I found myself glad that my kids school is mobile free while reading this book. I was wondering how they would react to a social media ban!! At times sad, the investigation explored the relationships between a group of 6th formers, with the voice of one being his diaries (for obvious reasons). There were twists to keep up the guesswork, but I didn't guess until close to the end (I had guessed part of it but not main culprit). I found this book really good, with well written characters

This is the fourth book in the Hollie Turner series and I think it’s the best of them all. It could definitely be read as a stand alone but I highly recommend the previous three books too.

Paul Teague’s writing style flows so effortlessly. He keeps your attention from start to finish and the storylines are gripping. I lost myself in each page.

I hope this isn’t the last we see of Hollie Turner and her colleagues.

This is the fourth book in the Hollie Turner series and I think it’s the best of them all. It could definitely be read as a stand alone but I highly recommend the previous three books too.

Paul Teague’s writing style flows so effortlessly. He keeps your attention from start to finish and the storylines are gripping. I lost myself in each page.

I hope this isn’t the last we see of Hollie Turner and her colleagues.

Having read the first three in the Detective Hollie Turner series, I was keen to get my hands on book four – and it did not disappoint! The author has skilfully created a tale that is both fast-paced and atmospheric, being set mainly in a school, I don’t think this was an easy task. There is a host of well-developed characters, each one being believable (even if not likeable), and the back-stories of some of the characters makes for some truly emotional reading. The plot is intricately woven and told from various points of view, which I feel builds and maintains the tension. There are numerous twists and turns, which kept me guessing – incorrectly, to the very end. All in all, this is a gripping read, and I can’t wait to see where Hollie and her team go next.

Sinister Occurences…
The fourth outing in the Detective Hollie Turner series and a murder together with the subsequent uncovering of sinister occurrences at the Crestwell Academy embroil Hollie a bizarre mystery. With a credible and well drawn cast of characters populating a propulsive plot, a well imagined backdrop and a solid mystery at its heart, this is a gripping and absorbing tale.

Interesting and intriguing contemporary thriller,based on and around a school. Plenty of drama,twists and turns. A good read.

Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant. So well written. The characters are original and distinct. They're all brought to life and are turned into actual believable humans who have so many secrets and lies. The writing style flows perfectly and is easy to get lost in. The overall plot is captivating and original with twists I didn't see coming. A very locked room thriller that keeps you guessing from the start

Detective Hollie Turner is called to the scene after a 17 year old boy is found dead inside a run-down building after skipping class. Kyle Wilson had been brutally beaten and then stabbed. Hollie starts her investigation at the school, questioning students and teachers, but it quickly becomes clear that some secrets are being hidden. Hollie works to piece together clues to find out what exactly happened to the teen boy.

This book is a good detective mystery with a great premise. I enjoyed the choice of setting, being at a high school, and how the author made the students and their actions very realistic and tie into everyday teenage life. The author touches on real-life issues that many teens go through and shines light on the darker side of things that often go unnoticed or overlooked. The premise was great, however the story felt a little boring up until the end. I felt like it lacked a lot of the action and excitement I'm used to in detective mysteries. 3.5 stars

Thank you NetGalley, Storm Publishing,  and Paul J. Teague for this ARC!

Honestly, absolutely brilliant. One of those books that you race to the end but In bittersweet style you’re also gutted that it’s finished.
The narrative expertly captures the essence of being in a school sixth form and all the trials and tribulations of being a teenager in a group of friends. The death of one of the boys is both heartbreaking and shocking and the underbelly of school life and bullying rears its very ugly head, but why are his peers not breaking their silence?
Lots of raw emotions are evoked and I became very engaged and almost involved in the story. I didn’t guess the whodunnit aspect, definitely a plus for me and the villain in the end was very much a love to hate character. I hurtled towards quite a few red herrings on my way to the end, brilliant storytelling.
I’ve read a few books by this author now and have always had a fantastic experience certainly never disappointed.

This was a very well written police procedural. It is the 4th book in the series, but can be read as a stand alone. However, I plan to go back and read the others to get more depth into the main characters.

A 6 Form student is found dead on campus. Detective Hollie Turner and her team are assigned to investigate. I like that this team works well together. There are so many mysteries where teams are fractured and sniping at one another. Hollie realizes the strengths in each of her members, and smartly utilizes these to propel the investigation forward.

This is similar to a locked room case in that everyone in the school has some involvement. And all have secrets!

The characters are well developed. Although the solution seemed to have many resolutions, I felt the one the author portrayed was well done!

I feel that this is a timely novel. Students, really everyone, has access to so many things via social media. As a mom, I went to have a social media safety chat with my kids after reading this!

But it is a great story and investigation. However, there are triggers: death of child, suicide.

I cannot wait to read the rest of the series, and look forward to the next installment.


Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC. This is my voluntary, honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley, Storm publishing and author Paul J Teague for the opportunity to review this ARC.

I was very impressed with this book. It was a fast paced page turner that I didn’t want to put down. The fact that it was so realistic and very well could happen in real life was a huge part for me.

The characters were all developed well and were very relatable. The storyline was perfect and kept my attention from the very beginning all the way to the end.

While reading the author made it feel like you were actually a part of the story. I so badly wanted to have a word with some of the characters and literally felt anger at what some of them had done.

This was my first read by this author but I’d like to go back and read the first 3 books in this series. It was well done as a stand alone book though.

