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DS Allie Shenton #2
Follow the Leader
A man’s body is found on a canal towpath. In his pocket, a plastic magnet in the shape of an E.
Days later, a second victim is found, this time with the letter V tucked into her clothing.
As the body count rises, the eerie, childlike clues point to a pattern that sends DS Allie Shenton and her colleagues into full alert.
The race is on. Allie and the team must work quickly to determine where the killer will strike next.
The rules are simple but deadly—to catch the killer, they must follow the leader.
From the acclaimed author of Taunting the Dead comes a flesh-creeping tale of a child's game with a terrifying, grown-up twist.
Days later, a second victim is found, this time with the letter V tucked into her clothing.
As the body count rises, the eerie, childlike clues point to a pattern that sends DS Allie Shenton and her colleagues into full alert.
The race is on. Allie and the team must work quickly to determine where the killer will strike next.
The rules are simple but deadly—to catch the killer, they must follow the leader.
From the acclaimed author of Taunting the Dead comes a flesh-creeping tale of a child's game with a terrifying, grown-up twist.
336 pages, Paperback
First published February 10, 2015
About the author
Mel Sherratt
32 books513 followersI write police procedurals, psychological suspense and women's fiction with a punch - or grit-lit, as I call it.
I live in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, with my husband and terrier, Dexter (named after the TV serial killer) and makes liberal use of my hometown as a backdrop for some of my books.
You can find out more at my website www.melsherratt.co.uk or I'm on Twitter at @writermels
I also write women's fiction under the pen name of Marcie Steele.
I live in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, with my husband and terrier, Dexter (named after the TV serial killer) and makes liberal use of my hometown as a backdrop for some of my books.
You can find out more at my website www.melsherratt.co.uk or I'm on Twitter at @writermels
I also write women's fiction under the pen name of Marcie Steele.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 168 reviews
February 10, 2017
2nd book in the DS Allie Shenton series set in Stoke-on-Trent in the UK. Enjoyed this more than the first, Taunting the Dead. Better character development. Fast-paced, easy-to-follow plot. Although the killer was known right from the start, the plot remained suspenseful and interesting. Glad I gave this series another chance after being disappointed with the first book. I'm warming up to Allie Shenton.
April 21, 2015
I would like to thank Net Galley, Thomas & Mercer Publishing, and Ms. Mel Sherratt for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
British grit-lit author Mel Sherratt has scored a winner with Follow the Leader, followup to Taunting the Dead and 2nd book in the DS Allie Shenton series. Much as I enjoyed Taunting, I loved Follow the Leader even more. There was a lot to like about this novel.
The story involves a serial killer and his rampage through the British town of Stoke-on-Trent. I was impressed with the way Ms. Sherratt had the reader actually sympathizing with this baddie. Even after all the murder and mayhem, I still felt a tiny bit of compassion for this guy. With superb character development and multiple chapters where the POV belonged to the killer, the reader gets a real inside look at why the killer is killing. He did not start out as a bad person; he was made a bad person. The thrust of the novel is what can happen to good people when they are treated badly by their families and/or bullies. As a corollary it also deals with the basic human desire for love and security and what can happen to people when those wishes are denied. I loved that this was not just a cut-and-dried serial killer saga; there are real messages to be had in this book.
I do think Ms. Sherratt has a real gift for character development and the multiple POV technique. As a result, though there were a lot of characters in this book, I had no trouble distinguishing them. What I especially enjoyed was knowing the stories of all of the victims before they were done in.
While it took me a while to get into Taunting the Dead, Ms. Sherratt, at her grit-lit best, grabbed me at the very beginning of Follow the Leader and held me captive all the way through to the last paragraph. The writing is crisp and on point with no unnecessary descriptive passages or other filler. The pacing is perfect and never flags. Though we know who the killer is from the get-go, this knowledge does not lessen the intensity of the story. Twists and turns abound and continue, literally, to the very end. While the primary plot is tidied up very satisfactorily, there is a little bombshell in the last paragraph, letting us know what we are in for in book 3 of the series. I can’t wait.
I do want to mention that there is a fair amount of profanity, but I thought it was used appropriately and realistically for the characters’ personalities. She also throws in a liberal dose of British colloquialisms, which I found quite entertaining (I am a Minnesota, USA, girl).
Finally, it was good to see Detective Sergeant Allie Shenton maturing in her job. I also enjoyed the slices of her personal life.
What didn’t I like? Uh…nothing. Well, maybe one thing. I will never again be able to hear the old nursery rhyme “This Old Man” without chills running up my spine. Shudder!!!
Just how much did I like this book? Well, immediately upon completion, I zipped over to Amazon and pre-ordered book 3 (Only the Brave), and then did something I have never done before—I one-clicked all the rest of Mel Sherratt’s works right then and there.
I highly recommend Follow the Leader to all readers of thrillers and psychological suspense.
British grit-lit author Mel Sherratt has scored a winner with Follow the Leader, followup to Taunting the Dead and 2nd book in the DS Allie Shenton series. Much as I enjoyed Taunting, I loved Follow the Leader even more. There was a lot to like about this novel.
The story involves a serial killer and his rampage through the British town of Stoke-on-Trent. I was impressed with the way Ms. Sherratt had the reader actually sympathizing with this baddie. Even after all the murder and mayhem, I still felt a tiny bit of compassion for this guy. With superb character development and multiple chapters where the POV belonged to the killer, the reader gets a real inside look at why the killer is killing. He did not start out as a bad person; he was made a bad person. The thrust of the novel is what can happen to good people when they are treated badly by their families and/or bullies. As a corollary it also deals with the basic human desire for love and security and what can happen to people when those wishes are denied. I loved that this was not just a cut-and-dried serial killer saga; there are real messages to be had in this book.
I do think Ms. Sherratt has a real gift for character development and the multiple POV technique. As a result, though there were a lot of characters in this book, I had no trouble distinguishing them. What I especially enjoyed was knowing the stories of all of the victims before they were done in.
While it took me a while to get into Taunting the Dead, Ms. Sherratt, at her grit-lit best, grabbed me at the very beginning of Follow the Leader and held me captive all the way through to the last paragraph. The writing is crisp and on point with no unnecessary descriptive passages or other filler. The pacing is perfect and never flags. Though we know who the killer is from the get-go, this knowledge does not lessen the intensity of the story. Twists and turns abound and continue, literally, to the very end. While the primary plot is tidied up very satisfactorily, there is a little bombshell in the last paragraph, letting us know what we are in for in book 3 of the series. I can’t wait.
I do want to mention that there is a fair amount of profanity, but I thought it was used appropriately and realistically for the characters’ personalities. She also throws in a liberal dose of British colloquialisms, which I found quite entertaining (I am a Minnesota, USA, girl).
Finally, it was good to see Detective Sergeant Allie Shenton maturing in her job. I also enjoyed the slices of her personal life.
What didn’t I like? Uh…nothing. Well, maybe one thing. I will never again be able to hear the old nursery rhyme “This Old Man” without chills running up my spine. Shudder!!!
Just how much did I like this book? Well, immediately upon completion, I zipped over to Amazon and pre-ordered book 3 (Only the Brave), and then did something I have never done before—I one-clicked all the rest of Mel Sherratt’s works right then and there.
I highly recommend Follow the Leader to all readers of thrillers and psychological suspense.
November 2, 2015
Another great book from the pen of Mel Sheratt. The second in the DS Allie Shenton series (I have yet to read the first!), this book was very entertaining with some surprising and unique aspects to the plot.
I read crime more than any other genre, and those that don't read crime tend to think it's all the same, but it's not, one crime book from another can be as different as chalk and cheese, some can be as boring as popping your giant bowl of popcorn one kernel at a time, even if a serial killer is in the book.
I like the character portrayal both the good and the bad guys in this book, there is some depth to them, I could easily picture these characters in an ongoing TV crime drama, there were also easy to remember, I hate reading a book when there are so many characters you forget who is who and what they do.
A man’s body is found on a canal towpath. In his pocket, a magnetic letter in the shape of an E. Days later, a second victim is found, this time with the letter V tucked into her clothing.
As the body count rises, the eerie, childlike clues point to a pattern that sends DS Allie Shenton and her colleagues into full alert.
The race is on. Allie and the team must work quickly to determine where the killer will strike next. The rules are simple but deadly—to catch the killer, they must follow the leader.
The plot is what makes this book great. It switches timelines from the younger years of the killer to the modern day, which gives us a strong background into why he/she is doing what they are (to some degree) or does it? Tricky bits in there.
It's not boring for a minute, it's got a strong steady and fast enough pace. I liked the way it delves into the impact of consequences, no matter how long term that actions can have on future events. It makes you think. The piecing together from the letters found on the body had me feel like I was playing hangman, trying to work out the final word.
It's not often I feel any sense of sadness or empathy for a serial killer but this one managed to stir that up in me at the fantastic ending to the book. Emotional moment for me reading the past/present blending there.
However I must say, I did not quite get the very last few pages involving DS Shenton in the last pages of the book. Mel, if you are reading this can you let me know the message that was meant to send?
A solid crime drama, pleasing to read, holds your interest and gives you enough space to try to solve the crime yourself. Nice one Mel, 4 stars from me.
Oh - one last thing, I had no idea this was book two in a series until I had finished it, which shows how well it reads also as a stand alone.
Thanks for my ARC copy of this novel from the author and publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.
I read crime more than any other genre, and those that don't read crime tend to think it's all the same, but it's not, one crime book from another can be as different as chalk and cheese, some can be as boring as popping your giant bowl of popcorn one kernel at a time, even if a serial killer is in the book.
