Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for this ARC.

I found this to be a great, enjoyable read and an excellent follow on from the previous book. DI Sullivan and his team have an unusual investigation where a victim has been mummified and they have to find out who it is. I loved the story threads in this book and that the story was told through different characters. The author has a good writing style that immediately drew me in and held my attention throughout. The characters are very likeable and believable. There were lots of twists which I loved and didn’t expect. Overall, a fast paced thrilling read and I hope there will be another book featuring these characters.

This is the first book I’ve read by Alison Belsham but I will certainly rectify that. I loved this book and was engrossed from beginning to end.
Detective Francis Sullivan and his team are brought in to investigate the strange case of an expertly mummified corpse . Cryptic messages are left behind along with jars containing organs belonging to the deceased. It is soon apparent that the team have a serial killer on their hands.
In a separate case a man is murdered but Francis is excluded from the investigation due to his close relationship with the main suspect, the victims ex-wife. However he doesn’t accept she is guilty and sets about proving her innocence.
While studying the evidence it soon becomes apparent that Francis himself could be an intended victim of the killer labelled The Embalmer.
The book’s finale was fast paced with a twist I didn’t see coming. It seems some people will go to great lengths to seek revenge.

Well written and fast paced crime thriller.
This book had it all; grisly murders and tense intrigue captured in two stories running side by side. The central character, Francis Sullivan is the detective desperately trying to solve two murders cases he finds himself personally involved in, one where he may even find himself as a victim! Cleverly written with a fascinating insight into the Egyptian art of mummifying and embalming added an extra dimension to this book.

Full of action, suspense, gritty scenes and loads of tension, this is a great read that I thoroughly enjoyed despite this being the third instalment of this series but the first I have read. It does work as a standalone but I think it would be even better had I read the other 2 beforehand.

The characters are strong, as are the storylines which made things fast-paced and interesting which had me totally immersed from the start. The writing style is easy to read and although told from different points of view, I didn't find it hard to keep up and, in fact, felt this enhanced my reading experience.

The only thing I have to complain about is myself!! Why haven't I come across the first 2 in the series before? I must have been walking around with my eyes closed!

Thank you to Orion Publishing Group and NetGalley for my advance copy in return for an honest, unbiased and unedited review.

Shortly after Halloween, one of the caretakers of the Brighton Museum of Natural History finds that one of their exhibits has been disturbed: in place of the avian exhibit they expect to find, the birds have been removed, and a tableau of a mummy from Ancient Egypt has been left in place. The mummy seems authentic: from the presence of the four canopic jars, to the chemical compound used to preserve the body, this looks like a mummy from Ancient Egypt.

Detective Inspector Francis Sullivan of the Brighton Metropolitan Police Force is called in to investigate what looks like a prank pulled off by some local youths. But when he starts to look over the scene, something doesn’t add up: The mummy doesn’t look like it harks from ancient Egypt, and Francis starts to wonder if this is something more sinister than a prank gone wrong. When a second body appears, organs carefully preserved in canopic jars, he knows this is not the work of local pranksters.

As Francis prepares to head up the investigation, he gets word that his friend, Marnie Mullins, has been arrested for the murder of her husband, Thierry. Francis can’t believe she’s guilty, but the problem is that she claims the real murderer is someone who is already dead. Can Francis hunt down one of Brighton’s most vicious serial killers while at the same time working to help prove Marnie’s innocence?

The Embalmer is the third book of Alison Belsham’s series focusing on DI Francis Sullivan, and although I could tell that this book was part of a series, I found that I could read it quite happily without knowing anything about what had happened previously. Belsham does a good job of catching the reader up on the more pertinent details early on, without it feeling laboured, but I can definitely see how some of the events of previous books could carry through into this one, and would have given the cast a richer, deeper characterization.

This being said, the book is still good; I still enjoyed it and found it engaging and interesting. The way the book was told from different viewpoints was an effective way of keeping the strands of the story moving together at all times, and I found that it was used relatively effectively. However, on the note of the different viewpoints: I found that the use of them, while effective, felt like it forced a secondary A-plot into the book. What I mean by this is that there seemed to be two storylines jostling for pole position, and this ended up making the book feel a bit overfull and too cluttered for me. The main mystery of the Embalmer made sense – after all, this is a police procedural novel. But Marnie’s storyline felt like it was rammed into the book and actually took away from the main storyline at times. The execution of the story may have actually been cleaner if these two stories were split over two books, and there was a slightly less intense B-plot put into the books.

