This is the second in a police murder series, where the lead detective, Tom Fabian, balances finding a murderer with his private life of a recently separated wife and a daughter who is now at university.

The plot is well crafted and the characters well written and although I’d encourage you to read the first book in this series, this book can certainly stand alone as a competent murder mystery.

Detective Tom Fabian was responsible years ago for the incarceration of a serial killer, Christopher Wisher and this killer now summons him to prison to hand over a diary that appears to hold clues to some current murders.

This is an easy to read book that will appeal to anyone who enjoys a good whodunnit and I’m grateful to Netgalley, Richard Parker and the publishers for the opportunity to preview this book in exchange for this honest review.

This is the second book in which we find Detective Tom Fabian. He is asked to revisit serial killer Christopher Wisher in prison after 3 years. Wisher hands him a Diary with future dates filled in. Wisher then hangs himself and the killings start again. What is the prison covering up? Who were Wisher’s visitors? A good thriller with a few twists and a bit of a cliffhanger ending. Would have liked a bit more of a thrilling conclusion. Felt too much setting up for the next story in the series.
I was given an ARC of this book by Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Well written, but I didn't find it very suspenseful. I felt the ending was too convenient and somehow unfinished, as I understand there will be more in the series. I enjoyed reading it, but didn't feel there were many twists.

I didn't read the first book, but I had no problem following along with this one. In fact, I didn't realize this was a series until the end. And what an ending! The story is fast paced and will appeal to thriller fans. The characters are interesting. I look forward to the next book.

Oh yes !!!!! I really loved this book, getting into the mind of a serial killer is always totally fascinating and this book really hit the mark and made for a completely addictive page turner that was so hard to put down. This was my first read by Richard Parker and I am really hoping that there will be more to come in this series featuring Tom Fabian who’s is a brilliantly written character. Exciting, compelling, wonderfully addictive and a twisted thrilling ending what more can you want from a book, I loved it and highly recommend it to anyone who loves a brilliant thriller.
My thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the chance to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I started reading The Songbird right after finishing Never Say Goodbye and have barely put it down since. It was another fast-paced read that kept me on my toes and left me wanting more by the time I reached the end of the story.

To fully enjoy The Songbird I would say read Never Say Goodbye first to get the backstory and to understand the characters more and share in the shock and emotion felt throughout the story. I love crime stories that centre around a famous serial killer and this is what we have here when one is found dead in his cell, and somebody on the outside is carrying out plans that he left behind. I loved how this story was told and how Tom Fabian and the rest of his team (much like in the first story) knew more deaths were coming, but were up against it to find out when the next deaths would be.

The Songbird is a tense read in places and Richard Parker’s writings in other genres lends itself extremely well to writing crime thrillers and these two Tom Fabian novels have been some of the most exciting and engrossing crime thrillers that I have read in a while. My only issue again is that I don’t love the cover and it doesn’t inspire me to pick up the book nor do I feel it suits the story inside except for maybe one or two scenes. That said the most important thing about a book is its plot and the one here was outstanding. It had everything that I want from a crime thriller, plenty of exciting and heart-stopping moments and twists and once again with an ending that has left me desperate to read the next book. I highly recommend this series to fans who like fast-paced crime thrillers with stories that remain with you after finishing them.

The Songbird Richard Parker


DI Tom Fabin returns for the second instalment of this Police Procedural series.

Never Say Goodbye promised a lot from this series, The Songbird doesn’t disappoint, in fact, it raised the bar.

With his nemesis, the mass murder Christopher Wisher, in prison things are looking good for Fabin on the work front.

On a personal level he is separated from his wife and his daughter Tilly has just started University.

Things are running along quite smoothly until his boss sends him to visit Wisher in prison. Wisher hands him his journal and asks him to read it.

When Fabin starts to read the journal, he realises it starts on the day that Wisher was sent to prison.

The cryptic entries in the journal mean nothing at first. Then the murders start, all with the same MO and signature that Wisher employed. These details were never released so who is copying Wisher.

As the murders continue it becomes apparent that they are reflecting the entries in the journal.

The crimes start to add up and Fabin tries to make sense of the journal entries. Whoever is carrying out the crimes is escalating, and the end game is getting closer.

This is a brilliant book. Richard Parker has moved away from the stereotypical cop character. Yes, Fabins family life isn’t great, but there are a lot of broken marriages out there. He has created a cop that cooks as a form of stress relief, he’s not a big drinker, or a womaniser. In fact, he’s pretty normal, not boring, just normal

But that’s where normal ends.

The Songbird follows on from the first in the series, Never Say Goodbye, and I really would recommend you read that one first.

When I reviewed Never Say Goodbye, I said the last hundred words made the hairs on my arm stand up. Well he’s done it again and ended on another cliff hanger that has me impatiently waiting for the next instalment.


Bring it on Richard.
Pages: 264
Publisher: Bookouture
Publishing Date: 19th December 2018. JUST IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS