Solid new series from Bryndza, I will definitely read more of Kate Marshall.

Thanks to Netgalley for the free read in exchange for the honest review.

Nine Elms is the first book in the Kate Marshall series. I was excited to read this book since I'm a fan of the author's Erika Foster series. Unfortunately, I'm in the minority here, I wasn't a fan of this one. This book is not for the weak, it is dark, gory and graphic. My biggest issue with this story is the protagonist. I found Kate Marshall to be weak with poor decision making skills. There were so many scenes where it was unrealistic. I don't know how her actions wouldn't compromise a police investigation.

Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer and Robert Bryndza for a copy of "Nine Elms" in exchange for an honest review.

This book opens with a murder. It's one of a series by a killer known as the Nine Elms Cannibal. We meet Kate Marshall, a detective on the case, some of her colleagues including her boss Detective Chief Inspector Peter Conway. As I hadn't really read the backcover blurb properly it came as a surprise then that the usual crisis / climax (ie. Kate's life threatened by the baddie) happens just after the book kicks off. And the killer is found. Huh?

Of course we then leap forward 15 years to meet Kate in the (not quite) present day. I've not read any of Bryndza's books before so did wonder briefly if Kate had been referenced in another series as the information we receive about the preceding decade and a half is pretty scant, though more is eventually shared.

So, now that we're all caught up, Kate's in the middle of teaching her popular university class (her fame / notoriety being a big drawcard) when a body is found which mimics the murders she'd investigated years before.

At the same time she's contacted by parents of a girl who went missing twenty years earlier. Who they believe could have been an early victim of the Nine Elms killer. She finds herself drawn into the cold case and the series of copycat kills - realising she (and Tristan, her teaching assistant) should be able to predict what the killer willl do next.

I liked that this didn't go down the old 'maybe the original killer is innocent' route. Though I guess he'd plead guilty and shown no remorse over the years, so the copycat thing is obvious.

There's an interesting 'are killers born or made' theme in the novel, which will obviously continue through the series... for reasons I won't go into. :-) 

Interestingly I made an assumption that the baddie would be a certain character in the book, but was wrong. On one hand I was happy to be wrong as it would have been too predictable; but on the other I didn't feel we really got enough information to (ultimately) make any educated guesses. 

That aside, I liked Kate. She's battling her demons - a recovering alcoholic and concerned about her son - and am keen to see where Bryndza takes the characters we've met here.

Now that I've had the chance to read Nine Elms, I can definitely say that my meeting with new main character Kate Marshall was an absolute success. What a read! Robert Bryndza's writing style has yet to disappoint me, and this book has once again showed me why he is on my list of favorite thriller authors. Let's just dust off the reviewing cliches shall we? Because they definitely all apply: grabbed me from the start, hooked me from the beginning, unputdownable, read it in one sitting... I could keep throwing those one-liners at you, but you will probably get the gist of what I'm trying to say here. The only reason I didn't actually read Nine Elms in one sitting is because I had almost no free time and no way to clear my schedule enough to be able to do so. Which was basically excruciating, as Nine Elms kept calling to me and I literally wanted to spend every free minute reading the next chapter to try and discover what was going on.

What I loved of Nine Elms is the shift in perspective as main character Kate Marshall isn't an active detective during the present timeline. Instead, we have an ex-detective and current lecturer at a university who is suddenly drawn into her old world and nightmares again after fifteen years... Kate Marshall without doubt makes for an absolutely fascinating character and a solid lead for the rest of the story to be build around. Despite her flaws and not always easy personality, I managed to warm up to her character almost immediately and she is without doubt one of the reasons this story worked so well for me. I also loved the dynamics between her and Tristan; I'm definitely curious to see how this will evolve in the future!

