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Alice Quentin #4
River of Souls
Jude Shelley, daughter of a prominent cabinet minister, had her whole life ahead of her until she was attacked and left to drown in the Thames. Miraculously, she survived. A year later, her family ask psychologist Alice Quentin to re-examine the case.
But then an elderly priest is attacked in Battersea, his body washed up at Westminster Pier. An ancient glass bead is tied to his wrist.
The river has always demanded sacrifices, and now it seems a killer believes it's calling out for more.
Alice is certain that Jude and her family are hiding something, but unless she can persuade them to share what they know, more victims will drown...
But then an elderly priest is attacked in Battersea, his body washed up at Westminster Pier. An ancient glass bead is tied to his wrist.
The river has always demanded sacrifices, and now it seems a killer believes it's calling out for more.
Alice is certain that Jude and her family are hiding something, but unless she can persuade them to share what they know, more victims will drown...
336 pages, Hardcover
Published June 18, 2015
99 people are currently reading
537 people want to read
About the author
Kate Rhodes
38 books351 followersKate Rhodes is a bestselling UK crime writer. Her latest books are the acclaimed ISLES OF SCILLY MYSTERIES, which have been optioned for TV. Kate has been nominated for the Crime Novel of the Year award and a Library Dagger.
Kate did many different jobs including working as a theatre usherette, a cocktail waitress, and an English tutor at a liberal arts college in Florida. She was born in London but now lives in Cambridge with her husband Dave, and works part-time at Cambridge University, as a creative writing fellow.
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Kate did many different jobs including working as a theatre usherette, a cocktail waitress, and an English tutor at a liberal arts college in Florida. She was born in London but now lives in Cambridge with her husband Dave, and works part-time at Cambridge University, as a creative writing fellow.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 98 reviews
November 20, 2023
It turns out this book is the fourth in a series about psychologist Alice Quentin. I am surprised I have missed out on these books until now, but based on my enjoyment of this one I will be looking out for the rest.
The character of Alice actually makes the book. She has a few issues but knows how to concentrate on the job, and she is a strong, independent and likeable woman. River of Souls is a psychological thriller and for me it practically read itself. It was tense, exciting and eventful, and very hard to put down.
I plan to jump back to the beginning and read the first book, Crossbones Yard, as soon as possible.
The character of Alice actually makes the book. She has a few issues but knows how to concentrate on the job, and she is a strong, independent and likeable woman. River of Souls is a psychological thriller and for me it practically read itself. It was tense, exciting and eventful, and very hard to put down.
I plan to jump back to the beginning and read the first book, Crossbones Yard, as soon as possible.
June 18, 2015
I’m a fan of the Alice Quentin books for sure – the first one started with a bang and they have steadily become more and more addictive – Now here we are at No 4 and this one was a doozy.
Jude was brutally attacked and left for dead – now hanging on, her mother asks Alice to take another look at the case. Before she can really get into it though another body turns up in horrifically similar circumstances. Are the cases tied together? Working once more with the police, Alice starts to delve deeper..
There are two things mainly about these novels that really appeal to me – first Alice herself, who has a great depth to her and is beautifully normal. Yes she has her ups and downs but for pure authenticity she is, for me, one of the top fictional female protagonists.
The other thing is the really gorgeous flow that Kate Rhodes manages to weave into the narrative. The very definition of addictive reading – River of Souls grips from the start, all the way through and then clings onto you for a fair while after you’ve finished it. I mean really, what more do you need from a book?
There is a lot of emotional resonance to these also which is very engaging and cleverly done to tug on the heartstrings on occasion – whilst then sending you off on a bit of an adrenalin rush when things hot up in whatever case Alice is involved in. In the case of this instalment I was on the edge of my seat at the end there – I was not QUITE sure what the outcome was going to be….Whether I heaved a sigh of relief or had a good cry you’ll have to read the book to find out.
Overall I loved this one – and the ones that went before it. They come highly recommended from me and I am very much looking forward to seeing what is next.
Pick up a copy, batten down the hatches and enter Alice’s world. You won’t be disappointed.
Jude was brutally attacked and left for dead – now hanging on, her mother asks Alice to take another look at the case. Before she can really get into it though another body turns up in horrifically similar circumstances. Are the cases tied together? Working once more with the police, Alice starts to delve deeper..
There are two things mainly about these novels that really appeal to me – first Alice herself, who has a great depth to her and is beautifully normal. Yes she has her ups and downs but for pure authenticity she is, for me, one of the top fictional female protagonists.
The other thing is the really gorgeous flow that Kate Rhodes manages to weave into the narrative. The very definition of addictive reading – River of Souls grips from the start, all the way through and then clings onto you for a fair while after you’ve finished it. I mean really, what more do you need from a book?
There is a lot of emotional resonance to these also which is very engaging and cleverly done to tug on the heartstrings on occasion – whilst then sending you off on a bit of an adrenalin rush when things hot up in whatever case Alice is involved in. In the case of this instalment I was on the edge of my seat at the end there – I was not QUITE sure what the outcome was going to be….Whether I heaved a sigh of relief or had a good cry you’ll have to read the book to find out.
Overall I loved this one – and the ones that went before it. They come highly recommended from me and I am very much looking forward to seeing what is next.
Pick up a copy, batten down the hatches and enter Alice’s world. You won’t be disappointed.
April 15, 2023
This book review is part of the official blog tour.
River of souls for me was a non stop bone chilling read. Kate Rhodes manages to cast a magical spell on that reader that leaves you eager for more. This is my first encounter with the character Alice Quentin and although this book is part of a series it can still be thoroughly enjoyed as a standalone.
The first thing that had me totally loving this book was the characters, Alice our main character is just so vividly real that you feel a strong connection to her right away she has many issues in this novel and I loved getting to know just what kind of a character she was. The second character was of course Jude and her story is so heartbreaking, her life has been totally destroyed by the act of one human and her life can never be the same, what makes the whole thing even more terrible is her attacker is still out there killing more people and the police can’t seem to catch this killer.
Another point that I loved about this book was the false trails peppered throughout, it was a fantastic ride just trying to figure out who the killer was, and by the end I still had no idea. Not only does this book keep you guessing with its edgy characters it’s also a rollercoaster of a story, it starts with a bang and finishes with a bang.
If you are looking for a book that will leave your nerves shot and will keep you up to the wee small hours bursting with excitment trying to figure out who the killer is then this is a book for you. This book is highly recommened by me and if this book is anything to go by her other three books will be fantasic a flawless storyteller that you couldn’t possible be disapointed with. Hold on tight because this is one heck of a rip roaring ride.
I kindly recieved a copy from the publishers via Bookbridgr.
