Outstanding… Cross, herself a forensic psychologist, plays fair with the reader right up to the surprising conclusion Publishers Weekly Starred Review of Cold, Cold Heart Introducing criminologist Will Traynor in the first of a gripping new forensic mystery series from an expert in the field. When a headless body is discovered on a popular jogging trail, Detective Inspector Bernard Watts and … jogging trail, Detective Inspector Bernard Watts and his team are plunged headlong into a baffling murder investigation. Why would someone stab to death a young woman on her daily run – and take her head?
When a close examination of the crime scene results in a shocking discovery linking the present murder to a past crime, criminologist Will Traynor is brought in to assist the police. Aware of Traynor’s troubled past and already having to deal with inexperienced rookie PC Chloe Judd on his team, Watts is sceptical that Traynor will bring anything useful to the investigation.
He’s about to be proved very wrong …
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“Dark Truths” by A.J. Cross is book one in the new “Will Traynor Forensic Mysteries” series. The story opens with a precise detailed investigation that sets the tone for the no-nonsense investigation that follows. However, it turns out that nothing is business as usual in this police department or in this case. Police department politics, community interest, interpersonal relationships, family dynamics, and the pressure of the case all influence the investigation
Cross introduces “supporting” characters so readers get to know them before introducing the title character with some fanfare and controversy. William Traynor, an expert criminologist, has been diagnosed with severe post-traumatic stress following his wife’s murder. He is the antitheist of what readers usually find in police procedure book, so he adds controversy and tension to the traditional mix of characters.
The narrative expertly balances the pursuit of a criminal with the every day activities of participants. This adds realism to the story and helps readers understand that the characters are ordinary, regular people; and one must not forget the cat whose snoring makes sleep impossible. Conversations are casual, friendly, and professional. Events proceed in an orderly fashion, and the pace is steady and documented by dates on chapter headings. Details are revealed little by little as clues gradually emerge. More victims are found to complicate the investigation. Just when readers think things are just going along on schedule, something unexpected is thrown into the mix.
Cross developed a focused, precise, planned investigation, and yet within it, skillfully placed a surprise. I received a review copy of “Dark Truths” from A.J. Cross and Severn House Publishers. The characters are complex, and the narrative is compelling. This is the start of what should be a great series.
DARK TRUTHS (A Will Traynor Forensic Mystery Book #1) by A.J. Cross is the first book in a new series with criminologist Will Traynor. This book is a police procedural/mystery/thriller mash-up that takes the reader through a step-by-step investigation of a horrific murder.
DI Bernard Watts is assigned the case of a female body found on a jogging trail stabbed several times in the chest without a head. As he walks the scene with the new rookie, PC Chloe Judd they discover a skull without a body which does not belong to the body on the trail. The body is recent, but the skull is at least a decade old.
With the possibility of a serial killer, Watt’s boss informs him that criminologist Will Traynor will be joining his team, but Watt knows of Traynor’s troubled past and is not happy with this decision.
Will Watt be able to keep his inexperienced and brash rookie in line and learn to trust Traynor’s theories to bring a successful conclusion to this present murder which seems to be tied to several missing persons from the past?
I really enjoyed all the characters introduced in this book: the experienced detective, the abrasive rookie, the intelligent and kind pathologist and the criminologist with a tragic past. They all worked together well in the story to bring the clues and plot twists to a satisfying conclusion in the past and present mysteries. My problem was that DI Bernard Watts was more of a lead character than Will Traynor, who the book and new series is supposed to feature. This fact does not detract from the story itself; it just does not lead where I thought it would. I am looking forward to a return of all these characters in the future.
Overall, a strong investigative story to begin the series, but I will be looking for more of a lead role from Will Traynor in future books.
I have to say … I really enjoyed this one. I had to start it over once … had a hard time getting into it and lost track of where I was but then …. it just took off. Really enjoyed the mystery.
Looking forward to the next in the series and watching the relationships between the characters grow.
Thank you #netgalley and #severnhouse for the eARC.
It starts with a headless body.. not something that DI Bernard Watts and his team see everyday. The victim was doing her daily run along a well used jogging trail when she was stabbed to death and the killer took her head with him.
