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DI Eve Hunter #1
Hold Your Tongue
A brutal murder.
A young woman’s body is discovered with horrifying injuries, a recent newspaper cutting pinned to her clothing.
A detective with everything to prove.
This is her only chance to redeem herself.
A serial killer with nothing to lose.
He’s waited years, and his reign of terror has only just begun . . .
Introducing DI Eve Hunter, HOLD YOUR TONGUE is your new obsession.
414 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 20, 2019
207 people are currently reading
4797 people want to read
About the author
Deborah Masson
7 books113 followersDeborah Masson was born and bred in Aberdeen, Scotland. Always restless and fighting against being a responsible adult, Deborah worked in several jobs including Secretarial, Marketing, Reporting for the city’s weekly freebie newspaper, and a stint as a Postie - to name but a few. But through it all, she always read crime fiction and, when motherhood finally settled her in to being an adult, maybe even a responsible one, she turned her hand to trying to write what she loved to read. Deborah started with short stories and flash fiction whilst her daughter napped and, when she later welcomed her son into the world, decided to challenge her writing further through online courses with Professional Writing Academy and Faber Academy. Her debut, Hold Your Tongue, was the result of those courses. She’s since published Out For Blood.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 319 reviews
November 19, 2019
This is the first in a gritty crime series featuring the Chief Investigating Officer of the Aberdeen Police's Major Incident Team, DI Eve Hunter, by Deborah Masson. We have a post-oil boom, grey and grimy Aberdeen, the Granite City, in the throes of a depression with the accompanying poverty, discount stores and charity shops. After 6 months off on sick leave, Eve has been cleared to return to work, although left with a limp after a serious attack on her that additionally left her colleague, DS Nicola Sanders paralysed. This has left Eve with an unresolved guilt, and an inability to forgive herself for what happened to Nicola. A damaged Eve is in no condition to return, she must lead a team where not everyone welcomes her back, blaming her for what happened to Sanders, in an incident we learn more of later in the story. It really is not the time for her to be dropped straight into the most challenging of gruesome murder cases on her first day back with a serial killer running rampant in the city.
In a hotel room, an 18 year old Melanie Ross's body has been discovered, posed with her tongue removed, tied up with Venetian blind cords, with a puncture wound on her arm that suggests she was drugged before being murdered. The killer seems clear cut to the police but, of course, nothing is as it seems as further murders of women occur, all with the same MO. Facing intense pressure, particularly once the media become aware, Eve and the team chase every lead they have, no matter how scarce they are. Matters are exacerbated with the tensions, resentments and conflict bubbling in the team, particularly from new team recruit, DC Jo Mearns from Bolton and DC Scott Ferguson. Eve knows she is going to have to address these issues, but when the killer claims the lives of those close to her, Eve goes off the rails, all of it played out on the front pages of the media. As women continue to be brutally murdered, will Eve and her team be able to find and stop the serial killer?
Masson gives us a dark, compelling and intense crime drama, interspersed with the perspective of a killer with mental health issues, in parallel with an Eve weighed down by her own damaged psyche and troubling team problems. Eve's return has been a baptism of fire, having to face challenges she is poorly equipped to deal with, transparent in her struggles to effectively lead her team and make progress in finding a cunning, intelligent and manipulative killer. After the end of a harrowing investigation, the signs for the future of the team finally begin to look good. It will be fascinating to see how they work together in their next investigation after so much turmoil and grief. Many thanks to Random House Transworld for an ARC.
In a hotel room, an 18 year old Melanie Ross's body has been discovered, posed with her tongue removed, tied up with Venetian blind cords, with a puncture wound on her arm that suggests she was drugged before being murdered. The killer seems clear cut to the police but, of course, nothing is as it seems as further murders of women occur, all with the same MO. Facing intense pressure, particularly once the media become aware, Eve and the team chase every lead they have, no matter how scarce they are. Matters are exacerbated with the tensions, resentments and conflict bubbling in the team, particularly from new team recruit, DC Jo Mearns from Bolton and DC Scott Ferguson. Eve knows she is going to have to address these issues, but when the killer claims the lives of those close to her, Eve goes off the rails, all of it played out on the front pages of the media. As women continue to be brutally murdered, will Eve and her team be able to find and stop the serial killer?
