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Will Traynor #3
The Darkest Detail
Five young women, murdered in cold blood. One cunning predator. A deadly game with the highest stakes.
Please note this book was previously published as A Dark, Divided Self.
Meet troubled criminologist Dr Will Traynor. He doesn’t play by the book, but his dark past helps him capture killers by getting inside their minds.
Amy Peters’ badly decomposed remains are discovered by a shaken dogwalker. Her body lay undisturbed in an isolated wooded area outside Birmingham. She is quickly identified as one of five young women who have recently vanished without a trace.
All young students. All with dark hair and bright futures stolen from them.
Criminologist Dr Will Traynor has a serial killer to catch. An intelligent and charismatic individual who thrives in the shadows and keeps trophies to commemorate his kills.
Traynor must delve deeper than ever before to get into the mind of a murderer who sees the world through a dark, twisted lens.
What he doesn’t understand is why the killer would transport their victims on an eighty-mile journey from Manchester to Birmingham.
With no witnesses, no clues, and a trail gone cold, Traynor is forced to play this sadistic individual at their own deadly game to solve the most harrowing case of his career. But every move counts. One wrong step means another life lost — and this time it could be his own.
Please note this book was previously published as A Dark, Divided Self.
Meet troubled criminologist Dr Will Traynor. He doesn’t play by the book, but his dark past helps him capture killers by getting inside their minds.
Amy Peters’ badly decomposed remains are discovered by a shaken dogwalker. Her body lay undisturbed in an isolated wooded area outside Birmingham. She is quickly identified as one of five young women who have recently vanished without a trace.
All young students. All with dark hair and bright futures stolen from them.
Criminologist Dr Will Traynor has a serial killer to catch. An intelligent and charismatic individual who thrives in the shadows and keeps trophies to commemorate his kills.
Traynor must delve deeper than ever before to get into the mind of a murderer who sees the world through a dark, twisted lens.
What he doesn’t understand is why the killer would transport their victims on an eighty-mile journey from Manchester to Birmingham.
With no witnesses, no clues, and a trail gone cold, Traynor is forced to play this sadistic individual at their own deadly game to solve the most harrowing case of his career. But every move counts. One wrong step means another life lost — and this time it could be his own.
Kindle Edition
First published February 1, 2022
349 people are currently reading
88 people want to read
About the author
A.J. Cross
20 books86 followersA.J. Cross is a forensic psychologist and frequent court-appointed expert witness. She obtained her Masters Degree and PhD at the University of Birmingham, the latter relating to children as witnesses within the criminal court system. Her professional experience has included consultancy work for the Probation Service within its sexual offender unit in her home city. She currently lives in the West Midlands with her musician husband.
Librarian’s note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Librarian’s note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
April 6, 2022
This book did not "catch" me as others do. A dead woman is found near Birmingham and she is one of the 5 young girls missing. Criminologist Will Traynor is called to figure out the case.
Thanks, Netgalley for this book.
Thanks, Netgalley for this book.
December 26, 2021
An Intriguing, Complex Murder Case
Erica Trent leaves her tutor at Manchester University and starts walking to a residence to start working on an assignment. She is stopped along the way by a police officer who wants to interview her. The tutor just told Erica that she needs to be more social so she decides to start now and go to a coffee shop with the police officer. She walks with him a short distance to his car, and then she is not seen again. The novel takes off almost three years later with the discovery of a body almost 80 miles south just outside Birmingham.
The main storyline is in intricate combination of threads. The major thread is the investigation of a female body discovered just outside Birmingham. Once identified, she had disappeared from Manchester a few years earlier. That disappearance is connected with three others. The police in Manchester are less than cooperating in providing what evidence they have. A new member rejoins the team, Dr. Julian Devenish, a forensic psychologist, from the Kate Hudson series. I do not want to call the flow of the novel slow, but it was not fast. With a criminologist and a forensic pathologist on the investigation team, several significant discussions occur between the two about the nature of the perpetrator. When there is action, it is not rapid. These and some other threads that I will let you discover drew me in and kept my interest all the way to the end. Some readers may be discouraged with the less than speedy case and the lengthy discussions but do continue to read. As the main storyline proceeds, it becomes much more interesting, including what I call a literary grenade that was quite unexpected.