Another quirk that I found odd in this book: each chapter starts with the exposition of whose point of view you are reading from and the date of the action taking place. This, in and of itself, is not odd. However, I found that in instances where a new day was presented, Belsham would skip over the majority of the day, and start the storyline after Francis had left the police station for the day. This was strange to me, as I would have expected that the majority of the investigative action would likely have happened during the workday, rather than across numerous evening emergency phone calls. This may be a stylistic choice, but it was definitely one that I picked up as slightly jarring.

Overall, though, I think the storylines, as busy as they were, were relatively strong and were interesting. I felt invested in the resolution of the case and wanted to see how it all came together. I was a little disappointed by the ending as it made use of one of the murder mystery tropes that I am not particularly fond of. Without spoiling the ending, I felt a bit cheated by the finale, and I was hoping for something more intricate. Either way, though, it didn’t change my overall opinion of the book – it was an enjoyable read, and I think I would pick up more by Alison Belsham in the future if given the opportunity.

Thanks to NetGalley and Trapeze (part of the Orion Publishing Group) for the Advance Copy in exchange for a review.

Tattoo Theif #3

When a freshly mummified body is discovered at the Brighton Museim of Natural History, Detective Francis Sullivan is at a loss to identify the desiccated woman. But Egyptian burial jars of body parts with cryptic messages attached start appearing, he ralises he has a serial ,iller to catch.

Once again I did ot know that this book was part of a series when I requested it. I do think you have to have read the first two books to have a better understanding. As more killer
bodies turn up placed in canopic jars, Francis Sullivan knows he's dealing with a serial killer. It's a race against time to find out who is behind these killings. I highly advise reading the first two books before attempting this book as I wish I had.

I would like to thank #NetGalley, #OrionPublishGeoup and the author #AlisonBelsham for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Embalmer set in and around Brighton featuring the Natural History Museum when a "mummy" has been discovered so the police called and when forensic and pathologist start the investigations they give insight to Detective Frances Sullivan that the mummy is not an Egyptian relic but a lot fresher thus starting up a murder investigation, along with the "mummy" part of the mummification they leave a canopic jar with a body part in ready for the afterlife. Detective Sullivan also has other problems on his mind and could that get in the way of an outcome? Good tense read really enjoyed it only criticism I have is that not much description of the players but the author has written a previous book "Her Last Breath" which there is sometimes a reference to it but this can be read as a standalone but if you have read the previous book you would know more about the players and their idioms.
I would like to thank Orion Publishing Group and Netgalley for an advanced ARC to read, and this does not reflect my review of this book.

I think this is the first murder mystery/thriller I have read where the victims are mummified and presented with their organs properly preserved in canopic jars. The killer sets up his own display in a museum. His craft earns him the nickname, The Embalmer. Cue the gag reflex!!! While this is his first known victim, it's not his last as he continues to display his kills in this gruesome manner, even sending canopic jars to the police investigator assigned the race to stop him. Enter Detective Francis Sullivan. Tasked to find and stop this killer, he and his team will follow some pretty nasty clues searching for connections and motives. Detective Sullivan is also investigating a murder that's closer to home. As the threads start to weave into a clearer picture, Sullivan will find this killer's circling closer to him with every kill.

The Embalmer is the third and final instalment in this superb, award-winning police procedural trilogy, featuring Tattoo Artist Marni Mullins and Detective Inspector Francis Sullivan, set in Brighton. Despite the core plot being self-contained I would strongly recommend reading the previous two books before this as there are frequent references to past events, cases and previous relationships made throughout. Early one morning on his way to get his usual morning coffee before clocking on, DI Sullivan is called out to an apparent break-in at the Booth Natural History Museum on Dyke Road in central Brighton. He arrives at 8:30 am, is let in by a uniformed officer and greeted by the assistant manager, Nathan Cox, who directs him to the reception and a glass case in the corner with a mummy inside. A mummified body isn't exactly an odd thing to discover at the museum but it is evident this body isn't centuries old, with its bright white, clean bandages and vivid colourful hieroglyphs, not to mention it had seemingly held a pair of white-tailed sea eagles when they shut up yesterday. As more bodies drop, it appears a serial killer with a penchant for ancient Egypt and a flair for the dramatic is on the prowl.

