This was a new author and a news series to me, and despite being the sixth book in the series this did not affect my enjoyment of the book at all.

In this book we have two main strands,first we have a serial killer who is soon to be let out of prison and who is set on revenge against those who led to his imprisonment, and secondly we have a body that has turned up in a remote location near one of the islands on the Thames, with little to tell how it got there or how the person was killed.

I have to say I enjoyed this book a lot and following this one I am keen to read the other books in the series. I would like to know more about the lead detective and the events that happened to his wife in previous books.

All in all this was an excellent read, with good characterisation and dialogue, a plot that moved along quickly and built tension as the book progressed. I thought I’d worked out who did it and certainly had other suspicions but there were good twists that challenged this thinking and blew some of it out of the water. I also loved the ending of the book and what must be the most challenging arrest of all time! 

Based on this book I strongly recommend this book and the series and I can’t wait to catch up with the other books in the series. I would like to say thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for providing a copy of this book to me for an open and honest review. 4.5 Stars

A man's body is found on a small island in the Thames.  The medical examiner finds that he had been asphyxiated, but there are strange markings all over his body.  The man has not been identified, there are no clues, and the potential witnesses in a home not too far from where the body is found all seem to be evasive.  What are they hiding?

On another note, a serial killer is about to be released from prison after serving 30 years. The parole board sees an elderly man, no longer the threat he once was.. However, this man has an agenda .. he's going to make everybody pay ... starting with DC Gillard.

It's an intricate plot, with twists and turns to hold the reader's interest.  The suspense is nicely balanced and maintained from start to finish.  The characters are deftly drawn and I enjoyed how their personal lives and professional duties blend.  The ending was satisfactory, although not too unpredictable or surprising.

Although 6th in the series, this is easily read as a stand lone.  However, I always recommend starting at the beginning to pick up all those little nuggets that make the series more interesting.

Many thanks to the author / Canelo / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction set in Surrey, England.  Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed  here are unbiased and entirely my own.

At first I was quite confused. Who is the main focus, where are all these people, how are they connected and where is it leading? But once I got into the groove, I did appreciate the story. I was just a bit disappointed that it seems to be lacking in actual suspense. Everything seemed to be settled.

BUT then came the last quarter of the book and made it up to me in the end with an equal amount of suspense and surprise.

Nick Louth is now on my list of authors to follow.  Like many of his peers In the British crime world, he spins a story which is dark and complex.  His ability to draw the reader into a vivid context and keep them there  shows a skill which is not common.  The characters are such that I am hoping for a series...

As usual in my reviews, I will not rehash the plot (plenty of reviews like that out there already!)

This is the third "DCI Craig Gillard" book I've read, and like the previous books, this one was a page turner! 

It was good to read and learn more about the characters we've met previously, and also to meet a fascinating cast of new characters, some (literally!) larger than life.

The plot - whilst at times seeming slightly unbelievable (though often truth is stranger than fiction!) - is well constructed, with several different layers, and more than a few surprises.  I did not guess who was behind the murders, or why, which for me is a bonus (as I often do so).

I will happily read more by this author, and will also be trying to complete the back catalogue as I've missed a couple of titles.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC.  All opinions my own.

Different, interesting, intriguing and cleverly written...really enjoyed this. Look forward to reading books by this author again

Good story that goes back to the start of DCI Gillard career. 

Twist and turns. Looking forward to the next in the series.

This is a thriller, but I couldn't connect with the characters. It is about a serial killer set free after a long time in prison. Everybody believes he is docile after all this time, but he is thinking only to revenge. But, he doesn't know that many eyes are on him.

Excellent and complex story that kept me hooked till the end.
I love the well thought characters, the tightly knitted plot and the solid mystery that kept me guessing.
I can't wait to read the next book, this one is gripping and highly entertaining.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I love these books and you can tell they are written from a very experienced author, they keep you guessing until the end, in fact, even then it comes as a shock as to how it all pans out. The imagination of this man is unbelievable! The characters really do make this story and lead you up the wrong roads as the ending is so surprising. Brilliant and another best seller I am sure.

Very slow starting, but worth persevering. The classic plot where the jailed killer seeks revenge on those who put him there is nicely turned on its head here. I personally feel that the police characters, with the exception of Rainy, need more developing. Great way to murder someone though, very original. Not a gripping page turner, but a solid read nonetheless.

This is the 6th book in the DCI Craig Gillard series, whilst this book works perfectly well as a standalone I would recommend reading the other books.

Like all the other books in the series I was left chasing my tail trying to figure the whole case out. It is safe to say that Nick Louth has dashed any hopes I had of becoming a detective as I can never seem to solve the big mystery. All the clues are right there in front of me but I follow the red herrings and bait that lead me in another direction. This time though Nick Louth has surpassed himself. That killing method, oh my! If any reader saw that coming then I would be very, very surprised. I think for now I’ll just stick to my day job.