Masson gives us a dark, compelling and intense crime drama, interspersed with the perspective of a killer with mental health issues, in parallel with an Eve weighed down by her own damaged psyche and troubling team problems. Eve's return has been a baptism of fire, having to face challenges she is poorly equipped to deal with, transparent in her struggles to effectively lead her team and make progress in finding a cunning, intelligent and manipulative killer. After the end of a harrowing investigation, the signs for the future of the team finally begin to look good. It will be fascinating to see how they work together in their next investigation after so much turmoil and grief. Many thanks to Random House Transworld for an ARC.
November 30, 2019
This is a creditable debut novel from Deborah Masson which despite a few reservations I did enjoy. The central character is DI Eve Hunter who returns to work after a six month absence to investigate a series of very gruesome murders. What unfolds is a twisty and gruesome tale which costs the lives of several victims. The story is told principally from Eve’s perspective interspersed with the killer Then and Now. This works well and dangles tantalising hints which adds intrigue.
I think the team that Eve leads is an interesting one and I’m hoping there is another book as I think there’s a lot of potential here. They are all different, DS Scott is reliable, very honest and a good friend to Eve and she needs it. DC Jo Mearns is spikey but I warmed to her character as the book progresses. DC Scott Ferguson is a good officer but arrogant and he likes to undermine Eve if he can. Their boss is DCI Hastings and he’s a no nonsense kind of guy that is respected but not always liked. There is a lot of tension between the team and this comes across well. This is due to an investigation that left Eve injured and her friend and colleague DS Sanders paralysed and there are many that blame Eve for this. We are really kept in the dark about what exactly happens in this prior case and it took a long time to find out and I began to find the hinting a bit irritating! This happens in the first half of the book which I feel is a bit slow and repetitious but thankfully the pace picks up in the second half which is tense and exciting with several jaw dropping moments.
The murders being investigated are certainly gruesome and dark. I could not understand why the team did not investigate an historic case that had similarities earlier as you would hope that in real policing that would be done as a matter of course. The plotting is perhaps a tad far fetched but it is certainly intriguing and memorable. There are a lot of twists that I did not see coming and the end where the killer is caught is a cracker. That section is written so well you are left almost breathless. The final section of the book is good too as the team ‘put to bed’ their problems with each other.
Overall. a good read that definitely leaves me wanting more from the author and this team of characters.
I think the team that Eve leads is an interesting one and I’m hoping there is another book as I think there’s a lot of potential here. They are all different, DS Scott is reliable, very honest and a good friend to Eve and she needs it. DC Jo Mearns is spikey but I warmed to her character as the book progresses. DC Scott Ferguson is a good officer but arrogant and he likes to undermine Eve if he can. Their boss is DCI Hastings and he’s a no nonsense kind of guy that is respected but not always liked. There is a lot of tension between the team and this comes across well. This is due to an investigation that left Eve injured and her friend and colleague DS Sanders paralysed and there are many that blame Eve for this. We are really kept in the dark about what exactly happens in this prior case and it took a long time to find out and I began to find the hinting a bit irritating! This happens in the first half of the book which I feel is a bit slow and repetitious but thankfully the pace picks up in the second half which is tense and exciting with several jaw dropping moments.
The murders being investigated are certainly gruesome and dark. I could not understand why the team did not investigate an historic case that had similarities earlier as you would hope that in real policing that would be done as a matter of course. The plotting is perhaps a tad far fetched but it is certainly intriguing and memorable. There are a lot of twists that I did not see coming and the end where the killer is caught is a cracker. That section is written so well you are left almost breathless. The final section of the book is good too as the team ‘put to bed’ their problems with each other.
Overall. a good read that definitely leaves me wanting more from the author and this team of characters.
November 7, 2019
When I read the synopsis for Hold Your Tongue by Deborah Masson I was instantly intrigued and wanted to know more. It is a dark and gruesome police procedural set in Aberdeen and I must warn you that it will not be for everybody as it quite violent and descriptive.
The story opens with the body of a young girl being discovered in a hotel room. She has been brutally murdered - and her tongue has been removed. Reading this I did feel quite ill but I have read worse. DI Eve Hunter and her team are on the case to find out who would do such an evil thing and why? Before long more bodies are discovered - all with their tongues removed. Is there a connection and why take the tongue?