River of souls for me was a non stop bone chilling read. Kate Rhodes manages to cast a magical spell on that reader that leaves you eager for more. This is my first encounter with the character Alice Quentin and although this book is part of a series it can still be thoroughly enjoyed as a standalone.
The first thing that had me totally loving this book was the characters, Alice our main character is just so vividly real that you feel a strong connection to her right away she has many issues in this novel and I loved getting to know just what kind of a character she was. The second character was of course Jude and her story is so heartbreaking, her life has been totally destroyed by the act of one human and her life can never be the same, what makes the whole thing even more terrible is her attacker is still out there killing more people and the police can’t seem to catch this killer.
Another point that I loved about this book was the false trails peppered throughout, it was a fantastic ride just trying to figure out who the killer was, and by the end I still had no idea. Not only does this book keep you guessing with its edgy characters it’s also a rollercoaster of a story, it starts with a bang and finishes with a bang.
If you are looking for a book that will leave your nerves shot and will keep you up to the wee small hours bursting with excitment trying to figure out who the killer is then this is a book for you. This book is highly recommened by me and if this book is anything to go by her other three books will be fantasic a flawless storyteller that you couldn’t possible be disapointed with. Hold on tight because this is one heck of a rip roaring ride.
I kindly recieved a copy from the publishers via Bookbridgr.
June 14, 2015
I'm not too sure how Kate Rhodes has slipped through my bookish net until now, because this is really, really good. Book 4 in the Alice Quentin series, I read River of Souls not realising that it was part of a series, however, although there is some references to previous cases, it can easily be read as a standalone and the references that are made don't give away any spoilers.
I loved the setting for this novel - it's set in London, on various sites of the Thames, but there is nothing better than reading a novel with recognisable landmarks, and getting that, "I know that place!" feeling, it only enhanced the reading experience more for me.
I love Alice Quentin - she's a tough professional, and although there are a few issues going on in her life, there isn't the usual idea that all tough female characters have to be emotionally detached/man haters/completely screwed up or any of the other weird hangups that so often occur in books where the main character is an independent female.
I did guess the killer in this case, but there were lots of lovely red herrings to throw the reader off the scent - and now I'm off to go back and read the previous three in the series, (is there anything better than finding out there are more in the series??!), I recommend you do too.
I loved the setting for this novel - it's set in London, on various sites of the Thames, but there is nothing better than reading a novel with recognisable landmarks, and getting that, "I know that place!" feeling, it only enhanced the reading experience more for me.
I love Alice Quentin - she's a tough professional, and although there are a few issues going on in her life, there isn't the usual idea that all tough female characters have to be emotionally detached/man haters/completely screwed up or any of the other weird hangups that so often occur in books where the main character is an independent female.
I did guess the killer in this case, but there were lots of lovely red herrings to throw the reader off the scent - and now I'm off to go back and read the previous three in the series, (is there anything better than finding out there are more in the series??!), I recommend you do too.
March 30, 2016
REVIEW: THE GIRL IN THE RIVER by Kate Rhodes
This newest mystery in the intriguingly deep series starring as protagonist London forensic psychologist Alice Quentin is a meaty novel suffused with noir: bloody violence and family secrets unwrapped with history--both prehistoric and medieval--and Celtic spirituality. The reader comes away with a deep and abiding sense of satisfaction. This is a story worth telling and well told. One year after a viciously brutal assault destroyed and nearly killed a British cabinet minister's only daughter, the mother requests that the case be reopened. Immediately the violence recurs, resulting in several ugly murders. In each case an artifact from the River Thames [itself a major character in the story] is found attached to the corpse. If Alice Quentin cannot successfully puzzle out the artifacts' purpose, and identity the familial secrets--secrets hidden from each other--members of the investigative team will be in fatal danger.
THE GIRL IN THE RIVER is a thrilling psychological mystery not to be missed.
This newest mystery in the intriguingly deep series starring as protagonist London forensic psychologist Alice Quentin is a meaty novel suffused with noir: bloody violence and family secrets unwrapped with history--both prehistoric and medieval--and Celtic spirituality. The reader comes away with a deep and abiding sense of satisfaction. This is a story worth telling and well told. One year after a viciously brutal assault destroyed and nearly killed a British cabinet minister's only daughter, the mother requests that the case be reopened. Immediately the violence recurs, resulting in several ugly murders. In each case an artifact from the River Thames [itself a major character in the story] is found attached to the corpse. If Alice Quentin cannot successfully puzzle out the artifacts' purpose, and identity the familial secrets--secrets hidden from each other--members of the investigative team will be in fatal danger.
THE GIRL IN THE RIVER is a thrilling psychological mystery not to be missed.
June 24, 2015
Kate Rhodes is an author I only discovered shortly after starting the blog last year but her Alice Quentin series very quickly became a favourite of mine, and River of Souls was one of the books I was most anticipating in 2015. I am glad to say that it didn't disappoint, in fact the only disappointment I experience reading one of Kate's stories is reaching the end because they are over far too soon.
Psychologist Alice Quentin's expertise is called upon when the case of a young woman who was brutally attacked and left to drown in the Thames is reopened. Jude Shelley is the daughter of a prominent cabinet minister, and he is one of the family members least enthusiastic about the case being reopened, Alice very quickly realising that details about the case were both kept quiet, and overlooked. When an elderly priest is found washed up at Westminster Pier, it's clear that the person who attacked Jude is still active and Alice is certain that Jude and her family are hiding something.
Kate Rhodes researches and conveys the psychology of crime brilliantly through her excellent portrayal of psychologist Alice Quentin. Having studied Psychology at A Level and then university it is something I have great interest in, and I really enjoy Kate's books because they are so wonderfully authentic. It is always fascinating to view both the crime and the mind of the perpetrators from Alice's point of view because she is able to have a more thoughtful, analytical view of proceedings than the police who we discover very fiercely focused on the more 'obvious' suspects (the predictable boyfriend for example) for that quick result fictional detectives crave.
I was most intrigued following the chapters from the point of view of our killer, who believes the river is talking to him, guiding him through the killings but at the same time we see doubt creeping in, at times an inability to follow through with the instructions. It becomes a thought-provoking book because we don't know the full story: why is this person killing? Do these doubts humanise him somehow or is he an out and out psychopath? It really is a fascinating and believable insight into a damaged human mind. The river forms the perfect backdrop for this atmospheric tale, it of course having many secrets of its own and I felt the chill in my bones as I read some of the scenes within this book.
