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The Fourth Victim
Three parks, three deaths, four victims, two grieving families, one murder enquiry team and an unknown number of killers. Can an answer be found? Whitechapel is being gentrified, the many green spaces of the area, which typify London as a capital city, give the illusion of peace, tranquillity and clean air but are also places to find drug dealers, sexual encounters and murder. Detective Sergeant Julie Lukula doesn't dislike Inspector Merry but he has hardly set the world of the Murder Investigation Team East alight. And, it looked as it the inspector was already putting the death of the young female jogger, found in the park with her head bashed in, down to a mugging `gone wrong'. The victim deserved more. But the inspector isn't ruling anyone out; the evidence will, eventually, lead him to an answer...
200 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2018
1 person is currently reading
34 people want to read
About the author
John Mead
5 books28 followersBorn in the mid-fifties in East London, on part of the largest council estate ever built. I was the first pupil from my local secondary modern school to attend university.
I have travelled extensively during my life from America to Tibet. I enjoy going to the theatre, reading and going to the pub. It is, perhaps, no surprise that I am an avid ‘people watcher’ and love to find out about people, their lives, culture and history.
Many of the occurrences recounted and the characters found in my novels are based on real incidents and people I have come across. Although I have allowed myself a wide degree of poetic licence in writing about the main characters, their motivations and the killings that are depicted.
I have travelled extensively during my life from America to Tibet. I enjoy going to the theatre, reading and going to the pub. It is, perhaps, no surprise that I am an avid ‘people watcher’ and love to find out about people, their lives, culture and history.
Many of the occurrences recounted and the characters found in my novels are based on real incidents and people I have come across. Although I have allowed myself a wide degree of poetic licence in writing about the main characters, their motivations and the killings that are depicted.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
November 16, 2018
Book Reviewed by Stacey on www.whisperingstories.com
The book opens with the murder of a young girl in a park in broad daylight. She is discovered by two passerby’s lay on the grass and with a head trauma. The passerby’s call the police immediately. Time of death is only about fifteen minutes before her body was discovered.
The murder looks like an old case, but are they connected? Then more bodies are found, could they all be related? It’s up to the Murder Investigation Team to find the answers and bring the killer or killers to justice.
The book is set in Whitechapel and area of London well known for the murders of women although over a century ago. It was this that perked my interest and had me wanting to read the book and I had read the authors previous book, The Hanging Women too.
The book did take some time to get into. I can’t say that I particularly had a fondness for any of the characters. They were all doing their jobs and were trying to piece together the clues to bring the killer(s) to justice. I enjoy police procedural books, so this was right up my street.
However, I did find that sometimes there was a lot of detail that wasn’t relevant and I really didn’t need to know some of the information about the characters. I also find it a little weird when sentences are written with a sexual orientation that has no relevance to the plot or the storyline.
Once I’d gotten through the first four or five chapters the book did pick up and I became more involved with the whole, who-done-it. Unfortunately, I had worked out the culprit(s) early on but I feel this is more down to the amount of psychological/ police thrillers I read, I’m used to picking up the clues.
I did enjoy the whole chase and would recommend it to anyone who likes to read thrillers written from the POV of the investigators.
The book opens with the murder of a young girl in a park in broad daylight. She is discovered by two passerby’s lay on the grass and with a head trauma. The passerby’s call the police immediately. Time of death is only about fifteen minutes before her body was discovered.
The murder looks like an old case, but are they connected? Then more bodies are found, could they all be related? It’s up to the Murder Investigation Team to find the answers and bring the killer or killers to justice.
The book is set in Whitechapel and area of London well known for the murders of women although over a century ago. It was this that perked my interest and had me wanting to read the book and I had read the authors previous book, The Hanging Women too.
The book did take some time to get into. I can’t say that I particularly had a fondness for any of the characters. They were all doing their jobs and were trying to piece together the clues to bring the killer(s) to justice. I enjoy police procedural books, so this was right up my street.
However, I did find that sometimes there was a lot of detail that wasn’t relevant and I really didn’t need to know some of the information about the characters. I also find it a little weird when sentences are written with a sexual orientation that has no relevance to the plot or the storyline.
Once I’d gotten through the first four or five chapters the book did pick up and I became more involved with the whole, who-done-it. Unfortunately, I had worked out the culprit(s) early on but I feel this is more down to the amount of psychological/ police thrillers I read, I’m used to picking up the clues.
I did enjoy the whole chase and would recommend it to anyone who likes to read thrillers written from the POV of the investigators.
November 17, 2018
This is an interesting crime thriller set in Whitechapel, home of the Ripper however these murders are quite different. Three women killed by a blow to the back of the head and left to die in a park.
I quite liked that this book is very female heavy. I've no idea how Inspetor Merry gets anything doe, he's always chasing (and getting) women and can't quite work out how. His description is that he looks like an undertaker & isn't the most charismatic person which doesn't seem that complimentary but yet every woman he meets (that is straight or bisexual) sleeps with him straight away.
Lukula on the other hand, manages to fall for the more genuinely charismatic Alima Hassan, who isn't all that she may seem. That's not a spoiler as such as there are clues throughout about her but it's up to the reader for the majority of the book to work out just what her angle is. Everyone in the book seems to be led by their various sexual organs.
The other big character in the book is a young woman with DID (Dissociative Identity Disorder) and how she fits into the story. I quite enjoyed the way her different personalities were woven into the book and trying to decide which ones could be relevant and which to try and ignore. Also I liked that there are a number of book recommendations at the back of the book covering this subject. Whilst in here it is purely the driver to solving the crime, it's a controversial and difficult to diagnose subject and for me at least, is something i'd like to read more on.
The story itself moved quite quickly, it felt more about the characters than your standard police procedural and that's not a bad thing. I enjoyed seeing how they all worked (and didn't) together and Lukula, in particular I would love to read more about. Also another great selling point is that this book isn't all white. Two of the main characters are mixed country/mixed race and I liked what this brought to the story as well.
Overall a really good read and I'm looking forward to the next one
I quite liked that this book is very female heavy. I've no idea how Inspetor Merry gets anything doe, he's always chasing (and getting) women and can't quite work out how. His description is that he looks like an undertaker & isn't the most charismatic person which doesn't seem that complimentary but yet every woman he meets (that is straight or bisexual) sleeps with him straight away.
Lukula on the other hand, manages to fall for the more genuinely charismatic Alima Hassan, who isn't all that she may seem. That's not a spoiler as such as there are clues throughout about her but it's up to the reader for the majority of the book to work out just what her angle is. Everyone in the book seems to be led by their various sexual organs.
The other big character in the book is a young woman with DID (Dissociative Identity Disorder) and how she fits into the story. I quite enjoyed the way her different personalities were woven into the book and trying to decide which ones could be relevant and which to try and ignore. Also I liked that there are a number of book recommendations at the back of the book covering this subject. Whilst in here it is purely the driver to solving the crime, it's a controversial and difficult to diagnose subject and for me at least, is something i'd like to read more on.
