I honestly can’t get enough of the Jonah Sheens series! What makes this twisty, intelligent, heart-throbbing psychological thriller series so unique is the way Gytha Lodge delves into deep layers of characters, allowing us not only to connect with each of them but also become a part of their world.

This latest book in the series is well-crafted with perfect character analysis, polished structure, and a captivating storyline. Even with its slow burn, extra detailed descriptions portraying characters’ swinging moods, fears, flaws, hesitancy, the short chapters, and the twists leading you down different roads that take you on another journey, push you to make guesses about how things will wrap up. These are the main strengths of Lodge’s smart and incredible writing talent.

This time, the story revolves around Aisling Cooley, a single mom raising her two teenage sons in the sedate suburban of Southampton. Women are urged not to loiter alone on the streets when darkness comes. Aisling has a strong urge to find her long-lost father, so she uploads her DNA to an ancestry site. A few days later, someone knocks on her door, but unfortunately, the man who wants answers from her is not her father. It’s Detective Chief Inspector Jonah Sheens who’s chasing the Bonfire Killer, who might be Aisling's father.

Overall, this is a dark, intense, and another well-written and unputdownable novel from the series that keeps growing on me.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group/Random House Trade Paperbacks for sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Aisling Cooleys DNA is matched to a serial killer’s in this Fifth book of the DCI Jonah Sheen series. This book kept me glued to my seat wondering who done it.
Thanks NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group-Random House for this ARC that will be released August 8, 2023!

I couldn't put this down. The " who did its" had me in a circle. I figured it out. I didn't. Had me baffled until the end. Ainsley is divorced with two sons. She is trying to hold onto her house. She is alone with both parents gone. One died and one just left. Would DNA testing find her father? It found more than she was looking to find. She is tied to a murder scene. Is it her father or sons who are guilty?
A good story with some dead ends and unexpected turns. With an ending that left me wanting more!
Another fantastic choice suggested by NetGalley and Random House. I need to read the rest of Gytha Lodges Jonas Sheen series.

Such a good read - I really enjoyed this book. I'm so glad that I got the chance to read it early and will definitely be recommending it to multiple people who enjoy these types of novels. I enjoyed the characters and especially enjoyed the writing by this author. I'm excited to see what the author comes out with next as I'll definitely be reading it! Thank you to the publisher for my early copy of this book!

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the ARC. I voluntarily read and reviewed this book.
Wow! Action packed - you won't be able to put this down. And the twists you don't see coming? Oh my.
I love when an author weaves multiple plot lines without losing focus and without confusing the reader. Gytha Lodge does just that. The family theme hits home for each character, whether it's blood relative or found family. I love this series, I love the way she writes, I love these characters and the team atmosphere. These detectives care about each other, no more so than in this latest offering, and that ending??!! My goodness, it'll get your heart rate up. Now I can't wait to find out what happens to....(no spoiler!). I'll be thinking of that ending for a good long time. Well done. Would give this more than 5 stars.

I truly wanted to like this one. It started off, and I was interested. I was hooked. But then it trailed off. It was boring. It was lackadaisical. I just needed more.

this book started out great - by that i mean the prologue and chapter one. chapter dove promptly into complete boredom going on and on about a lady and her two teenage boys - excruciating detail - boring. That was enough for me. that said, it was well written - just not the "thriler" it was advertised to be.

The beginning pages suck you in immediately. There are several storylines going on and the author truly did a great job developing the characters and really allowing you to get to know each one of them. Although I did find it to be a bit slow at times, the chapters are short. Don't worry, there is plenty of mystery to keep you intrigued throughout. The last chapter really left me stunned. I thoroughly enjoyed the writing and will be grabbing the previous books from the DCI Jonah Sheens Series.

I really liked the concept of this book, and but I was not a fan of the police procedural feel. I really liked the other perspectives in the story though, so I had to give it a five star.

A Killer In The Family by Gytha Lodge

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to Random House, the author, and NetGalley for this ARC! 💫

I’ll start by saying that I very rarely read mysteries that have a good amount of police/DCI perspectives. I find them to be redundant and unrelatable. But the premise of this 5th installment of the DCI Jonah Sheens series was so intriguing I had to read it, and I’m SO glad I did!

I felt as though I was watching a well done mystery film. Each chapter was short, did not drag on, and had enough information and POV to feel as if I was alongside the detectives piecing together this crime. Every twist and turn lead down another road, and somehow all the roads came together in the end, making sense and leaving all questions answered. I’m already downloading the previous Jonah Sheens series books because of how well written this book was!! A solid 5-star read!

Heart pounding thriller that left me on the edge of my seat. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this one. Definitely one of the best books this year.

I’d like to thank netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. The premise of this book sounded right up my alley but unfortunately I couldn’t get into it. With that being said, I look forward to their other books and what they can come up with.