DI Rena Hunt is called to a gruesome, seemingly senseless murder of a woman in her home.
Soon, there is another murder, with the same MO, and Rena has to find the link between the victims and the murderer.

I love a female lead, a strong female character, and Rena is definitely a strong person.
She has a sad background, and I am sure this is why she took a path in life that will help her solve crimes of the past as well.

I noticed that the murders were solved with gut feelings, more than evidence found, which is quite unusual, in my opinion. There were many suspects.
However, I found this a little slow, but intriguing. I would like to read the next book in the series. Rena is headstrong and brave, and should perhaps realise that police work in teams, rather than going into situations alone.

This was the perfect murder mystery. It gives vibes of Agatha Christie type writing while also having engaging and problematic type relationships with family and colleagues.

I thought this was well rounded and I really like DI Rena so can’t wait to follow her on her next investigation because as I’ve seen in Book 1, nothing comes easy and there’s always some kind of surprise along the way!

Open to Death by Sophie Mattis is a dark, twist-filled thriller that grabbed my attention right away. The pacing is quick, the suspense builds steadily, and the ending delivers a satisfying punch. Fans of psychological suspense and fast reads will enjoy this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a murder mystery that I couldn't solve. I had everyone guilty at some stage but how it turned out I had not predicted. I love DI Rena who is down to earth and gets the job done but she also has a human side that is affected despite this she tries not to let it get in the way of solving the case. I feel so sorry for the child involved in this case and I love how it is addressed.

Now I'm pretty sure I'll be in the minority, but I just couldnt fully engage with this book which is a huge disappointment as I love nothing more than finding a new series, having the excitement of what is to come. It definitely won't put me off the series as it's most likely a 'me, not the book' problem 😅 I'll happily read the next installment as I feel the more we get to know the characters, the more engaged I am.

In the quaint and picturesque town of Rucklesby, DI Rena Hunt is called to the scene of a local woman, found brutally murdered in her home.

Rena is still reeling from her last case, which has left her massively questioning her own instincts, something she's never had to do before.

The victim is wife and mother, Sicily Avery. Murdered in a very precise manner of a stab through the heart.

When more victims are found with the same chilling method and cruelty, and all with cryptic messages notes left on them, Rena Hunt realises they have a calculated serial killer on their hands.

I enjoyed the slow, simmering tension between Rena and the forensic pathologist, Dr Lucas Mann. It added more dimension to these new characters and to the story as a whole.

The characters were well executed and solid, I look forward to fully learning their backstories and what makes them tick.

Thanks to Netgalley and Victory Editing Netgalley Co-Op for the ARC.

Highly recommend this fast paced murder mystery. I love how all the law enforcement acronyms were explained the 1st time they were used. I felt that character building was strong and the perfect amount for the 1st book of a series. It left me wanting to read the next book to learn more about Rena and how she will handle her next case.

I will await the next book.

A well written police procedurals with a psychological twist.
This talented author has made this something a little different to the norm.
The characters and storyline are really engaging.
My thanks to netgalley and the publisher for my copy.

I love a good police procedural series, so I was very excited to be in at the start of this one, which features DI Rena Hunt. It didn’t disappoint and I will definitely be reading further books in the series.

Sicily Avery lives with her husband and young daughter in the town of Rucklesby and appears to have a worry-free life. Then Sicily’s body is found brutally murdered in her own home with a knife to her heart. DI Rena is called in to investigate and it’s clear that this isn’t a random, spur-of-the-moment killing. It’s been carefully thought out and executed.

Before long, the body of another young woman is found, and she’s been killed in the exact same way. Rena and her team need to find the killer swiftly, before anyone else is murdered.

Rena finds out that there is a new forensic pathologist, Dr Lucas Mann, and this sets the scene for a potential love interest. Just enough about the chemistry between Rena and Lucas to provide interest without spoiling the main story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for an advance reader copy in return for an honest review.

Sophie Mattis paints a haunting picture of rural England in Open to Death, where the warmth of home is upended by a series of brutal murders. DI Rena Hunt is a striking lead—haunted yet sharp, navigating grief and instinct as she unravels a killer’s twisted motives. Each victim is pierced with calculated cruelty, each scene eerily intimate. It’s a thriller that whispers before it screams.

What sets this apart is the simmering tension between Hunt and forensic pathologist Dr. Lucas Mann. Their uneasy alliance adds depth—and a flicker of slow-burn spark—to the already taut atmosphere. Rucklesby itself feels vividly alive: picturesque, yes, but edged with shadows that stretch further than expected.

Mattis writes with precision and emotional intelligence. The pacing allows room for suspense to settle into the bones before ramping toward its conclusion, and the result is a debut that’s equal parts clever and unsettling.

Perfect for fans of classic police procedurals with a psychological twist, and for anyone who enjoys their mysteries layered with human complexity.

Thank you to Sophie Mattis, the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

A nice new police procedural that has a lot of potential. Lot's of interesting characters which we only scraped by the surface. Also Rena seems to have a dramatic past and I do hope in future books we will touch this subject more.

The murders are great with many, many suspects. There was a moment where I was thinking " NO, the author took the lazy road for the murderer " but this was a nice twist to throw us off!

Thank you Netgalley for providing me this copy.

In the picturesque town of Rucklesby, peace is shattered when a young woman is found brutally murdered in her home. Detective Inspector Serena “Rena” Hunt is called to the scene, still haunted by her last case and questioning her instincts. The victim, Sicily Avery a wife and mother has been stabbed through the heart with chilling precision. When another woman is killed in the same way, Rena realizes a calculated murderer is on the loose, leaving cryptic notes on the victims as part of a twisted agenda! Wow!! Fantastic book and series! The storyline was so very interesting! Highly recommend! This book had chilling suspense, mystery, murder, intriguing, action and a few shocking moments! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

Top notch detective thriller - complex plot, solid characters, and enough going on to keep you guessing. Some creative twists that definitely throw you off, and maybe a budding romantic interest? Look forward to future installments, and guessing we will find out more about her sister!

A brilliant police procedural which I thoroughly enjoyed. A great blend of team dynamic, personal tragedy and multiple murder. I look forward to reading more in this series.

An engaging mystery that kept me guessing. Why does the lead character always have to go rushing in to save the day? The ending was just slightly too much. However, I'll be looking forward to more books in the series.