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The Seventh Victim
Imagine receiving a letter from your son’s murderer. Imagine starting to trust him.
What if the only person who can help you find your son is the man in prison for killing him?
A child taken. A mother on the hunt for the truth.
Twenty-five years after her son Zachery disappeared without trace, Diane Marshall receives a letter that overturns her world once again. The man convicted of killing 13 boys, Zachery among them, finally confesses to it all - except the murder of her son.
Armed with this new information and determined to discover the location of his body, Diane and the former DI in charge of the case start investigating. Somewhere out there, her son’s killer is waiting as the reckoning draws nearer. Sooner or later, the terrible truth - buried and undisturbed for a quarter of a century - will out.
What if the only person who can help you find your son is the man in prison for killing him?
A child taken. A mother on the hunt for the truth.
Twenty-five years after her son Zachery disappeared without trace, Diane Marshall receives a letter that overturns her world once again. The man convicted of killing 13 boys, Zachery among them, finally confesses to it all - except the murder of her son.
Armed with this new information and determined to discover the location of his body, Diane and the former DI in charge of the case start investigating. Somewhere out there, her son’s killer is waiting as the reckoning draws nearer. Sooner or later, the terrible truth - buried and undisturbed for a quarter of a century - will out.
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First published March 5, 2020
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April 6, 2023
In February 1996, Jonathan Egan – Walsh is caught red-handed mid-abduction of a seven year old boy. He is subsequently convicted and given a whole life tariff for multiple murders. However one mother, Diane Marshall, whose son Zachery has been missing since January 1993, has no body to bury although Egan-Walsh is convicted of his murder. Her life is one of living with the pain of not knowing. She can’t move on because how could she? In 2017 after the death of Jonathan Egan – Walsh, she receives a letter in which he denies the murder of Zachery. If not him, then who? Caroline Turner, the former DI in charge of the case along with author/journalist, Alex Frost, aided and abetted by Diane are determined to get some answers. Can the truth finally emerge, or will it remain forever buried?
First of all, the three main characters are very well portrayed with all of them living in various ways with the fallout of Egan – Walsh’s heinous crimes. Diane’s obvious pain is almost palpable and you are desperate for the poor woman to get an answer. Egan-Walsh’s evil comes across loud and clear either via interviews or his written words.
The setting in and around Skegness is very good and is used effectively in the storytelling. The novel eventually becomes more ominous in tone, there are a couple of good red herrings, and there are some plot twists and turns with feeling of intensity at times. It escalates towards the end which comes somewhat abruptly and I’m sorry to say is absolutely no surprise as I figured it out in the first half.
I love Michael Woods Matilda Darke series but this one is not in that league. It’s very slow especially in the first half where we seem to go via York, Carlisle and Glasgow to get to Skegness! It’s very long winded and has extraneous details that we simply don’t need. This is such a pity as it detracts from a good premise but I can’t get around the pace or the predictability of the ending hence the three stars.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to the publisher for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
First of all, the three main characters are very well portrayed with all of them living in various ways with the fallout of Egan – Walsh’s heinous crimes. Diane’s obvious pain is almost palpable and you are desperate for the poor woman to get an answer. Egan-Walsh’s evil comes across loud and clear either via interviews or his written words.
The setting in and around Skegness is very good and is used effectively in the storytelling. The novel eventually becomes more ominous in tone, there are a couple of good red herrings, and there are some plot twists and turns with feeling of intensity at times. It escalates towards the end which comes somewhat abruptly and I’m sorry to say is absolutely no surprise as I figured it out in the first half.
I love Michael Woods Matilda Darke series but this one is not in that league. It’s very slow especially in the first half where we seem to go via York, Carlisle and Glasgow to get to Skegness! It’s very long winded and has extraneous details that we simply don’t need. This is such a pity as it detracts from a good premise but I can’t get around the pace or the predictability of the ending hence the three stars.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to the publisher for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
May 31, 2023
EXCERPT: 'Hello, Sam. Sorry I'm late. Your mum called me from a phone box. She said she's going to be a bit late and you're to come and join Wesley and me at Burger King and she'll meet us there.'
Sam looked up at the tall, thin man. He had dark brown floppy hair and kept flicking his head whenever it flopped in front of his eyes. Sam frowned. 'It's me, Jonathan. I'm Wesley's older brother. Remember the Nativity play last year? I was the one filming.'
The penny dropped and Sam smiled as he recognised him.
'Mum said I shouldn't go off with strangers.'
'It's lucky I'm not a stranger, then.'
ABOUT 'THE SEVENTH VICTIM': Imagine receiving a letter from your son’s murderer. Imagine starting to trust him.
What if the only person who can help you find your son is the man in prison for killing him?
A child taken. A mother on the hunt for the truth.
Twenty-five years after her son Zachery disappeared without trace, Diane Marshall receives a letter that overturns her world once again. The man convicted of killing 13 boys, Zachery among them, finally confesses to it all - except the murder of her son.
Armed with this new information and determined to discover the location of his body, Diane and the former DI in charge of the case start investigating. Somewhere out there, her son’s killer is waiting as the reckoning draws nearer. Sooner or later, the terrible truth - buried and undisturbed for a quarter of a century - will out.
MY THOUGHTS: I'm sorry to say this, but The Seventh Victim lacks both the flow and the suspense of this author's Matilda Darke series. It didn't help that I caught on early on in the book just who Zachery's killer was.
Mostly The Seventh Victim deals with the aftermath of the murder of a child and the effect this has on those grieving the child's loss. It's a sad fact that relationships don't always survive the loss of a child, and nor do friendships. We all grieve differently and move through the stages of grief at different rates, and some people get stuck in a certain stage and never move on. Michael Wood acknowledges this and uses our differences as a basis for this novel.
