DI Kate Young is on leave. She’s the force’s best detective, but her bosses know she’s under pressure, on medication and overcoming trauma. So after her bad judgement call leads to a narrowly averted public disaster, they’re sure all she needs is a rest.
But when Staffordshire Police summon her back to work on a murder case, it’s a harder, more suspicious Kate Young who returns. With a new ruthlessness, she sets about tracking down a clinical, calculating serial killer who is torturing victims and leaving clues to taunt the police. Spurred on by her reporter husband, Young begins to suspect that the murderer might be closer than she ever imagined.
As she works to uncover the truth, Young unravels a network of secrets and lies, with even those closest to her having something to hide. But with her own competence—and her grip on reality—called into question, can she unmask the killer before they strike again?
Title: An eye for an eye
Author: Carol Wyer
Series: DI Kate Young #1
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer
Publication date: February 1, 2021
REVIEW
RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"An apple a day keeps the doctor away". Tell that to the killer's victims! From now on I won't look at apples the same way! 🍎 😅
What a fantastic start to a brand new police procedural series! Carol Wyer already proved she knows what she's writing about with the Robyn Carter and Natalie Ward series, and DI Kate Young is a welcomed addition to this group of strong policewomen.
The book starts with a bang, with DI Young taking some leave from work after a really traumatic incident, the details of which will be revealed bit by bit throughout the story and that serves as background to understand Kate's mental state. I loved how we're not told from the beginning what really happened to her, allowing the reader to form their own theories (I had a few!). I also liked how both lines tied together at the end, setting the pieces for the next chapter in Kate's story.
Although the murders were quite grisly, they were not played out on the page, with the focus set on the forensics. As a medical examiner myself I love stories where forensics play a key part in the story. It might be because of my job, but I always love to play detective while reading a crime/mystery book, and get a weird satisfaction when my theory is proved right. I would have loved to do a buddy read to be able to discuss all the different theories my head kept creating!
I really loved Kate and her small team. I think it was a good choice not to have a huge team where sometimes you can't even distinguish one policeman from another, but a small one with just a couple of young promising detectives, whose backstories I can't wait to learn.
Kate's mental health issues were very well portrayed and helped to make her a more sympathetic character. With everything she has going on she could be obnoxious and alienating to her colleagues, but in spite of her problems she always behaved with them in a respectful and professional manner.
The story moved at a really quick pace, and once you get immersed into the investigation it is quite hard to unglue yourself from the pages.
Great start to what promises to be (based on that last sentence) another series whose installments I'll be anxiously waiting.
Thanks to Carol Wyer for providing a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.
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