Synopsis: There’s no easy way to die…. Unknown to DI Luc Callanach and the newly promoted DCI Ava Turner, a serial killer has Edinburgh firmly in his grip. The killer is taking his victims in the coldest, most calculating way possible – engineering slow and painful deaths by poison, with his victims entirely unaware of the drugs flooding their bloodstream until it’s too late. But how do you catch a killer who hides in the shadows? A killer whose pleasure comes from watching pain from afar? Faced with their most difficult case yet, Callanach and Turner soon realise they face a seemingly impossible task…
Kat’s Rating: 5/5
Kat’s Review: I have read the last two in the series back to back and HAD to move straight on to book 3 especially after the ending of book 2. If you plan on reading the books in order maybe don’t read on as there will inevitably be some spoilers! In this latest book Ava has been promoted to DCI meaning the relationship between her and DI Luc Callanach is no longer the same. Not only does Ava now have a whole new set of responsibilities but she has to adjust to this new chain of command. What may have once been a potential blossoming friendship or even better a relationship, just got a little further away for both of them.
In addition the latest case appears a bit of a head scratcher. A young girl is found dead and naked with no apparent injuries. This first point is a complete change from some of the grisly murder scenes in previous books. In addition to that murder, Ava and the team have to deal with the suicide of DCI Begbie. This story although not as gruesome as others, is no less thrilling. I absolutely love DS Lively as well as the appearance of Lance Proudfoot again. It’s great seeing the characters grow and become more involved as the series continues. The various plot threads were slow burners, but ones that made you wonder no less. Considering I hadn’t picked up one of these books by this author before a few weeks ago this series is fast becoming an obsession. A truly brilliant series that I am thoroughly involved in.
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