Külm nagu kivi

DCI Kett #6

by Alex Smith, Ülle Jälle (Translator), Jaana Kuremägi (Editor)

Norfolki ühel kõige külmemal talvel avastatakse legendaarse Lyngi kivi pealt külmunud surnukeha. Kuna Robert Kett enam politseis ei tööta, hakkavad juhtumit uurima seersant Kate Savage ja uurija Pete Porter ning neile saab peagi selgeks, et noort meest mitte lihtsalt ei tapetud, vaid ta ohverdati.
Ja ta pole ainus. Nädala pärast leitakse Norfolkis ühelt iidselt kivilt veel ühe samamoodi kohutavalt moonutatud mehe surnukeha. Keegi sooritab mingit rituaali ning kui Savage ja Porter teda takistada ei suuda, sureb veel palju inimesi. Juurdlus muutub üha jõhkramaks, nii et isegi Kettil pole selle eest pääsu.
Sest kui uskuda kivide kohta räägitavaid lugusid, on tulekul Jõletis – mõrtsukas, kelle tapahimul ja vägivaldsusel pole piire.

Peainspektor Ketti krimipõnevike menusarja viies raamat. „Ajalehetüdrukud“ ilmus eesti keeles 2022, „Paha koer“ ja „Kolm väikest põrsast“ 2023, „Piitsalöök“ ja „Põgene, jänes, põgene“ 2024.

Genres: Crime, Mystery, Fiction, Audiobook, Thriller, Procedural

336 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2021

About the author

Alex Smith wrote his first book when he was six. It wasn’t particularly good, but it did have some supernatural monsters in it. His latest books, the DCI Robert Kett thrillers, have monsters in them too, although these monsters are very human, and all the more terrifying for it. In between these two books he has published twelve other novels for children and teenagers under his full name, Alexander Gordon Smith—including the number one bestselling series Escape From Furnace, which is loved by millions of readers worldwide and which is soon to become a motion picture. He lives in Norwich with his wife and three young daughters.

Reviews

[Carly Rushforth · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first half of this was a tad slow but that didn’t take away from how good the story was! It was full on action for the last quarter though.

Robbie Kett took a back seat in this case as he’s still healing from a gunshot wound to the chest and he’s not police anymore unfortunately but we got to find out more about Savage and Porter and what problems they’re going through and what a duo they made and they are hero’s like always!

I can’t wait to read the next one but I’m reading something else first because I’ve read these six in a few days and I don’t want to be greedy.

[Steven R. McEvoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I downloaded this book the day it released. But was very busy at work and did not get to it for a few days. When I did, man oh man what an excellent story and continuation of the Kett saga. This book was not as intense as some of the other volumes in the series. But It is more than made up for that in the story and the mystery in this story. I could not put this book down once I started and finished it in a single day, and read it over 3 sittings.

If you have been fallowing the saga of DCI Kett this book really is a must read. If you happen to be a fan of rough and tough action you will almost certainly enjoy this novel. And the other books in the series. This is the seventh of the DCI Kett stories that I have read, the sixth novel, and Kett made a brief appearance in The Harder They Fall, the first of the Softley Series of books. A previous volume, Whip Crack, makes reference to Six Days, Six Hours, Six Minutes, which is by far the darkest and grittiest of Smith’s mystery thriller novels. All of his mysteries link together in some fashion. This book is different than the others in the series, this still has intense action mystery feel. But Kett is officially off the force. But still helping and consulting on a new case. Thanks to Kett’s memory, and linking things together they soon realize that this case links to previous cases and the race is on to find out who is doing the killings and who is pulling the strings to make it happen.

I have stated before and say it yet again, each of the Kett novels are great crime mystery novels, and interesting reads. They capture that British Crime Thriller feel wonderfully well. They are however, dark books with terrible crimes. And in this one young men are being left dead on rocks or stones with a history or legend around them. The bodies have been desecrated. And The bodies are not being found where they were murdered. At first the clues are far and few between. And The clock is ticking.

In some ways I am a little nervous about where the series will go next. Kett has had a bit of a break. Some time to recover a bit. It feels in some ways like a calm before a storm. And I expect the storm to crash back in a big way.

I will be very blunt again and state it again this book and this series is not for all readers. It is very dark, gritty, and very intense. They are great thrillers. But not for all readers. Over ten years ago, I read and loved the Lockdown series published primarily for a young adult audience by Alexander Gordon Smith. And I loved those books and still recommend them often. But I now love the Kett books even more.