I like the character portrayal both the good and the bad guys in this book, there is some depth to them, I could easily picture these characters in an ongoing TV crime drama, there were also easy to remember, I hate reading a book when there are so many characters you forget who is who and what they do.
A man’s body is found on a canal towpath. In his pocket, a magnetic letter in the shape of an E. Days later, a second victim is found, this time with the letter V tucked into her clothing.
As the body count rises, the eerie, childlike clues point to a pattern that sends DS Allie Shenton and her colleagues into full alert.
The race is on. Allie and the team must work quickly to determine where the killer will strike next. The rules are simple but deadly—to catch the killer, they must follow the leader.
The plot is what makes this book great. It switches timelines from the younger years of the killer to the modern day, which gives us a strong background into why he/she is doing what they are (to some degree) or does it? Tricky bits in there.
It's not boring for a minute, it's got a strong steady and fast enough pace. I liked the way it delves into the impact of consequences, no matter how long term that actions can have on future events. It makes you think. The piecing together from the letters found on the body had me feel like I was playing hangman, trying to work out the final word.
It's not often I feel any sense of sadness or empathy for a serial killer but this one managed to stir that up in me at the fantastic ending to the book. Emotional moment for me reading the past/present blending there.
However I must say, I did not quite get the very last few pages involving DS Shenton in the last pages of the book. Mel, if you are reading this can you let me know the message that was meant to send?
A solid crime drama, pleasing to read, holds your interest and gives you enough space to try to solve the crime yourself. Nice one Mel, 4 stars from me.
Oh - one last thing, I had no idea this was book two in a series until I had finished it, which shows how well it reads also as a stand alone.
Thanks for my ARC copy of this novel from the author and publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.
June 22, 2020
I have been meaning to get to this book for ages and glad that I finally did.
As I read it I started to recall the first book in the DS Allie Shenton series. This is quite a blunt and brutal story of a man who as a child was bullied, abused both mentally and physically, abandoned and completely let down by everyone around him. Now he is exacting his revenge on those who treated him the worst.
As dreadful as this is to say, some of his victims really had it coming to them.
Looking forward to Book 3 which is the final in this series. Hopefully some answers in this one as to who left DS Shenton's sister in a vegetative state after a brutal rape when she was younger.
Recommended but start with book 1 Taunting the Dead.
As I read it I started to recall the first book in the DS Allie Shenton series. This is quite a blunt and brutal story of a man who as a child was bullied, abused both mentally and physically, abandoned and completely let down by everyone around him. Now he is exacting his revenge on those who treated him the worst.
As dreadful as this is to say, some of his victims really had it coming to them.
Looking forward to Book 3 which is the final in this series. Hopefully some answers in this one as to who left DS Shenton's sister in a vegetative state after a brutal rape when she was younger.
Recommended but start with book 1 Taunting the Dead.
January 20, 2015
A serial killer on the loose in Stoke on Trent? Doesn’t sound very likely does it, but what we have here is an extremely readable thrilling and sinister police procedural set in the Potteries. When a man is found stabbed to death on the canal towpath, with a second murder taking place a couple of days later and with each body being found with plastic magnetic letters placed on them, DS Allie Shenton and her team are baffled. The letters obviously connect the bodies, but what else connects them? And, is this only the start of the killings?
There are quite a lot of characters to follow in this book, which flits from perspective to perspective and also from present day to the 1980s. We see the story from the side of the killer and through the 1980s flashbacks we build up a picture of why he is doing what he is. Right from the start we know who he is and so we are always asking ourselves who the next victim will be and can he be stopped?
I did get a little confused with all the names a couple of times, especially as the 1980s sections all take place when a lot of the characters are children or teenagers and they all have nicknames which they have obviously grown out of in the present, and it is not until quite late in the book that you really match up every single nickname to every adult. Having said that, it is all part of the puzzle of the read.
The author really connects all the pieces of the puzzle together in a very clever way, one which made me want to carry the kindle around with me to read on, and which had me trying to work out how they were going to catch the killer and, more importantly, was there a link to Allie herself through her sister Karen? It is fast paced and chilling and really sent a shiver up my spine a few times when I thought of why the killer was doing all of this.
Now it has to be said that the book does end on a cliffhanger, one which had me howling “NO!!!, Not like this!!” and now I really want to know what happens next. If you don’t want that frustration hanging over you, then I would say wait until the next book is out before you read this one, but either way, it is really not one to be missed. Many thanks to the publishers for the review copy.
There are quite a lot of characters to follow in this book, which flits from perspective to perspective and also from present day to the 1980s. We see the story from the side of the killer and through the 1980s flashbacks we build up a picture of why he is doing what he is. Right from the start we know who he is and so we are always asking ourselves who the next victim will be and can he be stopped?
I did get a little confused with all the names a couple of times, especially as the 1980s sections all take place when a lot of the characters are children or teenagers and they all have nicknames which they have obviously grown out of in the present, and it is not until quite late in the book that you really match up every single nickname to every adult. Having said that, it is all part of the puzzle of the read.
The author really connects all the pieces of the puzzle together in a very clever way, one which made me want to carry the kindle around with me to read on, and which had me trying to work out how they were going to catch the killer and, more importantly, was there a link to Allie herself through her sister Karen? It is fast paced and chilling and really sent a shiver up my spine a few times when I thought of why the killer was doing all of this.
Now it has to be said that the book does end on a cliffhanger, one which had me howling “NO!!!, Not like this!!” and now I really want to know what happens next. If you don’t want that frustration hanging over you, then I would say wait until the next book is out before you read this one, but either way, it is really not one to be missed. Many thanks to the publishers for the review copy.
March 30, 2015
“Follow the leader” is a comment that the killer makes in his mind to D.S. Allie Shenton: “…to catch a killer, you must follow the leader.” It also refers to the childhood game that the other children played in school. What is more haunting, however, is the way each chapter in which a murder occurs begins with a new verse from the children’s song, “This Old Man.” I Googled the meaning of these lyrics and besides the obvious counting of the victims, there are some other connections to the story as well. For instance, “knick knack Paddy whack” – I read that Paddy whack was a derogatory term for the Irish, and in America, it was sometimes sung as “Patty whack,” which, as we know, could be a nickname for Patrick, which is the name of our wretched, bullied schoolboy. “Whack” has a double meaning – to hit someone, and also “whacky,” or crazy – both intensely obvious in this book.
The killing begins with the stabbing death of a man on a canal path. A plastic magnetic letter E is found on his body. Days later, another body, this time with the letter V. It seems there is a serial killer on the loose. The reader knows who is doing the killing, and why, because we also see the killer in present day and in his memories of his school days. In his mind, he is invisible, and in essence, he is. Even when police and witnesses seem to make a connection to the victims knowing each other from school, nobody considers this boy who was picked on mercilessly. When he shows up to murder them, they don’t recognize him.
Unlike the first Allie Shenton book, Taunting the Dead, Allie does not go off on her own attempting to solve these crimes. She soldiers on as a team player, and we get to know a few of her fellow crime fighters a bit better. We see less of her husband, but as in the first book, he feels that her work causes her work too long and too hard, causing stress in their marriage.
Then there is Allie’s sister Karen, who remains in a nursing home unable to communicate or care for herself after a vicious rape years before. In Follow the Leader, another woman is brutally attacked and raped. Is it the alphabet killer? And is he the man who attacked Karen so many years before? Allie continues to feel guilty and also to grieve for the loss of her sister’s health and well being. She also wants the criminal caught and punished.
I felt that Taunting the Dead was okay, but I really enjoyed Follow the Leader. Ms. Sherratt did an excellent job creating Patrick, a person who was totally damaged by the constant abuse he suffered as a child. I did not feel sorry for the adult Patrick, the man who was not able to get beyond his horrible past, but I did understand him.
Patrick’s story is resolved, but we left hanging in another respect, which makes me want to read book three all the more. Bring it on, Mel Sherratt. Bring it on!
5 stars
The killing begins with the stabbing death of a man on a canal path. A plastic magnetic letter E is found on his body. Days later, another body, this time with the letter V. It seems there is a serial killer on the loose. The reader knows who is doing the killing, and why, because we also see the killer in present day and in his memories of his school days. In his mind, he is invisible, and in essence, he is. Even when police and witnesses seem to make a connection to the victims knowing each other from school, nobody considers this boy who was picked on mercilessly. When he shows up to murder them, they don’t recognize him.
Unlike the first Allie Shenton book, Taunting the Dead, Allie does not go off on her own attempting to solve these crimes. She soldiers on as a team player, and we get to know a few of her fellow crime fighters a bit better. We see less of her husband, but as in the first book, he feels that her work causes her work too long and too hard, causing stress in their marriage.
Then there is Allie’s sister Karen, who remains in a nursing home unable to communicate or care for herself after a vicious rape years before. In Follow the Leader, another woman is brutally attacked and raped. Is it the alphabet killer? And is he the man who attacked Karen so many years before? Allie continues to feel guilty and also to grieve for the loss of her sister’s health and well being. She also wants the criminal caught and punished.
I felt that Taunting the Dead was okay, but I really enjoyed Follow the Leader. Ms. Sherratt did an excellent job creating Patrick, a person who was totally damaged by the constant abuse he suffered as a child. I did not feel sorry for the adult Patrick, the man who was not able to get beyond his horrible past, but I did understand him.
