After the awful case of the Sheffield Strangler where Claudia had to investigate the death of her father’s wife Ruth with her father DS Dominic Harrison as a suspect, a new team has been set up called Complex Crimes which will take on only the very difficult cases and support other teams when they have no work. I still find it rather odd that a DI would be forced to have her own father as a DS in her team but it is very important to the story. She still has her trusty DS Russ Kane, working under DCI Maddison Sharpe and Det Supt Connelly, and other DC’s taken from both her and Dominic’s old teams, and they are awaiting their first case. The shadow of the Strangler, Samuel Tyler, still looms large in this story. His solicitor tells Claudia that Tyler needs to see her and it will be to her advantage. Of course readers of book one know that someone else was responsible for Ruth’s murder and framed the very convenient serial killer. That someone else is now a very worried man indeed. And worried means dangerous.
We first hear about the killer himself, a frustrated sculptor recently dumped by his girlfriend and rejected by various museums when he wants to hold an art installation. He decides that he will put on a very special and “real" show himself, at various locations and inviting special guests to demonstrate his talents. Claudia receives a picture in the post at the police station, a skilfully done drawing depicting a naked man tied onto a bed with an ornate blade in his back but has no idea about its importance. Imagine her shock when she and her team are called to the exact same crime scene a few days later, discovered by two boys who were lured there in the hope of urbexing with a photographer using an alias. Two weeks into the investigation they are still not making much progress into the murder when another drawing arrives in Claudia's post. It’s a completely different scenario although clearly drawn by the same hand and this time the man seems to be still alive. Can the team pick up on the artist’s clues to identify the location in just one day and save a life?
I would very much recommend reading book one first to make more sense of the ongoing Strangler story. This was an excellent follow up to the first story, with well drawn characters and a clever exciting plot, guaranteed to keep the reader hooked from start to finish. 5*

This is book 2 in the Detective Claudia Nunn series and I would highly recommend you read book 1 first although it will work as stand alone there are references to events in book 1 and you will enjoy the book more if you are aware of those.

Claudia is heading up a new time created to deal with difficult and complex cases. The team are still getting to know one another and without a case to investigate as yet it is unclear how the team will function. Claudia is pondering all this when she opens a letter. It contains a drawing by a very talented artist. The detail is amazing but what shocks Claudia is the subject. The drawing is a dead man the agony endured is plain to see in the very detailed features. With no idea who the sender is or the victim the drawing is put in a drawer as Claudia's attention is diverted elsewhere.

Then the call comes in a body has been found. On arrival at the crime scene Claudia comes face to face with the real life version of the picture. BUT the picture was in Claudia's hands before the victim died.

When another picture Is received the team realise they are in a race against time to identify the victim and the crime scene before the murder is committed. Who will win the detectives or the artist?

This is a fast paced thriller full of adrenaline pumping suspense and well defined characters with some back stories running through to add interest. I am very much looking forward to the next in the series.

Wow, what can I say!! When you describe a book as totally gripping, I shall always be reminded of this, Seconds To Die, because it describes it perfectly! This is the second book in the DI Claudia Nunn series, and while I loved the first one, this is literary perfection!
The case the new task force land is unique and complex, with the killer sending Claudia exact drawings of the crime scene before committing the crime, leading them on a time sensitive case trying to prevent another murder.
The nights I’ve sat up reading this I couldn’t count, but this is one hell of a book, and you simply have to read it!

He only wants his work recognized as something that has never been done before. The call him The Artist.

He sends a sketch .. of a man stretched out on a bed, His face is twisted with a look of horror and a huge blade stuck deep in his back.

DI Claudia Nunn was puzzled, but not truly concerned until she's called in to investigate a crime scene ... that's the exact replica of the drawing she received. Weeks later, she receives another sketch .. and another crime scene is revealed.

The Artist is getting mad at DI Nunn. Why hasn't she shared her "invitations" for the public to view his 'art'? Maybe he'll decide to make her his next exhibition.

This is a well-written addition to this existing series. Although second in the series, this is easily read as a stand alone. However, I do recommend reading in order so as to not miss those little gems that make a series good, There are twists and turns that lead to a surprising explosive conclusion. I'm looking forward to seeing what comes next to DI Nunn.

Many thanks to the author / Joffe Books / Books n All Promotions / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Joffe Books for an advance copy of Seconds to Die, the second novel to feature DI Claudia Nunn of the Sheffield Police’s Complex Crime Unit.

