Lethal Vengeance

Robert Bryndza delivers yet again with this fantastic protagonist and a plot which is dark but all too believable. His signature ability to take the reader into the heart of the action makes this an easy read as we follow Erika Foster into the seedy side of London’s most powerful groups, causing her to face some harsh realities about the career she loves. I have really liked seeing Erika grow as a character, both personally and professionally, and her relationship with Igor is especially gratifying to read about.

Another absolutely brilliant Erika Foster book, and totally worth the wait. I love all your books but this is definitely the best...don't leave it too long until the next one! Thanks Robert. You deserve 10 stars!

Great book and series! Wow! This book had everything! It had high suspense, intrigue, action packed, murder, serial killer, abuse, revenge, great police work, A great who done it and some crazy twists and turns! The characters were awesome and definitely drew you in! I thoroughly enjoyed reading this one! The storyline was very interesting and had me glued to my Kindle! I highly recommend reading this book and series! They're well worth reading! Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me! Can't wait for more!

This author proves with every book that he is the king of crime! The new Erika Foster book is just incredible. Very original and complex case, which makes Erika to give all she has to solve it. Love her relationships with her colleagues and Igor. Hat off to the author.

I would like to thank the author, the publisher and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read an ARC of this book. This is book number eight in the series featuring Erika Foster and it was brilliant, it kept me guessing all the way through and the ending, wow, I can't wait for the next one.

A real page turner that I couldn't put down until I had finished. The author got right into the story and kept up the pace until I was hooked. Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for giving me a copy of the novel.

Wow another super book in the Erika Foster detective series. Erika is investigating a series of murders with her team with a scary killer on the loose and her boss and the establishment bringing pressure to bear and hampering the case. As always a page turner that you just can’t put down and always guaranteed to get a reading out of a reading slump. Can’t wait for the next instalment.

Well well well…………… once again another amazing read in this series. Literally could not put this book down, every chapter had me reading the next when I promised myself I’d stop and go to bed! Have loved this series and Erika since book 1 and can’t wait for the next instalment. Although it forms part of a series these books can be read as stand-alone. If you are a fan of detective, police, who did it, didn’t see that coming then these are the books for you!

"Vengeance is in my heart, death in my hand, blood and revenge are hammering in my head." (William Shakespeare)

Have mercy! Robert Bryndza is runnin' with the big dogs in Lethal Vengeance. I have a finger on my pulse and it's pumpin' wildly. Especially that run-up to the end, folks. Whether this is your first go-round with Bryndza or you're a dedicated fan, you can just scoop this one up and hit the pages full steam.

Let's introduce you to DCI Erika Foster of the Metropolitan Police stationed at Lewisham. Born and raised in Slovakia, Erika worked her way through the system and became one of the most proficient officers in London. She's sacrificed plenty to get where she's at including the loss of her police officer husband, Mark, in a bad shootout several years ago. She no longer has anything to prove.......until now.

Bryndza places Erika in unexpected surroundings with her long-in-coming love interest, Igor. As soon as the champagne arrives, Erika reacts to the waves of nervousness engulfing her stomach about now. She steps outside the posh restaurant fearing what Igor will be asking her. She enters the building by the wrong door and comes upon a frantic maid in the hotel. The body of an older male is found on his bed hog-tied and obviously dead. Erika takes charge and this will be one of the most deadly (pardon the pun) cases of her career.

Death doesn't take a holiday. There will be more of those stilled hearts piling up in the background of this current case. The dead dude in the hotel just happens to be a well-known member of Parliament with a wonky reputation that precedes him. Erika will be visited by a shifty looking man with a birth mark under his eye wearing a grey suit.

I've read all the books in this series and this is the first time that I've seen a significant shift in Erika's professional behavior. Bryndza leans in on Erika's own feelings of inadequacies. She's recently turned fifty and feels the pressure presented by the new squad of detectives. The years of dogging cases relentlessly are taking a toll in her mind. And then mysterious perameters have been set up around her by the higher-ups in the force. Even her boss snaps at not liking Erika's "tone". Frustration will do that. But you don't sit Baby, and more importantly Erika, in a corner. Not ever......And bring in that hotel champagne. We be raisin' a toast to Bryndza about now. Bravo!

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Raven Street Publishing and to the talented Robert Bryndza for the opportunity.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for this eARC.

I'll start by saying this is one of my best reads for 2023 and in my opinion Lethal Vengeance is the best book so far in the Detective Erica Foster series by Rob Bryndza.

