Five Things I See completely won me over.

The early chapters left me unsure about the book, as there was so much background information being introduced before I really understood why I needed it that the story initially felt slower and more confusing than it needed to be. Once I got past that initial hurdle, though, I found myself getting more and more drawn into what was unfolding, and the story developed into a gripping and satisfyingly complex crime thriller.

There is a lot going on in this book, with two separate investigations gradually widening as the team uncover connections that bring the city and its politics into the frame, adding another layer to these already complicated investigations. There are many unanswered questions, plenty of people with something to hide, and enough threads to keep me intrigued.

One element I particularly enjoyed was the italicised snippets of conversation at the beginning of each chapter. At first I had absolutely no idea what these were about, as there was rarely much to them each time and they didn't appear to fit with the investigations. They became a little mystery of their own, and I found myself watching for clues and forming my own suspicions with each instalment. I felt the reveal came at just the right point in the story. It was a clever thread to weave through the main investigation and one I genuinely enjoyed following.

My only reservation was the amount of background information given so early in the book. However, I completely understand why, as the first in a new series, the author wanted to establish the wider world of the story - police team, political landscape and so on. The detail itself was useful, but there was simply a lot of it to take in at the start, and I found the opening slower than it needed to be. I did skim some of the ins and outs of the various councilmen and political goings-on, but even so, I still picked up enough to understand how everything fitted together as the story developed.

Once the investigation really got underway, though, I was hooked. There are plenty of threads to follow, and the story keeps adding new questions while gradually revealing how those threads connect. The murders are at the heart of a well-crafted mystery, and I enjoyed trying to work things out alongside the investigation. The author gives you enough to think about without making the answers obvious, and I was genuinely interested in seeing where everything would lead.

I was really happy with the way the story came together, particularly in the final stages. The various threads were brought together in a way that felt satisfying and believable, and the conclusion was a fitting end to what had been a tense and intriguing investigation. It left me genuinely curious about what comes next for Grace Hartwell, and there are already a few things I'm hoping to see explored in the next book.

Wendy Church has written a really good thriller here, packed with mystery, intrigue and plenty to keep you thinking. Despite a slower and more information-heavy beginning than I would have liked, Five Things I See ultimately delivered a thoroughly enjoyable crime thriller and a very satisfying start to a new series.