Alice Quentin is a terrific main character, and one whose progression I am very much enjoying witnessing. Once again she is forced to work with an old flame, DCI Don Burns, and their 'relationship' faces further problems in this installment. Alice is however a career-driven women, a consummate professional, always with a focus on her job. She can be very analytical, looking at things from all angles; actually reviewing the evidence and the case before jumping to unfounded conclusions. Jude's attack is particularly brutal to read about, and Alice witnessing firsthand the effect this has had on Jude physically and mentally instills in her this fierce determination to get some kind of justice for Jude, and as a reader I wanted it as well.
The mystery element this time around is brilliantly done, with enough suspects and enough twists and turns - much like the Thames itself - to keep readers guessing throughout. There are some quite dark scenes throughout (which I love) but these are counterbalanced by those scenes of normality we get with Alice, especially with her best friend Lola who makes a very welcome return in River of Souls. The story is wrapped up perfectly, and in a way that will definitely leave readers wanting more. This is a series I very highly recommend. A must read for those yet to discover Kate Rhodes and Alice Quentin.
Psychologist Alice Quentin's expertise is called upon when the case of a young woman who was brutally attacked and left to drown in the Thames is reopened. Jude Shelley is the daughter of a prominent cabinet minister, and he is one of the family members least enthusiastic about the case being reopened, Alice very quickly realising that details about the case were both kept quiet, and overlooked. When an elderly priest is found washed up at Westminster Pier, it's clear that the person who attacked Jude is still active and Alice is certain that Jude and her family are hiding something.
Kate Rhodes researches and conveys the psychology of crime brilliantly through her excellent portrayal of psychologist Alice Quentin. Having studied Psychology at A Level and then university it is something I have great interest in, and I really enjoy Kate's books because they are so wonderfully authentic. It is always fascinating to view both the crime and the mind of the perpetrators from Alice's point of view because she is able to have a more thoughtful, analytical view of proceedings than the police who we discover very fiercely focused on the more 'obvious' suspects (the predictable boyfriend for example) for that quick result fictional detectives crave.
I was most intrigued following the chapters from the point of view of our killer, who believes the river is talking to him, guiding him through the killings but at the same time we see doubt creeping in, at times an inability to follow through with the instructions. It becomes a thought-provoking book because we don't know the full story: why is this person killing? Do these doubts humanise him somehow or is he an out and out psychopath? It really is a fascinating and believable insight into a damaged human mind. The river forms the perfect backdrop for this atmospheric tale, it of course having many secrets of its own and I felt the chill in my bones as I read some of the scenes within this book.
Alice Quentin is a terrific main character, and one whose progression I am very much enjoying witnessing. Once again she is forced to work with an old flame, DCI Don Burns, and their 'relationship' faces further problems in this installment. Alice is however a career-driven women, a consummate professional, always with a focus on her job. She can be very analytical, looking at things from all angles; actually reviewing the evidence and the case before jumping to unfounded conclusions. Jude's attack is particularly brutal to read about, and Alice witnessing firsthand the effect this has had on Jude physically and mentally instills in her this fierce determination to get some kind of justice for Jude, and as a reader I wanted it as well.
The mystery element this time around is brilliantly done, with enough suspects and enough twists and turns - much like the Thames itself - to keep readers guessing throughout. There are some quite dark scenes throughout (which I love) but these are counterbalanced by those scenes of normality we get with Alice, especially with her best friend Lola who makes a very welcome return in River of Souls. The story is wrapped up perfectly, and in a way that will definitely leave readers wanting more. This is a series I very highly recommend. A must read for those yet to discover Kate Rhodes and Alice Quentin.
March 27, 2016
"A flicker of guilt rises in his throat. He doesn’t want to hurt her, but she knows too much. If she told her secrets, his world would be broken. The man kneels beside her to enjoy her beauty while it lasts."
What can I say about this one. It had a lot of high ratings on Goodreads, but I truly had a hard time getting through the entire book. I wanted to know "who did it" but couldn't wait to just be done with it because I found it massively boring for the most part. The synopsis sounds much better then it actually is.
What can I say about this one. It had a lot of high ratings on Goodreads, but I truly had a hard time getting through the entire book. I wanted to know "who did it" but couldn't wait to just be done with it because I found it massively boring for the most part. The synopsis sounds much better then it actually is.
January 3, 2018
Enjoyable and tense London whodunnit - very hard to put down.
July 22, 2015
It’s lovely when an author pulls you into a world, into a story, into the lives of her characters with the very first words of a book.
“The Thames is preparing to race back to the sea, currents twisting like sinews of muscle. Endless rain has upset its smoothness, reflected lights scattering in a blur of silver. A man stands beside it, gazing across the water’s moonlit surface, listening to the voices of the drowned ….”
‘Lovely’ is probably not the right word, given that this is a dark crime novel; let’s just say that Kate Rhodes writes very well indeed, and that I’d happily read almost any kind of novel she might chose to write.
At present she is writing ‘expert working with the police’ procedurals, and this is the fourth book in a series centred around the life and work of Alice Quentin, a forensic psychologist.
This book stands alone, and can be read without reading the three that came before; but I have to say that your understanding of the characters and relationships of Alice and the people around her would be enhanced by reading in order. I’m happy to recommend all four
Jude Shelley, the daughter of a cabinet minister, was left for dead in the Thames. She was horrifically injured and her face was destroyed. The police investigation reached a dead end,but it was re-opened when the body of an elderly priest was recovered from the river. His injuries were strikingly similar to Jude’s; he had an artefact reclaimed from the river tied to his body, as Jude had.
Jude’s mother had read Alice’s book, and she asked that she be part of the investigation. That brought Alice back to work with DCI Burns and his team again; they had a complicated history, but each had respect for the other’s professional expertise.
There would be more murders.
The story stays close to Alice, as she works with the police, as she meets and assesses key figures in the enquiry, as she researches the artefacts found with the bodies, as she interviews witnesses and those who were close to the victims.
Most strikingly, she works so sensitively with Jude, who lies in a private hospital bed, her life still very much in the balance, in the hope that understanding her relationships with her family and friends, and maybe reawakening memories of the night she was attacked, would lead her to the killer.
That gives this story such depth, and makes it moving in a way that crime novels rarely are.
I love that Alice is a capable professional, and I appreciate the complexity, and believability of her character.
All of characterisation – of the city and its people – was real and complicated and wonderful. The ongoing story – Alice’s difficult relationship with her mother, her concern for her errant brother, her warm bond with her dearest friend – held my interest, and provided an effective backdrop to the crime story. However serious the investigation may be, life goes on.
The portrayal and the psychology of Jude’s family, shaken to the core by what had happened, was particularly intriguing. Alice believed that they were keeping secrets, and that those secrets held part – if not all – of the solution to the case.
The story was compelling, and though I thought I had the solution quite early in the story I discovered that I was wrong. The plotting was very clever; the quality of the plot, the characterisation, and the writing held me from start to finish.