The story itself moved quite quickly, it felt more about the characters than your standard police procedural and that's not a bad thing. I enjoyed seeing how they all worked (and didn't) together and Lukula, in particular I would love to read more about. Also another great selling point is that this book isn't all white. Two of the main characters are mixed country/mixed race and I liked what this brought to the story as well.
Overall a really good read and I'm looking forward to the next one
November 16, 2018
4☆ A Pacy Crime Fiction.
The Fourth Victim is a Crime Fiction with a great police procedural weaved in.
The story opens with a young girl, found murdered, whilst out jogging.
The police feel this is an isolated case until other murder victims start to appear.
But is there a link?
Is it a serial killer?
What I liked about this book was the amount of emotion put into it, which made it feel real.
For example, just before the first victim is found, you get a glimpse into the young girls mum's mind. Her anxiety as her daughter is late home. Then the police knocking and giving her the heart wrenching news. I could actually feel that emotion it was like a kick in the gut.
For me that was just the first glimpse into the police procedural side and it only got better as the story progressed.
The characters were a cast of multi-layered, intriguing and strong characters.
The Fourth Victim was a pacy read, with a few cleverly plotted twists, plenty of action, it was a gripping and intriguing read as I worked alongside the detectives to solve the case. Which I really enjoy doing.
I am looking forward to seeing if there is a second book in the series, I have a feeling that if it becomes a series it will be one to watch out for!
Thank you to Rachel Random Resources for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
My Review is also on my Blog Website :-
https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2018/1...
The Fourth Victim is a Crime Fiction with a great police procedural weaved in.
The story opens with a young girl, found murdered, whilst out jogging.
The police feel this is an isolated case until other murder victims start to appear.
But is there a link?
Is it a serial killer?
What I liked about this book was the amount of emotion put into it, which made it feel real.
For example, just before the first victim is found, you get a glimpse into the young girls mum's mind. Her anxiety as her daughter is late home. Then the police knocking and giving her the heart wrenching news. I could actually feel that emotion it was like a kick in the gut.
For me that was just the first glimpse into the police procedural side and it only got better as the story progressed.
The characters were a cast of multi-layered, intriguing and strong characters.
The Fourth Victim was a pacy read, with a few cleverly plotted twists, plenty of action, it was a gripping and intriguing read as I worked alongside the detectives to solve the case. Which I really enjoy doing.
I am looking forward to seeing if there is a second book in the series, I have a feeling that if it becomes a series it will be one to watch out for!
Thank you to Rachel Random Resources for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
My Review is also on my Blog Website :-
https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2018/1...
November 12, 2020
"The Fourth Victim" is a decent police procedural with plenty of characters, an interesting premise, and a setting befitting a novel featuring serial murders. The routine investigation procedures of the police were well described and their frustration at low policing budgets and less manpower was palpable.
The main character, Detective Inspector Matthew Merry, was quite a worthy addition to the police procedural protagonists that I have read. His sidekick, DS Julie Lukula was interesting, bright, and ambitious.
The pace of the novel was spot-on. The research into the specific mental illness mentioned throughout the book was evident. The dialogue was well written and I enjoyed Merry's understated sense of humour.
My main gripe with the book is how the author used the character's names. One minute he was referring to them by their surnames, the next minute he was using their given names. It made for confusion on several occasions. As there were quite a lot of characters, referring to each by two different names was unwarranted in my opinion. In addition, there is a suspect with a multiple personality disorder, which adds several more characters vying for your attention. Also, he named his two head coppers Matthew and Malcolm. Seven letters each beginning with an 'M'. Couldn't one of them have a dissimilar name? Forgive me... I rant. Some readers would find these things insignificant, but I feel I must relate my true feelings on the matter.
As soon as the character was introduced, it seemed obvious to me who the murderer was. I kept turning the pages to see if I was correct - and I was - partly. The ending of the novel tied up the loose ends in a satisfactory way and left me with a smile on my face.
Overall, I found "The Fourth Victim" to be a well-researched, and worthy addition to the police procedural sub-genre and I believe that readers who read this type of mystery will be well entertained by the read. Although British police procedurals are undoubtedly one of my favourite types of crime fiction, I'm undecided as to whether I will follow this potential series should there be another installment.
The main character, Detective Inspector Matthew Merry, was quite a worthy addition to the police procedural protagonists that I have read. His sidekick, DS Julie Lukula was interesting, bright, and ambitious.
The pace of the novel was spot-on. The research into the specific mental illness mentioned throughout the book was evident. The dialogue was well written and I enjoyed Merry's understated sense of humour.
My main gripe with the book is how the author used the character's names. One minute he was referring to them by their surnames, the next minute he was using their given names. It made for confusion on several occasions. As there were quite a lot of characters, referring to each by two different names was unwarranted in my opinion. In addition, there is a suspect with a multiple personality disorder, which adds several more characters vying for your attention. Also, he named his two head coppers Matthew and Malcolm. Seven letters each beginning with an 'M'. Couldn't one of them have a dissimilar name? Forgive me... I rant. Some readers would find these things insignificant, but I feel I must relate my true feelings on the matter.
As soon as the character was introduced, it seemed obvious to me who the murderer was. I kept turning the pages to see if I was correct - and I was - partly. The ending of the novel tied up the loose ends in a satisfactory way and left me with a smile on my face.
Overall, I found "The Fourth Victim" to be a well-researched, and worthy addition to the police procedural sub-genre and I believe that readers who read this type of mystery will be well entertained by the read. Although British police procedurals are undoubtedly one of my favourite types of crime fiction, I'm undecided as to whether I will follow this potential series should there be another installment.
November 14, 2018
This is the first of John Mead that I am reading and you have been following my reviews for a while you know I enjoy crime novels a lot, so of course I was intrigued about this one, especially since the blurb and the title attracted my attention.
From the plot to the characters, this novel had amazing aspects that I loved, and I will talk about some of them, because the others I can't say because their are part of the plot and that would take the fun out of it and I would be giving spoilers.
First of all, the author gave the book some great descriptions and dialogues that made it possible for me to visualize the scenes and that ended up being engaging and dynamic, besides it made my imagination work and my me use senses in a way. And I believe that is a great thing in a crime and mystery book.
Besides the writing style, another thing that made this book engaging was the fact that it had plenty of action scenes that gave the book some movement and it made me stay at the edge of my seat wanting to read more and excited to follow the characters in this story.
The book felt real because of the setting and the characters. Speaking of the characters, I liked them too. I felt like the investigation team was amazingly well created, each member had their voice. Actually all the characters had their own voice and story, each made it very interesting and real.
Overall, I liked the book a lot, and it had technical Police Procedural aspects as well as the mystery and action to make the book intriguing and captivating.
[I want to thank Rachel, at Rachel’s Random Resources, and John for the eCopy of this book and for allowing me to join in the fun and by being a part of the blog tour with my honest review of the book.]
From the plot to the characters, this novel had amazing aspects that I loved, and I will talk about some of them, because the others I can't say because their are part of the plot and that would take the fun out of it and I would be giving spoilers.