The question is, is it better to have the body of the child returned, or to have the hope that your child is alive somewhere?
I enjoyed the story of Alex, a journalist, and his family which was interwoven into the main storyline.
Although my heart should have bled for Diane, I found her difficult to connect with. I absolutely detested her ex-husband.
Caroline Turner, an ex-DI, is an excellent character, and probably the one I related to most.
I liked but didn't love The Seventh Victim. I think I missed Michael Wood's trademark humour. While it's not an amazing read, it is still a good read with many interesting and viable twists.
⭐⭐⭐.5
#TheSeventhVictim #NetGalley
I: @michaelwoodbooks @onemorechapter
T: @MichaelHWood @OneMoreChapter
#contemporaryfiction #crime #familydrama #mystery
THE AUTHOR: Michael Wood is a freelance journalist and proofreader living in Sheffield. As a journalist he has covered many crime stories throughout Sheffield, gaining first-hand knowledge of police procedure. He also reviews books for CrimeSquad, a website dedicated to crime fiction.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of The
Seventh Victim by Michael Wood for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
Sam looked up at the tall, thin man. He had dark brown floppy hair and kept flicking his head whenever it flopped in front of his eyes. Sam frowned. 'It's me, Jonathan. I'm Wesley's older brother. Remember the Nativity play last year? I was the one filming.'
The penny dropped and Sam smiled as he recognised him.
'Mum said I shouldn't go off with strangers.'
'It's lucky I'm not a stranger, then.'
ABOUT 'THE SEVENTH VICTIM': Imagine receiving a letter from your son’s murderer. Imagine starting to trust him.
What if the only person who can help you find your son is the man in prison for killing him?
A child taken. A mother on the hunt for the truth.
Twenty-five years after her son Zachery disappeared without trace, Diane Marshall receives a letter that overturns her world once again. The man convicted of killing 13 boys, Zachery among them, finally confesses to it all - except the murder of her son.
Armed with this new information and determined to discover the location of his body, Diane and the former DI in charge of the case start investigating. Somewhere out there, her son’s killer is waiting as the reckoning draws nearer. Sooner or later, the terrible truth - buried and undisturbed for a quarter of a century - will out.
MY THOUGHTS: I'm sorry to say this, but The Seventh Victim lacks both the flow and the suspense of this author's Matilda Darke series. It didn't help that I caught on early on in the book just who Zachery's killer was.
Mostly The Seventh Victim deals with the aftermath of the murder of a child and the effect this has on those grieving the child's loss. It's a sad fact that relationships don't always survive the loss of a child, and nor do friendships. We all grieve differently and move through the stages of grief at different rates, and some people get stuck in a certain stage and never move on. Michael Wood acknowledges this and uses our differences as a basis for this novel.
The question is, is it better to have the body of the child returned, or to have the hope that your child is alive somewhere?
I enjoyed the story of Alex, a journalist, and his family which was interwoven into the main storyline.
Although my heart should have bled for Diane, I found her difficult to connect with. I absolutely detested her ex-husband.
Caroline Turner, an ex-DI, is an excellent character, and probably the one I related to most.
I liked but didn't love The Seventh Victim. I think I missed Michael Wood's trademark humour. While it's not an amazing read, it is still a good read with many interesting and viable twists.
⭐⭐⭐.5
#TheSeventhVictim #NetGalley
I: @michaelwoodbooks @onemorechapter
T: @MichaelHWood @OneMoreChapter
#contemporaryfiction #crime #familydrama #mystery
THE AUTHOR: Michael Wood is a freelance journalist and proofreader living in Sheffield. As a journalist he has covered many crime stories throughout Sheffield, gaining first-hand knowledge of police procedure. He also reviews books for CrimeSquad, a website dedicated to crime fiction.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of The
Seventh Victim by Michael Wood for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
May 29, 2023
Every parent's worst fear....
While attempting to abduct another child, Jonathan Egan-Walsh is arrested and charged with the murders of over a dozen boys. But there is one boy whose body was never recovered and Jonathan refuses to tell where Zachery Marshall's body is buried.
For twenty-five years, Zachery's mother, Diane, has not stopped looking for her son's body. Unfortunately, Jonathon dies in prison, and she fears she may never know, until she receives a letter that Jonathan has left for her informing her that he never had contact with her son. That he was not responsible for him going missing and he had no idea where her child was.
Caroline Turner, the former DI investigating the case, agrees to help Diane. They are joined by Alex Frost, a true crime author. Will they be able to uncover the truth about what happened to Zachery? Will Diane be able to bring her son's body home?
This book shows the emotional effects of losing a loved one in addition to what happens when you lose a loved one with no answers or body to bury. Diane can't move on with her life. Not like her ex-husband has done. She will never stop looking for answers no matter how hard it is for her or how it affects her relationships.
This is a book that explores grief, evil, deception, secrets, loss, and love. Wood has created a sympathetic character in Diane. She can't give up and she can't move on. I was invested in learning the truth and did not see the reveal coming. I enjoy being shocked twice in this book by what was revealed.
Wood is known for his brilliant DCI Matilda Darke series and readers should be aware that this book is not a police procedural as that series is. This is more about the search for the truth, about a mother's quest to find out what happened to her child, about secrets and about the truth.
Well written, gripping with a reveal that shocked me.
3.5 stars
Thank you to HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter, One More Chapter and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
While attempting to abduct another child, Jonathan Egan-Walsh is arrested and charged with the murders of over a dozen boys. But there is one boy whose body was never recovered and Jonathan refuses to tell where Zachery Marshall's body is buried.
For twenty-five years, Zachery's mother, Diane, has not stopped looking for her son's body. Unfortunately, Jonathon dies in prison, and she fears she may never know, until she receives a letter that Jonathan has left for her informing her that he never had contact with her son. That he was not responsible for him going missing and he had no idea where her child was.