For the B-storyline threads add new and interesting details into the lives of Will Traynor, Bernard Watts and Chloe Judd. Will now has a live-in partner. Bernard wants to retire early but is denied. Chloe just purchased her first home that comes with a strange neighbor. All of these personal issues have repercussions throughout the novel. Additionally, my reading enjoyment was enhanced by reading how the personal sides of their lives have changed and continue to change.
As for the aspects of a novel that can quickly turn off some readers, a major aspect is language. The good news is that objectionable and impious language is near non-existent. There are not any intimate scenes but a few build ups. There are instances of violence described in the more edgy as it occurs but they are short and quick. Overall, this novel should not be objectionable for most readers.
One aspect after reading numerous British police procedurals, I found that there still were quite a few informal British words and police terms with which I am not familiar. I relied on the built-in e-reader dictionary and easy access to the Internet to learn the meaning of some words and terms. If this is an issue for you, I recommend reading on an e-reader with these capabilities.
On the downside is the apparent slow start. My recommendation is to read carefully the discussions between Will and Julian and continue to read. There are some loose ends not tied up, but given the nature of these crimes, it is not unusual in real life. Otherwise, this storyline was quite believable to me. I also see no reason that this could not be your first book of this series that you read. There is not anything in the main storyline that relies on the previous novels, and there is adequate background from those novels in the B-storyline. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel and am looking forward to reading further novels from this author. The author reaffirmed his standing as a Must-Read author for me. I strongly recommend reading this novel and rate it with five stars.
I received a free e-book version of this novel through NetGalley from Severn House. My review is based only by my own reading experience of this book. I wish to thank Severn House for the opportunity to read and review this novel early.
Erica Trent leaves her tutor at Manchester University and starts walking to a residence to start working on an assignment. She is stopped along the way by a police officer who wants to interview her. The tutor just told Erica that she needs to be more social so she decides to start now and go to a coffee shop with the police officer. She walks with him a short distance to his car, and then she is not seen again. The novel takes off almost three years later with the discovery of a body almost 80 miles south just outside Birmingham.
The main storyline is in intricate combination of threads. The major thread is the investigation of a female body discovered just outside Birmingham. Once identified, she had disappeared from Manchester a few years earlier. That disappearance is connected with three others. The police in Manchester are less than cooperating in providing what evidence they have. A new member rejoins the team, Dr. Julian Devenish, a forensic psychologist, from the Kate Hudson series. I do not want to call the flow of the novel slow, but it was not fast. With a criminologist and a forensic pathologist on the investigation team, several significant discussions occur between the two about the nature of the perpetrator. When there is action, it is not rapid. These and some other threads that I will let you discover drew me in and kept my interest all the way to the end. Some readers may be discouraged with the less than speedy case and the lengthy discussions but do continue to read. As the main storyline proceeds, it becomes much more interesting, including what I call a literary grenade that was quite unexpected.
For the B-storyline threads add new and interesting details into the lives of Will Traynor, Bernard Watts and Chloe Judd. Will now has a live-in partner. Bernard wants to retire early but is denied. Chloe just purchased her first home that comes with a strange neighbor. All of these personal issues have repercussions throughout the novel. Additionally, my reading enjoyment was enhanced by reading how the personal sides of their lives have changed and continue to change.
As for the aspects of a novel that can quickly turn off some readers, a major aspect is language. The good news is that objectionable and impious language is near non-existent. There are not any intimate scenes but a few build ups. There are instances of violence described in the more edgy as it occurs but they are short and quick. Overall, this novel should not be objectionable for most readers.
One aspect after reading numerous British police procedurals, I found that there still were quite a few informal British words and police terms with which I am not familiar. I relied on the built-in e-reader dictionary and easy access to the Internet to learn the meaning of some words and terms. If this is an issue for you, I recommend reading on an e-reader with these capabilities.
