Left for Dead by Caroline Mitchell

⭐ Publisher featured review

A well-plotted novel that manages to mix fantasy-level psychopathic serial killer murders with a down-to-Earth police investigation.

The book opens with a romantic window display containing the perfect bride, who happens to be a dead woman posing as a manikin with all the bridal paraphernalia. The rest of the story focuses on the hunt for the murderer and an attempt to prevent victim count from rising. The protagonist is a female detective whose parents are also serial-killers and so the the main baddie has a connection, in his mind at least.

Set between London and Essex, this is a quick-paced novel, with a modern writing style which makes it easy to read. The detective has her own life and it mixes well with the main story and is an interesting storyline. This is the third book in the series  and stands quite well on its own, but the detective's own history would be clearer if the previous two books were read first - not that this is a major issue.

Fascinating look at the mindset of such killers and there were a couple of things I didn't predict in the plot. A good read, recommended. 

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Published by Thomas & Mercer on 8 July 2020.
​Advance review copy supplied by the publisher.