Robert Brynzda this is the best Erika Foster book to date! I have read every one so far but my word this had me guessing all the way to the end.
Totally recommend and an easy five star rating!!!

I love when I come across an author like this. Not expecting much, then pow! Like a punch in the kisser, things start happening. I thought the bad guys, good guys, and all players in between were brilliant. I've not enjoyed a book this much since my last Stuart MacBride. That's high praise indeed, coming from me! So, I've found a favorite new author. I plan on reading more from Mr. Bryndza. Much thanks to the publishers and Newgalley for letting me read and review this e-arc.

I have read and loved all of Robert’s previous books in the Erika Foster series. The sixth book in this series is no exception. Having just solved her previous case Erika jumps feet first into her next one, that being of a burlesque dancer with a slashed throat, who has been frozen to the ground. This series gets better and better and has made a massive ‘Erika’ fan of me. I love the police procedural and the detail within every page. A brilliant series which I hope will keep developing for some time to come.

Usual series rules apply... This is book six of the series and, although the main story is wholly contained within and, as such would work as a stand alone, to get the very best from the main characters, especially Erika, who is a bit complex, it is best to start from book one and read in order.
In my experience book six is often where a series begins to flag. The characters get a bit tired, the crimes and manner of solving get a bit samey, the series arcs get boring. Basically, the formula starts to crumble. This is NOT the case with this series. With each new book released, this series and, more importantly, the characters go from strength to strength. Each book being just as good, if not better than the last. Ok so enough of this...
Erika is on her way to celebrate Christmas with her boss when she happens upon a crime scene. With the duty SIO not in attendance yet, she basically commandeers the case and begins investigating. A young woman has been killed on a doorstep, her blood having frozen her body to the ground where her throat had been slit. She is identified as Marissa Lewis, AKA burlesque dancer Honey Diamond and she was killed outside her own front door. She is a bit of a wild child and it soon transpires that there is no love lost between her and several other people.; blackmail being one of the tools in her armoury. Add to the mix a young man with an unhealthy obsession with Marissa and a series of other assaults that bear similarities to the murder and Erika soon has an awful lot on her plate. Not really the right time for a family emergency to take her away from her team. How will DI Moss and the rest of the team fare in her absence?
As always, plotting is extremely tight in this book. It gripped me from the start and held my attention well throughout. It's not a particularly long book but there are no wasted words; no padding to distract from the case at hand. Yes we do have lighter moments. A bit of banter - a small aside of comedy relief for a bit of respite, but the main story does get on with itself very nicely. Pacing matches the narrative well throughout, slowing down during the calmer moments and ramping up when appropriate.
One thing I did notice and was extremely happy about is that this book did not rely on a "major, shocking, never see it coming" twist. I see this happening more and more in crime fiction and tbh I am a bit bored with all that as it usually goes hand in hand with a lack of quality in other aspects of the writing. Not here though. The characterisation and plot are both excellently formulated and executed and the whole book flows naturally. Yes there is a big reveal at the end that no I didn't really see coming but I didn't feel cheated or duped like I have felt with some books recently. Hats off to the author for respecting his readers.
In my opinion, character development is one of the most important elements of a series in whatever genre. When I go into a series I expect to invest in the main / recurring characters and I do need a return for said investment. Erika's character development throughout the series has been perfect and is another thing that makes this series stand out for me. Each book uncovers another facet to her personality; a facet that is wholly in keeping with what we already know about her. Other characters are developing nicely too, especially Moss in this book.
All in all a great addition to an already brilliant series for me. Roll on book seven.
My thanks got to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

As usual from Robert Bryndza an entertaining fast paced thrill of a ride . I love the Erika Foster series and Deadly Secrets was a great addition to the series . The discovery of a burlesque dancer by her mother brutally killed on her doorstep is pretty gruesome , straight away we find out that Melissa was not well liked and has relationshis with a couple of the neighbourhoods married men , hence the suspect pool is pretty large , her death is linked to a spate of attacks carried out by a man in a gas mask . He hasn't murdered before so Erika and her team must find him quickly , lots of suspects , lots of red herrings and a twist I really didn't see coming . Excellent once again and I can't wait for the next . Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read this . 5 stars !!!!

