Sam Holland’s The Countdown Killer is a relentless, high-stakes thriller that grabs you by the throat from the first page and doesn’t let go. The fourth installment in the Major Crimes series, it follows DCI Cara Elliott as she races against time to stop a sadistic killer who livestreams murders on demand—each one executed to a twisted viewer’s specifications, and always within a chilling 48-hour countdown.

What sets this novel apart is its brutal originality. Holland doesn’t shy away from the darkness—this is a story that’s as psychologically disturbing as it is emotionally raw. The killer’s method is horrifyingly modern, tapping into society’s obsession with voyeurism and digital spectacle. It’s not just a whodunit—it’s a will-they-stop-it-in-time.

DCI Cara Elliott is a standout lead: sharp, haunted, and deeply human. Her vulnerability adds weight to the narrative, especially when the killer turns the tables and targets the police themselves. The tension is razor-sharp, the pacing breathless, and the emotional stakes sky-high.

Holland’s writing is cinematic and visceral, with scenes that play out like a high-octane crime drama. But beneath the gore and grit lies a thoughtful exploration of trauma, justice, and the cost of obsession.

If you’re a fan of dark, intelligent thrillers with a psychological edge—think Luther meets Mindhunter—The Countdown Killer is a must-read. Just don’t plan on sleeping much once you start.

This is the book I’ve been waiting for. After reading the first three in this series and the reservations i had after the third, this more than made up for it. Satisfying doesn’t cut it, I need a better word for how happy I am after seeing all these little threads and clues come together in one of the most exciting books I’ve ever read. I’m dying for more but after this I’d be thrilled if this ended on such a high

The Countdown Killer by Sam Holland

No synopsis: Book 4 in Major Crimes series

Review
I really enjoyed this book, fast paced, great plot and twists. Its very dark and disturbing in places and I would recommend you read the series in order.

Rated 4/5

A dvd of a snuff film is delivered to for station and DCI Cara Elliott and team are on the case. It appears there is a whole series of these snuff films, but the homeowner of where they were found is dead. The team battle to find out who else is connected with this sinister series of snuff films. Doubt starts to creep into Cara’s mind as to whether they caught the real Echo Man from the first book.
A fast paced and wholeheartedly gripping book. I read this in one sitting. First class!

What a way to finish the series! Sam Holland wraps up with a tense, gripping finale full of twists and emotion. I loved the complex characters and relentless suspense that kept me hooked right to the last page. A brilliant conclusion to a fantastic series — I'll really miss these books!

If you haven't read this series you definitely should - if you love crime!

4.5 stars
Even though I wasn't aware that this was the fourth book in a series, you can definitely read it as a stand alone story.
And I'll certainly be going back and reading the previous three books after enjoying this as much as I did.
Twisty, gruesome and very well told, this was an intense and all-encompassing read.
I also liked that it all occurred within a 48 hour cycle, without it feeling like it dragged on or was constrained by this.
Really it was everything that I could want from a dark crime fiction book.
I can't wait to read more from this author and will be keeping an eye out for what he does next.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A ticking-clock nightmare that slams you into the dark heart of obsession, The Countdown Killer is a serial killer thriller that doesn’t just grip... it clamps down and drags you breathless to the final page!

✨ A killer broadcasting murder on demand 🖤 A detective racing the clock 🔥 A countdown that turns the hunters into prey

Sam Holland builds a world where every second matters and every shadow could be your last. The forty-eight-hour kill cycle is brutal, brilliant, and terrifyingly plausible. As a Southampton local, the setting felt uncomfortably close. The grey skies, the quiet estates, the coastal chill—it’s all so familiar, and that familiarity makes the horror hit harder. I found myself eyeing the CCTV on Above Bar Street like it might blink back.

DCI Cara Elliott is everything I want in a lead: sharp, haunted, and utterly relentless. Her team dynamics crackle with tension, and the emotional stakes are sky-high. Holland doesn’t just write a thriller, oh no... she orchestrates a psychological siege! The pacing is vicious, the twists are surgical, and the dread? It lingers.

If you crave thrillers that are dark, daring, and disturbingly close to home, this one’s a must.

4.5 Stars
WOW. This book was something else! I have loved this series from the very beginning, The Echo Man being a personal favourite and this one was not far away! 😳 this book brought the previous books together, had me shedding tears and even doubting everything else I have read in the other books! 😳 This was fast paced, short chapters and just a general enjoyable read! This series needs to be added to your TBR NOW! 😍

▫️ Dark + twisty
▫️ Detective MCs
▫️ Short chapters
▫️ Serial killer thriller
▫️ Fast paced
▫️ Book four in Major Crimes series

I cannot explain how much I LOVE this series 👏🏽 Each and every book is so masterfully crafted with a super fast paced, suspense-filled narrative and this last instalment was no different!

Gruesome, dark, gritty & absolutely NOT for the faint of heart, this was so damn addictive and completely impossible to put down. The short chapters and engaging writing style, along with the realistic, complex characters & darkly intriguing crimes made for such a quick and easy read, that kept me gripped from the first page.

