Open to Death is the first in a new series about DI Rena Hunt set in the glorious english countryside.
It starts off with a brutal murder closely followed by another. We are introduced to arena and her team as they try to solve the case.
Rena seems to be a bit of a lone wolf character (another one) who races into danger but I’ll see how the series progresses.
I did finish the book and will read the next one.
#NetGalley #OpenToDeath #SophieMatlis #DIRenaHart

this is the first in a new series and got me excited already. i loved that feeling of newness and like we are at just the start and getting to know the characters,detective and team. and we did get to do just that with DI Rena Hunt. i have a feeling shes going to have some great stories involving her and her team. ones id happily read more from.
the books starts with impact. Rena is called in to investigate a mum who's been horribly killed as she going about her day. but it doesn't stop there as days later another woman is found.
so what links the two and how can Rena come up with the killers identity before anyone else might get hurt?
there is also a new pathologist added to the mix with bring a little bit of getting used to for her and the team. not least because of the chemistry between him and Rena which is unsettling in itself.(cant wait for more of this please)
i really like how as we get to know the case we also get to know the others. this will lend itself to how we come to care about detectives and their team. they end up meaning more to you and makes you want to follow them in more books.
Rena was a brilliant lead. just what we needed. she strong and capable but she also has her own story and vulnerabilities which add depth to the stories and what we see her doing now.
this was a brilliant first book in the series and i appreciate the world that is starting to build here for us.
id love to read more from this author and this detective.

Open to Death begins with a shocking murder that DI Rena Hunt is determined to solve. I liked Rena as a strong, complex lead whose past adds depth to her character. The setting was beautifully described, especially the countryside, which contrasted well with the darker events.

That said, the pacing felt slow at times, with too many digressions and reliance on instinct rather than solid evidence. The investigation occasionally came across as predictable, and Rena’s headstrong tendency to work alone made her seem more like a lone superhero than a team player.

Overall, it was intriguing enough to keep me reading, though I wished the story was more tightly focused. Still, I’d be interested in seeing how Rena develops in the next book.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for a honest review.

This is the first book - ‘Open To Death’ I’ve read by Sophie Mattis. 📖
The story started with a mum, Sicily, who went on to do her usual housework while looking after her 10 month old daughter. She got killed in the kitchen in front of her daughter in the town of Rucklesby… 😩 That’s how DI Rena Hunt came on the scene to investigate the case and Melody (Sicily’s babysitter) was killed in same way as Sicily few days later. 🔪
Rena kept finding suspects with motives to kill both Sicily and her babysitter, Melody which kept me guessing but the ending… wow, that was unexpected!! I never thought that this person was behind all this!! 🤯

Sophie, please write more books about DI Rena Hunt and make this into series! 😍📚 And I would love to know what will happen with Rena and the forensic pathologist, Lucas Mann - would they hook up?! 🤪🫢

Thank you to Net Gallery for letting me read this ARC in exchange for my honest review. 📱♥️

This book in a new series opens with a bang but the pace soon slowed with the introduction of too many characters. It quickly became a bit repetitive, which took away from the plotline but there is plenty of room for improvement in a follow up. I like DI Hunt and I would be curious to see how her character develops in the next book, which I would definitely like to read. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

This was a new author to me and one I'm going to follow. I really enjoyed this murder mystery. Police procedurals are my favorote ones and this is a good one. There's still room for some improvement but I'm certainly willing to read more about DI Hunt and Co.
I received an advance review copy via NetGalley/Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op and I'm leaving a voluntary and honest review.

I enjoyed reading this fast paced crime mystery. It’s packed with suspense and kept me guessing right up to the final reveal of the killer.

I’m looking forward to reading the second book in DI Rena Hunt series!

This was a new writer to me and I enjoyed this book, it was a bit of a "getting to know the characters" book, but thats not a bad thing and i will look forward to reading the next one.

The story took on some twists and turns, it was a good concept and unfolded quite well.

Enjoyed the first book in the series about DI Rena Hunt. Very well written and great characterisation. Pulled me in from the first to last page. Plenty of suspense to keep me guessing. Look forward to the next instalment.

This crime novel follows DI Rena Hunt, who is called to investigate a gruesome murder after a woman is found stabbed in the heart. As the investigation unfolds, Rena finds herself navigating a maze of suspects, each with motives that keep the reader guessing until the end.

The story is packed with twists and has the kind of intrigue that makes it an easy and engaging read. While I did find the writing style a little repetitive at times, it didn’t take away from the overall suspense of the plot. If you’re looking for a straightforward crime thriller with plenty of suspects and tension, this book delivers.

I’m curious to see how the series evolves both in terms of character development and the author’s writing style. I’ll definitely be picking up the next instalment.

Thank you to NetGallery for giving me the chance to give an honest review

Open to Death starts with a sensational murder, which leads Detective Inspector Serena (Rena) Hunt to begin investigating the case. The book was slow-burning, as is the case with cozy mysteries. However, the plot development was sandwiched between the daily goings-on in the characters' lives, and the amount of time dedicated to it made many parts difficult to digest owing to the constant digression.

