Gone To Ground by Rachel Amphlett

Gone To Ground

By Rachel Amphlett

I have been following Rachel Amphlett's Kay Hunter series from the beginning and have really enjoyed all of them. You can read my reviews of two of the earlier books here. 

In this latest book, Rachel Amphlett is on fine form. 

When a series of body parts start to turn up in various locations around the Kent countryside, Kay and her colleagues are at a loss. There's a real sense of mystery here and a great plot set up. Despite the unpromising circumstances, they identify the first body, and then a second. But what links the two? And why on earth would their killer be cutting them up and leaving bits of their bodies by the roadside.

One thing that does become clear is that the killer is very dangerous and will almost certainly strike again. Kay and her team need to stop them before they kill any more people. As the investigation progresses, Kay and her team find themselves investigating an interesting set of possible suspects. In parallel to this they also start to unravel the backgrounds of the victims.

As always the characterisation is deftly done and Kay's relationship with her colleagues, and also her husband is vividly drawn. A little light relief is offered by husband, Adam, bringing his work as a vet home again. This time in the shape of a miniature goat that seems intent on destroying the garden.

Overall a great read with tension, pace and a gripping and unusual plot. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Thanks very much to the author for a review copy of this book.

You can find out more and buy a copy here.

Will To Live by Rachel Amphlett

Will To Live

By Rachel Amphlett 

The Kay Hunter series from Rachel Amphlett is shaping up to be a very good one indeed. I really enjoyed the first offering, ‘Scared To Death’, which I reviewed here. And the follow up, ‘Will To Live’ is just as good.

This outing sees Kay Hunter investigating a series of deaths linked to the railways. At first they were thought to be suicides, until a dog walker chances to see one victim’s final moments. Could there be more to what is going on than meets the eye. Is the murderer actually using trains to kill people? Who would do that and why?

Kay and her team have to look for links between the victims, and as they do, an event from the past gives them the first glimpse of an insight into the killer’s motive.

This story is packed with action, intrigue and peril and, as with the previous one, is very well plotted.

One of the things I like about this series is that we have a satisfying character arc running through the books that is based on Kay’s ongoing personal and professional issues.

I love her husband, who is a vet with a tendency to bring his work home with him. Last time it was a snake, this time a pregnant Great Dane. Being familiar with her family situation also raises the stakes for the reader when Kay finds herself at the sharp end of some criminal activity which hits her way too close to home.

This book continues the thread started in the last one about Kay’s professional past and the issues she has had to deal with. There is no let up for her in this instalment and we are left wondering just who is trying to blacken her name and why.

All in all, a thoroughly compelling story and I look forward to reading more in the series.

Thanks very much to the author for a review copy of this book.

You can find out more here.

Scared To Death by Rachel Amphlett

Scared To Death

By Rachel Amphlett 

The murderer in this story isn’t content with just killing their victims, they want to actually scare them to death. And, what’s more, they want to watch.

This is the twisted and horrifying situation that Detective Kay Hunter is faced with at the beginning of Scared To Death and it makes her absolutely determined to find the perpetrator, despite some deliberate attempts to mislead her along the way.

The plot sucks you in right from the very first pages as a couple desperately search for their kidnapped daughter, the beginning of a series of events that will end in tragedy.

This story is packed with plenty of action, tension and surprises. We also get to know a lot about Kay, from her private emotional scars to a recent bruising of her professional reputation. This makes her an appealing and well-rounded character, strong enough to carry the series following on from this first book well. During the course of this book we got to know her well enough to empathise with her, but with some questions left unanswered that will make readers want to go ahead and read further books.

The characters are all well drawn, even the minor ones, and this makes for a realistic read and a satisfying conclusion. There is also a well realised sense of place in the book and the settings play a big part in the way the story unfolds.

Overall I found this a great page turning read, intellectually satisfying and intriguing. The clues and the way the team work together on the investigation are brought to life in a very believable way and the plot was well structured and fast moving.

I look forward to reading further books in the series.

Thanks very much to the author for a review copy of this book.

You can find out more here.

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