The book gets off to the best start with a death and Foster is unhappy that the case is given to another officer. Months later another victim is found with similar injuries and Foster and her team investigate. This is such a well written book that flows seamlessly and moves from past to present time lines with ease. Rob Bryndza certainly knows how to engage with his readers - I thoroughly enjoyed his latest Erica Foster book and felt like I was hanging onto every word and desperate to know what would happen next! Despite having restrictions put onto her investigation Foster is tenacious, determined and leaves no stone unturned in bringing the killer to justice. I love being back in Erica's world and really liked the small glimpses into her home and personal life which I think round out her character and give her more depth. The plot line is very well thought out, and executed brilliantly. The tension and suspense Rob Bryndza creates and brings into his writing is second to none, for me this makes for a very moreish read which at times I struggled to put down. The story is fast paced and I loved every single story thread that grabbed my attention and interest all the way through and certainly kept me guessing. Lethal Vengeance races to an ending with most threads tied up and those that aren't I hope will be resolved in the next book.

If you're a fan of this series I can't recommend this book highly enough. Rob Bryndza has definitely upped the ante here with his story telling and I loved everything about this latest book and can't fault it. BEST BOOK SO FAR IN SERIES AND ONE OF MY TOP READS THIS YEAR

5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

When Detective Erika Foster finds politician Neville Lomas naked, hog-tied, and dead in his own bed, skittish higher-ups at the Met quickly rule the death from natural causes. Case closed . . . until two months later when a well-known casting director and a star footballer are found murdered and tied with the same knots. The Met can no longer ignore what’s staring them in the face: there’s a serial killer loose in London, and they’re out to settle a score.

I have followed this series since the very beginning and will continue to follow Erica Foster and the team for any future books Robert Bryndza writes. Erica Foster is one of my favourite characters and in this book we also follow more of her personal life as well as that of a Detective, I love her. She is strong, will push boundaries to achieve results and is absolutely dedicated to finding justice for the victims. She fights the hierarchy in the force and as she tells them, she gets results.

I think this is the best book so far in the series, the story is complex, dark and totally engaging. I picked it up late at night and kept reading until the early hours as I became totally engrossed in the story. I cannot recommend this book highly enough and can't wait for the next book. I read recently that Robert said he will continue to write this series while readers continue to enjoy the books and I will definitely continue to support his journey.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

First of all, yay for a new Erika Foster book!! I am a long time fan of this series and it always exciting to have a new book to devour. This is book 8 in this series but it can easily be read as a stand alone. I have no doubt though, that you will want to go back and read the other 7 books as they are all amazing.

Lethal Vengeance..just brilliant. High profile murders across London that Erika and her team have linked to be the same killer. A smart killer who leaves no fingerprints, no CCTV. The more the team look, the darker these murders become. Why these people? Erika has to deal with the top brass trying to silence her, as well as government departments not wanting details to get out. Of course. Erika being who she is does what she wants, when she wants.

I couldn’t have loved this book more. It had me hooked and wanting more with every page. A truly engrossing book and I am ready for book 9 already. Published on February 8th, he this on your TBR now..

What a joy it is to have Erica Foster back in Lethal Vengeance.
This is book eight in the series but can easily be read as a stand alone, but I'd urge anyone to read the first seven as they are brilliant.
When a prominent politician is found murdered on his apartment Erica just so happens to be out on a date on the same building even though she is first on scene the case was quickly taken away from her.
But when a famous footballer is murdered in the same manner and on her patch Erica has to fight to have her and the team assign to both cases.
But with no CCTV, fingerprints and evidence to go on this is one of the teams hardest cases to date.
When another body turns up Erica is struggling to patch them altogether, there aren't any obvious clues that link the victim's together.
Can Erica and the team find this elusive killer before they strike again?
Bravo Mr Bryndza for yet another cracking read!

It always feels weird to say 'i loved this' when referring to a book about murder, but i really did! I do love a good revenge story and 'Lethal Vengeance' was just the ticket. Another great addition to the Erika Foster series!

Thank you to the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review

This was such a good one! Erika is back with a new case. Some high profile people have been murdered, so of course, she’s being stonewalled by the higher ups. Is that going to stop Erika? Absolutely not. I think this was a formidable opponent that she was chasing. I honestly didn’t know if I was rooting for Erika or the killer to be honest. This was probably my favorite of the series & I would love seeing more from this particular killer & Erika. Great installment!

Robert Bryndza the author that just keeps giving. After a break from erika Foster he slips right back in. The story is slick, the characters as usual are brilliant. Erika is such a strong character but I think in the future she should use her skills in another city where they willbe appreciated. I would like her to continue a future with Igor. TV producers please please give this author the platform he deserves.

