Ragdoll

Stunning novel from an author who wants to get into screenplay. If this is what he has to offer then I can't wait to see what he produces for TV audiences. This book is well plotted, with great characters; page turning, twisty, surprising and gripping. Don't start reading in the evening as you will be up all night. The denouement is surprising and left me wanting more.

I count myself as very fortunate being given the opportunity to read this book. It opens with the trial of the Cremation Killer and Detective William Fawkes reaction to the verdict, which I wasn't expecting, and then moves forward to the discovery of a body in the apartment building opposite where Fawkes lives. I found myself reading this book anytime I had a spare minute, and once I started I didn't want to put it down, I have already recommended to my friends and family that they should buy this book when it is published, and I know that they will enjoy it as much as I did, I would give it more stars if it was possible.

Rag doll is a roller coaster of a thriller with as many twists and turns and stomach churning excitement.
A corpse is found made up of 6 body parts and the police have their work cut out for them to identify each part and also protect people whose names are on a list the killer has left of his next intended victims.
'Wolf' the police officer involved with solving this horrific crime has links aplenty to these murders.
The shocks keep coming and I must admit I felt at times I couldn't keep up with all that was happening and had to slow down and re read some pages to keep up.
The final twist in the tale leaves one breathless.
Thanks to publisher and net galley for the opportunity to read this book, but no thanks for the sleep I've lost needing to keep reading long after my bedtime!

All I can say is wow. I have just finished Ragdoll, and I feel like I have run a marathon. The story is very well written, and not your usual serial killer story - this one has lots of twists and turns! The people are very cleverly drawn, and are all very believable. By the end you won't know what to think! Brilliant idea, cleverly executed. What's not to like?!

Witty, thrilling and suspenseful. This is one of the most well written crime thrillers I have ever read. I can't wait for more installments! Please see my full review available October 24.

I would like to thank Orion Publishing Group and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘Ragdoll’ by Daniel Cole in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.
The story starts four years earlier with the trial of Naguib Khalid who’s awaiting sentence for the murder of twenty-seven women. Khalid is found innocent of the charges, Detective William ‘Wolf’ Fawkes attacks him in the courtroom and Wolf is sent to a secure unit for his own safety.
Four years later a body is discovered of dismembered parts of six victims nicknamed by the press as the ‘Ragdoll’, and the recently reinstated Wolf and his former partner, Detective Emily Baxter, are brought together to find the killer.
The killer sends a list to reporter Andrea, Wolf’s ex-wife, with the names of six people and the dates he intends killing them, but can Wolf and Emily find the killer before he gets to them?
‘Ragdoll’ is the brilliant debut novel of Daniel Cole and deserves the highest praise. I found it gripping from page one with so many twists and turns I was unable to guess what was going to happen next. The story ended on a cliffhanger so can we expect a second Wolf novel? – I do hope so!

This is not my usual type of book whatsoever but having heard the reviews and building hype at the London Book Fair my interest was peaked.

This book is sensational!. It is going to catapult the Trapeze imprint way above the circus tent. It is fast-paced, constantly keeps you guessing, entirely believable and hilarious with the perfect balance of horror and suspense! The twist, which inevitably comes in all of today's thriller's, is unique and unexpected. I couldn't put the book down. The only shame is that it took a publisher so long to see the greatness of this novel! It would make the best TV show to rival The Fall, Unforgotten and more!

A full review will come on my blog at EllesBellesBookshop nearer the publication date. I will be buying this book for friends and family! Fantastic debut by Daniel Cole!

It’s been a while since I’ve read a book that I not only didn’t want to put down, I couldn’t. It was as if it were stitched to my hands which given the premise of the book, gives you the idea of how this book is horrifically addictive.

The premise got me from the word go and having seen this book float around at Harrogate 2016 complete with scary wolf masks, I was keen to know more. So I grabbed it with both hands leaving the mask behind as well, it freaked me out a little. But this book sounded GOOOD. And it was - I’m still shaking. After I’d read the last page - THAT ENDING! - Heart palpations or what!??

The lead detective - nickname Wolf - is one fascinating character. A bit of ticking time bomb for various reasons but what a lead man! Fascinating and with a backstory to rival the most complicated of characters. He’s onto something when he finds the list and the macabre Ragdoll and seems to be on something throughout the novel. Can any one be this manic? He never stops.

Nor does the action. Like a literary boxing match you can’t tell where the next punch is coming from, and just as you’re ricocheting from that, BOOM, there comes another. So many shocks, twists and turns in store. I was knocked flying on more than one occasion. Just as well Mr Cole used to be a paramedic as I'm going to need some treatment after reading this! Heart palpations, literary sweats and shaking hands desperately trying to turn the pages to see how on earth this is going to end. His second novel just has to be called Defibrillator or come with a free one!


