Firstly, thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for a pre release copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

In this review I'm not even going to bother writing anything about the plot, everything you need to know about that is contained in the description of the book, whether you read it on Goodreads, NetGalley, Amazon or your local book store.

What I will say is WOW! Just wow!

This is the 7th book in the Tom Douglas series and they just keep getting better. But, although this is a series and we follow Tom and his family and colleagues through their lives, you don't have to go back through the whole series to be up to speed on them so you can, if you so desire, read this as a stand alone novel. However, I'd recommend reading the other six books, just because they're worth it. Trust me, you won't be disappointed.

As for this one, it starts off at a steady pace and the tension builds as the story unfolds. There's twists, there's turns, there are red herrings a plenty. I really didn't want to put this book down when life came knocking for me to get on. And then there was that one killer twist right at the end that I wasn't expecting.

Want a police procedural? You got it. Want a psychological thriller to keep you on the edge of your seat? You got that too. This, for me, ticks all the boxes of what I'm looking for in a good book.

Here's waiting impatiently for the next adventure.

What a good mystery! This is my first book from Rachel Abbott but it won't certainly be my last. Not reading the previous books didn't affect my enjoyment and understanding of the plot, this book sucked me in and didn't let go. The constant change in POV bothered me a little at first but I was quickly hooked and I couldn't help guessing what was going on which must be of course the main purpose of any good mystery.
Totally recommended!

Though it took me a bit to get through this one, I don't regret a minute of it. The beginning is a bit of a slow burn as you find out tidbits that make you doubt this character or that one, wondering who the murderer is and how the stories are all tied together. There is a touch of police procedures, just enough for it to feel like a police investigation, but not enough to bog you down. As the story slowly starts to build and you realize the truth, you can't put the book down as it races to a conclusion that's only partially satisfying, and true to life. This is one that I'd say is definitely an adult book. There's swearing throughout, although it's fairly sparse, it is still enough that it's noticeable. The biggest thing that makes this more of an adult book is the violence and abuse. Victims are drugged, sexual abuse is hinted at (although there's not any sexual content), but the abuse is mostly psychological, which can be even more disturbing. Really it depends on the person but I know I wouldn't want a younger teen reading this book. Overall though, it's worth a read, just make sure you have the time to devour it, especially once you hit that halfway mark!

There can be no doubt Abbott is honing her skills with every book, as her plots become more intricate and her characters become like old friends to her readers.

Rachel Abbott likes to skate between the black and white areas of right and wrong, to shed a light on the vulnerable in our society, and the secrets hidden in plain sight. In Come a Little Closer the hidden, the missing and the ones who go unaccounted for are given a voice, albeit a small one.
This is the seventh book to feature DCI Tom Douglas, and it feels as if he is just getting settled in for the long run. He is a straight talker with a penchant for breaking the rules, and yet his worst enemy is his own guilty conscience.

Have you ever asked yourself whether someone would miss you or question your whereabouts if you suddenly disappeared? How long would it take for someone to notice you are gone? There are plenty of men, women and children without a support system, who just vanish from the face of the earth and fall prey to people seeking the invisible of our society.

There is another important aspect of this story the author has slipped in, which is perhaps far more important than the main plot. What can you do when someone you used to love becomes an abusive insidious leech you can't get rid of? When the system can't help you and it ends up protecting them instead of you?

DCI Douglas is flummoxed by his new case and isn't sure where to start. A young woman with no identity, who seems to have gone to her death willingly or rather to her murder. It seems as if she might not be the only one. Where are these women coming from and who are they?

A few decades a ago I went to a seminar led by a leading FBI profiler and expert on paedophiles and serial-killers, and he made two adults, myself being one of them, pretend to be children walking on the pavement. He played the perpetrator in the car. He winds down his imaginary window and says something quietly, I couldn't hear so I stepped towards him as he said Come a little Closer and grabs me and throws me in his imaginary car. That is exactly the kind of criminal Abbott is excellent at imbibing and then creating on paper. The type we are surrounded by, but never see coming, because we are taught from a young age to ignore our gut instinct. In a way we are all Judith.

