Thanks Netgalley for the ARC.

I really enjoyed this. Murder in the Family was the first proof copy I received from my book club and I've then read the rest of the Adam Fawley series.

I love how at the end of Murder in the Family it was all sewn up but this goes back and makes you question all of it. Everyone thought Daisy Mason was dead and her mother imprisoned for her horrific crime but the discovery of a body changes all that. The working through the old case and revisiting all the characters had me questioning everything all the way through. I also liked how we got to see more of the team and it wasn't centred solely on DCI Fawley.

My lack of 5 stars is due to the proof format as sometimes it was unreadable on the kindle and if I'm truthful I'm still in the dark about the ending so it will be a trip to the library for a paper copy!

I can't believe we're back with the Mason family and that Daisy has been alive the whole time! I was willing to stretch credibility and was easily sucked into this book. I love Cara's writing. Thank you so much for offering this to me

Another gripping, fast paced thriller from Cara Hunter. I really enjoyed this addictive read and hope there will be more in the series.

Thank you to the publishers for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book.

I loved this. An intriguing mystery with an old foe of DCI Foleys. The only thing im not keen on is trying to read the newspaper reports and other things like that on a kindle as it doesnt come out properly on the page. I did like the pictures of the characters as it brought them to life.a bit for me anyway. Thanks to netgalley for the advanced read.

I absolutely love Cara's books and was hugely excited to read her latest DCI Fawley novel.

Where to start, after helpful summarisations of the main detective characters at the start for anyone that hasn't read the previous books, I was immediately drawn into the story.

The book begins with DCI Adam Fawley being brought in to assist with the unravelling of new forensic evidence found at a crime scene. What is found relates to the disappearance of Daisy Meadows; a previous high profile case of Fawley's. Daisy's body was never found. While the team pull out all the stops to try and discover what really happened, will this dark mystery ever truly unfold?

The intricate and so cleverly plotted story feels like a tv documentary, so real are the police characters, the press and social media aspects and the ingenious ways the plot twists and turns, keeping you guessing every step of the way.

I could not put this down and honestly didn't want it to end, so immersed was I with the captivating story and believable characters. I love Cara's writing style, bold, real and at times, very funny. If there is a queen of the police procedural thriller, Cara Hunter definitely takes the crown!

Highly highly recommended.

Huge thanks to Cara Hunter, publishers Harper Collins UK & Harper Fiction and Net Galley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

All in all a solid addition to the DI Fawley series and I enjoyed returning to the characters lives and Cara’s writing style which I love. I really like the bits of evidence included throughout the book including photos, diary extracts and transcripts of phone calls. There were plenty of twists and turns. I didn’t love it quite as much as others in the series and I think that is because there were more characters to focus on and a little less of the spotlight on Fawley (my favourite) 🙈 still a great instalment in the series and would highly recommend! Excited for the next one already 😆

Rounded Up to 3.5.

Before I proceed, I need to warn you that this review contains major spoilers for the first book in the series, Close to Home, so if you plan to read that one stop reading now! I’m not using spoiler tags since there are no spoilers (teasers only) for this book.

In Making a Killing the seventh instalment of the series, six years has passed since #6 Hope to Die. Which I’ve just realised means that the events of books 1-6 took place over a mere two years. Yikes! No wonder Adam and co. are so traumatised.

Just like the summer of 2016 when eight-year-old Daisy Mason disappeared, the summer of 2024 is a scorcher! Love those parallels.

Deep in the woods of Hescombe a woman walking her dog stumbles upon a grisly discovery. A shallow grave containing the body of a woman – estimated time of death, a few weeks ago. Stuck to the duct tape binding the body is a single hair, soon identified as belonging to Daisy Mason.

But Daisy’s case was closed eight years ago. DI Adam Fawley was the SIO. Yes, Daisy’s body was never found, but the person responsible was convicted based on strong forensic evidence and is currently serving a life sentence. Did they get it wrong?

Could Daisy Mason (who would be sixteen years old now) still be alive?

For those who are worried that they have little recall of the events of Close to Home, because like me they read that one years ago, never fear, you will be able to follow this one just fine. Adam Fawley (now a DCI), and his core team, are some of my favourite characters, and it was great to see them return. And I loved Adam’s six-year-old daughter Lily (who was only a baby in the last book), and their father/daughter relationship. So sweet! The notion of ‘The Shadow Self’, first conceived by psychologist Carl Jung, popularised in recent years by Keila Shaheen’s bestselling self-help book, The Shadow Work Journal, was an effective way of offering a voyeuristic POV of a certain character. I enjoyed the tie-in to Cara Hunter’s standalone novel, Murder in the Family, and the Infamous Netflix series from that book. The title of this one was also genius.