On the downside is the apparent slow start. My recommendation is to read carefully the discussions between Will and Julian and continue to read. There are some loose ends not tied up, but given the nature of these crimes, it is not unusual in real life. Otherwise, this storyline was quite believable to me. I also see no reason that this could not be your first book of this series that you read. There is not anything in the main storyline that relies on the previous novels, and there is adequate background from those novels in the B-storyline. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel and am looking forward to reading further novels from this author. The author reaffirmed his standing as a Must-Read author for me. I strongly recommend reading this novel and rate it with five stars.
I received a free e-book version of this novel through NetGalley from Severn House. My review is based only by my own reading experience of this book. I wish to thank Severn House for the opportunity to read and review this novel early.
February 1, 2022
4.5 stars - Bernard Watts had hoped to take early retirement, but instead he is promoted to Detective Chief Inspector (DCI) and assigned to a high profile case. He is again assisted by criminologist Will Traynor to track down what appears to be a serial killer. PC Chloe Judd is also still on the team assisting with important research on the case, along with other detectives and academic experts.
This is the third book in the Will Traynor Forensic Mystery series. I read both of the prior books, but it could stand alone. Although the series is called the Will Traynor series, I think he and DCI Watts are both the main characters and Watts is my favorite. Will is dedicated and brilliant and is able to make many important contributions as to the kind of person who could commit the atrocious crimes that have been committed. However, Watts is responsible for leading up the whole investigation and dealing with all the various team members, securing the resources he needs, and dealing with the pressure to solve the case as soon as possible. He is a wonderful leader and his team members, especially Chloe, appreciate all she has learned from him. Chloe is young and can be impulsive, but I like that her character has shown growth and is becoming a very good detective.
I enjoy the details of a procedural and this story builds slowly and becomes suspenseful as the detectives and academics work to find a resolution to the case. At least five women are thought to have been victims of the killer they’re looking for. It is a very scary case that gets creepier as more and more about his methods is revealed. It reminded me of a Criminal Minds episode - the case is creepy but a (mostly) cohesive team works together to solve the case. I had some suspicions as to who the killer was, but ultimately I guessed incorrectly until the very end. I really like this well-written series and hope this isn’t the last we see of Bernard, Will, and Chloe and the rest of the team.
I received this ebook from NetGalley through the courtesy of Severn House. An advance copy was provided to me at no cost, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.
This is the third book in the Will Traynor Forensic Mystery series. I read both of the prior books, but it could stand alone. Although the series is called the Will Traynor series, I think he and DCI Watts are both the main characters and Watts is my favorite. Will is dedicated and brilliant and is able to make many important contributions as to the kind of person who could commit the atrocious crimes that have been committed. However, Watts is responsible for leading up the whole investigation and dealing with all the various team members, securing the resources he needs, and dealing with the pressure to solve the case as soon as possible. He is a wonderful leader and his team members, especially Chloe, appreciate all she has learned from him. Chloe is young and can be impulsive, but I like that her character has shown growth and is becoming a very good detective.
I enjoy the details of a procedural and this story builds slowly and becomes suspenseful as the detectives and academics work to find a resolution to the case. At least five women are thought to have been victims of the killer they’re looking for. It is a very scary case that gets creepier as more and more about his methods is revealed. It reminded me of a Criminal Minds episode - the case is creepy but a (mostly) cohesive team works together to solve the case. I had some suspicions as to who the killer was, but ultimately I guessed incorrectly until the very end. I really like this well-written series and hope this isn’t the last we see of Bernard, Will, and Chloe and the rest of the team.
I received this ebook from NetGalley through the courtesy of Severn House. An advance copy was provided to me at no cost, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.
January 28, 2022
A Dark, Divided Self by A.J. Cross is a recommended procedural and the third book in the Will Traynor series.