A fantastic British Crime thriller. A great read.

Read the review on my blog Book Reviews and More and reviews of other books by Alex Smith. As well as author profile and interview with Alex.

[Liz H · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another Excellent Installment

Book #6 in the series that shows no sign of slowing down. ‘Stone Cold Dead’ is an eerie, heart pounding thriller. DCI Kett takes a back seat for this one. Straight on to book #7

[Alayne Emmett · Rating 5 out of 5]

What can I say? These books just keep on getting better and better. Fantastic series. Wish I could give it more than 5 stars.

[Julie Lacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another brilliant crime thriller.
Kett is no longer a DCI so this story centres around Porter and Savage trying to find a killer.
A teenage boy is found draped over a rock and it seems it was part of some kind of ritual.
The hunt for the killer has only just begun when another boy is found dead.
Savage has a few scrapes with death but comes out fighting.
Kett is there on the sidelines but is not officially part of the investigation.
A gripping crime thriller.

[Anastasia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stone Cold Dead by Alex Smith is the 6th book in the DCI Kett series. A body of a young boy is discovered killed with his heart cut out and displayed on the legendary Stone of Ling, soon followed by other similar killings. DCI Kett, no longer with the police force, is unofficially asked for advice, while DC Kate Savage and DI Pete Porter investigate. As the investigation proceeds, it becomes linked to similar killings in another nearby town and we see links to particularly gruesome artwork and ties to a cult like following of a band from the past. A rather brutal and savage murder mystery with plenty of twists and turns and links to other crimes uncovered along the way. Kett has his hands full with his family but is bored and cannot keep away and is also obsessed with delving into the pig man investigation. We see more of Savage and Porter in this case and learn more about them and some of their problems. The three have developed a close bond. The crimes in this book are particularly twisted and wacky and very brutal and violent. The action never stops. Brilliant and very addictive, we are given glimpses into the next instalment. Another unputdownable thriller.

[Tommy McQuillan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was not up to Alex Smith's normal standard it was ok but the plot was so far fetched I couldn't take it seriously. I nearly gave up on it but I forced myself to finish it as sometimes books that start badly can get better as you go on, sadly that wasn't the case here. Even the name for the killer the Hateful Thing lacked imagination. I can't even be bothered to go into the plot as it was nonsense. I think this book was a lazy effort from a very good author, do yourself a favour and bodyswerve it, it's absolute pants and it pains me to say that as I'm a big fan of Alex Smith.

[Michelle Nash · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kett's kids annoy the crap out of me. I'm sorry but they would know and understand that he is HURT and in PAIN and would not jump all over him. I don't like Billie, his wife, she is adding nothing to the series now that she has been found. Now the crime story was fascinating and look forward to more of that and less of his home life....and normally I like the home life side of these types of books but not his. They're a bunch of tossers.

[rebecca O. webber · Rating 2 out of 5]

I picked up this series again and remember why I stopped. The plots are just too crazy and gory and short on real mystery. I love the Grimm series written by this guy’s pal. I also like how each author will find a way to include the other’s character. That’s about all I like about this series. It’s just way too grim for me!

[janice robertson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stone cold dead

Five stars definitely this was a brilliant thriller from start to finish I love the humour in these books also highly recommended

[Love2read · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book from Alex Smith. Gripping from the start and doesn't let go till the very end, even then I carried the story in my head for a while. Savage and Porter did a cracking job in the absence of Robbie. Clare is a very funny character. The book is full of funny moments and great wit, but also had me crying in parts. Sign of a great author when all of your emotions are felt when reading a novel. Alex Smith has a wonderful way with words. His descriptive prose is just beautiful. He describes ordinary things in such a lovely way that I would never have thought of and I'll carry that with me when looking up at the sky or walking through the woods. Loved the subtle nod to DCI Harry Grimm - another of my favourites. Already pre-ordered the next book, so can't wait till August! Thank you for giving us such great books.

[Karly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the 6th book of the series and I really enjoyed being able to find out more about some of the other characters in the book. Kate Savage and Pete Porter are thrown into a hell of a case and with Robbie Kett off the force and recovering from being shot they are taking the lead.

It’s a bit of a wild ride and Kett makes some appearances which were great and even though I enjoyed this story I am looking forward to there being more Kett in the next book. He just seems to tie all the characters together.

Loved the new saying of Don’t Kett this up!!! Which of course they do.