Meanwhile, Francis has complications in his personal life which crossover somewhat into his professional life. Marni stands accused of stabbing her ex-husband, Thierry, but she is adamant it was, in fact, his twin brother, Paul, who wielded the blade and murdered him in the couple’s kitchen. Despite her proclamations, Sullivan’s sergeant, Rory Mackay, is determined to get her sent down. This is a compulsive and wholly original close to the trilogy, and I must admit that I am bereft that it has come to an end, but it certainly concluded with a bang. I couldn't put this down, and before I knew it I could hear the birds singing sweetly outside my window. It's unique, creepy and the air is thick with a claustrophobia, which adds feelings of intensity and unpredictability. There were various exciting developments I could not have foreseen, and enough action and twists to keep those pages flying by. Captivating, addictive and a real must-read, this is a well written, pacy procedural which has a grit and edge to it and features a thoroughly twisted serial killer. Highly recommended. Many thanks to Trapeze for an ARC.

This is the third book in the series and is a great read.
DI Francis Sullivan is called out to a small museum as the manager discovers a recently mummified body has been left there.
There’s also canopic jars next to it which they soon discover contain body parts.
Alongside this story is a murder which is very close to Francis and he’s determined to make sure the truth comes out as he’s not allowed to be part of the case.
Another body is found and the killer seems to know about Francis as he starts to send him cryptic notes and another canopic jar.
This is a gripping crime thriller that has a nail biting conclusion that I really enjoyed.
Thanks to Orion Publishing Group and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

Thank you to Netgalley and Orion Publishing Group for the arc of The Embalmer by Alison Belsham.

5 star read for me- a great sensational read, very thrilling and very enjoyable, it was very page turning and a well written book! i recommend anyone whos interesting in this book to read you will not disappointed.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This is the third in the series and, although the main story is self-contained, there is quite a lot of backstory and character development to be had with regard to the main characters and their personal & professional relationships, that, to get the very best from it, I do recommend you start from book one and read in order.
So... in this book we move on from tattooing and set up a gear to mummification. A freshly mummified body is discovered at the Natural History museum. Enter Francis Sullivan to investigate. Identification falls flat initially but the bodies, and body parts, start racking up and he realises that there's a serial killer on the loose. The Embalmer reaches out to Frank personally, sending him messages, clues and canopic jars filled with, well, let's just say it's nothing nice. It becomes a race against time for him and his team to figure out who is doing this, and why. And more importantly, stop them before they go any further.
But this isn't all Frank has to deal with as old friend and sometime lover Marni is in trouble and he has his work cut out for him to clear her name.
Well... I definitely learned a lot about mummification and canopic jars in this book. It's always nice when this happens alongside a decent plot played out by interesting characters. Just another dimension to enhance the overall reading experience.
As with her previous books, this one goes along at a fair lick. And without any of that unnecessary padding and waffle that some authors rely on. There really isn't a single word wasted here. Enough description to set scenes and keep the plot going, nothing else. And what a convoluted and interconnected, very clever plot we have here too. One which I engaged with from the off and which kept my attention nicely throughout, spitting me out at the end, wholly satisfied. Phew... what a ride! Characters - both series and episode, main and supporting - are all well crafted and play their parts very well. Pacing is on the whole fast but definitely consistent throughout, following the narrative as it progresses.
All in all, a thoroughly decent read that I have no hesitation in recommending. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

This book is the third in a series of books, and despite several references to the previous books this could still be read as a stand-alone. This is the first book I’ve read by this author. The book is set in Brighton, and the lead character is DI Francis Sullivan. Nathan Cox finds a recently mummified body in the local museum, along with 4 Canopic jars beside it. DI Francis Sullivan is the lead detective on the case, and the murderer is quickly named “The Embalmer”. The murderer seems aware of who Francis is, when Francis starts receiving cryptic notes and another Canopic jar when the murderer strikes again. Francis is also working another case alongside this one. It turns into a race against time for Francis to catch the murderer before they strike again.