I was SO happy we got to saw more of Griffin, who I’ve loved since we were first introduced & as always, loved following DCI Cara Elliot.

There are some references to book one, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐧, so although this likely could be read as a standalone, I’d highly, highly recommend reading in order to get the full experience and understanding of the background.

This was the perfect conclusion to an outstanding series & I’d recommend to anyone looking for a super fast paced gritty crime thriller.

PS: Sam, you KNEW what you were doing with that penultimate chapter, leading us to believe something had happened to *him* & I SWEAR my heart nearly shattered 😭

𝑇ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑘 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑡𝑜 𝐻𝑎𝑟𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝐶𝑜𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑠 & 𝑁𝑒𝑡𝑔𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑦 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑎𝑛 𝑎𝑑𝑣𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒𝑑 𝑐𝑜𝑝𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑏𝑜𝑜𝑘 𝑖𝑛 𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑛 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑎 𝑟𝑒𝑣𝑖𝑒𝑤. 𝐴𝑙𝑙 𝑜𝑝𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑚𝑦 𝑜𝑤𝑛. 𝑅𝑒𝑣𝑖𝑒𝑤 𝑎𝑙𝑠𝑜 𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑡𝑜 𝐼𝐺 (@𝑟𝑒𝑑ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑏𝑜𝑜𝑘𝑔𝑖𝑟𝑙) & 𝑆𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑦𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑝ℎ.

Sam Holland has done it again with this utterly amazing and outstanding book. Wow my review won’t cover how good it is, it’s fast paced and has some great twists that I wasn’t expecting . Highly recommend

Holy smokes. Sam Holland has done it again! The Echo Man is my ultimate favourite serial killer book and I still rave about it now, years later. I am loving the instalments we’ve had from Holland and seeing the characters again.

I don’t think I’ve ever cried at a serial killer book but this one absolutely had me crying at the end. Sam, why did you do that to me!?

This was so gritty at times I felt squeamish… her writing is so vivid that it’s like a movie playing right in front of your eyes. The ‘snuff film’ - which I just learnt the meaning of - was horrific! It gave me goosebumps. This went in more directions than I anticipated, I think it was one of the most dangerous cases they’ve had changing lives forever. It was intense.

What an epic read in the Major Crimes series. I cannot wait to read more. A huge thank you to Harper Collins UK, Sam Holland and InstaBook Tours as always for having me on tour. This was an epic book of the month and I highly, high recommend.

He’s tracking people down one by one, and you are next on the list.

Cara is faced with a series of crimes both current and historic where someone is murdered based on a crime they have committed. When the next target is a policeman Cara has 48 hours to prevent the inevitable.

I was so excited to get approved for this book by @netgalley and it did not disappoint. PLEASE read this series in order as the development of the characters throughout is brilliant. I really enjoyed being back with them and the fast paced storyline meant I read this book in no time. I love this series and this author is a definite go to for me.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#TheCountdownKiller
#SamHolland

This series is brilliant! I was so glad to get approved for this one and I should have picked it up sooner. Love all the characters and crime series are my favourites. Have already recommended, absolutely love them!

OMG... very dark with a couple of unexpected twists.

A few things that made me sort of cringe as it felt a step too far.
But... in terms of characterization this is a fabulous series with loads of interesting twists and turns . I really enjoyed it

This was one of my most anticipated reads this year, I had to get stuck straight in, and it absolutely delivered.

Sam Holland does not hold back. She puts her characters through hell and somehow still makes you care deeply for every one of them, even as they unravel.

The tension in this one is immediate. From the first chapter, I was completely immerse in that dark, gritty world she writes so well. It’s relentless in the best way. Every page adds more urgency, more danger, and somehow, more emotional weight.

I was so happy we got more Griffin, he’s been a quiet favourite of mine, and this book gave him room to shine (and suffer, naturally). I felt so much reading this - dread, hope, frustration, grief, and of course, that desperate need to find out what happens next.

The balance between character depth and plot is spot-on. It’s intense, emotionally charged, and tightly written - easily one of the best thrillers I’ve read this year.

But don’t even think about reading it without picking up the earlier books first. This series demands to be read in order, and trust me, it’s so worth it.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this ARC.

I haven't read the earlier books in this series but will most definitely do so. I really enjoyed this book, although the female main character frustrated me at times.

I will definitely be adding this author to my list of favourites.

Thank you NetGalley for the Arc The Countdown Killer by Sam Holland in return for my honest review.
This is the forth book in the series and I would highly recommend reading them in order as the story lines overlap I can guarantee you won’t be disappointed.
This is a brilliantly written fasted paced thriller that had me hooked from the beginning till the end and what an end it was. I really hope this isn’t the last we hear from Cara and her team. I will be recommending this series to everyone just totally brilliant.

A sure-fire 5 star read for me and another excellent addition to this brilliant series.

This is the fourth in the Major Crimes Series and the fourth I have read and I have found that they have just got better and better. I really do feel you need to have read some of the others in the story -at least the first in the series, The Echo Man, to keep up with it however, it's not essential and, I think I would have enjoyed this even if it was my first and it would have made me go back and read the others.