Overall though I loved this book and can’t wait to start the next one.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly I love this series so much! Not all crime books manage to draw me in as much as these ones. The plot twist always surprises me and I love how we got to see so much more of Porter and Savage in this one. I absolutely love the whole team of characters and I can’t wait for the next book!

[Vicky · Rating 5 out of 5]

great read

I was wondering how the book would be with Slaughter and Porter as the main characters and I need not have worried! This book is a great read and the excitement is building…

[Millie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Took me ages to get through this book. I know Kett needed a break and I'm so thankful he had one, but I missed him! It didn't grab me like the last few books unfortunately. Hope he's back in the next book.

[Lauren Szy · Rating 5 out of 5]

So glad I’m back on kindle unlimited so I can continue this series! Because of Kett no longer being on the force it was interesting to see how the team worked without him. Allowing for development and an insight of other characters. Love the use of the verb “to Kett” something up lol. The icing on the cake for me was the link to Norman Balls website at the end of the book. I wasn’t disappointed, he looked exactly as I imagined haha. Hope to see appearances from him in the next books!

[Hedi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ikka nii hea! Mulle väga meeldib see sari, raamatud on alati põnevad ja lõpus võib oodata korraliku kannapööret! Mulle meeldis, et Kate ja Pete said seekord suure rolli oma õlgadele kanda. Nagu ikka leidis raamatust ka humoorikaid kohti ning eriti pakkus mulle nalja see koht, kus nad politseiülemaga koosolekut pidasid. Soovitan lugeda!

[Brit · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kauaoodatud Robert Kett on viimaks ometi tagasi. Oi, kuidas ma seda ootasin! Äärmiselt krehvtise huumori ja pööraste sarimõrvaritega krimkasari, mis lisaks suurepärastele tegelastele võlub ka oma kergelt öeldes taskuformaadiga. Kiidan, soovitan!

Suure kivi pealt leitakse nooremehe elutu keha. Poisi näole on kleebitud mask ning tema rindkeres ilutseb suur auk. Keegi on midagi välja võtnud. On küll kahtlusaluseid, kuid ei midagi kindlat. Väikese kohad võlud katavad ka teineteisele alibite andmise ning politsei sekkumisel ei jäta nad seda kasutamata. Kuniks ilmub järgmine surnukeha. Robert küll juurdluses ei osale, kuid seersant Kate Savage ja uurija Pete Porter hoiavad meest juhtumiga kursis. Selgub, et midagi nende surmade juures näib Kettile tuttav – nagu oleks varm midagi sarnast kuulnud. Mida sügavamale uurijad sukelduvad, seda ohtlikumaks olukord muutub. Keegi peab vahti, keegi on koguaeg kaks sammu ees, keegi kohe kindlasti valetab. Ning kes, pagana päralt, on see Jõletis, kellest noored pidevalt soiuvad?!

Natuke kahju, et Robert hakkab (vähemalt selle osa põhjal) põhiloost eemale jääma, ent õnneks on uues põhitegelased kohe varnast võtta ning igati sobivad. Huumor ja omavaheline nääklemine on endiselt olemas ja paigas. Savage ning Porter on lihtsalt suurepärased uurijad ja tegelaskujud, kellest ei saa kunagi küllalt. Ma ei tea miks tekkis tunne, et Porteri enda suhe on vaikselt kiiva kiskumas ja ehk on lootust uurijate omavahelisele sädemele, aga mis ka ei juhtuks, fännan neid kirglikult edasi. Võib-olla ongi autoril plaanis lasta Kettil veidike rahulikumalt võtta, perega koos aega veeta, ent nagu raamatu lõpp väga tungivalt vihjas, siis päris rahu veel tehtud pole. Midagi on veel õhus. Keegi on veel liikvel. Kett on endiselt sihtmärk.

Sünge lugu peitub käesolevas raamatus aastakümnete taha, kui rohi oli rohelisem ja vabadus suurem. Jõletis, kelle tagamaid ja nime me siin ei nimeta, võttis ühel hetkel hääle üles ning lõi hingi lõhestava kurjuse, mis on nõudnud rohkem elusid kui kahel käel kokku saab lugeda. Pöörane lugu, sünge taust, võikad mõrvad. Krimifännidele igati sobiv lugemispala, mis hoiab kindlalt öösel üleval – lihtsalt pole võimalik raamatut käest panna. 😊

Üks minu lemmikuid krimisarju, mida alati kiidan ja soovitan. Kes veel pole alustanud – oi, mis teid alles ees ootab! Kergelt kadestan teid. Ootan juba põnevusega järgmise osa ilmumist!

