So we've reached the end of our Russ Thomas #blogathon. And that's because the brand new shiny Adam Tyler book, Sleeping Dogs, is out today! I've been lucky enough to get a sneak peak at it and my review is below. Many thanks to Tracy Fenton for inviting me on the tour and to the publisher for my review copy.
The Blurb
THE LIES OF THE PAST . . .
When an anonymous tip lands on his desk, DS Adam Tyler is intrigued in spite of himself. The disappearance of a young mother twenty-four years ago was big news, but the case was never solved – this tantalizing new lead is something he simply can’t ignore. But the letter has set in motion a dangerous chain of events, and Tyler’s search for the truth soon leaves him fighting for his life.
. . . LIVE IN THE PRESENT
With Tyler out of action, DC Mina Rabbani must step up to lead the Cold Case Review Unit in his absence, retracing Tyler’s steps and uncovering his secrets to figure out what he was working on. But as she begins to put the pieces together, the case starts to hit frighteningly close to home. Without DS Tyler to protect her, Mina realises that now she’s the one with hard choices to make.
And this time she’s on her own.
My Review
This is the fourth, and latest, outing for DS Tyler and I'm thoroughly enjoying this series. In case you missed them, you can read my res of the previous three - Firewatching, Nighthawking and Cold Reckoning on the blog. You could enjoy Sleeping Dogs perfectly well as a standalone but,as with any series, you will get a richer, rounder reading experience starting at he beginning.
An unusual letter lands on the desk of DS Adam Tyler, head of the Cold Case Review Unit. It seems to reference an unsolved kidnapping 24 years previously, and mentions an old criminal. Adam follows the obvious leads, gets nowhere, and puts the file to one side to focus on the next case. Except he can't. Something keeps pulling him back to the letter. He tells nobody but begins to look into things more deeply, and heads down a rabbit hole, closing himself off from colleagues and his new partner, Scott. When he's put out of action, Mina must step into his shoes to run the CCRU, but she can't resist investigating what happened to Adam. What she finds is shocking and uncomfortable for her...
I think this one is probably my favourite of the series so far. It's told over three timelines - there are a few chapters set twenty four years ago, some leading up to now from six months ago, and the main timeline set in the present. It's a great story, starting with an unsolved kidnapping which Adam becomes pretty obsessed with. He's not the most open, friendly guy at the best of times but when he gets obsessed like this he pushed people away. Which is particularly not great when your embarking on a new relationship! Scott is very patient and understanding but even he has his limits...
It's great to see a couple of returning characters from previous books, whose storylines I had thought to be over, but it's lovely to see Diane and Susan back. I don't think I've mentioned Jim Doggett in my previous reviews but he's a constant in all four books. He strikes me as an old school copper, and he's not the most PC guy around, but beneath his gruff exterior he's a decent guy and always has Adam and Mina's backs. I have a real fondness for him. But this story belongs to Mina. She's been my favourite character since the first book and in Sleeping Dogs we really see how much she's come on. She has to confront some really difficult stuff and she handles things really well. We also see what she really thinks of Adam. I loved that she featured so strongly in this storyline.
I haven't said much about the actual plot because I don't want to give anything away. But it's enjoyable and satisfyingly complex. Thomas has weaved everything together brilliantly, the timelines come together and it all works. Sleeping Dogs is a well written, character based (my favourite type) of thriller. Plenty of mystery, tension and jeopardy. Another great addition to the series and I'm already looking forward to the next one!
The Author
Russ Thomas grew up in the 80s reading anything he could get his hands on, writing stories, watching television, and playing videogames: in short, anything that avoided the Great Outdoors. After a few 'proper' jobs, he discovered the joys of bookselling, where he could talk to people about books all day. Now a full-time writer, he also teaches creative writing classes and mentors new authors.
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