My thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing Uk for a copy of “ A Cut For A Cut “ for an honest review.

I was really blown away from the previous book in this series and couldn’t believe my luck to get permission to read this follow up . It definitely didn’t disappoint!
As before ,the characters were really well written and the plot really kept you guessing.I live in the area where this series is set and I love visualising the scenes and places mentioned.
I enjoy how we get an ending to the story but the storyline regarding Chris continues.
My only problem now is having to wait for the next in the series .

After the first in the series, An Eye for an Eye, this is a brilliant follow up and I will be waiting for the next in the series! I feel so incredibly lucky to have read an advance copy.
Kate is having trouble knowing who to trust, and following the second murder she really feels like something is amiss in the force. She is being very careful who she asks questions of and who she shares with. It was a frustrating case for the team as they just couldn’t seem to find any hard evidence.
Kate’s step-sister Tilly and her young son were visiting from Australia, and fitting in some family time was tough. Tilly reveals some details about her own rape many years ago which Kate hadn’t known at the time. There are some crime scene descriptions that had me wincing, but they set the scene of how the mind of the killer works.
Kate is still having conversations with Chris and she does things in an unconventional way sometimes but I love the quirks of her personality.
I found it a very tense read and my heart was racing.
It's a cracking book, a truly gripping read which I totally recommend.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer and Carol Wyer for the early copy in which I give my honest opinion.

I have to say that this is my least favourite of Wyer's series so far.

Personally I find Kate really hard to connect to and sympathise with, though I can't put my finger on why. Likewise, the team didn't really see any development in book so I don't really feel as connected to them as I have to supporting characters in say the Natalie Ward series.

I was also hoping that the over arching series plot would develop and/or culminate in this book but actually we are no further forward than before. Maybe there is now some evidence as opposed to guess work but it hasn't moved on significantly. I actually found the whole storyline frustrating as opposed to tense in this book, the blatant interference of those under suspicion and a brick wall of those in power hiding things just isn't ever a trope that I've enjoyed, so perhaps this is just down to my preferences.

The rape/killer plot was brutal and I 'enjoyed' it, but I felt like there were far too few leads. There wasn't really anything to sink my teeth into, even if it was just a red herring or two. It seemed that the police investigation was purposely slow to give more time to the overarching series plot.
It also seemed a bit far fetched to have it all link back to Kate's family again. I feel like it is enough for her to be investigating Chris' murder without then having this whole other link. Personally I would have preferred if the link hadn't been established and it was just one of the victims who triggered the killer.

I read the whole book and I can't say that I wanted to give in at any point but I also wouldn't say that I enjoyed it. Having read all of the Natalie Ward series (which I've given either 4 and 5 star ratings to) I just feel like this series is lacking something.

Number two in the DI Kate Young series. I enjoyed this book greatly, even more than the first in the series. Going into this understanding the relationship between Kate and Chris, (no spoilers here for anyone who has not read the first one) I was able to appreciate the characters and the brilliant development in the sub plot better. There is lots going on in this book and it doesn’t disappoint. In addition to dealing with the investigation into the rape and brutal death of a young woman, Kate is rebuilding her relationship with her step sister who has returned from Australia. As the investigation grows and more bodies mount up, things become all too close to home. Coupled with that Kate is forced to compromise all her professional principles if she’s to continue to pursue her own investigation in the subplot. Away from the rollercoaster of the plot and subplot the emotions that Kate is experiencing are beautifully dealt with and instantly recognisable to anyone who has suffered the loss of someone close to them. This series has so much more to give and has a fantastic twist at the end that just whets your appetite for the next instalment

Wow! This second DI Kate Young novel packs a wallop. I enjoyed this book more than the first in the series and I liked it.

Kate juggles a lot in this story. A rapist who carves the word "mine" in the flesh of his victims' shoulders. Her half-sister has returned with her young son. Kate wants to spend time with them, but her workload conspires against it, and then there's the ever-present thread of who was behind her reporter husband's murder? She's certain she knows it's someone high ranking in the department and maybe even her immediate supervisor is corrupt, too.

This was a rollercoaster ride and I held on with white knuckles until the very end! I hope there will be more in this series as I loved it so much.