[Furciferous Quaintrelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Normal For Norfolk?

Holy moly! What did I just read? I mean it was brilliantly entertaining... but also ever-so-slightly-batshit-insane! In the best possible way though. Where do I even start? Because my mind was going nineteen to the dozen (is that even a real colloquialism, or did I just make it up...I have no idea, my brain is just so overwhelmed with stuff to say, I can't even...) all the way through this book. Little tidbits of information, real established folklore intertwined with some stuff the author made up; clues scattered like crumbs throughout densely forested settings, and then the reasoning behind the murders? Wild!

I'm not going to be giving any spoilers, so don't worry about the reams of mad sounding ramblings, that I'm inevitably going to end up writing, in order to get across just how brilliantly bonkers this 6th instalment in the 'DCI Robert Kett' series truly is. Trust me when I say you really need to read it for yourself - and I hope that you do. But read the series in order, right from the start with book 1, so you get truly immersed in the fictional world Alex Smith has fantastically created, and so that the references to previous cases (and the through-lines that connect each book to one another) all make sense.

FYI: RIGHT NOW THE ENTIRE SERIES IS AVAILABLE ON AMAZON'S 'KINDLE UNLIMITED' SUBSCRIPTION THINGY, SO DO YOURSELF A FAVOUR AND GO BORROW ALL OF THEM, READ THEM, LOVE THEM, AND LEAVE THE AUTHOR SOME POSITIVE FEEDBACK, BECAUSE HE TOTALLY DESERVES IT!

Ahem...Where were we now? Oh right, the story. Well this instalment in the Kett series doesn't actually feature very much of our eponymous hero. This makes sense if you've read the previous books (which again...you totally should) but he is present here and there; in fact he sets the scene for the next title in the series, in a perfectly tantalising glimpse of what's to come, right at the end of this story.

I'm going off on a bit of a tangent here, but the way this series is structured reminds me a lot of how 2 of my favourite TV shows played out - back in the day when I actually watched television. 'Babylon 5' and 'The X Files' presented both stand-alone episodes, as well as an overarching meta-narrative that would crop up throughout their series. I absolutely loved that method of storytelling and Alex Smith employs it wonderfully in this series of books. (And before I get off of this little tangent, I'll just say that I found myself thinking about one particular episode of 'Babylon 5' - featuring Sinclair as the main focus - about a quarter or a third of the way into this book. I noted it down in one of my progress updates, forgot about it, but then by the end of the book my strange little inkling turned out to have been right all along. Which was nice, lol!)

Anyway, Kett took a back seat for a change in this instalment, giving us a chance to get to know the characters of Savage and Porter better. I really like both of these characters and whilst I'm a devotee of 'The Cult of Kett', having Savage and Porter also making up part of the Norwich squad, really brings together a great mix of personalities, each with skills that complement one another and help to crack some crazy cases. I love the banter between them and the long-running in-jokes, but I also feel like these are well drawn, interesting characters who I like to spend time with over the course of each story.

I'm not going to say much about the actual plot, because that would ruin it for you. But there were elements to this book that made me think about the author Adam Nevill and the way he uses folk-horror in his books. This isn't a horror story or anything supernatural, but the references to real historical people/events and the kind of local folklore that can be found in most any area of Britain (I live on the Isle of Man and we have plenty of our own folklore, often stemming from Celtic/pagan mythology) really infused this book with a very curious sense of foreboding. Porter already thinks the countryside is terrifying in its vast, remote, under-populated pockets of darkness, deep forests and things that go bump in the night. (It's actually pretty funny to read about this huge, hulking, physically imposing man, feeling a bit spooked when he's out in the middle of nowhere, in the dark!)

One really amusing touch involved a character called Norman Balls, who touts himself as the foremost expert and archivist of all the interesting facts around the history and folklore of Norfolk. He doesn't appear very often, but his huge archives of newspaper clippings and digital content do help provide a key piece of information that points Kett in the right direction to figuring out part of the case. Norman has a habit of asking everyone he meets "you must know my website: www.normanballsknowsalls.com?" And everyone just shrugs, say nope, and dismisses him as a bit of a weirdo. Which he is. But what really tickled me was the link at the end of the book to that exact website, because Alex Smith - the absolute madman - has registered that domain, created a site with Normans photo (exactly as he's described in the book) and a bio on the front page. There are some pages where "Norman" lists some of the info he's gleaned about Kett and his cases involving the Pig Man - he's very considerate in making sure that any visitors to his site know that you might find some spoilers regarding the six books in the series so far - and then there's a cheeky link out to Alex Smith's personal website (where you can find some extra info, deleted chapters, case notes and the opportunity to sign up for a newsletter from the author himself). I just thought it was a really nice, funny touch that added a hint of authenticity to Mr Norman Balls, lol.

