Member Reviews
I've been a fan of Robert Bryndza since reading his Erika Foster series and had high expectations going into this but i'm thrilled to say they were more than met. This is exactly my kind of story with so many twists, the first coming right off the bat. I loved the characters and especially the development of Kate as she juggled being a mother and her past coming back. The friendship between Kate and her assistant was wonderful. I'd love to read more about Kate!
Another brilliant book by the author. A gripping read that I could not put down. Would definitely recommend this to others and look forward to the next book by the same author.
Wow , this is a terrific book. The pace is extraordinary and yet the characters are well developed and interesting.
Linking two serial killers through the cop that caught the first one probably isn’t a first but this book will have you up to the wee small hours wanting to know what’s next.
Not sure exactly what size of chocolate eclair they have in London as there seems to be a lot crammed in there ! but let’s put that to the side - read this book, you will not be disappointed
This was brilliant , fast paced and exciting as usual for a Robert Bryndza book . I love the Erica Foster series but I soon warmed to Kate whom years ago whilst a policewoman was responsible for the capture of the 9 elms cannibal who just happened to be her superior officer . She left the force under a cloud , had a son and now lectures on criminology . When women start appearing murdered exactly the same they realize that they have a copy cat on their hands . With help from her TA kate starts to investigate what happened to a girl who disappeared around the same time , but was never found , this all ends up being linked . I liked the dynamic between Kate and Tristan , and look forward to reading some more .Brilliant read
I am a huge fan of this author and have read everything he has written. This book I think represents a step into somewhat darker waters, particularly in terms of the violence & bad language included. It was a bit beyond my usual tolerance levels but I persevered because the book is so well written and the plot so intriguing, I had to know the conclusion. It will be interesting to see how the main characters develop in future instalments!
I am a huge fan of Robert Bryndza, so when I heard his new book was available as an ARC on netgalley I was thrilled. All Bryndza’s previous books that I had read were written around the Erika Foster character, so it was with excitement and curiosity that I began reading Nine Elms. Let me begin by saying I did enjoy the book, however I found some of the chapters a bit far fetched, particularly the one near the end when Kate manages to escape the bedroom set (Spoiler alert) so I won’t go into details. Also the way Peter manages to get out of the prison. Although the book was a gripping read and I did enjoy it I felt some parts were somewhat OTT, and I never felt this with the Erica Foster novels. Having said all this I really hope there is another follow up book with Karen developing her PI business. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC.
I really enjoyed this book. I liked the character of Kate Marshall and will look forward to learning more about her in due course.
The story revolves around a copycat of the Nine Elms killer - a killer caught by Kate but who also fathered her child. Forced to leave the police and parted from her son due to her alcohol dependency Kate has struggled to put her life together. Then her past comes to haunt her again.
I was quickly absorbed by the story and enjoyed this gripping - at times gruesome - story.
I am a big fan of Robert Bryndza’s writing and was so excited to read a new protagonist. Kate Marshall is a fabulously flawed individual, so well rounded and human. She has loads of experience after spending years in the police force, leaving as a successful Detective Constable responsible for solving the famous Nine Elms Serial Killer spree. Kate had been left with an unplanned pregnancy after a brief dalliance with her boss, DCI Peter Conway. Things had become even more sensitive after Kate had arrested her boss for being the serial killer they had been chasing for years.
The main timeframe is fifteen years later. Kate is working as an academic and her son is living with her mother. After girls start being killed in the same way as previously, it is clear that a copycat killer is at work. Kate becomes drawn back into the tragedies and this time she is without the police resources, needing to work by memory and her instinctive skills. Together with her academic assistant Tristan, the two form a private detective team.
What follows is a well written, sometimes grisly account of catching the killer. It is a fast paced, exciting read, keeping the reader on the edge of the seat. I look forward to more books written with Kate as the main protagonist.
Having been a big fan of Robert Bryndza’s previous books, I was intrigued and excited to read Nine Elms, the new Kate Marshall series of books.
From the first page, I knew this would be a book I would find hard to put down.
Kate was moving through the ranks in the London Metropolitan Police Force and solved several high profile murder cases. She is then tasked with tracking down a serial killer her instincts seemed to fail her, until he found her. Fast forward sixteen years and Kate’s now living a quiet life on the South East coast although it seems there is one more case she needs to solve.
Gripping, compelling a mind an absolute joy to read. If you loved his previous books, then you certainly won’t be disappointed.
Thank you to NetGalley, Little, Brown Book Group and the author for the chance to review.
What another amazing book from this author. To start off with a bang then the build up to an amazing end, I am already a huge fan and cannot wait for the next book in this series , there are so many different ways this series could go , i would highly recommend this book or any book by this author , if you get the chance i would recommend reading this book , but be warned its a hard book to put down . I wish i could rate this higher than five stars.
I’ve been a fan of Robert’s for a while now. I love the Erika Foster series, and this new protagonist can definitely follow in Erika’s footsteps. I loved it! I was hooked from the beginning and it kept me awake for a few nights because I just couldn’t put it down to sleep. I hope and pray this is the beginning of a series, more Kate Marshall please!
