Shed No Tears by Caz Frear is a fantastic read.  DC Cat Kinsella is back and this time, she's investigating a murder when the remains of Holly Kemp are recovered several years after she went missing.  The evidence points to convicted serial killer, Christopher Masters, but Cat is sure all isnt what it seems.  I found this book to be gripping and cant wait for the next in the series.  4 stars

I have been lucky, in a way, playing catch up as I have, that I have been able to read all three Cat Kinsella books back to back. Lucky because it means that all of the characters and events are fresh in my ind as I read this book, but also lucky because it has been such a great series to get my teeth into. This latest instalment, She No Tears, was no exception. Thrown into the heart of the investigation from the off, this book kept me rapt from start to finish and is quite possibly my favourite of the three.

The book opens with Cat and DS Lu Parnell attending a crime scene in Cambridgeshire where what is let of the body of a young woman is found in a ditch in remote farmland. Why are Cat and Parnell involved you may well ask. Well, it is because this body has links to a case investigated by the Met Police some six years earlier, the notorious 'Roommate Killer', and this young woman was believed to be his final victim. Until now. Although all the evidence pointed towards Christopher Masters at the time, the discovery of the body sheds new light on the investigation and forces the team to reopen the case, if only to put it to bed once and for all and to close the case file down. But if it was going to be that easy, this would be a very, very short book.

It wasn't and it isn't. What Caz Frear has delivered to us instead is an investigation that is full of holes, ones so big you could drive an Artic-lorry through in some cases, and one that forces the MIT4 team to look deeper into the past and some of the so-called cast iron witness statements that were taken at the time. It brings the team into contact with some very shady characters, some of whom move in circles a little too close to Cat's own complicated family life, and also some of the original investigating officers, including DCI Steele's old boss and mentor. Once again the author has created characters who are diverse and authentic, form the uber-ambitious DCI Tess Dyer, through to the more menacing Crime boss, Simon Fellows. Each one with their distinct personality brings the story to life.

Now this is a story of misdirection, where nothing is quite what it seems. But how much of it is down to human error and how much is by design remains to be seen. I loved watching the team at work, and seeing the conflict that arises in Cat when she received not one but two offers anyone would find it hard to refuse. This book certainly marks a potential crossroad in her life, making her take a long hard look at what it is she really wants. Yet none of this detracts her from the job in hand and although her instincts seems slightly dulled this time around, she is still quick enough to spot some of the more ambiguous and doubtful elements of the original case.

It's hard to say a lot more without giving too much away, but what i will do is reiterate what i said earlier - this is possibly my favourite of the three books to date. The story just drew me in, the mystery just enough to keep my interest piqued. There is a chilling back story in the Roommate Killer case, but also an underlying element of tension that bubbles along as the story progresses, something that tells you something isn't right but keeps you in suspense to the end. If you love the series, then you are going to love this book too.

Shed No Tears is the third book in the Cat Kinsella series but the first one I have read. Although there are clearly references to events that took place earlier it didn’t have any real impact on my enjoyment of the book but did make me hunt out the others in the series and they are now happily sitting in my TBR pile. 
When the body of Holly Kemp is found, Cat and the rest of the team find themselves having to re-open the case of The Room Mate Killer. Holly had been believed to be the killer’s final victim before he was finally caught but on examination of her remains, certain details don’t match up. With the previous Senior investigating officer also on the scene can they find out what really happened to her and if the right person was convicted of her murder. 
Cat Kinsella is quite a likeable character. She has a healthy respect for both her boss DCI Kate Steele and her closest colleague DS Lu Parnell, and you can see that they work well together. She is hiding some secrets from both her colleagues and her family and this often plays on her mind as she wonders if she is compromising herself too much. She is very down to earth and sometimes says what she thinks without filter. She sees her boss as her mentor but also has her head turned by the possibility of furthering her career, whilst also worrying about what that would mean for those she loved.
This is certainly not a straightforward case for the team as they are trying to piece together things that happened 6 years ago and lets face it we all have issues remembering what we did last month never mind that far back. They are also dealing with the fact that they are trying not to upset the team that previously investigated Holly’s disappearance. The book certainly has quite a few twists and turns and there are some moments of humour between the team. I think that Caz Frear has managed to get the balance right within the team and although Steele keeps her eye on the ball at all times she also gives them some leeway to go where the investigations take them. The action is not in your face so there is more of a believability about it. 
Now that I have discovered Caz Frear and Cat Kinsella I look forward to more from them and I am off to read the rest of the series to find out what I have missed.

