I've been a fan of this series (DI Adam Fawley) since the beginning and was thrilled to get approval to read #7. Unfortunately it's taken me a lot longer to read it than I had planned. Because the story is told in a multi-media format, much like the previous books, it was a bit wonky in the Kindle version. Part way through reading it, Netgalley made the "NetGalley Reader" available which really improved its readability.

In July 2024 a dog walker discovers a woman’s body, bound and buried in a shallow grave in the woods. Forensic evidence links the corpse to the 2016 disappearance of an eight-year-old girl in Oxford. DCI Adam Fawley, the original investigating officer, is called in to run the enquiry. And he remembers the case well—he arrested the child’s mother for murder. A murder he now knows she didn’t commit. The investigation raises more questions than answers.

I'm so impressed by the format of this book; we have newspaper clippings, emails, interview transcripts, mug shots, even a picture from a dating website. I really liked how the author included brief bios of the members of Fawley's team at the beginning. Because the investigation is a collaboration between the Thames Valley Police and the South Mercia Police, many new characters are introduced as well so it can get a little confusing. I'm hoping there'll be an 8th book as I still need some answers! I highly recommend this whole series but you should at least read the first book before this one.

Although it's not included in the Kindle edition I got from Netgalley, the NetGalley Reader contains an Adam Fawley short story entitled "Descent" which included some interesting information about Fawley's childhood. Maybe the basis for another book?!

Thank you to HarperCollins UK, via Netgalley, for approving my request to read an advance copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
Publication Date: February 13, 2025.

This review will be posted on Netgalley and Goodreads as of March 10, 2025 and on amazon.ca under the hardcover edition on March 10, 2025. Apparently the Kindle and paperback editions and the audiobook aren't being released in Canada until May 2025.

I very much enjoyed this pacey thriller.
I have read some of the DI Fawley novels but not in order so this can definitely be read and enjoyed as a stand alone book.
The premis of this story is that previous murder investigated by Fawley becomes the focus of a true crime producer - work that then raises lots of questions. I'll not say more incase of spoilers but I really did enjoy this read.

📖 BOOK REVIEW 📖

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

#MakingAKilling by @carahunterauthor @harpercollinsuk

➡️synopsis

So this is the continuation of the Daisy Mason’s case that featured in CH first book of the series called Close to Home.

I was surprised when I learnt we’d be revisiting this case and I did feel it had ended satisfactorily and didn’t occur to me to want more from it. However, even more surprising is how much I ended up enjoying revisiting this case and how much this brought back the halcyon days of discovering and loving a new author!

It’s presented in CH signature format using all forms of media to tell the story which I loved - it makes it fun, challenging and exciting to read and although the plot is not the best situation for lead character DCI Adam Fawley to be in, I did feel he got his mojo back after becoming quite stagnant in the pervious book in the series.

Overall, I found it to be a great who ‘really’ done it which held just a much clout as the original story. I love the way CH books are presented; finding them interesting and exciting to read but they alway ensure a full plot and satisfying conclusions.

With thanks to author #carahunter #harpercollinsuk and @netgalley for allowing us to read this one!

Publishing: OUT NOW!

-EMILY

@the_book_girls_1

This was my fifth book of Cara Hunter’s and from the DI Adam Fawley series that I have read. Although this book is number seven in the series but I was really excited to review Cara’s new book. I loved how this book was a sequel to Cara’s first book Close to Home and the Daisy Mason case.

I really like how the book was laid out with all the relevant information about the case and everyone involved- it made me feel like part of the investigation as I tried to solve the case myself. There were parts that left me feeling stumped and I really enjoyed the ending.

I can’t wait for book eight but while I wait I look forward to catching up on book five and six.

I read Close to Home last year and subsequently collected the entire series. I was delighted to be approved for an ARC of the latest book, Making A Killing, but realised I wanted to do the series justice and read them in order.