Caroline Turner, the former DI investigating the case, agrees to help Diane. They are joined by Alex Frost, a true crime author. Will they be able to uncover the truth about what happened to Zachery? Will Diane be able to bring her son's body home?
This book shows the emotional effects of losing a loved one in addition to what happens when you lose a loved one with no answers or body to bury. Diane can't move on with her life. Not like her ex-husband has done. She will never stop looking for answers no matter how hard it is for her or how it affects her relationships.
This is a book that explores grief, evil, deception, secrets, loss, and love. Wood has created a sympathetic character in Diane. She can't give up and she can't move on. I was invested in learning the truth and did not see the reveal coming. I enjoy being shocked twice in this book by what was revealed.
Wood is known for his brilliant DCI Matilda Darke series and readers should be aware that this book is not a police procedural as that series is. This is more about the search for the truth, about a mother's quest to find out what happened to her child, about secrets and about the truth.
Well written, gripping with a reveal that shocked me.
3.5 stars
Thank you to HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter, One More Chapter and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
April 25, 2023
Firstly I would like to thank netgalley, and HarperCollins one more chapter UK,and the fantastic author Michael wood for an early copy of his book to read.
This author is fantastic his series Matilda Drake is Brilliant,This book is his first standalone read.Im always the same reading a new characters,A slow read it took me a while to get into this read after 20% in I started to get into the storyline. Jonathan Egan Walsh a child serial killer convicted of evil crimes,Diane a mother of Zachery who believed Jonathan killed her son as he was convicted of the crime but he was never found like the rest of the victims. Jonathan dies in prison leaving Diane a letter saying he did all the crimes but not her child...was he telling the truth? The ex retired cop caroline and a journalist Alex helping her find out what happened to Zachery...The ending was abit perdicable. Looking forward to his next book....
This book will be reviewed on goodreads, Amazon, waterstone's...
This author is fantastic his series Matilda Drake is Brilliant,This book is his first standalone read.Im always the same reading a new characters,A slow read it took me a while to get into this read after 20% in I started to get into the storyline. Jonathan Egan Walsh a child serial killer convicted of evil crimes,Diane a mother of Zachery who believed Jonathan killed her son as he was convicted of the crime but he was never found like the rest of the victims. Jonathan dies in prison leaving Diane a letter saying he did all the crimes but not her child...was he telling the truth? The ex retired cop caroline and a journalist Alex helping her find out what happened to Zachery...The ending was abit perdicable. Looking forward to his next book....
This book will be reviewed on goodreads, Amazon, waterstone's...
May 15, 2023
One thing I like about Michael's books is that there is no long, dragged out introductions into the story, it starts off and your immediately submerged into whatever plot lays in wait.
A mother's courage starts this one off with a bang, unknowingly capturing a serial killer in the most unlikely way. John, born out of cruelty inflicted on his mother, lives up to his mother's prediction that he is evil born from evil. This book is brutal with lots of different emotional baggage. 13 victims, one that was never found and a mother who can not move on until her little boys body is found. A twist not anticipated keeps you invested.
There are a few characters that have been touched emotionally by John, who is behind bars and spans over 20 years. The emotional levels in this book touches the reader in different ways. I felt angry towards one, admiring another who steps up and saddened that it worked out the way it did.
Another great, gripping, gut wrenching book from Michael, I wouldn't expect anything less!
Thank you Netgalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for sending me this widget to read and review for republication.
A mother's courage starts this one off with a bang, unknowingly capturing a serial killer in the most unlikely way. John, born out of cruelty inflicted on his mother, lives up to his mother's prediction that he is evil born from evil. This book is brutal with lots of different emotional baggage. 13 victims, one that was never found and a mother who can not move on until her little boys body is found. A twist not anticipated keeps you invested.
There are a few characters that have been touched emotionally by John, who is behind bars and spans over 20 years. The emotional levels in this book touches the reader in different ways. I felt angry towards one, admiring another who steps up and saddened that it worked out the way it did.
Another great, gripping, gut wrenching book from Michael, I wouldn't expect anything less!
Thank you Netgalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for sending me this widget to read and review for republication.
March 4, 2020
Tight knots, heavy pasts, mistakes, guilt, horror, and a tremendous amount of tension. The Seventh Victim was an intense read, one that had me staying up at night listening to the perfect interpretations of top-notch narrators who breathed life many people’s nightmare.
I have met many bad guys – serial killers, rapists, demons with human faces, but few ever felt as devilish and real as Jonathan Egan Walsh, convicted of having killed thirteen boys, including Diane Marshall’s son Zachary. 25 years later, and beaten by cancer, this monster plays his final card, a tease to make sure all those involved in his case would not forget him. Living separately, those scarred people are reunited when Diane Marshall receives a letter from the dead guy saying he had nothing to do with her son’s disappearance.
Oh the pain. Pains, in fact. Agony oozes from the voices of the characters. A mother’s cry for the truth, a DI forced out of her job by a haunting case that pervaded her personal life. A journalist who got burned the pages of the book he has written. Michael Wood reunited quite a cast to build what I can only describe as a giant thriller bomb. A very ugly bomb and very old bomb left brewing for too long.
If the novel begins in the past, with the account of Jonathan Egan Walsh’s arrest, his prosecution, and many facts about the case of so many kidnapped and/or killed boys, it becomes personal really fast. I had no idea what to expect, so I was surprised to connect easily with the characters. I love Joanne Froggatt and she proves once again how brilliant she is by making me feel so close to the women in Michael’s novel. His superb characterisation is served by amazing narrators who gave me tears, goosebumps, ‘oh’ moments, and made the listening of this audiobook a unique experience.
