Ed O'Connor

This was a very enjoyable police procedural novel, apparently it's the third in the series, which I wasn't aware of at all whilst reading. It really seemed like a stand alone novel in that there was ample background to have a good feel of each of the characters. Call backs to past events were done so in a way that felt like it was just back-grounding of the character not references to something you had missed which is how most series books seem if read out of order.

It features a cannibalistic serial killer who has been knocking people off and feeding them to his intellectually challenged brother as well as himself. Things unravel when DS Alison Dexter chases down the leads and after questioning the brothers the eldest decides they need to run, and leaves the challenged brother behind whilst he organises things. In the interim police arrive with a warrant and in fear the challenged brother runs out onto the street ultimately getting hit by a car and dying. It's here where a multi-year course of revenge begins for the eldest and the main thrust of the story commences.

I thought it was very well written and liked that I didn't even notice it was part of a series, the story is dark and gritty without being oppressively so. Would recommend.… (more)