First of all, the author gave the book some great descriptions and dialogues that made it possible for me to visualize the scenes and that ended up being engaging and dynamic, besides it made my imagination work and my me use senses in a way. And I believe that is a great thing in a crime and mystery book.
Besides the writing style, another thing that made this book engaging was the fact that it had plenty of action scenes that gave the book some movement and it made me stay at the edge of my seat wanting to read more and excited to follow the characters in this story.
The book felt real because of the setting and the characters. Speaking of the characters, I liked them too. I felt like the investigation team was amazingly well created, each member had their voice. Actually all the characters had their own voice and story, each made it very interesting and real.
Overall, I liked the book a lot, and it had technical Police Procedural aspects as well as the mystery and action to make the book intriguing and captivating.
[I want to thank Rachel, at Rachel’s Random Resources, and John for the eCopy of this book and for allowing me to join in the fun and by being a part of the blog tour with my honest review of the book.]
October 10, 2019
While The Fourth Victim has a genuinely intriguing premise and the author has obviously done their research into both the realities of police work in present-day London and Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), it’s very hard to read because the grammar is just glaringly awful.
There are fundamental errors in the writing such as the failure to capitalize proper nouns (Asian, Muslim and Christian) and, having finished the book, I still don’t know who the protagonist of it was. I wanted it to be Julie Lukula, a smart young detective sergeant (and a black lesbian) but we kept slipping into the point of view of Inspector Matthew Merry, a middle-aged white man who was apparently a serial philanderer and who, frankly, I found thoroughly unlikable. Not only that, but other points of view kept intruding, characters we really had no interest in and who had no relevance to the story. The head-hopping was continuous and annoying; I was constantly wasting time reading back a few lines trying to figure out exactly whose perspective I was supposed to be in and then realizing it had just changed without warning, and for no real reason.
There’s so much to like about the premise of this story but it needs a massive content edit to clean it up and reframe it to make Julie the principal protagonist. I think she could be the kind of character to carry an entire series, but as it stands we didn’t get enough of her and she didn’t actually get to ‘solve the case’. I also really liked that the author avoided falling into the trap of demonising mental illness and that they wrote the London police force (and population) as diverse as it actually is in reality. With a lot of editing work, this could be a genuinely great read, but right at the moment, I’m afraid I can’t give it any more than two stars.
Disclaimer: I received a review copy of this book via Rachel’s Random Resources.
There are fundamental errors in the writing such as the failure to capitalize proper nouns (Asian, Muslim and Christian) and, having finished the book, I still don’t know who the protagonist of it was. I wanted it to be Julie Lukula, a smart young detective sergeant (and a black lesbian) but we kept slipping into the point of view of Inspector Matthew Merry, a middle-aged white man who was apparently a serial philanderer and who, frankly, I found thoroughly unlikable. Not only that, but other points of view kept intruding, characters we really had no interest in and who had no relevance to the story. The head-hopping was continuous and annoying; I was constantly wasting time reading back a few lines trying to figure out exactly whose perspective I was supposed to be in and then realizing it had just changed without warning, and for no real reason.
There’s so much to like about the premise of this story but it needs a massive content edit to clean it up and reframe it to make Julie the principal protagonist. I think she could be the kind of character to carry an entire series, but as it stands we didn’t get enough of her and she didn’t actually get to ‘solve the case’. I also really liked that the author avoided falling into the trap of demonising mental illness and that they wrote the London police force (and population) as diverse as it actually is in reality. With a lot of editing work, this could be a genuinely great read, but right at the moment, I’m afraid I can’t give it any more than two stars.
Disclaimer: I received a review copy of this book via Rachel’s Random Resources.
November 17, 2018
Mr Mead, you have not let me down! After reading The Hanging Women you are my on my watchlist, and I have to snap up anything that has been written! This book has such a hook too :
THREE deaths, TWO grieving families, ONE murder investigation team, How many KILLERS?
Wow right!! Well, you would be correct. This book sucked me in from the opening pages, and what I love about this author is he is not afraid to do the unexpected. Also, being set in Whitechapel I was sold!
Like his previous book, (Check out my thoughts on the Hanging women), there are a lot of characters and a lot going on. So as much as I devoured the book, you do have to concentrate, but I quickly got back in the flow of Mr Mead’s writing and
When you read this book, we get an insight into everyone mind just at fleeting moments, everyone has a voice. We are also directed at the beginning to who we might suspect and a link to the victims, but is this a red herring?
I love police procedural books, I love seeing how an investigation is run, how they discover the clues and how the assumptions are made. I devour these sort of books, and this as I have said, is no different. Unfortunately, to say too much about the plot will spoil it, but I will say you feel that there is a race against time to solve this murder, albeit some people want to hide this under the carpet.
The descriptive writing had me in the park with the police, had me sitting in the front rooms questioning people, in the police room being part of the team, I was absorbed and I lost track of time reading and next thing I knew it was midnight! This time, I enjoyed the characters especially Detective Sergeant Julie Lukula, as she is fighting for these women, working alongside Inspector Matthew Merry who is ready for just a desk job, not the best pairing, but they make it work.
Do not go into this book thinking yes I have solved it because it is not that simple. It will leave you breathless as you race through the pages as I did.
THREE deaths, TWO grieving families, ONE murder investigation team, How many KILLERS?
Wow right!! Well, you would be correct. This book sucked me in from the opening pages, and what I love about this author is he is not afraid to do the unexpected. Also, being set in Whitechapel I was sold!
Like his previous book, (Check out my thoughts on the Hanging women), there are a lot of characters and a lot going on. So as much as I devoured the book, you do have to concentrate, but I quickly got back in the flow of Mr Mead’s writing and
When you read this book, we get an insight into everyone mind just at fleeting moments, everyone has a voice. We are also directed at the beginning to who we might suspect and a link to the victims, but is this a red herring?
I love police procedural books, I love seeing how an investigation is run, how they discover the clues and how the assumptions are made. I devour these sort of books, and this as I have said, is no different. Unfortunately, to say too much about the plot will spoil it, but I will say you feel that there is a race against time to solve this murder, albeit some people want to hide this under the carpet.
The descriptive writing had me in the park with the police, had me sitting in the front rooms questioning people, in the police room being part of the team, I was absorbed and I lost track of time reading and next thing I knew it was midnight! This time, I enjoyed the characters especially Detective Sergeant Julie Lukula, as she is fighting for these women, working alongside Inspector Matthew Merry who is ready for just a desk job, not the best pairing, but they make it work.
Do not go into this book thinking yes I have solved it because it is not that simple. It will leave you breathless as you race through the pages as I did.
November 16, 2018
I have a real fondness for police procedural / crime novels, so when I saw this tour I leapt at the chance and I am really pleased that I did.
Well paced and with enough information to give the reader not just a curious, intense mystery, but also a more emotional element too. I appreciated the emotional aspect because often with a crime thriller, you get to see the devastated family, but not into the mind of the anxious parent that is waiting for their child to walk through the door, while fighting a chilling fear that something has happened.