This is just a little taste of the compelling read and the questions you may encounter. Rachel Abbott writes a fast paced riveting thriller that pulls the reader in opposite directions. The plot is nefarious and also simple in its complexity. It's realistic, which makes it relatable and there are aspects of it that will ring true for some of the readers.
Be prepared for a read you won't want to put down.

A great quality read. It made me appreciate the book that much more when I've been reading other books in the same genre that haven't really impressed me. It's great to know some authors still have a knack for it. A definite go to author.

I have read quite a number of the DCI Tom Douglas books and enjoyed them. This is the best one yet! As a character he is growing on me, but Rachel Abbott makes sure the action of the story keeps you on your toes!

Callie is trying to get out of an abusive relationship. Her grandfather had always wanted to visit Malaysia & before he died he urged her to go, so some time away from Ian whilst fulfilling her grandad's wishes seemed a great idea. She found it difficult travelling alone and when Thea, a kindly elderly woman who was travelling with her husband, took her under her wing she was grateful. Nasty emails from Ian didn't help her relax but worse was to come when she discovered she had supposedly posted a very uncomplimentary comment about her job & boss resulting in her sacking and Ian continues to bully her. Again Thea came to her rescue taking her to stay with her & the doctor in their luxury home- but soon she wonders how safe she is.

How is this connected to a woman's body found in a marsh bird hide and another body with a similar cause of death? What has happened to the sister of an old friend? Tom and his team puzzle over this whilst the reader puzzles over the women in the basement of Thea & the Doctor's house.

This is a great read that keeps you constantly on your toes- a real winner! Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book.

OK I think I may say this about each book I've read in the series, but seriously I think this is the best one yet!

As usual Rachel Abbott has written a gripping crime thriller with one of my favourite DCI's Tom Douglas but this time we have several narrators who help create the creepy and disturbing setting for this story.   From a nervous bride who sees something she shouldn't, Callie, a young woman who escapes a bullying boyfriend by going on holiday, a missing sister, a young woman found dead in an apparent suicide and an elderly couple who appear to be Callie's saviours and several other twists and red herrings thrown in to keep the reader on their toes.

With several main characters it would be easy to get confused but Abbott skillfully brings each character to life and enables to reader to get involved in their own individual stories and still gasp as the story cleverly intertwines and then brings the entire book to an explosive but very exciting ending.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and whilst it totally works as a standalone - with 6 excellent books in the back catalogue of this series you really should read them all.

Come a Little Closer by Rachel Abbott is a DCI Tom Douglas novel. DCI Tom Douglas is called out to Pennington Flash Country Park. A woman has been found in a birdwatching hide. There is no identification on her, she is very thin, no shoes or sign of a struggle. At first glance it would appear to be suicide. Tom, though, knows there is more to this woman’s story. Nearby three women are in a dark kitchen. They are thin, scared, tired and afraid. Sharon is taking the trip her father always talked about it. Her boyfriend, Ian wanted her to cancel and give him half the money since he is out of work. She is honoring her father by embarking on this cruise. The trip is not as relaxing as she expected. A man seems to be following her and someone was in her cabin. She returns home to an angry Ian and a puzzling problem at work. It is a relief when a new friend offers her assistance. DCI Douglas and his team work to unravel what happened to the woman found in the Flash. They soon discover that she is not the first woman found this way and, undoubtedly, she will not be the last unless the police stop them.