My only disappointment was that the building blocks of the ‘expert working with the police’ procedural were a little too obvious; the lining up of suspects, the shifts to the killer’s perspective, the escalation of events, the dramatic final act, …. I was a little sorry that this was so clearly a certain type of book.
Kate Rhodes does it all very well, but I’d love to see her stretch – or even break – the boundaries. And I think she’s too good a writer not to.
“The Thames is preparing to race back to the sea, currents twisting like sinews of muscle. Endless rain has upset its smoothness, reflected lights scattering in a blur of silver. A man stands beside it, gazing across the water’s moonlit surface, listening to the voices of the drowned ….”
‘Lovely’ is probably not the right word, given that this is a dark crime novel; let’s just say that Kate Rhodes writes very well indeed, and that I’d happily read almost any kind of novel she might chose to write.
At present she is writing ‘expert working with the police’ procedurals, and this is the fourth book in a series centred around the life and work of Alice Quentin, a forensic psychologist.
This book stands alone, and can be read without reading the three that came before; but I have to say that your understanding of the characters and relationships of Alice and the people around her would be enhanced by reading in order. I’m happy to recommend all four
Jude Shelley, the daughter of a cabinet minister, was left for dead in the Thames. She was horrifically injured and her face was destroyed. The police investigation reached a dead end,but it was re-opened when the body of an elderly priest was recovered from the river. His injuries were strikingly similar to Jude’s; he had an artefact reclaimed from the river tied to his body, as Jude had.
Jude’s mother had read Alice’s book, and she asked that she be part of the investigation. That brought Alice back to work with DCI Burns and his team again; they had a complicated history, but each had respect for the other’s professional expertise.
There would be more murders.
The story stays close to Alice, as she works with the police, as she meets and assesses key figures in the enquiry, as she researches the artefacts found with the bodies, as she interviews witnesses and those who were close to the victims.
Most strikingly, she works so sensitively with Jude, who lies in a private hospital bed, her life still very much in the balance, in the hope that understanding her relationships with her family and friends, and maybe reawakening memories of the night she was attacked, would lead her to the killer.
That gives this story such depth, and makes it moving in a way that crime novels rarely are.
I love that Alice is a capable professional, and I appreciate the complexity, and believability of her character.
All of characterisation – of the city and its people – was real and complicated and wonderful. The ongoing story – Alice’s difficult relationship with her mother, her concern for her errant brother, her warm bond with her dearest friend – held my interest, and provided an effective backdrop to the crime story. However serious the investigation may be, life goes on.
The portrayal and the psychology of Jude’s family, shaken to the core by what had happened, was particularly intriguing. Alice believed that they were keeping secrets, and that those secrets held part – if not all – of the solution to the case.
The story was compelling, and though I thought I had the solution quite early in the story I discovered that I was wrong. The plotting was very clever; the quality of the plot, the characterisation, and the writing held me from start to finish.
My only disappointment was that the building blocks of the ‘expert working with the police’ procedural were a little too obvious; the lining up of suspects, the shifts to the killer’s perspective, the escalation of events, the dramatic final act, …. I was a little sorry that this was so clearly a certain type of book.
Kate Rhodes does it all very well, but I’d love to see her stretch – or even break – the boundaries. And I think she’s too good a writer not to.
November 2, 2015
I received a complimentary copy of this book as a part of a book tour for a fair and honest review which in no way influenced my opinion of the reading material provided. I rated it 4.5 out of 5 Stars.
A huge fan of suspense, mystery and thriller books, I was thrilled to get the chance to read and review The Girl in the River by Kate Rhodes. I was a little worried that I would have trouble connecting with the main character, Alice Quentin, since this is the fourth book in the series, but the author did an excellent job of developing both her story and Alice’s character and I found myself eagerly turning the pages to discover what Alice would discover next. If you like psychological thrillers, you will definitely want to pick up the Alice Quentin series.
A psychologist with a flair for solving crimes, Alice Quentin is both pleased and annoyed when she receives a request from the head of the Forensic Psychology Unit of the Metropolitan Police to review one of their closed cold cases. Especially when she discovers the victim, Jude Shelley is still alive and that her family specifically requested her case review. A rich and politically connected family. As Alice begins her investigation, she realizes her case could be connected to an open being investigated by a detective she knows. Will Alice be able to solve the crimes before the killer decides to claim another victim?
I easily connected with Alice and liked her approach to both the victim and the possible suspects as she reopened the case. She easily realized that the police had botched the original investigation because they were afraid of antagonizing the politically connected family and did not properly investigate their backgrounds and alibies. Although physically a small woman, Alice is very smart and she is tenacious. She lets nothing stand in her way of getting to the truth, no matter how painful it is for everyone involved, including her. I really liked that about her and I liked how she quickly recognized people’s psychological problems. Ms. Rhodes did an excellent job making Alice likable and realistic.
I also enjoyed watching Alice interact with the secondary characters, who were also well developed and each contributed something to the story. While the story is told from Alice’s point of view, Ms. Rhodes also lets us into the villain’s point of view, which was quite interesting. I definitely questioned what drove the killer and what was done to the victims.
Will Alice discover who attacked Jude and if it is somehow connected to Jude’s family’s politics? Will the detective working the open case be willing to work with her or get in her way? Will Alice ever manage to have a personal life while working for the police? You will have to read The Girl in the River to find out, I really enjoyed it and will be reading the previous books in preparation for Alice’s next case.
A huge fan of suspense, mystery and thriller books, I was thrilled to get the chance to read and review The Girl in the River by Kate Rhodes. I was a little worried that I would have trouble connecting with the main character, Alice Quentin, since this is the fourth book in the series, but the author did an excellent job of developing both her story and Alice’s character and I found myself eagerly turning the pages to discover what Alice would discover next. If you like psychological thrillers, you will definitely want to pick up the Alice Quentin series.
A psychologist with a flair for solving crimes, Alice Quentin is both pleased and annoyed when she receives a request from the head of the Forensic Psychology Unit of the Metropolitan Police to review one of their closed cold cases. Especially when she discovers the victim, Jude Shelley is still alive and that her family specifically requested her case review. A rich and politically connected family. As Alice begins her investigation, she realizes her case could be connected to an open being investigated by a detective she knows. Will Alice be able to solve the crimes before the killer decides to claim another victim?
I easily connected with Alice and liked her approach to both the victim and the possible suspects as she reopened the case. She easily realized that the police had botched the original investigation because they were afraid of antagonizing the politically connected family and did not properly investigate their backgrounds and alibies. Although physically a small woman, Alice is very smart and she is tenacious. She lets nothing stand in her way of getting to the truth, no matter how painful it is for everyone involved, including her. I really liked that about her and I liked how she quickly recognized people’s psychological problems. Ms. Rhodes did an excellent job making Alice likable and realistic.