There were twists and turns and plenty of surprises that kept me engaged from start to finish.
One small criticism is that there were a lot of names to remember quickly and for some reason, my brain could not retain the different characters. As the book progressed, I found that I settled and really became invested in the story.
I intend to read this again now that I have that aspect clearer, so that I can really enjoy this relatively quick read.
Well written with a good pace and exciting story. I enjoyed this to the point that I am eager to read more of John Mead’s work.
As a measure of how much I enjoyed this story, I have purchased the e-book version so that I can increase the font to read it again. (more comfortable for me than reading in glasses.)
Thank you to John Mead and Rachel’s Random Resources for gifting me a review copy of The Fourth Victim. The gifting of this book did not influence this review.
Well paced and with enough information to give the reader not just a curious, intense mystery, but also a more emotional element too. I appreciated the emotional aspect because often with a crime thriller, you get to see the devastated family, but not into the mind of the anxious parent that is waiting for their child to walk through the door, while fighting a chilling fear that something has happened.
There were twists and turns and plenty of surprises that kept me engaged from start to finish.
One small criticism is that there were a lot of names to remember quickly and for some reason, my brain could not retain the different characters. As the book progressed, I found that I settled and really became invested in the story.
I intend to read this again now that I have that aspect clearer, so that I can really enjoy this relatively quick read.
Well written with a good pace and exciting story. I enjoyed this to the point that I am eager to read more of John Mead’s work.
As a measure of how much I enjoyed this story, I have purchased the e-book version so that I can increase the font to read it again. (more comfortable for me than reading in glasses.)
Thank you to John Mead and Rachel’s Random Resources for gifting me a review copy of The Fourth Victim. The gifting of this book did not influence this review.
November 14, 2018
The Fourth Victim by John Mead is a crime thriller that focuses mainly on how cops solve the case, also known as a police procedural. I enjoy any kind of thriller so I asked to review this one and wasn’t disappointed at all.
These kind of books obviously tell the story from the cop’s point of view and how they progress with the help of evidences, forensics, ballistics etc. like watching a cop show on TV.
Here’s a short summary and then we get on with the review.
Summary
When the body of a young girl is found, the police in Whitechapel assume it could be a robbery gone wrong. But as more ladies are found dead, it becomes apparent that these are murders. As the team looks for a connection between the victims, they also rule out every one present at the locations at the times of the killings. Except for a lady in a hijab.
Read the rest of my review here:
https://bookvue.wordpress.com/2018/11...
These kind of books obviously tell the story from the cop’s point of view and how they progress with the help of evidences, forensics, ballistics etc. like watching a cop show on TV.
Here’s a short summary and then we get on with the review.
Summary
When the body of a young girl is found, the police in Whitechapel assume it could be a robbery gone wrong. But as more ladies are found dead, it becomes apparent that these are murders. As the team looks for a connection between the victims, they also rule out every one present at the locations at the times of the killings. Except for a lady in a hijab.
Read the rest of my review here:
https://bookvue.wordpress.com/2018/11...
November 16, 2018
This is a very difficult book to review for me. I really liked the idea behind the storyline and I thought it was original and complex, but I do not consider it an easy read and I had to concentrate very hard. Some parts I truely enjoyed while others had me struggling. Maybe it was due to the writing style that I found difficult to get into or maybe it was because I did not really like the main characters, I honestly don't know.
Anyway I am happy that I have got to know the author and got familiar with what he can pull out of his hat. This one obviously was not my cup of tea, but I am sure other readers will be captivated by it. 3 stars.
Thank you, John Mead and RachelsRandomResources.
https://bforbookreview.wordpress.com
Anyway I am happy that I have got to know the author and got familiar with what he can pull out of his hat. This one obviously was not my cup of tea, but I am sure other readers will be captivated by it. 3 stars.
Thank you, John Mead and RachelsRandomResources.
https://bforbookreview.wordpress.com
November 15, 2018
This is the first book I've read by John Mead, and highly original it is too.
With your everyday whodunnit (or police procedural) as his core theme, he takes the reader right into the story. With the three killings early on, it's up to the investigative team to find the killer - but, of course, it's not going to be an open and shut case.
Mead does a great job at getting to the bottom of what makes certain characters tick; his own confession to being a people watcher makes that abundantly clear. The police team struggle with the daily norms of everyday life (problems at home, family issues, job prospects etc) which gives them credibility (although there is a tendency to focus a tad too much on the characters flaws outside of the case). We also see the intricate workings of a case in action, from the intense scrutiny of cases, the inevitable missed opportunities, dealing with grieving families, and the consistent need to be one step ahead of the perpetrators.
Add into that a suspect with a multiple personality disorder, and you have a swarm of characters vying for your attention. It is sometimes hard to keep track of who is thinking or speaking, as the flow of the text is choppy at best in parts. However, it offers an original take on a tried-and-trusted story-line.
Despite working out who was the dominant force behind the killings early on, it was interesting to see how the author brought it all together at the end. An interesting, satisfying and original story that kept me scrolling - if only to be proved right! ;)
If you enjoy a good whodunnit with an imaginative plot, then this is the book for you.
With your everyday whodunnit (or police procedural) as his core theme, he takes the reader right into the story. With the three killings early on, it's up to the investigative team to find the killer - but, of course, it's not going to be an open and shut case.
Mead does a great job at getting to the bottom of what makes certain characters tick; his own confession to being a people watcher makes that abundantly clear. The police team struggle with the daily norms of everyday life (problems at home, family issues, job prospects etc) which gives them credibility (although there is a tendency to focus a tad too much on the characters flaws outside of the case). We also see the intricate workings of a case in action, from the intense scrutiny of cases, the inevitable missed opportunities, dealing with grieving families, and the consistent need to be one step ahead of the perpetrators.
Add into that a suspect with a multiple personality disorder, and you have a swarm of characters vying for your attention. It is sometimes hard to keep track of who is thinking or speaking, as the flow of the text is choppy at best in parts. However, it offers an original take on a tried-and-trusted story-line.
Despite working out who was the dominant force behind the killings early on, it was interesting to see how the author brought it all together at the end. An interesting, satisfying and original story that kept me scrolling - if only to be proved right! ;)
If you enjoy a good whodunnit with an imaginative plot, then this is the book for you.
November 18, 2018
https://donnasbookblog.wordpress.com/...
I though that this was a really gripping and gritty story!
The plot is well placed and I was hooked from the start. The characters were well developed and they worked really well with the plot, I thought Julie and Matthew were great and really enjoyed their interaction.
The writing style for the story was great and I was addicted to the book. I flew through the story and couldn’t wait to see how it would all end.
4.5 stars from me for this one, rounded up to 5 stars for Goodreads and Amazon – I thought it was a great story and very highly recommended it!
I though that this was a really gripping and gritty story!
The plot is well placed and I was hooked from the start. The characters were well developed and they worked really well with the plot, I thought Julie and Matthew were great and really enjoyed their interaction.
