Reviewed by Rama Gaind. By Angela Marsons, Bonnier Zaffre, $19.99.
This is a dramatic second novel from British crime fiction writer where it appears the greater the evil, the deadlier the game.
The storyline is distinctive, even though we know early on who is accountable for the murder and disorder.
Detective Kim Stone and her team are called in to bring a swift resolution to a case when a rapist is found mutilated in a brutal attack, However, as more vengeful killings come to light, it soon becomes clear that there is someone far more sinister at work.
With the investigation quickly gathering momentum, Kim finds herself exposed to great danger and in the sights of a lethal individual undertaking their own twisted experiment.
Stone is up against a sociopath who seems to know her every weakness. Each move she makes may be deadly. As the body count rises, Kim needs to dig deeper than ever before to stop the killing. It’s personal this time, so the significance is even greater.
The psychological game of cat-and-mouse is obvious. Running in the background of the manipulative murderer there’s a sad case of mistreatment and child sexual abuse that tests Stone and her team.
Indeed, the book basically opens with the team arresting a father of two young girls, but questions remain about how much their mother knew and if others were involved.
The narrative delivers with punch.