Come a Little Closer may be the seventh book in the DCI Tom Douglas series, but it can be read alone. I struggled with this novel. It is very confusing in the beginning because it jumps around. One minute with DCI Tom Douglas, then with Sharon, then with women, then it jolts to next chapter. It all starts to gel at the half way mark and comes together into a complete story at the end. I thought the writing was choppy and it lacked a nice flow (slow pace too). The dialogue was stilted (awkward). The characters were not fully developed (lacking in details that help bring them to life). The mystery is one that plays out and is supposed to be suspenseful. Unfortunately, I did not feel it. I wanted to get a hold of these women and shake them. I cannot see anyone in this day and age being that naïve (unless they are under 6). I do not want to say to much and spoil for you. I wanted to the story to be less predictable. The chapters that focused on Tom’s private life felt off. They did not blend well with the rest of the book. Be aware that this is a British novel, so it contains British slang and the words are spelled differently (British spelling). Come a Little Closer was not the right fit for me, but many other readers have found it thrilling. I suggest getting a sample and see if it appeals to you. Every individual has their own perspective.

This is another fine DCI Tom Douglas novel from Rachel Abbott. The characters we know and love have returned, but don't seem to be the main focus. It would be easy to follow along with this one if you haven't read any of the previous novels. In this one, we're focusing more on a group of women who have been down on their luck... whether that stemmed from a man, family, or something else. They are very different people, but all have that in common. This hardship leads them to make a decision they'll soon regret immensely and will tie these strangers together for life...

Callie has no one to turn to when she meets Thea on a cruise. She's taken the vacation after making a promise to her grandfather, who has very recently passed away. She left behind a worthless boyfriend who seems content to live off her, despite her requests for him to leave her home. She's hoping he will have vacated by the time she returns, but it soon becomes clear that it won't be easy to escape him. Thea is an older woman, wise and comforting and soon starts to seem like all Callie has.

DCI Tom Douglas is investigating a young woman who has been found dead outside in the cold. She seems to have died peacefully and doesn't have any injuries, but she's in a hard to reach place without shoes and it just doesn't add up to him.

This is a complex story that's hard to predict with a stunning ending. I would have been happier if the chapters had been labeled, because we get so many different perspectives that it can get confusing, especially if you're not reading in one sitting. I also had a hard time buying some of Callie's actions, but the character development was great. I had a good time trying to figure out the characters and their motivations. This one is a 3.5 bumped up to a 4 for me.

I received a copy of this book from Net Galley and Black Dot Publishing, thank you! My review is honest and unbiased.

I can guarantee that if you read Come A Little Closer you will be in for a real treat. Book seven(!) in the Tom Douglas series, this is a really creepy take which will make you think long and hard about just who you can lay your trust in.

COme a little closer is a really intriguing tale which separates into several parts or stories. As typifies this series, while this is a DCI Douglas investigation, Tom does not really take centre stage until much later in the story. Instead we hear two different voices, young woman, Sharon, who agrees to a secret assignation with a stranger in a bar that she may live (or not) to regret, and an, as yet, unidentified voice of another woman, one who seems to be held in very suspect circumstances. The exact nature of her status is yet to be discovered, but as we move through the book we learn more and the very nature of what is happening becomes clear.

The largest part of this book is given to a woman known as Judith. Judith is in a troubling and abusive relationship, one which despite a long trip in her Grandfather's honour, she is unable to break free from. Befriended on her travels, as her world crashes all around her, she thinks she has found the perfect way out. But, as is always the way, things are not as they seem and it seems Judith has stepped out of the frying pan and into the fire.

As for Tom, he is faced with investigating the mysterious death of an unidentified young woman. It looks like it should be simple to resolve and yet nothing about the case is simple and when another young woman goes missing and a face from his past arrives on the scene, life for Tom suddenly becomes very complicated.

I love the way in which Rachel Abbott skilfully weaves all these stories together. Although I think Judith's story was leaning towards the inevitable, the full extent of what she finds herself caught up in will definitely surprise and perhaps shock the reader. While I was very suspicious of the motives of certain characters, I certainly didn't see the end coming. Not at all. Judith frustrated the hell out of me at times. Even as a victim of what can only be termed domestic abuse, I can't believe she could be so naive. One of those moments when you want to grab a character by the shoulders and give them a darned good shake. You know the ones.