The writing style for the story was great and I was addicted to the book. I flew through the story and couldn’t wait to see how it would all end.
4.5 stars from me for this one, rounded up to 5 stars for Goodreads and Amazon – I thought it was a great story and very highly recommended it!
November 12, 2018
The Fourth Victim is a really awesome police procedural. I’m impressed with how real Whitechapel felt and how real and relatable the characters were. The case felt real as well, and I was drawn in from the beginning of the novel and it held my attention until the very end.
I liked the investigation team and the way the investigation was done. It felt realistic, and I’m really impressed with John Mead’s writing. I had trouble putting this book down and I’m looking forward to reading more by him.
If you enjoy police procedurals, I highly recommend checking this one out. It is definitely worth a read through!
*I received a copy of this book as part of a blog tour. All opinions are my own.*
I liked the investigation team and the way the investigation was done. It felt realistic, and I’m really impressed with John Mead’s writing. I had trouble putting this book down and I’m looking forward to reading more by him.
If you enjoy police procedurals, I highly recommend checking this one out. It is definitely worth a read through!
*I received a copy of this book as part of a blog tour. All opinions are my own.*
September 4, 2019
This is the reason I sign up for blog tours, otherwise I may not have picked up and read this gem. John Mead was an unknown author to me but not anymore.
From the start this story gripped me. DS Julie Lukula and Inspector Matthew Merry are under pressure to find the killer/killers.
I’m not gonna say anything about the storyline for fear I’ll spill a spoiler so all I can say is read it.
If your like me and you like a well written police procedural read then I certainly recommend this one.
I’ll certainly be reading more from this author starting with his previous book The Hanging Women.
From the start this story gripped me. DS Julie Lukula and Inspector Matthew Merry are under pressure to find the killer/killers.
I’m not gonna say anything about the storyline for fear I’ll spill a spoiler so all I can say is read it.
If your like me and you like a well written police procedural read then I certainly recommend this one.
I’ll certainly be reading more from this author starting with his previous book The Hanging Women.
November 19, 2018
Fallible police, unlikely suspects, multiple murders; this is a book that has it all. A contemporary murder mystery with some innovative narrative strands, but with much good solid police procedure. Without ostentation, Mead manages to give a sense of place and time which linger in the mind. His characters are desperately human, with all the humour, betrayal and loyalty of real people. This is a reasonably fast paced, surprisingly complex read, which combines the traditional methods of hunting for information with the inspiration of people. There is real insight in the writing as to what motivates people, and is an interesting picture of mystery and life. I am very glad that I was asked to read and review this novel.
Detective Sergeant Julie Lukula is quickly on the scene as a young jogger is found dead in a park by a nervous elderly woman. She quickly sums up the situation as more than a random attack, but there are disappointingly few leads as to who killed this apparently harmless young woman. She realises that the investigation will be lead by a man who is already on his way out of the department, the interestingly named Inspector Matthew Merry. She describes him to another police officer as “You’ll recognise him easily enough, he’s big and looks like he works in an undertakers.” As they break the worst news to families, the different reactions are fascinating. The police officers each emerge as having their own agendas, which sometimes conflict with each other and the needs of the investigation. I found Inspector Merry somewhat inconsistent in his behaviour, but Mead generally handles each character very well and deals well with even the most minor characters. I found myself carried along with the story as it twists and turns, incidentally presenting an interesting picture of twenty first century life. While there are parts of the environments described which are shabby and downbeat, a visit to Fort William in Scotland represents a refreshingly real break, even if somewhat confused by Merry’s moral behaviour. The painful details of families torn by grief and the lack of contact which is the lifestyle of others are snapshots of very human emotions well handled by Mead. He peoples the scenery of London with interesting individuals, before he explores the fragility of the mental states of certain people.
This is undoubtedly a confidently written book in which Mead gives the impression of an experienced eye trained on police procedure, criminal motives and, most impressively, all the people involved. While not gratuitously violent, this book does not hold back on being a real thriller and depiction of murder as well as not sugar coating people and their motives. The book is not filled with the simply good and bad; there are many possibilities in virtually every person. A small point is the interchangeable use of surnames and first names without any obvious consistency; the sergeant is often “Julie” as well as “Lukula”, whereas the Inspector also appears as both “Matthew” and “Merry” without apparent reason. This is a small criticism of a genuinely enthralling book which kept me involved and interested from the first to last page. I recommend it as a good read for many, even those not usually fans of crime novels, and Mead is an author to watch in the future.
Detective Sergeant Julie Lukula is quickly on the scene as a young jogger is found dead in a park by a nervous elderly woman. She quickly sums up the situation as more than a random attack, but there are disappointingly few leads as to who killed this apparently harmless young woman. She realises that the investigation will be lead by a man who is already on his way out of the department, the interestingly named Inspector Matthew Merry. She describes him to another police officer as “You’ll recognise him easily enough, he’s big and looks like he works in an undertakers.” As they break the worst news to families, the different reactions are fascinating. The police officers each emerge as having their own agendas, which sometimes conflict with each other and the needs of the investigation. I found Inspector Merry somewhat inconsistent in his behaviour, but Mead generally handles each character very well and deals well with even the most minor characters. I found myself carried along with the story as it twists and turns, incidentally presenting an interesting picture of twenty first century life. While there are parts of the environments described which are shabby and downbeat, a visit to Fort William in Scotland represents a refreshingly real break, even if somewhat confused by Merry’s moral behaviour. The painful details of families torn by grief and the lack of contact which is the lifestyle of others are snapshots of very human emotions well handled by Mead. He peoples the scenery of London with interesting individuals, before he explores the fragility of the mental states of certain people.
This is undoubtedly a confidently written book in which Mead gives the impression of an experienced eye trained on police procedure, criminal motives and, most impressively, all the people involved. While not gratuitously violent, this book does not hold back on being a real thriller and depiction of murder as well as not sugar coating people and their motives. The book is not filled with the simply good and bad; there are many possibilities in virtually every person. A small point is the interchangeable use of surnames and first names without any obvious consistency; the sergeant is often “Julie” as well as “Lukula”, whereas the Inspector also appears as both “Matthew” and “Merry” without apparent reason. This is a small criticism of a genuinely enthralling book which kept me involved and interested from the first to last page. I recommend it as a good read for many, even those not usually fans of crime novels, and Mead is an author to watch in the future.
November 21, 2018
*I received a free copy of this book with thanks to the author and Rachel Gilbey at Rachel’s Random Resources blog tours. The decision to review and my opinions are my own.*
The Fourth Victim is a police procedural mystery with a twist.
DI Merry and DS Lukula and the team are investigating the murder of a young woman, which puts them on the trail of a bigger mystery and leads them into making some questionable (and even illegal!) decisions in the name of following a lead. We get quite a lot of insight into Merry and Lukula’s private lives, which felt a bit gratuituous at times but proved relevant at others, and I found the insight into the moral values inherent in the professional and personal lives both fascinating and disturbing.
