Digital Reads Reviews

Many thanks to Tracy Fenton and Compulsive Readers for my spot on this Blog Tour.

A hard gritty story which had me reading it late into the night in spite of wanting to take a break.

The story was complex and quite confusing in the beginning. I had to slowly piece it as I turned the pages. A broken cop Matt in turmoil about a lost teen in 1999 when a skeleton of a young girl was found in mangroves with hands and head missing. The story went on to show his 20 year career where he saw every crime against women and no justice, including the death of his colleagues. He left the force but was called back when new evidence was revealed. It was a fictional story with a strong voice in realism.

A debut by Nathan Blackwell, it was quite unlike anything I had read ever. The story had its tendrils sunk deep into the past while showing me scenes of the present. The author’s writing revealed a deeper darkness of an unraveling mind while showing me the perversity of the crime. Matt was the character who was both spiraling down due to his memories while trying to remain buoyant in the present, especially for his daughter.

The bleak nature of the legal system and the breakdown of the human psyche which was tired of all the pitfalls was well shown by this talented author. I knew that the darker nature would hit me hard later, but for the life of me, I couldn’t put down my kindle as the twists in the story made me want to get to the end.

A different read, not for the faint hearted for sure. I did disturb me later.

I received a free ARC from Tracy and the author, and this is my journey into its pages, straight from the heart!! STRICTLY HONEST AND UNBIASED.

All my reviews can be read here

Nathan Blackwell was raised on Auckland’s North Shore and attended Westlake Boys’ High School before commencing a ten-year career in the New Zealand Police. Seven of those years were spent as a Detective in the Criminal Investigation Branch, where he was exposed to human nature at its strongest and bravest, but also at its most depraved and horrific. He investigated a wide range of cases including drug manufacture, child abuse, corruption, serious violence, rape and murder. Because some of his work was conducted covertly, Nathan chooses to hide his true identity.

Some murder cases you can’t forget.
No matter how hard you try.

The body of a woman has been found on a pristine New Zealand beach – over a decade after she was murdered.

Detective Matt Buchanan of the Auckland Police is certain it carries all the hallmarks of an unsolved crime he investigated 12 years ago: when Samantha Coates walked out one day and never came home.

Re-opening the case, Buchanan begins to piece the terrible crimes together, setting into motion a chain of events that will force him to the darkest corners of society – and back into his deepest obsession…

Publication Date: 18th April 2019