Patrick’s story is resolved, but we left hanging in another respect, which makes me want to read book three all the more. Bring it on, Mel Sherratt. Bring it on!
5 stars
February 17, 2015
5 Nail Biting Stars
To catch the killer you must follow the leader
This old man, he plays one
He plays knick knack on my thumb
With a knick knack paddy wack
Give a dog a bone
This old man comes rolling home
From the first few pages, this story was both exciting and had a sinister feel to it.
When DS Allie Shenton is called out to a murder of a local man, stabbed to death by a canal and then a few days later a women is also found murdered. Allie and her team have a race against time to find out first, what the connection is to these murders and to try and find the killer before he strikes again.
Her only clue......they are linked is a plastic letter left at the scene.
The story is told with flashbacks which make us understand who's and why's and makes it all the more interesting and exciting.
As Allie tries to put the pieces together, time is slowly running out for the next victims.
So now onto my thoughts.....
Yes, exciting, addictive and kept me engrossed till the last page.
This is a very well written thriller from Mel Sherratt and the third book that I've read by her. It is part of a series, the first one being... Taunting The Dead and I was slightly worried about starting book 2 first but I was assured that book 2 could be read as a standalone.
I enjoyed the fact that there is another sinister side story that is slowly bubbling and I'm sure it will come to a head in book 3 Only The Brave and I can't wait to get stuck in again.
To catch the killer you must follow the leader
This old man, he plays one
He plays knick knack on my thumb
With a knick knack paddy wack
Give a dog a bone
This old man comes rolling home
From the first few pages, this story was both exciting and had a sinister feel to it.
When DS Allie Shenton is called out to a murder of a local man, stabbed to death by a canal and then a few days later a women is also found murdered. Allie and her team have a race against time to find out first, what the connection is to these murders and to try and find the killer before he strikes again.
Her only clue......they are linked is a plastic letter left at the scene.
The story is told with flashbacks which make us understand who's and why's and makes it all the more interesting and exciting.
As Allie tries to put the pieces together, time is slowly running out for the next victims.
So now onto my thoughts.....
Yes, exciting, addictive and kept me engrossed till the last page.
This is a very well written thriller from Mel Sherratt and the third book that I've read by her. It is part of a series, the first one being... Taunting The Dead and I was slightly worried about starting book 2 first but I was assured that book 2 could be read as a standalone.
I enjoyed the fact that there is another sinister side story that is slowly bubbling and I'm sure it will come to a head in book 3 Only The Brave and I can't wait to get stuck in again.
December 8, 2015
I just have to give this top marks, why?
Because:
1. I got into the story right away and wasn't distracted
2. It kept its pace throughout
3. Easy to follow
4. No matter that we learnt the culprit at first few chapters it held its magical powers of keeping from getting bored.
Let me explain my first reason [1] There is nothing better for me than picking up a book and reading the first couple of chapters and me 'getting it' and a feeling that "oh this is gonna be a good 'un" and not wanting to put it down.
[2] It was a nice steady pace, as you would think the DI/Police/Investigations would go. Its REALISM.
[3] The author made it clear, clean cut through out, easy to follow the characters, easy to keep up with 'each' person in each chapter. Not at all confusing as some I have read in the past.
[4] Sometimes, its disappointing don't you think? when the author lets the "cat out of the bag" and you either guess or predict who the culprit is. WHO DONE IT!!! ah yes I know! then the book goes a different way for you because its predicted, your right, and then last page you are saying "well, I knew that was going to happen, or, I knew it was him/her"
Not so in this case, as I said, Mel Sherratt lets us know early on who it is, but it still keeps you on the edge of your seat.
The blurb tells you a bit about what the book is about, so I don't like to give too much more details out. Its not fair on the reader. I wouldn't like it.
I am a great fan of this author, I have yet to fit in a couple more of her books. But being a regular reviewer for a hobby that I have, its hard to fit everything in [as I am sure lots of reviewers know!!] I can't wait to catch up with some more of her books.
I saw this author from day one, a book buddy friend of mine read her book, she told me, and then from there we have regularly stalked her for each book that comes out.
I am so happy to say that I received this copy from Amazon Publishing on Net Galley who kindly allows me free selection
Thank you Mel for a great read! Looking forward to more.
Because:
1. I got into the story right away and wasn't distracted
2. It kept its pace throughout
3. Easy to follow
4. No matter that we learnt the culprit at first few chapters it held its magical powers of keeping from getting bored.
Let me explain my first reason [1] There is nothing better for me than picking up a book and reading the first couple of chapters and me 'getting it' and a feeling that "oh this is gonna be a good 'un" and not wanting to put it down.
[2] It was a nice steady pace, as you would think the DI/Police/Investigations would go. Its REALISM.
[3] The author made it clear, clean cut through out, easy to follow the characters, easy to keep up with 'each' person in each chapter. Not at all confusing as some I have read in the past.
[4] Sometimes, its disappointing don't you think? when the author lets the "cat out of the bag" and you either guess or predict who the culprit is. WHO DONE IT!!! ah yes I know! then the book goes a different way for you because its predicted, your right, and then last page you are saying "well, I knew that was going to happen, or, I knew it was him/her"
Not so in this case, as I said, Mel Sherratt lets us know early on who it is, but it still keeps you on the edge of your seat.
The blurb tells you a bit about what the book is about, so I don't like to give too much more details out. Its not fair on the reader. I wouldn't like it.
I am a great fan of this author, I have yet to fit in a couple more of her books. But being a regular reviewer for a hobby that I have, its hard to fit everything in [as I am sure lots of reviewers know!!] I can't wait to catch up with some more of her books.
I saw this author from day one, a book buddy friend of mine read her book, she told me, and then from there we have regularly stalked her for each book that comes out.
I am so happy to say that I received this copy from Amazon Publishing on Net Galley who kindly allows me free selection
Thank you Mel for a great read! Looking forward to more.
February 16, 2015
I adored the first Allie Shenton novel – Taunting the Dead- so I was very happy when Mel Sherratt decided to revisit the character in “Follow the Leader” and what we have is a fast paced, intuitive and realistic police drama featuring a terrific main protagonist.
Follow the Leader is not a whodunnit, it is a whydunnit which often is much more interesting and certainly was so here. Dealing with themes of bullying and peer pressure, Mel Sherratt explores the extremes to which such behaviour can affect a life, creating a character who has been pushed over the edge. As Allie and co try to track a killer, we get to see his processes and thoughts, find out about his background and his motivations – this makes for some exciting reading and gives the whole thing a highly addictive quality.
Offset against that, Allie Shenton herself is given a lot more depth, we get a much deeper insight into her personality and background. She has issues – these were given a voice in “Taunting the Dead” but now we have a chance to really dig a lot deeper and find out more about her – she doesnt always make great choices as we discovered in Book One but the reasoning and emotional resonance behind how she is is terrifically well drawn here.
Mel Sherratt has a brilliantly readable writing style, a very definite ability to create characters you care about and give them true psychological depth, whilst at the same time constructing an intelligent and well imagined situation to put them in – constructively speaking this is excellent and will keep you turning those pages to find out what will happen.
I loved this and I am so happy that Allie will be back again – definitely comes highly recommended from me.
Follow the Leader is not a whodunnit, it is a whydunnit which often is much more interesting and certainly was so here. Dealing with themes of bullying and peer pressure, Mel Sherratt explores the extremes to which such behaviour can affect a life, creating a character who has been pushed over the edge. As Allie and co try to track a killer, we get to see his processes and thoughts, find out about his background and his motivations – this makes for some exciting reading and gives the whole thing a highly addictive quality.
Offset against that, Allie Shenton herself is given a lot more depth, we get a much deeper insight into her personality and background. She has issues – these were given a voice in “Taunting the Dead” but now we have a chance to really dig a lot deeper and find out more about her – she doesnt always make great choices as we discovered in Book One but the reasoning and emotional resonance behind how she is is terrifically well drawn here.
Mel Sherratt has a brilliantly readable writing style, a very definite ability to create characters you care about and give them true psychological depth, whilst at the same time constructing an intelligent and well imagined situation to put them in – constructively speaking this is excellent and will keep you turning those pages to find out what will happen.
I loved this and I am so happy that Allie will be back again – definitely comes highly recommended from me.
December 5, 2022
Author Mell Sherratt excels in writing intriguing police procedurals, psychological suspense, and women's fiction with a punch.
"Follow the Leader" checks all of these boxes.
"To be bullied or kill your bullies, that is the game".
This dark serial killer murder mystery is about bullying, revenge, vengeance, and more revenge.
The author's characterizations were over-the-top and the book's pacing was right on.
Triggers: child abuse. This compelling thriller also showcases the tragic impact that school bullying and parental neglect have on children.
"Follow the Leader" is the second book in the DS Allie Shenton series set in Stoke-on-Trent in the UK that is also a standalone read.
I listened to the audiobook, read by Antonia Beamish, one of my favorite UK narrators. Antonia Beamish did an outstanding job with the narration.
4.5 stars rounded up.
"Follow the Leader" checks all of these boxes.
"To be bullied or kill your bullies, that is the game".
This dark serial killer murder mystery is about bullying, revenge, vengeance, and more revenge.
The author's characterizations were over-the-top and the book's pacing was right on.
Triggers: child abuse. This compelling thriller also showcases the tragic impact that school bullying and parental neglect have on children.
"Follow the Leader" is the second book in the DS Allie Shenton series set in Stoke-on-Trent in the UK that is also a standalone read.
I listened to the audiobook, read by Antonia Beamish, one of my favorite UK narrators. Antonia Beamish did an outstanding job with the narration.