The plot is excellent. I could write ten paragraphs listing the reasons why but I don’t think it is necessary. Eerything flows – the days, the horrendous discoveries, the long hours, the not-knowing… I loved hating Jonathan, and I loved taking the good guys’ side, even more when chapters reminded me they were only humans too, with their own dark sides…
The not-knowing… Can you trust a man who has killed little boys and never admitted his crimes? There was no room in my heart for Jonathan, yet I found myself captivated by his story, eager to crack the shell and finally get answers that time had kept hidden but not lost. Early on, my sleuth skills were on high alert and I draw my personal list of suspects. After all, what if he was telling the truth… for once? Then who could have benefited from Jonathan’s acts and his being convicted, giving them the perfect way out for a murder? The guessing-game was enhanced by the fact the investigation is not police-led, but driven by three people who have suffered from the hand of a ruthless man who has destroyed more lives than his files take into account. The pace was going up and down, just like my pulse, jumping from those moments when nothing makes sense and nothing happens, those moments you are lost in your head and your grief, to breakthroughs that I knew could not bring happiness in the end… Michael Wood knows how to keep you awake!
I must apologise to my neighbours, who have probably heard me yell ‘I KNEW IT’ when I reached the end of the book and saw my suspicions confirmed. What a feeling!! Not just because I love being right, but because the author has written such cracking case that after all those incredible hours spent wandering all paths to find the truth, I was rewarded with a brilliant and heart-wrenchingly ugly ending. The realistic and terrible kind of ending that make my heart beg for more. I love Diane and her mother, Catherine and Jaimie, Alex and his daughter and wife. The book is 11 hours long, but their stories spans twenty-five years, so when it was time to say goodbye, I was ready. I am happy I met them, shared their darkness, and that we reached the other side together.
I highly recommend The Seventh Victim to anyone looking for a must-listen audiobook of 2020!
I have met many bad guys – serial killers, rapists, demons with human faces, but few ever felt as devilish and real as Jonathan Egan Walsh, convicted of having killed thirteen boys, including Diane Marshall’s son Zachary. 25 years later, and beaten by cancer, this monster plays his final card, a tease to make sure all those involved in his case would not forget him. Living separately, those scarred people are reunited when Diane Marshall receives a letter from the dead guy saying he had nothing to do with her son’s disappearance.
Oh the pain. Pains, in fact. Agony oozes from the voices of the characters. A mother’s cry for the truth, a DI forced out of her job by a haunting case that pervaded her personal life. A journalist who got burned the pages of the book he has written. Michael Wood reunited quite a cast to build what I can only describe as a giant thriller bomb. A very ugly bomb and very old bomb left brewing for too long.
If the novel begins in the past, with the account of Jonathan Egan Walsh’s arrest, his prosecution, and many facts about the case of so many kidnapped and/or killed boys, it becomes personal really fast. I had no idea what to expect, so I was surprised to connect easily with the characters. I love Joanne Froggatt and she proves once again how brilliant she is by making me feel so close to the women in Michael’s novel. His superb characterisation is served by amazing narrators who gave me tears, goosebumps, ‘oh’ moments, and made the listening of this audiobook a unique experience.
The plot is excellent. I could write ten paragraphs listing the reasons why but I don’t think it is necessary. Eerything flows – the days, the horrendous discoveries, the long hours, the not-knowing… I loved hating Jonathan, and I loved taking the good guys’ side, even more when chapters reminded me they were only humans too, with their own dark sides…
The not-knowing… Can you trust a man who has killed little boys and never admitted his crimes? There was no room in my heart for Jonathan, yet I found myself captivated by his story, eager to crack the shell and finally get answers that time had kept hidden but not lost. Early on, my sleuth skills were on high alert and I draw my personal list of suspects. After all, what if he was telling the truth… for once? Then who could have benefited from Jonathan’s acts and his being convicted, giving them the perfect way out for a murder? The guessing-game was enhanced by the fact the investigation is not police-led, but driven by three people who have suffered from the hand of a ruthless man who has destroyed more lives than his files take into account. The pace was going up and down, just like my pulse, jumping from those moments when nothing makes sense and nothing happens, those moments you are lost in your head and your grief, to breakthroughs that I knew could not bring happiness in the end… Michael Wood knows how to keep you awake!
I must apologise to my neighbours, who have probably heard me yell ‘I KNEW IT’ when I reached the end of the book and saw my suspicions confirmed. What a feeling!! Not just because I love being right, but because the author has written such cracking case that after all those incredible hours spent wandering all paths to find the truth, I was rewarded with a brilliant and heart-wrenchingly ugly ending. The realistic and terrible kind of ending that make my heart beg for more. I love Diane and her mother, Catherine and Jaimie, Alex and his daughter and wife. The book is 11 hours long, but their stories spans twenty-five years, so when it was time to say goodbye, I was ready. I am happy I met them, shared their darkness, and that we reached the other side together.
I highly recommend The Seventh Victim to anyone looking for a must-listen audiobook of 2020!
August 25, 2020
My second audiobook and I really loved the narration this time. Mathew Horne gave a voice to Jonathan Egan-Walsh and Joanne Froggatt narrated all of the women’s voices and I loved listening to her outstanding performance in particular. A trembling voice, shouting with the right amount of anger, she did it all very naturally. I especially loved hearing Hannah, Diane’s mother in the story, she really sounded old!
I’d almost forget to talk about the story itself which was a heart-breaking one although it didn’t break my heart but for the chapters from Jonathan Egan-Walsh, where he tells a little about some of the boys he took. It’s normal in his head, which makes it more shocking to the reader to hear him talking so casually about it. I still don’t really know why he killed them because some of them appeared – his words – happy. Did he just grow tired of them, were they not enough? I was unwillingly fascinated and actually wanted to hear even more from him but the novel focuses on Diane, the woman whose life stood still since the day her little boy Zachery went missing, her ex-husband who tried to move on, and it highlights the difficult relationship with her younger son Markus who suffered greatly throughout the years after his brother went missing.