I loved seeing more of the development of Tom's personal life. After the hitch he suffered in his love life with Leo, it's good to think he may finally have found the person he can really settle with. However, things can't be that simple and the complications he faces in his private life are setting us up for more bumps in the road later on I think. I have to be honest, I really do like Tom Douglas. Ever since I read The Back Road he has been one of those characters who stick in my mind. He's the kind of person you can trust to have your back and someone you are more than happy to go on the adventure/investigation with.

Come A Little Closer isn't particularly fast paced, although there are many moments which will have you holding your breath, and more than one which made the skin crawl. Just thinking of one now is making me shudder a little. Gah. Nothing is taken too far, no gratuitous violence or scenarios to shock, but still enough to compel you to read on. and hook you into the action. There are mysteries to be solved nd fans of the series will be desperate to see if Tom's love life will ever come good.

A great addition to the series and with the way Tom's story was set up, and with Becky about to go on maternity leave, leaving him without that extra layer of support and protection he relies upon, I can't wait to see what is in store for our hero next time.

A gripping, edge-of-your seat combination of procedural and psychological thriller. This is the 7th book in a series, but can be read as a stand-alone. I hadn’t read any of DCI Tom Douglas’ novels, and even if the story alludes to events that happened in previous books, I had no trouble figuring everything out. It helps that the characters are well written and fleshed-out. There are many threads: a young woman is in an abusive relationship and goes on a cruise to try to get away. Another woman seems to be imprisoned, but it’s not clear whether in jail or somewhere else. Meanwhile, Tom and his team investigate the murder of a woman in very strange circumstances. There is also a reluctant witness. All the pieces are so scattered that it’s hard to know where it is all leading. But like a puzzle, all the pieces end up fitting together in a way that I never saw coming. There are many twists and revelations that made me gasp. An excellent book that will keep you guessing.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/Black Dot Publishing!

A young woman named Sharon witnesses something frightening in a place where she shouldn’t be. Another, initially unnamed woman is trying to escape from a toxic relationship. DCI Tom Douglas and his colleague Becky investigate the death of an unidentified woman found in a birdwatching hide. And strangest of all, a woman called Judith is evidently being held captive somewhere, along with others – but by whom, and for what purpose?

These threads, separate at the beginning of the book, are initially a bit confusing to follow but it becomes apparent that they are linked – though precisely what those links are and the reasons for them remain mysterious. It’s clear that a certain party is up to no good, but their motivations are opaque.

Rachel Abbott builds a sinister atmosphere throughout and Come a Little Closer is a baffling and intriguing mystery which keeps you reading, thinking and wondering. You do need to suspend disbelief at various points – the behaviour of a number of people is hard to credit – but if you can get past that it is an excellent read.

Being a huge fan of the DCI Tom Douglas series I nearly fell off my seat when I saw a post pop up on social media saying book seven would be out in February. If you’ve read any of my previous reviews you’ll know I may have a wee bit of a soft spot for Tom.
Come A Little Closer is one of those books that once you’ve picked it up you really don’t want to put it down. To start with there are a few different threads to follow, this may be confusing for some but I knew they’d all come together eventually and it had me really intrigued. It does feel like you are reading the start of a few different stories but they all have a connection, it’s really perfectly written and comes together nicely.
Of course the wonderful Tom Douglas is back along with Becky who is pregnant but still determined to be involved as much as possible in the case. I really like their partnership, they really work well together and I enjoy reading how these characters progress through this series. Tom not only has a difficult case to crack but also has some surprises and complications to deal with in his personal life.
I honestly don’t want to give too much away as far as the plot goes and to be honest it’s such a jam-packed book it’s difficult to know where to begin. It’s fast paced, utterly gripping, disturbing and like I said previously it’s a book you don’t want to put down. An absolute sleep stealer.
Rachel Abbott has created perfection in Come A Little Closer, it’s a fantastic mix of police procedural and psychological thriller, from the very first page it grips you by the throat and doesn’t let go until the very last. Outstanding writing that I will be highly recommending.
Come A Little Closer is book seven in the series and could be read as a stand alone but I would definitely recommend starting at the beginning of this fantastic series, you wont be disappointed.