4.5 stars rounded up.
January 24, 2015
I wish to thank the author ~ Mel Sherratt and her publishers, Thomas and Mercer at Net Galley for supplying me with the ARC copy of "Follow The Leader" in exchange for a honest review.
I have say that I read the first novel in the series," Taunting The Dead", which I enjoyed very much.I can now say that "Follow The Leader", the 2nd in the DS Allie Shenton series is another exceptional book from a very talented author. But it can be read as a standalone.
It is very clear from the first few pages of this book, that the book is about bullying and we are introduced to the killer very early on. Normally I do not like to know who the killer is right at the beginning, but I recognize that this allows the author to write in the killer's POV, and can reveal his thought processes. It is written from various different time frames in the third person from the murderer’s point of view and the detectives. There are enough twists and turns to keep the reader guessing all along. There are flashbacks in time from when the victims were young.
This wasn't a whodunnit mystery or a psychological thriller. Instead, it was a police procedural story, following a series of murders and the search for the killer. The reader learns about the motivation behind the killings. A story of Revenge.
The short chapter format briskly moves the story along, and the characters are well-written, engaging and very real.
This is a wonderful thriller and made me realize,It can be a cruel world!
January 23, 2015
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 10, 2015
Mel Sherratt is now a must read author for me, and Follow the Leader is my favourite book of hers so far (that I have read). The premise for the book actually sounds quite simple, but in the hands of Mel Sherratt it is anything but simple. Mel knows how to tell a story, and how to tell it in a way that has me gripped. As always I'm wary of how much to reveal, but it is hard to review a book without giving away some of the plot so don't say I didn't warn you.
A man's body is found on a canal towpath, and a magnetic letter E is found in his pocket. DS Allie Shenton, from Taunting the Dead is one of the officers on the case and they barely have time to breathe before another body is found, this time of a local glamour model, a letter V tucked into her clothing. Both victims are connected to the killer, Patrick, and that connection is made clear at the very start of the book. We often follow the killer in crime fiction, but it isn't often their motives are made that clear, so early on. The book lost none of its excitement or tension however, as Mel kept the twists coming until the very end of the book.
The book features flashbacks to the killer's schooldays, I attended an inner city comprehensive which wasn't exactly rough, but it had its moments so the scenes being described here were instantly recognisable to me, and made me remember those kids that were picked on for the way they looked, dressed or acted. Patrick has a clear motivation behind what he's doing and it's frightening to think that something from a person's schooldays can remain with them until adulthood, turning them into a killer. His upbringing did play a big part in things however, and despite the fact he was a killer there were still moments I felt for him and it was interesting to really get inside his head. The flashbacks certainly show Patrick's justification (or at least in his eyes) for carrying out the murders, some of these characters are still pretty horrible in the present day and whilst murder might be a tad extreme, those scenes were brilliantly written and at times graphic, just what I want from a book.
Allie is a character I am fast becoming a fan of, and I love that she's a strong character, still with various flaws and weaknesses but she's a character that stands out in this crowded genre. I'm rather bored of the single woman police officer, with the vodka in the freezer and the empty wine bottles overflowing in the recycling who has an unhealthy relationship with men and sex so it's quite refreshing to have a character like Allie. That's not so say her home life and relationship aren't without their problems, but they are problems I actually want to read about. Especially the continuing thread from Taunting the Dead concerning her sister who was attacked and left for dead years earlier, the attacker was never found but is still in the background taunting Allie. I had a theory about this, and thought it was going to be a twist in this book but sadly, I was wrong! What I will say though is that whilst this thread is interesting, approaching book three I would like some resolution rather than it being continually dragged out for ages, Peter James' Sandy anyone? So hopefully book three will see that resolved.
Another thing I love about this series is Mel's portrayal of Stoke, I don't know the city and have never visited but reading these books I feel like I do know the city, and it really came to life within this book's pages. You can tell Mel knows and loves the city, shining a light on its good parts but also its bad. I read a lot of London set crime fiction or US crime fiction so it's always nice to read a book not set in those areas. Also, all of her characters feel like actual people, which gives her books more of a sense of realism. This is fiction that you can easily picture being real life, a story on the news or even something that could happen on your own street which oddly, makes me enjoy the book even more. That realism and believable portrayal of the human mind really gets my own mind ticking over, and I do spent a little longer mulling over my thoughts after reading a Mel Sherratt book than I might with other books especially with this book's unexpected but brilliant ending. You can see the effort that has gone it, and having followed Mel on Twitter for a while now it's obvious she loves what she does and that shows on every page, yes every author loves writing but Mel was born to do it, and she does it better than most. The DS Allie Shenton series comes highly recommended by me, and I want book three now after that cliffhanger!
A man's body is found on a canal towpath, and a magnetic letter E is found in his pocket. DS Allie Shenton, from Taunting the Dead is one of the officers on the case and they barely have time to breathe before another body is found, this time of a local glamour model, a letter V tucked into her clothing. Both victims are connected to the killer, Patrick, and that connection is made clear at the very start of the book. We often follow the killer in crime fiction, but it isn't often their motives are made that clear, so early on. The book lost none of its excitement or tension however, as Mel kept the twists coming until the very end of the book.
The book features flashbacks to the killer's schooldays, I attended an inner city comprehensive which wasn't exactly rough, but it had its moments so the scenes being described here were instantly recognisable to me, and made me remember those kids that were picked on for the way they looked, dressed or acted. Patrick has a clear motivation behind what he's doing and it's frightening to think that something from a person's schooldays can remain with them until adulthood, turning them into a killer. His upbringing did play a big part in things however, and despite the fact he was a killer there were still moments I felt for him and it was interesting to really get inside his head. The flashbacks certainly show Patrick's justification (or at least in his eyes) for carrying out the murders, some of these characters are still pretty horrible in the present day and whilst murder might be a tad extreme, those scenes were brilliantly written and at times graphic, just what I want from a book.
Allie is a character I am fast becoming a fan of, and I love that she's a strong character, still with various flaws and weaknesses but she's a character that stands out in this crowded genre. I'm rather bored of the single woman police officer, with the vodka in the freezer and the empty wine bottles overflowing in the recycling who has an unhealthy relationship with men and sex so it's quite refreshing to have a character like Allie. That's not so say her home life and relationship aren't without their problems, but they are problems I actually want to read about. Especially the continuing thread from Taunting the Dead concerning her sister who was attacked and left for dead years earlier, the attacker was never found but is still in the background taunting Allie. I had a theory about this, and thought it was going to be a twist in this book but sadly, I was wrong! What I will say though is that whilst this thread is interesting, approaching book three I would like some resolution rather than it being continually dragged out for ages, Peter James' Sandy anyone? So hopefully book three will see that resolved.
Another thing I love about this series is Mel's portrayal of Stoke, I don't know the city and have never visited but reading these books I feel like I do know the city, and it really came to life within this book's pages. You can tell Mel knows and loves the city, shining a light on its good parts but also its bad. I read a lot of London set crime fiction or US crime fiction so it's always nice to read a book not set in those areas. Also, all of her characters feel like actual people, which gives her books more of a sense of realism. This is fiction that you can easily picture being real life, a story on the news or even something that could happen on your own street which oddly, makes me enjoy the book even more. That realism and believable portrayal of the human mind really gets my own mind ticking over, and I do spent a little longer mulling over my thoughts after reading a Mel Sherratt book than I might with other books especially with this book's unexpected but brilliant ending. You can see the effort that has gone it, and having followed Mel on Twitter for a while now it's obvious she loves what she does and that shows on every page, yes every author loves writing but Mel was born to do it, and she does it better than most. The DS Allie Shenton series comes highly recommended by me, and I want book three now after that cliffhanger!
February 5, 2015
Many thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for the advanced reader copy.
Follow The Leader is the second novel in the DS Allie Shenton series, the first being Taunting The Dead. For me, this book was a better read.
Here the story is not so much a whodunnit, we know who does it, it's more the perpertrator's story and why he's turned into a cold blooded killer. Set in the city of Stoke it starts off with a murder of a man by a canal towpath, the only clue being left behind is a magnetic letter, which Shenton and her team find baffling. Cut to a couple of days later and we move onto the second murder of a former glamour model eeking out her last few moments before she becomes too mature for the world of modelling. Found by her husband with a second magnetic letter, the police are failing to see connections. As a reader we know exactly the whys and wherefores as the story is told in different timeframes, from the perpetrator's past and present and the victims' it's an interesting tale with a large cast of characters. Elements of the story were obvious, the potential word/s being spelt out as the bodies mounted up were easy to see, so much so I was growing frustrated myself wanting to give them clues!!
Shenton herself became more of a likeable character for me, her marriage, work commitments, family commitments all resonated well with a believable feel of a woman just trying to do her best for all around her. The characters were lively and fleshed out well with a very real throwback to the 80's conjuring some, um, interesting memories of school days gone by!! The tension and pace remains throughout and I read this one fairly quickly to the gut wrenching but ultimately sad end. It's one of those books that I felt some empathy for the perpetrator, life could have been very different had his younger days gone in a different direction. If only. Of course the secondary story of Shenton and her sister is still running and we have glimpses into that .... again, we're left with teasers as this one rolls on, so I HAVE to read the next one in the series to see how that continues. Such a cliffhanger!!
Overall the book is great. It's well written in a way that is synonymous with Ms Sherratt's no nonsense style, a style that says it like it is. I enjoyed this one a lot and don't hesitate in recommending.
