He Will Kill You is the first novel in the Detective Maddie Ives series by bestselling author and former police officer Charlie Gallagher; it's yet another highly entertaining, twisty and tension-filled read from him. There is plenty of action and a lot of violent behaviour throughout but not enough to be offputting. Once again the believability is there in terms of police procedure as Gallagher uses his former job to inform his work and make it as realistic as possible. That said, some of the happenings do require a hefty suspension of disbelief. However, if you can overlook that aspect you're in for a thrilling experience. After all, what is fiction for if not to escape from reality for a time?

Many thanks to Joffe Books for an ARC.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Joffe Books for an advance copy of He Will Kill You, the second novel to feature DS Maddie Ives of the Canterbury police.

Maddie is busy with CID work when DI Harry Blaker returns to work part time after the injuries he sustained in their previous case so, at a loose end, he takes an interest in her cases, notably trying to protect Grace Hughes from her abusive partner and working out why recidivist burglar Toby Routledge wants not only to confess to his crimes but be locked up.

I thoroughly enjoyed He Will Kill You which is a fast paced, high octane, tense thriller which grabs attention from the first page and never lets up. The novel opens with a bang, literally, when a car is blown up in a tunnel. The narrative is tense and gripping and really caught my attention. The second chapter sets the scene of a young woman threatening a receiver of stolen goods to recover war medals, again intriguing and the third chapter focuses on Grace and a domestic violence call out. This is a great piece of writing which depicts the fear and menace of the situation and police helplessness in the face of victim denial. Three strands of investigation, all offering intriguing possibilities and inviting the reader in effortlessly. I would like to say that I read it in one sitting but I can’t as I had to put it down and walk away at times because of what was happening to Grace. It is a credit to Mr Gallagher’s writing that I got so involved with Grace’s character and felt her pain, stress and anxiety. The violence is horrific but probably very realistic. Grace, however, is keeping a secret and what a twist it turns out to be, linking all the disparate strands together. Is the totality of the plot realistic? Probably not, but who cares when it’s such an exciting read?

Maddie Ives is definitely growing on me. In this novel she has grown into a caring, professional detective who is a little cavalier with the rules when they offend her humanity but it makes her a better protagonist. Her personal life takes a turn in the novel but it brings her closer to the gruff, not as uncaring as he seems DI Harry Blaker.

He Will Kill You is a great read with a twist as good as the vaunted “massive” so I have no hesitation in recommending it.

I’d like to thank Joffe Books and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘He Will Kill You’, the second in the DS Maddie Ives series written by Charlie Gallagher, in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

DS Maddie Ives is in contact with Grace who’s being abused by her husband Craig Dolton. The violence he’s meting out to her is escalating but she won’t report him to the police as she says she has a plan to escape. Following instructions from Maddie, Grace is keeping a diary of her abuse and using her mobile phone to photograph every injury she receives, but can Maddie persuade her to leave Craig before he kills her?

After reading the first in the DS Maddie Ives series I was delighted Joffe Books allowed me to read ‘He Will Kill You’ and I haven’t been disappointed. It’s just as good, if not better, than the first with the likeable characters of Maddie and Blaker who make a good team, a gripping plot, suspense and tension, nerve-wracking twists and turns, and a shocking conclusion. Add to this Maddie’s relationship with criminal Adam Yarwood and you get a truly sensational thriller which I can thoroughly recommend.

He Will Kill You is the second book in the DS Maddie Ives series by Charlie Gallagher and it is another fast paced police procedural with a couple of excellent twists at the end.

The story picks up a few months after the first book but don't worry this can be read as a standalone as there is sufficient backstory to enable the new reader to follow and understand.

The author deals with the main storyline in a sympathetic way which also adds to the book

Overall thoroughly recommended.

Maddie Ives #2

Grace Hughes is effectively a prisoner in her own home. Tortured and controlled by her horrifically violent partner, she dreams of freedom, safety and happiness. Detective Maddie Ives now works with a team specialising in getting abused women to safety. She tells Grace to keep a dairy, write everything down until it forms part of the compelling evidence needed to send her abuser to prison. Maddie also faces a car bomber who threatens to strike again. DI Harry Blaker returns from injury. Can he and Maddie stop the bomber, find the killer and get Grace safe?

Maddie and her team are under pressure to get Graces partner away from her abuser and also to catch the bomber. There is a lot going on in this book. I liked how the stories were seedlessly sewn together. The story is well written and fast paced. There are parts of the book that might upset the reader. This is turning out to be another great series.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Joffe Books and the author Charlie Gallagher for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

There are parts of this book that are difficult to read - and for all the right reasons. Charlie Gallagher uses his knowledge as a policeman to describe the domestic abuse suffered by one of the main characters. The story is good, interesting and very readable. The second case for Harry & Maddie - I, personally, hope that there'll be more.

Really enjoyed it.

This book was very suspenseful and enjoyable. I liked the premise behind it and it often had me on the edge of my seat. The characters are intriguing and leave the reader questioning their actions and agendas.