I thought this was a brilliant plot. It certainly didn't go the way I expected. I love the interactions between the team especially Meg and Jai.
From folklore to something quite sinister, a real page turner.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the early copy in which I give my honest opinion.
Review to follow on my blog.

It's great to delve back into DI Meg Dalton's world! I feel like this is the best book in the series so far. It's very funny and I identify with Meg and her familiar struggles so much. It's also incredibly dark and twisty.

It's hard to describe the story without giving too much away. We start with a missing girl and develop into vigilante groups and family mysteries. There's a powerful discussion around meat eating too.

But then, it all develops into so much more. There are mysteries that spread out amongst the entire village, and the repurcussions reflect the intense description of a strange and unsettling place.

I was wowed by this book.

Thanks to HQ and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
#CuttotheBone #NetGalley


Simply wow. After reading this compelling thriller I feel the need to declare myself Roz Watkins' new number 1 fan. This is how thrillers should be written. I was hooked from the get-go. This was an enthralling story full of tension and twists, with suspense oozing from every articulately written page. Tautly-plotted doesn't begin to describe the creative thrust and execution of 'Cut to the Bone'. Indeed, this novel, which features the memorable, sure to be enduring, DI Meg Dalton, is a cut-above your average. The story revolves around the disappearance of beautiful young social-media star Violet Armstrong. Her clothes and hair are shortly found at an abattoir, but there is no sign of Violet. Then there is the fact that Violet's social media feed is preoccupied with extolling the benefits of eating meat. Is there a connection between the grisly find at the abattoir and Violet's online presence. Moreover, there is the question of what bearing events from 1999 have on the present-day disappearance of this young woman. Dalton is stymied, but time is running out for Violet. Moving through the metaphorical gears of building suspense - a natural part of the thriller writers armoury, the tension becomes palpable. This is edge-of-your-seat stuff The tension unbearable. Heart in mouth time. I loved every page. So, if you're reading this Roz Watkins, get writing! I need another fix of DI Meg Dalton and her deadly escapades. Thrilling, engrossing and addictive.

Twisted complicated thriller,mixing mysterious,dark woods with a ghost child and animal activists. Big surprises and twists.

The stunning new DI Meg Dalton novel from Roz Watkins, the acclaimed author of The Devil’s Dice and Dead Man’s Daughter.

***

When beautiful young social-media star Violet Armstrong goes missing in the middle of a scorching Peak District summer, the case sparks a media frenzy.

The clock is ticking for DI Meg Dalton and her team to find Violet before online threats explode into real-life violence. And then the blood and hair of a young woman are found in an empty pig trough at the local abattoir…

The more Meg finds out about this unnerving case, the more she becomes convinced that something very, very bad has happened to Violet. With temperatures rising and the press demanding answers, the case is about to take a terrifying turn…

My thoughts of this brilliant powerful terrifying third part police thriller was brilliant loved it how DI Meg Dalton finds out what really has happened to Violet was mindblowing the characters were outstanding Author Roz Watkins has written a powerful thriller that is unique and terrifying it grips you from the beginning till the end a outstanding masterpiece can not wait to get my hands on the book 💥💥💥💥💥⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I would like to thank Netgalley and HQ for an advance copy of Cut to The Bone,the third novel to feature DI Meg Dalton of the Derbyshire Police.

When Violet Armstrong goes missing from an abattoir in the Peak District village of Gritton it is a big deal as 18 year old Violet is an internet phenomenon who extols the virtues of meat. Tensions are rising and then her clothes and hair are found. It’s baffling.

I enjoyed Cut to The Bone which has a twisty plot, some great dialogue and a seriously imaginative plot. I’m not so sure that I found the solution convincing but the journey to get there is interesting and absorbing with its concentration on pigs and the legend of The Pale Girl.

The novel is told from Meg’s first person point of view and switches back to events in 1999 which have a bearing on the present day. The switches are helpfully labelled so there is no confusion. I found the 1999 narrative longwinded and overly detailed so I felt it distracted from the main event, the hunt for Violet and the is she/isn’t she alive conundrum. It has its place but could have just as easily been exposed through dialogue and the benefit of hindsight. I really liked the hunt for Violet (or her body) which is full of assumptions, secrets and twists.

Meg Dalton is an interesting character. She seems to see more clearly than her team but she’s not overly confident and finds the media trolling of her investigation and character difficult. I thought the author’s treatment of this aspect of modern life acute and spot on. She has her personal troubles as well with her wayward parents and guilt over her sister’s death many years ago. It all makes her human but it is also clear that she doesn’t know herself very well. She stresses over her ability to do her job when she’s more than competent.

Cut to The Bone is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

I have read the previous books in the series and loved them so I was very excited to get started with this. It was such a compelling read. Full of atmosphere and tension, the intensity cranked up after each page. It's full of great characters and kept me hooked from start to finish. I can't wait for the next one.

#CutToTheBone #NetGalley
I didn't just read it but also inhaled it. Its amazing.
When beautiful young social-media star Violet Armstrong goes missing in the middle of a scorching Peak District summer, the case sparks a media frenzy. The clock is ticking for DI Meg Dalton and her team to find Violet before online threats explode into real-life violence. And then the blood and hair of a young woman are found in an empty pig trough at the local abattoir...The more Meg finds out about this unnerving case, the more she becomes convinced that something very, very bad has happened to Violet. With temperatures rising and the press demanding answers, the case is about to take a terrifying turn.
Its language was just awesome. I inhaled this novel. It reached to my bone.
Thanks to NetGalley and HQ for giving me an advance copy.