Having read all of Rachel Lynch’s Kelly Porter novels set in the beautiful English Lake District I regret to confirm that this latest offering continues a disturbing trend established in the last two or three. I refer to the increasing use of gratuitous and sexually explicit violence perpetrated against an implausibly large number of local women. The USP of the series used to be a careful and engaging fusion of: warm and fond references to the fantastic Lake District environment; careful and reasonably plausible police procedural themes; and a natural and well- constructed narrative around Kelly’s personal life and career development. For reasons that aren’t clear, Ms Lynch seems to have tired of this plot evolution and has chosen to write more in the style of Patricia Cornwall or Karin Slaughter.
Nothing wrong with that, you may say: these are two successful authors in their own right, and I have enjoyed both, albeit with some reservations from time to time. But the question that needs asking in relation to this development in Ms Lynch’s writing is simple: does the use of such explicit and gratuitous - almost pornographic- violence contribute significantly to the development of the plot? For this reader, the answer is a resounding ‘NO’. Ms Lynch may care to reflect on how the best authors leave more to be developed in the mind of the reader.

For readers unfamiliar with the English Lake District it might be helpful to explain that, whilst there are areas of significant deprivation in peripheral large towns and the inevitable criminality common to tourist hotspots, it is not the epicentre of violent and depraved crime portrayed in the recent Kelly Porter books!

Who would have believed it, Kelly Porter pregnant! Will this affect the way she works, I for one hope that it doesn’t. Kelly and her close knit, although a little strange family unit are all over the moon about this. Yet again a fantastic, gripping storyline from Rachel Lynch whose Kelly Porter storylines get better and better. A fabulous page turner, long may they continue despite the pregnancy.

I love the Kelly Porter books and this one did not disappoint. Great writing and premise. Amazing characters. Page turner. Plenty of suspense to keep me enthralled. Definitely look forward to her next offering. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review it

I am a big fan of this series, and couldn't wait to get stuck into this latest instalment.

It's a little bit of a slow start, but towards the end ramps up the tension and details some truly hideous crimes. This is not for the faint-hearted, because the descriptions are graphic. Chasing down the criminals, Kelly's reactions give a good insight into a police person's job, and just how galling it must be to not be able to prosecute a criminal or know that the judicial system can only go so far, even though the crime deserves a far heftier punishment.

I was a little disappointed that Kelly's family were given such a back seat in this book. The relationship that she has with her dad and Johnny are what give the series such heart. Hopefully, when the pair become parents, their relationship dynamic will be given more consideration.

My thanks go to the publishers and Netgalley for the advance copy in return for an honest review.

Lost Cause is the eighth book in the DI Kelly Porter series, and it seems to get better and better.
It’s a cold winters morning in the Lake district, when a dismembered body is found in a wheelie bin. The victim was reported missing months ago, but the victim was recently killed, dirty and malnourished. Kelly Porter and her team oversee the investigation, including Dan a new member of the team transferred from Glasgow. Apparently, a fan of Kelly.
Kelly Porter has her work cut out with not only the investigation but also with her personal life going up a notch. Johnny is moving in and she is pregnant. But that doesn’t stop her giving 100 percent to the investigation before another body is found. There are links to prostitution and some Chinese diplomats as the case unfolds.
Thank you, Canelo, and NetGalley for a copy of Lost cause. Once again Rachel Lynch writes another superb story in this series. The quality of her writing never falters. It is gripping and original and more grisly than other episodes in this series. I like Kelly, whatever is going on in her life she always give her full attention to what she does and the determination to get the job done. 5 stars from me.

This series by Rachel Lynch never fails to impress. I love this series. The central character, Kelly Porter, her team ,and her personal life, and all great. A wonderful plot, a real page turner, and I especially love all the depictions of the Lake District. Can’t wait for the next one.

I never repeat the blurb. Back we are with DI Kelly Porter and team as they investigate another grisly crime in their idyllic surroundings. Intricately woven, contemporary references bring this story to life.