When the body of a young woman is found in the forest, DCI Tom Douglas is called to the scene. Heavy snowfall means there are few clues left to be found. How did this woman end up in the middle of nowhere? Where did she come from? And most importantly, who is she? Because as long as that remains unknown, the investigation goes pretty much nowhere. On the other side of the world, another woman goes on the holiday of a lifetime, in an attempt to escape an abusive relationship. Meanwhile, Tom's past catches up with him but will this cause problems between him and Louisa?

The DCI Tom Douglas series is one of my favourites and if you're not reading these, you're missing out on some seriously good books. I've come to rely on Rachel Abbott to deliver highly original premises and Come A Little Closer is no different. The description promises something intriguing and I wasn't at all disappointed.. This is one well-thought out plot and it's also intensely creepy.

Although the who seemed fairly obvious to me, I had a hard time figuring out the why. This story tackles a topic which is sadly highly realistic and believable. Those moments where the vulnerable suddenly turn into preys, find themselves cut off from the world with their thoughts so incredibly manipulated that they feel there is no escape. It's very reminiscent of grooming and trafficking.

I couldn't predict the outcome at all and the parts of the story completely threw me, which I love. This is one dark, disturbing and harrowing tale. Full of tension and suspense, it had me hooked from start to finish and seeing all the threads come together was a true delight. Come A Little Closer is another brilliant addition to this series, which keeps going from strength to strength. 

Tom and Becky make such a fabulous team. It seems it has been ages since we last hung out with them and it's such a thrill to see them return. I've missed them fiercely and I can't wait to spend more time with them in future. I have no doubt it'll be worth the wait.

This is the first book I have read by Rachel Abbott. Although it is the latest in a series of books featuring DCI Tom Douglas, it really did not matter at all that I had not read any of the other books and it works just as well as a stand alone novel. I would go so far as to say in this book, the police play a very minor part in the book and it is definitely more of a thriller than a police procedural book.
The storyline is brilliant several twists and turns to keep you guessing.
It is so very well plotted and the pace is perfectly set, I was carried away and could not put the book down, I had to find out what would happen next - my definition of a wonderful book.
Thank you to NetGalley for a Kindle Copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

COME A LITTLE CLOSER is a dark and gripping psychological crime thriller, by author Rachel Abbott. It is the 7th book in the DCI Tom Douglas series, but provides sufficient background information that this novel can be read as a stand-alone. I am so ashamed to admit that this is the first novel I have read by this author, but I have all the previous six books of the DCI Tom Douglas series to read on my Kindle. After reading this novel, I will definitely MAKE the time to read the other books in the series. So Good!

I have to admit that I was so impressed with this excellent dark psychological suspense thriller. This novel has it all, and had me gripped right from the beginning.

A young woman, Sharon was looking forward to getting married.. She had convinced her friends to a night on the town. This night proved to be more than what she expected.

Another woman, Callie, moves out of her house and leaves her abusive partner, Ian, on a holiday to Burma to finally take control of her life. While on the cruise ship, she meets a kind elderly lady who is willing to give her the support she needs and said that she has helped many girls before. But she will have to return, sooner or later.

Snow is falling softly as a young woman takes her last breath.
 
Fifteen miles away, two women sit silently in a dark kitchen. They don’t speak, because there is nothing left to be said.

These strangers have one thing in common. They each made one bad choice - and now they have no choices left. Soon they won’t be strangers, they’ll be family…
 
DCI Tom Douglas is called to a crime scene, a suspicious death, a young woman’s body discovered at the snow-covered park. Who is she? Where did she come from? How did she get there?

This is a multi-layered fast-paced novel with fascinating realistic emotional characters. There was such depth to the characters, and I felt empathy for the characters, and the victims that had been exposed to psychological trauma. I can feel their pain of learning to suppress their emotions as a means of survival.
Lots of lies and deception and a shocking ending, that I didn’t see coming!