Whilst I did enjoy this book I did struggle with it at times. The main character Eve felt like so many other female detectives that I have read before. She is very damaged, battling demons and feeling guilty. There just did not seem to be anything about her that was original. The story felt like it dragged and repeated at time, making it a bit too long for me.
Thanks to Random House UK, Transworld Publishers and Netgalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased.
The story opens with the body of a young girl being discovered in a hotel room. She has been brutally murdered - and her tongue has been removed. Reading this I did feel quite ill but I have read worse. DI Eve Hunter and her team are on the case to find out who would do such an evil thing and why? Before long more bodies are discovered - all with their tongues removed. Is there a connection and why take the tongue?
Whilst I did enjoy this book I did struggle with it at times. The main character Eve felt like so many other female detectives that I have read before. She is very damaged, battling demons and feeling guilty. There just did not seem to be anything about her that was original. The story felt like it dragged and repeated at time, making it a bit too long for me.
Thanks to Random House UK, Transworld Publishers and Netgalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased.
December 30, 2019
Hold Your Tongue is the sort of book that would make for an intense, fast-paced TV show—the kind that you would want to binge watch at the cost of sacrificing your sleep.
DI Eve Hunter returns to the force after a six month absence due to a harrowing event that ruined her life and the lives of those around her; an event she blames herself for. While burdened with the guilt, Eve is tasked with investigating a series of brutal murders that have taken place in Aberdeen. The murderer's MO is unlike any other the department has come across—newspaper clippings pinned on to the bodies of the victims and each one of them is missing their tongue. In a race against time, Eve struggles to catch this psychopath before he claims his next victim.
Deborah Masson's debut novel is impressive to say the least. She has succeeded in writing a gripping thriller that is hard to put down. There was something about the gruesome, intricate murders that reminded me of the thriller series Hannibal (the one with Mads Mikkelsen and Hugh Dancy).
I liked the way Masson has portrayed the characters in this book. They each have their flaws, yet they are likeable. Even when it comes to an irrational character, Masson's incredible writing helps you put yourself in the character's shoes and understand why they are the way they are.
At times I did question the efficiency of the police team and some of their decisions but I eventually let it slide. The murderer's identity was a little predictable from the subtle hints that were dropped throughout the book but the reveal was a good one and the end was extremely satisfying. This book is the first in the DI Eve Hunter series and I will definitely be keeping an eye out for the next one.
[I'd like to thank NetGalley, Random House UK and Deborah Masson for this ARC.]
DI Eve Hunter returns to the force after a six month absence due to a harrowing event that ruined her life and the lives of those around her; an event she blames herself for. While burdened with the guilt, Eve is tasked with investigating a series of brutal murders that have taken place in Aberdeen. The murderer's MO is unlike any other the department has come across—newspaper clippings pinned on to the bodies of the victims and each one of them is missing their tongue. In a race against time, Eve struggles to catch this psychopath before he claims his next victim.
Deborah Masson's debut novel is impressive to say the least. She has succeeded in writing a gripping thriller that is hard to put down. There was something about the gruesome, intricate murders that reminded me of the thriller series Hannibal (the one with Mads Mikkelsen and Hugh Dancy).
I liked the way Masson has portrayed the characters in this book. They each have their flaws, yet they are likeable. Even when it comes to an irrational character, Masson's incredible writing helps you put yourself in the character's shoes and understand why they are the way they are.
At times I did question the efficiency of the police team and some of their decisions but I eventually let it slide. The murderer's identity was a little predictable from the subtle hints that were dropped throughout the book but the reveal was a good one and the end was extremely satisfying. This book is the first in the DI Eve Hunter series and I will definitely be keeping an eye out for the next one.
[I'd like to thank NetGalley, Random House UK and Deborah Masson for this ARC.]
December 16, 2019
DI Eve Hunter #1
The book is set in Aberdeen, Scotland. The body of a young woman has been disvovered in a hotel room. There is a newspaper clipping pinned to her clothing. But the body count is rising and DI Eve Hunter and her team are called in to investigate these gruesome crimes. Eve has just returned back to work after being o sick leave for six months.
