcome, it's clever stuff.

Antonia Hawkins is a great protagonist. She is smart, committed and dedicated but this doesn't stop her having doubts as she struggles with her, I hesitate to say mental health, wellbeing. Physically she has recovered well from her stabbing (see The Advent Killer) but she still has nightmares and is worrying that she may have aggression issues. In the newly touchy-feely Met she is forced to attend counselling who in turn are complaining that she isn't opening up about the attack. From personal experience I too am ambivalent about the process and wary of how any disclosure could be used so these scenes really struck a chord with me and are excellently done. If this isn't enough trauma her sister and her two young children move in. Antonia is not only therapy but child averse so her cup is overrunning. Again her relationship with her family is extremely well done and it may be that we see a more humorous side to Antonia in the future!

I thoroughly enjoyed The Keeper which had me glued to the pages and up much later than planned as I couldn't put it down. It's definitely a one sitting read as Mr Gunn pulls you in and holds you. Therefore I have no hesitation in recommending it as a great read.

A nerve wracking, finger biting thriller, that throws in an unexpected and very impressive twist towards the end. With suspense aplenty, this book easily deserves 5 stars.

What a brilliant novel!! I adored this book as it kept me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. With a fast moving plot and well rounded main characters I was totally engrossed. I would highly recommend this book.

Apparently this is #3 in the series. I found that missed a bit as I hadn't read the first 2, but it was still a great thriller to read.

This is the first book that I have read by Alastair Gunn (this is the third in the Detective Inspector Antonia Hawkins series) - this was not a major problem as the book does hint at the previous book.
I was incredibly taken with the story and the characters (so much so I have gone out and bought the first two books which I am eager to read). The book starts with a body being discovered in a wood and then moves on at a pace from there. There is an excellent twist (that I will not reveal). The home life of the DCI and her partner is excellent with family encroaching on her domestic bliss but this only adds to the characters. I can easily see this story (and if the previous are as good) being turned into a TV drama series as the female lead is so good.
I love the discovery of a new author and will be recommending Alastair Gunn to everyone as a great crime writer. I await the next book.

I hope I haven't made too much of a mistake reading this book.

Only after I started did I spot that is the third book in a series featuring DCI Antonia Hawkins.

Actually, the book is able to stand on its own merit.

My review as posted on Goodreads:

I really liked the story. I'm not sure what genre it falls into; part murder, part psychological thriller and part police procedural.

It certainly doesn't disappoint. Strong on plot with plenty of twists.

I give thanks to Netgalley and Penguin, for a copy in exchange for an honest review

Good book I really enjoyed it, I liked the main detective,I like flawed characters and she had issues she was working through as well as being kept busy with murders.I though all the characters were well drawn, and there were surprises along the way, and that is always good.Thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for an ARC in return for an honest review.

Loved the first in this series but did not enjoy book 2 as much. Very pleased to say the author is back on track with book 3. Really enjoyed this creepy thriller.

Another great title by Alastair Gunn. Really well told and couldn't put it down.

Thanks for the advanced copy