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Author: Ross GreenwoodFormat reviewed: EbookSource: NetgalleyPublisher: Boldwood BooksPublication Date: 12th September 2022Rating: 5 Stars
The Santa Killer is coming to town…
One night less than two weeks before Christmas, a single mother is violently assaulted. It’s a brutal crime at the time of year when there should be goodwill to all. When DI Barton begins his investigation, he’s surprised to find the victim is a woman with nothing to hide and no reason for anyone to hurt her.
A few days later, the mother of the woman attacked rings the police station. Her granddaughter has drawn a shocking picture. It seems she was looking out of the window when her mother was attacked. And when her grandmother asks the young girl who the person with the weapon is, she whispers two words.
Bad Santa.
The rumours start spreading, and none of the city’s women feel safe - which one of them will be next?
He’s got a list. It’s quite precise. It won’t matter even if you’re nice.
Ross Greenwood is back with his bestselling series, perfect for fans of Mark Billingham and Ian Rankin.
You better watch out
You better not cry
Cos Santa Claus is coming to town
Only he is bad, so perhaps you better be afraid!
First let me start by saying I'm rather pleased that no Santa's were killed during this book, which was my fear from the title, but the blurb mentions bad Santa, so I'm fairly sure I'm not spoiling anything by stating this.
I was aware going into this book that it was book 6 in a series, but given I can never resist a Christmas sounding book, be it romance or thriller, I definitely wasn't going to pass up the chance to read it.
It easily works as a standalone to the extend that I'm a bit gutted its the last in the series, as I would have been happy to carry on reading more DI Barton books.
We are treated to chapters from the killer's point of view in addition to DI Barton and some of the victims.
I love it when you are able to get inside the head of a bad guy.
I also really enjoyed seeing not only how DI Barton tried to solve the case, but also his compassionate side too. There is one family in particular that is featured that will stick with me long after finishing this book, just for the situation they are in, which could be far more common than we like to think with the way the country is going currently.
Those sections are written tactfully and it's good that these sorts of issues are brought into fiction and to a wider audience.
This novel had me coming up with some varying theories but none correct and I had to keep on reading to discover the resolution.
I really enjoyed this book and look forward to hearing more about the author's new series in the future.
Thank you to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
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