The decomposed remains of a young woman are found in a wooded area outside Birmingham. The victim is identified as 21-year-old Amy Peters. She disappeared three years ago and is one of five young women who have recently vanished from Manchester. Criminologist Will Traynor is called in by Detective Chief Inspector Bernard Watts to assist in the investigation. This is a killer who felt comfortable enough about his abilities to transport the victim on an eighty-mile journey from Manchester to Birmingham. Dr. Julian Devenish, a forensic psychologist, also joins the team.
This is procedural that sets a deliberate pace from the start which makes for a rather slow-moving plot. As a third novel in a series, this could be read as a standalone, but perhaps reading the first two would give you a greater investment in the series and this installment. There are several long discussions concerning profiling the kind of person who would commit these crimes that also slow down the pace. As a procedural, the novel does follow the investigation and clues closely, but it is light on character development. This is a well written procedural but it does have issues with the slow pacing and there is no real sense of suspense or tension as the investigation unfolds. I guessed the perpetrator early on.
Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Severn House via NetGalley.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2022/0...
The decomposed remains of a young woman are found in a wooded area outside Birmingham. The victim is identified as 21-year-old Amy Peters. She disappeared three years ago and is one of five young women who have recently vanished from Manchester. Criminologist Will Traynor is called in by Detective Chief Inspector Bernard Watts to assist in the investigation. This is a killer who felt comfortable enough about his abilities to transport the victim on an eighty-mile journey from Manchester to Birmingham. Dr. Julian Devenish, a forensic psychologist, also joins the team.
This is procedural that sets a deliberate pace from the start which makes for a rather slow-moving plot. As a third novel in a series, this could be read as a standalone, but perhaps reading the first two would give you a greater investment in the series and this installment. There are several long discussions concerning profiling the kind of person who would commit these crimes that also slow down the pace. As a procedural, the novel does follow the investigation and clues closely, but it is light on character development. This is a well written procedural but it does have issues with the slow pacing and there is no real sense of suspense or tension as the investigation unfolds. I guessed the perpetrator early on.
Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Severn House via NetGalley.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2022/0...
February 1, 2022
A dark divided self by A.J. Cross.
A Will Traynor forensic mystery Book 3.
When the badly decomposed remains of a young woman are discovered in an isolated wooded area just outside Birmingham, the victim is quickly identified as Amy Peters, a Manchester University student who disappeared three years earlier. She is one of five young women who vanished from the streets of Manchester within a two-year period.Called in to assist the police investigation, criminologist Will Traynor believes they are looking for an intelligent, socially confident individual, someone adept at covering his tracks. But why would the killer transport the victim on an eighty-mile journey from Manchester to Birmingham? If he can find the answer to that question, Traynor believes he has the key to cracking the case.But at every stage of the investigation, the killer seems to be one step ahead of him. If he's going to outsmart him, Will realizes he's going to have to play this twisted individual at his own deadly game.
A really good read. Likeable story and characters. 4*.
A Will Traynor forensic mystery Book 3.
When the badly decomposed remains of a young woman are discovered in an isolated wooded area just outside Birmingham, the victim is quickly identified as Amy Peters, a Manchester University student who disappeared three years earlier. She is one of five young women who vanished from the streets of Manchester within a two-year period.Called in to assist the police investigation, criminologist Will Traynor believes they are looking for an intelligent, socially confident individual, someone adept at covering his tracks. But why would the killer transport the victim on an eighty-mile journey from Manchester to Birmingham? If he can find the answer to that question, Traynor believes he has the key to cracking the case.But at every stage of the investigation, the killer seems to be one step ahead of him. If he's going to outsmart him, Will realizes he's going to have to play this twisted individual at his own deadly game.
A really good read. Likeable story and characters. 4*.
January 18, 2023
Two stars may be generous for this. Atrociously written and therefore so difficult to follow who is speaking. Too many characters, too many threads that lead nowhere and pointless story arcs and loose ends. Only read this to see how the character of Chloe Judd developed from the first two books - but she didn’t.