I also enjoyed watching Alice interact with the secondary characters, who were also well developed and each contributed something to the story. While the story is told from Alice’s point of view, Ms. Rhodes also lets us into the villain’s point of view, which was quite interesting. I definitely questioned what drove the killer and what was done to the victims.
Will Alice discover who attacked Jude and if it is somehow connected to Jude’s family’s politics? Will the detective working the open case be willing to work with her or get in her way? Will Alice ever manage to have a personal life while working for the police? You will have to read The Girl in the River to find out, I really enjoyed it and will be reading the previous books in preparation for Alice’s next case.
April 28, 2017
Darum geht’s:
Die Mutter von Jude Shelley ist überzeugt, dass man nicht gut genug beim Verbrechen an ihrer Tochter, seit dem sie mit entstelltem Gesicht und schwer verletzt im Krankenhaus liegt, ermittelt hat. Und da ihr Mann ein hochrangiger Minister ist, hat sie Einfluss genug, neue Ermittlungen zu veranlassen. Alice wird hinzugezogen und ausgerechnet in diesem Moment wird ein Priester auf die gleiche Weise überfallen und ermordet, sein Gesicht genauso entstellt wie das von Jude.
So fand ich’s:
Auch wenn Alice Quentin immer vernünftiger und normaler wird und ihre verrückten Ideen und Phobien nur noch sehr gemäßigt zutage treten, ist sie mir im Laufe ihrer inzwischen 4 Bände umfassenden Reihe ans Herz gewachsen. Für durchgeknallte Aufregung sorgt schließlich auch ihr psychisch kranker Bruder Will, ihre bunt-wilde Freundin Lola und ihre nervige Mutter. Und da wäre noch Ermittler Burns, der zwar verheiratet ist, aber bei Alice trotzdem für schweres Herzklopfen sorgt.
Dann gibt es noch London als Alices Wohnort und Kulisse für die Verbrechen, mit denen sie sich als Psychologin und Beraterin für die Polizei beschäftigen muss. Die Stadt spielt eine nicht ganz kleine Rolle und es macht Spaß, sich die bekannten Sehenswürdigkeiten entlang der Themse ins Gedächtnis zu rufen und die Großstadtatmosphäre, die Kate Rhodes erschafft, auf sich wirken zu lassen.
Alice hat es mit der schwer entstellten und traumatisierten Jude zu tun, deren ganze Familie unter dem Verbrechen leidet und sich der Polizei gegenüber verschlossen hat. Dass der Mörder wieder zuschlägt und neuen Opfern das Gesicht zerschneidet und sie dann in der Themse versenkt, setzt die Ermittler unter großen Druck. Für Alice eine Zwickmühle, denn für langsames und einfühlsames Vorgehen ist kaum Zeit. Alice will die Vorgehensweise des Täters entschlüsseln und sucht Rat bei Fachleuten und gleichzeitig befragt sie verschiedene Leute, die aus den unterschiedlichsten Gründen unwillig und nicht hilfsbereit sind.
Ich war bis zu Ende ahnunglos und konnte nicht erraten, wer der Täter ist, auch wenn ich verschiedene Verdächige hatte und die Auflösung logisch und folgerichtig war. Die Story hielt mich mit Spannung und den dramatischen Schicksalen der Opfer von Anfang bis Ende bei der Stange. Die Sprache war thrillertypisch flott und direkt. Mir hat dieser Band rundherum gefallen, für mich war er sogar der beste Band der Serie.
Nun freue ich mich schon auf die Übersetzung des 5. Bandes „Blood Symmetry“, den es im englischsprachigen Original schon seit Mitte 2016 zu lesen gibt.
Die Mutter von Jude Shelley ist überzeugt, dass man nicht gut genug beim Verbrechen an ihrer Tochter, seit dem sie mit entstelltem Gesicht und schwer verletzt im Krankenhaus liegt, ermittelt hat. Und da ihr Mann ein hochrangiger Minister ist, hat sie Einfluss genug, neue Ermittlungen zu veranlassen. Alice wird hinzugezogen und ausgerechnet in diesem Moment wird ein Priester auf die gleiche Weise überfallen und ermordet, sein Gesicht genauso entstellt wie das von Jude.
So fand ich’s:
Auch wenn Alice Quentin immer vernünftiger und normaler wird und ihre verrückten Ideen und Phobien nur noch sehr gemäßigt zutage treten, ist sie mir im Laufe ihrer inzwischen 4 Bände umfassenden Reihe ans Herz gewachsen. Für durchgeknallte Aufregung sorgt schließlich auch ihr psychisch kranker Bruder Will, ihre bunt-wilde Freundin Lola und ihre nervige Mutter. Und da wäre noch Ermittler Burns, der zwar verheiratet ist, aber bei Alice trotzdem für schweres Herzklopfen sorgt.
Dann gibt es noch London als Alices Wohnort und Kulisse für die Verbrechen, mit denen sie sich als Psychologin und Beraterin für die Polizei beschäftigen muss. Die Stadt spielt eine nicht ganz kleine Rolle und es macht Spaß, sich die bekannten Sehenswürdigkeiten entlang der Themse ins Gedächtnis zu rufen und die Großstadtatmosphäre, die Kate Rhodes erschafft, auf sich wirken zu lassen.
Alice hat es mit der schwer entstellten und traumatisierten Jude zu tun, deren ganze Familie unter dem Verbrechen leidet und sich der Polizei gegenüber verschlossen hat. Dass der Mörder wieder zuschlägt und neuen Opfern das Gesicht zerschneidet und sie dann in der Themse versenkt, setzt die Ermittler unter großen Druck. Für Alice eine Zwickmühle, denn für langsames und einfühlsames Vorgehen ist kaum Zeit. Alice will die Vorgehensweise des Täters entschlüsseln und sucht Rat bei Fachleuten und gleichzeitig befragt sie verschiedene Leute, die aus den unterschiedlichsten Gründen unwillig und nicht hilfsbereit sind.
Ich war bis zu Ende ahnunglos und konnte nicht erraten, wer der Täter ist, auch wenn ich verschiedene Verdächige hatte und die Auflösung logisch und folgerichtig war. Die Story hielt mich mit Spannung und den dramatischen Schicksalen der Opfer von Anfang bis Ende bei der Stange. Die Sprache war thrillertypisch flott und direkt. Mir hat dieser Band rundherum gefallen, für mich war er sogar der beste Band der Serie.
Nun freue ich mich schon auf die Übersetzung des 5. Bandes „Blood Symmetry“, den es im englischsprachigen Original schon seit Mitte 2016 zu lesen gibt.
