The Art of Death was an utterly unputdownable book for me. I started it and finished it in one day. I really enjoyed the concept and thought it was well written. Archer was a great character, I really liked getting to know her. The Art of Death is grisly, dark and completely engaging. Bloody brilliant!

D.I. Grace Archer a newly promoted officer is transferred to Charing Cross Police Station. Her first partner is DS Harry Quinn and their first case together involves a series of gruesome, macabre murders displayed publicly in the centre of London.

Characterisation is a bit 'thin on the ground', but the story is exceptional and involves dead bodies and a newish form of art. No other spoilers from me.

Superb ending and maybe the start of a new series with Grace and Harry? I hope so.

Thanks to Net Galley and Bonnier Books UK for the chance to read and review.

When reviewing books I have said several times that it is very difficult for an author to come up with something different and/or gripping when writing a police/serial killer book.
The books I have read/reviewed of this type seem to keep to a particular structure - female DS/DI in thirties with childhood issues/more recent issues, serial killer strikes once, bunch of cosmopolitan police form as investigating team, second or even third serial killing, DS/DI issue becomes more apparent, DS/DI or close relative/friend is kidnapped, 'Hollywood' ending (tense fight) and wrap up chapter.
This book does keep pretty much to this format but I have to say it is very well written and definitely kept me wanting to read. The serial killings have become more sadistic/violent to bring something 'new' to the book.
I have given this book 4 stars and not 5 stars because for me (I emphasise for me and not necessarily for other readers) that Grace (ok she is 29 and not in 30s) and the main team members did not have quite enough depth of character and appeal to make her/them stand out above characters in other books of this genre.
Nevertheless a very good book and definitely worth reading.

A most unusual way of killing your victims, much more than that displaying them in public places as a supposed art form. D I Archer struggles with the health issues of her grandfather and was happy that a supposed Good Samaritan stepped in to he grandfather, alas all was not as it seemed. A great read. Well recommended.

It's DI Grace Archer's first day at the station and she's hoping for a quiet day to ease herself into the job. Unfortunately there are reports coming through that there are three glass cabinets in Trafalgar Square containing bodies. As its being streamed all over social media with reports of more bodies to follow, DI Archer and DS Harry Quinn have their work cut out trying to find who is behind it.

This book certainly kept me up at nights wanting to read more. I was gripped from start to finish. Although some may find it a bit creepy I really enjoy anything like that. It was good to learn about Grace and her past too. I really hope there will be more from the author as this would make a great series. It gets five stars from me and I would certainly recommend it. Many thanks to NetGalley for my copy.

What a brilliant debut thriller .This book had me gripped from the start,I do love a book that is so hard to put down ! It is creepy and very compelling ,bodies turning up in glass boxes in London streets need I say more brilliant.

Art installations that are really murder victims are at the heart of a gripping seriously scary tale. DI Grace Archer is the SIO for the investigation on her first day at Charing Cross police station where she replaces a bent cop she sent to prison. Naturally there’s some resentment to her appointment but despite this and aided by DS Harry Quinn the search for the killer begins. More deaths ensue until the shock ending to a truly memorable tale. These characters deserve another episode,here’s hoping!

This was such a creepy book that it gave me goosebumps!!! I loved it, what a great read so well written but with dark undertones. It was an easy quick read and I was sorry to finish it. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

For hopefully the first in a series, this book shows great promise. I found the main character engaging and her back story is interesting and will surely be expanded in future books. The story held my attention and I think may yet be continued as the ending left options open. All in all a very enjoyable book and I look forward to reading more

There is a new art exhibition opening in St Martins, London. The latest installation has drawn a crowd as its from @nonymous and shows three bodies in formaldehyde. When the organiser takes a closer look he realises too late that they are real and calls in the police. Grace Archer is a recently promoted DI and is given the case however an older DI is working with her and is rather old school in his thoughts as is shown when she seconds Klara from the NCA. There is a missing MP and the cases are suddenly linked when his hairs are found at the scene. What is going on and why these people? Grace appears to be in the killer's sights and when three more “ installations are revealed” on social media things appear to be going from bad to worse. This gripped me from the beginning- although it sounds very dark it's not too descriptive of gore or violence (phew!) but does live up to the blurb of “creepy serial killer thriller “ and is very well written. I liked Grace and her tenacity. She has a background which she wishes to forget of her own close shave and a DI father to live up to. An inventive. macabre concept with the politics of policing which give it a good solid background and rounded characters. I very much look forward to the next book. A brilliant read
(rest of links as part of blog tour)

An exciting new crime author, David Fennell, introduces us to recently promoted DI Grace Archer and her DS Harry Quinn from the Met.
First day on the job she is flung into an unusual artistic mode of killing - 3 cadavers of homeless men placed upside down in perplex containers filled with embalming fluid - what on earth can be the connection..
The killer continues to produce more of his “ artwork “ across different locations around the area but Grace and her team are struggling to find a connection. The killer then starts to display his work live on social media and small clues finally unravel his identity - is Grace his final victim ?
A truly enjoyable debut.