This is the eighth book in the excellent Erika Foster series. This can easily be read as a stand alone but it is such a great series that I recommend you start with the first book, "Girl in the Ice" and read them all in order. This is a British police procedural series with a heavy emphasis on the politics involved in policing. Great characters, fast paced plot, and some unexpected twists. Highly recommended

Oh yes. Erika Foster is back, and what a case. I really love this series and love how Robert Bryndza finds new, and equally twisted ways of creating mystery, tension and intrigue with every fresh case. With brilliant characters in her lead team, a clever and cunning foe to pit herself against and a crime which is set to mislead and misdirect, this book had me hooked from start to finish.

It really does seem that, when it comes to work, Erika is just not going to switch off. Whilst on a fancy night out with her partner, Erika slips away from her partner for a few moments of quiet. It a meal she is never destined to finish. On her way back to the restaurant, she finds herself caught up in a murder scene, the victim a prominent politician. Now it is fair to say that, as with most politicians, the suspect pool is likely to be huge, and there are those in certain quarters who have reason to want to keep the conditions surrounding his death quiet. That may be okay with one victim, but as the body count rises, it's clear that this is not simply a case of a disgruntled voter. It's a case that has Erika and the team stumped, and one that had me turning the pages at speed.

One of the real draws for me about this series are the characters. Robert Bryndza has created such a cast around Erika, from her team of Peterson, Moss and McGorry, her bosses, Superintendent Melanie Hudson and Commander Marsh, through to her wider circle, Forensic Pathologist, Isaac Strong, and her parter Igor. Each adds life and texture to the story, creating the camaraderie and challenge that is needed for a character as head strong as Erika. I have loved her since book one and whilst she has settled more into her role in the Met Police over the years, she is still somewhat of a thorn in the side of her senior officers. No doubting her talents in catching her man, nor her ability to ruffle feathers along the way. It was nice to also see more of her personal situation explored, away from her colleagues, and the progression of her relationship with Igor, whilst hesitant, is lovely to watch. The author has a real knack for creating a bond between the reader and the team, and in allowing us to feel all of the emotions with them, be it joy or trepidation.

This is a book teaming with tension. Most of the story follows the investigation and that deep dive into the private lives of the victims that may just hold the key to the whole case. But there are scenes also told from the point of view of the killer, giving us insight into their character and a slow building picture of the reasons for their actions. The final reveals, when they come, are perhaps not really a surprise as the story has been building from the start, and given the nature of the murders, the motive is perhaps expected. But the author still manages to hide the killer from view until the perfect moment for the reveal, and whilst we know and understand more about their story than the police, the suspense is maintained right to the end of the book. As we near the conclusion of the book, the pace and tension escalate as the team face a race against time to apprehend their killer. Will they make it? Well, you'll have to read the book to find out, won't you?

Another absolute cracker of a case. Definitely recommended.

What an addictive book, page after page, chapter after chapter, Robert is truly talented. I particularly enjoyed the way it reminded me of the 'Night Stalker' in the sense that we have both the perspective of Detective Erika and the villain/criminal. Absolutely fantastic, I think I will never tire of this character.

Regarding the story itself, I was left speechless at the end. What unfolds during the trial? What's the verdict?

Concerning Erika's future, I find it intriguing to envision her collaborating with Kate in investigations due to their big personalities. Another intriguing possibility could be Erika conducting an investigation alongside the Slovak police, offering readers a glimpse of her in her home country. This could evoke a sense of nostalgia and prompt her to contemplate returning, perhaps even just for one book.

Lethal Vengeance is a tightly written excellent police procedural book featuring Erika Foster.

Erika discovers the dead body of a local infamous politician but is soon taken off the case and can't help but wonder why.

There must be more to it than meets the eye.

The murder is gruesome and soon other bodies are stacking up that seem all to familiar to Erika.

Her and her team are soon racing against the clock to solve the murders before another one occurs.

Erika ruffles more than a few feathers on the way but her standards are high and her and her team are more than ever determined to solve this diabolical case.

Robert Bryndza always writes a taut thriller with the tension mounting with every chapter.

He also leaves you wanting more of Erika Foster and I can't wait for the next installment.

Thanks to NetGalley and Raven Street Publishing for a page turner of a read.

Excellent
Erika is fast becoming my favourite Detective.
What do two high profile murders and two not so high profile murders have in common?
That’s what Erika and her team have to solve, with a few hinderances on the way.
A very enjoyable book, fast and not over the top. Interesting characters and a really twisted plot.
Thanks to publishers,Author and Netgalley for this eARC. This is my voluntary review, think it might be too long to wait for the next one, hope not.

Oh please, Mr Bryndza, keep Erika Foster working. She’s not ready for retirement. Once again, I loved her in Lethal Vengeance. As usual, she’s unrelenting in finding the killer. The many unexpected twists were, again as usual, unexpected. This book was another page-turner, and I hated for it to end.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Robert Bryndza for the opportunity to read and review Lethal Vengeance. It is superb.