Christmas, the season of goodwill… Someone in London hasn’t had the memo, however, as the blood-soaked body of a young woman is found outside her house by her mother, frozen to the ground. The case takes a sudden turn when a connection is made to the spate of recent assaults by a figure wearing a gas mask. Has the assailant escalated to murder? Detective Erika Foster, still coming to terms with events from her previous case, is thrown straight in at the deep end when a potential witness appears to be a little more involved than was at first thought. With her own personal problems to deal with, Erika must stay focused and ensure that there are no more deaths…

She’s back! It’s hard to believe that it has only been two years since the first in the Erika Foster series (The Girl in the Ice) was published and now we are on to the sixth! In the intervening books, we have seen Erika attempting to come to terms with the death of her husband while throwing herself head-first into her work. In Deadly Secrets, we finally see her making a breakthrough with regards to her past although it comes as the result of a particularly traumatic event concerning her father-in-law. I love the scenes that she shares with him as it gives us the chance to see the softer, more sensitive side of the character as opposed to the work-driven officer we see the rest of the time.

I loved the start of Deadly Secrets and how Robert Bryndza builds up a sense of foreboding. Marissa Lewis, a burlesque dancer, is on her way home when she is approached by two men. I was convinced that harm was going to come to her as a result of this meeting when, in reality, if she had taken them up on her offer, her life may have been spared. When the attack actually took place, it was a particularly violent one and the use of a gas mask made it extremely macabre. This was a great opening and immediately drew me into the plot.

One of the things I really liked about this book was how much of the police work was what would be termed ‘old school’ with the officers pounding the beat, doing house to house calls and interviewing people. This helped to build up the story at a natural pace without ever appearing cumbersome. I particularly liked the old gentleman whose wife does not let him smoke inside the house – a ‘throwaway’ character who brought an element of humour to a sad situation, yet also provided invaluable information.

There was a definite moment towards the end of the book where an even more heightened sense of foreboding was felt. Without giving away any spoilers, this made for very tense reading as I wondered how the character in question is going to emerge unscathed.

I was truly amazed when the author threw in a curve-ball with regards to who the killer actually was. This was an amazing plot twist and was something I had not anticipated at all. Despite not having an inkling, I felt that this was a very satisfying, if shocking conclusion. It is hard to say anything more without giving away too much, but believe me when I say is is very clever!

I have thoroughly enjoyed all of the Erika Foster series but I feel that Deadly Secrets is a step up from all of the previous books and should prove to be a huge best-seller for Robert Bryndza. A fantastic read!

The best book of 2018 so far. Couldn't wait to read the latest Erika Foster installment and it didn't disappoint. I love a dark tale and this certainly was dark - and a little bit weird - the whole gas mask thing was a bit freeky! Loved all the twists making me think the attacker was one character and then another. Certainly didn't see the ending coming. Cannot wait for the next book - taps foot impatiently. Thank you to the author and to Netgalley for the chance to read this title in exchange for an honest review.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Bookouture for an advance copy of Deadly Secrets, the sixth police procedural to feature DCI Erika Foster of the Met.

Marissa Lewis, a burlesque dancer, is attacked and killed on her doorstep on Christmas Eve. Erika isn't supposed to be working the next day but stops to help the investigation which she sees when driving past. It soon becomes apparent that Marissa meant different things to different people so suspects aren't hard to find and to complicate matters there is a serial predator on the loose who can also be suspected.

I thoroughly enjoyed Deadly Secrets which held my attention from the start and didn't let go. The opening scenes where Marissa gets off the train and walks home alone are unsettling and creepy and set up the rest of the novel wonderfully. I wouldn't say they set the tone, rather they are attention grabbing and let you know you're in for a great read. After that the plot goes from strength to strength with a constant stream of developments and discoveries. There is never a dull moment or any sense of padding. The conclusion is amazing - so unexpected and clever.

Mr Bryndza does not neglect Erika's personal life either. She cuts a lonely figure with very little in her life but work. A couple of revelations add to this picture and while she is well respected and liked I would love to see her with some personal happiness as it is emphasised that her work colleagues have found it.

Deadly Secrets is a gripping read which I have no hesitation in recommending.

Wow ! What I have come to expect from this gripping author of not better,dark and gripping from the off this series is real treat !