Follow The Leader is the second novel in the DS Allie Shenton series, the first being Taunting The Dead. For me, this book was a better read.
Here the story is not so much a whodunnit, we know who does it, it's more the perpertrator's story and why he's turned into a cold blooded killer. Set in the city of Stoke it starts off with a murder of a man by a canal towpath, the only clue being left behind is a magnetic letter, which Shenton and her team find baffling. Cut to a couple of days later and we move onto the second murder of a former glamour model eeking out her last few moments before she becomes too mature for the world of modelling. Found by her husband with a second magnetic letter, the police are failing to see connections. As a reader we know exactly the whys and wherefores as the story is told in different timeframes, from the perpetrator's past and present and the victims' it's an interesting tale with a large cast of characters. Elements of the story were obvious, the potential word/s being spelt out as the bodies mounted up were easy to see, so much so I was growing frustrated myself wanting to give them clues!!
Shenton herself became more of a likeable character for me, her marriage, work commitments, family commitments all resonated well with a believable feel of a woman just trying to do her best for all around her. The characters were lively and fleshed out well with a very real throwback to the 80's conjuring some, um, interesting memories of school days gone by!! The tension and pace remains throughout and I read this one fairly quickly to the gut wrenching but ultimately sad end. It's one of those books that I felt some empathy for the perpetrator, life could have been very different had his younger days gone in a different direction. If only. Of course the secondary story of Shenton and her sister is still running and we have glimpses into that .... again, we're left with teasers as this one rolls on, so I HAVE to read the next one in the series to see how that continues. Such a cliffhanger!!
Overall the book is great. It's well written in a way that is synonymous with Ms Sherratt's no nonsense style, a style that says it like it is. I enjoyed this one a lot and don't hesitate in recommending.
February 26, 2015
A Great sequel to Taunting The Dead.
A complete different story, but great to get to Know Allie Shenton and her team.
A man’s body is found on a canal towpath. In his pocket, a magnetic letter in the shape of an E.
Days later, a second victim is found, this time with the letter V tucked into her clothing.
As the body count rises, the eerie, childlike clues point to a pattern that sends DS Allie Shenton and her colleagues into full alert.
The race is on. Allie and the team must work quickly to determine where the killer will strike next. The rules are simple but deadly—to catch the killer, they must follow the leader.
From the acclaimed author of Taunting the Dead comes a flesh-creeping tale of a child's game with a terrifying, grown-up twist. This is the second book in the DS Allie Shenton series but can be enjoyed as a stand-alone story.
Because we get to see the killer in action we also get to see his reasoning behind the murders. This makes it more intriguing because you wonder how long it will take for the police to catch up. In addition we see flashbacks in time which features both the killers and victims and the layers begin to unpeel.
In the chilling, tense fast paced thriller
A complete different story, but great to get to Know Allie Shenton and her team.
A man’s body is found on a canal towpath. In his pocket, a magnetic letter in the shape of an E.
Days later, a second victim is found, this time with the letter V tucked into her clothing.
As the body count rises, the eerie, childlike clues point to a pattern that sends DS Allie Shenton and her colleagues into full alert.
The race is on. Allie and the team must work quickly to determine where the killer will strike next. The rules are simple but deadly—to catch the killer, they must follow the leader.
From the acclaimed author of Taunting the Dead comes a flesh-creeping tale of a child's game with a terrifying, grown-up twist. This is the second book in the DS Allie Shenton series but can be enjoyed as a stand-alone story.
Because we get to see the killer in action we also get to see his reasoning behind the murders. This makes it more intriguing because you wonder how long it will take for the police to catch up. In addition we see flashbacks in time which features both the killers and victims and the layers begin to unpeel.
In the chilling, tense fast paced thriller
January 8, 2015
Follow The Leader is released on 10th February and my copy is from NetGalley. I also have to disclose that I’m acknowledged at the end of the book as being one of Mel’s early reader’s so being a friend, I am a little biased. So what I’ll do is tell you my thoughts and let you decide if it’s your kind of book. Really, what I usually do!
Firstly, I will say I love the cover of this book and Mel is doing one of my Cover Questions for the blog, so you will find out a little bit more behind the book itself soon.
Follow The Leader starts straight in the action with the first murder and moves quickly through each subsequent murder. As readers we already know who is killing these people. We also get to know, from flashbacks, the reasoning behind the murders. So in here we have scenes with our victims and killer, the police procedural side and flashbacks sprinkled in. It’s weaved together really well.
If you have read any of Mel’s other books you will know that she writes what she likes to call ‘grit lit’ real people on housing estates. She gets them and understands them and there is a feel of that knowledge of people and that style here, but weaved in with the police procedural investigation.
DS Allie Shenton is down to earth and likable. Though she really should wear flatter heels for work!
When the final reveal of the magnetic letters comes, it’s perfect. It just couldn’t have been done any other way, yet I didn’t see it coming.
What she does really well with this book is look at how our formative years influence who we are now and addresses bullying and the unhappiness it brings. A satisfying ending, but also an ending that leaves you wanting to read the next one…
Firstly, I will say I love the cover of this book and Mel is doing one of my Cover Questions for the blog, so you will find out a little bit more behind the book itself soon.
Follow The Leader starts straight in the action with the first murder and moves quickly through each subsequent murder. As readers we already know who is killing these people. We also get to know, from flashbacks, the reasoning behind the murders. So in here we have scenes with our victims and killer, the police procedural side and flashbacks sprinkled in. It’s weaved together really well.
If you have read any of Mel’s other books you will know that she writes what she likes to call ‘grit lit’ real people on housing estates. She gets them and understands them and there is a feel of that knowledge of people and that style here, but weaved in with the police procedural investigation.
DS Allie Shenton is down to earth and likable. Though she really should wear flatter heels for work!
When the final reveal of the magnetic letters comes, it’s perfect. It just couldn’t have been done any other way, yet I didn’t see it coming.
What she does really well with this book is look at how our formative years influence who we are now and addresses bullying and the unhappiness it brings. A satisfying ending, but also an ending that leaves you wanting to read the next one…
February 24, 2019
I really enjoyed this crime novel. Kept me interested throughout, and worked well as an audiobook too.
I borrowed this through Amazon Kindle Unlimited.
I borrowed this through Amazon Kindle Unlimited.
January 25, 2015
I was very excited to have an advance kindle copy of this book (via Netgalley) and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys fast paced crime fiction.
I first discovered Mel Sherratt's books last year when I heard about the Stoke-on-Trent Literary Festival. I had tickets for the Crime Fiction Discussion Panel and Mel was one of the writer's on that panel. I wanted to have read at least one book before I attended the event so I downloaded Taunting The Dead. This made me an instant Mel Sherratt fan! I have since read the Estate Series, Watching Over You and Secrets On The Estate. They are all more than worthy of five stars, in my opinion, and Follow The Leader has certainly been worth the wait.
In this book we meet with DS Allie Shenton again (the Detective Sergeant from Taunting The Dead) and we follow her through a new investigation which begins with the murder of a man out walking his dog along the canal, in Stoke-on-Trent. Immediately they are aware that this may not be a random attack as a coloured plastic magnetic letter is found on the victim. The reader knows of the killer from the beginning, but we join DS Shenton and her team in their attempt to figure out the clues the killer is leaving behind before anyone else dies.
This book can easily be enjoyed as a standalone novel, but if you have read Taunting The Dead you will find a few of the characters familiar and references to previous cases. We also learn more of Allie Shenton's Sister, Karen, who was raped, beaten and left for dead several years before, leaving her needing round the clock care. Her attacker was never caught, something Allie struggles to deal with on a daily basis.
I was born in Stoke-on-Trent and have lived in Newcastle-under-Lyme for most of my life, so the fact that this book is set in Stoke is a plus for me. However, I really enjoy Mel Sherratt's style of writing, her character's and the twists and turns each book has to offer. If you haven't read a Mel Sherratt book before then you really should give this a go. I'm pretty sure once you read one you will have to read them all.
I first discovered Mel Sherratt's books last year when I heard about the Stoke-on-Trent Literary Festival. I had tickets for the Crime Fiction Discussion Panel and Mel was one of the writer's on that panel. I wanted to have read at least one book before I attended the event so I downloaded Taunting The Dead. This made me an instant Mel Sherratt fan! I have since read the Estate Series, Watching Over You and Secrets On The Estate. They are all more than worthy of five stars, in my opinion, and Follow The Leader has certainly been worth the wait.
In this book we meet with DS Allie Shenton again (the Detective Sergeant from Taunting The Dead) and we follow her through a new investigation which begins with the murder of a man out walking his dog along the canal, in Stoke-on-Trent. Immediately they are aware that this may not be a random attack as a coloured plastic magnetic letter is found on the victim. The reader knows of the killer from the beginning, but we join DS Shenton and her team in their attempt to figure out the clues the killer is leaving behind before anyone else dies.
This book can easily be enjoyed as a standalone novel, but if you have read Taunting The Dead you will find a few of the characters familiar and references to previous cases. We also learn more of Allie Shenton's Sister, Karen, who was raped, beaten and left for dead several years before, leaving her needing round the clock care. Her attacker was never caught, something Allie struggles to deal with on a daily basis.
I was born in Stoke-on-Trent and have lived in Newcastle-under-Lyme for most of my life, so the fact that this book is set in Stoke is a plus for me. However, I really enjoy Mel Sherratt's style of writing, her character's and the twists and turns each book has to offer. If you haven't read a Mel Sherratt book before then you really should give this a go. I'm pretty sure once you read one you will have to read them all.