Another great book in the DI Kelly Porter series! Brilliant gripping read, flew through it, plenty of twists and turns. Definitely worth reading.

I've followed this series from the start and could not wait for book 8 in the DI Kelly Porter series. Set in the Lake District, this series features a tough but likeable female detective, the beautiful but inhospitable Lakes and consistently well-plotted police procedural narratives. The series seems to become a bit darker with every book and this one does have some quite disturbing themes, including child abuse, prostitution and torture,

In this instalment, Detective Inspector Kelly Porter and her team are investigating the killing of a woman whose body is found in a bin in a tiny village. They begin to notice that there is a pattern of women disappearing in the area, particularly those who are vulnerable and potentially involved in prostitution. What starts as a murder investigation quickly becomes a race against time to discover where the women are being taken before more vanish. Thrown into the mix is a disturbed and lonely young man who frequents an abandoned churchyard and seems to know a lot about the women; it is up to Kelly to determine what his involvement is in the crimes,

As already mentioned, this is a dark story and the sense of looming disaster is enhanced by the setting - the Lake District in January is bleak and remote and often impossible to navigate because of the snow. This further hinders the investigation and makes the story more tense, as does the problems the police have in managing the case across different policing areas. I'm not an expert in these things, but the series seems solidly researched and realistic.

I'd recommend this to those who have followed DI Kelly Porter from the beginning. It does work as a stand-alone, but you would have missed the significance of some of the issues surrounding Kelly's personal situation and so picking up the series earlier on would be better. This is a solid, well-plotted police procedural and will certainly keep you reading as you race to find out what happens!

A body, showing evidence of neglect, malnutrition and torture, found in a wheelie bin poses a problem for the Cumbria constabulary. The dead woman had been reported missing 3 months ago yet was only killed recently. Where has she been kept? And by whom? Detectives are now concerned about another young woman who was reported missing more recently as the women have quite a bit in common. As the investigation progresses yet another woman disappears. Authorities are now fairly certain the three disappearances are linked. DI Kelly Porter and her team are working closely with DI Craig Lockwood, based in Barrow. Between them they cover Cumbria but it seems that between the two stations some important information has fallen through the cracks.

Kelly’s team, as ever, is dedicated and works hard at cracking the case. Kelly herself is pregnant but is still not quite sure how she feels about it. A new DS from Glasgow, Dan Houghton, is an excellent addition to the team. Finding a suspect proves elusive although the Grasmere village gossip is convinced a young man, Kevin Flint, who is very socially awkward is responsible. Kelly is sceptical but police do uncover crimes of a different nature when the investigate the goings on in Grasmere.

This book had a lot of characters in it and quite a busy plot so concentration was needed. Nevertheless it was a great police procedural with excellent and plausible characters that you get to know and like through the series. Many thanks to Netgalley, Canelo and Rachel Lynch for providing this copy in exchange for an honest review.

Another dark and twisted case for Kelly and her team made difficult by the weather and a literal wall of silence. The plot focuses on the extreme sexual abuse of women and is incredibly graphic at times but we see Kelly softening in in her personal life

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this exciting book

kelly porter and her squad are set for the worst crime scene imaginable...

a body is found in a wheelie bin...
and with other girls going missing kelly and her team are up against it...time is running out for the girls

but could there really be a brothel in their neck of the woods...

another successful book in this series thats not afraid to hit you hard with gruesome scenes and the depravity of mankind...

I am back in the Lake District for another in the gripping and very addictive Kelly Porter series. A dismembered body of a female is found in a wheelie bin. The victim was reported missing several months ago. Where has she been all this time? How did end up in a bin discarded like rubbish??? As the investigation continues more girls are going missing. Do they have a serial killer, organised crime??? Once I started reading this book I could not put it down. Twists and turns galore which really gave my grey matter a real workout and a few surprises along the way. I can't wait to read more of this fantastic series.
Thanks to Canelo and Netgalley for the ARC in return for giving an honest review.