COME A LITTLE CLOSER is an exceptional novel, and I would highly recommend this novel especially if you are a fan, of the psychological thriller.

Many thanks to Black Dot Publishing via NetGalley for my copy.

Expected Publication Date-Feb 15, 2018

5 stars! I flew through this book! And that ending??!! Whaaat ?!?! (mouth hanging open)

I really wasn't aware just how many books I have read by this author until Tom Douglas made his appearance in this one and I realized how familiar I was with him, his brother Jack, his daughter Lucy and DI Becky Robinson. I am now hooked and will be reading every book with DCI Tom Douglas and DI Becky Robinson in it. I am also going to look to see which books I haven't yet read and make sure to read them! Although this may appear to be part of a "series" it reads as a standalone, you do not have to read the books prior to this one.

This was very fast paced and well written and I thoroughly enjoyed it from beginning to end! A bit creepy and I loved it. I am looking forward to the next!

I would like to thank the publisher, author and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book. So appreciated!

Another BRILLIANT book by Rachel Abbott. I love the Tom Douglas series. This book is addictive from the very beginning. And the ending is definitely one of my favourites of all time.

I've been with this author since I first got my Kindle back in 2011 and have seen this series go from strength to strength. This seventh book does nothing to buck this trend as, once I started it, I really didn't want to be away from it for even just a few minutes. It gripped me from the very fist page and held me tight throughout, right up until the conclusion. It's dark and disturbing in nature, the claustrophobic and helpless feelings shared by the characters spilled out from the page and right into my head.
We start with a young girl who witnesses something on a night out. We also see two women talking in a kitchen, waiting for the buzzer to tell them to go to their rooms. And then there's a young woman, on a trip of a lifetime who has left darkness at home. This young woman is befriended by an elderly couple as she spurns the unwanted advances of a bloke. Tom Douglas is called to the scene of a death. But it doesn't quite look right. There are certain elements that have him wondering. With his personal life spilling into his professional once again, at the same time as threatening his new relationship, can he keep it together enough to marry up all the pieces and see the bigger picture of what is really going on?
Although this is a series book, and I have read the others, the story contained within is complete and stand alone, with any backstory filled in satisfactorily (but not too much) so, if you want to you can dive straight in. I personally would recommend you read the others first in order as to do so would man that you would get the very best from the characters with regard to backstory and development.
There is a fair bit of juggling in this book, between scenes that initially don't make much sense but, as the story progresses, it becomes clearer and, to be honest, a bit of confusion along the way does help with connection to the characters who are also feeling similar.
When I first started this series, I had certain reservations about Tom as a character and indeed a person. He has his own way of doing things that some may find strange but, get into his head, and what he does and why he does it makes perfect sense. He's just not that good at sharing. Hopefully with things left as they are in this book, things may be changing there for him. Anyway, over the series, I have grown to respect him more and more and now would go as far as to say I do really like him - character and man - the perseverance has definitely paid off for me.
The storyline itself is really rather scary. I think that is probably due to the fact that it, to me anyway, is perfectly credible. Believable psychological thrillers really get under my skin and this one did for sure. The plotting was tight and the story got on with itself at a fair lick without superfluous padding which added to the claustrophobic and chilling atmosphere.
All in all, a great addition to an already brilliant series. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

I am a huge fan of Rachel Abbott, and of DCI Tom Douglas, so I was delighted to receive a copy of this book as an arc through Netgalley. This one is a cracker, I really enjoyed it. Full of twists and surprises, you are never quite sure of what is going on and what the motivations of the main characters are, keeping the reader turning the pages dying to know what is going to happen next!
Very creepy and unsettling at times, this is a great psychological drama with some good old fashioned police work going on in the background. I would highly recommend this book, it can definitely be read as a stand alone, but why would you want to? Give yourself a treat and read the whole Tom Douglas series from the start!