Publisher's Weekly Review
The hero of this well-crafted series launch from British author Bonner (A Moment of Madness), Det. Insp. David Vogel of the Avon and Somerset Constabulary's Major Crime Investigation Team, is called in to head the investigation into the murder of 14-year-old Melanie Cook, whose battered body was found in Bristol's red light district. Vogel and his team delve into the victim's life and question those who were closest to her. Chapters narrated by three possible suspects-Al, Leo, and Saul, each a distinctive character with his own agenda-help build the tension. Meanwhile, Vogel has a load of personal issues to deal with: a teenage daughter with cerebral palsy, a conflicted relationship with his father and brother (who have moved to Israel), and the need to come to terms with his cultural identity. Vogel's spare time is spent compiling crosswords for a specialist magazine, a skill that will undoubtedly come in handy when he's faced with arcane clues in future installments. Some readers may find the action-packed ending a bit forced. Agent: Toby Peake, Peake Associates (U.K.). (Dec.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Booklist Review
In this suspenseful and disturbing page-turner, Detective Inspector David Vogel and his team face a genuinely bizarre case. Teenager Melanie Cooke is found brutally attacked and strangled to death in a dark alley near Bristol's red-light district, and all signs point to the killer being Melanie's father. Vogel's gut, however, tells him that something's wrong with this scenario. He's soon proven right when two more seemingly unrelated murders take place, but the same DNA found on Melanie's body is found on the latest victims. The link between the three seemingly disparate victims a Thai woman who came to England to marry a man she met online, a gay college student, and teenager Melanie is puzzling, but even after Vogel connects the dots, there is one more horrifying and completely unexpected twist, which throws everything into pandemonium. Fully fleshed characters, a masterfully constructed plot, and a shock ending make for a gripping read.--Melton, Emily Copyright 2017 Booklist
Library Journal Review
DI David Vogel is the first of his team to arrive at the crime scene in Bristol's red-light district where the body of 14-year-old Melanie Cooke was found. Naturally, the police suspect the girl's father and stepfather and believe they closed the case successfully when they match DNA from Melanie's body. But, something doesn't sit right with David. When two similar murders are reported elsewhere in England, he realizes a serial killer may be at work. How can one suspect be involved with pedophilia, a gay man, and an Asian bride? It's a case that will both haunt and taunt the police. VERDICT The narrative voices of three different suspects add to the creepy atmosphere in the first entry in a new British police procedural series. Bonner (Death Comes First) skillfully uses those voices to build the suspense in this gripping novel that will draw in admirers of Peter James and Val McDermid.-LH © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