December 30, 2019
River of Souls is book four of Alice Quentin by Kate Rhodes. Jude Shelley survived an attack and left to drown in the Thames and was left traumatised. Jude family asked Alice Quentin to re-investigate the case to find closure for the family. However, when an elderly priest body washed up at Westminster Pier, Alice Quentin had a feeling that Jude family is hiding something. The readers of River of Souls will continue to follow Alice Quentin to see what happens.
River of Souls is the first book I read of Kate Rhodes and is an enjoyable book to read. River of Souls engages me from the start with the plot and characters of this book. I did cry in parts of this book. I love the portrayal of the characters by Kate Rhodes and the way they interact with each other. River of Souls is well written and researched by Kate Rhodes. I like the description of the settings of this book.
The readers of River of Souls will learn about the role of Psychologist in law enforcement investigation. Also, the readers will learn about Episodic psychosis and how it affects the suffers.
I recommend this book.
River of Souls is the first book I read of Kate Rhodes and is an enjoyable book to read. River of Souls engages me from the start with the plot and characters of this book. I did cry in parts of this book. I love the portrayal of the characters by Kate Rhodes and the way they interact with each other. River of Souls is well written and researched by Kate Rhodes. I like the description of the settings of this book.
The readers of River of Souls will learn about the role of Psychologist in law enforcement investigation. Also, the readers will learn about Episodic psychosis and how it affects the suffers.
I recommend this book.
July 1, 2015
4.5
Posted in full http://www.reviewedthebook.co.uk/2015...
River of Souls is the fourth instalment of the Alice Quentin series and it is another brilliant book by Kate Rhodes. Alice is ever likeable in the sense that she is quite normal – not full of herself, not so involved in her job that she’s cut off from being someone you can care for but also not the kind of person to let her personal life disrupt her work. I think Alice is one of the most honest, appealing protagonists I’ve ever read about and with each book she wins me over more and more. In River of Souls we meet Jude, a woman with such brutal injuries she is hardly recognisable. A year previously, she was attacked, had her face cut to shreds and was left to drown in the Thames. Amazingly, she survived but she’s hardly living a life. Seeing her frail and fragile, Jude’s family request that Alice, who is a psychologist, examines the case again. But then the killer is back out there and he isn’t stopping at just one victim. Alice needs to get to the bottom of this and quickly, before more lives are claimed.
Set with a backdrop of the Thames, Kate had such an entrancing way of bring the setting to life. Every description and every little detail made the Thames feel incredibly chilling. We do get to hear from the killer’s perspective in this book, every few chapters we get to discover their thought processes and follow them on their sickening journey to the Thames. Every chapter from the killer made the setting feel more vivid and eerier – I loved the chapters that followed the murderer. They saw things from an unusual angle and everything felt very different to a lot of other murder investigations.
Alice is brought back on the case and finds herself reluctantly working again with DCI Burns, who previous readers of the Alice Quentin series will remember that they share feelings for each other. There’s an issue between them but what I liked about Alice was how she didn’t let her personal life and her thing with Burns take over. She’s very conscientious and committed to her work. She doesn’t try and rush to an easy conclusion or jump on the bandwagon which is a little different to the detective side working on the case. One of my favourite parts of River of Souls was Alice’s communication with Jude, who she felt was holding something vital back. Unlike most people who couldn’t bring themselves to look at or have a proper conversation with Jude, Alice was much more respectful and treat her just normally, just like she’d treat anyone else. She was sensitive of the horrible circumstances Jude was facing but also forceful enough to try and learn as much as she possibly could to solve the case. Actually, Alice was willing to listen and attempt to understand anyone, even those almost impossible to fathom.
The story in River of Souls was very gritty and so fascinating. Alice was very thorough in her work and so we get to hear about a few possible suspects but I never knew where it was heading. The book got tenser and tenser as it went on and I was biting my nails and desperate to read more and get to the end of the mystery. The book was paced really well and it was at that nice level where it wasn’t whizzing through the case so we didn’t get the chance to even consider what was going on but also it didn’t slow down and get us bogged down with all the investigation. There was a moment towards the middle where I felt it was becoming a tiny bit repetitive but then new links came into the fray and brought a fresher perspective to the case. An intriguing turn of events quickly built the momentum and then there was no chance I was about to stop reading – my real life was cancelled until I reached the end of the novel and could finally settle again. Kate Rhodes, what a wonderful writer you are and I cannot wait for more.
*Book received for an honest review
June 30, 2015
The fourth book in the Alice Quentin series and Kate Rhodes is properly into her stride. By book four the recurring characters all feel like nicely rounded individuals, with full back-stories and, as with all well written characters, the reader can have a fairly good idea how each one will react under stressful situations.
The story line of this book gets pretty stressful for all involved. One year on from a gruesome and horrific attack on the daughter of a cabinet minister, the family call in Alice Quentin to reexamine aspects of the case that were poorly investigated first time around. The victim's mother is desperate for her daughter's attacker to be found while there is still a chance that Jude, the victim, can know that justice has been served. Alice quickly comes under pressure from government aides keen to keep their up and coming minister's name out of any investigation, as well as having to deal with the trauma of interviewing Jude and confronting her horrific injuries. When other victims, all seemingly linked to the minister's family start to be found the pressure intensifies.
The POV flips between Alice and the unknown attacker, giving the reader some insight into his motivation. Just how far we can trust that he is committing the attacks as a gruesome tribute to the Thames is debatable though. Providing the reader with a wonderfully unreliable narrator is a sure way of drawing the reader in and it works brilliantly here. Certainly I thought that I had a handle on why he was committing the vicious attacks, then slowly some bits of his narrative started to fall outside of what I expected of him. I'm rather proud that I did have strong suspicions about the identity of the murderer quite a while before the big reveal. There were a few interesting red herrings thrown into the mix though that certainly made this a more interesting read. In fact the whole style really works to keep you turning the pages, and make this an exciting and unputdownable read.
Alice is a believable character, she is convincingly rounded and manages to combine empathy and tenderness with the resilience that must be necessary in her chosen profession. My one niggle with the whole book is that I found the writing about her love life to be a little grating after a while. I want her to have a background story, and want her to be a 'real' character with a personal life outside of work, but I did find some of the angst about her relationship with Burns to be a little repetitive and somewhat grating after a while. There were definitely moments where I would have preferred more development of the actual plot instead of further discussion about their abortive relationship. I'll admit that about halfway through the book, I found myself rushing through the 'relationship' bits in order to hurry back to the main story. Overall though this is a minor gripe and I would recommend these books for fans for Martina Cole or Belinda Bauer.