I was totally hooked on the plot and the exploration of an unusual mental health issue involved. It was obvious that the author had researched the condition thoroughly and the resulting plot elements were mesmerising! This element was by far my favourite aspect of the novel and had me guessing right up to the end.
Also interesting was the insider view into the workings of a police investigation and the workings of budget, manpower and allocation of research involved. Again, the author’s knowledge, research and experience shine through here, although I do hope that some of Merry and Lukula’s shenanigans are not commonplace in real life!
This was a gripping crime read and I would recommend it to any fans of police procedural thrillers.
‘Did you see the new detective show on the TV?’ Merry asked, breaking the silence on the short car ride to the Turner’s flat. ‘The lead detective has flashbacks, resulting from the murder of his wife and son by an unknown killer, so he can now talk to the recently departed who help him solve his cases.’
‘Is he an alcoholic and, or a drug user?’ Lukula asked, knowing how common such detectives were on TV, their angst fuelled lives driving them to be the ‘number one’ detective.
‘No he’s a DCI but his sergeant, who seems to spend a lot of time changing in and out of her clothes in front of him and has great boobs, is a black lesbian,’ Merry informed her, checking his watch and regretting his interrupted sleep, ‘so I feel a certain affinity with him.’
‘Sod off,’ Lukula laughed, ‘I’m not an exhibitionist and you are not a DCI, not yet anyway.’
– John Mead, The Fourth Victim
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpres...
The Fourth Victim is a police procedural mystery with a twist.
DI Merry and DS Lukula and the team are investigating the murder of a young woman, which puts them on the trail of a bigger mystery and leads them into making some questionable (and even illegal!) decisions in the name of following a lead. We get quite a lot of insight into Merry and Lukula’s private lives, which felt a bit gratuituous at times but proved relevant at others, and I found the insight into the moral values inherent in the professional and personal lives both fascinating and disturbing.
I was totally hooked on the plot and the exploration of an unusual mental health issue involved. It was obvious that the author had researched the condition thoroughly and the resulting plot elements were mesmerising! This element was by far my favourite aspect of the novel and had me guessing right up to the end.
Also interesting was the insider view into the workings of a police investigation and the workings of budget, manpower and allocation of research involved. Again, the author’s knowledge, research and experience shine through here, although I do hope that some of Merry and Lukula’s shenanigans are not commonplace in real life!
This was a gripping crime read and I would recommend it to any fans of police procedural thrillers.
‘Did you see the new detective show on the TV?’ Merry asked, breaking the silence on the short car ride to the Turner’s flat. ‘The lead detective has flashbacks, resulting from the murder of his wife and son by an unknown killer, so he can now talk to the recently departed who help him solve his cases.’
‘Is he an alcoholic and, or a drug user?’ Lukula asked, knowing how common such detectives were on TV, their angst fuelled lives driving them to be the ‘number one’ detective.
‘No he’s a DCI but his sergeant, who seems to spend a lot of time changing in and out of her clothes in front of him and has great boobs, is a black lesbian,’ Merry informed her, checking his watch and regretting his interrupted sleep, ‘so I feel a certain affinity with him.’
‘Sod off,’ Lukula laughed, ‘I’m not an exhibitionist and you are not a DCI, not yet anyway.’
– John Mead, The Fourth Victim
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpres...
December 10, 2018
A well-crafted whodunnit.
The plot is set in Whitechapel where a young, female jogger has been brutally murdered with a single blow to the head. It’s the job of Inspector Matthew Merry and his team to solve the case. The scene is therefore set for the reader to try to work out who the killer is before it’s revealed at the end of the book. Was this killing linked to any others in the area?
The writing is excellent and the dialogue first class. All the characters are well described and developed although at times I didn’t quite understand the motivation of our investigating Inspector. He is described as a tired copper towards the end of his useful career life and heading towards a desk job to which he is quite looking forward, and yet he has sufficient magnetism to attract women with whom he has sex even though he is happily married with a family.
Another cause of confusion, for this reader, was the use of both last names and first names of a character even in the same paragraph. I found this confusing and it interrupted the reading flow as I thought back as to who everyone was. I much prefer consistency in this respect. For me, there was too much of a focus on the sexual orientation of the female sergeant. She was forever on the lookout for her next conquest and this didn’t ring true at times.
So, I enjoyed the book even though I worked out the outcome at quite an early stage. The ending was a little disappointing as it was an anticlimax, but it reflected real life in this respect. I awarded 4 stars but had the star ratings been out of 10 it would have been a 7 and not an 8. A good read but not outstanding.
mr zorg
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.
The plot is set in Whitechapel where a young, female jogger has been brutally murdered with a single blow to the head. It’s the job of Inspector Matthew Merry and his team to solve the case. The scene is therefore set for the reader to try to work out who the killer is before it’s revealed at the end of the book. Was this killing linked to any others in the area?
The writing is excellent and the dialogue first class. All the characters are well described and developed although at times I didn’t quite understand the motivation of our investigating Inspector. He is described as a tired copper towards the end of his useful career life and heading towards a desk job to which he is quite looking forward, and yet he has sufficient magnetism to attract women with whom he has sex even though he is happily married with a family.
Another cause of confusion, for this reader, was the use of both last names and first names of a character even in the same paragraph. I found this confusing and it interrupted the reading flow as I thought back as to who everyone was. I much prefer consistency in this respect. For me, there was too much of a focus on the sexual orientation of the female sergeant. She was forever on the lookout for her next conquest and this didn’t ring true at times.
So, I enjoyed the book even though I worked out the outcome at quite an early stage. The ending was a little disappointing as it was an anticlimax, but it reflected real life in this respect. I awarded 4 stars but had the star ratings been out of 10 it would have been a 7 and not an 8. A good read but not outstanding.
mr zorg
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.
September 6, 2019
The iconic setting of Whitechapel for this book puts you in the correct frame of mind for murder. Although this part of the EastEnd of London, is much changed, it seems the possibility of a serial killer is an uncomfortable echo of its gruesome past.
Detective Inspector Merry, who on the surface is anything but, and Detective Sergeant Lukula make an interesting an investigating duo. The other members of the murder investigating team are also distinctive, and despite their personality differences, the team functions well.
This is a character-driven police procedural, with well-drawn realistic characters whose multiple human frailties make them authentic. The plot gives heavier emphasis on the police team's personal lives than is usual in a police procedural. This adds interest to the more routine parts of the story, but for some will detract from the main storyline.
The investigation of the crimes is detailed and well researched. There is also a mental health theme in this story, which is contemporary, and again, shows copious research.
The plot has twists and false information, and the ending draws everything together in a satisfying way.
I received a copy of this book from the author in return for an honest review.
November 24, 2018
This is an interesting police procedural, the research undertaken is obvious by the author is obvious as it feels very authentic. How the chain of command with a police force works, the handling of the case and everything written is thorough. The story follows the murders of three girls with no apparent link to each other. Matthew Merry is bored with his job and this could be his last case in this role, but with the help of his DS he finds out that this might be the most complex and disturbing case he has ever worked on.