This is a series I’ve loved since the very first book – main protagonist Cat Kinsella is so realistic and full of depth that I immediately engaged with her, that has continued through every subsequent instalment and Shed No Tears was no exception.

The family drama is just as compelling as any of the mystery elements, the twisted interconnected relationships and ever changing morality is riveting so each story has a continuing arc that is hugely addictive.

Then of course you have separate investigations undertaken by Cat and the team and each one is intelligently plotted, unpredictable and perfectly paced to keep the reader turning the pages avidly awaiting the next reveal.

Shed No Tears has a serial killer, an enigmatic and flawed victim, a twisted sense of right and wrong with plenty of “ooh” moments making it another tip top fully immersive crime thriller from the pen of Caz Frear.

Not many writers of this creative, talented level are out there so I highly recommend that you read these if you are a fan of all things crime fiction

With thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the arc. which I have enjoyed reading.
This is book 3 in the Cat Kinsella series and once again it is a very accomplished story. The characters are very well drawn and believable, the storyline is clever and well thought out. The story had plenty of twists and turns and was interesting and an enjoyable read. The final twist was superb.
Highly recommended

Cat Kinsella is an extremely complex character with a dubious backstory so you really would be doing yourself a favour by reading books 1 and 2 before starting this one.
Remains of a woman are found. They are subsequently identified as those of Holly Kemp who was deemed to be a victim of the notorious Roommate Killer, one Christopher Masters, now deceased who admitted her killing and retracted it several times en route to his conviction for the other three he definitely killed. Solid eye witness testimony put Holly on his street, at his doorway, talking to him. But her remains don't really speak of the Roommate Killer at all. Manner, location and all sorts of things are a bit off. So much so that it is decided to re-open that arm of the investigation. Cat and Parnell start to peel back the layers that formed that case, talking to both witnesses and the cops that run the original investigation. It soon transpires that there are some key things that just don't add up whatever way you try and look at (spin) them. Is it all about to explode around them, and are they in danger from it all?
I love Cat - she is all things a little dodgy - her backstory say it all really - her father's part in the death of her boyfriend's sister - whew...! And she knows when to toe the line at work - she knows - she just doesn't do it! Which makes for a very colourful, and rather maverick, cop all told. Parnell tries to rein her in but, well... and, where we leave the book - with what may/could happen - oooh exciting stuff indeed. But that'd be telling!
The story in this book is a doozy too. All interconnected and intriguing and had me chasing my tail along with Cat as we both tried to unpick all the things wrong in the original investigation. I failed, thankfully she didn't! Pacing is perfect and the story gets on with itself very well indeed along with the expected and accepted occasional segue into the characters' personal lives that is synonymous with a series book.
All in all a cracking addition to an already well loved series. Hanging for the next one! My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

This is the third book in the excellent DS Cat Kinsella series and to get the most out of the involved back story iI would recommend reading Sweet Little Lies and Stone Cold Heart first.  

Caz Frear has created a great character with her young detective, she's gutsy and tenacious but she's also keeping secrets that could destroy her hard won career if they are discovered. The plotting between the back story and her current investigation into the discovery of a body who was assumed to be the responsibility of 'The 'Roommate Killer' Christopher Masters but the MO is different and the body was found in Cambridge, miles away from the scene of the supposed crime. The investigation is in depth and the author keeps hold of the readers attention by the killer combination of realistic characterisation and plenty of red herrings to keep those brain cells firing on all cylinders.

Another great addition to the contemporary police procedural.

I don't know why, but for some reason I had Caz Frear's first novel Sweet Little Lies on my wish list years ago. However, from one day to the next it suddenly disappeared. I don't even remember why I took it off. It might have something to do with the fact that I found out it was a series. I'm not usually one to pick up detective series. There's one I'm fond off which is Lee Child's Jack Reacher, but all others I try to avoid. I don't like the feeling of being "stuck" to a series. I'm one of those people who can't quite a series, even if they don't like it. That's why I have almost the full Harry Hole series in my bookcase by Jo Nesbo. 

Anyways, I digress. The reason I had this book on my wish list is because the idea that Cat Kinsella is operating in the UK police force even though her dad is a hardened criminal in organised crime sparked my interest. When I saw the third book in the series on Netgalley I decided to jump right into it. 