Carol is an extraordinary writer and brings her written world to life so much you feel like you're in the villages and witnessing the crimes and/or the investigations.

I received a copy of A Cut for a Cut from NetGalley and Carol's publishers, Thomas & Mercer in exchange for an honest review.

I was delighted to receive this book from Carol and Netgalley, having read the first one and thoroughly enjoyed it.

It’s like Staffordshire’s answer to Line of Duty! Poor Kate she’s stuck between the devil and the deep blue sea not knowing who she can trust, and whether there is a “rat” in her team.

As she is dealing with nasty rapes and attacks on women there’s still the unanswered questions as to who is bent and who isn’t, and who can she trust? Her step sister has arrived from Australia with her little boy and that is a welcome relief from the atrocities that she’s facing.

The team are likeable, albeit a bit small, and we do get to know a bit more about them. Kate is still listening to her husband which I thought was a nice touch, and hopefully in the next book she’ll find out a bit more about who was behind what happened to him.

I do like Kate and the beautiful Staffordshire countryside, which I know a bit about as my mum and Nan used to live in Rugeley.

I just want to thank Carol, the publishers and Netgalley for the ARC and look forward to the next one.

Another engaging instalment in this new of although I did find most of the plot direction obvious long before events were revealed.
I look forward to the next instalment and hopefully finding out if Kate finally manages to nail Dickson

This is book 2 in the Detective Kate Young series and it’s brilliant.
Kate is still trying to find a way to expose Superintendent John Dickson for his involvement in her husband’s death but he seems to be untouchable.
Kate and the team have their hands full with the murder of several women who have been raped and strangled. The killer is also leaving his mark on the bodies.
One victim survives and is able to give Kate some vital information that helps her and the team track down the killer but the real help comes from Kate’s sister, Tilly.
This is a gripping crime thriller and I loved the way that the story was told, bringing in Kate’s probing into Chris’ death along with the hunt for another killer.
I can’t wait to see how this series pans out and hope Kate gets justice, but I suspect there’s more to come on this aspect first.
If you haven’t started this series, now is the ideal time to pick it up as we’re only at book 2 at the moment. If you enjoy a great crime thriller then this series is definitely for you.

Overall I enjoyed this book and would recommend the full series. I'm looking forward to getting to know the team better in the third outing for Kate Young. This book has left me wanting more!

I was really in the mood for a good serial killer thriller and based off of this book’s synopsis, I thought it’d fit the bill. The book was engaging enough to keep me flipping the pages but ultimately, it’s never going to wind up on my favorites list.

This is the second instalment of the DI Kate Young series by Carol Wyer. The first book definitely needs to be read before reading this one to get the detective’s background story. Even though a few things are recapped, I think you’d still feel a bit discombobulated without knowing all the facts.
This is a good read and a perfectly adequate crime novel; however, I did feel it missed a little bit of the wow magic that the first book had. There was the large underlying twist regarding her partner Chris in the introduction; however, now that we know what is going on, it made the conversations a little annoying. You know it is all her thoughts, so instead of it being tragic and sad, it came across as more delusional this time. The investigation into what happened to Chris was quite interesting, but it did jar against the main storyline a little; it felt like reading two different stories.
The crimes that Kate and her team are investigating are heinous and interesting, but they did lack some of the Carol Wyer gruesomeness that I have come to expect. They were short of the truly horrifying details.
I had been really looking forward to the continuation of this new detective’s story. However, I was left a little disappointed. Like I say, it was a good enough read and nothing particularly wrong with it, but the first book was so phenomenal I found this one to be a letdown in comparison. I don’t know if my expectations were too high or if the first book just couldn’t be competed with. I will still continue with the series to see what the outcome will be in regards to Chris; I just hope the next book has a bit more spark. I’m torn between whether it is a three or a four-star read. I’m going to settle on four as I have high respect for the author, her writing and her dedication to her stories. Maybe I was just in the wrong frame of mind going into this.

4.5 stars

DI Kate Young and her team are summoned to Abbots Bromley where a female body has been found in an industrial bin. She’s been raped and has MINE tattooed on her right shoulder. This investigation becomes deeply personal for Kate and runs parallel to an ‘off book’ investigation she’s running to try to prove Supt John Dickson is corrupt and involved in the death of her journalist husband Chris.

