This book wasn't for me. I found it quite boring and dull at times. It felt very predictable which is not something I like in a mystery/thriller type book.

A dual time line serial killer novel featuring DCI Adam Bishop and Dr. Romilly Cole. This is not for the faint of heart- there are some gruesome scenes- but it's also clever. How the present links with the past- no spoilers from me. I missed the first book but I don't think that was a problem. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. A page turner for fans of the genre.

The second in the Major Crimes series, The Twenty by Sam Holland is another riveting serial killer crime mystery investigation. Although there are some links to the first book, it doesn’t require any previous knowledge, or even to have read it, so makes this an ideal standalone, dark, puzzling fiction tale. A report of a dead body leads DCI Adam Bishop and his team to a waste ground dumping site and the discovery of multiple other human remains. There are no real leads and the different time periods between the killings make for a difficult investigation, with a potential countdown of victims. As more people are killed and the identity of the serial killer continues to be elusive, it directly impacts the major crime team and their families. Another intriguing dark tale of a serial killer case, that’s an absolutely riveting read with a delightfully wicked twist, that so aptly captures the title. It’s rare for a series to be this good and for the second book to be even better, so it’s a five stars plus don’t miss read rating. With thanks to Crooked Lane Books and the author, for an uncorrected advanced copy for review purposes. As always, the opinions herein are totally my own and freely given.

I absolutely loved this book. I love how Sam Holland writes her detective books as it’s not too heavy on the procedures and not dry and drab.
This book was full of twists and turns I was just not expecting especially at the end.
I hope this series continues, as I will gobble up all the books!

A tense novel from a fast-rising star, Sam Holland, The Twenty fuses a chilling race-against-time with blood-curdling crime fiction.

DCI Adam Bishop has caught a murder case he’s determined to solve. The crime scenes all have numbers spray painted; the killer is counting down.

A great serial killer story. I was a little worried because from the plot it didn’t sound like anything too special, but the author ran with it. If you think you have a twist figured out, you may but there are more to come. There are a lot of twists at the end. A lot of the story had to do with past timelines that aren’t revealed until later which made it feel like a sequel, but I don’t think it is. Trigger for anyone with a fear of needles.

“My body doesn’t want to kill, but I know I must. For I have a purpose. For the first time in my life, I am part of something special.”

The Twenty comes out 5/2.

Very atmospheric, jaw dropping & high tension! Very much enjoyed, I love Sam Holland’s writing and can’t wait for the next!

Sam Holland really knows how to write dark, gritty and entertaining crime novels. The Twenty is fast paced, gripping and full of surprises along the way. I enjoyed the writing style but I wished the ending was a little more concrete. Definitely recommend for crime fans!

I have to give it up to Sam Holland for writing a killer book that had me hooked from start to finish! Seriously, if I wasn't physically reading The Twenty, I was mentally consumed by what was happening in the book.

This is not your run-of-the-mill crime thriller. It's dark, it's terrifying, and it's mind-boggling. The bodies keep piling up, each one numbered by the twisted killer, and the end total has to be twenty.

Adam Bishop and Jamie Hoxtonare are on a race against time to solve these heinous crimes, but the body count just keeps rising. You will gasp, you will hold your breath, and you will definitely let out a few moans as the tension builds.

If you're a fan of crime thrillers, you absolutely have to read The Twenty. Move it to the top of your TBR pile and make sure no one interrupts you while you're reading it. Trust me, it's worth it.

I absolutely loved Holland's The Echo Man last year, so I was impatiently eagerly anticipating her next book. Dark, violent, and not for the squeamish, this second installment of the Major Crimes series features a cameo by DCI Cara Elliott from the first book but can easily be read as a standalone.

Once again, Holland sets a dark and chilling atmosphere within her latest thriller. There's a big cast of characters, good tension and solid twists as DCI Adam Bishop tries to hunt down a serial killer whose only clue is a Roman numeral left with each body.

There are some interesting connections between the characters and DCI Bishop is a glorious mess of a man and Romilly's past was a great addition to this cat and mouse thriller. But I felt like sometimes these personal tangents disrupted the tension in the hunt for the serial killer. Holland kept me wavering on who was the culprit and although I didn't guess their identity, it felt like the reveal was out of left field and wasn't quite as satisfying as I had expected.

Holland sets a delightfully disturbing tone and gives her readers many possible culprits to keep them guessing and has earned her spot as one of my auto-read authors when I want a dark and gory thriller. The Twenty and The Echo Man are great additions to the serial killer thriller subgenre and they perfect picks for fans of Jeffrey Deaver or Chris Carter.

Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to Crooked Lane Books for my complimentary digital copy of this book which was provided in exchange for my honest review.