Woohoo number 8 in this brilliant series. I love the writing, the setting and the characters in this series.
The book opens on a bitterly cold winter morning as the rubbish collection workers make a grizzly discovery of a body in a wheelie bin. At the same time Kelly is out on a run contemplating a huge change in her personal life, and so begins a cracking great read. The main plot hurtles along at breakneck speed as more women go missing, add some Chinese diplomatic interference, a troubled teenager, and a prostitution ring. Meanwhile in the subplot Kelly and Johnny have some major things to consider, we are introduced to some new characters, as well as reacquainting with the old. It’s like meeting up with old friends and catching up on their news. Excellent read.

This was another great read by Rachel Lynch . I love the Kelly Porter series and this certainly didn’t disappoint . After a body is found stuffed in a wheelie bin Kelly’s team soon link the murder with other missing young women who were all discovered working as prostitutes . With some Chinese diplomats muddying the waters and a prolific serial killer on the loose , Kelley has her work cut out for her , I love the descriptions of the Lake District and in this book the wintery weather is also hindering the case . Really enjoyed this another 5 star read for me

So we are back in the beautiful setting of the Lake District which is very close to where I live, back with the fabulous DI Kelly Porter and with a tremendous
plot line what more could you wish for in book 8 of this excellent series.
The book starts with the remains of a body found in a refuse bin that’s being collected on a snowy winter’s morning and it’s a pretty gruesome find to say the least. Kelly is brought in to investigate and what’s follows is a complex and compulsive story of missing girl’s, prostitution and more covering a wide area and it’s a another page turner.
What I love about this book and the whole series is that’s it’s a mix of police procedural and also the ongoing story of Kelly and her family and that really adds to the enjoyment of the read and as soon as I finish the book I am always desperately waiting for the next to find out what will happen in Kelly’s life and that’s what makes the series special for me.
Congratulations Rachel Lynch you have another 5 star winner, it’s just fantastic and one that I can highly recommend.
My thanks to NetGalley and Canelo for giving me the chance to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I have read several of the kelly Porter series. I love the author's descriptions of the Lake District, which I have visited many times. This book is set just after New Year and the setting is very different from that enjoyed by tourists. Snow is on the ground and at one point Kelly is stranded and has to book into an hotel. This story is about missing girls one of whom turns up dead in a wheelie bin. Kelly's personal life is on the up. Her partner Johnny, The father of her unborn child is moving in with her and her relationship with his teenage daughter, Josie is good as is her relationship with her recently discovered natural father, Ted. A thoroughly enjoyable read.

When a body is found in a wheelie bin DI Kelly Porter and her team are given the investigation, there is no doubt that the woman was murdered and then cut up to fit in to the bin. The woman was reported missing some months ago but was then reported as seen in a different area and it was thought she had left Cumbria. Where she has been and who has done this is for the team to find out but as the investigation continues more girls go missing and this leads to other crimes being revealed.
Yet another great book by Rachel Lynch as the DI Kelly Porter series continues the books get better and I look forward to the next.

Collecting the bins, even in the middle of winter, isn't supposed to be a dangerous occupation but finding a dismembered body in with the potato peelings and dirty nappies definitely ramps up the stress levels.

The weather has closed in around the Lake District and DI Kelly Porter faces an uphill struggle to identify the body and find out who killed her. Add to that a new detective joining her team, big changes in her home life, not enough hours in the day and Kelly is finding it tough to provide the type of investigation and results she knows her victim deserves.

Once again Rachel Lynch has written a book to make you sit up and take notice. The Lake District is a popular choice for a number of very good British crime authors but this series has always been right up there with the best of them. The new member of the team. DS Dan Houghton is a good addition and provides a different way for newcomers to this excellent series to be introduced to the local area and the subsequent opportunity to include all the little bits of information needed for added clarity.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers in exchange for an unbiased review. I would recommend it to anyone who already enjoys this series, books set in the Lakes, or original British crime drama, as it ticks all these boxes and more.

DI Kelly Porter has nailed it again 8th book in the series. Brilliant book and just keeps you on the edge of your seat roll on the next one