It’s like a scene from a horror movie. DCI Matilda Darke is called to a home the day after a wedding reception where the brides family has been hacked and slashed to death. Evidence points to a burglar, but it feels wrong to Darke, this isn’t the work of a robber. It turns out someone on Matilda’s own team has been manipulating the evidence, but why? Is the killer one of Matilda’s own? Loved this book, Matilda is an intelligent and complex heroine and the mystery equally unusual

I received a copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley.

I have read each of the previous instalments in this series, so I am not sure how well this would stand on its own. The Carl Meagan storyline (which I had so hoped would be resolved here) continues on in the background. Matilda herself is now thankfully back on her feet health wise.

The murders in this instalment were gruesome (and this was reiterated over and over), but thankfully all in the past when the story opened. I thought the plot was excellent for the first two-thirds or so, but after that it got a little unbelievable in places. There was an entirely unnecessary scene between Oliver and Scott, and then Scott was allowed to sit in on an interview of Oliver the next morning. Clearly the final chapters would never have been allowed to happen in any police force in the known universe, but they were quite exciting, I suppose.

I assume this will be picked up before the book goes to print, but the first third of it has Rachel and Leah sometimes as sisters (how biblical!) and in other places (correctly) as niece and aunt.

Very enjoyable and a page turner.

I enjoyed reading this book. It had a good story to it. I liked the variety of characters in it. It was a well written book. I hope to read more books by this author.