This is another gripping read from Carol Wyer. I’m not going to pretend it’s an easy read with the rape angle, although whilst it’s not graphic it’s not sanitised either - quite rightly. The novel deals well with the emotional scars of rape which is movingly explained by more than one character. This is a tense, pacy thriller from the beginning, it has good twists, it’s dark and a very compelling read that’s hard to put down. You do guess the perpetrator but that does not in any way spoil the outcome. The two gritty storylines work well together and the threads are easy to follow. The conspiracy/corruption angle is excellent and you can see that it could get extremely dangerous for Kate but she’s totally invested and doggedly pursues the truth. The characters are good although the primary focus is on Kate who is fascinating. Her issues especially her mental health following Chris’s murder is extremely well done. There are some good descriptions of places such as Abbots Bromley and Uttoxeter which makes it easy to visualise scenes. The ending is exciting and makes you want to sign up for the next instalment where I hope Kate gets closer to proving the corruption. My only negative and it’s a small personal one, is that I’m not keen on the killers ‘voice’ - I’m not sure if we needed it?????

Overall, a well written and an absorbing read from a talented author.

With thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

With a serial killer and rapist on the loose on D.I. Kate Young’s patch, it doesn’t leave her with much time to spend with her sister, Tilly and Tilly’s son, Daniel who are over from Australia.

Kate is still convinced that Superintendent John Dickson is behind her husbands death. Can Kate put all the pieces together and will she and the team capture the rapist & killer?

This is the second book in the series and boy, does it pack a punch! The story took me on a white knuckle ride and my heart felt like it was going to pound out of my chest! Well written characters and some that leave you with the hairs on your neck standing on end as they are so bad. The author has written a difficult but compelling story with great plots. If you haven’t started this series yet then get cracking, you won’t regret it.

My thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

#ACutForACut #NetGalley
Good read.
DI Kate Young can’t trust anybody. Not even herself.
In the bleak countryside around Blithfield Reservoir, a serial murderer and rapist is leaving a trail of bloodshed. His savage calling card: the word ‘MINE’ carved into each of his victims.DI Kate Young struggles to get the case moving—even when one of the team’s own investigators is found dead in a dumpster. But Kate is battling her own demons. Obsessed with exposing Superintendent John Dickson and convinced there’s a conspiracy running deep in the force, she no longer knows who to trust. Kate’s crusade has already cost her dearly. What will she lose next?When her stepsister spills a long-buried secret, Kate realises she’s found the missing link—now she must prove it before the killer strikes again. With enemies closing in on all sides, she’s prepared to do whatever it takes to bring them down. But time is running out, and Kate's past has pushed her to the very edge. Can she stop herself from falling?
Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Mercer for giving me an advanced copy of this book.

I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. I have always enjoyed Carol Wyer's books and look forward to each and every one. I feel like I can just fly through them and don't want to put them down. This book was no exception. I was a little hesitant at first when she announced a new series as I loved the last and wasn't ready to let go, but right away I got into the book, and the main character, Kate. This is the second book in the new Kate Young series and we delve more into Kate's past, the death of her husband, trying to catch his killer, all the while still doing her job as a detective. The A and B stories flow seamlessly together, Carol always sets the scene and isn't afraid to show the flaws in her characters, this is what makes them interesting. Can't wait to read the next one!

Second in the DI Kate Young series. Kate's team is investigating the death of a young woman, while she is also secretly trying to find evidence about corruption in the police force that led to the death of her husband. This was decent. I'm not in love with this series, but it is good enough that I would keep reading. 3 stars.

In this second book of the DI Kate Young series, there is a murdering rapist terrorizing young women and carving the word 'MINE' into their bodies. He is a cunning perpetrator, as he has stalked each woman to learn her schedule and when she was certain to be alone and vulnerable. The pressure on Kate's team becomes worse when one of the victims found is a civilian investigation officer. It becomes personal to the force, but then Kate is not allowed access to the officer's laptop - a key step in any investigation. No surprise that it's Superintendent Dickson who orders this. He's the official that Kate has been secretly investigating for corruption, and the one she believes ordered the death of her husband, Chris. But she can't disclose that to anyone and it becomes tough to stay unbiased due to his interference on this serial killer case.

