Once again Lorraine Mace has written a great police procedural featuring DI Paolo Sterling and his team. It is the 4th in a series, but would read ok as a standalone. The book had me gripped right from the opening page. Dealing with the rape and torture of several men, it definitely isn’t for the faint-hearted as it is dark, disturbing and gruesome but I loved it! I didn’t want to put it down and so didn’t get to sleep until after 3am today!

Highly recommended, and looking forward to DI Sterling’s next outing.

The long-awaited fourth book in the DI Sterling series is here, and much like its predecessors it's gritty, dark and unsettling. Which is exactly what this author excels at delivering.

OMG! That opening scene ... brutal is an understatement.

Someone is torturing men and leaving their massacred, yet still alive bodies at the scene of their supposed crimes. This vigilante believes he is giving rapists a taste of their own medicine ... but he is doing so much more. His latest victim is in a coma and awaiting identification. The attending doctor informs the police that the victim's injuries are similar to another case he saw some months ago. He warns the police that the man concerned was so traumatised that he feared speaking out would lead to a further assault.

Meanwhile, DI Sterling is thrilled to be at the opening of the community centre, a project close to his heart. The curtains open to reveal the commemorative plaque vandalised; the message scrawled in red lipstick suggests a prominent local councillor has been embezzling the centre's funds. The opening is attended by the media who instantly see a story. Sterling has no option but to start an investigation. Linking the councillor to a new private members' club suggests the police should scrutinise the goings-on there, but doing so is easier said than done since the club owner has friends (or rather clients) in very high places.

This story is much darker than the crime fiction I usually read, but it is balanced with insights into Sterling's private and family life, as well as the obstacles he faces in getting his superiors to allow the investigation to run its course with all the thoroughness that is required.

Suspense and tension run side by side with personal matters. It's no wonder Sterling has a headache! The ending adds the final twist in this thrilling, graphic, and compelling read.

Rage and Retribution is a truly dark crime. However, at just a couple of chapters in I was doubting that it would be. For one, Pablo seemed too nice a character for me, at least too nice for his position. Could it be because the hard man, no emotion cop has been so overdone in other police crimes it’s what I’ve come to expect? This notion didn’t entirely resolve my anguish but it did heighten my respect for Lorraine Mace, who was willing to move away from the usual.

Secondly, the entire investigation kicked off because of a remark written on a plaque in lipstick. Pablo and his team really dove into finding the culprit and I found that very strange. For me, it didn’t warrant the attention. However, it opened up an entire world of rape and sexual abuse that made Rage and Retribution the addictive read it was. So, if you are in this for the darkness, you have to be patient, but, if you are someone sensitive to in-depth descriptions of horrendous crimes, don’t be fooled by the opening chapters.

I loved this gritty book and, by the end, I came to love Pablo too. But what I really loved about him was that I didn’t need to read the previous books in this series to get a good feeling of who he was and what he stands for. That is so important for books in a series that are also marketed as standalone. Thanks, Lorraine, for letting me easily slide in at the fourth book.

This is the fourth instalment in the D.I. Sterling series, I’ve read and reviewed the other three books which I will link at the bottom. Spoiler alert, I rated them all 5 stars, Rage and Retribution has definitely not disappointed! I’m so happy to be back with Paolo and the team!

We have another dark and disturbing case that starts with a pretty minor incident capturing the attention of the press and our team. Men are being abducted and for 3 days they are sexually tortured and given no food or water, they are then dumped in different locations waiting to be found.

This series is super gritty and I loved the mystery which gave me the chance to put on my detective hat to figure out who the killer is. Obviously I’m not going to go into too much detail about the ending but Lorraine Mace made my heart hurt! I already can’t wait for number 5.

Book 4 in the DI Sterling Series is another tightly woven page-turner that leaves you ducking to avoid injury from all the rocket-fire plot twists! The blurb asked can two wrongs make a right, but there’s a lot more than two wrongs here, trust me!

Investigations into a plaque defacement with an accusatory message at the new youth center, and the unreported sexual assaults of men have no connection until a death occurs, and Sterling has to take a closer look at a secretive, upscale businessmen’s club.

Nothing is clear-cut in this read. No easy answers or fixes. The body count rises, names are dropped from everyone’s lips as aspersions are cast… but leads go nowhere.

Paolo’s frustrations are exacerbated by the three women in his life: daughter, Katy, girlfriend, Jessica, and ex-wife, Lydia. These relationships will weigh on his heart as he’s forced to make decisions that will change his life. (And no, I still do not like Lydia.)

But Paolo is a good guy who doesn’t like bad guys. He and his stellar team rise to the occasion despite the seeds of dissension being sown by a jealous DS in his department.