Another thing that is fascinating is the plot itself, the Nine Elms killer and his connection to the main character. Flashbacks to the past slowly help us understand better what exactly happened fifteen years ago and how this influenced and made Kate into the woman she is today... Likewise, it was fascinating to get a little look inside the head of a serial killer and both past and present murders are both brutal, shocking and absolutely fascinating. The plot itself is complex and filled with twists and turns to keep you guessing, although I did see certain things coming early. That said, the plot is fast, complex and highly suspenseful and Nine Elms definitely isn't for those with a weak stomach or if you scare easily. Dark, disturbing and delightfully twisted: the exact right thriller cocktail to keep you on your seat as you race through those pages.

There was a lot to love in Nine Elms, and it was without doubt an excellent start of a new thriller series I already have a feeling will be a new favorite. If you like your thrillers fast, dark, suspenseful and engaging with an unique touch and plently of plot twists, you should definitely meet Kate Marshall ASAP!

Nine brilliant stars for Nine Elms.

Hands down my new favorite author! Sorry Stephen King enjoy second place. So, I was given an arc of this book and I am so glad to be one of the lucky ones to get my hands on this book. If you are a thriller fan this author is definitely for you. I have read every mystery or thriller that Robert Bryndza has put out thus far. Before I get into my review of Nine Elms want to encourage everyone who loves a good thriller or a face paced read to go pick up The Girl in the Ice by the same author. Just like this book I inhaled every book from that series in a one night sitting as well. I actually had to work today and I still managed to get it done in a day. I would say I feel accomplished but has nothing to do with me more to do with the way these books are written. Now that I got that out of the way let me tell you about my new friend Kate Marshall. Kate Marshall is a brilliantly addictive character with flaws that make this an easy and enjoyable read. Fifteen years ago, she was a cop on the police force who was investigating the Nine Elms killer, now she is a lecturer at a college that deals with cold cases and crimes. You are probably thinking why did she not stay a cop? Her actions and other circumstances within the novel prevented her from being able to stay on the force. She gets a letter from a family of a missing girl to investigate why or how their daughter went missing. Meanwhile a copy cat of the original crimes emerges and takes the police on a roller coaster ride. While the police chase their killer Kate is forced to relive her past seeing how her private case and that of the cops is connected and the copy cat intends to make Kate his last victim. Will Kate solve the case? Will she find the missing girl or will she become the last victim of the Nine Elms copycat? Pick up a copy of Nine Elms today and find out. Again, thank you to all parties involved in my receiving this book. I have enjoyed every minute of this read and look forward to more from Rob and even hopefully more from the Nine Elms series.

As a fan of the author’s Erika Foster series, I was so excited to start his new crime series. This one centers around Kate, a former policewoman who was forced into early retirement due to her involvement with a past serial killer. Now years later, she is a professor at the local college. When new crimes begin to surface that closely resemble the prior killer she was acquainted with, she personally tries to solve the latest crime.

I was blown away by this book. I’m so blown away, that I find it very hard to believe that anyone would give this book anything less than 5 stars. As with all of his other books, the writing is close to perfection.

Fifteen years after she was a survivor to the killer, Kate still struggles with moving forward.
The convicted killer, Peter is locked up in a mental institution. Without an ounce of remorse, his only focus is escaping.
While the subject matter and crimes are gruesome, it is the writing and emotions that accompany the actions that are compelling. Mr. Bryndza transports us into the mind of Peter. It was truly terrifying reading the thoughts and complete lack of empathy.

Kate is a strong, feminine lead character who does not beg for sympathy. While she still struggles with getting her life together and staying sober, she is proud and determined. She is by far one of the best female leads I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know.

This fast-paced story will keep you on your toes and emotions in check.

Another series beginning "slam dunk" for Robert Bryndza! I am already hooked on this series and can't wait for his next book to come out. I kept telling my husband what the book was about as I was reading. I knew Nine Elms was as amazing as I thought when my husband came home from work and asked for an update! We were both drawn into the lives of the well-thought out characters and the amazing plot! I am a huge fan of all of his books and this one did not disappoint. A 5 STAR, must-read book for thriller lovers everywhere!

Full review to published online in late December.