Shed No Tears is about the final victim of a serial killer who was active around and apprehended in 2012. Holly Kemp is found in a field near Cambridge. The discovery of the final body could potentially wrap the whole case up. However, the serial killer Christopher Masters had never confessed to murdering her and when inspector Cat and Luigi look closer at the victim, they notice quite a few discrepancies with Masters' other victims. 

I like the fact that even though there are a lot of allusions to the previous novels, we're actually getting enough information to understand roughly what happened and what feeling we have to have towards the people in Cat's life, but not too much to want to make the two previous novels redundant. You can easily read this novel, and still get the "full experience" of Cat Kinsella. The stories of previous novels are intertwined with this one, so be careful, because it'll get you wanting more. 

Other things I liked were the easy banter between Kinsella and people she conversed with. I think she's a fun person to be around and I really enjoy her sarcasm and wit. It never turns self-deprecating or too much. You know those female protagonists who are so snippy and snide almost no woman can identify with them? Artemis by Andy Weir is the first novel that comes to mind that has one of those protagonists. 

Another important element I liked is the plot itself. Nothing is what you'd expect, in a good way. It twists-and-turns without it being overtly twisty. You simply find out new things throughout the course of the novel. The fact that those new things are completely unexpected show what a good writer Caz Frear is. 

Highly recommended and aside from the fact that I will definitely read the first and second book in this instalment, I really hope more books are on the way. Sometimes it's nice to read a book in a series and to know that the end is not yet in sight.

“BUT IF YOU'D GOT AWAY WITH MURDER, WHAT WOULD YOU DO WHEN THE CASE IS RE-OPENED?”
 
Dc Cat Kinsella and her team are investigating the “roommate” killings as there is another possible victim. The man whom they thought was the perpetrator is now dead himself but things aren’t adding up as the first victims were strangled and the latest one was shot. Cat has her own issues. Her boyfriend had his sister go missing several years before then being found dead and she knows her father, albeit innocent, knows something about this. This is the third in the series but happily stands alone (I hadn’t read the others). This is a fairly fast pace and very “chatty” style of crime writing- something different and new to me. Alot is learned from conversations rather than situations and the whole thing is told by Cat and hence from her perspective. A very different read and one to keep the grey matter alive.
(rest of links as part of blog tour)

Shed No Tears is the third book in the DC Cat Kinsella series by Caz Frear and it is an interesting police crime thriller.

 The main storyline is a Cold Case that leads to numerous twists and turns with Kinsella and colleagues struggling to know what and who to believe. 

Whilst this can be read as a stand-alone it is probably better if you have read the previous books in the series so that you can follow the various subplots etc.

The story is told in the first person which can be a little distracting at times but overall this is a decent read. Recommended

The third book to feature DC Cat Kinsella. Cat and her team have found the body of Holly Kemp the last victim of the Room Mate killer. The M O is so different from the other victims. Cat can't ask the killer as he was murdered in prison. Discrepancies  and inconsistency are abound. New fresh eyes are needed. Full of misdirection and more than a few surprises. This book kept me guessing and reading late into the night. 
Thanks to Bonnier Books and Netgalley for the ARC.

Almost finished this book, but wanted to write the review already. Really enjoyed it - lots going on, and very clear voice, with some very clever phrasing too - imagine Charlie Brooker writing a crime book, and you are halfway there. The details in it are excellent too!

What a fabulous read and with a plot so intricate it could tie you up in knots it was that good. We start with the discovery of the remains of  Holly Kemp who was a suspected victim of the serial killer Christopher Masters known as The Roommate Killer but things just don’t add up with this discovery and Cat and the team are tasked with reopening the case and wow does this make for one hell of a good story. 
I love the character of Cat Kinsella and in this instalment of the series I think she really does come into her own. The rest of the team are equally well written and all likeable  and there is always a feeling of realness about the banter that goes on between them. 
It’s a police procedural that really stands out and with twists and surprises and a wow of a ending making me desperate for the next in a series that I love. No hesitation in recommending this read and many thanks to Caz Frear for a book that really does hit the mark and a 5 star read.
My thanks also to NetGalley and Bonnier Books UK, Zaffre for giving me the chance to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I knew from the first Cat Kinsella novel that Caz Frear has created something special. Cat feels so real, you’d love to meet her in the pub and have a good chin wag over something chilled. In this novel, we go back to 2012 and the Roommate Killer who is otherwise known as Christopher Masters. The case resurfaces when bones are discovered in a ditch in Caxton, Cambridge. These prove to be the remains of Holly Kemp who has been missing for six years and assumed to be one of Masters victims although he was never charged. Subsequent enquiries reveals things than don’t line up with the 2012 investigation and a strong desire by surprising characters to keep secrets well and truly buried. The story is told by Cat which makes for lively reading. 