The whole series is fantastic; the latest is no exception. Compelling characters who grow and change with each book. Twisty, fast-paced stories that constantly surprised me. An immersive investigation each time where you feel like you are working alongside the team but with some very clever misdirection thrown in.

I loved the dynamic between Adam and his team plus the insight into Adam’s personal life with him and Alex overcoming a devastating tragedy and finding each other again.

You know that if it is a book by Cara Hunter then you are in for a great read. A skilled storyteller she produces books with twists and turns and characters that come alive off the page.
The reader is gripped from the start and the book flows effortlessly. It is a police procedural but much much more besides.

This is not my favourite book of the DI Fawkes series but another brilliant read non the less. I’d highly recommend reading this series to anyone.

This is a follow-on from Book One of the series, Close to Home, however, you don't have to have read it as the author provides enough of the back story to get you up to speed. Also, whilst this is the seventh in the series, you don't have to have read any of the others however, I would recommend it as you are missing a treat.

What we have is an enthralling and intriguing read told from the perspective of various characters in the book. Once again, Cara Hunter uses different media to give the story more relevance however, the articles reproduced did not work well on my Kindle. This may have been because I received an advance copy but is something to be aware of.

The story is a bit of a slow-ish burn to start with but you become totally engrossed in the story as it's told and it becomes faster paced the more you get into it and totally gripping by the end.

Highly recommended to lovers of police procedurals with twists and turns that keep you guessing ... roll on number 8! Many thanks to the author, HarperCollinsUK, HarperFiction and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of this enthralling book.

This is an exciting crime thriller which kept me gripped and had plenty of twists throughout. The characters were interesting and well developed and there were lots of elements to keep me guessing within the book.

It is part of a series which I hadn’t realised when I first got it, however I didn’t feel this impacted on my understanding and enjoyment of the book. In fact, the book starts with some character profiles which were useful and a really lovely touch. However, I did still find there was a lot of characters to try and follow and, using my Kindle, it wasn’t easy to just flick back and refer to these profiles.

I loved the use of multi-media throughout the book, which included newspaper articles, web pages, a dating profile and a post mortem report.

I’m not too sure how I felt about the ending though. It was left a little open to the reader’s imagination, which I’m sure was the intention, but I didn’t feel like I got full closure on what had happened which brought down the rating very slightly.

I loved this book with its exciting plot and unique elements and would definitely recommend.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 ⭐️

Had to DNF because of the format - in the app I can zoom in to read articles and in the kindle the images are all awkward. Will wait for the physical book to read.

I have enjoyed this series of books and this is the 7th one in the DI Fawley set. I like the way in which the layout is different with texts, speech, email in the plot. This is a follow on from a previous book but can be read as a stand alone. This was a well written and gripping story. Cleverly plotted with complex characters who were believably written, there were plenty of twists and turns along the way.

A 5* read I love caras writing have done since book 1!! Will always continue to support her writing an auto buy author for me

In 2016 an eight year old girl disappeared, her body was never found but her mother was charged with her murder .
We are now in 2024 and a body has be found in a shallow grave in woodland , eerily a hair is found with the body and it contains DNA of the missing girl Daisy Mason .
How can she still be alive?
Adam Fawley was the investigating officer in the original case so is called back to look into this murder due to the DNA evidence .
What unfolds is a fast paced read with plenty of twists and turns .
The ending was perfect!
An enjoyable psychological thriller !
Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, Harper Fiction.

Great to be back with DCI Adam Fawley as he rejoins the team to investigate a really unusual case. Set 6 years after the last Adam Fawley book Hope To Die, the team have all moved on considerably, as has Adam’s family, his baby now a 6 year old daughter.

The book is written with mixed media including photos, newspaper articles, transcripts from phone calls and a shadow diary for examples. This makes it more of a challenge for kindle readers.