I thank NetGalley for allowing me to review this ARC prior to publishing. I found the cover really interesting, as well as the description. The book somehow disappoints. I cannot pinpoint the exact reasons, but it appears to be too many. Too many characters, too many digressions, and too many loose ends. The sleuthing was too predictable, and the protagonist was made to appear more like a superhero, when in reality the deduction and unravelling of the mystery was too easy for veteran readers of the crime/mystery/thriller genre.

I really wish the story was more tightly knit. The first chapter was excellent, but then the book became increasingly cumbersome as the pages turned. I did love the beautiful descriptions of the countryside, and the author painted a beautiful setting where some ghastly events occurred.

This is the first in a new series so there was a bit of getting to know the characters needed, but in places it felt repetitive and in others not enough. Rena obviously has sadness in her past, but we never really got the full circumstances behind that, so presumably that will develop in future books. The book starts with the death of Sicily Avery, murdered in front of her baby daughter, and the investigation has hardly begun when the next victim is murdered, someone with close links to Sicily. I found the investigation parts pretty basic, with lots of emphasis on gut instincts.
I would read a follow up in this series to see how it develops the regular characters and to see if the investigations go deeper.

DI Rena Hunt is called to a gruesome, seemingly senseless murder of a woman in her home.
Soon, there is another murder, with the same MO, and Rena has to find the link between the victims and the murderer.

I love a female lead, a strong female character, and Rena is definitely a strong person.
She has a sad background, and I am sure this is why she took a path in life that will help her solve crimes of the past as well.

I noticed that the murders were solved with gut feelings, more than evidence found, which is quite unusual, in my opinion. There were many suspects.
However, I found this a little slow, but intriguing. I would like to read the next book in the series. Rena is headstrong and brave, and should perhaps realise that police work in teams, rather than going into situations alone.

This was the perfect murder mystery. It gives vibes of Agatha Christie type writing while also having engaging and problematic type relationships with family and colleagues.

I thought this was well rounded and I really like DI Rena so can’t wait to follow her on her next investigation because as I’ve seen in Book 1, nothing comes easy and there’s always some kind of surprise along the way!

Open to Death by Sophie Mattis is a dark, twist-filled thriller that grabbed my attention right away. The pacing is quick, the suspense builds steadily, and the ending delivers a satisfying punch. Fans of psychological suspense and fast reads will enjoy this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a murder mystery that I couldn't solve. I had everyone guilty at some stage but how it turned out I had not predicted. I love DI Rena who is down to earth and gets the job done but she also has a human side that is affected despite this she tries not to let it get in the way of solving the case. I feel so sorry for the child involved in this case and I love how it is addressed.

Now I'm pretty sure I'll be in the minority, but I just couldnt fully engage with this book which is a huge disappointment as I love nothing more than finding a new series, having the excitement of what is to come. It definitely won't put me off the series as it's most likely a 'me, not the book' problem 😅 I'll happily read the next installment as I feel the more we get to know the characters, the more engaged I am.

In the quaint and picturesque town of Rucklesby, DI Rena Hunt is called to the scene of a local woman, found brutally murdered in her home.

Rena is still reeling from her last case, which has left her massively questioning her own instincts, something she's never had to do before.

The victim is wife and mother, Sicily Avery. Murdered in a very precise manner of a stab through the heart.

When more victims are found with the same chilling method and cruelty, and all with cryptic messages notes left on them, Rena Hunt realises they have a calculated serial killer on their hands.

I enjoyed the slow, simmering tension between Rena and the forensic pathologist, Dr Lucas Mann. It added more dimension to these new characters and to the story as a whole.

The characters were well executed and solid, I look forward to fully learning their backstories and what makes them tick.

Thanks to Netgalley and Victory Editing Netgalley Co-Op for the ARC.

Highly recommend this fast paced murder mystery. I love how all the law enforcement acronyms were explained the 1st time they were used. I felt that character building was strong and the perfect amount for the 1st book of a series. It left me wanting to read the next book to learn more about Rena and how she will handle her next case.

I will await the next book.

A well written police procedurals with a psychological twist.
This talented author has made this something a little different to the norm.
The characters and storyline are really engaging.
My thanks to netgalley and the publisher for my copy.

I love a good police procedural series, so I was very excited to be in at the start of this one, which features DI Rena Hunt. It didn’t disappoint and I will definitely be reading further books in the series.

Sicily Avery lives with her husband and young daughter in the town of Rucklesby and appears to have a worry-free life. Then Sicily’s body is found brutally murdered in her own home with a knife to her heart. DI Rena is called in to investigate and it’s clear that this isn’t a random, spur-of-the-moment killing. It’s been carefully thought out and executed.

Before long, the body of another young woman is found, and she’s been killed in the exact same way. Rena and her team need to find the killer swiftly, before anyone else is murdered.

Rena finds out that there is a new forensic pathologist, Dr Lucas Mann, and this sets the scene for a potential love interest. Just enough about the chemistry between Rena and Lucas to provide interest without spoiling the main story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for an advance reader copy in return for an honest review.