It’s amazing that this book continued the DCI Danny Flint series perfectly, it had that overall feel that I was hoping for and enjoyed the concept. Trevor Negus continues to write this series and that it had that crime element perfectly. I enjoyed the characters and how everything worked with them.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Inkubator Books for an advance copy of The First Cut, the twelfth novel to feature DCI Danny Flint of Nottinghamshire Police’s MCIU, set in 1991.

I enjoyed The First Cut, which is a strong police procedural with a twist. It is mostly told from the investigative point of view with a few chapters from potential suspects in the two murders. Without giving too much away I would say that the crimes reflect the character and upbringing of the suspects so that aspect offers no surprises. The twist, on the other hand, is clever, if highly unlikely. It relies heavily on serendipity and takes a bit of swallowing.

The First Cut is a good read that I can recommend

The First Cut is the 12th book in The DCI Danny Flint series. I have read some but not all of the previous books and along with this instalment I have really enjoyed them all. The First Cut was a fast paced page turner of a story which is set close to where I live and I love how I can actually visualize some of the places described in the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Inkubator Books for my ARC.

This is #12 in the DCI Danny Flint series but can easily be read as a standalone.

Danny and his team are dealing with two murders. The first was the death of an elderly man who was trying to stop his car being stolen, and the second was the death of a man who was trying to rob someone at knifepoint. Then a link is discovered between the two cases, so the team has their work cut out to get the right perpetrators.

I have really enjoyed the Danny Flint series, having now read all 12 books, but I was disappointed and surprised to find some of the research seriously lacking. I can’t be too specific due to spoilers, but one very important strand was wrong and wouldn’t have happened in the way the book says, especially due to the time period (early 1990s) in which the book is set. There are laws involved in this subject so it’s really not difficult to research and the issue should certainly have been picked up post-author, by editors or publishers, etc. I have to be honest and say that this spoiled the book for me, and the storyline idea is brilliant, so that was a shame. I will, however, still read further books by this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and Inkubator Books for an advance reader copy in return for an honest review.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

"The First Cut" by Trevor Negus is the twelfth installment in the DCI Danny Flint series, and it is a testament to Negus's mastery of the crime thriller genre. This novel is a complex tapestry of crime, mystery, and the pursuit of justice.

The narrative begins with a seemingly straightforward crime—a seventy-year-old man, Lionel Wickes, is murdered outside his home. But as DCI Danny Flint delves deeper into the investigation, he uncovers layers of deceit that lead to a second, equally suspicious death. The plot thickens when forensic evidence points to Craig Stevens, a man with a violent past, but Flint's instincts tell him there's more to the story.

Negus's writing shines in his ability to create a sense of urgency and doubt within the reader's mind. As Flint battles against the clock and his own conscience, we are taken on a journey through the darker alleys of Nottingham, where every clue seems to blur the lines between victim and perpetrator.

The character development of DCI Flint is particularly noteworthy. Negus has sculpted Flint into a character that is both formidable in his pursuit of truth and profoundly human in his doubts and fears. The supporting cast is equally compelling, each adding depth to the twisting narrative.

"The First Cut" stands out for its intricate plot and the moral quandaries it presents. It's a story that doesn't just ask who did it, but why, and at what cost. The resolution is satisfying yet leaves the reader pondering.

"The First Cut" is a gripping addition to the DCI Danny Flint series. It's a novel that will appeal to fans of the genre and newcomers alike, offering a fresh perspective on the classic detective story. Negus has once again proven his ability to craft a tale that is as thought-provoking as it is thrilling.

The First Cut, #12 - This is an excellent read, minus the lack of basic editing. Very involved story lines that add intrigue and a bit of humor to the unexpected. Multiple consequences along with the interesting characters make TFC an interesting and immersing read. One of the better books that I have read in this genre by an Indie writer. And a vast improvement in the author's writing style from the previous two books I read by Mr. Negus. Source: Netgalley. 5*

The DCI Flint series:
The Devil's Breath, #8 - Wow, I own two of these beautiful plants and did not know they are toxic if processed. Good story lines, which one, sadly, is true about foreign education in many countries. The characters are interesting and believable. One character thought he had to tell experienced people how to do their jobs, but this may have been the author's way to inform the reader, which I did not care for since their work appeared in their progress reports. It is a sad story but one of desperation and hopelessness. 4*

Tied in Death, #10 - I am glad this wasn't a hardback; the high page count is a killer. Although lengthy, the story kept my interest with the variety of characters and the multiple, intriguing story lines. As in life, there is always multiple crimes to be solved. The story does move at a good pace and never bogs down. No confessions but hard work solved the crimes, and set in 1989, to boot. 4*
The DCI Flint series end.