📖 BOOK REVIEW 📖
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#LethalVengeance by @robertbryndza #ravenstreetpublishing

➡️synopsis

This one could be my favourite yet… As always reading Robert’s books are just a joy - while they have enough originality to be a new, interesting and addictive murder mysteries, there is just enough familiarity in returning characters and format to make them feel like a warm hug of read; you can settle down and trust your in for a good ride!

I thought this was an excellent and clever read; your introduced to the killers voice/story quite early on but rather than hate them, I found myself empathic and interested in their plight. Even with the knowledge of who the killer was, I still thought the police investigation side was detailed, full and a great chase to the end (sorta 😉)

Erika’s character continued to develop as did the side characters to her story and I thought there was just enough of the domestic side added in to make it a fully rounded book. I can’t imagine not getting a new instalment from this series! Loved every second of it!

With thanks to author #RobertBryndza, #ravenstreetpublishing and @netgalley for allowing us to read this one early!

RELEASING: Feb 8th

-EMILY

@the_book_girls_1

I do so enjoy reading a book where the main character is DCI Erika Foster.
A rebel of a detective who always wants to do her best for victims,no matter the consequences from 'higher-ups ' in the chain of command.
This latest read is no exception finding Erika going up against the Government as well as her own superiors trying to tie her hands behind her back, so to speak,.
Excellent read

The latest Erika Foster - and brilliant, as ever! High-profile men are being found murdered, hog-tied in bed, leading to the search for a serial killer. However, Erika's investigation seems to be repeatedly thwarted by the 'higher-ups'. A 'man in a grey suit' comes to 'warn' her off.
A sex worker is sought, but CCTV around her latest victim gives no clues as to the identity. they cover their tracks superbly. Someone is trying to keep everything under wraps; too high-profile personalities are involved, going to the heart of the establishment. The back story is fascinating and you actually feel empathy for the perpetrator - a sign of Bryndza's superb storytelling and writing. It's easy-flowing, exciting and addictive - and I can't wait for the next instalment. My only regret is that Bryndza has aged Erika so rapidly - she's 50 now. Please slow down so we get a good number more, of books around her. She's too good to lose!

A new Erika Foster thriller is always a cause for celebration, and this, the eighth installment in the series, got the party going with a bang. With a scintillating plot, shady political shenanigans, and my favorite female detective going rogue in style, I found it an intoxicating, propulsive read.

There’s a serial killer on the loose in London, one with a very distinctive MO and calling card: Polaroid photos of the gagged and hog-tied victims, signed by ‘Annabelle’. It couldn’t be more obvious, but when Erika suggests a link between the death of a celebrity footballer and that of a high-profile MP, she’s quickly warned off, both by her bosses and the political establishment. Then the bodies start piling up.

Bryndza is a member of that exalted cadre of authors that effortlessly combines the intricacies of a complex crime procedural with the fascination of a multifaceted and likeable MC. I’m sure I’m not alone in reading this series as much to catch up with Erika as to revel in the thrill of a another brilliantly plotted murder investigation.

And here, as always, Bryndza perfectly balances these two aspects of his narrative.

I loved that the main procedural thread was broken up by brief chapters from Annabelle’s POV, letting the reader into her mind and gradually revealing her motives and desire for vengeance. I actually quite liked her, as she came across as an intelligent and wronged antagonist rather than a cold-blooded killer.

But as usual, it was Erika who stole the show for me. She’s such a great character; having overcome personal tragedy and misogyny to reach the rank of DCI in a job that she loves. She’s bold and feisty without being brash, has great instincts and the loyalty and respect of her team. But she also has an endearingly vulnerable side, and I once again enjoyed reading about developments in her private life. Is it too optimistic to be holding out for a happy ever after with Igor?

Already looking forward to book nine.

Another cracker from Mr B. I like Erika and she never has an easy time, poor dab ,and this was no exception .Great story, and a puzzling series of murders ,kept me page turning as fast as I could read. Terrific ,I loved it.

Another excellent novel from the master Robert Bryndza. It was so lovely to be back with Erika Foster as she investigates the links between the deaths of a politician and a superstar footballer.
As always there are plenty of twist and turns as well as clashes with those in authority. Erika ontinues to follow her instincts and often refuses to follow the party line. She hets results but often upsets her superiors on the way

Another exciting episode in the Erika Foster series. The murder of a sleazy politician and then a premiership footballer starts everything off and as usual Erika ploughs her own path despite hurdles placed in her way by the top brass and a dark character from a government agency . An intriguing perpetrator with a master plan of revenge for past deeds is Erika’s opposition and the eventual shock ending leaves one thirsting for more! Excellent.

Robert Bryndza is a fantastic thriller writer, the Erika Foster series is stand out. Lethal Vengeance does not disappoint. 5 stars!