The Girl in the Ice in the first book in the Detective Erika Foster series, Erika has her work but out for her with this case.

DCI Erika Foster is the newest investigator called in to work the murder case of a high profile socialite. It’s the first case she’s worked on since the death of her husband and ther officers, while working a case. Yes, she is great at her job, but was she really ready to back on the job so soon. But she has a lot to prove to the “big boys” who don’t think she’s the one for the job. Being prior law enforcement, this was something I could certainly relate too. It’s not always to come in and take over, when some of those you work with, don’t really want you there.

The death of Andrea Douglas-Brown is the spotlight with all the news channels have the story being covered. Andrea comes from a family that is a prominent one, very wealthy, and very involved in the politics of just about everything. Including the police department. So, her death was big news, which of course just adds to the pressure of getting this case solved quilckly. So many questions loomed around her murder, why would a wealthy socialite be in the low-income part of London? The bigger question, why?

Andrea’s family is a mystery, they aren’t forth coming with any information when it came to the personal side of Anread and their family. Erika was not going to give up, and she is not one to keep quiet and just speak her mind. It might cause some waves, and get her some sideways looks, but her sheer determination to find out what happened to this young girl made me want to prove all those nay-sayers wrong. She was the right investigator for this case.

The course of the investigation uncovers some things that I’m sure this family would like to have kept hidden, but not only that, it leasds Erika to other cases that were similar. Her ideas get pushed aside by police politics, but this Erika we’re talking about. And that wasn’t going to stop her, even if it put her own safety in danger. This is one badass women!

There was no shortage of suspense and with the little snippets from the killer here and there, it was downright creepy in places. Everything unfolds layer by layer, and I was certainly fooled into believing that wrong person was the murderer. But that is something I certainly like when it comes to my thrillers, keeps my guessing.

This was such a great start for the series, and I have to say, I am looking forward to seeing what case DCI Foster will get caught up in next. The police procedurals and politics were spot on and kept me interested to see how it all panned out, add in the suspense and creepiness too, I was hooked. Book 2 here I come!

SO GOOD! 

Addictive police procedural about a ballsy Detective Chief Inspector determined to take down a twisted killer. 

Since there have been so many stellar reviews already written about The Girl in the Ice, I am going to write more about my reading experience vs. the plot. 

Right from the start, this book grabbed me. It begins with the murder of a wealthy socialite and progresses to focus on DCI Erika Foster who is brought in to solve the case. 

It only took me reading about 20% of this book before I knew that I was going to have to read all of the books in the series. I really took to Erika’s character--she’s tough as nails but vulnerable at the same time and she doesn’t always play by the rules (which often causes her to wind up in trouble). I also liked the supporting characters, and look forward to seeing how everyone develops.

What I didn’t like: While the killer’s POV added a layer of creepiness, it also annoyed me that they were referred to as “the figure.” I don’t know why I feel the need to harp on this, but it stuck out to me. There were a few moments that were hard to believe, and I wish at times that more subtlety had been applied.

The mystery surrounding the identity of the killer had some depth, although I suspected early on some of what was going on, I couldn’t put the pieces together. Overall, this is a fast-paced, suspenseful read with some good twists led by a dynamic heroine. Erika’s character is the reason why I will be reading all of the books in the series--I just wish I didn’t have so much catching up to do! 

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing in exchange for an honest review.

The Girl in the Ice by Robert Bryndza is the first in a series featuring DCI Erica Foster.  There are now six books in the series.

After the death of her husband, DCI Erica Foster is back in a new position.  In fact, she hasn't even found a place to live when her first case begins to take over her life.  

The prologue introduces the victim, her abduction and murder.  A few days later, a young man stumbles on the body of the young socialite in a frozen pond.  Erica has just arrived and hasn't even had time to take her suitcase to a hotel before she must visit the crime scene.

Erica is a strong woman and a capable detective, but she is still dealing with the trauma of her husband's death and her own sense of guilt and responsibility.  Nevertheless, she begins making friends and allies as she initiates  her investigation.  Unfortunately, there is also an officer who wants to see her fail and her superior officer doesn't provide consistent support.   

The victim Andrea Douglas-Brown is the daughter of a millionaire with political clout.  There are similar murders that Erica believes associated with the case, but they are of young immigrant prostitutes, and the powers-that-be don't want a connection that might sully the Douglas-Brown family.  

It is easy to cheer Erica through her challenges and to appreciate the cast of characters that support her in her battle to find the killer despite the opposition from the family and her own department.  

I liked this first installment and hope to see the minor characters develop in future books.

Read in March.  Blog review scheduled for April 20.  

NetGalley/Grand Central Publishing

Police Procedural.  Originally published in 2016; April 24, 2018.  Print length:  396 pages.

A quick synopsis of the plot: 

A gardener that just arrived to work discovers the body of a woman beneath a thick sheet of ice in a London park. Detective Erika Foster is called in to lead the murder investigation. The body is determined to be that of Andrea Douglas-Brown, a socialite with a well-connected political family.

Erika begins to expose a different side of Andrea than her family and the public want to believe existed (sex, drugs, etc.). There is political corruption in the mix as well as some integrity issues with the police force in the plot. Through drama and challenges, Erika begins to inch closer to the truth as the killer inches closer to taking Erika’s life.

 

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The Review:

This book is a super quick and easy read. This is your classic who-dun-it beach read. Basically, it doesn’t take a lot of attention or deep thought to understand but still keeps you entertained. This is more of a British policeman crime story. In fact, Erika Foster is reminiscent of Cormoran Strike, “your lonely broken but deep down pure-hearted just misunderstood” detective character. I ended up loving Erika and rooting for her. She is smart, strong, and persistent. She is someone that puts her morals and beliefs before politics, which I can always appreciate.

This book isn’t groundbreaking but its definitely worth the read. This one also is less “psychological” than a psychological thriller. It doesn’t get into the psychological depths of the “psycho” characters. The author rather alludes to the fact that they may not be right in the head. A lot of quick drama fast and from many different directions. The book doesn’t ever drag along. I spent more time in this book trying to figure out who, what, when and where then “why”. This isn’t a book where characters are developed and truly understood by the reader. Rather, it is the action that kept me engaged (not complaining!).

Pack this one for a long flight or a long day on the beach.

Detective Erika Parker is back leading her first case after her last disastrous case ended in the deaths of five police officers, one of them her husband. This time out, a young boy has found the body of a woman frozen under the ice in a London park. The victim turns out to be a well to do, beautiful young woman with the perfect life. But Erika finds connections between her death and the deaths of several prostitutes found dumped in water all over London. The more she investigates, the more she’s convinced these deaths are connected, but it would appear this case has become politically sensitive. With Erika’s career and her own mental health hanging by a thread, can she learn to trust her instincts again before another woman is killed? This is an outstanding book, Erika is a tremendously complex and intriguing character