What can I say...another great book from Robert Bryndza. Book six in the Erika Foster series and once again we get to learn more about Erika’s personal life. I feel we get to know and understand her a bit more as each book is published. I really enjoyed this storyline and fell for the little red herrings which appeared throughout. It’s easy to picture the different characters and follow their thoughts and feelings with this author’s style of writing as he brings them to life and it was nice to see Moss develop more in this book. Some heart stopping moments while they’re hunting for a murderer and you can feel their confusion trying to fit all the evidence together to solve the case. Highly recommend.

Full review to be published online in mid April.

DEADLY SECRETS is the sixth book in Robert Bryndza’s intriguing crime thriller series “Detective Erika Foster”. The books in this series are always fantastic reads. I am so addicted to these UK authored police procedurals from Bookouture; and I’m really glad Netgalley carries this publisher.

Deadly Secrets by Robert Bryndza is the sixth book in the Erika Foster crime series, at this point in a crime series I find it’s sometimes the pivotal book, in other words the book where my love affair with a series ends. I read so many books that I just haven’t got the time to invest in a series that’s lost it’s lustre, but fortunately once again Robert Bryndza has written another fabulous and worthy addition to this series, and yes I loved every damn page of this unmissable crime thriller.
Full review to follow on my blog next week

This is the 6th book in the Detective Erika Foster series by author Robert Bryndza and I can honestly say having read the previous 5 that they get better with each page that's read.
There is no rest for Erika Foster even at Christmas. On her way to spend a festive meal she sees a crime scene and cannot resist getting involved. She finds the murdered body of burlesque dancer Marissa Lewis, whose body is frozen to the ground and her throat cut. Detective Erika Foster leads the case to find the murderer who has the distinctive calling card of attacking victims while wearing a gas mask.
The pace of this book is relentless and guaranteed to keep you reading on the edge of your seat with baited breath. I love this series, great lead character, well thought out plots and excellently paced.
Don't miss out on this series, it is well worth reading.
I would like to thank Net Galley and Bookouture for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Once again Robert Bryndza has written a gripping, enthralling and intriguing story which springs surprises to the very end. As always, the level of writing is excellent and the dialogue is convincing and authentic. The central story of a burlesque artist murdered in her front garden on Christmas Eve is fascinating and the personal live of the principal cops is nicely portrayed. A splendid read!

Wow. What a read and what a twist!

I'm a huge fan of the Erika Foster series. This book grabs you from the start and keeps you guessing throughout - I could have easily read it in one sitting.

I really like Erika as a character and in my opinion one of the strengths in this series is the fact that there are also strong supporting characters.

I've been a fan of Robert Bryndza since from his Coco Pinchard days and was sad when that series ended. That said Erika Foster is doing more than enough to keep me hooked and waiting in anticipation for the next read.

5 stars,

Thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture and Robert Bryndza for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Another fabulous book in the Erika Foster series, I feel we get to know her a bit more in this book and see a vunerable side to her. Erika is still a bit of a loner and a very private person and on her way to Christmas lunch she comes across a crime scene and although she is not on duty she gets involved in the investigation.

The victim is a burlesque dancer and is not particularly well liked. There are lots of possible suspects and the book kept me guessing about each person’s involvement. I love a WOW ending and this one certainly had it – great twist and very unexpected.

Once again i steamed through this amazing, intriguing and very well written story. The character development continues for all our favorites and it was so good to see a different to both Erika and Moss. The killer was creepy, unsettling and the twist at the end was absolutely shocking. I never saw it coming! 5 Stars!

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC.

I adore Robert Bryndza's Erica Foster stories and this series just keeps getting better for me. I found this to be a fast well paced read. The different crimes / patterns / were knitted together wonderfully. I also felt Erica's vulnerabilities to be more on display in this book than in the previous ones. Her reluctance to go her boss's home for Christmas lunch -- so reluctant that she jumped into the first crime scene she could find.......her reluctance to visit her father-in-law....... Yet she came round in the end.

What a Fantastic Book Deadly Secrets by Robert Bryndza is. This is the 6th book of the gripping Detective Erika Foster series and its just Brilliant!
I am a big Fan of all Robert's books. His books only get better and better.

Big Fat 5 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟for this book. Just Brilliant!

I am grateful to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read it early.

Another brilliant Detective Erika Foster story. Set over the Christmas holidays. Erika and her team
tackle another series of attacks and murders. This is my favourite book in the series so far.