I really don't know why I told you the book was set in Aberdeen as there is no Scottish dialogue at all. It could really have been set anywhere. The story starts of slow ut it's not long before the pace picks up. The investigation is complex. Eves background is revealed to us slowly. I did not like Eve to start with but I warmed to her. The characters are well rounded and likeable, there insecurities just made them more realistic. There are hidden clues and red herrings all over the place. The backstory between Eve and Sanders, her partner who got life changing injuries in her last case made good reading. The descriptions of the scenery in Abderdeen sounds beautifully. A wonderful debut novel and the first book in a new series. I can't wait to see what happens next to Eve and her colleagues.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Randon House UK, Transworld Publishers and the author Deborah Masson for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The book is set in Aberdeen, Scotland. The body of a young woman has been disvovered in a hotel room. There is a newspaper clipping pinned to her clothing. But the body count is rising and DI Eve Hunter and her team are called in to investigate these gruesome crimes. Eve has just returned back to work after being o sick leave for six months.
I really don't know why I told you the book was set in Aberdeen as there is no Scottish dialogue at all. It could really have been set anywhere. The story starts of slow ut it's not long before the pace picks up. The investigation is complex. Eves background is revealed to us slowly. I did not like Eve to start with but I warmed to her. The characters are well rounded and likeable, there insecurities just made them more realistic. There are hidden clues and red herrings all over the place. The backstory between Eve and Sanders, her partner who got life changing injuries in her last case made good reading. The descriptions of the scenery in Abderdeen sounds beautifully. A wonderful debut novel and the first book in a new series. I can't wait to see what happens next to Eve and her colleagues.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Randon House UK, Transworld Publishers and the author Deborah Masson for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 9, 2020
Hold Your Tongue by Deborah Masson is a gritty, unsettling, twisted debut which leaves you wanting more (so I'm hoping it's a series which is going to continue🤞)
It's fast paced with two stories going on one from before and the new murders, there's also plenty of animosity and misunderstandings going on between the character's which keeps you hanging on and a little frustrated.
It's definitely a book worth reading 📖
It's fast paced with two stories going on one from before and the new murders, there's also plenty of animosity and misunderstandings going on between the character's which keeps you hanging on and a little frustrated.
It's definitely a book worth reading 📖
October 10, 2019
I would like to thank Netgalley and Random House UK, Transworld Publishers for an advance copy of Hold Your Tongue, the first novel to feature Aberdeen based DI Eve Hunter.
On her first day back at work after six months recuperation for an injury sustained on the job Eve is plunged straight in to a murder inquiry. The body of a young woman has been found in a hotel room and the ritualistic aspects of her death are enough to worry Eve and her team. Correctly as it turns out because she’s not the last victim.
I thoroughly enjoyed Hold Your Tongue which is an exciting police procedural with plenty of twists and turns. It is told in the third person from various points of view, mostly Eve with contributions from her team. I think this works well as it gives the reader a wider perspective on events without being distracting. The police point of view is intercut with chapters from the unnamed killer, which further alternate between his history and his current day thoughts and actions. I found the history fascinating and well designed as it gradually teases out the story but the present day musings aren’t particularly illuminating, being more of the same I’m too smart to get caught variety. I liked the plot with its twists and steady stream of reveals although it’s not for the faint hearted with a fair amount of violence, both current and historical.
Eve returns to work after an attack which injured her and her partner DC Sanders. Much is made of her guilt over the attack and the friction in the team from those who also blame her for it. I didn’t find any of this particularly convincing and found the lack of detail of what actually happened early on in the novel very frustrating. It is gradually explained over the course of the novel but it’s difficult to navigate all the bad feeling without understanding why. Having said all that, the team starts to meld by the end so I’m really looking forward to the next novel as I think this is a very promising start.
Hold Your Tongue is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.
On her first day back at work after six months recuperation for an injury sustained on the job Eve is plunged straight in to a murder inquiry. The body of a young woman has been found in a hotel room and the ritualistic aspects of her death are enough to worry Eve and her team. Correctly as it turns out because she’s not the last victim.
I thoroughly enjoyed Hold Your Tongue which is an exciting police procedural with plenty of twists and turns. It is told in the third person from various points of view, mostly Eve with contributions from her team. I think this works well as it gives the reader a wider perspective on events without being distracting. The police point of view is intercut with chapters from the unnamed killer, which further alternate between his history and his current day thoughts and actions. I found the history fascinating and well designed as it gradually teases out the story but the present day musings aren’t particularly illuminating, being more of the same I’m too smart to get caught variety. I liked the plot with its twists and steady stream of reveals although it’s not for the faint hearted with a fair amount of violence, both current and historical.