Retired DC Caroline Turner and her husband Jamie, and Alex Frost, his daughter and his wife Melanie, also each have their own personal and interesting stories to tell while investigating Jonathan’s claim.
It takes a while to fully take off and the mystery stays at the same stage of development for a while but there are twists and turns in the end. I had a hunch how it would end though from very early on so I didn’t feel that elation as others might have had. I liked it overall but didn’t find it a very extraordinary story, we’ve read this plotline before and I think it’s mostly the secondary characters Caroline Turner and Alex Frost and the snippets of Jonathan made it memorable.
I’d almost forget to talk about the story itself which was a heart-breaking one although it didn’t break my heart but for the chapters from Jonathan Egan-Walsh, where he tells a little about some of the boys he took. It’s normal in his head, which makes it more shocking to the reader to hear him talking so casually about it. I still don’t really know why he killed them because some of them appeared – his words – happy. Did he just grow tired of them, were they not enough? I was unwillingly fascinated and actually wanted to hear even more from him but the novel focuses on Diane, the woman whose life stood still since the day her little boy Zachery went missing, her ex-husband who tried to move on, and it highlights the difficult relationship with her younger son Markus who suffered greatly throughout the years after his brother went missing.
Retired DC Caroline Turner and her husband Jamie, and Alex Frost, his daughter and his wife Melanie, also each have their own personal and interesting stories to tell while investigating Jonathan’s claim.
It takes a while to fully take off and the mystery stays at the same stage of development for a while but there are twists and turns in the end. I had a hunch how it would end though from very early on so I didn’t feel that elation as others might have had. I liked it overall but didn’t find it a very extraordinary story, we’ve read this plotline before and I think it’s mostly the secondary characters Caroline Turner and Alex Frost and the snippets of Jonathan made it memorable.
May 30, 2023
Any book by this author is a must read for me. This is a standalone and what a Read!!!! A real page Turner which I devoured in one sitting. Sat on the edge of my seat and constantly holding my breath. I promised myself just one more page, then one more chapter but it never happened. I finally turned the last page at 3am. Yes this book is that good. A dark read with a back story that made me cringe. The main story. Is a mother's grief after 25 years of missing her son will she finally get the truth and will she want the truth???. A powerful and emotional read. A little boy goes missing is only the beginning. This author has done it again!!!!!!
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.
March 12, 2023
I am a HUGE fan of the Matilda Darke series, so of course I couldn’t wait to read The Seventh Victim, a standalone crime thriller by the hugely talented Michael Wood. Give Michael Wood his due he knows how to get the reader’s attention from the off, with a gripping first chapter that offers a hint of what lies ahead. The book deals with the horrifying subject of child abuse, which was quite difficult to read about at times, so be warned! I guess the burning question is ‘is Michael Wood standalone novel as riveting as the Matilda Darke series?’ It’s definitely a HELL YES from me!
Jonathan Egan-Walsh was arrested and charged with murders of more than a dozen boys. Sentenced to life imprisonment, he never reveals the body of one victim, Zachery. Diane, Zachery’s mother, is living in limbo, twenty-five years after losing her son. She is still searching for answers. When Jonathan dies, she receives word that he was not responsible for her son’s death. With the help of true crime author Alex and former DI Caroline Turner, Diane is determined to discover who killed her son.
Surprisingly, The Seventh Victim main focus isn’t the criminal investigation, it’s more an exploration of the aftermath of a murder, and how the ones left behind lives are changed forever. I appreciated the way the author incorporated other characters whose life had been permanently changed by the killings. The mother left without answers, the DI in charge of the original case, the journalist who wrote a book about Walsh. The emotions of the characters felt authentic and very raw. You feel their pain, frustration, anger, desperation and guilt that have grown with each year that passes.
Without a doubt Jonathan Egan-Walsh is the worse kind of twisted predator! He’s depraved, sickening, and his lack of remorse sent shivers down my spine! The story is peppered with chapters narrated by Walsh, giving the reader a sickening insight into the dark, disturbed and perverted mind of a child serial killer. Michael Wood pulls no punches. These chapters are disturbing, heartbreaking and disquieting to read. Tension and suspense bubble away below the surface, urging the readers onwards to the shocking conclusion. The Seventh Victim is an intense character-driven crime thriller that’s dark, disturbing and seriously twisted.
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Jonathan Egan-Walsh was arrested and charged with murders of more than a dozen boys. Sentenced to life imprisonment, he never reveals the body of one victim, Zachery. Diane, Zachery’s mother, is living in limbo, twenty-five years after losing her son. She is still searching for answers. When Jonathan dies, she receives word that he was not responsible for her son’s death. With the help of true crime author Alex and former DI Caroline Turner, Diane is determined to discover who killed her son.
Surprisingly, The Seventh Victim main focus isn’t the criminal investigation, it’s more an exploration of the aftermath of a murder, and how the ones left behind lives are changed forever. I appreciated the way the author incorporated other characters whose life had been permanently changed by the killings. The mother left without answers, the DI in charge of the original case, the journalist who wrote a book about Walsh. The emotions of the characters felt authentic and very raw. You feel their pain, frustration, anger, desperation and guilt that have grown with each year that passes.
Without a doubt Jonathan Egan-Walsh is the worse kind of twisted predator! He’s depraved, sickening, and his lack of remorse sent shivers down my spine! The story is peppered with chapters narrated by Walsh, giving the reader a sickening insight into the dark, disturbed and perverted mind of a child serial killer. Michael Wood pulls no punches. These chapters are disturbing, heartbreaking and disquieting to read. Tension and suspense bubble away below the surface, urging the readers onwards to the shocking conclusion. The Seventh Victim is an intense character-driven crime thriller that’s dark, disturbing and seriously twisted.
