Overall, I really enjoyed this book and found it easy reading with a gripping storyline. Unlike other reviewers, I didn't find it excessively gory or graphic. Just sufficiently so to convey the mood of the book. Great concept, and a pretty scary concept, as someone with extensive tattoos...

Which brings me to my complaints about this book. The author really needed to do more research into tattoo shops and those with tattoos. My husband worked as a tattooist for many years, and some of the things in this book made us both cringe. Tattoo community? Marni's people? Come on! You don't get tattooed and instantly become part of some freemason like fraternity! I have loads of tattoos and I can guarantee no tattooist would know me from Adam. With so many clients passing through the doors, tattooists don't remember each tattoo they do, nor do they all know each other or feel the need to hunt in a pack. The only time they know each other is if they've previously worked in the same studio. And tattooed people all attending the funerals of other tattooed people?! It's not the military! I've never known a tattooist object to the machine being called a 'gun' and nor have I ever heard them called an 'iron'. Don't do your research on Wikipedia.... The worst part which had us both in stitches - tattoo groupies?! This made my husband laugh out loud. Why on Earth would tattooists have groupies any more than hairdressers or the Tesco delivery man would? Maybe in some hipster, self satisfied part of Brighton this weird world exists, but it sure isn't the norm!

I think the only thing I can say about this book is “wow”. From the very first few pages it had me gripped, so much so I devoured the entire thing in a day. Those who know me know that I am not always the fastest reader, but every now and then I come across a book that I just can’t put down and everything else has to wait….including sleep. The Tattoo Thief is one of those books.
Having been newly promoted to Detective Inspector over a more experienced colleague, Francis Sullivan is handed the investigation into the death of a man whose body is found dumped in some bins near to a convention centre. When another body is found he is not sure if the cases are connected or if they have multiple killers on the loose. To add to this his investigations are sometimes hampered by his DS who is still smarting over being passed over for the promotion that he believed should have gone to him and an uncooperative witness.
The story is told from four different viewpoints throughout however I found that far from confusing the story it somehow seemed to enhance it. I loved the main characters as despite any faults they may have you could still relate to them. I think my favourite has to be tattooist Marni. She is a feisty person, who due to events in her past has a total distrust of the police. That being said however she has a chemistry with DI Sullivan and her sense of doing what is right overtakes this and she eventually ends up assisting them in solving the case by giving them valuable insights into the close knit tattoo community. The antagonistic relationship between DI Sullivan and DS Mackay running throughout the story will resonate with anyone has ever felt they were passed over for promotion. Even though he is sure that he could do a much better job than Sullivan, Rory Mackay eventually realises that maybe they could get much further and solve the cases working together than against each other.

The Tattoo Thief is certainly not a book for those looking for easy reading, especially with what the killer subjects their victims to whilst they are still alive. Thanks to Alison’s way with words I know that I certainly won’t be able to look at a pool of Koi Carp in quite the same way again. This is the first novel by Alison Belsham and boy what a way to begin her career as an author. I can’t wait to see what she has in store for her readers next.

Alison Belsham is a brave soul taking on Peter James in his own back yard! In writing the Tattoo Thief we are introduced to the tattooing community in a most grisly way. I can understand wanting something that stands out from other crime thrillers but flaying and curing human skin? Although a quick search revealed Ed Gein made lampshades from human skin! Anyway the book was very well written, had a good pace and some interesting human interactions. I must confess to a quick titter when the headless corpse was described as being, 'face down'.

A well plotted story with some great characters. I liked Marni and Francis very much and enjoyed following their interactions. The central idea of someone taking tattoos as art was extremely graphic and obviously well researched, which always adds depth to a book. However I didn’t like the storyline of an incompetent senior policeman applying the proverbial pressure and bullying his subordinate officer. This storyline is so old and jaded that it is cliche and in 2018 quite frankly unbelievable. This is the reason why I could give this book 5 stars.

Thank you to Tracey Fenton and the publisher for my review copy of the book and for inviting me take part on the blog tour.

The Tattoo Thief is a wonderful, edgy and gritty crime thriller book that keeps you guessing throughout. The story is skilfully written with us hearing from different characters during the chapters. Marni, a Brighton Tattoo artist who unfortunately discovers the first dead body, the killer aka The Tattoo Thief as dubbed by the police and the two investigating officers Francis and Rory, tasked with trying to get to the bottom of what is happening. Although the investigation is quite slow to get off the mark, I think it just shows how well the story is written as you don't feel as though the plot suffers from this.

I really enjoyed delving into the tattoo world, with Marni a fantastic lead character. Strong and feisty with the hint of a tragic past she is just who you want to read more about. The more straightlaced DI Francis Sullivan is as different to Marni as you can get but they work together well to try and use each others special skills in trying to discover just why and who the Tattoo Thief is targeting.

Alison Belsham has written a brilliant and accomplished story with The Tattoo Thief and I couldn't put it down. The chapters from the killers point of view and deliciously creepy as we delve into the mind of someone obviously unhinged!

I tried and failed to get ahead of the author and work it out for myself - I don't think I was even close!