February 16, 2015
A welcome return for DS Allie Shenton from Taunting The Dead.
"A man’s body is found on a canal towpath. In his pocket, a plastic magnet in the shape of an E.
Days later, a second victim is found, this time with the letter V tucked into her clothing.
As the body count rises, the eerie, childlike clues point to a pattern that sends DS Allie Shenton and her colleagues into full alert.
The race is on. Allie and the team must work quickly to determine where the killer will strike next.
The rules are simple but deadly—to catch the killer, they must follow the leader."
I have mixed feelings about knowing whodunnit right from the start, but in this case the author has dealt with the "I know something you don't know" method so skilfully that the tension racked up relentlessly throughout the book. I enjoyed the way each character, even minor ones, was described in a way that gave them depth and believability. On finishing the book my first thought was that I hope this will be a series that runs and runs - Allie has already become one of my favourite fictional crime fighters.
I recommend Follower The Leader to fans of gritty and gripping crime fiction and would suggest reading Taunting The Dead first but this isn't essential.
Thank you to the publisher, via Netgalley, for the advance copy e-book.
"A man’s body is found on a canal towpath. In his pocket, a plastic magnet in the shape of an E.
Days later, a second victim is found, this time with the letter V tucked into her clothing.
As the body count rises, the eerie, childlike clues point to a pattern that sends DS Allie Shenton and her colleagues into full alert.
The race is on. Allie and the team must work quickly to determine where the killer will strike next.
The rules are simple but deadly—to catch the killer, they must follow the leader."
I have mixed feelings about knowing whodunnit right from the start, but in this case the author has dealt with the "I know something you don't know" method so skilfully that the tension racked up relentlessly throughout the book. I enjoyed the way each character, even minor ones, was described in a way that gave them depth and believability. On finishing the book my first thought was that I hope this will be a series that runs and runs - Allie has already become one of my favourite fictional crime fighters.
I recommend Follower The Leader to fans of gritty and gripping crime fiction and would suggest reading Taunting The Dead first but this isn't essential.
Thank you to the publisher, via Netgalley, for the advance copy e-book.
January 16, 2015
Follow The Leader ~ Mel Sherratt
I would like to begin by thanking the author ~ Mel Sherratt and her publishers, Thomas and Mercer at Net Galley for granting me a copy of "Follow The Leader" in exchange for a fair and honest review.
This is a wonderful thriller which kept me glued to my kindle for a lovely few days.
Mel lets the reader know who the villain is very early on into the novel ~ then leaves the rest to us to work out for ourselves!
The chapters are brief, yet full of suspense and gave me the urge to keep reading and reading to the final outcome.
The characters are well formed and full of life. There are characters you really feel for ~ and others that you despise and feel no empathy for ~ a great mixture of people makes this a great solid book.
A thoroughly enjoyable read which I can highly recommend. I must now read the first in this series "Taunting The Dead". It's nestled in my kindle waiting for me to get stuck into.
I would like to begin by thanking the author ~ Mel Sherratt and her publishers, Thomas and Mercer at Net Galley for granting me a copy of "Follow The Leader" in exchange for a fair and honest review.
This is a wonderful thriller which kept me glued to my kindle for a lovely few days.
Mel lets the reader know who the villain is very early on into the novel ~ then leaves the rest to us to work out for ourselves!
The chapters are brief, yet full of suspense and gave me the urge to keep reading and reading to the final outcome.
The characters are well formed and full of life. There are characters you really feel for ~ and others that you despise and feel no empathy for ~ a great mixture of people makes this a great solid book.
A thoroughly enjoyable read which I can highly recommend. I must now read the first in this series "Taunting The Dead". It's nestled in my kindle waiting for me to get stuck into.
March 12, 2016
This book got great reviews so I was expecting great things. It didn't live up to this expectation - or am I just getting more picky?
The story was good but not great. A man is seeking revenge years later for the bullying inflicted on him as a child at school (really?) Nothing earth shattering here, you know who the murderer is. Its an OK police procedural but thrilling it is not.
The story was good but not great. A man is seeking revenge years later for the bullying inflicted on him as a child at school (really?) Nothing earth shattering here, you know who the murderer is. Its an OK police procedural but thrilling it is not.
January 27, 2024
3⭐️ A good follow up to the first book featuring DS Shenton.
I’m not usually a fan of finding out the killer right at the beginning as it sometimes cuts out all the suspense, but I enjoyed being one step ahead and seeing the detective team play catch up to figure out who will be next. The pace was good and I liked the flashbacks as to why the killer was killing (idk how else to write that).
The storyline regarding DS Shentons sisters r*pe/attempted murder (?) is interesting and just like the first book, was left on a cliffhanger. I’ve just discovered there’s 6 books in this series and I’m definitely intrigued to see if we ever find out who did it, and if it’s someone we’ve already been introduced to.
A promising first two books, and I’d definitely read more if they become available to me on Libby! (the narrator is great)
I’m not usually a fan of finding out the killer right at the beginning as it sometimes cuts out all the suspense, but I enjoyed being one step ahead and seeing the detective team play catch up to figure out who will be next. The pace was good and I liked the flashbacks as to why the killer was killing (idk how else to write that).
The storyline regarding DS Shentons sisters r*pe/attempted murder (?) is interesting and just like the first book, was left on a cliffhanger. I’ve just discovered there’s 6 books in this series and I’m definitely intrigued to see if we ever find out who did it, and if it’s someone we’ve already been introduced to.
A promising first two books, and I’d definitely read more if they become available to me on Libby! (the narrator is great)
December 29, 2015
If you can, I’d recommend you listen to Follow the Leader on the Audible recording. That might seem an expensive way to enjoy a book, but really, wouldn’t you be happy to pay about $2 / hour for someone to travel with you & tell you a great story whilst you’re rounding? I certainly am. (In this case Amazon was pricing it @ $1.99 for the whole book so I felt like I was being paid to sit there & listen!) Anne Flosnik doesn’t exactly narrate the story in Potteries dialect (which I reckon was probably dying out by the middle of the last century) but her pronunciation (“look” & “Luke” are homophones) gives us the northern flavour this story needs. Moral & spiritual values are Mel Sherratt’s strong suits, but setting & social class play important supporting roles in her stories.
When I find myself not only liking & being concerned for a principal character, but wanting actively to protect her, take her side, & model @ least parts of my behaviour on hers, I’ve found an author whose work I’ll love. And like with Cathy & Josie in Mel Sherratt’s Estate series, in the case of Follow My Leader you’d do well when you feel out of your depth to ask what would Allie Shenton do, & then do it. I think the author’s touch surer than before & Allie has grown morally & spiritually. Her attraction to Terry Ryder in Taunting the Dead had me worried for her, but that sleaze-ball is now a lifetime guest of Her Majesty tho’ still running his car theft operation from his cell. Policing can be as much a form of caregiving as nursing, but unfortunately those aspects tend not to make very good crime stories - Lacey Flint’s work with the Sapphire Team in Sharon Bolton’s Now You See Me could have been the basis for an excellent story but we needed a serial killer (& what a serial killer!) really to get our pulses racing & here that is true as well. Follow the Leader is a pure thriller & all the better for that. To distinguish: a classic mystery is about finding the identity of the perpetrator of a crime, a whodunit - tho’ sometimes it may be about finding something else, like a lost person or an object such as a document or a gem. Contrariwise, in the classic thriller we know the identity of the villain pretty much from the get-go & the issues are who victims will be & how to bring an end to the villain’s bad-hattery. Here the malefactor is in some ways very sympathetic - the victim of terrible childhood abuse both @ home & @ school. Most of the serial killer’s victims don’t quite come up (or down?) to the level of people who really need killing but they’re definitely not going to be missed. But the killer himself has been so corroded by obsession with old grievances that we have no sympathy for him & very much want to see Allie & her team stop him.
There sometimes comes a point when an author we’ve been enjoying seems to break through from very good to excellent & I believe with Follow the Leader that Mel Sherratt has reached the goal. I am now going to be reading Diaries from the Estate - I’ve been missing Cathy & Josie a lot.
One hint for Mel Sherratt: for my entire career of reading & watching detective & crime stories the S/Os of police officers have been wingeing constantly & boringly: ‘you care more about your job than you do about me’ & now Allie’s husband Mark is doing that. I suggest Allie remind him that he knew she was a cop when he married her & if that doesn’t stop his whining, maybe some bad-hat aiming @ Allie should hit the wrong target by mistake.
When I find myself not only liking & being concerned for a principal character, but wanting actively to protect her, take her side, & model @ least parts of my behaviour on hers, I’ve found an author whose work I’ll love. And like with Cathy & Josie in Mel Sherratt’s Estate series, in the case of Follow My Leader you’d do well when you feel out of your depth to ask what would Allie Shenton do, & then do it. I think the author’s touch surer than before & Allie has grown morally & spiritually. Her attraction to Terry Ryder in Taunting the Dead had me worried for her, but that sleaze-ball is now a lifetime guest of Her Majesty tho’ still running his car theft operation from his cell. Policing can be as much a form of caregiving as nursing, but unfortunately those aspects tend not to make very good crime stories - Lacey Flint’s work with the Sapphire Team in Sharon Bolton’s Now You See Me could have been the basis for an excellent story but we needed a serial killer (& what a serial killer!) really to get our pulses racing & here that is true as well. Follow the Leader is a pure thriller & all the better for that. To distinguish: a classic mystery is about finding the identity of the perpetrator of a crime, a whodunit - tho’ sometimes it may be about finding something else, like a lost person or an object such as a document or a gem. Contrariwise, in the classic thriller we know the identity of the villain pretty much from the get-go & the issues are who victims will be & how to bring an end to the villain’s bad-hattery. Here the malefactor is in some ways very sympathetic - the victim of terrible childhood abuse both @ home & @ school. Most of the serial killer’s victims don’t quite come up (or down?) to the level of people who really need killing but they’re definitely not going to be missed. But the killer himself has been so corroded by obsession with old grievances that we have no sympathy for him & very much want to see Allie & her team stop him.