Unfortunately, the novel was a super slow burn, and the crime plot failed to hook me and hold my attention. It took me ages to get into the swing of the investigation, and the pace never really picked up – in fact the second half dragged more than the first. I never resorted to skim reading, but I did keep glancing down at the percentage willing the plot to move faster. Because of this I had a lot of time to think about the mystery and had nearly every twist worked out prior to its reveal. And, with the exception of one that really got me, the remainder I didn’t guess were average. If I’m being honest, I was never sold on the idea of a continuation of the Daisy Mason case, and was surprised to learn that it was something readers were asking for, as I was more than satisfied with the conclusion of Close to Home.

There were CID detectives assigned to the cases in this novel coming out of the woodwork. I counted fifteen, and I think I may have missed some. I know we were dealing with two police teams, hence the influx of characters, and they were all interesting and well fleshed-out, but it was still a lot. There was a handy character summary included by the author at the start, which I appreciated, but it didn’t include the Gloucester characters which would’ve been helpful. I kept losing my concentration trying to nail down which pair of investigators were in each scene. Not to mention that there were plenty of other characters – victims, witnesses, suspects – centred around the crimes to keep track of as well.

I love Cara Hunter, will continue to read this author, and the other six books in the Adam Fawley series were all five-star reads for me, but this instalment wasn’t my favourite. It should also be noted that most of the early reviews for Making a Killing are 5-stars, meaning my opinion is very much in the minority.

I’d like to thank Netgalley, Harper Collins UK, and Cara Hunter for the e-ARC.

Release Date: 27th February 2025.

P.S. I may have squealed when Cara Hunter mentioned The Scold’s Bridle by Minette Walters. I predict an upcoming reread.

Making a Killing is another gripping, fast paced corker of a thriller from Cara Hunter. This time bringing back a well remembered character from a previous book in the DCI Adam Fawley series (although should add not necessary to have read any others to enjoy this one). I really enjoyed this addictive read and hope there will be another!
Thank you to the publishers for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book.

It was wonderful to be back with DI Adam Fawley in book 7 of the series and oh boy what a comeback it was and how much I have missed him. This case brings back a story from book 1 of the series and if you haven’t read that one I would suggest you do not only as it’s too good to miss but also as it obviously brings context to this book also.
The writing in the book is just as you would expect from such a brilliant author as Cara Hunter and also quite a few new faces as well as the return of the old one’s and the twists in the storyline are just pure genius.
I loved this book and just can’t fault it at all it’s clever and kept me gripped throughout, I hope it won’t be too long till the next instalment however a standalone novel would be fantastic also just please Cara never stop being such an amazing writer of excellent stories.
My thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins Uk, Harper Fiction,Hemlock Press for giving me the opportunity to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

DCI Adam Fawley is back in this latest book, a follow up to Close to home. The book can be read as a standalone but you will get better background read the others in the series and particularly Closer to home.
A woman is found in a shallow grave near an infamous witches tree. While investigating, the forensics find a hair which reveals a shock to DCI Fawley's team. It belongs to a girl abducted and killed 8 years ago. How could her hair get on the body.Her mother was convicted of the murder but has always protested her innocence. Was she right all along?
The Oxford team join forces with the local force to investigate both what happened 8 years ago as well as the current murder.
Gripping, psychological thriller.

Cara Hunter is one of my favourite crime thriller authors and I was delighted to receive an arc of Making a Killing, the latest in the Adam Fawley series. The story revisits an old case from several years previously and the team reunite along with some new faces. I raced through the novel, intrigued by the characters and the twisting narrative. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher turn this highly enjoyable read.

Cara Hunter is an incredible author! This book is astonishingly creative in terms of plot. If you read book one, I bet you could never have come up with the ideas for this sequel. I suspect another book will continue the threads from here.

I find it amazing that any author can produce so many well developed characters in one book. Each person could easily command a book as the main character. That is quite a skill in itself. It is helpful, though, to have a recap at the start to remind you of each person in the investigating team.

In terms of being a police procedural style book I felt that it was very realistic and I do love Adam Fawley's leadership style. He is humble snd supportive to all his colleagues even if they do not share the same thought processes on solving a crime.

Yet again - hats off to the author. Thoroughly recommend the book. Although it is a sequel it is not essential to have read the first novel.