Hopefully this isn't the last we hear of from Marni and Francis!

This book will not be for everyone... it is dark, disturbing and graphic. If you can cope with that you will love this book! Lately there have been a lot of books with such similar stories that it has been hard to tell them apart. This one was absolutely an original story, and one that had me hooked.

Marni Mullians is a tattoo expert, she knows her ink as a tattoo artist in Brighton. When she makes the horrifying discovery in the rubbish near her studio of a man who has had his tattoos removed, she becomes the leading expert for the police investigating the murder. DI Francis Sullivan is newly promoted and has to prove himself to his superiors. This is his first murder case. Then a second body is found and they have serial killer on their hands.. a killer who is collecting tattoos from his victims while they are still alive.

Thanks to Orion Publishing and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased

Macabre and grotesque, but with great characters and superb plotting. Rather too much from the mind of the killer in my opinion, it was very repetitive and halted the action each time. Loved the tattoo community and how the author brought Brighton alive. Also, the dissent between the police characters felt very real. A sound thriller.

Can you read a book through your fingers? That’s how it felt when I was reading this crime thriller.
The concept of the story is dark, horrifying and completely credible. The graphic descriptions seem well researched, and the insights into the killer’s mind were too uncomfortable at times to read.
I liked the two main characters, Marni and Francis, both are well developed with a light touch, not something you always find in this genre of novel, where often none of the characters are sympathetic.
Not a novel that I would take to the beach for light reading, but certainly one that kept me up late at night!

It's always weird to read a novel set in your city- and even weirder when the day after you start reading it, a place that's a crime scene in the novel becomes *an actual crime scene in real life* (this is true.) Welcome to The Tattoo Thief.
DI Francis Sullivan is newly promoted when a murderer with a thing for tattoos starts marauding round Brighton, skinning those who are inked for their body art. Young, religious and not taken seriously by his colleagues or superiors, he must find out who is committing the murders- and why. Assisted by local tattoo artist Marni Mullins (who weirdly lives on the street I lived on as a lodger when I first moved to Brighton), he has a race against time and his own prejudices if he's to solve the murders.
As a police procedural, it's fun; there's a cast of interesting characters and a couple of interesting twists. There were some bits that drove me absolutely bonkers though- the fact that a character is repeatedly referred to as having 'checked out' of hospital (I was silently screaming 'DISCHARGED. YOU MEAN DISCHARGED.' Blame my ten years of teaching English for my pedantry...) and the apparent willingness of the police to regularly take civilians to quite serious crime scenes was a bit unorthodox.
However, it's fun and as a debut novel it shows promise. It's a definite read for those who love their crime a bit macabre and gory- a twisted romp through a city that was once described by Keith Waterhouse as 'looking like a town helping the police with their enquiries.'

I received this book courtesy of NetGalley and I am glad I did. Most unusual and enjoyable read. I liked all the characters who were not in the "superhero" mould just individuals one could relate too. The tatoos which obviously feature throughout the book are well described so you can picture them and the book rattles along at just the right pace. I would recommend this to others as long as you can put up with a small amount of blood and gore.

The tattoo thief
By Alison Belsham
4 stars
An engaging and enjoyable read.
This title will twists and turns as you try to determine who the killer is and who is the mystery man pulling all the strings.

With four central characters – Marni a tattooist, Francis a newly appointed Detective Investigator, Rory, a detective who desires Francis job, and the Killer. All have their own characteristics and plans.

The plot will leave you guessing who is the killer, and it is cleverly rolled out throughout the story.

I had heard a lot about this book and although it was gruesome in parts, it kept me gripped to the end.

he Tattoo Thief flicks between four characters. Marni a tattooist, Francis a DI, Rory, who works under Francis and the killer. The killer even though we get to meet them and see inside their dark and twisted mind, we don't actually know who it is. Obviously I was trying to guess who but failed miserably.

Marni is quite a strong character and I have to say I loved finding out more about tattoo's and what a normal working day is like for a tattooist. It really makes for some fascinating reading. Marni has a lot going on in her life without being caught up in a murder case but it made her so much more interesting and I really liked her.

Francis I loved. Such a great character and I really hope there is going to be more books featuring him. I liked how he really invested himself in this case even though higher up think they know better. He comes across as determined and caring and he would certainly someone I would be happy to have working on a case.

The Tattoo Thief is such an original story line that makes for a page turner of a read. It's a very dark read that will have you on the edge of your seat as they close in on the killer. There was so many heart in mouth moments that horrified yet thrilled me and I couldn't get enough. It was such a great climax also and didn't disappoint. Certainly look forward to reading more by the author.

This is one hell of a book. There are not many books that I have a late night to finish but this was one of them.
The characters are brilliant and you end up empathising with them. Francis is the new DI who is thought to be promoted too quickly and you end up totally on his side - I must admit my conclusion on who did it was totally wrong.
Once again UK female crime writers seem to be stealing the march on the guys. This is a really amazing book - page turner does not do it justice.

