Finally getting to play catch up on some of these amazing series of books I had started yet not finished.
Couldn't wait for this one
Book 4.
Good thing about being behind in a series is that you can play catch up without having to wait for a new book.
DI Marnie Rome series - Book 4. This is an incredible read. And for not wanting to repeat myself i'll not say its unputdownable, i'll not say it's gripping and that it's a page turner. I'll not say all that, even though its the truth.

What I will say is, if you haven't read any of this series or this authors books then now would probably be a big treat to yourself if you did start them.

Great for any crime thriller fans.

Quieter than Killing is the fourth book in the DI Marnie Rome series. What an absolute cracker of a read this was. Just brilliant.

In this one Marnie is revisiting the home where her 14 year old brother murdered his parents.

I loved book 1, book 2, struggled with book 3 but boy oh boy this one was great!

Reviewed as part if blog tour

When you start reading a crime novel you don't expect the book to be overly emotional, but half way through Quieter Than Killing I found myself crying over what was happening in the book.  I think this is down to Sarah Hilary making the reader care about her characters.  She invests a lot of time in making sure the reader understands them, knows about their background and what makes them tick.  Through doing this the reader feels like they know the characters quite intimately and therefore are more upset when events transpire against them.  I found this book particularly poignant as two of the characters were children who were going through quite a hard time.  It was very difficult to read about their experiences and stay emotionally detached, particularly as I was imagining them as my own children at times.  I desperately wanted them to have a happy ending and kept reading to try to find out what was going to happen to them next.

The character development in the book is very well done.  I think I changed my opinion a number of times on each one as the story developed.  This was great at providing an eye opener at times as to how judgmental we can all be about certain members of society.  I started off not liking DI Rome very much which is unusual for me as I am normally instantly a fan of strong female characters but she just seemed a little remote and cold to me at first, plus she annoyed me at times with how she was trying to solve the case which made her come across as being quite arrogant at times.  However I soon came to like her drive and her thoroughness when it came to solving a case.

The case is quite a murky one from the beginning that builds and builds to an almost unbearable crescendo as we learn of all the different characters involved, what their connection and motivation is.  At its peak my head did start to hurt a little as I struggled to stay on top of all the different suspects but then it all becomes clear before a major twist just afterwards sends the reader scrambling in yet another direction.  I thought this was brilliantly done and it definitely kept me on my toes as i thought i had finally figured it all out before the rug was pulled out from under me again with a new revelation- well played Sarah Hilary! There was never a dull moment in the book as there always seemed to be something happening somewhere which really kept my interest and made the book very hard to put down.  I found myself reading late into the night, even swapping to the kindle version so i could continue reading in the dark.  The story is almost impulsive at times as the reader struggles to try to work out what is happening and who could be behind everything.

This is the fourth book in the DI Rome series but it is the first book of Sarah Hilary's that I have read but it won't be my last as i really enjoyed her style of writing and the human slant she puts in her writing.

Huge thanks to Katie Brown and Headline for providing me with a copy of the book and for letting me be on the blog tour.

My review as posted on Goodreads and Amazon.

It doesn't seem that long ago when I was first delving into Ms Hilary's first book of this series, Someone Else's Skin, and here we are at book four!!

A DI Marnie Rome book is always something of a treat and one that is always looked forward to. Quieter Than Killing is a story about revenge, vigilantism and family troubles. A ten year old boy is kidnapped and violent assaults are taking place culminating in murder. The cases appear to be linked to Marnie but 'how?' is the question. One of my favourite angles as I have mentioned in previous reviews is Marnie's relationship with her foster brother, Stephen. He is guilty of having murdered her parents and appears to really revel in Marnie's pain, anguish and torment. Unfortunately, Marnie is faced with her worst fears as she is forced to go back to the crime scene (her old home). Gut wrenching to say the least. Noah, Marnie's trusted sidekick is also drawn into the mix with his own family issues and it becomes clear that family, nurture is what's fundamental and at the heart of this tale.