My emotions were all over the place—glad a serial killer was dealt with, sad for the victims at the very heart of the story, and mad at who’s still standing in the end… and who isn’t.

Rage and Retribution deals with possible triggering issues in graphic detail but I believe great writing delivers the suspenseful impact to hold the reader’s interest without the sting. Book 4 can be read as a standalone, but the history and building of the bond Paolo has with his team would be missed. Don’t do it.

This read is a mystery, a crime thriller, a character study, hardboiled, and a must-read.

Enjoy!

Rage and Retribution is a realistic and gritty, at times graphic, police procedural that I just couldn’t put down once I started it.

I am an absolutely massive fan of this series and I’m always so excited when I hear there is a new one coming out. This may be the fourth in the series but honestly I think the books are just getting better and better.

As always with this series, it tackles some upsetting subjects and Lorraine Mace certainly doesn’t pull any punches, which may not be for some people.

The ending of this book had me in absolute pieces, I can’t really say why, you’ll have to read it and find out for yourself!

Rage and Retribution is a compelling read that I would recommend to anyone who likes their police procedurals on the darker side. I can’t wait for the next book in this series.

A gritty and gripping crime thriller featuring the brooding and enigmatic D.I. Paolo Sterling, Rage and Retribution is a first rate page-turner that is creepy, disturbing and impossible to stop reading.

When a man is found by the side of a canal after being viciously attacked and left barely conscious and hours away from death after being cruelly subjected to horrific acts of torture, the police quickly realise that this violent case is not an isolated one. Men all over the city are being abducted, subjected to eye-watering torture and then released unable to speak and with their lives in jeopardy. A recurring pattern which has given the local police cause for concern, D.I. Paolo Sterling realises he is going to need a strong stomach and all the resources at his disposal to catch a vicious criminal who will stop at nothing to enact these stomach-churning deeds on the male populace.

Montague Mason is a much-respected pillar of the community. However, when he is accused of stealing the funds allocated for the local youth centre, shock waves ripple across the entire city. Is Montague really capable of committing such a despicable act? Is he really guilty of stealing? Or is he being wrongly blamed for something which he did not do? As his best-kept and long-held secret is exposed, how far is Montague willing to go to protect his name, his reputation and himself?

With these two cases occupying his mind, D.I. Sterling once again has one hell of a case on his hands. When things take a far more sinister case as torture escalates to murder, will D.I Sterling manage to catch the killer and put a stop to all this depravity once and for all? Or will the killer strike again?

Lorraine Mace knows how to keep her readers on the edge of their seats absolutely riveted and glued to the pages of her books and Rage and Retribution is a menacing, terrifying, unflinching and chilling read with a brilliant detective that will have readers unable to get to sleep for weeks on end.

An outstanding thriller that is a must-read for fans of Val McDermid and Karin Slaughter, Rage and Retribution will go down a treat with crime fiction aficionados everywhere!

When a book keeps you up until the earlier hours of the morning you know its a winner. Which is definitely the case with this book. I absolutely freaking loved it.

So this is the fourth book in the series, and I am wondering why on earth I have never read this series before because it is so damn good. In fact It is so good, that I am going to buy the first three books and read it from the beginning. Not that I need to because this can easily be read has a standalone.

For me it is all about the beginning and the end right?! Well let me tell you the opening scene in this story is hard core giving me a nail biting OMFG moment leaving me wanting to know more. This is brutal to say the least. So not for readers who like a lighter read. And that ending, well I didn’t see that coming.

This story is dark, gritty and addictive and for me the first time I met DI Sterling. Oh boy I love him. He is a caring sole, head strong and determined. The author has woven some personal scenes into this well crafted story. And I just wanted to give him a hug. Anyone that hasn’t read this series is going to love him. The relationship between him and David is brilliant.

This is one of those stories that felt so real and made me feel like I was watching it on TV.

Talk about keeping me on the edge of my seat. There I am lying in bed reading this and find myself sitting on the edge of it biting my nails! There are plenty of uncomfortable scenes and this book will keep you guessing until the very end. Just when I thought I had it all worked out. The author throws a twist in the mix and throws me sideways. What a rollercoaster ride I have been on reading this.

I am blown away by this story and LOVE everything about it. I am so excited that I have found a new author to read. This is a must read for fans who like their books dark and gruesome. Rage and Retribution quite simply blew my mind! Which I highly recommend giving it all the stars. I cannot for the next installment.

Thank you to Rachel Gilby for a copy and for inviting me to take part on the tour

Wow, this book is certainly not for the squeamish reader!!! It is one of those books that hits you over the head and then when you are reeling with the force of the blow, you are staggering around trying to make sense of it, so to speak.

Paolo Sterling is back. Between his complicated love-life and members of his team at work not behaving themselves, Paolo already has a lot going on. Add in some really nasty crimes on his patch and he has his hands full completely.