I’ve enjoyed Robert Bryndza’s Erika Foster series so when I received Nine Elms as a review copy from NetGalley I was excited to start reading it. Needless to say once I started I couldn’t stop.
Kate Marshall was once a police officer but when she unmasked her former boss, Peter Conway, as the Nine Elms Cannibal serial killer, she was forced to quit and she now leads a quiet life as a Criminology lecturer at Ashdean University.
However she still has a connection to Peter Conway, her erstwhile boss and the fear she experienced at the time still haunts her.
When young girls start to disappear again and a pathologist colleague asks her to have a look at a crime scene, Kate realises that there is a copycat killer who is retracing Peter’s steps.
She is also asked to investigate a cold case by parents of a missing teenager and soon the two cases collide.
I loved the character of Kate who is a recovering alcoholic, constantly fighting her demons: despite her personal issues she will not give up on the investigation. Her young research assistant, Tristan is also a great character, eager to help in any way but not experienced in criminal investigation.
Peter, his mother Enid and the copycat killer are all extremely creepy but incredibly well described.
The author built up the tension well until the thrilling conclusion which meant I read the book quickly over a couple of days.
This book is not for the faint hearted as there are some really gory scenes but if you enjoy a compelling thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat, this book is a must read.
It is my hope that this will be the first in a new series as It was a really exciting and gripping novel with some great characters whom I’d love to meet again.
What an absolutely stunning start to what promises to be a brilliant new series featuring Kate Marshall and I for one am now looking forward to the next instalment. This is my first read from Robert Bryndza and wow what a damn good book it was, a horrific serial killer known as the Nine elms cannibal, a copycat killer, and a crazy mother are just some of the characters that will haunt your dreams when you are reading.
Twisted and clever this really is a real satisfying read that grips you from the start, it’s brutal at times but for fans of this genre it’s a 5 star star read. So highly recommended and let’s hope we don’t have to wait so long for the next book because I can predict this is going to be one hell of a great series.
Many thanks to Robert Bryndza for a brilliantly written book.
My thanks also to NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group, Sphere for giving me the chance to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
This is a new author for me and to say I was impressed is an understatement. Just when you think the story line has reached it peak, Robert comes back with something you didn’t think of to keep you on your toes. Will definitely be seeking other books by this author
Fifteen years after she unmasked her boss as a serial killer, former Detective Constable Kate Marshall is a lecturer in criminology at Ashdean university. Then a body is discovered and the pathologist asks Kate to have a look — it has all the hallmarks of the killer Peter Conway’s victims. Someone is copying the original murders and it brings the whole trauma of the case back to Kate. At the same time a couple get in touch with Kate who believe that Peter Conway is responsible for the disappearance of their daughter Caitlyn in Manchester in the early eighties. Kate and her assistant Tristan agree to look into the case for them. As another victim is discovered the copycat starts drawing Kate further into the case.
A really great read from start to finish. I love the Erika Foster series by this author and hope there will be another Kate Marshall book soon.
Thanks to Netgalley, Little Brown Book UK and Robert Bryndza for the ARC of this book in return for an honest review.
Kate Marshall was a Detective Constable with the Metropolitan Police and was involved with the Nine Elms murders after the murderer was caught Kate reigned from the Police. Years have passed and a letter brings her back into a world of murders copycatting the Nine Elms murders. Is she strong enough to see this through .
I have been a fan of Robert Bryndza and enjoyed reading the Erica Foster Series I think this is the best yet and hopefully this is the start of a new series to look forward to.
An excellent start to the new Kate Marshall series, I eagerly await book 2! Kate is working as a criminology lecturer in a small coastal town University but she is still haunted by her past. As a young police detective Kate caught the Nine Elms Cannibal, a prolific serial killer but her career ended in scandal. When a Nine Elms copycat killer strikes Kate and her research assistant Tristan Harper become embroiled in the investigation. An entertaining, edge of your seat read.
I just couldn't get into this and it's a DNF. I got about 45% in and gave up after a particularly lurid and frankly unnecessary paragraph about buying human flesh. I'm no stranger to dark crime fiction but this felt forced and basically lazy.
Another excellent read from Robert Bryndza! I love his Erica Foster series and I couldn't wait to read his newest book with a new heroine. I was very lucky to have the opportunity to read the book now, before it's published, thank you Netgalley! It's everything I wished for, I finished it in one day. The main protagonists Kate is likeable with all her flaws and clever to solve the case both times. I am looking forward to read more books in this series, as long as Bryndza keeps writing about Erica as well :)
I enjoyed this book so much. I read it far to fast and now I’m disappointed it’s over. I’m unsure if this is part of a series or not but I’m going to look into it because if it is I want to read more about Kate. This story is about Kate who catches a serial killer and puts him behind bars. Years later and she’s no longer a police officer, but she notices similarities between recent murders and the ones that she investigated years ago........ could they have got the wrong man or is someone playing games with Kate?
Such a good character, we all like a strong female character with flaws and Kate is no different. I’d highly recommend this book.