It has everything you would want from a dark and gritty serial killer story; it's full of excellent characters, it's non-stop pace with plenty of action, tension, suspense, thrills, twists and a sick serial killer. This is definitely not for those who don't like reading graphic scenes of death - there were definitely bits that made me shiver and wince and it takes a lot to do that so be warned!!

Highly, highly recommended and I must thank the author, HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of this riveting book.

I chose to read a free eARC of The Countdown Killer but that has in no way influenced my review.

Wow! Just...wow! I need a lie-down after finishing The Countdown Killer. I have so much to say about this book but where do I start? How about here? This is one of my favourite books of 2025. Without a doubt, one of the best serial killer thrillers I have read in a long time. It's so twisted, it's so dark and delightfully intense, it's so completely unexpected and thrilling. So utterly propulsive and nigh-on impossible to tear yourself away from.

Gosh, I loved it. But then, the entire series is something really quite special. And different, I think. Sometimes serial killer thrillers can become a little samey. Not the Major Crimes series. Holland mixes things up and gives a different take on the norm. For example, the first book in the series featured DCI Cara Elliot and her brother, DS Nate Griffin. The second book in the series, The Twenty, features a completely different police pairing - DCI Adam Bishop and DS Jamie Hoxton, with Elliot only being mentioned in passing. I really liked that. I thoroughly enjoyed that the series was about the Team, not the individual. The third and fourth books feature characters the reader has become familiar with but situations, as in life, are always changing. Things happen. Often in the world of the Major Crimes team those 'things' can be quite catastrophic. It keeps the reader on their toes, keep you interested and engaged.

As I mentioned, this is the fourth book in the series. Sure, you could probably read it as a standalone if that's your thing but I would heartily recommend starting with the first book, The Echo Man, and reading each book in order. So much has happened to these characters in the short space of four novels. So much has changed and the author has developed her characters beautifully. I feel I know these people and that's why, when something shocking happens (as is the norm in Holland's books), I feel it too. You will feel more invested if you read this series from the beginning. Also, The Countdown Killer picks up a storyline that was left as a cliffhanger in the first book. I've been wondering for two books now when the author was going to address that particular loose end and oh my gosh, address it she does!

The characters are superb. Some I've loved from the moment I met them. Some have grown on me over time. I feel I've lived their journey alongside them, which is the mark of a brilliant writer. When I'm reading their stories, they feel real to me and I love that. Holland does not shy away from really pushing her characters to their limits which is another thing I really appreciate. I often feel in crime fiction that there's sometimes a hesitancy there, a reluctance to really shock the reader. You don't get that with Sam Holland's books and I find it refreshing.

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. The Countdown Killer is a superb addition to a brilliant series. If I was going to write a novel THIS is the novel I would want to write. The characters are believable and despite their flaws (or perhaps 'because' of their flaws), I have really warmed to them over the course of the four books. The plot is so immersive, completely gripping and the tension is built to palpable heights. There are a number of completely shocking, gasp-inducing moments throughout the book. One I'm still trying to come to terms with. There is so much going on in this book but it's all very easy to follow (particularly if you're familiar with the series). The characters are pushed to their limits, flailing around looking for a lead, something they can start building a case on. But no matter what direction they take, there's nothing. And all the while, the clock is ticking. The number of gruesome deaths increasing. It's SO good. I felt it was written for me. This is the type of crime fiction I adore and Sam Holland has quickly become one of my 'must-read' authors. I love how she tells a story. All in all, The Countdown Killer is one of the best books I've read this year. Gruesome, relentless and highly compelling. Dark and twisted bliss and I loved every second of it! Highly recommended.

I chose to read and review a free eARC of The Countdown Killer. The above review is my own unbiased opinion.

OH. MY. GOD. This book?? Absolutely unputdownable. It was absolutely BRILLIANT. Sam Holland has officially mastered the art of the serial killer thriller, and The Countdown Killer might just be her best yet. The premise alone gave me chills—a killer filming murders and sending to the police every 48 hours, and the next victim? A police officer. No pressure, right?

DCI Cara Elliott is back and better than ever—tough, sharp, and completely under siege as she races to stop the countdown before someone she loves ends up dead. The tension is relentless. Every chapter cranks the pressure higher, and I honestly couldn’t read it fast enough.

I loved how this book brought together so many familiar faces from the series—Griffin, Jamie, Adam—and the emotional stakes felt huge. There’s so much history here, and it all comes to a head in the most gripping way — it felt like the ultimate crossover episode but in book form and with a body count 😂 Every chapter was intense, twisty, and somehow still managed to hit you in the feelings.

Sam Holland balances the brutal and the emotional so well. The crime scenes are dark and disturbing (as always), but the heart of this book is the connection between the characters. I laughed, I gasped, I maybe almost cried once 👀

If you’ve followed the Major Crimes series, this one is a must-read finale. And if you haven’t started yet—buckle up, you’re in for one hell of a ride.