NINE ELMS is the first book in the new 'Kate Marshall' police procedural series by Robert Bryndza. Fifteen years after catching the Nine Elms serial killer, Kate Marshall finds herself barely staying afloat. Dismissed from the police force due to her behavior, she is now a university lecturer. When she receives a request from the parents of a missing girl to investigate their daughter’s disappearance, Kate finds herself being pulled back into the dark world of the Nine Elms killer. At the same time, a copy cat has emerged and they intend to make Kate their final victim.

This book works to set up the series and Kate’s future career. Some elements worked and some did not. I liked Kate’s character, but parts of her story line needed fleshing out. Her character has issues with alcohol and this element made me groan--there have been too many female detectives of late who are addicts and I am over this character flaw/story line. A lot of attention is given to Kate's alcoholism and it became repetitive and redundant. I am hoping in the next book, Kate’s character develops more. She is intelligent and interesting and it will be interesting to see how her character develops in future books.

When you've had a streak of mediocre books to read, you can always trust Robert Bryndza to break it.
I love his Erika Foster books, and now we have a new heroine, Kate Marshall. A former detective who brought down a serial killer, almost getting herself killed in the process, she's now a professor who struggles with her alcoholism every day. She also struggles with the consequences of her alcoholism. Meanwhile, a copycat killer is on the loose.

Nine Elms is a fully terrifying thriller, both complicated and fast paced. No big plot holes that I noticed, although the Facebook timeline is a bit off (People forget we haven't always had FB, and although it's possible Tristan joined FB in 2005 as a 16 yr old, I don't believe it's very likely). The killer/s in this book are indeed terrifying, and even though killer #2 has a Batman style benefit, it was a possible benefit that I can buy into. Overall, after reading some not-so-great thrillers, I'm reminded how great it is to read a scary, complicated story that ties up loose ends and gives us great characters both good and bad. It is also obvious that Kate Miller has several novels ahead of her, and I'm excited to read them.

Many thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for a fair review. I'll never understand how Bryndza manages to crank out these books at such a fast pace while also giving us amazing stories with great characters. Five stars for this one.

A brilliant fast paced psychological thriller!! I loved this book and read it in 1 sitting! A serial killer and copycat Hannibal Lecter would have been proud of.

"Nature versus nurture. Are serial killers born or made?"

Kate Marshall refused to be a victim of her past.
She was a detective constable who was on the team investigating the notorious Nine Elms Cannibal and was the 1 who managed to catch him in the end. It is now 15 years later and she is a lecturer in criminology. The killer is in jail and she has managed to rebuild her life.
Then a body of a young girl is found in eerily similar circumstances. Is there a copycat out there and will there be more victims?

This book is definitely not for the faint hearted with some very graffic descriptions. I LOVED it and can't wait to read more books by this author. He is definitely going on to my favourite FAVOURITE authors list with the likes of JD Barker, Chris Carter and Jussi Adler Olsen. I cant wait to share it with my customers.

Thank you to #Thomas&Mercer and #netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I enjoyed Mr Bryndza's Erica Foster series and hoped that this might of the same quality. Perhaps Kate Marshall will develop as we go along. At the moment I'm not sure. Kate is an ex detective having left the police after a traumatic serial murder case where the murderer was a former boyfriend, or at least she slept with him, and fellow detective. She has a son by the murderer and is a recovering alcoholic - this is getting stereotypical. She now lectures in criminal studies at a university somewhere, ably assisted by her research assistant Tristan. She is then faced with a copycat murderer and gets overly involved with detecting again - not to my satisfaction I'm afraid. There are plenty of the usual twists and turns and you do wonder who the new killer is even if you know that s/he probably is being manipulated by the original but they could just be a psychopath. There's a lot going on in Kate's life, there are plenty of new characters which may or may not fit; I'm unconvinced about Tristan. Still, it's the first of a series and I'd be happy to give number 2 a try in due course. Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas&Mercer for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review. I have never read a book by Robert Bryndza before and was pleasantly surprised. I am a huge fan of mysteries and thrillers, especially British ones. This book starts off with a bang and keeps you on a ride right until the very end! The main character Kate, while flawed, is someone you can relate to and her relationship with her assistant is an interesting part of the story line. The plot line interweaves points from Kate's past and the present seamlessly and make the book flow, you won't want to put it down until you are finished. I now want to go back and read his other novels.