What I love about this series is we always receive the story from different POV. Whether it’s Craig and his team, the murderer or suspect we always get to see it from both sides. Did I agree with the killer? I think so. Yes they killed someone in a horrendous way but I understand the motive behind it. For them this was their one last chance to get justice and finally feel free of the grief that had consumed them.

From start to finish this was a whirlwind of how and why. Craig and the team did an amazing job of remaining cool headed and always thinking outside the box. I like the introduction of Rainey, I think she will be good for the team although I did feel like Claire and Sam had less input this time and I missed them in the story. I’d like to see Sam getting back to her usual self and hopefully having a happier time of it. My favourite new face by far was Leticia. I thought she was candid, brave and clever especially towards the end of the book.

Overall this was a fantastic read that was completed in two sittings! From the first chapter I was hooked and could not wait to see how it all unfolded. Please, please, please tell me there will be more?

Complex police thriller with many layers. An intricate plot with many twists and a huge surprise. Great characters and an intriguing tale.

In a quiet part of the Thames, a loud splash signals something untoward – an asphyxiated body found naked on an island, covered in strange markings. Without an identity, DCI Craig Gillard is struggling to move forward with the case, especially as potential witnesses all seem to have something to hide. Meanwhile, a notorious child killer is about to be released from prison, determined to settle scores with those who put him inside thirty years previously. One of those people? A young trainee by the name of Craig Gillard…

The Craig Gillard series has become one of my favourites and Nick Louth has written another fantastic book with an engaging plot and a plethora of fascinating characters. We actually don’t see as much of Gillard in this book as we have done in previous installments, the plot focusing on other characters, allowing the story to progress at a fast pace. There were, however, references to events in the previous book, but nothing to spoil later reading if you haven’t read it yet.

I think it is safe to say that this book didn’t go where I was expecting it to! After reading the blurb and the opening chapters, I had a clear idea in my mind as to where this plot was going to take me, but I couldn’t have been more wrong! I won’t give anything away but a huge well done to Nick Louth for writing a book with an unexpected plot containing more twists and turns that you could shake a stick at! It’s not often that I am totally blindsided by a book, but this was definitely the case with The Body on the Island!

One of the main mysteries running throughout the book is the police’s inability to discover exactly how the man found on the island was killed. Again, I won’t give any spoilers but when all is revealed at the end, I was genuinely open-mouthed! This is definitely not a mode of murder I have read about before and probably won’t again!

If you haven’t yet read any of this series, I can’t recommend it highly enough and if you are already a fan, you’re going to love this one!

With thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the arc, which I have enjoyed reading.
The Body On The Island by Nick Louth was number six in The DCI Craig Gillard series and it was fascinating in a gruesome sort of way. The whole storyline was riveting and ludicrous and this reader couldn’t stop reading such a bizarre tale. The imagination to create such a masterpiece of such absurd deaths is awesome.
I can only recommend other people to read this book and enjoy this police story. I absolutely loved it!! Dark humour and all.
Highly recommended

DCI Craig Gillard is back with some new team members who are all set to develop nicely. I do like our Rainy - I can just hear the Glasgie accent.. Several intersecting plots of course - revenge being the main thrust. Rather gruesome it is too and I did not see the end coming. For once I like the family relationships, they make the characters more real and fit their purpose without detracting form the police work. Mr Louth is getting better all the time. Thanks to NetGalley and Canelo for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

The Body on the Island is the sixth instalment in the DCI Craig Gillard Thriller series, set in Surrey. DCI Gillard is called out to investigate when the body of an Asian man is discovered on an island in the Thames after witnesses reported hearing a splash. There was also a white BMW parked on a bridge over the river and a commotion with three people present, but when the police track them down they're reluctant to talk. The corpse was completely naked and despite being dumped in the river the post-mortem showed that he died from asphyxiation rather than drowning. The police can't identify the man and are baffled by the unusual pattern imprinted on his skin. Who is he and what happened to him? Meanwhile, Neville Rollason, a predator who violently raped and murdered 5 teenage boys, is about to be released on parole having served a 30-year sentence. Naturally, there is uproar in the local community and he has well and truly fooled those who had to decide his fate by pretending to be reformed. However, Rollason only has one thing on his mind. Revenge. And at the top of the list is Gillard, who apprehended him back in 1989. But when his parole officer visits him on his day of release he has disappeared without a trace.

