This is my first introduction to Author Biba Pearce and DCI Rob Miller, but it certainly won't be my last. The Soho Killer was a terrific page-turner of a story that grabbed me from the very first page.

Complete with massive twists, fantastic pacing, outstanding characters, and fascinating subplots. This story was incredibly engaging; I had to know who was responsible for the murder. I heartily suggest this book to everyone, and I can't wait to read the five books I've missed.

THE SOHO KILLER by Biba Pearce.

Detective Rob Miller Mysteries Book 6.

A serial killer who dumps the victims’ bodies in Soho Square. A sleepless detective thwarted by his box-ticking boss.

Really Really enjoyed this book. Love this series. Can't wait for next book. 5*.

Rob Miller has been promoted to Detective Chief Inspector but the added administrative and managerial responsibilities don't keep him from being hands on. His team is tasked with a sado-masochistic death which mirrors one of twenty years ago. Another, similar, death occurs; this time an official of the Secret Service adding spanners to the works. There are plenty of red herrings and the details of the cases, are well investigated - Miller's team does a thorough and careful job. It's also nice to see happy family lives for a change. The perpetrator certainly came as a blind-sider. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy.

The Soho Killer by Biba Pearce, a compellingly plotted and compulsive read, full of twists.

The Soho Killer is the sixth title of Pearce’s Detective Rob Miller series, and the third I’ve read. While I’ve been reading the series from the beginning, I skipped ahead to read the latest series release. These are comfort reads for me in the sense I know what to expect. I can feel confident that Pearce will deliver it, and that’s always been the case. Far from formulaic as series like this sometimes are, with every book she delivers new imaginative crimes for Miller to solve along with many clever plot twists that keep us eagerly turning the pages.

Quite a lot has changed in our lead character’s life since the last book in the series I reviewed, The West London Murders. Rob Miller has promoted from Detective Inspector (DI) to Detective Chief Inspector (DCI) and now contends with the inconveniences of holding a supervisory position while trying to solve murders. He also reports to a new boss, Superintendent Felicity Mayhew and his Major Investigation Team features new members. Not only has DCI Miller’s work circumstances changed, Rob has a new wife and infant son at home to go along with his dog, Trigger, first introduced in the second book. And Trigger plays an important role in this story, always appreciated by dog lovers like me. DCI Miller and the former Jo Maguire, a detective who worked with Miller in previous cases, have married. Jo now works part time at MI5, which also plays a significant role in this tale.

These novels usually include one overarching mystery that gradually increases in complexity, and a couple of support acts in the guise of Miller’s personal life and dealings with his superintendent and other agencies. The same is true here, although Pearce offers more threads to follow than in earlier books. And, as usual, this sixth Rob Miller outing is tremendously good fun.

The book opens with an ominous, foreshadowing prologue featuring a murder occurring twenty years in the past. And then, after an unexpected, and unpleasant reunion with his long-estranged father, Ronnie (one of the support acts in this book), DCI Miller and his team get stuck into a rather bizarre murder investigation in Soho, not a part of London within their usual remit. A passerby discovers the body of a male victim, kitted out in a sadomasochism outfit on the lawn of a public park. The Major Investigation Team gets the case because the station with jurisdiction over the Soho district is overwhelmed with dealing with demonstrating activists. The initial investigation by Miller and his team reveals the victim is a married gay artist. But they aren’t certain if they have a homicide or an accidental death by erotic misadventure given the victim’s outfit, until Liz Kramer, the pathologist we met in previous books, confirms the victim, Michael Bennett, died from strangulation. The team must then consider the possibility of a hate crime as they get busy with the procedural minutiae of investigating a homicide, interviewing the victim’s husband, canvassing the area for witnesses, and reviewing CCTV recordings for clues to the identity of the killer. When interviewing the victim’s partner, Ralph Keaton, he tells Miller and the team neither Bennett nor he had any interest in BDSM and couldn’t imagine why his partner was found dressed in sadomasochism paraphernalia. That makes things even more baffling for the detectives.

No sooner has the Major Investigation Team started the Bennett investigation than someone discovers the body of a second male victim, dressed in the same peculiar sadomasochism outfit, and also tortured and raped by instrumentation, and then strangled. But this victim is an official in the British secret services, which adds further complexity to the mix. The team struggles to find something more than the obvious connection by M.O. which suggests the same killer that links the men, but shockingly find no hard evidence that the second victim was gay. But faced again with the specter he is dealing with yet another serial killer, DCI Miller calls on his old friend, Tony Sanderson, a renowned criminal profiler, to help his understanding of the suspect’s motive, and Sanderson joins the team as a consultant.