The story was kind of wild, but deftly executed in order to help maintain the required suspension of disbelief. I loved every minute of it and the way it ended has me all fired up ready to get stuck into the next book. Thankfully I already have book 7 downloaded on my Kindle, so I can jump back into the world of 'DCI Robert Kett' and his crime-fighting buddies, just as soon as I've made dinner, done a load of laundry and settled down with a nice brew (this series will seriously increase your consumption of tea - and possibly cause you to re-evaluate your beverage making skills) ready to immerse myself in some lovely murder and violence before bedtime.

I am awarding this book an enthusiastically entertained, full 5 stars, for having taken me on a brilliantly bonkers, wild ride from beginning to end. Now, onto book 7...AND BEYOND!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Detectives Stone & Porter star in this police procedural, which involves some “Kett-ing”


As a crime fiction fan, I enjoyed the dark storyline about the stomach-turning, ritualistic murders of young men. As their investigation proceeds, detectives learn about other, similar murders that stretch back to 1996. DI Pete Porter and DC Kate Savage figure prominently, because former DCI Robert Kett is still recovering from gunshot wounds. The long-suffering Superintendent Colin Clare frets that Savage & Porter will channel Kett, abandon all protocols, engage in fisticuffs, and generally go rogue.

DCI Robbie Kett’s subplot—which features his wife and three children—follows the DCI’s continuing recovery; his state of mind; probable PTSD; adds background about previous cases; and indulges the antics of Kett’s naughty little girls. Kett hopes that Mr. Norman Balls—a collector of Norfolk folklore, urban legends, conspiracies, etc—has information about a network of killers and kidnappers. This thread TBC in the next book.

Trigger warnings: grisly murders, pedophilia, ephebophilia, grooming, child pornography, etc.

[Patsy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This wasn’t my favourite of the series so far. I do like the characters, (except for Billie, she brings nothing to the story) the banter and the writing style but the plot 🙄 I can’t roll my eyes hard enough. It was so improbable as to be farcical. And the Hateful thing? Please, very lazy writing 😐

Saying all that, I have the seventh locked and loaded 😀

[Mary Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like these characters but the plots are getting sillier. This may be my last.




SPOILER ALERT



The crime rate would go down in that part of the world if they just sacked ALL of the Police or put them out of their misery. A wounded and damaged cop in every story…….. I don’t think so.

[Catherine Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved, loved, loved this book! Robbie Kett is a great character but it was great reading more about Porter & Savage. Can't wait until the next instalment. Roll on August!

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had been getting a bit suffocated by the overarching series plot so when I started Stone Cold Dead and realised that Porter and Savage were being given the centre stage I enjoyed the break. While Kett kept that element simmering in the background it thankfully didn't stifle the plot of this book.

I really enjoyed the opening and early plot and I loved getting more of an insight into both Porter and Savage. But as I neared the end, and thinking about it in retrospect, we actually didn't get to know either character with any great depth. Porter and Allie's issues were documented, but I think they have been covered in other books so it wasn't revelling anything significant or new as such.
Though we saw the case through Kate's eyes I didn't feel like we got to know any more about her personally. It still felt like her and Porter exist only to furnish the more developed story of Kett.

Having said this I raced through this book because I enjoy the characters and I liked the plot enough that I was wavering around a 4 star rating until about 75%. From around this point through to the end I just felt like there were a lot of loose ends that didn't get answered and the motivation behind the killings just didn't satisfy me. It felt a bit of a stretch, like elements had been added to create layers for tension and excitement but they were a bit unbelievable.

Overall I enjoyed the book and I've read it quickly, in less than a day because I did enjoy the writing style and banter but I wanted a finish as strong as the start, and for the effort of writing from both Pete and Kate's POV to be more worthwhile in developing them as characters in their own right.

[Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can't remember if I've reviewed any of the previous books in the series (I don't write reviews on any sort of regular basis), so apologies if i repeat myself.