In addition to these investigations, Kate is adjusting to her stepsister, Tilly, and nephew, Daniel, being back in the area. Tilly had moved to Australia with her husband, Jordan, Kate's ex-fiancé, which obviously put a dent in their relationship. But now Tilly is back after discovering that Jordan was cheating on her and she wants to reconnect with Kate. Now with her energy focused all over, Kate fears losing her connection to Chris and that she's not doing his memory proud by avenging his death. Strong as she is, how much stress can she take before she loses it completely?

Her mental health get progressively worse throughout the story. Her habit of having conversations out loud with Chris and speaking in his voice continues and Kate's more upset when she doesn't hear him! She feels guilty every time she's not completely focused on him. I worry that she'll be exposed by Dickson as unstable and any hopes of justice for Chris will be lost. She clearly needs help before everything backfires on her. And I can't say I enjoy Tilly as a character, she's selfish and thinks only of herself and what she wants. Even when she realizes she treated people badly, she never acknowledges remorse and continues her self-centered behavior. And Kate just forgives her for all of it and actually feels bad for her. Anyway, let's hope that Kate can hold it together in the next story and start making that awful Superintendent Dickson pay for his sins.

I literally have no words. This book is spine tingling creepy and the very last paragraph, so deliciously disturbing I had to go back a page and reread it because I thought I missed something! Do not miss out on this book!!

I was given an ARC in exchange for an honest review

What a great read! I loved the first of this series and couldn’t wait for book two! It didn’t disappoint! I think Kate is a fantastic, believable character and the story had me guessing right up until the end! Really hoping there’s book three

If there is one thing you can guarantee when picking up a thriller by Carol Wyer, it's that you are about to go on one hell of a bumpy ride. A Cut For A Cut is book two in her Kate Young series, and is a tense, high stakes read which kept me completely rapt. This isn't your straight forward police thriller, at last Kate is not your average Detective Inspector, for reasons that become apparent in the reading, but with a mixture of mystery, heart thumping action and a more than generous dose of conspiracy and corruption, the stories really do stick in your mind long after the final page.

This time around we find Kate and her very select team on the hunt of a vicious serial rapist and murderer. Whilst we are never present during the act itself, the repercussions are keenly felt, and the abhorrent nature of the acts is clear from the reactions of the team and the emotional impact on the families. this case has a personal connotation for Kate too, bringing her far too close to memories from the past. You feel the frustrations of the team as they hunt down their suspect, and the tension that builds between them adds to the jeopardy that is already inherent in the story. The narrative focus moves between the investigation, Kate's personal life and, to a more sinister degree, the point of view of the killer, whose own motivations start to become clearer the more you read and progressively more disturbing too. There are scenes which will make you uncomfortable - they should - but they are not over stressed or used to gratuitous effect, just to explain, but not excuse, what comes to be.

Now for many reasons, one of which being you will miss a good book otherwise, I would definitely recommend that you read book one before venturing further into Kate's world. There are threads in this story which begin with An Eye For an Eye and whilst this is a self contained story, and enough of the background to Kate and her investigations is revealed, it will mean so much more read in order. There is a secondary element to this story, one which is extremely personal to Kate, but one which also needs to be followed carefully to allow you to draw your own conclusions and fully understand the implications of what is going on. It's interesting to see Kate's reactions, torn between what is right and discovering the truth.

As always Carol Wyer has created some brilliant characters. Kate Young has a few, how should I put it, unusual character quirks that might make your brows furrow a touch, but they do really ring true and I can picture someone with the intensity of emotions that she feels acting in this way. I don't think we got to know as much about her immediate team this time around, much of the focus falling on the relationship between Kate and her estranged sister, but each of their personalities still shone through and I had a clear and vivid picture of each in my head as I read. The pacing is just right, the tension and anxiety building as we know an attack is imminent, the bits that remain unsaid about the killers motivations playing out in my head making me more intent to get to the end to be proven right (or possibly wrong ...)

A tense, gripping read that left me with a whole host of unanswered question and a real hunger for the next book in the series. Definitely recommended.