For those who enjoy reading crime mysteries, trying to work out the whodunit ahead of the police, Pearce brilliantly throws in plenty of red herrings along the way that mislead us. About midway through, I thought I’d figured it out, but discovered I was so wrong when Pearce finally revealed the killer at the shocking climax. And indeed, that was far from the only surprise Pearce offers us in this gripping story. I won’t say more to avoid spoilers, but will say in this latest Detective Rob Miller book, Pearce has compellingly plotted and produced a compulsive read that is full of devious twists. No doubt she will continue this excellent series since Pearce offered a few hints of future story threads to explore.

I enjoy these novels for a couple of different reasons.

To start, I believe they are a fairly accurate representation of what I think police work is like. There is a lot of investigating, a lot of dead ends, false leads, and frustration. In fact, most of this novel is just that. I'll admit this can lead to some slow-going areas, but I feel like it was approached in a way that kept me reading because out of all the information thrown at them, would I find what was relevant before the characters did?

I also enjoy these novels because the author treats Rob as a PERSON instead of just a character. Even whilst in the middle of a heavy investigation, the author still makes time to show him at home with his wife and child. I enjoyed these quiet moments because it brings a sense of realism to the story. Oftentimes we forget that members of the police force are also people with their own lives that they have to try and balance, and I think this author does a great job of showcasing that.

As I stated above, there were some areas where this story bordered on the tedious, but again I feel like that is what investigating crimes is actually like. There were a couple of times when the author threw in some potential suspects, but it was obvious that they were distractions to what was really going on. I will say, though that the ending definitely left me surprised. I did not expect the story to take the turn that it did.

Hopefully, this is not the last that we have seen of Rob, I enjoy this series and hope to read more in the future!

DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.

If there is one thing you can rely upon from each book in this series (this is book 6), it’s that from the very beginning it is going to take you on one heck of a journey, the Soho Killer is no exception. I absolutely loved it!

Biba has created a host very believable characters, and this latest novel really builds on that, she also has a talent for generating a marvellous sense of atmosphere – the hairs on the back of my neck were on end during more than one paragraph.

A well-deserved 5 stars from me, this book is dark and intense; I simply couldn’t put it down. (The murders are somewhat gruesome, so probably not for the faint of heart.)

An enjoyable police procedural that had me on the edge of my seat. Well written with a compelling stoyline and well develloped characters. I couldn't put it down.

THE SOHO KILLER by Biba Pearce Book 6 in the DCI Rob Miller series which keeps getting better and better. This was a police procedural that included gruesome killings. Ms Pearce's deft style of detail and description made it easy to visualize the gory details. Enjoyed the updates about the team and Rob's family life in addition to the police work. The ending was a total surprise. A shout out for Trigger, a real hero. Looking forward to the next in the series.

Thank you to Biba Pearce, Joffee Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book

Detective Rob Miller Mysteries Book 6

Rib is called out to London's West End on personal business when he gets a call. A body has been discovered in Soho Square. The victim has whip marks on his back, a leather mask covering his face, and a ball-gag in his mouth. The cause of death seems to be strangulation but was it murder or a mistake.

Rob and Jo are up against a killer who covers his tracks, a killer who is remorseless. This is a thought-provoking mystery. A brutal event had taken place twenty years ago, now there's a similar vile incident occurred, but no one has made the connection. The pace is fast, and there are so many twists and turns, you won't want to put the book down. The characters have been well fleshed out, its action packed, and the murders are gruesome. This is another book that's not for the faint hearted. I loved it.

Have always enjoyed books by Biba Pearce and this latest one didn’t disappoint Would certainly recommend and look forward to seeing where the next murder will be taking place.

Someone is killing men and dressing them hardcore sado-masachistic gear with an extremely large ball gag. What do these men have in common? Two are definitely gay, one isn't, and there doesn't seem to be a link between them at all. DCI Rob Miller is baffled and brings in his friend Tony Sanderson who is a profiler for the National Crime Agency and never known to be wrong - yet.

Loved it.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher I read a free advance review copy of the book. This review is voluntary, honest and my own opinion.

I’m hooked on the DI (later DCI) Rob Miller series and it was great to be back with him and his colleagues, and also his family.

The body of a male is found in Soho Square, dressed in bondage gear. Was it a sex game gone wrong or cold-blooded murder? Then a second body is found, in his home this time, but dressed in bondage gear in exactly the same way as the first victim. Someone keeps ringing the station to say that his partner was killed in a similar way twenty years ago, although it was deemed to be suicide, so nobody takes his calls seriously.

Rob calls in his friend, Tony, who’s a criminal behaviourist/profiler, for some help and advice on the killer’s personality and reasons for committing these crimes. We also meet Ronnie, Rob’s dad, who has problems of his own and looks to Rob for help, even though they’ve never been close.

If you like a police procedural thriller that is accurate and gripping, then this is the book for you. And read the others in the series as well!

Thank you to NetGalley and Joffe Books for an advance reader copy in return for an honest review.