First of all, this team are amongst the best in contemporary crime fiction. I’ve already sung Cats praises but DS Luigi Parnell is a marvellous sidekick. DCI Kate Steele, the head of the team, is brilliant. She is smart in every way and always has the right words which are frequently funny. The whole team feels authentic, their (mostly) camaraderie feels very natural, I love the snappy repartee, the dark humour and that they have each other’s back. The plot is gripping, it feels plausible and flows really well. There’s tension, suspense, plenty of twisty surprises as the team get to the truth that none of them wants to believe in a dramatic conclusion. In the background is Cats guilt about her father’s connections to organised crime and be in particular is way too close to home. I like how she has to balance her dysfunctional family with her overwhelming desire to do her job to the best of her ability. It adds an extra dimension to the storytelling. 

Overall, a police Procedural, crime novel of high calibre which I have no hesitation in recommending. 

With thanks to NetGalley and in particular to Bonnier Books UK for the ARC and to Caz Frear for entertaining me so well.

Thank you to Bonnier Books UK and NetGalley for the Arc of this book before it's released later this year ❤️

As well thank you for Caz Frear for writing a sensational book, this is the 3rd one in her series📚

When Cat and her team gets called to a scene where a girl named Holly Kemp's remains have been found tackling the team with some questions which they are tasked in answering...😱

They assumed Holly was the fourth victim of the 'Room Mate Killer' 

A man who was arrested after Holly's disapparence.. but he is now dead... As he was killed inside prison.. So warrants a full blown investigation of this and a new investigation is probed...

This is my first Caz Frear books I haven't read any previous of her books this works as a continuation after the 2 previous books and as a standalone... I will be going to read her 2 previous books to so I understand the room mate killer investigations and how it became a thing 

Well done Caz Frear a thrilling gripping page turning thriller with twists and turns all the way through put the book finished within a few hours!! 

Definitely recommend ❤️
5 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I really enjoyed this one, possibly the most out of the whole series. The storyline was convoluted and interesting, keeping you on your toes. Cat and her team had to review a past case of a murder committed six years earlier, after the rotting remains of the victim had finally been found on a field, and see if the right man had taken the blame. Not all is as straightforward as it first seems with key witnesses appearing to be hiding behind perfectly formed recollections of the past and the past investigation itself seeming rushed in favour of pleasing the higher-ups in the command chain. 

The protagonist is a young, twenty something Constable Detective Cat Kinsella who comes from a family (read father, occasionally brother) keeping close roots with the criminals, often dabbing on the wrong side of the law themselves. Cat conceals the fact, and often is forced to turn a blind eye in exchange for information in relation to cases she works on. Lies seem to surround her in the personal life and work, often converging and expanding, making the series a ticking time bomb which you’re just waiting to see explode. 

Cat’s narrative is gold; it’s snarky and heavy on the sarcasm, which on more than one occasion had left me sniggering at something she had said. Cat throws out judgemental remarks as often as she swears and rarely will miss an opportunity to argue with someone (if not in her out loud, then definitely in her head). She’s flawed and she knows it, yet does nothing to change it, which will make you sigh because clearly she should know better by now. 

There are plenty of crime novels out there and finding one where where the narrative is both fun and engaging can become a chore, but don’t worry this one wins tops marks on fulfilling both criteria. Frear had done fantastic job in developing all of the characters throughout the novels and keeping the dynamic of the team fresh and that of a big family. The case in this one and the superb writing make sure you will want to devour the book in one setting. Recommended. 

I really enjoyed this one, possibly the most out of the whole series. The storyline was convoluted and interesting, keeping you on your toes. Cat and her team had to review a past case of a murder committed six years earlier, after the rotting remains of the victim had finally been found on a field, and see if the right man had taken the blame. Not all is as straightforward as it first seems with key witnesses appearing to be hiding behind perfectly formed recollections of the past and the past investigation itself seeming rushed in favour of pleasing the higher-ups in the command chain.