Quieter Than Killing is another solid read from the pen of Ms Hilary, not quite up there for me as much as book three was -I totally loved that one - but nevertheless this will not disappoint; especially for fans of this really quite brilliant series. I'm very much one of them.

Can I just put in a request for more Stephen please, Ms Hilary, in case you're watching! :)

I highly recommend and my thanks go to those involved for my review copy. Very much appreciated.

If you're a crime fiction lover and haven't read any Sarah Hilary can I just ask why on earth not? With the fourth offering in the author's DI Marnie Rome series that began with Someone Else's Skin, and continued with No Other Darkness and Tastes Like Fear, Sarah Hilary has cemented herself in my eyes as the queen of British crime and with each successive novel, her writing, characters and plot just keep getting better and better. Thank you so much to Headline publishers via NetGalley for allowing me to read a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. In Marnie Rome's London, the seedy and grittier side of our capital city is brought to life in an explosion of colour but grounded so deeply within reality that you could almost imagine that you were reading about the neighbours next door rather than fictional characters.

Marnie Rome and her wonderful sidekick Noah Jake are back and have a new case to solve. Horrific assaults are happening all over London but the strange thing about these vicious attacks is that the victim in each case has a criminal record themselves or a record of having wronged someone in their past. Marnie and her team immediately hit on the idea of a vigilante attempting to dole out justice for past crimes in the strangest and most brutal way possible. There are a few very important alternative threads to this story however. A ten year old boy has been kidnapped and is being held hostage at an unknown address by an unknown perpetrator. Furthermore, Marnie's childhood home has been burgled with the tenants living there at the time subjected to a nasty beating, leading to them being hospitalised. In this convoluted plot and intricate web of secrets, violence and manipulation how are all these threads linked and why is Marnie and her personal life being dragged into the battle?

If I had to compare this book to the previous two novels in the Marnie Rome series I would say that Quieter Than Killing is slightly slower in pace but this is in no way, shape or form an insult to the writing. In fact, I loved that we got to learn so much more about our characters as individuals, with their own problematic families and personal lives. This novel exudes more of a quiet menace that is simply delicious to experience and although it could easily be read as a stand alone, I highly recommend reading the series from the beginning to get the full flavour of our character's back stories which is hugely important for the plot. Once again, I adored the relationship between Marnie and Noah (please don't ever break them up Sarah!) and just feel these characters keep getting stronger, more "real," and infinitely more intriguing where I just keep wanting more. I'm eagerly anticipating the fifth book in the series which I'm certain will be another belter and I can't wait to become immersed in Marnie's world once more.

The fourth in this dark, atmospheric DI Rome series.

A series of assaults on criminals, a child kidnapping and then a brutal assault on the tenants of Rome's childhood home.

All these crimes seem to be connected to her. But who and why?

Kept me guessing throughout with a great twist. Can't wait for the next in this thrilling series.

After reading the first three DI Marnie Rome books I was very keen to get my hands on this one and WOW, Sarah Hilary does it again.

A brilliant read, I love the characters Marnie and Noah I feel like I know them. It's so well-written just like the previous books.

No hesitation in giving this one 5 stars, I loved it and can't wait for book 5!!

Another tense instalment in the life of DI Marnie Rome, one of my favourite female detectives.
If I have a couple of quibbles they are that some events are getting to be a bit formulaic and that some really obvious leads aren't investigated further which frustrated me a bit.
Apart from that, an enjoyable read and I'll look forward to the next in the series.
My thanks to Netgalley for this copy.

I didn't realize this was the fourth in a series, my apologies! I will be purchasing the first book as I've heard fantastic things.

Fourth in the Marnie Rome series and every bit as good as Sarah Hilary's other books.
A great story that keeps you gripped until the end
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC in return for an honest review.

I found this book hard to read and it was probably because I haven't read the other novels in the series

The Blurb:

It's winter, the nights are dark and freezing, and a series of seemingly random assaults is pulling DI Marnie Rome and DS Noah Jake out onto streets of London. When Marnie's family home is ransacked, there are signs that the burglary can have only been committed by someone who knows her. Then a child goes missing, yet no-one has reported it. Suddenly, events seem connected, and it's personal.