Expert help is enlisted by the police force to enable Merry and Lukala to catch this erratic and dangerous killer, but will they be a help or hindrance to them both?
An enjoyable read with unexpected twists. The author also includes helplines at the end of the book for the issues raised within (I’m not going to say the exact issues, as I don’t want to give away the story)
Expert help is enlisted by the police force to enable Merry and Lukala to catch this erratic and dangerous killer, but will they be a help or hindrance to them both?
An enjoyable read with unexpected twists. The author also includes helplines at the end of the book for the issues raised within (I’m not going to say the exact issues, as I don’t want to give away the story)
November 16, 2018
I really enjoyed this, very easy to read, very realistic. Well paced, great characters and raw emotions. Would highly recommend
February 22, 2019
Very well done and true to life
November 15, 2018
I enjoy a good psychological/crime thriller and the blurb to The Fourth Victim appealed to me on a level where I could sit, relax and fathom out the answers. While the story starts well and I was able to sink into the action, grasp the characters and visualise where it was I was fairly soon slightly irritated by the authors’ need to explain so fully the nationalities of each person, while sometimes it aids the story to know if the victim is white, petite etc I didn’t think it required the big black man, or the Muslim woman, among many others pointed out at each juncture. It also irked me that the sexuality of the characters was deemed relevant.
But with those niggles aside it is a decent police procedural with plenty of action, intrigue and a mix of characters. While none of the police team stood out as a favourite I thought they all worked as a team managing to soften off some edginess.
Without giving the story-line away it is the main diagnosis eventually revealed and unravelled of the suspect that I found absolutely riveting. The author has obviously done his research and written these segments with a deep understanding to allow the reader to get inside the mind. I was fascinated and certainly didn’t see that particular revelation coming.
I must admit once I got over the first few chapters and settled into reading The Fourth Victim I found myself enjoying it, turning the pages eagerly to see what could possibly happen next. If you want an escape from your day to day life immerse yourself in this. I read a huge variety of books so I was content with how it all panned out. I will be interested to see how someone who reads a lot of police procedure type books view it.
Thanks to the author, publisher and Rachel at Random Resources. I read and reviewed voluntarily.
But with those niggles aside it is a decent police procedural with plenty of action, intrigue and a mix of characters. While none of the police team stood out as a favourite I thought they all worked as a team managing to soften off some edginess.
Without giving the story-line away it is the main diagnosis eventually revealed and unravelled of the suspect that I found absolutely riveting. The author has obviously done his research and written these segments with a deep understanding to allow the reader to get inside the mind. I was fascinated and certainly didn’t see that particular revelation coming.
I must admit once I got over the first few chapters and settled into reading The Fourth Victim I found myself enjoying it, turning the pages eagerly to see what could possibly happen next. If you want an escape from your day to day life immerse yourself in this. I read a huge variety of books so I was content with how it all panned out. I will be interested to see how someone who reads a lot of police procedure type books view it.
Thanks to the author, publisher and Rachel at Random Resources. I read and reviewed voluntarily.
September 5, 2019
The story opens with the murder of a young woman while out jogging. It becomes tied to another case where a woman was killed in the same way but what links the two victims? One was a drug addict, the other on the verge of going to university.
When a third woman’s body is found it’s up to DI Matthew Merry and DS Julie Lukulu to find the murderer before they claim their fourth victim.
The Fourth Victim is a solid police procedural with realistic characters and some really heartbreaking scenes.
There is also a theme of mental health running through the book, it also highlights the lack of funding/time that is spent on those suffering from mental illness in Britain. I could get on my soap box about this but I don’t think it’s quite the place in this review.
I have to be honest, while I found them both intriguing, I didn’t warm to the two main police officers, Merry and Lukula, all that much which was a bit of a shame. Also there were several different points of view in each chapter which were not as clearly defined as I would have liked.
The Fourth Victim is an intense police procedural with a great pace and plenty of intrigue.
When a third woman’s body is found it’s up to DI Matthew Merry and DS Julie Lukulu to find the murderer before they claim their fourth victim.
The Fourth Victim is a solid police procedural with realistic characters and some really heartbreaking scenes.
There is also a theme of mental health running through the book, it also highlights the lack of funding/time that is spent on those suffering from mental illness in Britain. I could get on my soap box about this but I don’t think it’s quite the place in this review.
I have to be honest, while I found them both intriguing, I didn’t warm to the two main police officers, Merry and Lukula, all that much which was a bit of a shame. Also there were several different points of view in each chapter which were not as clearly defined as I would have liked.
The Fourth Victim is an intense police procedural with a great pace and plenty of intrigue.
September 5, 2019
This starts with one murder but things soon escalate . . . . Is it one perpetrator, a serial killer, or are there more killers out there? Inspector Matthew Merry had been told he's to have a desk job, leaving the Murder Investigation Team East, but fate intervenes and he has to take the lead with multiple murders to investigate. This is the first story I've read involving him and he initially is portrayed as somewhat lackadaisical, laid back and reticent but that impression changes as the story progresses - think Columbo but better presented! He may not appear to be astute but appearances are definitely deceptive!
This is an action packed crime investigation/murder mystery story where the characters are brought to life, warts and all. They are all an eclectic mix, with so many layers to investigate as you get to know them as the story develops. With potential romances, adultery, murder, mystery, suspense and medical issues, this isn't a straightforward story and definitely felt real, sharing the feelings of characters and their responses throughout the story. It is an intriguing, fast paced page turner that has plenty of surprises and shocking revelations as the investigations develop, keeping you guessing. I'm hoping it will be developed into a series and if it does I really hope to read any future books!
I requested and was gifted a copy of this book. I have chosen to read it and this is my honest review after doing so.
This is an action packed crime investigation/murder mystery story where the characters are brought to life, warts and all. They are all an eclectic mix, with so many layers to investigate as you get to know them as the story develops. With potential romances, adultery, murder, mystery, suspense and medical issues, this isn't a straightforward story and definitely felt real, sharing the feelings of characters and their responses throughout the story. It is an intriguing, fast paced page turner that has plenty of surprises and shocking revelations as the investigations develop, keeping you guessing. I'm hoping it will be developed into a series and if it does I really hope to read any future books!
I requested and was gifted a copy of this book. I have chosen to read it and this is my honest review after doing so.
September 6, 2019
I have read quite a number of police procedurals so within the first 50 pages I thought that it was heading in the same direction that many others have taken, especially with the victims being young blonde women. However, that wasn’t the case at all, it took a completely different path.
I had one main issue with this book and that is the structure. I love multiple points of view, it gives you different vantage points of the story, however this usually happens with each new chapter. Here we had points of view changing every paragraph or two. This made it so difficult at first to actually feel connected with the book. I also had to keep referring back to earlier chapters to realise who the characters were.
I wish that I could go into full detail about this case but you know the drill, the less you know the more you will enjoy the book! I love the main focus of the investigation it really made you think how many killers do we have here? I’m no professional but I feel like it was done really well. I also really enjoyed the twists and turns that we were taken on with The Fourth Victim. This is one that I will definitely be recommending to those who enjoy this genre.