Claudia receives a detailed drawing of a murder scene, but thinks nothing of it until she is called out to a scene that exactly replicates the drawing. Then she receives a second drawing.

Seconds to Die is a mixed bag. Ostensibly the hunt for a serial killer, it is equally preoccupied with a thread started in the previous novel in the series, Blood Stained. I won’t say what this thread is as those who have read it will know and those who haven’t would have their read spoiled as this novel names the previous killer, summarises the main points of the plot and expands on the big twist. Essentially, read the series in order or skip the first one as there’s no going back and this one covers all the highlights.

I found the thread less than credible in Blood Stained and nothing in Seconds to Die has changed my mind. The execution is wooden, stilted and somewhat emotionless. The thought of more of the same in the next novel makes it a firm no from me.

The hunt for the serial killer is more my thing. Told mainly from Claudia’s point of view it allows the novel to concentrate on the hunt and how to go about it. The killer does chime in from time to time, to voice his thoughts and motive. There is nothing new in either, but it’s all about how the author puts her own stamp on it. Again, there’s nothing new in a smart but twisted killer, but it’s imaginative. I liked that there are few hints as to identity and methodology which allows the reader to guess and the author to hone her procedural.

I didn’t find the novel particularly engrossing, perhaps because the thread seems to be just as prominent as the serial killer investigation, and I found it an easy novel to put down and not so easy to pick up again.

This is the second book in a series I hadn't read the first one., but this seems to be fairly stand alone.
Claudia sees a gruesome picture of a man lying dead with a knife in his back and this is exactly what she sees when she is called out to a crime scene. The body is laid out in exactly the same way. Then another drawing and another replica crime scene. Can Claudia catch the killer before he strikes again. This book did not hold my attention as I could not get to grips with the characters.
I do thank the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Seconds to Die is the second instalment in the Detective Inspector Claudia Nunn series set in and around Sheffield, South Yorkshire. The prologue begins with Claudia having seemingly been abducted from the back of a police car by the killer she and her team have been in the midst of trying to identify and locate recently. She awakens groggy, her body leaden and with only a fuzzy recollection of what had happened for her and finds herself in the boot of a car, bound and gagged and on the move. What had happened, and where was she? The story then rewinds seven weeks to tell the tale of what led up to her kidnapping. DI Nunn and her newly formed team known as the Complex Crimes Division, of which she has just become the lead investigator, have been dealing with a spate of cases in which they were receiving beautiful but truly gruesome illustrations seemingly foretelling a violent future crime before it had occurred. The first artwork lands on Claudia’s desk with the rest of the mail one morning. Once opened, she finds it shows what seems to be a rundown industrial building with a bed placed in the middle of the floor. Depicted on the bed is a man, laying on his front. Arms stretched out above him, tied with rope to the bars of the bed head. He is naked, gagged and bound. And in the middle of his back, dug in deep, is an elaborate-looking blade. He has been stabbed.

Despite this unusual piece of mail, Claudia dismisses it as a prank or a crank until a report is made of a killing practically identical to the horrific sketch. The killer enjoyed making art to exhibit as well as art installations, but after his work began being rejected by exhibitions, he decided he needed to take it to the next level and featured the murder scenes. He would show those neigh sayers that he had what it took to become not only famous but infamous. The media dub the killer The Artist and barely a fortnight after the first illustration had been sent, Claudia receives another and naturally takes it extremely seriously. The team pounce into action and must try everything in their power to stop what is about to happen to another innocent victim. This is a riveting and compulsively readable police procedural that features a refreshingly original plot and an intriguing premise in that the killer actually forewarns the team of his cold-blooded actions before he even lifts a finger which puts even more pressure than normal on the police. It moves at a rapid-fire pace and is filled with drama, mystery, action, intrigue, danger, twists, turns, red herrings, intense suspense and stellar characterisation. The Artist is depicted as ruthless and especially heinous, and as the story progresses the situation becomes a nail-biting race against the clock fraught with tension. Highly recommended.

🔍Tense British whodunit: exciting urgency⌛

I found this DI Claudia Nunn police procedural set in southern Yorkshire a good read. The search for the serial killer was suspenseful and the added element related to the murder of the lead's stepmother before the action in this book takes place provided an interesting twist. The urgency of the chase, to catch the killer the press calls the Artist before the tight deadline he imposes for each killing, kept me glued to the book right through to the nailbiting, high-octane climax. But I was not shocked or even very surprised by the identity of the killer. And one of the writing techniques used did not work for me.