June 12, 2022
An ordinary-looking man manages to convince unsuspecting young women to get into his car. His reveals his true intentions only when it is too late for his passengers to flee. After a dog-walker finds skeletal remains in a densely wooded area outside of Birmingham, England, DCI Bernard Watts is chosen to lead the investigation. The bones are identified as belonging to one of five missing females, all of the same physical type—ranging in age from nineteen to twenty-three—who had vanished during a two-year period. Watts consults with criminologist and forensic psychologist Dr. Will Traynor, who believes that the perpetrator is a psychopath who knows how to present himself as polite and unthreatening. In addition, the killer is knowledgeable enough about forensics to leave few clues behind.
In "A Dark, Divided Self," by A. J. Cross, the author ably demonstrates how difficult and time-consuming it is to catch a stealthy and clever criminal who has repeatedly gotten away with murder. Watts, twenty-one-year-old PC Chloe Judd (an enthusiastic, sharp-tongued, and insightful member of the team), Traynor, and their colleagues do their utmost to narrow down the list of suspects. They examine CCTV footage; interview witnesses and persons of interest; question a woman who had been abducted but managed to escape; and request information from a senior officer in Manchester who had handled the inquiry in the past, but came up empty.
What weakens the book is its uneven dialogue, some of which does not ring true, as well as an awkward and confusing writing style that sometimes makes it difficult to discern who is speaking to whom. In addition, fans of this genre will likely figure out whodunit before the big reveal. On the plus side, Cross inserts enough credible red herrings to cast doubt on our initial assumptions. Furthermore, Traynor's profile of the perpetrator is fascinating, and readers will enjoy playing sleuth along with Watts and his fellow detectives. All in all, "A Dark, Divided Self" generates enough suspense to keep us invested in the outcome.
In "A Dark, Divided Self," by A. J. Cross, the author ably demonstrates how difficult and time-consuming it is to catch a stealthy and clever criminal who has repeatedly gotten away with murder. Watts, twenty-one-year-old PC Chloe Judd (an enthusiastic, sharp-tongued, and insightful member of the team), Traynor, and their colleagues do their utmost to narrow down the list of suspects. They examine CCTV footage; interview witnesses and persons of interest; question a woman who had been abducted but managed to escape; and request information from a senior officer in Manchester who had handled the inquiry in the past, but came up empty.
What weakens the book is its uneven dialogue, some of which does not ring true, as well as an awkward and confusing writing style that sometimes makes it difficult to discern who is speaking to whom. In addition, fans of this genre will likely figure out whodunit before the big reveal. On the plus side, Cross inserts enough credible red herrings to cast doubt on our initial assumptions. Furthermore, Traynor's profile of the perpetrator is fascinating, and readers will enjoy playing sleuth along with Watts and his fellow detectives. All in all, "A Dark, Divided Self" generates enough suspense to keep us invested in the outcome.
February 2, 2025
This novel in the Will Traynor series is a cold, dark and chilling case. A woman is found on deserted ground on the outskirts of Birmingham, badly decomposed. Once she is identified, it transpires that she originally went missing in Manchester, along with four other young women, and the case is passed over to Birmingham. It falls to DCI Watts to begin the investigation, and he immediately calls for the assistance of Criminologist Dr Will Traynor. After extensive searching of the surrounding area, another body – partially buried – is found and Watts decides he needs to take over the whole investigation from the Manchester police. This proves to be a challenge as Manchester appear reluctant to let it go, but with persistence, Watts finally gets all the information he needs. Will Traynor wants to know the reason why these women were abducted 80 miles away and driving to Birmingham to be dumped, as he is positive that this would help them identify the killer. As he puts his expertise and experience to the test, he requests help from Julian Devenish, a graduate in Criminal Psychology, who was working in Manchester the case for the past several years. As Will and Julian begin to piece together the psychological traits of this menacing killer, Will starts to recognise certain signs, and the tension rises with his suspicions. This book is compelling with a twisted narrative. There are surprises on every page and the tension kept me gripped throughout. As the story progressed, I too began to have my suspicions as to who the killer could be, and although I had actually worked it out it still shocked me when he was finally identified. This is a great addition to the series, and I am really looking forward to book number 4.
