A serial killer is on the loose, slashing faces and leaving decapitated bodies in their wake. Detective Scarlett Delaney is leading the case to try and unearth who the culprit is. I LOVED this! Scarlett and Henry have the best chemistry I’ve read in a long time. I absolutely adored him. Full of twists and turns, I struggled to put down this gripping thriller. Peppered with humour, this had me smiling at points as well (the mugging scene was absolutely hilarious), which isn’t something I usually expect from a thriller and was so well received. A really unique experience from Cole, I’m looking forward to reading more from him.

Matthew Lewis has a cracking, but I imagine very hard, job. He monitors social media for offensive content and then deals with it. When we first meet him, he has just found something quite disturbing and he immediately alerts the authorities. Enter Det Scarlett Delaney to investigate and she does so with gusto. Maybe too much as she does get a bit involved. Especially when she appears to go a bit rogue when she meets and teams up with Henry Devlin who is a self confessed hitman. Yes, I know! But stick with it... The case is very nasty. The Jackdaw... so named cos they remove a key item of jewellery from their victims. Once they have brutally murdered them, that is. And also leaving absolutely no trace, or discernible method on occasion. Scarlett is teamed up with Frank, her mentor, and the man who saved her from her own complex past. But I'll leave you to discover that for yourself. It's all a bit over the top... But I think it is meant to be... And if you have read the Ragdoll series, you will know what you are getting into. It does verge on to the bonkers side of over the top but in a really good way! And it's also very funny on occasion... Especially some of Henry's escapades! Sometimes quite dark... It's also brutal - but you'll know that if you have read his previous books. It's not for the faint hearted! But you do also need your wits about you following all the delicious twists and turns you'll find along the way. But... in my opinion, the best thing about this book is that it is the start of a series (or trilogy, not sure yet) and that is too exciting for words. But sad also cos I have to be patient for book two...

4.5 stars Matthew Lewis’ job is to monitor and remove offensive social media (he’s a job and a half there) when he finds some horrifying images which sadly, are not the first. This is the infamous Jackdaw Killer and gruesome doesn’t quite cover it. Three murders, a unique signature and an aptly chosen moniker, is this killer untouchable? DC Scarlett Delaney, who has a difficult background, and though a relative newbie to the force is drawn into the case alongside her mentor and father figure, DS Frank Ash. Scarlett’s first meeting with Henry Devlin is humorously inauspicious. Who is Devlin? Think Ray Donovan but way better dressed and much funnier, which isn’t hard. Scarlett reluctantly teams up with Devlin, it’s an uneasy alliance and will it prove to be her undoing? It’s been a while since I read a Daniel Cole novel and I’m now asking myself why as I love this book! I thoroughly enjoy the way he writes this mystery thriller as I don’t think I’ve laughed so much in a long time. There’s dark humour, witty dialogue, droll and clever chapter headings and exceptionally ‘colourful’ events usually occur when Henry is on the page. His humour could be described as deadpan. The characterisation is outstanding in my opinion, they are all so well crafted that they are easy to visualise. I love Scarlett who has to be so much smarter than her fellow officers so she can be taken seriously and I enjoy the way she achieves results as you certainly have ‘fun’ along the route. Frank is wonderful and I really like the relationship between him and Scarlett which is complex but fascinating. I even like Henry, which if you read this may be hard to believe, but that man has the charm of the devil. The dialogue between all of them is high-quality and authentic. There are some scenes that are totally bonkers, completely mad, but they are vivid, creative and so horribly entertaining, almost Hollywood worthy, that I relish every minute. It’s a fast paced, constantly changing plot, it’s gritty and dark, there is never a dull moment, and I don’t see some things coming. There are definitely some shocks and things that pull on the emotional heartstrings. As for the settings, they are all so well chosen especially for the grand finale and what an enticing end. Overall, this is a mad caper which is peppered with humour and is a genuine page turner. I hope there’s a sequel as Scarlett is too good a character for a one off.

What a fun, escapist and fast paced read! I’ve read Daniel Cole’s previous series so I was excited to see this one pop up to review. Featuring a clever serial killer known as the Jackdaw, a flawed Detective called Scarlett and the enigmatic Henry, an ice cold assassin who teams up with Scarlett to try and catch the Jackdaw, this is a real romp of a read with some very ingenious murders that need solving. However it is completely unclear whether Henry is to be trusted or indeed whether Detective Scarlett should believe anything that comes out of his mouth. Henry obviously has his own agenda and despite his charm and his obviously burgeoning feelings for Scarlett, the reader is unsure what is really behind his offer to help her. I really liked this book- Scarlett is a great character, flawed with a dark background but determined to prove to the Detective team that she is capable of solving the murders, hence her alliance with Henry. Her boss and mentor, Frank, is also interesting, coming to the end of his career, he does everything to protect his mentee, realising she might have made a deal with the Devil.. I was so pleased to read a note at the end from the author to say that he has already started writing the next book in the series. I will definitely be first in the queue! Recommended to all crime thriller fans who enjoy escapist but compelling reads!, Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my advance copy.

Every thing went ok with ordering,delivery & package. The book was a present for somebody else, so I have not read it.