The Prologue is an advance taste of a scene from late in the story. Why? Lifting a scene and plunking it without context at the beginning of a book is something I just find confusing. It may be an exciting moment in the story but I could have done without the Prologue.

Thanks to Joffe and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.

Seconds To Die is the second book in the DI Claudia Nunn series and once again Rebecca Bradley has proved she is up there with the best authors of this genre.In this book Claudia is faced with a murderer who delights in sending her pictures of the murders before they take place,Claudia is also up against the clock as the murderer has put down the times of when he will strike.The ongoing case of her previous case is also on her mind as her mother in law was a victim of The Sheffield Strangler and the perpetrator is saying he wasn’t responsible for that particular murder,but if he didn’t do it who did ?? I would say if anyone wants to enjoy this series then start at book 1 so you get the background of the characters.This really is an excellent thriller from Rebecca Bradley and I can’t wait for book 3 in the series.Yet another 5 star read from Rebecca Bradley but I wouldn’t expect anything else from this author.

This is the 2nd novel in the Detective Claudia Nunn series but my introduction to the series and was easily read as a standalone. I enjoyed the characters and felt Claudia would grow on me the more I got into this series.

I drawn in by the synopsis : Detective Claudia Nunn personally receives a sketch at work depicting a man, naked on a bed. His arms are bound, his face contorted in agony, a huge blade stuck deep in his back. Claudia is intrigued but puts it to one side until she is called to crime scene that is a exact replica of the drawing she received. Two weeks later another drawing arrives and this time she takes it far more seriously. Another crime scene is depicted but can Claudia catch the killer before he strikes.

It was a good introduction for me to the series and feel sure it will grow on me when further books are written. I enjoyed this book and will be keen to read more of the series. Addictive plot but a little drawn out.

I would like to thank both Net Galley and Joffe Books for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

New Case Brings Tension…
The second in the Detective Claudia Nunn series and a new case brings tension for the Detective. Sketches are being sent to her workplace that can only be described as disturbing in their nature yet also strangely beautiful. She dismisses them until called to a crime scene which is oddly and horrifyingly familiar. A tense and edgy suspense with a well used but engaging premise.

Seconds to Die is the second book in the DI Claudia Nunn series by Rebecca Bradley and it builds on the first book to produce a very enjoyable and readable police procedural that definitely kept this reader turning the pages.

Nunn is a good main character and the underlying arc of the series is developed by the author in this book with the promise of further revelations in future instalments.

If you’ve not read the previous book, Blood Stained, then you will still be able to enjoy Seconds to Die as there is just enough backstory woven into the narrative to allow a new reader to fully enjoy this book

Definitely recommended.

Thank you to NetGalley and Joffee Books for allowing me to read this advanced copy of Seconds to Die for an honest review. I started this off with high hopes, the first chapter is a doozy! But the farther I read, the more frustrated I became. The story is interesting, the premise not totally original but promising, but the characters are cardboard. There is nothing here about them to really make you care. The main is a stereotypical female detective who is either angry or a hardass. There’s really nothing about her to really grab hold of and get involved with. I didn’t like her, didn’t dislike her, just didn’t care. Her only true feelings were constantly expressed as “ice running down her spine”. Too easy. There’s no real setting and no one to demand more of my time and attention. Meh.

Artistic installations can be exciting, these ones are just murder. DI Claudia Nunn things the drawings she receives are beautiful - but grim. Each one is an accurate depiction of a murder, before it happens. As if she hasn't got enough problems of her own; and having her father working as a member of her new team isn't helping.

Brilliant. Edgy and still stuff unresolved.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher I read a free advance review copy of the book. This review is voluntary, honest and my own opinion.

This is the first book I read written by Rebecca Bradley, but it will not be the last. It was easy to tag along even though this was not the first book in the series. The characters are flawed, determined, and brilliant. I think this is the first time I have read a book with the father and daughter working for the same team within the Police. It seems like quite often the father is retired, but not in this case. It gives a totally new perspectives, and some really interesting and embarrassing moments. Not only that... when the father is hiding something absolutely freaking awful from his daughter and his team, and instead of solving crime he should be in prison.

It is all in all a very enjoyable read, and I read it in two sittings. There are elements of a classic detective story, but enough of edges to make it a bit different from the mainstream ones. The short and snappy chapters moved the story forward without any nonsense slowing the pace down. Due to the brilliant ending it'll be interesting to see what will happen next.