The story line of this book gets pretty stressful for all involved. One year on from a gruesome and horrific attack on the daughter of a cabinet minister, the family call in Alice Quentin to reexamine aspects of the case that were poorly investigated first time around. The victim's mother is desperate for her daughter's attacker to be found while there is still a chance that Jude, the victim, can know that justice has been served. Alice quickly comes under pressure from government aides keen to keep their up and coming minister's name out of any investigation, as well as having to deal with the trauma of interviewing Jude and confronting her horrific injuries. When other victims, all seemingly linked to the minister's family start to be found the pressure intensifies.
The POV flips between Alice and the unknown attacker, giving the reader some insight into his motivation. Just how far we can trust that he is committing the attacks as a gruesome tribute to the Thames is debatable though. Providing the reader with a wonderfully unreliable narrator is a sure way of drawing the reader in and it works brilliantly here. Certainly I thought that I had a handle on why he was committing the vicious attacks, then slowly some bits of his narrative started to fall outside of what I expected of him. I'm rather proud that I did have strong suspicions about the identity of the murderer quite a while before the big reveal. There were a few interesting red herrings thrown into the mix though that certainly made this a more interesting read. In fact the whole style really works to keep you turning the pages, and make this an exciting and unputdownable read.
Alice is a believable character, she is convincingly rounded and manages to combine empathy and tenderness with the resilience that must be necessary in her chosen profession. My one niggle with the whole book is that I found the writing about her love life to be a little grating after a while. I want her to have a background story, and want her to be a 'real' character with a personal life outside of work, but I did find some of the angst about her relationship with Burns to be a little repetitive and somewhat grating after a while. There were definitely moments where I would have preferred more development of the actual plot instead of further discussion about their abortive relationship. I'll admit that about halfway through the book, I found myself rushing through the 'relationship' bits in order to hurry back to the main story. Overall though this is a minor gripe and I would recommend these books for fans for Martina Cole or Belinda Bauer.
September 19, 2015
This is the fourth book in the Alice Quentin series and I am such a fan of Kate Rhode's books that I eagerly await her next instalment every time! When this book was being published, Kate told me that she had mentioned me in the acknowledgements of River of Souls!! This absolutely made my day and I can honestly say, this has been the highlight of my blogging journey so far. I may not have my name in lights, but it's in a book!!
I love Alice, she is gutsy but also has a soft, vulnerable side to her. She treats everyone she sees with respect, but can also stick up for herself if backed into a corner!
She is brought in to work with DCI Burns again and straight away the spark is there between them, although Burns is back with his wife "for the sake of the kids"! We all know how that one is going to end!
What I absolutely love about Kate's books is that they are all set in and around London. I know South London very well, having been born there and in every book in the Alice Quentin series Kate mentions places of historic interest that I knew nothing about and have had to Google it and have even visited one or two!! This book is full of interesting facts about the Thames which blend in with the story brilliantly.
If you like psychological thrillers you will love the Alice Quentin books I guarantee it! This book in my opinion is the most gruesome, but that only makes it more appealing! I can honestly say, I held my breath at some points in the book and could hear my heart racing.
This was the first book I chose to read when I went on holiday in August to Turkey and I had read over half of it on the plane!
Thank you so much to Kate Rhodes and Mulholland Books for sending me a copy of this book. I cannot wait for book 5 in this series as in my humble opinion, they are just getting better and better.
I love Alice, she is gutsy but also has a soft, vulnerable side to her. She treats everyone she sees with respect, but can also stick up for herself if backed into a corner!
She is brought in to work with DCI Burns again and straight away the spark is there between them, although Burns is back with his wife "for the sake of the kids"! We all know how that one is going to end!
What I absolutely love about Kate's books is that they are all set in and around London. I know South London very well, having been born there and in every book in the Alice Quentin series Kate mentions places of historic interest that I knew nothing about and have had to Google it and have even visited one or two!! This book is full of interesting facts about the Thames which blend in with the story brilliantly.
If you like psychological thrillers you will love the Alice Quentin books I guarantee it! This book in my opinion is the most gruesome, but that only makes it more appealing! I can honestly say, I held my breath at some points in the book and could hear my heart racing.
This was the first book I chose to read when I went on holiday in August to Turkey and I had read over half of it on the plane!
Thank you so much to Kate Rhodes and Mulholland Books for sending me a copy of this book. I cannot wait for book 5 in this series as in my humble opinion, they are just getting better and better.
August 26, 2015
Jude Shelley, daughter of a prominent cabinet minister, had her whole life ahead of her until she was attacked and left to drown in the Thames. Miraculously, she survived. A year later, her family ask psychologist Alice Quentin to re-examine the case.
But then an elderly priest is attacked in Battersea, his body washed up at Westminster Pier. An ancient glass bead is tied to his wrist.
The river has always demanded sacrifices, and now it seems a killer believes it's calling out for more.
Alice is certain that Jude and her family are hiding something, but unless she can persuade them to share what they know, more victims will drown.
Another cracking read in the Alice Quentin series. I really like this character,she is a listener,thinker and caring.She also gets very deeply involved in investigations getting into a few scrapes too. She is very gutsy and down to earth.
It is good to see her back with DCI Burns in this investigation and the
dynamics of their relationship is explored and pushed to the limits.
This is a page turner and towards the end of the book,I was flying through the pages to find out the conclusion.
I like the atmospheric descriptions of parts of London and the places Alice visits,the Dickens at St Katherine's dock evoked a happy memory for me,plus the use of history of the River Thames is fascinating.
I look forward to the next one. Liked the quote about one of the characters tattoos of quotes from Byron and Shelley 'My body is a library'
Wonder what literary quotes I would have.
But then an elderly priest is attacked in Battersea, his body washed up at Westminster Pier. An ancient glass bead is tied to his wrist.
The river has always demanded sacrifices, and now it seems a killer believes it's calling out for more.
Alice is certain that Jude and her family are hiding something, but unless she can persuade them to share what they know, more victims will drown.
Another cracking read in the Alice Quentin series. I really like this character,she is a listener,thinker and caring.She also gets very deeply involved in investigations getting into a few scrapes too. She is very gutsy and down to earth.
It is good to see her back with DCI Burns in this investigation and the
dynamics of their relationship is explored and pushed to the limits.
This is a page turner and towards the end of the book,I was flying through the pages to find out the conclusion.
I like the atmospheric descriptions of parts of London and the places Alice visits,the Dickens at St Katherine's dock evoked a happy memory for me,plus the use of history of the River Thames is fascinating.
I look forward to the next one. Liked the quote about one of the characters tattoos of quotes from Byron and Shelley 'My body is a library'
Wonder what literary quotes I would have.
