Review - A room full of killers by Michael Wood

A room full of Killers by Michael Wood
Publisher: Harper Collins UK/Harper Fiction/Killer Reads
Release date: 17 February 2017
Rating: *****

Back cover blurb: The third book in Michael Wood’s darkly compelling crime series featuring DCI Matilda Darke. Perfect for fans of Stuart MacBride, Mark Billingham and Val McDermid. Feared by the people of Sheffield, Starling House is home to some of Britain's deadliest teenagers, still too young for prison. Now the building’s latest arrival, Ryan Asher, has been found brutally murdered – stabbed twelve times, left in a pool of blood. When DCI Matilda Darke and her team investigate, they uncover the secrets of a house tainted by evil. Kate Moloney, the prison’s manager, is falling apart, the security system has been sabotaged, and neither the staff nor the inmates can be trusted. There’s only one person Matilda believes is innocent, and he’s facing prison for the rest of his life. With time running out, she must solve the unsolvable to save a young man from his fate. And find a murderer in a house full of killers…

DCI Matilda Darke is a detective that I have somehow not had the pleasure of meeting before. I’m not sure how the first two novels in the series passed me by, but somehow they did and I really need to go back and revisit them. I must stress at this point, that this novel can definitely be read as a standalone, I would just like to read more about Matilda. 

Starling House is home to some of Britain’s deadliest killers, none of them old enough yet to be in an adult prison. When their newest arrival, Ryan Asher is found brutally murdered in a pool of blood, the police are suspicious. Despite the violence of the crime, his body is at odds with the rest of the crime scene, it looks to have been staged. And there are no shortage of suspects.

For those outside Starling House, suspicion would naturally fall on the remaining ‘inmates’, but DCI Matilda Darke and her team focus upon Starling House’s staff. If the house is as secure as everyone says it is, then they can be the only true suspects.

After a trying few days in which very little progress is made, there is a major blip in their investigation, another body is found. This time hanging from a tree. It is another of the boys from the house, and his death also seems staged. Made to look like suicide when it was clearly murder.

DCI Matilda Darke and her team must act quickly to find the perpetrator before they kill again, as they know it is only a matter of time before another victim is killed...

A room full of killers is a very interesting take on the traditional crime novel, with its difficult and controversial subjects, and I loved the ending. I look forward to the next DCI Darke instalment.

 

A room full of killers is available now via Amazon online and all good book shops.

 

Thank You to the publishers who invited me to view an advanced copy of this novel via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

 

 

Review: Someone Out There by Catherine Hunt

Someone Out There by Catherine Hunt

Publisher: Killer Reads (Harper Collins)
Release date: 21 May 2015
Rating: ****

Back cover blurb: Laura Maxwell appears to have it all – perfect career, perfect husband, perfect life. But how well do you really know the people around you? All it takes is one tiny crack to shatter the whole façade. A series of accidents causes Laura to believe that someone out there is deliberately targeting her, trying to harm her. The fear starts to pervade every part of her life, affecting her work and her marriage. Increasingly, she feels that no one believes her story, and she must face down her attacker alone.

 

Someone Out There is Catherine Hunt's debut novel. Like so many books these days it first caught my eye via Killer Reads Twitter feed.

Laura Maxwell is the woman who has everything, or so it seems. A loving (and handsome) husband, a brilliant career and wonderful friends. Unfortunately as a top divorce lawyer she has made some pretty strong enemies.

Someone Out There opens with a terrifying car chase scene which wouldn't be out of place in a movie. Quickly we learn that Laura (our main protagonist) is assisting a victim of domestic violence; Anna, in a messy divorce from her husband.

Laura wonders if Anna's ex-husband is responsible for almost running her off the road, but as a lawyer she knows that she cannot go the Police without sufficient evidence. But this is just the first in a series of events that has Laura wondering if her life is at risk.

When she sees a familiar face from her past, she begins to wonder if they are somehow involved instead. As she begins to gather evidence in order to finally liaise with the Police her mind is working overtime and she doesn't know who to trust.

Which given the terrifying twist near the end of the novel, is probably for the best!

Someone Out There is a novel that teaches us to be wary of those we trust around us, as the best of friends can sometimes turn out to our darkest enemies.

 

Someone Out There is available from 21 May.

You can pre-order it now from Harper Collins and Amazon online.

 

Many thanks to the publishers who approved my request via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.