My thoughts about this brilliant third part in the DC Cat Kinsella Shed NoTears was outstanding a tensed gripping edge of your police procedural that tells the story of a victim that was missing six years a go that was never found all of a sudden her remains have been discovered and a deadliest serial killer who killed her that she was his last victim who denied he killed her was already dead so the case was closed six years ago but when the victims body gets discovered DC Cat Kinsella investigates an old case that was dealt with six years ago what she finds it was more than just a murder case was outstanding what else she finds while she does the investigation truly blew me away Author Caz Frear truly knows how to write a hardhiting police procedural that left me thinking what a gripping ride it was highly recommended I would like to say thank you to Caz Frear the publishers and netgalley for giving me an opportunity to read and review this hardhiting police thriller 💥💥💥💥💥⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I would like to thank Netgalley and Bonnier Books UK for an advance copy of Shed No Tears, the third novel to feature DC Cat Kinsella of The Met.

When Holly Kemp’s remains are discovered it raises several questions that Cat and the team are tasked with answering. It was always assumed that Holly was the fourth victim of The Roommate Killer, a man arrested shortly after her disappearance and who wouldn’t confirm this one way or another. He is now dead and the discrepancies are enough to warrant a full investigation.

I thoroughly enjoyed Shed No Tears which is an absorbing read with an interesting premise. After the prologue it is told entirely from Cat Kinsella’s point of view so the reader can get fully immersed in the read without distraction and can interpret the information alongside her rather from the position of superior knowledge. Of course I wasn’t as smart as Cat so the resolution was surprising and dumbfounding to me. I loved the whole investigation which unravels the truth piece by piece albeit via some blind alleys and false assumptions. These latter are mitigated by the collaborative team approach with brainstorming and blue sky thinking (ok, I’m kidding about the blue skies). 

Cat has a great voice for a protagonist. She is a fairly normal person, in turns funny, smart and cranky with thoughts of her personal life intruding Into the investigation. I say fairly normal as she has some big secrets which involve lying and rigidly compartmentalising the various areas of her life. It’s stressful and obvious that it will come painfully tumbling down at some point. Most of these secrets refer to events in the previous two novels which I wish I’d re-read first as the frequent references with not much explanation are frustrating to the reader who can’t remember.

Shed No Tears is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

The body of Holly Kemp is discovered 6 years after she went missing. The presumed killer is dead, but it quickly turns out that her death didn't fit his MO.
But if he wasn't responsible for her death, then who was?
Cat Kinsella has a hard case to crack.

This is the third book in the Cat Kinsella series, but unfortunately I didn't realise this when requesting the ARC.
However, this fact had only a minimal impact on my rating.
I'm sorry to say that this book turned out not to be to my liking at all, and I considered abandoning it multiple times. I was really struggling to keep going and only did so because I don't like leaving stories unfinished no matter how little they grip me.
The fact that the presumed killer was dead meant that there was no urgency to the investigation, and therefore the whole story lacked suspense. 
However, it was definitely a well-plotted story, with an ending that I didn't see coming, and this is the only reason why I decided to raise the rating up to 2 stars.
I realise that my opinion is an unpopular one, I have not seen a single review of 1 or 2 stars, so you should check it out yourself.

Shed No Tears is the third in a series featuring likeable young DC Cat Kinsella. I read the second, Stone Cold Heart, last year but haven’t yet read the first, which is a bit of a failing as there’s quite a lot of continuity with the characters. (In fact after reading and very much enjoying the second one, I planned to redress this by immediately buying the first one on Kindle - but for some reason I then never got round to actually reading it.  I’m definitely going to do that now.)

Anyway, you don’t have to have read the previous books to enjoy Shed No Tears, though it probably helps to understand a bit more about the backstory of the characters. Here, Cat’s team is investigating the murder of Holly Kemp after her body is found - Holly, who disappeared a few years ago, was always assumed to be the fourth victim of serial killer Christopher Masters, in what were known as the Roommate Murders. (Masters himself alternately claimed and denied responsibility.) But when Holly’s body is found, there are clear discrepancies which cast doubt on Masters’ involvement... and they can’t ask the man himself, as he was killed in prison by a fellow inmate.

As Cat and the team probe further, it seems that the original investigation, led by the impressive high-flyer Tess Dyer, might have had a few flaws... Meanwhile, Cat’s dealing with hard-to-resolve secrets in her personal life concerning her lovely boyfriend Aiden and his links to her own family and a previous murder investigation.

Caz Frear definitely knows how to write an engaging story. I loved reading about Cat and the team - her “work dad” DS Luigi Parnell is adorable, and DCI Kate Steele is just the kind of boss I’d love to be.

And now I’m off to read part one of the series and catch up on what I’ve missed...