June 23, 2015
Yet again Kate Rhodes has written an excellent atmospheric crime thriller. I loved her last Alice Quentin book - The Winter Foundlings - and couldn't wait to read this one too. Although River of Souls is part of a series, it can easily be read as a standalone, as it includes enough background information about the characters so that you don't get lost but no spoilers about previous books.
River of Souls incorporates a chilling plot filled with suspense, tragedy, grief and family secrets. The crimes are savage ones, involving horrific mutilations, and psychologist Alice Quentin is called in to assist the investigation. I love that this series is set in London, around the Thames in this case, as I could relate to many of the settings and landmarks. The underlying historical theme was fascinating too.
All of the characters are very 'real'. Alice Quentin, in particular, is a brilliant and very likeable protagonist. She's a tough and independent psychologist, but also warm and devoted to helping people as part of her job. Although she has family issues to deal with, she doesn't let these impinge on her working life.
This is a well-researched page-turner, a real 'can't put it down' book - and I suggest you read it to find out how brilliant it is!
I received an Advanced Reader Copy from the publisher through Bookbridgr in exchange for an honest review.
River of Souls incorporates a chilling plot filled with suspense, tragedy, grief and family secrets. The crimes are savage ones, involving horrific mutilations, and psychologist Alice Quentin is called in to assist the investigation. I love that this series is set in London, around the Thames in this case, as I could relate to many of the settings and landmarks. The underlying historical theme was fascinating too.
All of the characters are very 'real'. Alice Quentin, in particular, is a brilliant and very likeable protagonist. She's a tough and independent psychologist, but also warm and devoted to helping people as part of her job. Although she has family issues to deal with, she doesn't let these impinge on her working life.
This is a well-researched page-turner, a real 'can't put it down' book - and I suggest you read it to find out how brilliant it is!
I received an Advanced Reader Copy from the publisher through Bookbridgr in exchange for an honest review.
August 11, 2019
Wieder ein tolles Buch von Kate Rhodes. Ich finde ihre Charaktere alle leicht überzeichnet, aber das mag ich. Früher las ich gerne Martha Grimes... ;-)
Ich hatte zwar einen Verdacht wer der Täter sein könnte, fand aber letztlich es nicht logisch und lag falsch. Der Täter egab nach den Erklärungen Sinn. Weniger Sinn ergab für mich die extensive Gewalt. Das Zurichten der Opfer war im Ritual Killers nicht notwendig und war für mich auch nicht wirklich im Buch erklärt. Zudem war es furchtbar zu lesen. Ansonsten liest sich das Buch aber sehr gut, aber wegen diesem Kritikpunkt (Gewalt) muss ich einen Stern abziehen. Schade.
Aber die Reihe ist für Krimifans unbedingt zu empfehlen!
Ich hatte zwar einen Verdacht wer der Täter sein könnte, fand aber letztlich es nicht logisch und lag falsch. Der Täter egab nach den Erklärungen Sinn. Weniger Sinn ergab für mich die extensive Gewalt. Das Zurichten der Opfer war im Ritual Killers nicht notwendig und war für mich auch nicht wirklich im Buch erklärt. Zudem war es furchtbar zu lesen. Ansonsten liest sich das Buch aber sehr gut, aber wegen diesem Kritikpunkt (Gewalt) muss ich einen Stern abziehen. Schade.
Aber die Reihe ist für Krimifans unbedingt zu empfehlen!
July 17, 2015
Read this very quickly as couldn't put it down. I love books written about places I know and the Thames is where I make for in London. Learnt a lot about its darker history and now need a trip to the Prospect of Whitby and Execution Dock which I have only seen from a boat. The author really gets under the skin of her characters, making them believable. Alice, the psychologist and main character, explains motivations in a clear and interesting way. Would stand alone but best read as no 4 in the series.
October 4, 2015
River of Souls is the fourth book in the Alice Quentin series by Kate Rhodes. Set in South London it focuses on the Thames and had me gripped all the way through, with twists and turns of the murky river and its history. Alice's life becomes more complicated as the crimes and intrigue mount until a powerful spine chilling climax finishes what for me is the best in the series. Can't wait for the next book.
September 26, 2019
Omg it gets worse I didn’t know that a series can go downhill but this can... it’s soo full of cliches and just downright awful that’s it’s almost a comedy. And the end was too much I nearly had a laughing fit... I did not care about any of the characters there was no personal connection even the main character had her moments of being a complete pain in the ass actually she was all the way through this book. Honestly I don’t know why I bother with this.. trash but onto the next *groans*
April 24, 2016
In addition to being gripping mysteries, I like the way the author has portrayed Alice overall throughout the series - she's smart and capable but gets lead down the wrong path sometimes, she's flawed but not overly so and not in annoying ways. Her relationship with Lola and her brother and mother seem incredibly real.
October 25, 2015
This series keeps getting better
The perfect mix of murder, suspense and romance. Alice Quentin is a pint sized hero in a world of undesirable family members and a desire to always help others.
The perfect mix of murder, suspense and romance. Alice Quentin is a pint sized hero in a world of undesirable family members and a desire to always help others.
October 21, 2015
Hard book to put down once you start. Keeps you on edge. Keeps you guessing.. and not easy once you think you have it all figured out then you have something else put in front of you. Little bit of romance and suspense wrapped up in one book!
*Received for an honest review*
*Received for an honest review*
November 28, 2015
absolutely loved this book from start to finish. Kate Rhodes deserves awards for her constant ability to write brilliant books. Can't wait for the next one!! :-)
November 6, 2015
Good series
I was happy to find the next book in the series and it did not disappoint, a little far out but enjoyable
I was happy to find the next book in the series and it did not disappoint, a little far out but enjoyable
May 12, 2019
Another good mystery.
February 28, 2025
This is the fourth book of a six book series featuring Alice Quentin, a forensic psychologist based in London. I actually read the first book back in 2016 but until now had not looked for the other books in this series though I have read five other books by the author.
It's an implausible plot about a serial killer who does gruesome things to his victims. Most of the story is told from Alice's first person perspective though this is interspersed with short chapters told in the third person showing the actions of the killer. It's a good read and I will now look for the other books in this series.
It's an implausible plot about a serial killer who does gruesome things to his victims. Most of the story is told from Alice's first person perspective though this is interspersed with short chapters told in the third person showing the actions of the killer. It's a good read and I will now look for the other books in this series.
December 10, 2024
This s the best so far in the series, but whilst she is supposed to be a forensic Phycologist the heroine doesn't ever seem to solve the crimes using phycology - always personally involved as the killer is captured this time at least she is not going to be the last victim
April 22, 2023
Creepy mystery about a serial killer who kills because he believes the Thames tells him that it wants the victims souls. This one is disturbing and will keep you up at night.
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