Member Reviews

I have read and enjoyed the whole of this series so far but I have to say I didn't quite enjoy this as much. It feels like too much going on for one book. Fast paced with usual twists and turns but the constant voices in Kate's head I didn't enjoy. Think she needs someone to talk to herself! Although I didn't enjoy this as much as I hoped I would , I would still read another in this series as I have enjoyed the series as a whole.

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I find this book difficult to rate, as some parts of it I really liked, but overall I found it a bit of a slog to get through.

I love the author's writing - the Natalie Ward books are one of my favourite detective series. However. I don't like this one as much, I just feel that the 'syndicate' storyline has been going on for SO LONG and I'm very bored of it. The word 'syndicate' was used 135 times - if I'd turned it into a drinking game, I'd be dead. I also cannot stand the voices in Kate's head - this is a very annoying way of telling the story and realistically, Kate should be in a psychiatric unit rather than leading a police force.

On the positive side, I really enjoyed Emma's storyline and the devil's breath killer. That focused more on the elements of a detective novel I enjoy - good police work, interviewing suspects and discovering connections.

I'm hoping that this series has reached its conclusion now, I never want to hear the word 'syndicate' ever again.

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Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy of this book.

This book takes over where the last one ended.

After the death of her mentor, William, Kate is now DCI. She spends her free time searching for Willian’s list of the corrupt syndicate within the force. When Harriet asks Kate to prove that she didn’t murder William, Kate tries to track down the witnesses.
Meanwhile Emma and Morgan from her team are now acting DI’s heading two separate investigations. I have to admit I don’t like these two as a couple. They don’t fit and there arguing throughout the book proved that. We didn’t find out the conclusion to their story in this book. Definitely a need to know.

Wow this was a page turner. So many little clues drip feeding is who the mysterious Gamma and Iota from the syndicate are. I had figured out who the mole was and therefore who would be in the syndicate, and I had my suspicions as to the other member. The author really made us work for the confirmation though, and I couldn’t put this book down until I found out who it was. At times I was doubting myself due to all the red herrings.
I could really feel Kate’s frustration at being behind a desk, and therefore some of the last conclusions made sense, but that cliff hanger…! Hoping there is another book!

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DCI Kate Young continues her pursuit of the consortium - a network of corrupt officers operating in secret - in a riveting novel. The events of the first four books have pushed Kate to her limits, her psychological state poor as she doesn't know who to trust. Acting alone she chases down several loose ends, hoping that one will lead her to the truth.

The action packed novel also sees Emma Donaldson promoted to acting DI and leading her new team when a women's body is discovered. Links to several other crimes give plenty of potential suspects, but can she solve the case? And her relationship with Morgan Meredith is rocky, giving her troubles at home.

There's so much going on in this novel that there simply isn't a let up from the action. But the various plot lines are skilfully developed as we more towards a conclusion. A Soul For A Soul provides a fitting conclusion to an excellent series.

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A Soul for a Soul” by Carol Wyer is the 5th book in the DCI Kate Young series. I have only read a couple of this series but it didn’t affect me enjoyment or understanding of the plot. This is a police procedural with a little bit of an edge and although I did enjoy the novel I didn’t fully get drawn in like the previous book in the series.

DCI Kate Young is a very complex character who has issues, tormented by her past actions and is desperate to uncover corruption within the police force. Kate is plagued by her own secrets and now suffers guilt and voices in her head. Can she bring down the rest of the corrupt officers before her own secrets come out. DI Harriet Khatri is awaiting trial for the murder of Kate’s mentor and is claiming she was framed by Dickson’s syndicate. Reluctantly Kate agrees to help in the hope of finding answers. Simultaneously DI Emma Donaldson is hunting a double murderer who disables his victims with a powerful narcotic.

There is a lot going on this novel and perhaps a little too much at times, the plot is full of intrigue and suspense but I was a little fed up with the voices talking to Kate. I like the character of Kate and will certainly read more of this series but this one irritated me a little. The plot was a little over convoluted at times for me and with multiple storylines and characters to follow.

“A Soul for a Soul” has good characters and a plot full of suspense but for me just a little too much going on for one book.

I would like to thank both Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

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DCI Kate Young is trying to find the list of who is in the corrupt syndicate. She accidently killed the head of the syndicate, but two people saw her, and she has to find the one that took the photographs.
DI Emma Donaldson is hunting for a murderer who uses Scopolamine, or Devil's Breath in powder form to incapacitate his victims before robbing them.

I have to say I did enjoy the book, it was twisty and fast paced. However, I do not enjoy the 'voices' Kate hears. I do understand that the voices are in her head, and are her own thoughts, just using voices of people that are dead. I think Kate needs therapy.
Her morals are not as high as they should be, she treads on dangerous ground by not exposing the corrupt officers, which may come back to haunt her in the future. But then, we can't have our heroine going to jail, can we?
She fights corruption, but is becoming corrupt herself.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

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Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the eARC.
DCI Kate Young is still trying to root out the leftover members of the corrupt syndicate, led by her old nemesis Superintendent Dickson, who's dead at her hand. Unfortunately I found the constant voices in Kate's head and the back and forth conversations she had with them annoying, enough already...
As a result I rushed through the read to the end and will not read the next in the series if there is one.

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