The Tattoo Thief was very well written. Why is it that in these police procedurals there is always someone on the team or the boss not fully cooperating? They are always the mean guys not liking the main character. I really did not like Bradshaw at all, very rude and full of himself and Rory another character that thinks more of himself and his abilities than is healthy. I loved Francis and Marni and for me they worked well together as a team. The idea of removing a tattoo from someones body to tan it is really quite gruesome but Aslison Belsham turned this into a story that I liked and wanted to read until the end. I would recommend Alison Belsham as well as The Tattoo Thief to all lovers of Police Procedurals.

Well, that's one way to kick off a book! We are talking tattoo removal with not a laser in sight! The Tattoo Thief brings a whole new method to the removal of body art! Moving swiftly onto a tattoo convention in Brighton and this book has got all my synapses snapping!

The Tattoo Thief is the police investigation into a brutal killer with a unique fascination. The killer is tracking down tattoo fans and killing them slowly for their skin! Enter newly promoted DI Francis Sullivan who finds himself in a race against time while having to prove his worth to his superiors as well as his team.

Sullivan is an intriguing character, intensely religious with a family burden lying heavy on his shoulders. Slightly pious and standoffish to begin with, I began to warm to him as the author drew out his character and by the end, I was shouting for more! His DS Rory MacKay was passed over for promotion and he clearly resents Sullivan for this and boy was he a snakey little snake at times! Yet the two of them kind of worked well together in a twisted sort of way!

Marni Mullins was by far my favourite character in the novel, a tattoo artist with an impetuous and arrogant French ex-husband and a past that causes her to lack any trust in the police. So when she gets caught up in the investigation it was interesting to watch how her relationship with Sullivan developed.

Interspersed with the Tattoo Thief's narrative gave the novel that chilling element that kept me on my toes; clues dropped and snatched back before being dropped again, this one keeps you guessing all the way through.

Set in Brighton and the narrow little lanes and alternative culture it was the perfect setting for the story. It is hard to think of any other detective other than Peter James' Roy Grace policing the streets of Brighton but I think that Alison Belsham has brought in an excellent alternative. Now you can imagine both of them bumping into each other in the midst of an investigation! There was also reference given to the stigma still attached by some, to the subject of body art and it was interesting to watch this play out.

This is a macabre debut from the author and definitely one that has piqued my interest in the latest DI in my life! If you like your crime fiction dark, bloody and twisted then I think The Tattoo Thief will be right up your street!
this will be on my blog as part of the blog tour

A chilling and dark crime thriller, well written and easy to follow with a fascinating plot. Thanks to Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

I loved reading The Tattoo Thief by Alison Belsham, who has clearly done a great deal of research for this.

It’s a tale of Francis Sullivan a newly qualified DI, in his first role, when a body is found with a tattoo removed, and here is where it gets gruesome and dark.

There are small asides in the voice of the murderer which gives the insights to their mind and the details of the flaying and subsequent curing of human skin are really well done.

Marni Mullins is a tattooist, who while she hates the police, she helps DI Sullivan to identify the bodies using tattoo’s. She has her own problems with an ex-husband Thierry and a son, but she is a really likeable character as is ‘Frank’. Sullivan. There is an overbearing boss, a sneaky subordinate and a lot of tension when Marni goes missing...



A great thriller




I would like to thank the Alison Belsham/the Publishers/NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a fair and honest review

This is not for the faint hearted as it has scary moments. The removal and collection of tattoos from bodies is unusual but makes for a story that is welcomly different. The sparring between ambitious detectives is a good addition although the outcome of that is not seen through- maybe it will continue into the next book. Let's hope there is one. This is cleverly created with credible characters. Murder with a difference is always welcome.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Orion Publishing Group for a review copy of The Tattoo Thief, a début police procedural featuring newly promoted DI Francis Sullivan of the Brighton Police.

On his first day as Inspector DI Francis Sullivan gets his first murder case. Tattooist Marni Mullins discovers a dead body in a dumpster and it is soon apparent that the man was murdered, possibly for a tattoo that has been flayed from his body. When a second body is found Francis realises that he may be hunting a serial killer, an idea his boss firmly resists.

The Tattoo Thief has an interesting and unusual concept with tattoos being regarded as works of art although I'm sure I've read the idea before (at my age the memory isn't as sharp as it used to be). Whatever, Ms Belsham puts her own stamp on it with the location and personalities. The narrative is told from several points of view, Francis, Marni, Francis's deputy, Rory and the killer. I can't say that I particularly enjoyed it as this approach does not make for an immersive read and comes across as choppy. I don't think it helps that very little happens investigatively for a good two thirds of the novel and that most of the developments and action are crammed into the last third.

With so little happening in the investigation the novel necessarily becomes more character driven than is usual in the genre. Francis is a wet behind the ears inspector with a strong religious faith. He is regarded, with no proof, as incompetent by both his boss and his deputy and this results in frequent conflict. Fortunately he's able to prove them wrong but by then I was past caring. I didn't like Marni as she doesn't ring true as a character and the killer's meandering thoughts are fairly standard psychopathy 101. I don't feel there is any real depth to any of the characters.

The Tattoo Thief is not a bad read but it doesn't bring anything new or startling either, it's just a standard hunt the killer procedural.