Following on from the previous novels, Sam Holland’s new story is every bit as intriguing as the others. It was good to meet up with characters you’ve invested in from earlier stories, but this could easily be read as stand alone story too.
A spate of suicides is being investigated and the team discover that they are linked in small ways. The mystery is on and the race is one against time as they seek to find the person who is encouraging the victims to commit their dreadful act. Well written, tense and a satisfying ending make for a great read.

Book 3 in the Major Crime series and we are back with Cara and the team who are on another dark and disturbing case.

When a pattern of suicides emerge it is up to the team to work out what is happening and whether the deaths are linked, hoping to work out a pattern before others get hurt.

This was a another great instalment of this series with the growth of the characters being my favourite part.

"The Puppet Master" by Sam Holland presents a dark and compelling police procedural narrative set in Hampshire, England. The story unfolds amidst a backdrop of personal and professional turmoil within the police department, exacerbated by a case initially dismissed as suicide by the British Transport Police.

Before delving into this review, it's important to note that the novel addresses sensitive themes such as PTSD, depression, bereavement, self-harm, and suicide. While these topics are integral to the narrative, Holland handles them with care, avoiding gratuitous shock tactics.

In terms of engagement, while "The Puppet Master" kept me intrigued enough to return to its pages, it didn't fully immerse me in its world for extended periods. This could be attributed to various factors such as writing style, plot development, character depth, or perhaps simply a personal disconnect with Holland's storytelling.

However, as the plot reached its climax, particularly in the final 15% of the book, I found myself thoroughly engaged until the end. Although this novel is part of a series, it stands reasonably well on its own, providing enough background for newcomers while possibly benefiting from prior knowledge of the series for enhanced context.

The mystery at the heart of the narrative is well-crafted, with the investigators portrayed without the usual incompetence that can sometimes bog down similar stories. While mistakes are made in the investigation, they don't detract significantly from the overall pacing or intrigue of "The Puppet Master."

Ultimately, my difficulty with the book stemmed from its dark subject matter, which may not appeal to all readers despite being well-suited for fans of police procedurals. It's a novel that will resonate differently with each reader, with some finding it captivating and others less so.

I recently read the first two books in this series in anticipation for this latest instalment, and I'm so glad I did because I loved them even more on a second read.

And while this would work as a standalone, the character development in this one is exceptional. It's not often I care about the characters more than the crime, but it was great to get to know all of them more and see how they were moving on from the events of The Echo Man.

With another gripping case consisting of dark crimes, this is a fantastic investigation. You don't get much insight into the mind of the killer and nothing is really revealed until near the end, so it's not an easy one to piece together yourself. But it's just as engaging, as you become desperate to fit the pieces of this twisted puzzle together.

If you're a thriller fan and haven't read this series yet, it is a MUST!! If you're exciting for this new instalment, I'm positive you won't be disappointed! Sam Holland is easily one of the best and most exciting thriller writers around at the minute.

I took a chance and jumped in for book #3 in a series by an author I’ve not read before and it paid off!

This is a very dark thriller that should probably come with several TW’s.

I’m not sure that I’m keen on the main character Cara but I think reading books 1 & 2 would probably help explain her background a little more. Having said that I sped through it and found it fine as a standalone read.

Many thanks to #NetGalley and #HarperCollinsUK for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

I had no idea this was the 3rd in a series, but it didn't seem to make any difference. The first two thirds of the book dragged for me. It also seemed overly long. I did get more into it near the end but also found there were too many characters which made things confusing.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC.

Thank you HarperCollins and Netgalley for another outstanding book.
I am absolutely addicted to this series and the characters.
This was weird and very addictive and I need more please.
Where Sam comes up with the ideas for the series is beyond me.
Please keep writing and hurry up with the next book please

DCI Cara Griffin and her major crime team are still reeling from the Echo Man murders. Two suicides happen in quick succession, but something doesn't smell right and Cara thinks perhaps they are not really suicides at all. More deaths follow and once again we have a ruthless serial killer who won't hesitate to strike back at the police team seeking him. Packed with violent and bloodstained action its a fast and exciting read..

