Two murders. Twenty years. Now the killer is back for more… dead body is discovered, and the investigation leads back to Matilda’s case. Suddenly the past and present converge, and it seems a killer may have come back for more…
A darkly compelling debut crime novel, this is the start of a brilliant series, perfect for fans of Louise Penny and Val McDermid.
Praise for Michael Wood:
‘Crackling dialogue, dark wit and an exciting ending’ Mark Edwards
‘DCI Matilda Darke is going places’ James Oswald
‘I really enjoyed getting to know DCI Matilda Darke’ Robert Bryndza
‘A beautifully written book with a dark heart and a secret that impacts on generations’ Sarah Ward
‘A skilfully crafted and compelling debut that hooks from the off and will keep you guessing until the final page’ M.R. Hall
‘Gripping, sad and unexpected’ Alex Marwood
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Absolutely loved this book. First time read one of Michael Wood’s books and in future will definitely follow. A book that’s hard to put down and keeps you thinking who the murderer is. Thanks for the read
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This is the first book I’ve read by Michael Wood and it definitely won’t be the last. But it didn’t start out that way.
Inwardly I groaned when I discovered yet another lead detective recovering from a personal trauma. But unlike the others, Matilda Darke’s trauma wasn’t overplayed or thrust at me at every opportunity. The trauma lurked in the background, revealed a little at a time, allowing the story to unfold without distraction.
And what a terrific story it was, populated by characters I could engage with and root for as they struggled to make sense of a brutal unsolved murder from the past and another from the present. The intrigue and suspense deepened as the plot twisted and turned, testing DCI Darke as she doubted her ability to solve the crime.
And her rival for her old job didn’t make life any easier, adding to the struggle and conflict.
This is a well-written, skilfully plotted story that grabbed me early and didn’t let go till the final, gripping climax.
I would heartily recommend this novel and immediately bought the second in the series.
Great characters who are believable, great writing setting the scenes, and good twists to the story. This was the first book I read of the DCI Matilda Darke series and I am currently working through the rest. Can’t wait for the upcoming release of Wood’s latest DCI Matilda Darke book!
New series, I hope. Matilda was the head of the homicide squad till a kidnapping gone wrong and the death of her husband. Well, she’s taken therapy, is on pills, and is taking the steps to return to work.
At work, her office is now under Ben Hales and he has no intention of giving it back. Matilda finds herself in a tiny office with Rory ,as her subordinate, in charge of cold cases.
The first case is a 20 year old horrific murder of parents leaving an eleven year old boy mute and his older brither missing.
As Matilda struggles to stay sober and not feel sorry for herself, she becomes interested in the case. The house of the murder victims is being torn down tomorrow.
You meet her best friend Adele and Sian, Faith and Aaron, all people she knows from work as a cop. And then there is Ben trying to find a case to prove his worth and position.
Jonathan was and is a quiet withdrawn boy/man and lives in an apt surrounded by his books. He decides to take time off from working in a bookstore to see his house torn down. And the speed and mystery pick up as questions like where was Matthew during the stabbings of his parents, where is the weapon, and does Jonathan know who killed his parents?
Tension mounts, sympathy towards Jonathan builds, and questions are still unanswered. This is a great “who done it” and you’ll sit there trying to figure out just what happened over twenty years ago. You’ll meet Jonathan’s boss Stephen, his neighbor Maun, Matilda’s therapist and pick up tips for dealing with anxiety. And keep picturing the murder scene for clues as to who and why. Solid plot!! Can’t wait to see another book with this cast of characters.
A fair read…too drawn out and boring! Could have left out 1/3 of this book and it would have been better.
I find it hard to really like this book. There is nothing happy about it. It is original and compelling to read, but I don’t feel better for having read it. Weird
Great book.
I liked the addition of sentences written in the French language from time to time.
I enjoyed the book, relaxing read. Read the next two follow-ups and will no doubt continue. The character of Maggie annoyed me sometimes, but not enough to put the book aside.
This is the first DCI Matilda Darke book of 3 written so far. I love a good British police procedural and this one was hard to put down!!! Such a good story with characters I could really get into and care about. I immediately ordered the next 2 books and have just started the 3rd. Can’t wait for more!!!
This is book is a good read on many levels. The author was able to understand each character and feel their hopes and fears. The author keeps you wondering who did it until the very end. Great book.