Eve returns to work after an attack which injured her and her partner DC Sanders. Much is made of her guilt over the attack and the friction in the team from those who also blame her for it. I didn’t find any of this particularly convincing and found the lack of detail of what actually happened early on in the novel very frustrating. It is gradually explained over the course of the novel but it’s difficult to navigate all the bad feeling without understanding why. Having said all that, the team starts to meld by the end so I’m really looking forward to the next novel as I think this is a very promising start.
Hold Your Tongue is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.
October 23, 2019
Review to come with #BlogTour
February 22, 2020
HOLD YOUR TONGUE is the dark and gritty debut by Deborah Masson featuring DI Eve Hunter and set in Aberdeen, Scotland. Although slow to start, it soon picks up pace as an addictive and compelling thriller.
The opening Prologue sets the overall scene of what's to come. It is dark, it is disturbing and it is enough to make you balk in its vividity. And it's in this opening preface that we learn the significance of the title, which is more than apt. The identity of those in this prologue are unknown but as the story builds throughout it does become clear.
DI Eve Hunter is returning to work after six months leave following a brutal attack on her and her colleague, DS Nicola Sanders, leaving her with a badly broken femur resulting in a limp and Sanders paralysed from the neck down and in a wheelchair for the rest of her life. Left with unresolved guilt Eve blames herself for the attack, believing she could have prevented it, and as we are drip-fed information throughout details of that night come to light further into the story.
In no condition to return, Eve must now lead a team where not everyone welcomes her or respects her - blaming her for what happened to Sanders. On her first day back, she is introduced to DC Jo Mearns who, although respectful, radiates an obvious air of animosity and contempt towards her. The fact that she came in replacing the very detective who suffered life-changing injuries on Eve's watch only fuels her hostility. It doesn't help that DC Scott Ferguson constantly sneers at Eve and makes snide comments regarding her ability to lead the team. Only DS Cooper remains in her corner as a friend and confidante, and someone she knows she can rely on.
But Eve has no time to dwell on her team's derision as she is thrust head first into the gruesome murder investigation on her first day. Eighteen year old Melanie Ross's body has been discovered in a hotel room tied with Venetian blind cord, her tongue removed and a newspaper headline pinned to her body. Upon informing Melanie's parents' they are quick to offer up a suspect and the case appears to be clear cut...until the following week, another woman is found in similar circumstances in a dance studio. Looking at the two cases, it is apparent that the killer is selecting these women based on the headlines pinned to their bodies where newspaper articles that had been written about them. So what, apart from the articles, links them? And what is the significance of the Venetian blind cord and removal of their tongues?
The following week, the arrival of a tongue sent directly to Eve immediately reveals the identity of a woman known to them and therefore has them questioning the significance of the victims. But it isn't until one of their own is targeted that brings the reality of these murders home to them and will have them stopping at nothing to unravel the mystery and catch this sadistic killer.
I didn't like Eve to begin with and although I warmed to her somewhat, I still found her constant martyrdom of self blame a little tiresome. I am not a lover of strong female leads who prefer their own solitude to wallow in self pity or drown their sorrows in a bottle of prosecco whilst putting up a front of strength and courage in the face of adversity and refusing help from concerned friends. Maybe I find it hard to relate to because that kind of behaviour is so far removed from myself but if someone is offering you a friendly ear or some company, where's the harm in that? Does being independent and self-sufficient make you a better person? Or just more lonely? Despite my niggles about Eve, I did warm to her a little further in and found myself advocating her along the way.
Eve's team are an interesting bunch and while they don't always agree they do work well together, despite their differences. DS Mark Cooper is reliable, honest and remains a good friend to Eve throughout the past and present. He has a family who welcome all and sundry into the fold....his wife Louise is so warm and welcoming I could feel her arms around me and smell her delicious cooking. DC Scott Ferguson has the makings of a competent detective with good instincts but he is arrogant and hostile, undermining Eve at every opportunity. He holds Eve responsible for the attack that left Sanders paralysed and unable to continue as a detective. DC Jo Mearns hails from Bolton in England and is new to the team, replacing Sanders after her untimely attack. Often paired with Ferguson, his animosity towards their boss rubbed off on her and she finds herself disliking Eve at first sight. But as the story progresses we see a vulnerable side to Mearns which adds to her character and her early behaviour. Then there is DCI Hastings. At the mention of the name Hastings, I found myself constantly picturing Supt Ted Hastings from "Line of Duty"...lol...yet this Hastings (yes, like the battle...lol) was not as hands on in that respect, though he is no-nonsense and respected.