A great start to the book, #NoSpoilers but it felt real and scary.

I was really looking forward to a new female main character police procedural, and although I struggled to warm to her initially, she grew on me and would love to read more instalments.

A cracking story and strong start to what will hopefully be a series.

This is a dark gritty very well written story. Grace is such an interesting character. The case was really twisted and dark and interesting. Grace and her grandad seemed so real as characters. Her working relationship and possible friendship with Quinn adds more dimension to the story.

Thank you to NetGalley for my copy.

I was in the mood for a fast=paced, tense book to break a bit of a reading slump - and this book hit the spot perfectly!

The story opens with a gruesome and shocking scene: an art installation in Trafalgar Square contains the bodies of three homeless men. DI Grace Archer, newly promoted and in an awkward situation in regards to her new team, is called to the scene and embarks on a dangerous and difficult search for a serial killer who plans more 'art' pieces.

There was lots I liked about this book - it was well-plotted and very tense. It certainly kept me reading as I really wanted to know how it would all pan out! I also really liked DI Grace Archer - she was tough but also realistic and it was good to see her gain control of her tricky work situation. I thought that the idea of the killer as an artist was interesting too - although the reality of the art works was rather stomach-churning!

Overall, this is a lively and pacey crime story as Grace Archer and her team race to unmask a serial killer operating openly on the streets of London. This is a confident debut and I hope that there will be more books featuring DI Archer in the future - I'd certainly like to read more.

This book had me gripped from the first page. It’s a well-written murder mystery with believable characters and a complex plot line. Thrilling from start to finish, with lots of intrigue, suspense, and brilliant twists and turns. Newly-appointed DI Grace Archer, on the first day of her new job, is faced with tracking down a twisted serial killer – a Banksy-style underground artist, but with his own very perverse brand of ‘art’. I enjoyed Grace’s character and the fact that her back story becomes an essential part of the plot. Her sidekick, DS Harry Quinn has his own back story too, and the two make an excellent team. This is a gruesome but compelling read – a real page turner. Hope there’s more to come.

This is a very well written, twisted crime thriller told from a few perspectives but primarily that of the artist killer and the Police DI tasked with finding him. There is a macabre brilliance to the killer and DI Archer has a very complex past that I would definitely like to know more about. With a mix of disgruntled colleagues and new work partners on top of the murder hunt DI Archer has a very complex life. I loved the use of technology in the art and the way the police were kept constantly on their toes. This is a very strong 8/10

Thank you to Netgalley and publishers Zaffre & Bonnier Books UK for this review copy. This is my unbiased review of the author's work and style. If you want spoilers, please see the publisher's blurb and other reviewers' reports.
I must apologise to the publishers for not having published this review before.
The Art of Death is an unusual tale with not much comfort for the reader. David Fennel has that knack of imbuing his text with cold creepy images. I found I didn’t want to be there and as I say I was uncomfortable with the text. His style is excellent and maintained well throughout.
I will offer 5 stars for the author’s ability, but the nature of the book is not for me. If you like black unforgiving psychological horror this is for you.
Now I need a glass of something cheering and a warm fire.

The Art of Death by David Fennell is a chilling, macabre debut, and an excellent start to a new police procedural series involving D.I. Grace Archer and DS harry Quinn.
It’s newly promoted D.I. Grace Archer first day at Charing cross Police station and she thought she would have a quite first day. But she is called to some art exhibits that have been left in a public area for all the world to see by anonymous artist. The exhibit is also been streamed online on social media to get the reaction of his audience and he tells them there are more to come. No one saw who put them there they just appeared out of nowhere.
At first glance they just look mannequins in glass cases but when you look closer, they are bodies of dead men floating in formaldehyde. Later, they find out they are bodies of three homeless men that have disappeared in the last couple of weeks. DI Archer has big case on her hands. Not only worried about the case but, she also wants to make a good impression to her new boss and colleagues.
Thankyou Bonnier for a copy of this book. This is a gory and dark police procedural which a unique storyline. If you don’t like a gory storyline this isn’t for you. I really enjoyed this, and I can’t wait to see how the series develops. 5 stars from me.

What an absolutely intriguing story, one with a such a unique plot, I don't think I've read anything like it before!

We start with a bang, and only go up from there! This guy is creepy. He has set his sights on the residents of London and will stop at nothing to get his 'art' seen by all. It has all the makings of a series, with the usual set up of characters and enough back story to fill you in for this book but leave you wanting to know more.

I found the crimes to be shocking but not gratuitous, and the procedural element of the book well researched and laid out. Police procedurals are my favourite sub genre of crime books and this one definitely hit the spot.

I very much enjoyed reading this one and will be looking forward to any future offerings.

Recommended to fans of crime thrillers, serial killer thrillers, police procedurals.

I had read so many positive reviews about The Art Of Death that I was really looking forward to it. But I just struggled to enjoy it. I confess to skipping the last few chapters because I just didn't care enough. It's a shame, but I guess people are like books, you can't get on with them all..