This was a well-written book and I enjoyed every word of it. Quite proud of myself as I figured out who the criminal was slightly before the author revealed it; I am usually wrong about these things!

I can't wait until the next book comes out.

4.5 stars from me.

Rage and Retribution is the fourth instalment in the Detective Inspector Paolo Sterling police procedural series and left me aghast by how dark, disturbing and gritty it was with the plot being both shocking and pacy. Prominent local councillor Montague Mason arrives at the new community youth centre to declare it open and unveil a plaque. On pulling back the curtain it is clear that it has been vandalised by someone wishing to get their message out. The message alleges that Mason has embezzled money that was supposed go to the youth centre, and DI Sterling decides to open an investigation into the possible misappropriation of funds just as the allegations begin to fall under intense media scrutiny. Meanwhile, a vigilante is hard at work snatching known rapists off the streets and subjecting them to a taste of their own medicine by brutally raping, starving and torturing them and holding them captive for three days before dumping them back on the streets. Afterwards, none of them will speak regarding their experiences.

Previously published in 2014 as Looking for a Reason under Mace’s nom de plume Frances de Plino, this is a perfectly plotted thriller and a completely absorbing read; it's definitely up there with the most compulsive and enjoyable crime fiction titles I have read over the past couple of years. I intended on reading just a few chapters before bed but stayed up till 5 am to finish as there was no way I was going to sleep when I was that enthralled and caught up in the exciting plot. It’s not often a book has me under its spell quite like this and I was captivated and gripped from the first page. Be warned, it isn't for the faint-hearted as it features rape, torture and gore but boy was it deliciously dark and right up my street. Mace builds the tension and suspense to a palpable level before surprising you with a shocking and unexpected denouement. This is crime writing at its absolute finest; I simply can't wait for the next instalment. Many thanks to Headline for an ARC.

Men are being abducted ... held for three days with no food or water... bound and then brutally sexually assaulted. Then they are released with a date rape drug in their system.

DI Paolo Sterling and his team begin their investigation when one man is found next to a canal. Slowly identifying other men who have been subjected to the same vicious torture are located, but the men aren't talking. There were no police reports and the ones who sought out medical care are protected under the privacy act.

And then the torture escalates to murder ....

Although fourth in a series, this is easily read as a stand alone. This is a well written gritty, crime fiction. The suspenseful plot is well paced from beginning to end.

There are instances of male rape, assault, torture, violence ... not for those who may have triggers and not for the faint of heart.

Many thanks to the author / Headline Accent / Netgalley / THEBookClubReviewerGroup(FB) for the digital copy of this dark crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

Oh my goodness! What an opening chapter. If that doesn’t grab you then I don’t know what will.
When D I Paolo Sterling is called in to investigate a case of vandalism little does he know that it is connected to the men that are being tortured. Who are they? What do they have in common? Who would treat them so badly and why? This book gripped me from the opening page and didn’t let go until the end.
I have a real soft spot for Sterling and I hope that we will see more of him soon.
Highly recommend.
Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rage and Retribution begins with the opening of a youth center where the plaque has been defaced with lipstick and the assembled people of the community insist that DI Paolo Sterling look into it as well as into Montague Mason finances ,an upstanding member of the community,accused of misappropriating the youth center's funds. Parallel running to this is also a story-line about Nemesis who is seeking revenge against rapists by kidnapping and then torturing them for 3 days.

Rage and Retribution by Lorraine Mace is the 4th in the police procedural series featuring DI Paolo Sterling but can be read as a stand alone. A compulsive ,dark read, with trigger points like rape for some ,this book is full of suspense and intrigue and you will want to stay up until this one is finished.

I would like to thank The Book Club Reviewer Request Group , Netgalley and the author for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review.

This book hit the ground running and the very first page was hard to read, it was graphic but necessary and had me gripped. DI Paolo Sterling and his team CC, Jack and Dave are called to the hospital where the doctor fears for a mans life due to the torture he has gone through and this is not an isolated incident. They have to find out who did this before someone is killed. They are also having to deal with a defaced plaque in the local youth centre,when they unveiled the plaque it had MASONS A CRUK written on it with what looked like lipstick and of course the assembled press and dignitaries insisted that Paolo looked into it. What the team uncover in the course of their enquiries is not for the feint hearted but believe me once you start reading you will not be able to put it down!
I had not realised that this was the 4th in a series and felt it held well as a stand alone but I am going to go and read the others now.
Thank you TBC and NetGalley for the copy of the book.

DI Paolo Sterling has enough problems without this.

Men are being abducted, held captive for 3 days, tortured, raped, starved...and then released.

The victims won't admit they were held captive. They won't give the police any information to help catch the perpetrator.

Who is doing this? And why?