Someone out there is playing games. It is time for both Marnie and Noah to face the truth about the creeping, chilling reaches of a troubled upbringing. Keeping quiet can be a means of survival, but the effects can be as terrible as killing.

This is the 4th book in a series which can be read as a standalone, although with reading the earlier books you get a more solid background on the characters and see how they have developed as time goes on.

This is a gripping read and you can feel the tension building up. It has a brilliant story and I can't wait for book 5.

5*

I have been a massive fan of Miss Hilary's books since the beginning. Two things have defined her writing for me. The first is the way she can hide a hard-hitting theme within her books, having it come to light part of the way through and making us empathise more than is usual with the perpetrators of her gory crimes. This was particularly the case in the first 2 books in the DI Rome series. In all three of her previous books she has surprised us half way through with a character who is not exactly what we have been led to believe they are. Both of these factors are missing in Quieter than Killing.

Quieter than Killing, however, did drip-feed us more about Marnie Rome's foster brother's reasons for killing her parents 6 years ago. I like this theme running through the books and also Marnie's clandestine visits to Stephen in prison to try and get to the bottom of why he did what he did. There is a tantalising teaser left at the end relating to this.

I have to say I struggled slightly with the sheer number of characters in this book. There were a lot of strands to the plot and the personal lives of Marnie and DS Noah Jake were hugely incorporated into the actual story, rather than running alongside, which complicated things slightly for me. But it was well plotted and there are a couple of new characters who would be welcome, as far as I'm concerned, in book 5 in the shape of DCS Lorna Ferguson (filling in for indisposed boss Welland) and DS Harry Kennedy from the Trident unit.

So, for fans of the series, a solid 4th book, overall rating 4 stars, thanks to Sarah Hilary Headline and NetGalley.

Quieter Than Killing is the fourth instalment in Sarah Hilary's DI Marnie Rome series where once again we are reunited with the main character and DS Noah Jake.

Marnie's family home has been ransacked and her tenants hospitalised plus there are signs the burglary was carried out by someone who knew her family. Then a child goes missing but can these events be connected? It's up to Marnie and Noah to find out.

This is another gritty offering from Sarah Hilary that I enjoyed. It's fast paced and enthralling.

Thank you to NetGalley, Headline and the author for the chance to review.

Thanks Netgalley and TBC - this is the 4th installement in the DI Marnie Rome set of books and its as good as the rest! Roll on book 5!!!
As with all Sarah Hilary's books it is fast paced and keeps you on the edge of your toes - twists, turns and the usual am i right? No i am wrong moment! sarah Hilary is a great crime writer and i reccomend you read her books if you haven't already!

London is gripped in a blanket of frost and the streets aren't safe. Investigating a series of seemingly random violent attacks DI Marnie Rome and DI Noah Jakes realise that there is a connection, a vigilante is stalking. When Rome's childhood home is vandalised there is a link to her estranged foster brother, convicted of the murder of her parents and now in jail. Meanwhile Noah's brother Sol is trying to escape from his gang but it's not quite so easy and Noah's boyfriend, Dan, may be in danger.

Sarah Hilary is building up a really strong series about DI Marnie Rome and her team and this book is no exception. I have read some of the previous novels and that is an advantage when tackling this one as it does link to the back stories of Rome and the team, however it is not an insurmountable barrier as time is taken to fill in sketchy details. The plot seems to be going in one direction for most of the book but takes a couple of interesting turns. Although it is a standard police procedural in structure and characterisation this book, like Hilary's previous work, is a superior version of the genre. The character flaws are believable and the plots well constructed and make sense.

Thank you Netgalley and Headline for this copy for an honest review.

Looking back the DI Marnie Rome series didn't grab me straight away. And usually if it doesn't grab me that's it I'm done. But something made me come back for part 2.....then 3 and by then I was hooked and had part 4 marked as a must read. And I wasn't wrong.

