Synopsis:
He keeps each one floating in formaldehyde to stop them from rotting.
Each finger denotes a victim, tortured and butchered, their heart ripped out
and discarded, replaced instead by symbols of their treachery. He sits alone
admiring his trophies weekly; each and every one of them guilty in his eyes.
And now more must pay.
But who or what links the victims?
DC 'Charlie' Stafford is already investigating a series of escalating
racist attacks and it now seems she has a vicious serial killer on her patch.
With no leads and time running out, the team at Lambeth are at near breaking
point.
Something has to give... and all the while he's watching, waiting... and
counting.
My
review:
The
Trophy Taker is a second book in the DC Charlie Stafford series and it
certainly lives up to its first instalment. It’s clever, fast pacing and keeps
you guessing until the end.
Charlie
has been through the mill in the first book and seems somehow a little more
mature in this novel. When the call comes
in about a mutilated body of a woman found displayed in a local graveyard,
Charlie is already handling a case close to her heart, a case of a local racist
junkie attacking residents of any colour different to his own skin. She gets
herself involved deep into each case she handles and makes it her own personal
job to deliver justice for the victims.
As
Charlie and her team face this new case where nothing seems to link together,
they once again prove that team work gets things done. We get little glimpses
and notes of their personal lives and the author cleverly hints at the
developing relationship between Charlie and Ben whom we have met in the first
book.
Sarah
Flint has a 35 years’ experience working as a Police Constable for the
Metropolitan Police and it shows throughout her books. From the forensic
evidence to all the members of the team and their behaviour, you can tell that
this is written with an insider’s knowledge.
I
cannot wait to see what is waiting for Charlie next. I really enjoyed both of the
books and just wish someone would pick it up for TV adaptations. It would make
a brilliant crime drama for those long winter nights.
A
massive thank you goes to the author, publisher and NetGalley for giving me
access to this.
My rating: 5/5
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