The twisted plot, crime scene and utterly depraved set up makes this one engaging and clever thriller. Funny too in parts which just makes the horror all that more gory. The pace is relentless and never lets up - when you think there is calm in the air, the Ragdoll moves a limb... I can’t say I liked any of the people in this novel but I could not take my eyes of any of them.

Very addictive. Makes me look at ragdolls in another way though And wolf masks...

I can not believe this is a debut novel.
It is difficult to say much without giving the plot away but the story starts with a serial killer of the worst kind and the detective who bring him to justice. The story then rolls forward in time to the detective being called to a murder scene where the killer has stitched together parts of bodies. From here on in the pace is quick and you are drawn in. Who are the bodies and why. Then comes the list of the next victims.....and the lead detective is on it.
More than that I will not say but this book keeps you gripped - the killings are ingenious and the final twists you will not see coming.
If the next book is as good this will rival some leading U.S. authors.

This is a kind of a book that makes you envious of people who are yet to read it. It's hard to believe that it is a debut. The plot is tight, original and totally gripping; the characters are flawed, realistic and memorable; the writing is excellent. There were plenty of jaw dropping moments and every chapter brought a shocking surprise. This book is a must for the fans of crime thrillers! I really hope there will be more books in this series.
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A very well written debut novel which had all the twists and turns and intrigue that you need. It reminded me of Jo Nesbo ...the right balance of gruesome with plenty of intrigue an speculation. Plus the well written character Wolf, detective, suspended detective, reinstated detective. Would thoroughly recommend.

With huge thanks to Orion Publishing Group and NetGalley for the ARC of Ragdoll by Daniel Cole, in exchange for an honest review.

Ragdoll is ingenious, unnerving, compulsive, twisted and clever. It's also darkly comic. The characters are great, even the ones you want to punch in the face; and the killer's methods are gruesome and spectacular. To compare it to Se7en is not original, but it is accurate: compelling, disturbing, tense and shocking...with jokes.

I can't wait to read more from Daniel Cole.

There was lots of excitement surrounding this book on Twitter so I joined the long queue on NetGalley for a review copy. As soon as it dropped onto my kindle, I thought I would have a sneaky peak - BIG MISTAKE! I was hooked after reading the prologue and couldn't have put it down if my life depended on it.

Ragdoll starts with the trial of 'The Cremation Killer', caught by Detective William Oliver Layton-Fawkes, aka Wolf. I don't want to give anything away from the prologue, which is amazing, so the story begins 4 years later. Wolf receives a call to attend a crime scene right on his doorstep. As he enters the flat he has been summoned to, he finds a macabre display: a body wired to the ceiling in an unnatural pose. On looking a bit closer Wolf sees that this one body comprises 6 victims, each crudely stitched to the other, but the most disturbing thing is that the fingers of one hand are pointing out of the window...to Wolf's apartment. EEEEK! When Wolf's ex-wife, Andrea, who is a journalist, receives a list of names and dates of the next 6 victims, the clock begins ticking in the hunt for the 'Ragdoll Killer'.

Seriously, is this book a debut? I bet the tv stations are kicking themselves at rejecting the script of 'Ragdoll'. So very dark, gripping and vivid, I can't wait to read more about Wolf. I've kept my review purposefully short as to write any more would give away some of the plot. My mind was racing and my heart was pounding - sure signs of a superb debut.

I received this e-book from the publsiher, Trapeze, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Wow what a fabulous book and totally unputdownable! I was hooked from the first page - gripping plot with lots of twists and turns, great descriptive writing,

Detective Fawkes aka Wolf has a gruesome murder to solve, well 6 murders but just one “body” . The parts have been sewn together to create a 'ragdoll' .

Wolf spent a year in a mental institution after attacking a man standing trial when the jury found him not guilty. He was later released and reinstated into the police when the accused killed again . He has to visit a psychologist once a week and his work is monitored.

His ex wife is then sent a list of upcoming murders with names and dates - what links all the names and what is the identity of the owners of the 6 body parts??

This was a great read and very unpredictable - kept me hooked the whole way through.

This is a complex fast paced crime thriller with a great cast of characters. It is well written and is the first in a series of books about the lead detective William Fawkes (WOLF) who has been reinstated to the Met Police force after spending time being psychologically reassessed after committing an assault on a suspect. The book starts with the finding of a body which is actually body parts sewn together from six different people. The media name the body Ragdoll. What it the link between the six people and why are six more people now on a murder list?
You will have to read it to find the answers. Go on. You won't be disappointed!

I

An outstanding debut from author Daniel Cole. This book is quite simply awesome and will be a sure-fire hit upon its Kindle release in early 2017. This is the type of book that makes people sit up and take notice. It oozes quality. It's gritty and real, it pulls no punches and takes no prisoners. I cannot recommend highly enough. 5/5 stars.

I received an ARC copy from NetGalley and the publishers in return for an honest review.