I thoroughly enjoyed HOLD YOUR TONGUE, despite its slow build and my niggles with Eve, as it is not your regular police procedural. It is dark, it is disturbing and at times gruesome. But it also came with a well-written solid plot with twists and reveals to have your swiping pages into the night.
I love the primary setting in Aberdeen, as well as visits to St Andrews and Dundee. While this part of Scotland does have its own indecipherable dialect, I was pleased to NOT encounter it here as I feel the inclusion of language that it is not familiar to anyone unless they are from the area only serves to alienate that author's works to readers far and wide. I do recognise the "granite" and "grey" descriptions of Aberdeen that I was first introduced to with Stuart MacBride, whose works are also fairly dark and gruesome but also filled with dry witty humour.
A dark, compelling, intense crime drama HOLD YOUR TONGUE is told primarily from Eve's third person perspective with the addition of the killer's deranged narrative peppered throughout. The reader is left pondering the identity of the killer as we are lead a merry chase but even I admit to not seeing that one coming.
The first in a new series, I look forward to seeing more of Eve Hunter and her team and will be keeping my eye out for the next installment.
Not for the faint-hearted, if you like Katerina Diamond or Stuart MacBride then I'm sure you will enjoy HOLD YOUR TONGUE.
I would like to thank #DeborahMasson, #NetGalley and #RandomHouseUK #TransworldPublishers for an ARC of #HoldYourTongue in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
The opening Prologue sets the overall scene of what's to come. It is dark, it is disturbing and it is enough to make you balk in its vividity. And it's in this opening preface that we learn the significance of the title, which is more than apt. The identity of those in this prologue are unknown but as the story builds throughout it does become clear.
DI Eve Hunter is returning to work after six months leave following a brutal attack on her and her colleague, DS Nicola Sanders, leaving her with a badly broken femur resulting in a limp and Sanders paralysed from the neck down and in a wheelchair for the rest of her life. Left with unresolved guilt Eve blames herself for the attack, believing she could have prevented it, and as we are drip-fed information throughout details of that night come to light further into the story.
In no condition to return, Eve must now lead a team where not everyone welcomes her or respects her - blaming her for what happened to Sanders. On her first day back, she is introduced to DC Jo Mearns who, although respectful, radiates an obvious air of animosity and contempt towards her. The fact that she came in replacing the very detective who suffered life-changing injuries on Eve's watch only fuels her hostility. It doesn't help that DC Scott Ferguson constantly sneers at Eve and makes snide comments regarding her ability to lead the team. Only DS Cooper remains in her corner as a friend and confidante, and someone she knows she can rely on.
But Eve has no time to dwell on her team's derision as she is thrust head first into the gruesome murder investigation on her first day. Eighteen year old Melanie Ross's body has been discovered in a hotel room tied with Venetian blind cord, her tongue removed and a newspaper headline pinned to her body. Upon informing Melanie's parents' they are quick to offer up a suspect and the case appears to be clear cut...until the following week, another woman is found in similar circumstances in a dance studio. Looking at the two cases, it is apparent that the killer is selecting these women based on the headlines pinned to their bodies where newspaper articles that had been written about them. So what, apart from the articles, links them? And what is the significance of the Venetian blind cord and removal of their tongues?
The following week, the arrival of a tongue sent directly to Eve immediately reveals the identity of a woman known to them and therefore has them questioning the significance of the victims. But it isn't until one of their own is targeted that brings the reality of these murders home to them and will have them stopping at nothing to unravel the mystery and catch this sadistic killer.
I didn't like Eve to begin with and although I warmed to her somewhat, I still found her constant martyrdom of self blame a little tiresome. I am not a lover of strong female leads who prefer their own solitude to wallow in self pity or drown their sorrows in a bottle of prosecco whilst putting up a front of strength and courage in the face of adversity and refusing help from concerned friends. Maybe I find it hard to relate to because that kind of behaviour is so far removed from myself but if someone is offering you a friendly ear or some company, where's the harm in that? Does being independent and self-sufficient make you a better person? Or just more lonely? Despite my niggles about Eve, I did warm to her a little further in and found myself advocating her along the way.