This was a great book, a decent police procedural crime thriller. I would recommend, but would also recommend to read the previous two books in the series so there’s better understanding of the characters and their backstories.

The Embalmer is the third book in the DI Francis Sullivan series by Alison Belsham and it is another dark and twisty crime thriller that will keep you hooked from the beginning until the end.

A mummified body turns up but who is the body and what do all the tattoos mean?

Sullivan is faced with a seemingly impossible case whilst at the same time a close friend is charged with the murder of her ex husband

The author has created an excellent series and whilst The Embalmer can easily be read as a stand-alone book I am sure that once you have read it that the previous ones will added to your TBR pile!

Definitely recommended

I so wish I had read the other books in the series, coming late to the party meant I struggled to get to know everyone and their relationships as well as following a pretty complex case. I did enjoy it I liked the writing style and the plot and the characters and i thought it was a good book, just wish I had discovered the series earlier.

Excellent third instalment from Alison Belsham and her detective series featuring Detective inspector Francis Sullivan, the novels are set in Brighton and this time Francis has to solve two murder cases. I don't want to give anything away but Ms Belsham quotes at the end of the book what her editor said " ‘Put you character in a bad situation, and throw in something that will make it worse. Then pile something else on top of that.’ and she has definitely delivered. I look forward to the next instalment.

I loved the first novel by Alison and have missed her other so it was a pleasure to see this one coming out. What a great read. Where she gets her ideas from is beyond me as this is a great story with a brilliant serial killer. As ever the central characters are well portrayed and you care about what happens to them which leads to the tension increasing as the book continues.
I hope a TV or film company picks up this series to make into a series or film as it has all the hallmarks of a great series. To say too much would give the plot away but needless to say if you like a great murder story then buy this!

My thanks to NetGalley and publisher Orion Publishing Group - Trapeze, for the ARC.
This is yet another excellent Detective Inspector Francis Sullivan thriller/ police procedural which is fine to be read as a standalone but to really enjoy the background I would recommend that you read the previous books.

DI Sullivan is called to a break-in at Brighton's Natural History Museum, unusually though nothing has been taken but some things have definitely been left behind - an Egyptian mummy and several canopic jars containing body parts removed in an embalming process, together with a papyrus scroll depicting hieroglyphs.. Alicia Russell, the manager, hasn't turned up for work this Wednesday, having had Tuesday off, so DCs Gavin and Angie are sent to try and locate her - did Alicia have a hand in placing the mummy in the museum?
More bodies turn up - each one eviscerated and a major organ removed, and canopic jars start to arrive at the local newspaper office, only this time the scrolls accompanying them point to a threat made directly at Sullivan. This is becoming very personal After three bodies they know they have a serial killer on their hands.

Meanwhile, Marnie Mullins and ex-husband Thierry have had another bust-up resulting in Thierry packing his bags, only when Marnie returns home she finds Thierry and his twin brother Paul fighting on the kitchen floor - a knife is involved and Marnie is subsequently arrested for his murder. Rory controls this case as Sullivan is regarded as a witness, and he's determined to get a cut-and-dried result despite both her and Sullivan's protestations that she is innocent.

The narrative comes alive through points of view of all the main characters, not least of all the thoughts and actions of the "embalmer". There's ongoing animosity between Sullivan and Rory, and not least of all the DCI who seems determined to undermine the investigation.

Rather creepy and slightly horrific leading to a twisty ending you can't guess at. This is a really absorbing read with great characters and relationships.

Creepy as hell and absolutely brilliant, this is an easy 5 stars. A perfect read for Halloween.
Full review to follow

I have been a great fan of this author since I read her first book The Tattoo Thief, which was followed up by Her Last Breath. Both were fantastic five star reads. Her latest The Embalmed is another WOW book. I was hooked from the title and the book was not disappointing. Visceral, gory and packed to the rafters with tension and suspense. I devoured this book in one sitting. The third book to feature Detective Francis Sullivan and this series goes from strength to strength. Set in Brighton, I never knew there were so many serial killers in this part of the country. This book definitely ticked all my boxes. Loved it!!!
Thanks to Orion Publishing Group and Netgalley for the ARC in return for giving an honest review.