The Twenty is a crime novel centered around detectives investigating multiple homicides that are linked to a serial killer who puts numbers next to the bodies he dumps. He’s counting down from twenty with each body…what happens when he gets to one?

This book is one that made me double check my locks at night. 🫣 I appreciated how the writing flowed effortlessly, and I was enthralled by the mystery from start to finish. The cast of characters are great, also. There is some drama to spice things up, high stakes that just keep climbing, and some surprising twists and turns.

This story started off strong, but dragged on toward the end and I wasn’t satisfied with the reveal or answers the last portion provided. Toward the end I wasn’t really enjoying the story anymore like I had at the start, but I had to finish and see how it all wrapped up.

I will warn you that the content is very dark and can be very graphic and disturbing at times, so make sure you’re in the mood for a Silence of the Lambs type of deal. *ALL THE TRIGGERS* at times it felt excessive and there were sections that were hard for me to get through.

This book definitely doesn’t spare any gruesome or violent details. Fans of the shows Criminal Minds and Mindhunter who are looking to go even darker may enjoy this one. It reminded me of a Karin Slaughter novel.

The Twenty by Sam Holland
I give this book 4.25 stars
The countdown has begun. Who will die next?

A shocking crime scene…
DCI Adam Bishop has never seen anything like it. Five murder victims – all with numbers written above.
A case that twists and turns…
When Dr Romilly Cole learns of the murders, they trigger memories of a traumatic past.
A race against time to stop a killer…
Adam and Romilly soon realise the truth lies in a decades-old case.

I read and loved The Echo Man (if you haven’t read it….why not?)
Book 2 is just as chilling and gruesome, it can be read as a standalone.
The author provides us with perfect multi faceted storytelling that is powerful and dark.Adam for me is a great lead character and the creepy narrative is really brought to life.
We have a serial killers game of cat and mouse and the building tension is unrelenting and palpable,this ramps up to a shocking conclusion. (no spoilers)
The author doesn’t shy away from being graphic but it only added to the plot for me.A new autobuy author,can’t wait for the next one!
With thanks to Sam Holland,Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for my chance to read and review this book.

Shocking, gripping and thrilling...these are just some of the words I would use to describe this novel, I whipped through it at white hot speed from the gruesome opener which leaves you as wrong footed as the detectives, to the  knell of that final page...wow!

With characters overlapping from The Echo Man, it is clear that the world and lore of Major Crimes, as wel as the relationships between the individual characters are growing and being established-who couldn't love huge bear of a man, Jamie, in the honeymoon period with new wife , Pippa? And the awkwardness of Pippa being best friends with his best friend's ex, Romilly?

The underlying tension simmers and broils as Romilly recognises something all too familiar about the body dump which begins The Twenty, for the Roman numerals left above them , and on them, is the only linking factor between very, very different individuals.

As Adam Bishop fights to keep the fear rising that there will be 20 dead bodies by the end of this serial killer's reign, he has to analyse and predict what the next move will be. And there is no waiting to find out, the serial killer is clearly on a mission from the very beginning, the only thing in the air is whether or not they will complete their gruesome countdown...

Both Adam and Romilly have to face very dark, very personal secrets in order to work out what parts they play in this macabre dance, and it threatens the uneasy post divorce peace that they have established.

It's a gruesome and macabre set of murders which, I have to be honest, really struck home in a way that other authors cannot make stick. The individuals who were killed weren't deeply delved into, the focus is on the team in the Major Crimes division , they are the ones you really care about as flawed, and as disparate as they may appear. The justice for the murder victims is paramount as well as stopping any more, and this elite team are up against a truly evil genius who has one body after another waiting to topple like dominoes, crushing spirits and morale as they look for one , vital, linking factor.

This is an engaging mystery, I had to stop and go back to re-read various passages as I felt like I was missing something on occasion, because it is so involved and intense. It's also not for the faint of heart , as it explores several issues which may trigger distress, especially the notion of nature versus nurture in the formation of evil in human form. Abuse, torture, murder and kidnapping are all blended skilfully into a mix which never feels gratuitous- there is a great sense of balance between driving the plot forward and also staying true to the m.o of a truly vile serial killer. I loved it!

Dci Adam is called to an unsettling scene. The area is full of corpses each with a number. Adam thinks it's a countdown but doesn't know for what. Dr. Cole shows up at his home informing him that these murders are just like the ones from many years ago. This book made my blood run cold. The plot is realistic and visceral. I couldn't put this book down. I was so caught up in this story turning pages long after midnight.

A HUGE thank you to the tagged publisher for my #gifted ARC in exchange for an honest review!!


Second pic for synopsis ➡️➡️


✨𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐈 𝐞𝐧𝐣𝐨𝐲 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤?