There is also reference to a media group investigating a case connected with this one, involving The Infamous Netflix series, the same one as from Cara’s standalone Murder In The Family (Luke Ryder) book. This is also based on a characters reappearance from Close To Home, (book 1 in the DCI Adam Fawley series). I was fascinated seeing these separate worlds collide.

The plot is definitely a complex one, involving two separate regional police forces investigating, as well as information coming from the Garda in Ireland and the police in USA. A lot of well-defined characters with a multitude of information to hold in your head, especially if you read it over an extended period.

For me, the pace was slower than I wanted, although probably reflected more realistically the time spent investigating a crime of this nature. The ending is suspenseful, which I found a bit frustrating after the intricacies of the plot, wanting to tie up the loose ends. Enjoyable but not as compelling as the previous books in the series.

Book 7 in the DI Adam Crawley series and again it’s another brilliant read. If you haven’t already read book 1 Close to Home I would recommend reading it before this one. As this book does relate to the first book . It’s difficult to say too much without giving away any spoilers but it’s an unputdownable read which will have you on the edge of your seat at times as it did me. I love this police procedural series and can’t wait to read more .

I’ve read all the books in this series. This one is quite complex not least because some of the characters have aliases. The main character is from book 1 in the series so we are familiar with the background. How the author remembers all the plot lines I don’t know. Maybe there’s a board and lots of red string and thumbtacks! Great edition to the series. Cant wait to see where Fawley goes next!

**Listened to the audio book, and read electronic copy**

I'm always a little daunted by starting another DI Adam Fawley book as it always feels so long between the books, that I'm worried I will go into the book not having a clue and not remembering what happened in the previous book. I needn't have worried - Cara Hunter does a great job at the beginning reminding the reader where all the characters are at, and what has previously happened. Thank god for the recap!

This book was gripping straight from the off, and I liked the fact they went back to an old case from previous books - thinking everything was rounded off nicely - but that not actually being the case.

The audio book was brilliant too - think this may be the first time I have listened to a book from this series, but I definitely think it is the way forward! Will definitely keep listening to the audio versions. The multiple narrators really bring it to life. The only downside if you miss out on the 'multi-media' aspect of the physical book.

Another gripping read from Cara Hunter, and another corker in the DI Adam Fawley series - keep 'em coming! (I'm surprised they've not been snapped up by netflix yet!!??)

I received an E-ARC with a request for my honest review.

This shocking thriller follows DCI Adam Fawley as he is told of new evidence in an old case of his, involving a missing child.

The mother of the missing child was arrested and charged with murder and has already been in prison for a number of years, but she has always claimed her innocence.

DCI Fawley must unravel the new evidence and work out the truth behind what happened that night and help to solve a new murder which may be linked.

Will he discover the truth? Is the mother guilty of murder?

This thriller is shocking as you unravel the truth along with DCI Adam Fawley.

There are plenty of secrets and lies to discover, and it keeps you gripped throughout.

Overall, a shocking thriller where a murder unravels secrets behind an old solved case.

A mother is in prison for murdering her daughter, eight year old Daisy. So how can Daisy’s DNA be found at a new crime scene?
Enter detective Adam Fawley and team.
A really enjoyable and well-written thriller, and I liked the format with texts, emails etc woven in.
You don’t have to have read other books in the series to enjoy this one.
Recommended: one of my favourite thriller-writers.

Book 7 in the Adam Fawley series, this is one of my favourite crime series! This one’s a bit different and I wouldn’t really recommend it as a stand alone, it’s actually a follow on from Hunters very first book in the series, ‘close to home’.

A body is found in the woods and DNA found at the scene links back to the Daisy Mason case in Close to home. So the old team get back together to solve the mystery! I really enjoyed it, from the beginning it was quite fast paced. I liked the mix of news paper cuttings, audio etc to tell the story and piece it all together.

I wasn’t quite satisfied with the ending but I’m wondering if that’s because another book dedicated to the Daisy Mason case is in the making.

This is another must read series ❤️📚 The latest book is out now!