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July 30, 2023
When Johnathon Egan-Walsh is caught in the middle of attempting to abduct a young boy in 1996 the true depravity of his crimes is revealed as he is found out to be the serial killer of thirteen young boys. Every body is found apart from Zachery Marshall’s and 25 years later his mum is still looking for answers from the murderer.
I devoured this , first by this author but won’t be the last
I devoured this , first by this author but won’t be the last
August 9, 2020
3.5*
Twenty five years ago Diane Marshall’s son Zachery disappeared. No trace of him had ever been found. Thought to have been a victim of serial killer Jonathan Egan Walsh, who was convicted of killing the thirteen boys whose remains were discovered, Diane has held on to the hope that Jonathan would disclose where he buried Zachery. Many lives have been destroyed by the killer, not least of all Diane’s. Her marriage disintegrated and her relationship with her elder son has suffered over the years. Now Jonathan, who has terminal cancer, has written to Diane confessing to the murder of the thirteen but not to the murder of her son.
Not knowing what the think about what was written in the letter, Diane took it to the police, believing it at least warranted investigating. The police didn’t agree, putting it down to Jonathan playing the mind games he had been so good at. Diane, who is unable to let go and move on until she finds Zachery, decides to track down the original investigating officer, former DI Caroline Turner, whose own life was altered by the case. Aided by Jonathan’s biographer, Alex Frost, whose family life was also changed drastically due to being involved in the original case, they begin to investigate.
The pace fluctuated, corresponding with the realistic, if slightly drawn out, way the plot unfolded, driven by three people with their own personal demons, who were invested in finding out the truth. The subject matter is chilling and it was easy to feel for Diane, although the point, which came across from the start, that she couldn’t move on with her life until she had found out what had happened to Zachery became too repetitive. The character observation was well done, I did guess the perpetrator but didn’t expect the actual ending. It made me wonder if there was going to be a sequel.
I was surprised to find I didn’t really enjoy Joanne Froggatt’s narration. She read so quickly at times, it was as if she was rushing to get the words out and there were odd little pauses now and again. Distinctions were made between the characters’ voices so that was a plus. Mathew Horne just narrated the serial killer sections, which were good and quite creepy, but it might have been better had he done the other male characters as well. On this occasion reading would have worked better for me had that format been available.
Twenty five years ago Diane Marshall’s son Zachery disappeared. No trace of him had ever been found. Thought to have been a victim of serial killer Jonathan Egan Walsh, who was convicted of killing the thirteen boys whose remains were discovered, Diane has held on to the hope that Jonathan would disclose where he buried Zachery. Many lives have been destroyed by the killer, not least of all Diane’s. Her marriage disintegrated and her relationship with her elder son has suffered over the years. Now Jonathan, who has terminal cancer, has written to Diane confessing to the murder of the thirteen but not to the murder of her son.
Not knowing what the think about what was written in the letter, Diane took it to the police, believing it at least warranted investigating. The police didn’t agree, putting it down to Jonathan playing the mind games he had been so good at. Diane, who is unable to let go and move on until she finds Zachery, decides to track down the original investigating officer, former DI Caroline Turner, whose own life was altered by the case. Aided by Jonathan’s biographer, Alex Frost, whose family life was also changed drastically due to being involved in the original case, they begin to investigate.
The pace fluctuated, corresponding with the realistic, if slightly drawn out, way the plot unfolded, driven by three people with their own personal demons, who were invested in finding out the truth. The subject matter is chilling and it was easy to feel for Diane, although the point, which came across from the start, that she couldn’t move on with her life until she had found out what had happened to Zachery became too repetitive. The character observation was well done, I did guess the perpetrator but didn’t expect the actual ending. It made me wonder if there was going to be a sequel.
I was surprised to find I didn’t really enjoy Joanne Froggatt’s narration. She read so quickly at times, it was as if she was rushing to get the words out and there were odd little pauses now and again. Distinctions were made between the characters’ voices so that was a plus. Mathew Horne just narrated the serial killer sections, which were good and quite creepy, but it might have been better had he done the other male characters as well. On this occasion reading would have worked better for me had that format been available.
March 23, 2023
Imagine receiving a letter from your son’s murderer. Imagine starting to trust him.
What if the only person who can help you find your son is the man in prison for killing him?
A child taken. A mother on the hunt for the truth.
Once again another brilliant book in the Matilda Darke series. It never ceases to amaze me how clever authors can be, this is another well thought story that completely held my attention late into the night. Jonathan Egan, a convicted child killer dies in jail and leaves a letter to a mother of a boy Zachery who she believes was killed by Jonathan but Jonathan denies her boy died from his hands so now the search is on to find out the truth and discover what really happened to this child. Such a heartbreaking situation, there is nothing like a mothers love for her child and you can feel the emotion emitting from the pages, Michael Wood does a fabulous job of conveying this across to the reader.
Always intense, Michael Wood had me gripped to the pages and when I wish to give up my precious sleep I know I am reading another winner. This series was introduced to me by one of my Goodreads friends and I am forever grateful, I really can't recommend these books highly enough and cannot wait for the next. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy, all opinions are my own.
What if the only person who can help you find your son is the man in prison for killing him?
A child taken. A mother on the hunt for the truth.
Once again another brilliant book in the Matilda Darke series. It never ceases to amaze me how clever authors can be, this is another well thought story that completely held my attention late into the night. Jonathan Egan, a convicted child killer dies in jail and leaves a letter to a mother of a boy Zachery who she believes was killed by Jonathan but Jonathan denies her boy died from his hands so now the search is on to find out the truth and discover what really happened to this child. Such a heartbreaking situation, there is nothing like a mothers love for her child and you can feel the emotion emitting from the pages, Michael Wood does a fabulous job of conveying this across to the reader.