Eve's team are an interesting bunch and while they don't always agree they do work well together, despite their differences. DS Mark Cooper is reliable, honest and remains a good friend to Eve throughout the past and present. He has a family who welcome all and sundry into the fold....his wife Louise is so warm and welcoming I could feel her arms around me and smell her delicious cooking. DC Scott Ferguson has the makings of a competent detective with good instincts but he is arrogant and hostile, undermining Eve at every opportunity. He holds Eve responsible for the attack that left Sanders paralysed and unable to continue as a detective. DC Jo Mearns hails from Bolton in England and is new to the team, replacing Sanders after her untimely attack. Often paired with Ferguson, his animosity towards their boss rubbed off on her and she finds herself disliking Eve at first sight. But as the story progresses we see a vulnerable side to Mearns which adds to her character and her early behaviour. Then there is DCI Hastings. At the mention of the name Hastings, I found myself constantly picturing Supt Ted Hastings from "Line of Duty"...lol...yet this Hastings (yes, like the battle...lol) was not as hands on in that respect, though he is no-nonsense and respected.
I thoroughly enjoyed HOLD YOUR TONGUE, despite its slow build and my niggles with Eve, as it is not your regular police procedural. It is dark, it is disturbing and at times gruesome. But it also came with a well-written solid plot with twists and reveals to have your swiping pages into the night.
I love the primary setting in Aberdeen, as well as visits to St Andrews and Dundee. While this part of Scotland does have its own indecipherable dialect, I was pleased to NOT encounter it here as I feel the inclusion of language that it is not familiar to anyone unless they are from the area only serves to alienate that author's works to readers far and wide. I do recognise the "granite" and "grey" descriptions of Aberdeen that I was first introduced to with Stuart MacBride, whose works are also fairly dark and gruesome but also filled with dry witty humour.
A dark, compelling, intense crime drama HOLD YOUR TONGUE is told primarily from Eve's third person perspective with the addition of the killer's deranged narrative peppered throughout. The reader is left pondering the identity of the killer as we are lead a merry chase but even I admit to not seeing that one coming.
The first in a new series, I look forward to seeing more of Eve Hunter and her team and will be keeping my eye out for the next installment.
Not for the faint-hearted, if you like Katerina Diamond or Stuart MacBride then I'm sure you will enjoy HOLD YOUR TONGUE.
I would like to thank #DeborahMasson, #NetGalley and #RandomHouseUK #TransworldPublishers for an ARC of #HoldYourTongue in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
August 16, 2021
Hold Your Tongue is the first book in Deborah Masson’s DI Eve Hunter series, and it was one I was happy to devour. Although it was a story that kept me turning the pages, I did not enjoy it quite as much as I had hoped.
It was certainly an interesting crime, and I was curious to watch the pieces come together. I worked out the identity of the criminal far too quickly, which took some of the fun from the story, but I remained curious about the why. As curious as I was, the writing never quite pulled me completely into the story. It felt a bit flat and there were lots of information dumps that slowed down the pace. It was one of those stories that was interesting, yet there was nothing to it that made it stand out against other books in the genre. Due to this, I think the fact I’ve read so many books in the genre is to blame for why this one did not wow.
All in all, I can certainly see this hooking many, but it didn’t quite have enough to hook me in the way other books in the genre have.
It was certainly an interesting crime, and I was curious to watch the pieces come together. I worked out the identity of the criminal far too quickly, which took some of the fun from the story, but I remained curious about the why. As curious as I was, the writing never quite pulled me completely into the story. It felt a bit flat and there were lots of information dumps that slowed down the pace. It was one of those stories that was interesting, yet there was nothing to it that made it stand out against other books in the genre. Due to this, I think the fact I’ve read so many books in the genre is to blame for why this one did not wow.
All in all, I can certainly see this hooking many, but it didn’t quite have enough to hook me in the way other books in the genre have.