I absolutely loved Holland’s debut, The Echo Man, and this one was just as spine-chilling, intense, and addicting! This is a follow up to the Echo Man, but it can definitely be read as a stand-alone as well, although I highly recommend reading The Echo Man first because of how amazing it is, but also because there are characters from that book that are in this one as well. I love the characters in this book, all of them had me suspicious and pointing fingers at them, which left me guessing until the amazing ending! I was absolutely hooked and addicted to this book from start to finish and found it hard to put down, and when I was not reading it I was thinking about it! Holland knows how to build up the suspense, intensity, and keep the reader on the edge of their seat. I love the twists and turns and the dark creepy detailed writing. This is pretty graphic, and I am all here for it! I loved the dark, violent, creepy, gritty details that Holland created throughout this book. The amount of intensity in this one kept me turning the pages way past my bed time! BRAVO to Holland for another AMAZING piece of work and for officially becoming an auto-buy author for me! I cannot wait to see what Holland has in store for us with her next piece of work.

✨𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐃𝐢𝐝 𝐈 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤?

I honestly cannot even think of anything that I dislike about this book, other than the fact that it’s over and I have to wait who knows how long to pick up Holland’s next book! 😔

✨𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐞𝐧𝐣𝐨𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤?

If you enjoyed The Echo Man you definitely must read this one! Anyone who enjoys dark, twisty serial killer thrills will enjoy this one!


𝐌𝐲 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️5/5

This was deliciously dark & twisted, and it had me gripped from the start! I thought this was a fast paced read, and the fear & urgency is palpable as the police work to catch the killer. This is a gory read - this is normally fine for me, but there were some details that had me putting the book down & taking a few deep breaths. I though this was well paced & that the characters were fully fleshed out - both the good and the evil. The evil in particular really brings the pulse pounding terror that kept me on the the edge of my seat. The Echo Man was one of my favourite reads of last year and this was a fantastic second novel - I can’t wait to see what Sam Holland releases next!

Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for an advance copy of this e-book in exchange for an honest review.

This is a thrilling read about a serial killer who may or may not be a copy cat killer. Bodies start to show up marked with Roman numerals but they don't start at number one. Why is that?
DCI Adam Bishop is soon to learn that these current murders have the same MO of another serial killer from twenty-five years previously, that man is still locked up behind bars

I came into this book not knowing that it was the second in a series and was so hooked that now I need to go out and get the first installment to this series. I don't really think that it is necessary to read the first book but I definitely need to find out how it all started.
The story kept me hooked right to the last page and is sure to hook many readers who enjoy a good crime story.

S E R I A L 🔪 K I L L E R thriller: “The Twenty” by Sam Holland will leave you completely GUT WRENCHED, at a loss for words and totally flabbergasted!! I LOVED IT!!

BOOK REVIEW: 🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤/5

DCI Adam Bishop is called to a gruesome crime scene where a body has been brutally mutilated. As more bodies begin to surface, Adam and his team notice spray painted numbers are located next to the body. Is the killer COUNTING down??

Adam’s ex-wife Romilly has a haunting suspicion that these murders are linked to a murderer from her past. 25 years ago a series of murders took place that have haunted her forever. However, the serial killer from her past is locked up for life … Adam finds it’s impossible to believe that the cases are actually linked. Or so he thinks … 👀

THIS BOOK 🤯!!!!! Talk about DARK & GRITTY, gruesome, gripping, perplexing and terrifying!!! If you are a fan of true crime and fascinated by the inner workings of a serial killer, then this one is for you!!!!

Thank you kindly to @crookedlanebooks @samhollandbooks @netgalley for my advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest review! This book releases on May 2, 2023!

“I don’t want this. I feel a pang of regret. For what’s going to happen. My ghost in the machine is real. It is my hate, my anger, my vitriol. My body doesn’t want to kill, but I know I must. For I have a purpose. For the first time in my life, I am part of something special” - The Twenty

An edge of your seat thriller that takes us on a journey to find a serial killer that has only just begun his macabre spree. With the serial killer counting down DCI Adam Bishop work around the clock to find the killer and put an end to whatever he has planned. When Romilly Cole enters the investigation with some pretty conclusive evidence that changes everything, he is desperate to solve this case before it gets more personal, and deadly.

What a wild story! I read The Echo Man prior to this , in case there were cut over characters, and I loved that one just as much as The Twenty. I like the way Holland lets you feel superior at about 75%, as in aha I knew it... I could see that being the killer. And then the whiplash that occurs at 90-100% hits you like a punch in the throat! Keep writing, keep being dark and gritty...and PLEASE do a combo with my faves from each book(no spoilers, but thanks for including the authors note to allude to that!)
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance copy.