Always intense, Michael Wood had me gripped to the pages and when I wish to give up my precious sleep I know I am reading another winner. This series was introduced to me by one of my Goodreads friends and I am forever grateful, I really can't recommend these books highly enough and cannot wait for the next. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy, all opinions are my own.
March 5, 2020
Wow this was a such good audiobook! It was very different to my usual listens, but one that I’m very pleased to have had the chance to listen to.
This book definitely took me out of my comfort zone. I definitely couldn’t have listened to this when my son was the same age as the abducted boys. I would’ve been out of mind with worry and probably wouldn’t have let him leave the house without me! That’s how realistic it came across to me.
All the characters were like real people, particularly Diane Marshall, former DI Caroline Turner, Alex Frost Jonathan’s biographer and Hannah Diane’s mother. I got so involved in this audiobook and the main characters’ personal stories, that at times I almost felt like I was watching a TV series.
I had my suspicions about what had happened to Zachary, but as I’m not always great at guessing ‘who dunnit’, I put it to the back of mind and enjoyed the twists and turns in this compelling story.
I absolutely loved Joanne Froggatt’s narration, she portrayed the different characters with such a fantastic range of distinct voices, it was incredible! Matthew Horne only voiced the serial killer, and I’m glad as he made my fresh creep! This is definitely one of the best narrated audiobooks I’ve ever listened to and I listen to a lot.
I wholeheartedly recommend this audio to crime lovers, especially those of you who enjoy stories featuring serial killers.
This book definitely took me out of my comfort zone. I definitely couldn’t have listened to this when my son was the same age as the abducted boys. I would’ve been out of mind with worry and probably wouldn’t have let him leave the house without me! That’s how realistic it came across to me.
All the characters were like real people, particularly Diane Marshall, former DI Caroline Turner, Alex Frost Jonathan’s biographer and Hannah Diane’s mother. I got so involved in this audiobook and the main characters’ personal stories, that at times I almost felt like I was watching a TV series.
I had my suspicions about what had happened to Zachary, but as I’m not always great at guessing ‘who dunnit’, I put it to the back of mind and enjoyed the twists and turns in this compelling story.
I absolutely loved Joanne Froggatt’s narration, she portrayed the different characters with such a fantastic range of distinct voices, it was incredible! Matthew Horne only voiced the serial killer, and I’m glad as he made my fresh creep! This is definitely one of the best narrated audiobooks I’ve ever listened to and I listen to a lot.
I wholeheartedly recommend this audio to crime lovers, especially those of you who enjoy stories featuring serial killers.
June 4, 2023
This was kinda a disappointment. The beginning was ok, but as the story was moving along I felt like I just wanted it to be over. Slow moving, I figured out what the outcome was going to be—so no surprises, there wasn’t that gasp of “I did not see that coming”, & I thought it could have ended about 75% in.
April 13, 2021
Excellent. I enjoyed it. I had this read to me on Audible.
September 21, 2024
In this book, the mother of a missing child, presumed to have been killed by a pedophile and serial-killer of young boys, 25-years later, remains obsessed with finding her child. When the killer dies, admitting his crimes, but denying responsibility for the death of that one child, it re-invigorates the quest for answers.
This is a book about the devastating effects of the actions of one man on the families left behind, the detective who could not solve the case, and the writer who told the killer’s story.
It’s hard not to feel for these people whose lives were all destroyed in different ways.
This was a page-turner for me. The ending was not a total surprise but left me slightly unsatisfied.
This is a book about the devastating effects of the actions of one man on the families left behind, the detective who could not solve the case, and the writer who told the killer’s story.
It’s hard not to feel for these people whose lives were all destroyed in different ways.
This was a page-turner for me. The ending was not a total surprise but left me slightly unsatisfied.
February 26, 2024
3.5 Stars. Rather slow at first. Although published in 2020, this is definitely missing the thriller element of Mr Wood's Matilda Darke novels.
May 15, 2023
I’ve read all of the Matilda Darke series and I’m OBSESSED, so I know this stand-alone from Michael Wood would be exceptional.
How would you feel if you was Diane ?
You think your son was murdered by a prolific serial killer but you have no body to lay him to rest and get closure but when the killer dies he leaves you a letter denying he murdered your son.
Diane is a woman after my own heart she’s not stopped trying to find out what happened to her son and now 25 years later aided by ex DI Caroline Turner ( part of the original investigation) and Journalist/Writer Alex Frost, they will try to uncover the truth.
I was gripped all the way to the last page, Diane’s grief, hope and determination to find out what happed to her son Zachary carried me all the way to the end.
The whole story was so raw and real, in parts I felt like as an intruder into Diane’s struggles.
I can’t spoiler too much but please pick this up it’s the perfect book if you love Crime/Thriller/Dark/Mystery.
Thanks again Michael Wood, you never disappoint.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC
How would you feel if you was Diane ?
You think your son was murdered by a prolific serial killer but you have no body to lay him to rest and get closure but when the killer dies he leaves you a letter denying he murdered your son.
Diane is a woman after my own heart she’s not stopped trying to find out what happened to her son and now 25 years later aided by ex DI Caroline Turner ( part of the original investigation) and Journalist/Writer Alex Frost, they will try to uncover the truth.
I was gripped all the way to the last page, Diane’s grief, hope and determination to find out what happed to her son Zachary carried me all the way to the end.
The whole story was so raw and real, in parts I felt like as an intruder into Diane’s struggles.
I can’t spoiler too much but please pick this up it’s the perfect book if you love Crime/Thriller/Dark/Mystery.
Thanks again Michael Wood, you never disappoint.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC
December 26, 2023
Really enjoyed this one, I’m not sure why but I like serial killer stories. The Seventh One didn’t disappoint until the end, which was very anticlimactic and predictable. I knew what was coming but really hoped the author was giving me a red herring, but sadly not. However, this is the third Michael Wood book I’ve listened to and it definitely won’t be my last.