I was really excited to be given the opportunity to read an ARC of Cara Hunter's Making a Killing the seventh book in the Adam Fawley series.
Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy this book as much as the previous six in the series which were all five ⭐️ reads for me. I didn't particularly like the format of this book.
Making a Killing revisits the Daisy Mason case from book one Close to Home. Daisy was 8 years old in this book and went missing presumed dead. Her mother Sharon was convicted of her murder. Fast forward 8 years when in this book a body is discovered and some of Daisy's DNA is discovered at the scene.
Thanks to NetGalley, Hemlock Press and Cara Hunter for the opportunity to read and review Making a Kllling.

Thanks to Cara and NetGalley for allowing me to read Making a Killing before the publication date.
Although this book is a follow on to an earlier book which I had not read, that did not spoil my enjoyment of reading it. It starts quite slowly before gathering momentum and becomes a chilling page turner.

Cara continues to use some unusual and very effective techniques in her writing.
The inclusion of character summaries for the police team helps both new and returning readers to become familiar with them. (Cara’s stories are very much about teams and not the lone wolf detective and a loyal sidekick variety).

Starting with a trail of email conversations, Nick Vincent, a ruthless producer with Dry Riser Films, discusses the potential for an investigative report into the Daisy Mason story.
Extracts from the newspaper reports at the time are very effective in summarising the story and the media frenzy surrounding the case.

A “self help” app called a Shadow Journal, based on the concepts of Carl Jung, has been used as a method of characterising the individual who is using the app. Their responses to the questions posed in the app leave the reader in little doubt about the danger this person presents.

Phone conversations/interviews are transcribed, giving a sense of the pauses involved.

With the secrets, lies and red herrings, this book would make an excellent drama.

Thanks to the publishers and net galley for an advanced copy in exchange for a review. This is a mixed media thriller that follows on from a previous book which I haven’t read. The book is following up on Daisy who went missing as an 8 year old who was thought to have been murdered by her mum who is still serving time in prison. When another body is found and daisys hair is found at the crime scene the race is on to discover what really happened and if she is still alive is she now a murdered. The book was ok however didn’t really grab my attention. I did like the mixed media aspect but felt the journelling part didn’t really truly represent how a 16 year old would really write etc

Cara Hunter is one of those authors whose books I pick up without even reading the blurb, and she has yet to disappoint me. As all her other books I enjoyed reading Making A Killing, although it’s not my favorite in this series.

Despite plenty of helpful reminders about events and characters from the first book, I occasionally struggled to recall some key details, even after going back to reread the epilogue of Close to Home. For this reason, I don’t think Making A Killing works well as a standalone novel—I’d strongly recommend reading Close to Home first to fully appreciate the story.

As with Hunter’s other books, this one is written in her signature original style, with compelling characters and plenty of twists to maintain the suspense. While Making A Killing wasn’t a standout for me, I’m still eagerly looking forward to more from Cara Hunter, whether it’s a standalone novel or the next installment in the Adam Fawley series.

It seems like it has been a long time since there has been a DCI Adam Fawley novel and it was great to be back with him and the team of familiar characters. Time has passed since the last novel and Cara Hunter cleverly references covid and the changes in the characters lives. Adam gets to work with his team again as a link to a previous case is discovered when evidence from a new murder scene indicates Daisy Mason (close to home) is still alive. The mystery is, where has she been for 8 years and how did she stage a disappearance at 8 years old!! One thing I enjoy about Cara Hunter books is how the chapters of narrative are interspersed with emails, photos, crime scene reports, interviews so it feels like you are investigating the case alongside Fawley and the team. I will wait for my detectives badge!! A great read, thanks!

I don't know if it's just my particular Kindle or if others have this problem, but I find it difficult to read the various 'newspaper reports', 'tv outlines', and other things that are presented in image format. These are always somewhat fractured on my device. Also, some of the text was mangled and repeated several times over. Because of this my reading experience was not as pleasurable as it otherwise would have been and I found it difficult to fully get into the book.

However, it is a great story, well told, with fascinating characters - though there are rather a lot of them to keep track of!

I did find myself having to go back to check and reread bits where I wasn't sure what was happening. All this would probably have been a lot easier had I read the paperback instead of the Kindle version.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

Loved this - great characters and story

It's great to have Adam Fawley and co back and to return to the dreaming spires. At the centre of the story is a case from eight years ago when young Daisy went missing and whose body was never found. Fawley was in charge of the case and Daisy's mum is now serving a sentence. However, new evidence casts doubt on the crime and Adam is brought back. Gripping.