The First Cut by Trevor Negus is the 12th installment in the DCI Danny Flint series. This police procedural is quite robust in its use of dialogue, and swiftly drew me into its setting through the interactions between characters. It's the first book in the series I've delved into, and the dialogue captured my interest right from the start.

An intriguing aspect of this novel is its resemblance to an episode from a long-running police procedural series rather than a typical British crime thriller. Negus' thirty years in the police force, including twelve years as a detective, shine through in the book. His reliance on this extensive experience is evident in the meticulous details and the incredibly authentic and believable dialogue.

One aspect that didn't fully meet my expectations was the sentence structure and the lack of atmospheric setting. I believe that some of the writing could benefit from more polish, and Negus could improve the descriptions of the atmosphere to create greater tension and intrigue within the narrative.

Overall, The First Cut was an enjoyable read, and I found the details to be entirely believable. The narrative of this story strongly evokes the experience of watching a long-running weekly police procedural television series— it feels familiar, comforting, and highly entertaining.

Thank you NetGalley and Inkubator Books for allowing me to read this book for review. All opinions are my own.

Yippee - another Trevor Negus book. I just love his style of writing and this series, and was pumped to see what Danny Flint was up to now.

I enjoyed The First Cut, a lot less violent (and creepy!) than some of the others in this series but another clever, witty, well thought out crime thriller. I like how fast paced it was, the small personal story lines for the main characters, the two different crimes being solved and I'm a big fan of the setting of Negus's books - there is just something about the gritty police work before CCTV on every corner and cellphones.

Trevor is a great writer, with well thought out storylines, a master of twists and turns and catching up with Danny is like catching up with an old friend. These can be read as standalones but highly recommend working your way through the series.

Danny Flint and his team at the MCIU are investigating two murders.
One of an old man who was trying to stop his vehicle being stolen during the night.
The other, the murder of a man known to be a street robber with a knife.

The second murder has been solved, as DNA evidence is irrefutable.

What an absolute twisty police procedural!! Trevor Negus has definitely got a very vivid imagination, and this book floored me to say the least!

The book is fast paced and definitely a page turner. Danny bends the rules, fortunately with a good outcome.

It really is a brilliant police procedural. I highly recommend. 5/5 stars from me.

Thanks to Netgalley and Inkubator Books for the opportunity to read this book.

This is another excellent read in the Danny Flint series. The characterisation is very good and the team dynamics are well thought out and a little bit of personal insight into their lives. It's fast paced with a few investigations going on at the same time but I thoroughly enjoyed the read. The ending came just too quick for me but I highly recommend the series. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

A fast paced police procedural. As with all Trevor Negus's books, there are several investigations taking place, the murder of a man trying to stop someone stealing his car and the murder of a known mugger. There are excellent descriptions of the police investigations that give a real sense of the process.
There are a few personal storylines for some of characters but mostly the focus is on the police work.
The resolution was a bit convenient and too neat for my liking. A bit of a cliche in fact. But an engrossing and very quick read.

Great book!! Wow! I thoroughly enjoyed reading this one! Its gonna be a great series! This book had suspense, intrigue, action packed, murder, mystery, a crazy who done it and some crazy twists and turns! The storyline was very interesting and kept me glued to my Kindle! I highly recommend reading this book! Its well worth reading! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me! Two killers. Two victims. But nothing is as it seems… A seventy-year-old man, Lionel Wickes, is murdered outside his own home as he tries to stop a thief stealing his car. A second body is discovered in the centre of Nottingham and again there are suspicious circumstances. The victim, Randall Clements, has died of head injuries. A wealth of forensic evidence found at the scene of the second murder quickly leads DCI Danny Flint and the MCIU to a suspect. Craig Stevens, a man with a long history of violence, is arrested and charged with the murder of Randall Clements. Danny is then free to concentrate all his efforts into finding the killer of Lionel Wickes. Until a possible link between the two murders comes to light which leads him to have serious doubts about the guilt of Craig Stevens. Danny finds himself facing a solitary battle to prevent a horrifying miscarriage of justice which he himself may have caused. But nothing is at it seems as Danny desperately fights to uncover the truth in what may be the most complex and shocking case of his entire career!

These murder mysteries are just so good and this one didn’t disappoint, the story had so many things going on with it but in a great way. I couldn’t stop reading it and loved how it ended.