April 17, 2023
The Seventh Victim is the new standalone thriller from Michael Wood. It’s billed as dark, twisting and captivating and it certainly lives up to that. During the 1990’s a number of children disappear. Months later their bodies are found, wrapped in a sheet and washed clean of all evidence. The killer, Jonathan Egan-Walsh, is apprehended and imprisoned but for one family, twenty five years later, their son Zachery Marshall still hasn’t been found. Following Jonathan’s death, a letter is discovered where he admits he is guilty of all crimes except that of the murder of Zachery. Zachery’s mother Diane is determined to do all she can to find her son. Dark and intense this book will keep you hooked until the end. Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter and the author for the chance to review.
June 26, 2023
Great characters, fabulous writing; dark subject matter but genuinely unputdownable.
February 7, 2024
Gripping from start to finish
May 23, 2020
I love Michael Wood's Matilda Darke crime fiction series so it was a certainty that this was going to be a purchase as soon as I heard it was coming out on audible, although different, it didn't disappoint.
This is the story of a serial killer who served a lifetime in prison, literally because he is now dead. But... he wrote a letter that denies the murder of one boy whose mother is still searching for his body, she wants to bury him twenty-five years later.
I listened to this during lockdown whilst doing tapestry, so my pretty cushion is threaded through with brilliant storytelling!
This is the story of a serial killer who served a lifetime in prison, literally because he is now dead. But... he wrote a letter that denies the murder of one boy whose mother is still searching for his body, she wants to bury him twenty-five years later.
I listened to this during lockdown whilst doing tapestry, so my pretty cushion is threaded through with brilliant storytelling!
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June 18, 2023First of all,I must admit to loving this author’s work, specifically the Matilda Darke series.
I’m one of Matilda’s team,have partaken of the delicious treats in Sian’s treat drawer and helped solve countless murders!
Sadly,this book didn’t live up to my huge expectations of this author and,at times,had me questioning if he had in fact penned this story.
While the initial idea was well conceived,the execution of it lead to needless repetition and left me wanting more.
I applaud this author’s desire to venture into the ‘unknown’ with different characters and plots etc. but for me,I missed the thrill of the chase,the camaraderie between the team members and the police procedural that has me hooked as a quasi member of the team from the get go.
I’m one of Matilda’s team,have partaken of the delicious treats in Sian’s treat drawer and helped solve countless murders!
Sadly,this book didn’t live up to my huge expectations of this author and,at times,had me questioning if he had in fact penned this story.
While the initial idea was well conceived,the execution of it lead to needless repetition and left me wanting more.
I applaud this author’s desire to venture into the ‘unknown’ with different characters and plots etc. but for me,I missed the thrill of the chase,the camaraderie between the team members and the police procedural that has me hooked as a quasi member of the team from the get go.
March 15, 2022
This is not the kind of novel I would normally choose; I read / listen to books as escapism so a tale about a serial child killer from Lincolnshire was even more discomforting than it should have been. Froggatt reads the story well, although I didn't particularly rate the brief moments of Horne as the killer... for a start, he's meant to be from Skegness and Horne was reading in his usual accent.
It was a well-told tale. I sort of guessed the outcome, although not necessarily the reason behind it, which kept my interest. Some of the dialogue was a little stilted but I listened to the end for 2 hours and 45 minutes straight, without tiring of it.
It was a well-told tale. I sort of guessed the outcome, although not necessarily the reason behind it, which kept my interest. Some of the dialogue was a little stilted but I listened to the end for 2 hours and 45 minutes straight, without tiring of it.
January 31, 2025
I really liked the story, the writing, characters, showing how one person's crimes have effect on so many people. I also liked that we got explanation how he became murderer, but we didn't give him too much attention, it was all about victims and their families. What I didn't like was the solution - I was expecting some awesome surprise and plot twist, but it turned out it was what I thought almost from the beginning it will be. The narrators were ok, maybe lady one should be more careful not to bump mic so many times lol Also, I was pleasantly surprised we got the interview with the author at the end, I wish every book had that!
February 13, 2022
I was captivated from the start, being a mum I felt the central characters’ suffering throughout. This book tells the story of a mothers worst nightmare, to lose a child and worse still enduring the pain of none closure for 25 years. Its journey takes you through so many twists and turns. From every angle you feel you’re on a roller coaster ride of emotions throughout. The facets of stories from the main characters including the serial killers’ perspective, has you reeling. As the nightmare surrounding the case starts to unfold you realise that nothing in the telling, can be taken for granted and your mind starts to finger point in all directions. ( but if you read between the lines, as I did, you may guess the outcome about halfway through ) The complexities of human nature is demonstrated throughout this book, and will never cease to amaze me. The main narrator was able to have you visualise this harrowing journey as if you were watching a nail biting film.
Superb book.
Superb book.
January 25, 2025
Some nice ideas here as well as exminations of 4 characters involved in different ways as a result of the disappearance of a child. But it felt a little slow in places and maybe could have had around 20% cut.
Strangely for me, I worked it all out very early on, but that might just be blind luck (good or bad?!). Even so, this is more about the character-driven journey than a super-twisty destination.
Strangely for me, I worked it all out very early on, but that might just be blind luck (good or bad?!). Even so, this is more about the character-driven journey than a super-twisty destination.
January 31, 2025
Kind of feel I wanted one more chapter!! But maybe I’m just greedy.
Unsure Matthew Horne was the best narrative choice for Jonathan but I did enjoy this - and correctly predicted one of the twists!
Unsure Matthew Horne was the best narrative choice for Jonathan but I did enjoy this - and correctly predicted one of the twists!
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