When there are a spate of suicides, DCI Cara Elliott instinctually senses there is more to it, and she’s right!

I didn’t realise this was part of a series but it does work well as a standalone and as I started to piece together the background of the main characters in Cara’s team, I came to like them all, except for Cara herself who completely ignored her estranged husband’s many pleas for her to see her two children, because she was “busy” but found time to sleep with her colleague!

In terms of the plot, it was detailed and pacy with plenty of red herrings to keep the investigation in play. I didn’t quite understand the motive of the killer, so the ending left me confused, but I enjoyed the ride!

4 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Sam Holland and Harper Collins for an ARC in return for an honest review.

Once again, Sam Holland has absolutely killed it!

What a book!

Dark, gritty, twisted and totally enthralling read about a sick, twisted serial killer.

I loved it.

Excellent characters, excellent story with great twists and turns but, be warned, it is not for the feint-hearted.

Highly recommended and I can't wait for Book 4.

Thanks to the author, HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction, Hemlock Press and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of this, another excellent addition to this series.

The characters were really what stood out to me in this, and the plot was intense and kept me guessing until the very end. It’s one of those dark and unpredictable stories that will stay with you. I’m excited to read more from the author in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for allowing me to read this ARC for free.
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The Puppet Master follows DCI Cara Elliott after witnessing a man falling into the path of a moving train. But was it intentional like everyone else believes? Cara doesn’t believe it was suicide and with more and more cases sounding similar racking up, she is determined to get to the bottom of the case.
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I could not and would not put this gripping thriller down!

The characters were very well written, especially Cara and Nate, who had a subplot I would very much like to read more of.

I do regret not reading the first two in the Major Crime series first however, as I was not aware this was part of a series although I don’t feel it is necessary to have read them first.

Review will be posted on my BookTok page within a week of this review being uploaded. Link below

The major crimes series is now one of my all time favourite thrillers and Sam Holland is officially an auto buy author for me. I absolutely loved the first two books in this series and The Puppet Master didn't disappoint.

Sam Hollands writing is so clever and extremely well researched. I love the attention to detail.

The Puppet Master had me gripped from.the first page.. Will forever highly recommend all 3 books in this series.

Thank you to Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

Faced with no alternative a man hurls himself in front of a speeding train. When another person takes their own life, the suicide verdict is brought in to question. Is a pattern emerging? What links these people?

Who is doing this, and how?

Once the victims are marked, the Puppet Master persists until they’re dead. Cara, Griffin, and the gang don’t have long to figure this all out stop him before another life is taken.

This is book three of The Major Crimes series, and like its predecessors, it’s a clever, brutal, and unputdownable thriller. Gruesome in parts, but not gratuitously so.

Holland has again written authentic and fleshed out characters; the detectives working the case all flawed and unapologetically human. Their personal struggles intertwine seamlessly with the dark themes of the book.

I was hooked and desperate to know who was responsible for all the bloodshed. Another gripping instalment of this outstanding series.

Though it can be enjoyed on its own, delving into the series from the beginning offers a richer understanding of the team dynamics and past cases. Each book in the series contains some major spoilers.

That poor hamster.

A huge thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book for review consideration.  All opinions are my own.

A brilliant, very intelligent and intriguing thriller. If you love dark police procedures story, you will love this. It is a very dark book which references suicide. However, it is done so well. Loved the main characters too and I will definitely read more in this series.

An OK read. I did not think that this was the authors best book in the series. The tension did build up as Detective Cara and her team tried to find the mastermind behind numerous deaths. Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC.