That’s troubling enough, but while doing a ground search, they don’t find the victim’s head…but they do come across other heads … linking the present crime to a past crime.
Determining that the crimes were all committed by the same man over a period of years, it becomes imperative that the skulls are all identified …. and finding what links them all together.
Watts already has his hands full with a new rookie detective … one who is young, brash, outspoken, but determined. She’s right where she wants to be … for the moment. Watts and PC Chloe Judd butt heads, and although Watts is dubious that Judd will be much help, he’s determined to do his best by her.
Added to the turmoil, the big boss has informed Watts that criminologist Will Traynor will be joining their team. But Traynor may not be the expert that he once was. His wife was brutally murdered years ago and her body never found. Mentally, he’s never let go of the idea that she might still be alive. Unfortunately for Watts, his investigation comes second to Traynor’s personal problems.
There are many suspects, both past and present, and watching how this team goes about investigating is full of twists and turns … a few surprises along the way. Forensics, as the title implies, plays a huge part of the story. However, Will Traynor is more a secondary character, while Watts and Judd takes center stage.
I enjoyed how the characters related to each other, and I really look forward to seeing more of Watts and Judd. Traynor was okay as a character, but I’m hoping his story is more developed in the upcoming series.
As a bonus, this author has a history of over 20 years experience as a forensic psychologist. She brings a lot of credibility to her storytelling.
Many thanks to the author / Severn House Publishers / Canongate / Black Thorn / Netgalley /for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
Everything Seems To Be Stacked Against DI Watts Solving This Case
The novel opens with an amorous couple on a remote trail decides to leave when they believe that someone is watching. The next morning a body of a young woman was discovered in the parking lot of that trail. The acting Chief Inspector Brophy appoints Detective Inspector Watts as the senior investigative officer. For the past five years or so, DI Watts headed the now defunct cold case unit. Due to the lack of available officers, Brophy assigns Police Constable Chloe Judd, a young inexperienced officer, to assist Watts. Once at the scene, the body already is being processed by pathologist Connie Chong. Watts and Chloe learned that the victim was stabbed and decapitated post mortem, and the head is missing. There is a blood trail leading off into a field. Soon a partially buried skull is found in the field. The skull was identified as a woman who disappeared ten years earlier. Brophy now arranges for criminologist Dr. Traynor to assist Watts. Watts and Dr. Traynor have a troubled history. The novel takes are off from here.
The main storyline quickly escalates in complexity with more victims and sparse leads. The pressure to solve the case from Brophy escalates just as fast. Young Judd’s inexperience causes multiple problems. Lastly, Dr. Traynor’s search for his dead wife’s body keeps him focused on tying her death into this investigation.
As expected for the first novel in series, the B-storyline is extensive, rich, and well integrated into the main story line. For all of the major characters, Watts, Judd, Chong, and Traynor, the reader learns their history and how they have arrived at this point in their lives. Also, the interactions between them reveal much into each’s unique personality. I really felt I knew these characters and could empathize with them and their situations. The novel secured my attention and kept it throughout the novel.
There less than ten instances of vulgar language in this novel. There are not any sex scenes. The few scenes involving violence do not emphasize the violence. One scene is gory but quickly described. Based on this there should not be anything objectionable for a reader from these areas. Now, the setting of this novel is in central England. There is use of much British informal language. I used the embedded dictionary in my e-reader quite often. For some words even the dictionary was found lacking. Easy access to the Internet provided understanding of those words.
I enjoyed reading this novel, and it secured my attention but not as strongly because of the main storyline complexity was a step above most police procedurals I have read. This may result in the reader needing to pay a little more attention. The series is titled as A Will Traynor Forensic Mystery. To me Traynor was a supporting character in the novel. These issues were the worst aspects of the novel for me. I enjoyed the extensive in intertwined B-storylines that made the characters very real for me. Lastly, I liked the last two paragraphs of the novel, a real nice touch. Based upon my experience, I rate this novel with four stars. I am eagerly waiting for the next novel in this series. I believe that you will have same experience after reading it.
I have received a free kindle version of this novel through NetGalley from Severn House with an expectation for an honest, unbiased review. I wish to thank Severn House for the opportunity to read this novel early.