Wow! What a cracking read! I was already a fan of Mace's DI Sterling novels and I hoped this one would live up to my expectations. I wasn't disappointed. Like the the other novels in the series, this is a dark, perfectly plotted and pacy story.

Paolo's investigations into alleged corruption of a local councillor is carried out alongside another investigation into a series of attacks on alleged rapists. The victims are held and tortured for days on end. By the time they're released, they are unable to speak about what's happened to them.

Meanwhile, Paolo's trusted sidekick, DS Dave Johnson, is being subjected to a hate campaign by some of his colleagues - who wrongly believe Dave get preferential treatment because his uncle is Chief of Police.

Mace skilfully weaves together all these different plot elements, while also exploring Paolo's troubled relationship with his daughter. This relationship has run throughout the series and it's great to see how it's developed over time.

It's a joy to be back in Paolo's world. He is a complex, complicated and flawed protagonist who is also utterly credible and likeable. I was rooting for him the entire time.

Mace writes very dark fiction, exploring themes of revenge, jealousy and the challenges of raising children in the aftermath of trauma. She's a hugely talented writer. I can't wait to see what Paolo does next!

Once again Lorraine Mace has written a compelling book. How can people act so badly to each other. No words for the cruelty in this story. Retribution given out by one man who thinks it is his place in life to punish others. I found this book slow to start but once I got into the story I could not put it down. Definitely a 5 star read. Thank you for my review copy.

This is the first police procedural that I have read in the series, featuring DI Paolo Sterling by Lorraine Mace. It begins with the opening of a youth centre, in which Sterling has played a critical part in fundraising, but on revealing the plaque, it has been defaced with allegations of financial wrong doing by local councillor, Montague Mason. This has Sterling instigating a investigation in the youth and leisure centre's finances as the media intensity increases and he is looking to find out who was responsible for defacing the plaque too. There is a accompanying storyline about the mysterious Nemesis, seeking revenge for rapists who have escaped justice, it begins with Nemesis brutally torturing a man, Jason Corbett, and eventually dumps him at the scene of his crime.

The youth club investigations take Sterling to the men only private club, The Triple B, where he is given a tour by the owner of the public areas. On what appears to be another matter completely, Sterling is called by a worried doctor, he has a male patient so badly tortured that he is in a coma. What is more concerning to the doctor is that this is not an isolated incident, there have been other men with similar injuries but who have chosen to not report the terrible assaults they have endured. The doctor is afraid that the perpetrator will escalate his crimes to murder. Paolo is also facing internal police team problems, his hard working and able DS, Dave, is the nephew of the Chief Constable, and some are resentful, believing he is benefiting from nepotism and not bothering to hide their thinking. Paolo's attempts to address this issue does little to ameliorate the situation. All the threads begin to connect, there are murders and tragedy in a disturbing and complex case.

This is very dark crime fiction series from Mace, with an interesting protagonist in Paolo, a divorced man with relationship issues, and a young daughter, Katy, who with her boyfriend, wants to volunteer abroad with VSO, he is not happy about this, but knows that ultimately there is little he can do influence her decision. He tries to do his best for Dave, a man facing the pressures of wedding arrangements, and aware that there is a particularly malignant police team member, which he wants to address, but will he be too late? This is a compulsive read, so hard to put down, full of suspense and tension but there are trigger issues such as rape and sexual abuse. Mace covers important issues such as vigilantism, the ethics of vengeance in justice, the problems of playing judge and jury, and the errors that can arise. Many thanks to Headline for an ARC.

I have read this novel under the title Looking for a Reason by Frances Di Plino. Here is the review I wrote at the time

I don't understand why Ms Di Plino doesn't have a wider audience as her books are consistently well plotted and compulsive - I never want to put them down as I can't wait to see what's coming next. Looking For A Reason is no different. It is, however, not for the faint hearted as it involves a fair amount of rape. It opens with a blog by Nemesis describing the rape and torture of Jason Corbett which the police only find out about when called to the hospital where he lies, unidentified, in a coma. At the same time they have to investigate the vandalism of a plaque commemorating the opening of the new youth centre which turns out, almost inevitably, to be more than mere vandalism.
Looking For A Reason is an intricately plotted novel with a linear plot line with each development following on logically from the previous one and I will admit to being gripped, not only by the investigations but by Paolo's ongoing love life and the run up to Dave's wedding which seems all too familiar. Paolo Storey is a good protagonist as he is a decent man with no real hang ups (unlike most detectives) and a determination to see justice done. The rest of his team are not so well developed as characters but Dave's wedding run up provides some light relief. It is, however, not all gore and there are some genuinely sad scenes towards the end and the final few paragraphs have left me desperate to know what is coming next - read it and see!
I recommend Looking For A Reason as a very good read