This book was quite a ride from start to finish. Kate Marshall, who readers first meet the night she barely escapes from a serial killer, has tried to put her past behind her. She works at a university as a professor with her assistant Tristan. She had to leave her job as a detective due to the fallout from her take down of Peter Conway, the notorious Nine Elms Cannibal killer. When a copycat starts to kill young women in a similar manner she is once again drawn into the case. What she doesn't realize is the level of admiration the copycat has for Conway. The book alternates viewpoints well and builds up to a stunning climax.

Thank you to NetGalley, Robert Bryndza and Thomas & Mercer for the free e-book in exchange for an honest review.

I read Bryndza’s first novels back when my life was so much simpler and it made me so happy to be able to read one of his new series! I felt more like myself than I have in ages reading this book; I was totally addicted to the writing in this novel and stayed up way to late finishing it! I couldn’t put it down and was totally enamored with his newest badass female character, Kate. I forgot all my troubles and was totally focused on this novel and whatever twist I was on in the moment. This one was definitely a new favorite of mine and I can’t wait for the next Kate novel to see what her and her sidekick Tristan get up to next!

Nine Elms by Robert Bryndza
A Kate Marshall Thriller #1

Brilliant! This book is not a quick read but it flew by as every word carried the weight of this story. From the beginning through till the end this book had me on tenterhooks waiting to see what would happen next. Enthralling read and an excellent introduction to what, going by this book, will be a series I will not want to miss one book of.

What I liked:
* Kate: flawed, smart, tenacious, willing to do what it takes – I like her, felt sorry for her at points and truly admired her, too.
* Tristan: her assistant is a young man with a future – though untried I found him open, caring, wise, young and endearing – I want to know more about him
* Jake: Kate’s son – he is not formed yet and as the series goes on I can see any number of things happening in his life
* The other people like Kate’s parents and neighbor – can see them taking part in future books
* That Kate is not a young thing
* That this is not really a cozy mystery or a police procedural as Kate is not on the police force but it is a murder mystery of a cold case that ties into current murders, too.
* The idea put forth that Kate and Tristan might have a side business as private investigators – wonder if they will leave academia or stay in it – will they get licenses or are they even needed in England?

What I did not like:
* The four sicko psychos that were mentioned in this story – I detested them and wished a horrible fate for them.
* Kate’s AA affiliation – it seems that every PI, police person, solver of cases seems to end up with an alcohol problem and though that may be true I would kind of like to see someone that does not have a dependency problem
* The reminder that there is so much evil in the world – that humans have so little regard for the lives of others.

Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more in this series? As soon as possible, please

Thank you to NetGalley and Tomas & Mercer for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars

One of the best serial killer thrillers I have ever read!
The plot, pacing, detail and characters are all spot on, the whole book was so good I read it in one sitting and missed an entire nights sleep to this book but it was worth every second!

Once upon a time, Kate Marshall was a hotshot detective, credited with catching the nasty Nine Elms serial killer/cannibal. But the fall out from the trial traumatized her so badly she left police work. Fifteen years on, she’s working at a little university in England when a Nine Elms copycat goes to work. Determined to finally face her past and the nightmares still haunting her, Kate begins to hunt down a killer, a killer whose idol wanted nothing so much as to make Kate his next victim. This is next level scary, Bryndza has the makings of a hugely successful series with Kate Marshall

I feel bad for the author of this one because it is going to be hard to write the 2nd book in this series because this one was so good! This is the start of the Kate Marshall series and I cannot wait to learn more about Kate in the next books. There is plenty of action. Highly recommend!

ever thought that he would be able to outdo his Erika Foster series but this novel is amazing.

It has so many twists and turns with multiple facets. This book really shows off his writing style to its fullest.

I am in shock as I didnt expect this would take such a strong hold like his erika Foster series