There sometimes comes a point when an author we’ve been enjoying seems to break through from very good to excellent & I believe with Follow the Leader that Mel Sherratt has reached the goal. I am now going to be reading Diaries from the Estate - I’ve been missing Cathy & Josie a lot.
One hint for Mel Sherratt: for my entire career of reading & watching detective & crime stories the S/Os of police officers have been wingeing constantly & boringly: ‘you care more about your job than you do about me’ & now Allie’s husband Mark is doing that. I suggest Allie remind him that he knew she was a cop when he married her & if that doesn’t stop his whining, maybe some bad-hat aiming @ Allie should hit the wrong target by mistake.
February 10, 2015
When a man is stabbed to death by a canal DS Allie Shenton’s earliest thoughts go along the lines of that this is something more exciting than a domestic, this is something she can get her teeth into, she soon is eating her words as the ruthless killer stacks up the bodies in Stoke-On-Trent at an unseemly rate.
Mickey Taylor has been found with a magnetic letter E in his pocket the significance of which eludes Allie and the team. When a second man is killed a couple of days later a link is made, the two men had attended the same school, as did Allie’s fellow officer Perry and her elder sister Karen. Be warned this is a book where the reader knows who the killer is from the start, we get to see him back in the 1980’s and in the present day and therefore know far more than the police. Knowing the killer is a tricky device for the author to pull off, but I’m pleased to report that I felt no less suspense in this book than when I’m trying to solve the puzzle myself, in fact, if anything I was more eager than ever for the police to work out the scarce clues they had to hand, and foil the killer.
The switches between past and present were also expertly presented, there was no confusion whatsoever at the change-over points and the voices were authentic in both time periods. As the 1980’s is when I was at school any inconsistencies would have jarred but there weren’t any. Each of the characters, and there are a fair few to keep track of, particularly as those in the 80’s were often known by nicknames, were on the whole a sensible mixture of good and bad. I’m not a fan of outright goodies and baddies in books and it was almost like a school reunion seeing who had come good all these years later, and of course to wonder which of them were going to live to tell the tale!
Having recently read the first book in this series Taunting The Dead, the story of Allie and her elder sister Karen was already fresh in my mind. As with any good series the story arc continues in this book, as does her husband’s concern about Allie’s job, but in this book the conflict is handled with far more subtlety and thereby making it more realistic. I like Allie, she is a well-balanced police officer and her relationships with her fellow officers are cordial with a happy absence of ongoing conflict allowing the reader to concentrate on the crime at hand.
This book hit all the key points for a five-star read; a great mix of characters, a believable villain, a fantastic plot and writing that flowed despite the complexities of two different time periods. If you haven’t read Taunting The Dead ,in theory although the story-line in that book is alluded to in this one, you could easily enjoy this as a stand-alone, but why would you want to? My recommendation is that you buy both books and immerse yourself in Allie Shenton’s world.
I’d like to thank Amazon publishers, Thomas and Mercer, for allowing me to read a proof copy of this excellent book in return for my opinion.
Mickey Taylor has been found with a magnetic letter E in his pocket the significance of which eludes Allie and the team. When a second man is killed a couple of days later a link is made, the two men had attended the same school, as did Allie’s fellow officer Perry and her elder sister Karen. Be warned this is a book where the reader knows who the killer is from the start, we get to see him back in the 1980’s and in the present day and therefore know far more than the police. Knowing the killer is a tricky device for the author to pull off, but I’m pleased to report that I felt no less suspense in this book than when I’m trying to solve the puzzle myself, in fact, if anything I was more eager than ever for the police to work out the scarce clues they had to hand, and foil the killer.
The switches between past and present were also expertly presented, there was no confusion whatsoever at the change-over points and the voices were authentic in both time periods. As the 1980’s is when I was at school any inconsistencies would have jarred but there weren’t any. Each of the characters, and there are a fair few to keep track of, particularly as those in the 80’s were often known by nicknames, were on the whole a sensible mixture of good and bad. I’m not a fan of outright goodies and baddies in books and it was almost like a school reunion seeing who had come good all these years later, and of course to wonder which of them were going to live to tell the tale!
Having recently read the first book in this series Taunting The Dead, the story of Allie and her elder sister Karen was already fresh in my mind. As with any good series the story arc continues in this book, as does her husband’s concern about Allie’s job, but in this book the conflict is handled with far more subtlety and thereby making it more realistic. I like Allie, she is a well-balanced police officer and her relationships with her fellow officers are cordial with a happy absence of ongoing conflict allowing the reader to concentrate on the crime at hand.
This book hit all the key points for a five-star read; a great mix of characters, a believable villain, a fantastic plot and writing that flowed despite the complexities of two different time periods. If you haven’t read Taunting The Dead ,in theory although the story-line in that book is alluded to in this one, you could easily enjoy this as a stand-alone, but why would you want to? My recommendation is that you buy both books and immerse yourself in Allie Shenton’s world.
I’d like to thank Amazon publishers, Thomas and Mercer, for allowing me to read a proof copy of this excellent book in return for my opinion.
February 9, 2015
Im a big fan of Mel's work i love what she calls her grit lit books and have read the estate books, taunting the dead and the standalone novel watching over you. As you can tell I'm a very big fan of Mel and i was very excited once i signed up for netgalley to see that follow the leader was read now.
I like the cover of this book its just something about the swing makes me think back to my childhood and another part makes me think of the swing being a bit eerie. If saw this book in the shop or on my kindle i would definately buy it as the cover really draws me in the cover fits in with the story.
Once i started to read i could not put this book down its a very addictive read like Mel's other books. This book is part of a series and would recommend reading taunting the dead first.
In the story we are presented with flashbacks and present events and it was not long before the first murder happens but right from the start we know who the killer is and we understand his motives for the killings.
This book does deal with the sensitive and still ongoing issue of bullying and how bullying in early life can change and shape a person in later life it made me think back to my school days as children can be very cruel and i did feel a bit of sympathy for the killer as not only did he have to contend with bullying at school but also his home life was very upsetting.
Even though we know who the killer is and its not a typical guess who done it book there is still a lot of twists and turns in the book and i really enjoyed DS Allie putting the pieces together to solve the puzzle.
There are a lot of characters in this book and it was nice to see a link from the first book with one of the characters. I especially enjoyed knowing each of the victims stories of what they did to the killer before they were killed.
I love DS Allie she seems to have a heart and has matured and developed a lot from taunting the dead. I like to see the insights of her personal life she does not have it easy and is carrying alot of guilt around with her hoping that she can let this go.
The primary plot is finished and tied up very nicely but the book ends on a cliffhanger so now we have to wait till may for the next book 'only the brave' and i for one cant wait.
From reading Follow The Leader and her previous books I really think that Mel Sherratt is a very talented and is becoming one of my favourite authors along with DS Allie becoming my favourite crime fighting heel wearing heroine and hope this series runs for a very long time.
I like the cover of this book its just something about the swing makes me think back to my childhood and another part makes me think of the swing being a bit eerie. If saw this book in the shop or on my kindle i would definately buy it as the cover really draws me in the cover fits in with the story.
Once i started to read i could not put this book down its a very addictive read like Mel's other books. This book is part of a series and would recommend reading taunting the dead first.
In the story we are presented with flashbacks and present events and it was not long before the first murder happens but right from the start we know who the killer is and we understand his motives for the killings.
This book does deal with the sensitive and still ongoing issue of bullying and how bullying in early life can change and shape a person in later life it made me think back to my school days as children can be very cruel and i did feel a bit of sympathy for the killer as not only did he have to contend with bullying at school but also his home life was very upsetting.
Even though we know who the killer is and its not a typical guess who done it book there is still a lot of twists and turns in the book and i really enjoyed DS Allie putting the pieces together to solve the puzzle.
There are a lot of characters in this book and it was nice to see a link from the first book with one of the characters. I especially enjoyed knowing each of the victims stories of what they did to the killer before they were killed.
I love DS Allie she seems to have a heart and has matured and developed a lot from taunting the dead. I like to see the insights of her personal life she does not have it easy and is carrying alot of guilt around with her hoping that she can let this go.
The primary plot is finished and tied up very nicely but the book ends on a cliffhanger so now we have to wait till may for the next book 'only the brave' and i for one cant wait.
From reading Follow The Leader and her previous books I really think that Mel Sherratt is a very talented and is becoming one of my favourite authors along with DS Allie becoming my favourite crime fighting heel wearing heroine and hope this series runs for a very long time.
June 19, 2015
OMG I loved, loved, LOVED this book!!! Mel Sherratt, my dear, this book is sheer brilliance!!! I'm ashamed not to have read it before.
Returning to work after the Christmas holidays, DS Allie Shenton is immediately thrown in a murder investigation. A businessman has been stabbed in a canal towpath. A magnetic plastic letter E is found in the victim's pocket. Was this letter the victim's or the killer's signature?