The Puppet Master by Sam Holland
I give this book 4.5 stars

He watches your every move.
That creeping sensation of eyes on your back, the faint echo of footsteps following yours.
He controls you
Across the country, a madman is carefully choosing his victims.
He will make you pay
The Puppet Master is coming for you, and he won’t stop until you’re dead

Book 3 in a series.To get the most out of this one I suggest you read The Echo Man and The 20 first.
I’ve loved all 3 of these,and as the series continues we get to know more of the main characters backstories and become invested. but this doesn’t distract at all from the plot/case. Cara,Nate and the team have a suspected suicide on their hands this time.Filled with plenty of tension,dark suspense and twists, the author keeps you on edge and makes this book hard for you to put down.Its not one for the faint hearted but l was engrossed! A killer last page ……… I just need to know how long I’ve got to wait for the next thrilling instalment.Sam Holland is an author to follow!

⭐️ 4 ⭐️

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC, in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

The Puppet Master is the third book in the Major Crimes series. I’ve read and loved the previous two: The Echo Man and The Twenty (The Twenty is still my favourite).
 
Sam Holland is a superb storyteller; as soon as I started the book, I was hooked. It’s well-plotted, dark, and twisty, and as with the other books, it’s gruesome, gory, and graphic — definitely not for the squeamish or faint-hearted.
 
The character development is excellent, and I really enjoyed being back in the company of the likeable duo, DCI Cara Elliott and her brooding brother, Nate Griffin.
 
The book can be read as a standalone, but if you haven’t read the previous two and are planning on reading them at some point, then I’d definitely pick them up first, as there are some major spoilers in this one.
 
Although not as fast-paced as the previous two, it’s still a chilling, compulsive read. Can’t wait for book 4!

I loved this book! DCI Cara Elliot and her team are still suffering the fallout from The Echo Man (if you haven’t read that already, you definitely should!) and moral isn’t at it’s highest when a man falls/jumps in front of train, a man who suffers from extreme agoraphobia………..and that makes Cara suspicious! What ensues is a spate of ?suicides which on their own are not unusual but because of the number and the circumstances seem to point to something sinister going on……….can it be another serial killer orchestrating suicides? How?

Sam Holland’s books are so well written and the characters are so realistic that I never fail to be drawn into the story. The characters are flawed (like most of us) and like most of us, screw up at times but that, for me, just makes them more likeable! I like that the back story of Cara and her family continues to develop in this third book in the series. I look forward to seeing how things progress in the next book!

This book wasn’t as shocking as The Echo Man, but there has to be a degree of believability even in fiction books and so much happened to the team the first book that I was already thinking as I started this, how much more can happen to one small team? So, although there wasn’t as much to shock, it was still a gripping page turner. How can one person persuade others to kill themselves? Well…….you’ll have to read it to find out!

My thanks go to Sam Holland, her publishers and to NetGalley for an advance e.reader copy of this excellent book!

DCI Cara Elliott and her team have been called to an incident at the train station in rush hour and, at first it appears like a definite suicide but, when they look into the victim's background, something doesn't add up, then there's another death, and another and soon the team are certain there's more to this, but just who is behind all these incidents and how are they pulling their strings?

The Puppet Master is the latest thriller in the Major Crime series by this author, it's a fast paced read with a lot of characters to get involved with. The plot is complex and dark , covering the very delicate subjects of mental health and suicide which the author writes with compassion and integrity. This latest instalment highlights the vulnerabilities of every one of the team, who have all dealt with their own personal tragedies in the past, but this doesn't stop their professionalism in this investigation. This author knows how to command her audience and her books are definitely not for the faint hearted. I started this series at book two, not realising at the time that it was part of a series and I'm yet to go back and read book one, which is on my kindle. For those of you that haven't read any of this series I would advise that you start right at the beginning with The Echo Man, as The Puppet Master contains rather a damning spoiler regarding the first book, that said it won't stop me from reading it.

I'd like to thank HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction and Netgalley for the auto approval, I will post my review on Goodreads now and Amazon on publication day.