March 16, 2022
A cold case with unusual complications and implications
“A Dark, Divided Self” is the third book of “The Will Traynor Forensic Mysteries.” Each chapter is conveniently time-stamped to provide continuity and framework for readers. Characters are briefly introduced within the context of current events, and pertinent information from previous books is seamlessly included in the narrative.
The story is conversation driven, and readers see the participants both as casual, good natured friends, and as dedicated, focused, resolute professionals. The players have other things going on in their lives, but they work together to solve this case. The action is told from alternating points of view, so early on, readers learn something that investigators only learn much later.
The investigation begins as a “cold case;” the remains of a body are found in a remote field. The investigation progresses with purpose and determination, and details are documented day by day, sometimes minute by minute. More victims are identified, and more unanswered questions arise. There are investigations by different people, with different perspectives, and very different ideas about the crime. DNA is found, but without a match; evidence goes missing; the tension escalates.
“A Dark, Divided Self” brings the diverse details of a complex case into sharp focus. The perpetrator is clever and cunning but no match for the dedicated investigating team; they uncover him as the “creeping horror” that he really is. I received a review copy of “A Dark, Divided Self” from A.J. Cross, Severn House, and Canongate Books Ltd. It is compelling and twisted with surprises on every page.
“A Dark, Divided Self” is the third book of “The Will Traynor Forensic Mysteries.” Each chapter is conveniently time-stamped to provide continuity and framework for readers. Characters are briefly introduced within the context of current events, and pertinent information from previous books is seamlessly included in the narrative.
The story is conversation driven, and readers see the participants both as casual, good natured friends, and as dedicated, focused, resolute professionals. The players have other things going on in their lives, but they work together to solve this case. The action is told from alternating points of view, so early on, readers learn something that investigators only learn much later.
The investigation begins as a “cold case;” the remains of a body are found in a remote field. The investigation progresses with purpose and determination, and details are documented day by day, sometimes minute by minute. More victims are identified, and more unanswered questions arise. There are investigations by different people, with different perspectives, and very different ideas about the crime. DNA is found, but without a match; evidence goes missing; the tension escalates.
“A Dark, Divided Self” brings the diverse details of a complex case into sharp focus. The perpetrator is clever and cunning but no match for the dedicated investigating team; they uncover him as the “creeping horror” that he really is. I received a review copy of “A Dark, Divided Self” from A.J. Cross, Severn House, and Canongate Books Ltd. It is compelling and twisted with surprises on every page.
February 2, 2022
When the decomposed remains of a young woman are discovered just outside Birmingham, criminologist Will Traynor is drawn into a baffling investigation.
When the badly decomposed remains of a young woman are discovered in an isolated wooded area just outside Birmingham, the victim is quickly identified as Amy Peters, a Manchester University student who disappeared three years earlier. She is one of five young women who vanished from the streets of Manchester within a two-year period.
Called in to assist the police investigation, criminologist Will Traynor believes they are looking for an intelligent, socially confident individual, someone adept at covering his tracks. But why would the killer transport the victim on an eighty-mile journey from Manchester to Birmingham? If he can find the answer to that question, Traynor believes he has the key to cracking the case.
But at every stage of the investigation, the killer seems to be one step ahead of him. If he's going to outsmart him, Will realizes he's going to have to play this twisted individual at his own deadly game.
This is a wonderful addition to this thrilling series!
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great suspense and action with wonderful world building that adds so much to the story.
Such a thrilling read that I couldn't put it down.
Can't wait to read more of these.
Recommend reading.
I was provided an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher. This is my own honest voluntary
When the badly decomposed remains of a young woman are discovered in an isolated wooded area just outside Birmingham, the victim is quickly identified as Amy Peters, a Manchester University student who disappeared three years earlier. She is one of five young women who vanished from the streets of Manchester within a two-year period.
Called in to assist the police investigation, criminologist Will Traynor believes they are looking for an intelligent, socially confident individual, someone adept at covering his tracks. But why would the killer transport the victim on an eighty-mile journey from Manchester to Birmingham? If he can find the answer to that question, Traynor believes he has the key to cracking the case.