When another murder victim is found soon after displaying a plastic letter V, Allie and her team find themselves on a race against time to catch this serial killer - a killer who loves to play games. Who is the killer? Why is he killing these people? Are the victims targeted or chosen at random? Why is he leaving these plastic letters? Is he trying to convey some message? How will they catch him? Apart from this case, Allie is also still on the lookout for the person who has destroyed her sister's life.
In 'Follow the Leader', Mel Sherratt has drawn out a fantastic, cleverly weaved plot. From the outset we know who the killer is, but this doesn't impede the reader from enjoying the book to the full. It was thrilling to read how Allie and her team searched for the missing puzzle pieces to work out the killer's identity and I found myself biting my nails on more than one occasion. The ending left me gasping for breath. We're left with a cliffhanger, but thank goodness I already have the next book, 'Only the Brave', to read as I want to know what happens next.
With strongly depicted and realistic characters, believable dialogue and Mel's impeccable writing, this book is a must for every thriller lover. I loved every word in it and obviously I highly recommended it!!
I would like to thank Netgalley and the publishers for allowing me to read this book in return of an honest review.
Returning to work after the Christmas holidays, DS Allie Shenton is immediately thrown in a murder investigation. A businessman has been stabbed in a canal towpath. A magnetic plastic letter E is found in the victim's pocket. Was this letter the victim's or the killer's signature?
When another murder victim is found soon after displaying a plastic letter V, Allie and her team find themselves on a race against time to catch this serial killer - a killer who loves to play games. Who is the killer? Why is he killing these people? Are the victims targeted or chosen at random? Why is he leaving these plastic letters? Is he trying to convey some message? How will they catch him? Apart from this case, Allie is also still on the lookout for the person who has destroyed her sister's life.
In 'Follow the Leader', Mel Sherratt has drawn out a fantastic, cleverly weaved plot. From the outset we know who the killer is, but this doesn't impede the reader from enjoying the book to the full. It was thrilling to read how Allie and her team searched for the missing puzzle pieces to work out the killer's identity and I found myself biting my nails on more than one occasion. The ending left me gasping for breath. We're left with a cliffhanger, but thank goodness I already have the next book, 'Only the Brave', to read as I want to know what happens next.
With strongly depicted and realistic characters, believable dialogue and Mel's impeccable writing, this book is a must for every thriller lover. I loved every word in it and obviously I highly recommended it!!
I would like to thank Netgalley and the publishers for allowing me to read this book in return of an honest review.
February 2, 2015
Allie Shenton is back in the follow up from ‘Taunting the Dead’. I have to say I was rather pleased that I could get stuck in as the last book ended on a bit of a cliff-hanger. A man’s body is found on a canal path and in his pocket is a magnetic letter. Allie Shenton and her colleagues start the investigation and before long the body count rises. The killer is front and centre and immediately gave me the creeps.
Allie and her team quickly spot a pattern and it seems to be a bit of a race against time to get to the victims before the killer does. Allie seems a little bit more in control of her life in this second outing, and for that I was glad. It was also nice to see the references to Terry Ryder (from book 1) pop up again, albeit in a subtle way.
Because we get to see the killer in action we also get to see his reasoning behind the murders. This makes it more intriguing because you wonder how long it will take for the police to catch up. In addition we see flashbacks in time which features both the killers and victims and the layers begin to unpeel.
I once again thoroughly enjoyed this book and think that it has a slight edge over the Estate Books (although that maybe isn’t fair as I have only read one!). I like Allie, and am dying to see what happens to her, and her family in the next book. I think my only disappointment was that once again, a certain element of the story was carried over. In one sense it’s great because the reader then wants to go on and read the next book, but for me…well I’m just an impatient one! I certainly should have started catching up with Mel Sherratt’s books sooner as they are a pleasure to read.
Allie and her team quickly spot a pattern and it seems to be a bit of a race against time to get to the victims before the killer does. Allie seems a little bit more in control of her life in this second outing, and for that I was glad. It was also nice to see the references to Terry Ryder (from book 1) pop up again, albeit in a subtle way.
Because we get to see the killer in action we also get to see his reasoning behind the murders. This makes it more intriguing because you wonder how long it will take for the police to catch up. In addition we see flashbacks in time which features both the killers and victims and the layers begin to unpeel.
I once again thoroughly enjoyed this book and think that it has a slight edge over the Estate Books (although that maybe isn’t fair as I have only read one!). I like Allie, and am dying to see what happens to her, and her family in the next book. I think my only disappointment was that once again, a certain element of the story was carried over. In one sense it’s great because the reader then wants to go on and read the next book, but for me…well I’m just an impatient one! I certainly should have started catching up with Mel Sherratt’s books sooner as they are a pleasure to read.
March 5, 2015
As a crime reader, buying the latest Mel Sherratt book is a no-brainer. It's not difficult to see why this lady is a leading crime author. DS Allie Shenton is a fantastic leading lady, and the depth of her emotions are portrayed very well in this fast paced thriller.
This is a very original story, with lots of twists and turns. You start out knowing the identity of the killer because only then can you discover his own brutal background and the motivation behind his twisted deeds. This psychological / crime thriller is my favourite kind of book, and even if you normally like a whodunnit, I'd urge you to give it a go as it's very cleverly written. Mel deals with the topic of bullying very well and I found myself thinking of my own school days. I was someone that gave up their street cred to stand up for victims of bullying, and it brought back lots of memories. I always know a good book as it stays in my mind after reading it, and this one has hit the mark. But it's not all about bullying, it's a great fast paced story, and gallops towards the final conclusion.
Each chapter leaves you wanting to turn the page (or swipe the Kindle in my case) to find out more. The only down side is that I had bags under my eyes from staying up late reading when I should have been sleeping! Well done Mel, I look forward to reading your next offering in the Allie Shenton series. I would like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a review copy.
This is a very original story, with lots of twists and turns. You start out knowing the identity of the killer because only then can you discover his own brutal background and the motivation behind his twisted deeds. This psychological / crime thriller is my favourite kind of book, and even if you normally like a whodunnit, I'd urge you to give it a go as it's very cleverly written. Mel deals with the topic of bullying very well and I found myself thinking of my own school days. I was someone that gave up their street cred to stand up for victims of bullying, and it brought back lots of memories. I always know a good book as it stays in my mind after reading it, and this one has hit the mark. But it's not all about bullying, it's a great fast paced story, and gallops towards the final conclusion.
Each chapter leaves you wanting to turn the page (or swipe the Kindle in my case) to find out more. The only down side is that I had bags under my eyes from staying up late reading when I should have been sleeping! Well done Mel, I look forward to reading your next offering in the Allie Shenton series. I would like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a review copy.
February 24, 2015
As a crime reader, buying the latest Mel Sherratt book is a no-brainer. It's not difficult to see why this lady is a leading crime author. DS Allie Shenton is a fantastic leading lady, and the depth of her emotions are portrayed very well in this fast paced thriller.
This is a very original story, with lots of twists and turns. You start out knowing the identity of the killer because only then can you discover his own brutal background and the motivation behind his twisted deeds. This psychological / crime thriller is my favourite kind of book, and even if you normally like a whodunnit, I'd urge you to give it a go as it's very cleverly written. Mel deals with the topic of bullying very well and I found myself thinking of my own school days. I was someone that gave up their street cred to stand up for victims of bullying, and it brought back lots of memories. I always know a good book as it stays in my mind after reading it, and this one has hit the mark. But it's not all about bullying, it's a great fast paced story, and gallops towards the final conclusion.
Each chapter leaves you wanting to turn the page (or swipe the Kindle in my case) to find out more. The only down side is that I had bags under my eyes from staying up late reading when I should have been sleeping! Well done Mel, I look forward to reading your next offering in the Allie Shenton series. I would like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a review copy.
This is a very original story, with lots of twists and turns. You start out knowing the identity of the killer because only then can you discover his own brutal background and the motivation behind his twisted deeds. This psychological / crime thriller is my favourite kind of book, and even if you normally like a whodunnit, I'd urge you to give it a go as it's very cleverly written. Mel deals with the topic of bullying very well and I found myself thinking of my own school days. I was someone that gave up their street cred to stand up for victims of bullying, and it brought back lots of memories. I always know a good book as it stays in my mind after reading it, and this one has hit the mark. But it's not all about bullying, it's a great fast paced story, and gallops towards the final conclusion.
Each chapter leaves you wanting to turn the page (or swipe the Kindle in my case) to find out more. The only down side is that I had bags under my eyes from staying up late reading when I should have been sleeping! Well done Mel, I look forward to reading your next offering in the Allie Shenton series. I would like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a review copy.
January 14, 2015
My first Mel Sherratt book and it is a good one, although it is the second DS Allie Shenton novel it can be read as a standalone, and is a fantastic read, which is something coming from me as I don´t speak highly of police procedural books normally, this has all the well known factors, victims, police and a murderer, but in this case the reader knows who the murderer is and follows him through his eyes as he undertakes his craft. Also what connects the victims and the murderer is also know to the reader, but don´t let this put you off. This is a great read, different and intriguing. There are many characters but they aren´t all there at the same time, they are introduced bit by bit. It is written from various different time frames in the third person from the murderer’s point of view and the detectives. There is also a side story with one of the detectives which might have been introduced in the previous Allie Shenton book, but I don´t know for sure, what I do know is that it is a great addition to the novel and I can see another novel written with Allie in it. I finished it in two sittings, if only I didn´t need sleep or it would have been quicker. I am torn between the rating and as I don´t do half stars I am giving 4 stars. A delightful surprise for me.
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