In this installment a series of particularly nasty vigilante attacks are taking up DI Romes and her faithful partner DS Noah Jakes attention when a group of children attack the current residents of Marnies childhood home, the same home where her parents were brutally murdered by her foster brother Stephen. It quickly becomes apparent that all these events are linked and Marnie finds that she has to go back to Stephen again and get caught up in his mind games again....

This series is just one of a crop of female detective series around at the minute but it's up there in the top five for me. And funnily enough I think one of the reasons it's so good is exactly the reason the first book didn't completely grab me straight - it's a slow burner, building up layer upon layer of plot and character development. Once you get into these books Sarah Hilary will have you in her grip and will not let you go.

A vigilante is loose on the streets of London – people convicted of crimes in the past are being attacked. And now assault has turned to murder. But as DI Marnie Rome and DS Noah Jake look for links between the victims, there are other things vying for their attention. Noah’s brother is missing, in trouble with the local gangs. Marnie’s childhood home, the scene of her parents’ brutal murder at the hands of her adopted broter, has been broken into. And somewhere, a scared child has been kidnapped by a stranger…
As links begin to appear between the events, it seems that someone has a very twisted plan. But as things get worse and worse, it seems that someone has Marnie in their sights – but to what end?
The fourth Sarah Hilary book – following Someone Else’s Skin, No Other Darkness and Tastes Like Fear – and it’s another strong psychological tale. More of Marnie’s backstory is fleshed out, while managing not to require knowledge of the previous books and still leaving the reader wanting a little more. Marnie is a compelling character with her strengths and weaknesses on full display for the reader.
There is an odd duality here, with the story full of real human reactions to the terrifying events that they are exposed to. Hilary balances a reasonably large cast well, with each character feeling like a cohesive part of the narrative. And on the other hand, the villain’s plot is really bonkers, if you stop to think about it, with so many strands to it, goodness know how it doesn’t tumble out of control. But Hilary is an accomplished writer and makes it work. It’s only when you stop and think about it after the fact…
Regardless, this is a gripping thriller that once the plot starts to accelerate, you won’t be able to put it down. For fans of the modern psychological thriller, this is Highly Recommended.

Having followed this series from the start, I was incredibly impatient to get cracking on Marnie Rome #4 as there is so much I still want to explore with Marnies character. Every books brings a different case for Marnie and DS Noah Jake but the backstories for these two characters are just as compelling and it’s been fabulous to find myself back in their world. So make sure you have nothing else in your life and settle back to immerse yourself in one of the most realistic and relevant crime thrillers you will ever read.

This time it looks that a series of unconnected crimes may not be as unrelated as first thought. They also seem to be developing into a case much closer to Marnie than she would like. Her foster brother is still locked up safely but that doesn’t seem to stop him being able to reach out with his poisonous tentacles of hatred and infect others with his evil intentions. Honestly, he made my skin crawl! The personal threads woven throughout made for difficult reading at times but Sarah Hilary writes a balanced viewpoint at all times. The narrative is hard hitting and intelligent at all times and the investigation procedure is well crafted from the groundwork upwards. It sometimes felt like one of this documentary series about real life police procedures due to the gritty real life problems that affected all the characters throughout – gangland violence, the involvement of social services but most of all the theme of parenting in the most difficult of these circumstances. The layers of Marnies story have been peeled back slowly since the first book she appeared in and her personality has developed, alongside that of Noah, to help further their efforts in solving the crimes that occur here. And there is plenty more mileage left in them both! So I’m now on countdown for Marnie Rome #5!

I am once again in awe of how on point Sarah Hilary is with her social observations. And let’s not forget her complex plotting, which I always fail to unravel. I can highly recommend this series but would probably advise starting at the very beginning to get the most out of Marnie, Noah and their backstories. I do hope that if this IS made into a tv series the producers get it right-if they do, it will be magnificent! And I look forward to seeing who they would cast as Marnie, as in my head she always looks a lot like Sarah Hilary herself!!