Today is my stop on the blog tour for The Soul Killer, the second book in the DI Barton series, by Ross Greenwood. Thanks to Rachel at Rachel's Random Resources for inviting me to take part and to the publisher for my review copy.
The Blurb:
‘Repent in this life, rejoice in the next…’
A murder made to look like suicide. Another that appears an accident. DI Barton investigates the tragedies that have shattered a family’s lives, but without obvious leads the case goes nowhere. Then, when the remains of a body are found, everything points to one suspect.
Barton and his team move quickly, and once the killer is behind bars, they can all breathe a sigh of relief. But death still lurks in the shadows, and no one's soul is safe. Not even those of the detectives…
How do you stop a killer that believes life is a rehearsal for eternity, and their future is worth more than your own…?
Ross Greenwood writes gritty, heart-pounding thrillers, with twists aplenty, and unforgettable endings. Perfect for fans of Mark Billingham and Stuart MacBride.
The Soul Killer was published by Boldwood Books on 7th May 2020.
Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/32oszvj
My Review:
As mentioned above, The Soul Killer is the second book in the DI Barton series from Ross Greenwood and you can read my review of the first, The Snow Killer, here. But The Soul Killer works absolutely fine as a standalone book. Events that took place in the previous book are referenced though.
The story opens with a young boy suffering a difficult childhood as a result of his mother's fervent but confused religious views. He is not shown any love or affection as a result. But, in spite of this and bullying at school, he survives and thrives, making it into university and onwards into a job where he can make a real impact.
Time jumps forward to the present day, where DI John Barton's team has changed a little following events of the previous book. And since his previous DCI retired Barton has a new boss. Christmas is approaching when Barton is asked to check out a crime scene in a neighbouring county as they have no senior officer available. He carries out all the necessary duties at the crime scene and hands the case back to that force to deal with. Back in his own manor one family lose a member in an apparent suicide and another to a tragic accident, or so it seems. Those left behind are shattered. Then a body is found in a previously neglected allotment and the death is definitely suspicious. And things get way, way more complicated from there.
As with the previous book, The Soul Killer is told from two perspectives - we get a first person peek into the mind of the killer and a third person viewpoint for Barton's police investigation. I like this structure and find it an effective device. We're able to see the killer's thinking and his justification for what he does. I like the immediacy and intimacy the first person view gives us here.
Barton is good, solid man who cares deeply for his family, his job and his colleagues. He seems happy and stable, although is clearly affected by events that happened previously. The investigation is very much a team effort with input from everyone which meant some of the more minor characters came to the fore. I enjoyed meeting DC Clavell who is on secondment to the team but he wasn't an easy fellow to warm to!
For the reader the suspect pool is narrowed fairly early on and we learn the identity of the killer about two thirds of the way through. The police, however, do not. But as he gets more ambitious and twisted the net begins to close in. The denouement is bloody and violent - it made me wince!
The Soul Killer tells a story of social exclusion, obsession and murder and is a cautionary tale of the damage that religion can cause. Greenwood has created a complex antagonist - initially I felt sympathy towards him but that changed as time went on - set against an engaging protagonist. The result is a tense, exciting and shocking thriller with a great cast of players.
As mentioned above, The Soul Killer is the second book in the DI Barton series from Ross Greenwood and you can read my review of the first, The Snow Killer, here. But The Soul Killer works absolutely fine as a standalone book. Events that took place in the previous book are referenced though.
The story opens with a young boy suffering a difficult childhood as a result of his mother's fervent but confused religious views. He is not shown any love or affection as a result. But, in spite of this and bullying at school, he survives and thrives, making it into university and onwards into a job where he can make a real impact.
Time jumps forward to the present day, where DI John Barton's team has changed a little following events of the previous book. And since his previous DCI retired Barton has a new boss. Christmas is approaching when Barton is asked to check out a crime scene in a neighbouring county as they have no senior officer available. He carries out all the necessary duties at the crime scene and hands the case back to that force to deal with. Back in his own manor one family lose a member in an apparent suicide and another to a tragic accident, or so it seems. Those left behind are shattered. Then a body is found in a previously neglected allotment and the death is definitely suspicious. And things get way, way more complicated from there.
As with the previous book, The Soul Killer is told from two perspectives - we get a first person peek into the mind of the killer and a third person viewpoint for Barton's police investigation. I like this structure and find it an effective device. We're able to see the killer's thinking and his justification for what he does. I like the immediacy and intimacy the first person view gives us here.
Barton is good, solid man who cares deeply for his family, his job and his colleagues. He seems happy and stable, although is clearly affected by events that happened previously. The investigation is very much a team effort with input from everyone which meant some of the more minor characters came to the fore. I enjoyed meeting DC Clavell who is on secondment to the team but he wasn't an easy fellow to warm to!
For the reader the suspect pool is narrowed fairly early on and we learn the identity of the killer about two thirds of the way through. The police, however, do not. But as he gets more ambitious and twisted the net begins to close in. The denouement is bloody and violent - it made me wince!
The Soul Killer tells a story of social exclusion, obsession and murder and is a cautionary tale of the damage that religion can cause. Greenwood has created a complex antagonist - initially I felt sympathy towards him but that changed as time went on - set against an engaging protagonist. The result is a tense, exciting and shocking thriller with a great cast of players.
The Author:
Ross Greenwood is the author of six crime thrillers. Before becoming a full-time writer he was most recently a prison officer and so worked everyday with murderers, rapists and thieves for four years. He lives in Peterborough.
Author Social Media Links:
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Twitter: https://twitter.com/greenwoodross
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Bookbub: http://bookbub.com/authors/ross-greenwood
Twitter: https://twitter.com/greenwoodross
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RossGreenwoodAuthor
Bookbub: http://bookbub.com/authors/ross-greenwood
Be sure to check out the other stops on the tour!
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