But at every stage of the investigation, the killer seems to be one step ahead of him. If he's going to outsmart him, Will realizes he's going to have to play this twisted individual at his own deadly game.
This is a wonderful addition to this thrilling series!
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great suspense and action with wonderful world building that adds so much to the story.
Such a thrilling read that I couldn't put it down.
Can't wait to read more of these.
Recommend reading.
I was provided an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher. This is my own honest voluntary
November 8, 2021
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley.
2.5* rounded up. This was a disappointing read: too much police procedure and discussions around criminal profiling, and too little actual plot. I guessed the identity of the killer quite early on and never wavered in my conviction.
There was a lot of concern about costs and the police budget, yet the investigation employed both Will as a profiler and Julian as a criminal psychologist, although they both seemed to do routine police work at various points - Julian was even asked to check traffic camera/CCTV footage early on. There were other inconsistencies and loose ends left dangling which I can't write about without spoilers, so I'll leave them, but I think I'll give up on this series.
2.5* rounded up. This was a disappointing read: too much police procedure and discussions around criminal profiling, and too little actual plot. I guessed the identity of the killer quite early on and never wavered in my conviction.
There was a lot of concern about costs and the police budget, yet the investigation employed both Will as a profiler and Julian as a criminal psychologist, although they both seemed to do routine police work at various points - Julian was even asked to check traffic camera/CCTV footage early on. There were other inconsistencies and loose ends left dangling which I can't write about without spoilers, so I'll leave them, but I think I'll give up on this series.
November 8, 2021
Thank you Netgalley and Seven House for the eARC.
Will Traynor is back, investigating the skeleton of a young girl found in the woods outside Birmingham with the team of Watts, Judd and Jonesy. A second skeleton is found nearby and they believe 3 more bodies may be found in the same area - all young, pretty, with dark hair and good, white teeth. Just dumped on top of the ground rather than buried.
It proves a frustrating case, with pressure from upstairs to finish already, too much time and money is being spent!
It's a good police procedural with characters I really like, especially Chloe Judd, she's tough and feisty, with a soft core and she works well and hard. I was surprised at the culprit when exposed at the ending. An enjoyable read I definitely recommend!
Will Traynor is back, investigating the skeleton of a young girl found in the woods outside Birmingham with the team of Watts, Judd and Jonesy. A second skeleton is found nearby and they believe 3 more bodies may be found in the same area - all young, pretty, with dark hair and good, white teeth. Just dumped on top of the ground rather than buried.
It proves a frustrating case, with pressure from upstairs to finish already, too much time and money is being spent!
It's a good police procedural with characters I really like, especially Chloe Judd, she's tough and feisty, with a soft core and she works well and hard. I was surprised at the culprit when exposed at the ending. An enjoyable read I definitely recommend!
February 22, 2025
Will Traynor is called in to assist Bernard Watts and his team as they investigate what appears to be the work of a serial killer. The remains of two young women have been found in a wooded area near Birmingham, but the bodies are those of two students who disappeared in Manchester. Three other women are also missing, but the search teams have been unable to locate their bodies. It becomes apparent that the killer is highly intelligent, forensically aware, and is able to convince his victims that he is harmless. When another young woman manages to escape his clutches the police and Traynor realise they must act quickly to apprehend the killer before he strikes again.
January 17, 2022
Apparently this book is part of a series but can be read as a standalone. It’s a murder mystery/police procedural that has a slow start but then becomes much more interesting. A woman’s body is found just outside Birmingham and a forensic psychologist is called in to join the team. Anyone familiar with British crime shows should find this very readable. Unfortunately it was pretty easy to guess the culprit and there were a number of loose ends that weren’t addressed. The personal lives of the team gave added interest but the actual character development was thin.
September 13, 2022
This highly accomplished police procedural manages to combine chilling authenticity with being readable. No mean feat, as the legions of similar books that either sink under the weight of undigestible detail, or fall at the first hurdle of plausibility, attest.