This book is incredible! It is complex, thrilling, gripping, exciting and horrendous, all at the same time.

Detective Fawkes aka Wolf is a flawed bloke who doesn't always get things right but he is willing to try to the bitter end. He has a gruesome and complex case to solve and he is right in the thick of it from the beginning. I also enjoyed the secondary characters.

This was a long and involved read with a lot of twists and turns and it was completely unpredictable at all times, which is what I liked about it but a peaceful night's sleep has been impossible to get just recently! Looking forward to reading more of this author's books.

I don't often give 5 star reviews but I wish I could give this book 6.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book. Thank you to NetGalley, Orion Publishing Group, THE Book Club and the author.

Ragdoll will be the 2017 literary equivalent of Gone Girl, The Girl on the Train. A novel that is so ingenious, gripping yet full of fully drawn characters that are funny and believable.
In any thriller from Christie to Patterson, you sometimes have to leave plausibility at the door or your bedside table as it sits there waiting for you to pick it up again.
A maverick hero who is a cop, leaves you hoping the police win will test the reluctancy of our part to cheer on the Met, and yet the story is your typical good vs evil.. I couldn't put the book down and I doubt that other readers will struggle to do the same thing.
A winning book and an amazing debut by Mr. Cole

This was very well written. I initially thought it would be another generic serial killer book, but the writing and the characters took it beyond this. Highly recommended

Gross, disturbing, but oh so good!
This could seriously be the next Girl on the Train for 2017 - I really hope so.

“Ragdoll” by Daniel Cole.

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This book is a debut for a new crime author, Daniel Cole, who has created a work full of darkness!

The story revolves around a body that has been discovered, made up of six other victims body parts, all stitched together, to make up one person!

Creepy, is not the word, this is a very strong book that will have you either loving or hating the obsessed Detective Fawkes (Wolf), whom the story centres around, as he tries to unravel the darkness, and save six people’s lives.

This is one book that you really should not read at night, the characters are very real, with all of the flaws that people carry around with them day to day.

The plot is highly original, I didn’t see most of it coming at all, something which I love in a great book, which I believe that this one is going to become.

You have been warned….

This is an unforgettable crime thriller that you do not want to miss. It is packed with the darkest of humour with grotesque and gory crimes. It begins with scenes from the Old Bailey on the trial of the Cremation Killer, Naguib Khaled. The jury has arrived at its verdict and Detective William Fawkes (Wolf) loses it big time with his violent attack on Khaled. Wolf pays by being incarcerated at St Anne's mental hospital. Wolf is vindicated when Khaled is discovered with the burnt body of a young girl and Wolf is released and back working as a police officer. He is a troubled man who lost his wife, Andrea, in the aftermath of the Old Bailey incident. He is about to find himself on a sensational case that has the eyes of the media, and the whole country on him and the police.

In a flat opposite to where Wolf lives, a repulsive 'ragdoll' is discovered pointing a finger into Wolf's apartment. It comprises the body parts of 6 victims sewn together to form one person. The media has a inside line into the story when Andrea, a reporter, is sent pictures of the ragdoll along with names and dates of the future murders of 6 other people, the last of whom is Wolf. Wolf and the police have the unenviable task of identifying the 6 dead people and protecting the people on the list amidst the amoral media frenzy. Time is running out fast whilst the police flounder in this twisted investigation. DS Emily Baxter, Edmunds, and DCI Simmons face added political pressure from the police hierarchy. This is an exceptionally twisted tale where the truth is hard to discern and eventually comes as a shock.

This novel was originally a rejected screenplay for the author. He has successfully turned it into a tense and gripping novel that will not let you go until you read the last page. The writing and descriptions are gloriously visual. The characters are larger than life, complex, flawed, well developed and make an impression. It would not surprise me in the least if a tv series does now get made, it has such a compelling narrative and an intricate and complex plot. I particularly like the way the amoral media turn the whole investigation into a reality television affair. There is light and shade with the dark horror of the acts committed amidst the mordant wit and comic humour. This novel comes highly recommended. Many thanks to Orion for an ARC.

There was a lot of hype around this one, so was really intrigued to see if it could live up to it, and I'm pleased to say it did. You can't help but get pulled in by the lead detective, nickname Wolf, who has just the right amount of "troubled past" affecting him in the here and now. It takes us from a crime scene of body parts stitched together, through a rollercoaster of subsequent murders/attempted murders with an ever increasing pace.

There were a few bits that were a little cliché, namely the "will they/won't they" chemistry between Wolf and a female officer, but not so much that it detracted from enjoyment of the book as a whole. Looking forward to seeing the next book from this author.

Thank you to Netgalley and Orion Publishing Group for letting me read this debut from Daniel Cole. Loved it, gory and dark with lots of twists and turns made this book hard to put down. Hoping this is the first case involving the flawed Detective William Oliver Layton-Fawkes, Wolf. A well earned five stars.