Hi there, it’s Nilufer—and I have a confession to make:
I’m completely and unapologetically addicted. Addicted to thrillers, yes—but more specifically, to the heart-pounding brilliance of Clare Mackintosh, and especially her utterly gripping DC Ffion Morgan series. I swear, this series has me in a chokehold in the best possible way.

With each book, Mackintosh raises the bar, but with this latest installment, she soared over it. From the very first page, I was hooked—and when I say hooked, I mean dancing-around-my-living-room, neglecting-every-responsibility kind of hooked. As soon as I got the ARC in my hands, everything else could wait. Because when you read one of the Holy Trinity of Thriller Queens—Clare Mackintosh, Lisa Jewell, and Gillian McAllister—you drop everything.

And yes, this is easily my favorite book of the series so far. Not only does Mackintosh deliver one chilling mystery… she gives us three, and masterfully interweaves them into a nail-biting, brilliantly structured plot that kept me guessing till the very last page.

🎯 Case One:
Ffion leads the investigation into the death of Natasha Brett, an estate agent whose body is found floating on a kayak in a lake after a boozy party with her coworkers. Her colleagues—Mike, Russell, and her no-nonsense boss Carole Simmons—are all under scrutiny, as well as her intensely possessive boyfriend Luke, who raised red flags long before the murder.

🎯 Case Two:
Meanwhile, Leo is pulled into a string of strange break-ins in the posh, ultra-private neighborhood known as The Hill. Nothing of value is taken—but the thief clearly knows what they’re doing, disabling alarms and leaving no trace. Leo suspects the intruder is looking for something, and he’s not going to stop until he finds it. As if that isn’t enough, Leo keeps crossing paths with his ex, Allie—who’s so desperate to be accepted by the neighborhood’s elite, she’ll do anything. Trust me: you’ll love to hate her. She’s sharp, strategic, and downright ruthless in her attempts to wedge herself between Leo and Ffion. Still, her loneliness and obsession with status make her a character you pity as much as you loathe.

🎯 Case Three:
Ffion, overwhelmed with the looming threat of losing her home and unsure how to handle her deepening relationship with Leo (who keeps asking her to move in), finds an outlet in her obsession with a true crime podcast called Without Conviction. The podcast investigates the cold case of the Carmichael couple—who were murdered in their own home, and whose case was allegedly closed by convicting the wrong man. Now, new evidence suggests that Stephanie Carmichael may have had a secret lover, and that person could be the real killer. The tension this podcast creates bleeds into Ffion’s real life in the most unexpected—and chilling—ways.

And just when you think these three threads are running parallel, Mackintosh slams them together in a climax that left me shaking. Every breadcrumb, every character, every line of dialogue was leading to this. And when it hit—I was stunned.

But beyond the mystery, what makes this book shine is the evolution of Ffion and Leo. Their chemistry is raw, real, and hilariously flawed. They bicker, they hide things from each other, they stumble—but at the heart of it, they care deeply. Watching them grow (and struggle) both as partners and as people adds so much depth to the story.

And that ending?
Let’s just say—I screamed. I jumped off the couch. I raised my fist in triumph and shouted, “HELL YEAH!” (Sorry, neighbors.) It was everything I wanted and more.

This series has me in its clutches, and I don’t want to be set free. I am as obsessed with these books as Ffion is with her true crime podcast. I’m already counting down the days until Book Four drops. Honestly, if Goodreads allowed it, I’d give this ten stars.

THANK YOU to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the incredible opportunity to read this unforgettable ARC. Clare Mackintosh, you’ve done it again—and I’m already bracing myself for the next wild ride you have in store.

I think this is the best one yet. Leo and Ffi are both investigating different cases, but soon the realize they might be connected. Plus, a ten year old murder case is making headlines again. This was well crafted and kept me guessing, which the end result came as a surprise. Things are going to be interesting in the next book. Can’t wait!

This is book 3 in a fantastic series. I feel this could also be read as a standalone.

I ripped my way through this one rather quickly. It was fast paced and thrilling. Clare mackintosh always delivers on her mystery thrillers and they make the most perfect holiday read.

Would recommend this to everyone