Traynor makes for an engaging central character and is surrounded by a supporting cast with whom he has believable relationships. This makes the final revelation even more shocking.
Three books in and this is shaping up to be a series where each fresh instalment is something to be looked forward to.
Traynor makes for an engaging central character and is surrounded by a supporting cast with whom he has believable relationships. This makes the final revelation even more shocking.
Three books in and this is shaping up to be a series where each fresh instalment is something to be looked forward to.
December 6, 2021
I found this to be a decent, well written, 3* Good Read.
It's a murder / mystery / police procedural that's part of a series; in terms of characters; but, which can absolutely be read as a standalone.
Will Trainer is a criminologist, brought in by police to help them when a young woman's body is discovered.
The storyline flows well and for those who enjoy police procedurals, this is definitely one for you.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to preview.
It's a murder / mystery / police procedural that's part of a series; in terms of characters; but, which can absolutely be read as a standalone.
Will Trainer is a criminologist, brought in by police to help them when a young woman's body is discovered.
The storyline flows well and for those who enjoy police procedurals, this is definitely one for you.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to preview.
February 1, 2022
This is the second book I read in this series and I thoroughly enjoyed it as it's compelling, twisty, and highly entertaining.
It's a slow burning story, there's a lot going on and the pace is a bit slow, and there's a lot of technical discussions which are relevant to the plot.
The mystery is solid, full of twists, and kept me guessing.
Good character development and storytelling.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
It's a slow burning story, there's a lot going on and the pace is a bit slow, and there's a lot of technical discussions which are relevant to the plot.
The mystery is solid, full of twists, and kept me guessing.
Good character development and storytelling.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
January 21, 2025
Love this series
This book is a captivating read with a plot full of unexpected turns and twists that keep the reader engaged until the very end. The characters are well-developed and relatable, making it easy for the reader to connect with them on an emotional level. The gripping narrative and the author's skillful storytelling make this an unputdownable page-turner that will leave a lasting impression on the reader.d
This book is a captivating read with a plot full of unexpected turns and twists that keep the reader engaged until the very end. The characters are well-developed and relatable, making it easy for the reader to connect with them on an emotional level. The gripping narrative and the author's skillful storytelling make this an unputdownable page-turner that will leave a lasting impression on the reader.d
October 29, 2022
This book was ok. Having read the first 2 Will Traynor books it was good to revisit the characters. Unlike the other books, however, this one was too predictable. I guessed the killer very early on and right up until the end kept hoping that there would be a massive twist and I would be wrong. Unfortunately, there wasn’t and I wasn’t!
April 21, 2022
Another good mystery, despite being able to guess the murderer. The writing is good and the characters well developed with any of the usual detective clichés. Also not a problem to read the third book before the second.
January 1, 2024
Had me thinking the whole time, but unfortunately I found the ending disappointing. Great characters and flow of mystery. But sometimes the way the conversations were written, it was confusing who was talking.
March 12, 2022
Not a bad ebook as far as plot line and characters. The ending was way too easy to figure out early making the twist non mysterious.
April 16, 2022
A. J. Cross, my 1st read, is a powerful writer. Excellent developed story and characters that stay with the reader.
August 6, 2024
A good read with Traynor's input and character superb together as were the DCI Bernard Watts and PC Chloe Judd characters.
December 31, 2024
Great read.
Have really enjoyed this series of books. This one had plenty of twists and turns and the complex relationships of all colleagues kept you completely intrigued.
Have really enjoyed this series of books. This one had plenty of twists and turns and the complex relationships of all colleagues kept you completely intrigued.
January 5, 2025
This book has been republished as The Darkest Detail which is what I read but it isn’t listed as such on Goodreads
February 17, 2025
Another compelling story from AJ Cross. I'm really enjoying this series.
May 7, 2025
Excellent
As always, the reader is kept in the edge of their seat, is it A, is it B? Mystery until the end.
As always, the reader is kept in the edge of their seat, is it A, is it B? Mystery until the end.
December 2, 2025
Fantastic book, great characters and an almighty twist in the story
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