I only found this series earlier this year and binge read the first books.
I have been eagerly waiting to get my hands on this one and it didn’t disappoint
A series of murders, all with the victims being left in S&M bondage gear, all male, all terrified.
What is the relationship between the victims.
Is there a relationship between the victims
DCI Rob Millers team head to the pubs and clubs of Soho, where the first victim was found..

Was looking forward to this book. And i loved it. Story was great. Full of twists and turns. Kept me intrigued. Great work as usual

THE SOHO KILLER is my first introduction to DCI Rob Miller and author Biba Pearce. But it won't be my last. As this was a terrific nail biter of a story. That grabbed me from the very first page and never let go.

As DCI Miller out dealing with his father. Who has just been arrested for stealing £20K is called to a murder scene in Soho. And it's a scene he won't be forgetting anytime soon.

As the victim has been staged in Soho Square for maximum impact wearing a BDSM outfit and a ball gag. Yet, it's Soho and the man in question was gay. So officers first assume it was a sex game gone wrong. But it soon becomes apparent the victim was brutally attacked before being killed. And when Rob and his team are asked to take over the case, they soon find a suspect with plenty of motive.

Then the killer strikes again. Only this time his victim is someone Rob knows they won't be allowed to investigate.

However, Rob is more determined than ever to find answers. But he doesn't realise how close those are, until another victim is discovered. One who had been desperately trying to get the teams attention.

And with huge twists, fantastic pacing, great characters and intriguing subplots. This was an utterly captivating story. That I stayed up late into the night to finish. As I just had to know who the murderer was. And it's a story I would 100% recommend to all; and I can't wait to read the five books I've missed out on.

And thank you Karen for the recommendation! 😊

I love Biba Pearce and have read the series of these books.
The Soho Killer didn't let me down.
Gritty and a real thriller which is not for the faint hearted.
Great characters which i have really got to know, having said that the reader does not have to have read the previous books.
My thanks to netgalley and the publisher for my copy.
This is what a thriller should be.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Joffe Books for an advance copy of The Soho Killer, the sixth novel to feature DCI Rob Miller of the Met’s Major Crime Unit.

Rob is in Soho on private business when he is asked to supervise a crime scene. A body, whipped, strangled and dressed in fetish gear has been dumped in Soho Square. Initial suspicion falls on the man’s partner after he lies about his alibi, but he is in custody when a second body is found. The pressure is on Rob and his team to find a dangerous killer.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Soho Killer, which is a fast moving procedural with some unexpected twists and turns. It should be noted that there are some adult themes in the novel and that may not appeal to some readers. Personally I found it informative as these themes are outwith my lived experience.

The novel is told mostly from Rob’s point of view, which I like as it means I can get immersed in the story and live the investigation alongside him and his team. I had no luck in guessing either the murderer’s identity or motive and was quite shocked when all was revealed. Well done to the author for keeping it all well hidden.

I like the logic of police procedurals, which start with a wide open field and gradually, by dint of perseverance, technology and making links, narrow their suspect pool. This novel is no different in that respect, but it throws in politics and secretive government departments for a little spice and ends in a drama packed showdown. I found it absorbing reading.

Rob Miller is a family man now with a partner and a son. He likes it. There’s nothing really that stands out about him or the other characters as they are there to further the plot.

The Soho Killer is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

Another wonderful thriller by Biba Pearce that I couldn't put down! Detective Rob Miller and his team investigate the murder of a body discovered in Soho Square , his body having been whipped savagely and wearing a leather mask and his mouth stuffed with a rag. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a good thriller and the previous books in the series featuring Rob Miller and gang are also a very good read!

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for this eARC.

This is an absolute gem of a read, and the authors DCI Rob Miller books are fast becoming one of my favourite series. Here Miller and his team investigate a murder in Soho and when another victim is found a few days later with similarities the investigation takes an unexpected turn. I love the authors writing style, her books are always a pleasure to read and her main character DCI Miller is so very likeable and believable. I enjoyed the lovely glimpses into his home and personal life and have really liked his character development in this series. For me, this is the best book so far, it is so well written, very engaging, fast paced and flowed seamlessly and I was hooked from the first page to the last. I loved the twists in the story as it raced towards its conclusion - and the last part of the book was a very tense and thrilling read as the murderer was revealed. Overall, a brilliant read which I loved, if you like good solid police procedurals I’d recommend this book although if you’re new to the author you’d be best to start at the beginning with The Thames Path Killer to get to know Miller from the start.

5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you NetGalley and Joffe Books for the eARC.
This, the 6th in the DCI Rob Miller series, was very good, but not my favorite. Surprisingly, the killings, while gruesome, bored me a bit, but the rest of the book was terrific. I love Rob and his happy family life with his wife, baby and adorable dog and also enjoy his team, His boss, not so much...
The ending was a surprise to me, and overall the story was excellent. I really recommend this book and series.