Rebecca Bradley is an author that I found on NetGalley. There is a twist in every novel and it's always shocking. I can't wait to read every single one of her books.

This certainly isn't the follow on book I was expecting given the conclusion of the last instalment. Instead Claudia faces her first case with a new team that includes her own father (and if you've read the last book you know what his secrets are!) and hasn't quite gelled together yet.
The book is engaging and reads well but I felt it could have been so much better. The previous instalment was a stroke of genius so I hoped this would be too.

DI Claudia Nunn #2

DI Claudia Nunn is called in to a crime scene that's the exact replica of a drawing she received at work. Two weeks later another drawing arrives. And another crime scene is revealed. Can Claudia catch the killer before he strikes again.

I have not read the first book in this series but I don't feel I've missed out on any backstory. Set in Sheffield, Claudia and her team have to work fast to try and solve these murders. Claudia also has personal issues running alongside the main storyline. The killer was quite skilled in making things more difficult for Claudia and her team to solve. There are no witnesses and not a lot to go on. This is a cleverly crafted story that's well written, gripping with well developed characters.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #JoffeBooks and the author #RebeccaBradley for my ARC of #SecondsToDie in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Joffe Books for this ARC of Seconds to Die by Rebecca Bradley in exchange for an honest review!

From the very beginning, I was hooked by the premise of this book! Police procedurals and detective novels are some of my favorite genres, and this did not disappoint! In Seconds to Die, we follow DI Claudia Nunn as she and her newly formed Complex Crimes Division solve their first case. However, unlike most policing which involves solving murders after they occur, she and her team have the chance to *prevent* the murders.

One day, Claudia received a beautiful but gruesome drawing of a crime scene with a brutally murdered victim. She thinks nothing of it until a murder is reported that is absolutely identical to the drawing she received. When she receives another drawing, Claudia knows what she needs to do. She and her team spring into action to try to stop this horrifying pattern and prevent any more lives from being lost.

I was so drawn in by the clever games played by the villain, especially as his tactics kept evolving and the game grew ever-more complex. I binge-read this book in a day because I just had to see if and how he could get away with it! And as we neared the climax of the book, I genuinely felt scared as I imagined myself in the situations posed by the book!

In future books (since this is a series, after all!), I'd love to see a bit more complexity given to Claudia's character. We mostly see her as a strong, determined detective, but I'd love to learn more about what motivates her, what scares her, and what makes her heart soar. However, I don't take any stars off for this since I was still drawn in by Claudia's character, as well as the story in general.

And additionally, I should note that this is the second book in a series about DI Claudia Nunn. I haven't read the first book, but I didn't find that to be a hindrance. From what I could tell, all of the necessary details from the first installment were provided by the author.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, and I think any fan of police procedurals and serial killer stories would as well!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Seconds to Die by Rebecca Bradley is the second book in the series and a serial killer police procedural that will have you on the edge of your seat! The plot revolves around DI Claudia Nunn, who has just been promoted to head of the Complex Crimes division. One day, she's sent a detailed drawing of a dead man and his surroundings. Soon, she stumbles across a crime scene that is exactly like the one in the drawing. Then, it happens again. A serial killer that the media has dubbed "The Artist" is sending her drawings of his murders before they happen. Will Claudia be able to find the killer before he claims his next victim?

Here's a terrifying excerpt from the Prologue:

"Claudia's eyes were heavy. Her head fuzzy. Her body leaden.
She had no concept of where she was or what was happening. Whatever it was, it wasn't good. She wasn't at home or at work. This wasn't her bed. Something rigid was sticking into her neck, which was at a weird angle.
She clawed through her mind for her last memories. The killer they were investigating had targeted her. Her father had come home with her for her protection. She'd made dinner.
...
Fear gripped her stomach at the memory.
What happened?
Where was she?"

After I read that thrilling excerpt, I was so excited to continue reading to find out what happens to Claudia. I love police procedurals where they're trying to catch a serial killer. The Unsub series is one of my favorite thrillers. Unfortunately, I didn't realize that this book is the second book in a series. Many events in the first book are referenced, particularly in the chapters that focus on Dominic (Claudia's father). I took off 1 star because the plot dragged on a lot. In her effort to make the plot realistic, I think the author put too much of the "procedural" in police procedural. I took off another star because Claudia is completely unrelatable. Her no-nonsense, business-like approach may make her a good lead detective, but not a good protagonist. If you're intrigued by the excerpt above, or if you're a fan of police procedurals, you can check out this book when it comes out in September!"