Basically Smith is a pretty good writer with absolutely awful plots. The overarching storyline is grotesquely far-fetched along with completely lacking in mystery, and though this volume is thankfully one of those that acts as a break, a standalone case, it is itself so unbelievable and nonsensical that it doesn't stand up to the slightest hint of scrutiny.

Really the only thing going for it is the writing, and in particular the characters. The titular DCI Kett plays only a very minor role this time, which is actually a good thing as Porter and Savage, who are the main focus here, are more interesting than him. (I could do without the tiresome Superintendent Clare though, whose running joke is getting increasingly forced).

Three stars feels a bit generous, but the second half of the book is a lot better than the first and just about justifies the rating.

[Mr Mark Hawksford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stone cold dead

With Kett sidelined due to being shot in the last book, Porter, Savage and Colin x 2 (Boss and dog) are the main focus of this book. However, Robbie was still part of it, even though no longer in the force. Yet another page turner from Alex. Each time I think will the next book stand up against the previous ones and they do. This one had you guessing right to the end. Just when you thought you might have worked it out the plot took another twist. The final chapter I am sure sets up the next book, which will see Robbie back in the spotlight trying to find his true nemesis.
Another 5 out of 5 from me. Again, as I often remark in my reviews of this series of books - if you haven’t read any start at the first and read them in order. They are a great read.

[David Ward · Rating 5 out of 5]

I do like Alex Smith's characters. I can imagine them all, even Colin the dog.

Those characters come together in Stone Cold Dead, but there's little of DCI Kett in this book. I can't explain why, as that would give a spoiler for Run Rabbit Run as well as Stone Cold Dead itself. There's something else I can't mention as well.

So how can I review a book with so much in it I can't tell you about?

I can say it's full of action and red herrings. I can say that it neatly leads into Alex Smith's next book in the series. I can say that you'll find it full of surprises. I can say I'd doubt very much if you can guess how it ends.

I can also say that, if you like your crime with a touch of horror and humour, you'll probably love this book. I certainly did, but do be prepared for some grizzly goings on.

[Lee Holland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alex Smith has fast become one of my favorite authors. Their DCI Robert Kett novels are addictive. Stone Cold Dead is my favorite one in the series (…so far).

I would love to see these adapted in to TV episodes as i believe they would do wonders.

Compared to the other books before this one, Stone Cold Dead felt a very different read, but in a positive way. DCI Kett is not necessarily the lead in this book but still makes important appearances throughout. What i love about this one is that it felt very much like the character of Kett took a step back, essentially allowing the character to heal in many ways, and i assumex to allow for what may be in the horizons.

Alex Smith deserves every ounce of praise for their work and i honestly encourage everyone to explore their work…you will not be disappointed.

[Slezadav · Rating 3 out of 5]

Už předchozí díl mě úplně nepřesvědčil a bohužel i tady se podle mého jednalo o ústup z kvality, kterou tahle série pro mě dřív měla. Asi o trošku lepší než Zajíci utíkej, ale ne o moc.
Co se mi pořád líbí je dynamika vyšetřovacího týmu. Kupodivu vůbec nevadilo, že tentokrát byl Kett na střídačce. Alespoň se to z větší části obešlo bez otravných dětí. Vyhovují mi tady kraťoučké kapitolky odpovídající jednotlivým scénám jako u televizních kriminálek.
Hlavní zápletka je podobně jako v předchozím díle dost přitažená za vlasy. Ke spoustě odhalení se vyšetřovatelé dostanou nějakou nepravděpodobnou náhodou nebo záhadnou intuicí. Náhodné stopy, které čtenáře mají mást jsou de facto ignorovány. Závěr byl příliš rychlý a překotný.
Kniha to není určitě špatná, ale ničím zvlášť nevyniká. Jde o velmi krátkou jednohubku, která svůj účel splní, ale po přečtení po ní nic nezbyde.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

So a bit of a change from Alex Smith in his marvellous DCI Kett series in so much as the main man takes a back seat in this one. It does however give the chance for Savage and Porter to shine, who have always been solid characters. Colin Clare adds as always the humour to a somewhat brutal storyline. Delighted by the cameo appearance of Harry Grimm, which reminds me I need to get back to his series of books! Lots of suspense and keeps you guessing right until the end and I enjoyed this one more than the last so good to see Alex Smith is back on form. This is a well written solid story with a touch of spookiness thrown in to add to the tension. Very good read. Oh and the weird Norman Balls is real!!!! Give him a Google - highly fascinating. Great addition from the author