“One of the boldest, most inventive serial-killer thrillers since The Silence of the Lambs. . . . Perfect for fans of Jeffery Deaver and Lisa Gardner.”— A. J. Finn, #1 New York Times bestselling author A propulsive debut suspense novel, filled with secrets, nerve-jangling tension, perplexing mystery, and cold-blooded murder, in which a police officer on the hunt for a macabre serial killer is … police officer on the hunt for a macabre serial killer is brutally attacked, and only his partner knows the truth about what happened—and who did it.
After months of hunting a ruthless murderer dubbed the Thorn Killer, Detective Greg Carver is shot in his own home. His trusted partner, Ruth Lake, is alone with him. Yet instead of calling for help, she rearranges the crime scene and wipes the room clean of prints.
But Carver isn’t dead.
Awakening in the hospital, Carver has no memory of being shot, but is certain that his assailant is the Thorn Killer. Though there’s no evidence to support his claim, Carver insists the attack is an attempt to scare the detective off the psychopath’s scent. Trapped in a hospital bed, Carver’s obsession grows. He’s desperate to get back to work and finally nail the bastard, before more innocent blood is spilled.
One person knows the truth and she’s not talking. She’s also now leading the Thorn Killer investigation while Carver recuperates. It doesn’t matter that more victims’ lives are at stake. Ruth is keeping a deadly secret, and she’ll cross every line to keep it from surfacing.
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One of the boldest, most inventive serial-killer thrillers since The Silence of the Lambs. Packed with forensic detail, anchored by a protagonist as complicated as she is compelling, this ferocious novel is perfect for fans of Jeffery Deaver and Lisa Gardner.
Compelling, clever. Packed with macabre and fascinating forensic details. A stunning debut.
A taut and compelling thriller, as sharp as the thorns that feature in the plot.
What a great new series with Detectives Greg Carver and Ruth Lake !
Lots of twists and turns ; I was looking suspiciously at everyone at one point !
Who is The Thorn Killer ??
I am so looking forward to reading the second book in the series: The Cutting Room.
A great read !
It’s not really a light read- it’s about a serial killer who marks their victims with tattoos using a thorn and poison…
I liked it and found it to be a page turner. Definitely a police procedural and taught me a few things about reading people.
Lots of twists and turns.
I didn’t expect the ending.
Fast paced, keep you on your toes read. I would recommend this book.
This book was good. The characters lacked connection through most of the book and there were a lot of unfinished thoughts. The ending was a little predictable.
An interesting who-done-it with some different nuances.
Believable from medical, police & human levels.
Made me pick up some Margaret Murphy books.
Good twists and suspense.
Brilliantly constructed, hauntingly described serial killer tale.
Good whodunit. I didn’t figure it out early, which is not typical for me.
This book dragged a bit, but the ending was excellent. A little easy to figure out the killer, but not till closer to the end. I liked the characters for the most part.
First Sentence: A woman stands in the middle of Detective Chief Inspector Greg Carver’s sitting room.
Detective Greg Carter has been shot and critically wounded in his own home leaving him hospitalized and with amnesia. Fearing it may have been a suicide attempt, his friend and colleague, rearranges the scene and wipes it of fingerprints. But was it? Or was Carver shot by the target of months of investigation; the Thorn Killer, who kidnaps and tattoos women with a poisonous ink causing them to die slowly and in great pain. While Carver is fighting to recover, Ruth violates every rule while searching for the killer.
What an interesting approach. One may believe the shooter is obvious, but are they right? Then there is the aspect of our knowing the thoughts of the Thorn Killer. Dyer, the pen name for the writing team of Margaret Murphy and Helen Pepper, provides an excellent way of presenting a lot of questions and compels one to continue reading in order to know the answers.
There are wonderful lines which can make one smile. It’s hard not to enjoy the reference to “The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes” and Ruth’s remembering “Singularity is almost invariably a clue.” Dyer leaves one wondering when she takes one down a new path. The introduction of a third internal voice is neatly done.
The author covers the forensic information well. She explains it in terms that are easily understood but not patronizing. The consideration given to the toxicologist is a very nice touch. It is also a good reminder as to which garden plants are best avoided.
In a way, one can’t help but be relieved when a truth is revealed. Still, it adds a new set of questions. Dyer is very good at keeping the reader off balance. However, that she has given each of the protagonists a special ability is a bit contrived, but both abilities do exist and are real.
Dyer addresses the issue faced by women today—”Maybe she should have been more conciliatory, but sleepless nights and the daily graft involved in presenting an armor-plated front to the alpha males who would have her job given the chance wearied her beyond exhaustion.” At the same time, Dyer doesn’t dwell on it or beat the issue of sexism to death.
As an American, it is very interesting reading the details of the 1997 UK amendment to the Firearms Act which banned all automatic weapons as well as handguns smaller than 60 centimeters. Dyer also goes into detail about cognitive interviewing. The information provides reference and insight fascinating and is done in such a way that it doesn’t bog down the plot.
When the suspense kicks in, it comes on fast. It is gripping and moves one to the edge of one’s seat. There is not stopping now, and it all builds to a very well-done climax.
“Splinter in the Blood” is an extremely good debut with well-done details and a cracking ending.
SPLINTER IN THE BLOOD (Pol Proc-DS Ruth Lake/Det. Greg Carver-England-Contemp) – G+
Dyer, Ashley – 1st book
Wm. Morrow – July 2018
Just WOW! What a story! What a ride! This debut novel blew me away! Hopefully this is only the first in a long series.
Detective Greg Carver is on the trail of a serial killer … The Thorn Killer. This killer grabs woman and spends days and days tattooing their bodies with a thorn, filled with poison. So far there have been 5 victims with no evident connection.
Detective Greg Carver is shot in his own home. His trusted partner, Detective Ruth Lake, is alone with him. Yet instead of calling for help, she’s rearranged the crime scene and wiped the room clean. She’s also removed the gun she finds next to him.
But Carver isn’t dead.
Upon awakening in the hospital, Carver can’t remember what happened. He has a vague memory of Ruth standing over him with a gun. Did she shoot him?
One person knows the truth and she’s not telling. She’s also now leading the Thorn Killer investigation while Carver recuperates. Ruth is keeping a deadly secret, and she’ll cross every line—sacrificing her colleagues, her career, and maybe even her own life—to keep it from surfacing.
I was hooked from the very first page …. drew me in like a magnet. There are so many elements to this story.. some professional, some personal. I loved the characters. The interaction between Carver and Lake runs the gamut of emotions .. .anger, sadness, and when they start lying to each other, you have to wonder if the friendship they have will survive.
There are several secondary characters that I really hope return in a future book. I would love to know their back stories.
The suspense starts on page 1 and never lets up. There are many twists and turns and surprises around every corner. The ending was so unexpected and explosive … I never saw it coming.
Many thanks to the author / William Morrow / Edelweiss for the advanced digital copy of this fantastic crime fiction. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.