This is a compulsive and riveting read which has some fantastic, surprising twists and turns; just when you think you know where it's heading Louth swiftly changes direction. It is told from multiple perspectives making it a fully rounded experience as you see exactly how each character is feeling. This is a plot-driven series, which I thoroughly enjoy, and I thought I knew where it was heading but soon realised I was way off the mark, and I loved that Louth was able to trick me many times throughout. There's never a dull moment and I was captivated and fully engrossed from start to finish. I found it thoroughly entertaining and the way in which it is written pulls you into the story early on and makes for a highly readable tale. Gillard is an intelligent, astute investigator who admirably tries to get to the bottom of cases and bring closure to those involved. It's gripping and addictive and I had great difficulty putting it down. Louth has created a superbly crafted mystery-thriller that moves at rapid-fire pace with an ending that leaves you gobsmacked. Highly recommended. Many thanks to Canelo for an ARC.

Nick Louth's new thriller is much more than just a police procedural. It raises important questions about today's society, and the way in which offenders are dealt with in prison and the probation services. It also asks how far should a victim, or the relative of a victim, go to seek justice outside the law.
It is dark and disturbing, and absolutely chilling in its authenticity. Nick Louth is fast heading for a position right at the top of the league of contemporary crime agents.

A prison transport left HMP Wakefield, heading for HMP Spring Hill. Steve and Aaron were accompanying Neil Wright who was 67 years old and had served six years for the manslaughter of his wife. Only that wasn't who he was. Sixty-three-years-old Neville Rollaston had served thirty years for the murder of five boys between the ages of ten and seventeen. He was being ghosted out of Wakefield and into a new identity set up in a deal whereby he divulged the whereabouts of the body of one of his victims. The Bogeyman was going to be set free on 2 July 2019. He appeared to be a reformed character but he had a list of people upon whom he wished to exact revenge.

At 2 a.m. on 22 June Michael Jakes was cycling his usual circuit which took in the area around Tagg's Island, Ash Island in the Thames and Hampton Court Road when he heard the splash of something heavy falling into the river. A little later Elvira Hart who lived on a riverboat moored on Ash Island went out for a run and when she returned she found a body in the river near her boat. DCI Craig Gillard had never seen anything like the purple, bloated body, covered in mesh-like indentations. What could have caused such a death?

Neville Rollaston hadn't come from the Crawley area, but he had connections there and there were substantial rumours that this was where he was to be settled. As expected, there's a national outcry about his release - and the fact that he's being provided with a new identity and home at public expense. The police are not responsible for his release but they're getting a lot of flack about it. Gillard doesn't know that Rollaston will be in the area but he has an interest in what happens as he was the officer who arrested Rollaston more than thirty years ago.

It's an ingenious plot: I was certain that I knew how the death had been caused. It was obvious. I was wrong, completely wrong. Most of the clues are pretty clear, but everything neatly ties together and there's a satisfying conclusion. There's a great deal of pleasure in getting there too: the characters come off the page well. I was particularly impressed by DC 'Rainy' Macintosh, who used to be a doctor in Glasgow but joined the police because she wanted more predictable hours. She and her son live in a one-bedroom flat because that's all she can afford. She's a good foil for the other DC on the squad - Carl Hoskins. Most women don't like working with him, but Rainy can match him filthy joke for filthy joke and she keeps him in reasonable order. It's a situation where the whole is more than the sum of the parts.

It was a good read and I finished it more quickly than I intended. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series and I'd like to thank the publishers for letting Bookbag have a copy of this one.

The Body on the Island starts out as two parallel stories, one of a current-day death/possible homicide with a body floating up in the River Thames and the second story is of a serial killer being released from prison. The connection between the two stories is DCI Craig Gillard, who investigates the former and originally put away the latter some 30 years ago.   The killer, Rollanson, is about to be released, having made a deal to reveal the location of two missing bodies.

Louth masterfully lays out this British mystery, introducing characters and scenes that add just enough information to keep the reader wondering and guessing - there is the circumstantial presence of the BMW on the dock with the two black passengers, the significance of the strangulated Taiwanese man in the Thames and the oh-so-peculiar bicycle rider who seems to only ride at night but show up at the most inopportune times! And this is just for starters.  I refuse to say more and give it all away - this is just too much fun to read.  The ending is such a good surprise.   

This is an extraordinarily well-crafted mystery.  I have never read Louth before, but you can be sure that I will have to now add his work to my TBR pile.  The story reads quickly, it is easy to keep track of scenes, characters, and their interrelationships and I just never would have guessed the ending to this one.   

I am always leery of books with blurbs that read “If you are a fan of X Y Z then you will love reading A.”  Louth’s work stands on its own and he does not need to be compared to Mark Billingham, Cara Hunter, and Robert Bryndza.  Nick Louth may not be as well known, but what he needs are more marketing and more reviews.  He is a strong writer who knows his craft and I am anxious to read what comes next.  

I would like to thank the author, Canelo Press, and NetGalley for this advanced readers' copy of The Body on the Island. I look forward to more from Louth and to see what else Canelo has in their holdings.  I have voluntarily left this review.