The Spike is the fourth installment in Matthew Iden’s popular Marty Singer series. Marty was a homicide detective for DCPD for 30 years before retiring after getting cancer. In this novel, Marty witnesses the murder of a business woman as she is pushed off a platform onto the tracks of an oncoming subway. Singer chases the murderer, but loses him, and is subsequently hired by the woman’s family to find the murderer.

Anyone who has read the previous novels in this series will be familiar with the characters who are developed enough that they appear real to readers. However, there is enough information and background that it isn’t absolutely necessary to read the previous ones in order to understand this one. Iden is an excellent story teller, and his novels, including this one, are well-written. There is underlying humor throughout the novel, as well as escalating suspense that will hold readers’ interest.

Although the main story focuses on the subway murder, there are a couple of other sub-plots which add to the novel: Marty’s cancer check-up which scares him, Julie, a character from a previous novel whom he had a relationship with and found she was a bad guy, is volunteering at the shelter where Marty’s adopted daughter, Amanda, works, and a disgruntled abuser who is stalking one of the residents of the shelter.

Fans of Marty Singer will want to pick up this novel and will agree that it is a great thriller and difficult to put down.

Special thanks to NetGalley for supplying a review copy of this book.

The spike by Mathew Iden is a mystery and thriller and general fiction (adult) read.
Retired DC homicide cop Marty Singer witnesses a horrific murder and the family of the victim hires him to find the killer.
But when he peels back the cover on the case, Marty discovers a rotten core of corruption, graft, and violence that runs from the lowest city street to the top of the political food chain. The only way to catch the killer is to dive right in—and stay alive long enough to find out who or what is The Spike.
This was a really good read with good characters. I liked the story too. 4*. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book from netgalley.