5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

First of all I want to thank NetGalley, Storm Publishing and of course Paul J. Teague for allowing me to read the ARC of "The Killing Circle" in exchange for an honest review.

Bein a rather new ARC reader on NetGalley, I got fairly attached to Storm Publishing and the authors they represent, since they have never failed me and Paul . Teague did not fail me either. The Killing Circle was my first book that I have read by his feather, and in spite of this being the fourth book from the Hollie Turner series, it did not left me missing anything vital from the previous books, something I appreciate a lot --- however, it left me yearning to read MORE about Hollie and from Teague:

The book is circling around a murder happening at a school where a student, Kyle, is found dead. The murder scene being a school makes it already difficult, seeing as there are plenty of people and to find evidence might become tricky, but adding to that is a hint of malice towards the police and a lot of secrets from the students themselves.

The several POV's did rather quickly expose that not everything is as it seems and many leads have been fruitful and yet a dead end at the same time. With the students not being a big help yet clearly hiding something, the case becomes more and more complicated by the hour, a web of bullying, drama and inappropriate connections eloping in real time as you flip the page.

HOWEVER, not even I did see the plot twist coming.

If you are a fan of Mark Edwards you WILL find yourself warming up to Teague so quick.

This was another winner in the Detective Hollie Turner series, it had that element that I enjoyed from the previous three books. It uses the thriller element in a way that I was hoping for and enjoyed how good everything worked in this story. It left me wanting to read more in this world and from the author.

Thank you for the opportunity to preview The Killing circle.
This is a startling story. Opens with a killing of a young boy. How can this happen especially when it happens at a school.
The police are stunned at the brutality and violence and they are baffled by who can commit such a crime
But there is a force out there and they are not done. The police can’t stop this but maybe one can and she herself won’t stop she solves the crimes of death.
3 stars

This book has you on the edge of your seat the entire time! The Killing Circle takes you on an emotional rollercoaster to figure out who killed this young boy and makes you feel like you’re the one working the case. I could not put this thriller book down.

Oh my oh my oh my, I love the Detective Hollie Turner Series by Paul Teague especially after reading the last 3 books. These books are just fast paced with lots of twists and plots leaving me on the edge of my seat

A 17yr old is found dead at school and Hollie and her team are out there investigating and a great job done too

I can’t wait for more in these series!

Thank you to Netgalley and Storm Publishing

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and author for an arc of 'The Killing Circle'. This is the 4th in the Detective Hollie Turner series that I've read and in my mind the best one so far. A 17 year old boy is found dead in school and Hollie and her team need to find the killer fast. It's a fast paced, exciting thriller with a bang up to date plot (sadly only too topical) that will keep you guessing. A definite 5 star read!

An enjoyable read. A lot of twists and turns. If I have any criticism I think perhaps one twist and turn too many. Nevertheless, the characters are good, the plot is interesting and entertaining. Would recommend.

"The Killing Circle" by Paul J. Teague is an exhilarating and captivating thriller that delves into the dark side of human nature and the quest for justice.

Teague masterfully crafts a narrative that is both fast-paced and richly atmospheric. From the very first page, the reader is drawn into a web of suspense and intrigue that doesn't let up. The plot is intricately woven, with numerous twists and turns that keep the reader guessing until the very end. Each chapter builds on the tension, making it nearly impossible to put the book down.

One of the novel’s strongest points is its well-developed characters. Teague excels in creating characters that are not only believable but also evoke a range of emotions from the reader.

The writing style is crisp and engaging, with vivid descriptions that bring scenes to life without bogging down the pace. Teague’s ability to balance action with character development and ethical dilemmas makes this book a standout in the thriller genre. The moral questions raised by the character’s’ actions add a layer of thought-provoking complexity that elevates the story beyond a simple action-packed thriller.

In conclusion, "The Killing Circle" by Paul J. Teague is a riveting read that will appeal to fans of suspenseful and thought-provoking thrillers. With its well-drawn characters, gripping plot, and ethical depth, it is a book that lingers in the mind long after the final page. This novel earns a well-deserved 4.5 stars rounded UP for its ability to thrill, entertain, and provoke contemplation.

Thank you to Paul J. Teague, Storm Publishing, and NetGalley for an arc of this novel in exchange for my honest opinion.

I thoroughly enjoyed this police procedural novel. Kyle Wilson, a seventeen-year-old student, is found lying in a fetal position in an abandoned outbuilding on the grounds of Crestwell Academy. He had been brutally beaten and stabbed in the neck with a sharp instrument. Detective Hollie Turner and her team comes on the scene to investigate. There are many characters in this novel from the Detective, her entire team, parents of the school, and a host of teenagers. Through her investigation, Detective Turner finds that Kyle was secretly filming his peers and as a result has been the victim of school bullying. Once another student's life is threatened, Hollie is determined to stop at nothing to solve this crime once and for all before anyone else gets hurt, but risking her own life in the process. Each character is well developed and intriguing. The journal entries from the victim gave great insight to his frame of mind. Overall this was a well-written novel that sheds light on the dangers of social media and technology and how easy it is to get around parental controls, as well as the increased prevalence of bullying in schools and the deadly consequences it can have. This was an intense and fast paced book that made it very difficult to put down with its red-herrings and twists, that I really didn't see coming. I haven't read a book with such a strong female lead in quite some time, but Detective Hollie Turner did the trick. The ending had a satisfying conclusion and it made me want to read more from this author. Publishes June 14, 2024.