Read my full review here: https://feedthecrime.wordpress.com/20...
I had one main issue with this book and that is the structure. I love multiple points of view, it gives you different vantage points of the story, however this usually happens with each new chapter. Here we had points of view changing every paragraph or two. This made it so difficult at first to actually feel connected with the book. I also had to keep referring back to earlier chapters to realise who the characters were.
I wish that I could go into full detail about this case but you know the drill, the less you know the more you will enjoy the book! I love the main focus of the investigation it really made you think how many killers do we have here? I’m no professional but I feel like it was done really well. I also really enjoyed the twists and turns that we were taken on with The Fourth Victim. This is one that I will definitely be recommending to those who enjoy this genre.
Read my full review here: https://feedthecrime.wordpress.com/20...
September 6, 2019
I found this police procedural crime thriller both captivating and thrilling. It kept me turning the pages to discover more clues and try to figure out who the killer was.
The main characters, Inspector Matthew Merry and Detective Sergeant Julie Lukula were as different as chalk and cheese, but they worked well together to solve the case and catch the murderer.
It was a well-paced exciting story with twists and turns aplenty.
A small niggle for me, in what was otherwise a well-written and enthralling book, was that the DS was sometimes referred to as Julie and at other times as Lukula. There seemed to be no consistency or reason for it, and to start with I thought they were two different people which was somewhat confusing for a while.
The main characters, Inspector Matthew Merry and Detective Sergeant Julie Lukula were as different as chalk and cheese, but they worked well together to solve the case and catch the murderer.
It was a well-paced exciting story with twists and turns aplenty.
A small niggle for me, in what was otherwise a well-written and enthralling book, was that the DS was sometimes referred to as Julie and at other times as Lukula. There seemed to be no consistency or reason for it, and to start with I thought they were two different people which was somewhat confusing for a while.
September 7, 2019
Whitechapel is being gentrified. The many green spaces of the area, which typify London as a capital city, give the illusion of tranquility and clean air but are also places to find drug dealers, sexual encounters and murder…
Detective Sergeant Julie Lukula doesn’t dislike Inspector Matthew Merry but he has hardly set the world of the Murder Investigation Team East alight. And, it looks as if the inspector is already putting the death of the young female jogger, found in the park with fatal head injuries, down to a mugging gone wrong. The victim deserves more. However, the inspector isn’t ruling anything out - the evidence will, eventually, lead him to an answer.
Purchase Links
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fourth-Victi...
https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-...
https://wordery.com/the-fourth-victim...
https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/pro...
My Thoughts
Set in Whitechapel, a place with a history of murder stories, The Fourth Victim is a riveting police procedural with a heavy focus on the case and the police perspective.
A young woman's body is found in the park minutes after her murder and it initially appears as a senseless mugging gone wrong. The more officers Merry and Lukula look into it, the more they begin to realise there's more to it. Working against budgets and time, can they figure out the motive and suspect before another victim appears?
The first few chapters we a little confusing as there a lots of characters (sometimes referred to by their first names and sometimes surname) and it took me a while to get my head around everyone and their roles. It didn't take long and once I got into the flow of the book, it became pacier and easier to sink into.
I'm fascinated by the world of policing and although I never mind when it's glamourised and twisted for the sake of entertainment, it's refreshing when a story comes along that exposes the harsh reality of the job. John Mead does just that! He includes the everyday frustrations that really impact how fluid and efficient an investigation should be and really brings them to life.
Although there is a little insight into the leading characters and their lives, Mead keeps the narrative primarily focused on the crime and the police aspect and the solving of the crime. It keeps you guessing and changing your mind up until the big reveal through a range of suspects and clues with clever timing.
This is a good and realistic police procedural.
Detective Sergeant Julie Lukula doesn’t dislike Inspector Matthew Merry but he has hardly set the world of the Murder Investigation Team East alight. And, it looks as if the inspector is already putting the death of the young female jogger, found in the park with fatal head injuries, down to a mugging gone wrong. The victim deserves more. However, the inspector isn’t ruling anything out - the evidence will, eventually, lead him to an answer.
Purchase Links
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fourth-Victi...
https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-...
https://wordery.com/the-fourth-victim...
https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/pro...
My Thoughts
Set in Whitechapel, a place with a history of murder stories, The Fourth Victim is a riveting police procedural with a heavy focus on the case and the police perspective.
A young woman's body is found in the park minutes after her murder and it initially appears as a senseless mugging gone wrong. The more officers Merry and Lukula look into it, the more they begin to realise there's more to it. Working against budgets and time, can they figure out the motive and suspect before another victim appears?
The first few chapters we a little confusing as there a lots of characters (sometimes referred to by their first names and sometimes surname) and it took me a while to get my head around everyone and their roles. It didn't take long and once I got into the flow of the book, it became pacier and easier to sink into.
I'm fascinated by the world of policing and although I never mind when it's glamourised and twisted for the sake of entertainment, it's refreshing when a story comes along that exposes the harsh reality of the job. John Mead does just that! He includes the everyday frustrations that really impact how fluid and efficient an investigation should be and really brings them to life.
Although there is a little insight into the leading characters and their lives, Mead keeps the narrative primarily focused on the crime and the police aspect and the solving of the crime. It keeps you guessing and changing your mind up until the big reveal through a range of suspects and clues with clever timing.
This is a good and realistic police procedural.
October 6, 2019
This was really not a great book. The writing was full of grammatical errors, with many, many sentences joined by commas, and multiple incorrect spellings: 'text' for 'texted', 'draw' for 'drawer' and (my favourite) 'spritely' for 'sprightly'.
Then there was the plot, based on that old chestnut , and the extremely sexually active police officers. DI Merry at first appeared to be a bit of a beta hero, but by the end almost every female character in the novel had slept with him (apart from Julie, who was a lesbian).
It wasn't all bad, I suppose - I did read it to the end, after all.
Then there was the plot, based on that old chestnut , and the extremely sexually active police officers. DI Merry at first appeared to be a bit of a beta hero, but by the end almost every female character in the novel had slept with him (apart from Julie, who was a lesbian).
It wasn't all bad, I suppose - I did read it to the end, after all.
November 13, 2018
Realistic descriptions of police work, and depiction of area. Interestingly flawed characters. Clever idea.
But, it was obvious who was responsible from the moment they appeared, it was hard to tell whose thoughts one was reading, or who was speaking at times, it needs a bit of tidying up and tightening up. Sometimes it didn't flow well and the characters were a bit too flawed.
It's an okay police procedural but I've read better.
But, it was obvious who was responsible from the moment they appeared, it was hard to tell whose thoughts one was reading, or who was speaking at times, it needs a bit of tidying up and tightening up. Sometimes it didn't flow well and the characters were a bit too flawed.
It's an okay police procedural but I've read better.
November 2, 2018
Reasonable police procedural. More on the blog tour
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