There’s a killer inside all of us…
After an elite criminal profiling unit is shut down amidst a storm of scandal and mismanagement, only one person emerges unscathed. Forensic psychologist Doctor Alexander Gregory has a reputation for being able to step inside the darkest minds to uncover whatever secrets lie hidden there and, soon enough, he finds himself drawn into the murky world of murder investigation.
In the beautiful hills of County Mayo, Ireland, a killer is on the loose. Panic has a stranglehold on its rural community and the Garda are running out of time. Gregory has sworn to follow a quiet life but, when the call comes, can he refuse to help their desperate search for justice?
Murder and mystery are peppered with dark humour in this fast-paced thriller set amidst the spectacular Irish landscape.
Review: I am a big fan of the DCI Ryan Mysteries series by this author and so was keen to read the first of this new series she has begun. Once again, the books deal with crime, but the central character here, Dr Alexander Gregory, is a forensic psychologist rather than a policeman. It is mentioned in the text that he has met DCI Ryan previously, giving us a nice link between the characters.
In this story, Dr Gregory is asked to travel to County Mayo in Ireland to assist in a case that is puzzling the local Garda. He has a reputation as a criminal profiler, but a previous case that ended badly has made him reticent to use his skills in that area. However, the mayor of a small Irish town believes that Alex might just be able to help solve the murder of a local woman. Somewhat reluctantly, he sets about examining the circumstances of the crime, becoming even more determined to identify the perpetrator when another local woman becomes a second victim. Little does he know what he will uncover in this little town, or what a perilous climax will result.
I have very much enjoyed this skilfully written thriller. As we accompany Alex on his quest to get inside this killer’s head, we also learn something of his own past and motivation in following his chosen occupation. LJ Ross, as usual, has provided her characters with lots of clues and dead ends, and I’m sure I won’t be the only reader who had no idea of the identity of the murderer. This is a really satisfying read and a good introduction to this new character. I look forward to reading book 2 in this series.
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