February 3, 2021
Wow! What a fantastic read! It’s set in Aberdeen, my home, and the author incorporated so many landmarks throughout, it was easy (and scary!) to visualise. This book is certainly not for the feint hearted, it’s pretty gruesome and graphic with regard to the murders, but a really well written and extremely gripping story. I can’t wait to read the next one.
MJ Arlidge fans will love this series!
MJ Arlidge fans will love this series!
December 25, 2019
Unfortunately I thought this was just a really average crime thriller.
I've read quite a few now and this one had no stand out qualities. Everything was just very average.
It was quite dark in places. So if you like gross thrillers you might enjoy this one but saying that it definitely isn't one of the darkest books I've ever read.
The writing was okay, the characters were okay but again nothing special.
I liked how we got to know DI Eve Hunter and her backstory. But it didn't really stand out compared to other DI books I've read nor did I really connect with her as a character.
If this is one of your first crime thrillers you've ever read you might enjoy it more than me. Unfortunately I felt like it fell into a lot of crime thriller tropes and is pretty forgettable.
TW: body mutilation, graphic descriptions of murder
I've read quite a few now and this one had no stand out qualities. Everything was just very average.
It was quite dark in places. So if you like gross thrillers you might enjoy this one but saying that it definitely isn't one of the darkest books I've ever read.
The writing was okay, the characters were okay but again nothing special.
I liked how we got to know DI Eve Hunter and her backstory. But it didn't really stand out compared to other DI books I've read nor did I really connect with her as a character.
If this is one of your first crime thrillers you've ever read you might enjoy it more than me. Unfortunately I felt like it fell into a lot of crime thriller tropes and is pretty forgettable.
TW: body mutilation, graphic descriptions of murder
January 12, 2021
Setting: Aberdeen, Scotland. This is the first in a crime series featuring D.I. Eve Hunter but there is already quite a bit of 'backstory' to which the reader is introduced as the story proceeds. As a serial killer haunts the city streets in the approach to Christmas, his victims appear to be totally random and the team struggle to find a link between them or any clue as to who the next one could be. Meanwhile, Eve is struggling to make any headway in her first major investigation since her return to work after a vicious assault against her and a colleague....
At first, I found the book to be quite similar to others of the same genre - a female DI; a past mistake she is regretting; a team member/s who seem to wish her to fail; a vindictive local journalist - yet still the story was pretty gripping and it certainly wasn't obvious who the killer was, although several names were investigated and later discarded. I will certainly be reading the second in the series, which I already have on TBR - 8/10.
At first, I found the book to be quite similar to others of the same genre - a female DI; a past mistake she is regretting; a team member/s who seem to wish her to fail; a vindictive local journalist - yet still the story was pretty gripping and it certainly wasn't obvious who the killer was, although several names were investigated and later discarded. I will certainly be reading the second in the series, which I already have on TBR - 8/10.
February 10, 2020
A gritty and gory book one in this new series. By the end the characters were well defined. I do think it would have benefited from tighter editing.
January 19, 2020
A dark read of brutal murders set in Aberdeen and DI Eve Hunter at the helm of the investigation.
My first book by author Deborah Masson, I absolutely was taken in by the claustrophobic atmosphere of this book. I had the shivers in some parts. The murders were violent and graphic, the tongue of the victim was excised. A part of me cringed, other wanted the killer to be killed by the cops.
I loved the slow build up of crimes and the investigation. Eve Hunter had just come back from leave after personal injury. Guilt and determination were the twin emotions shadowing her. The story moved slowly, the shadows deepened further.
This was a slow read of a killer with mental issues and a cop with her own demons bringing about justice. Wow… Read it at your risk. It was quite dark.
My first book by author Deborah Masson, I absolutely was taken in by the claustrophobic atmosphere of this book. I had the shivers in some parts. The murders were violent and graphic, the tongue of the victim was excised. A part of me cringed, other wanted the killer to be killed by the cops.
I loved the slow build up of crimes and the investigation. Eve Hunter had just come back from leave after personal injury. Guilt and determination were the twin emotions shadowing her. The story moved slowly, the shadows deepened further.
This was a slow read of a killer with mental issues and a cop with her own demons bringing about justice. Wow… Read it at your risk. It was quite dark.
January 3, 2020
Set in Aberdeen, Hold Your Tongue is the first book in a solid crime-mystery series featuring DI Eve Hunter, Chief Investigating Officer of the Aberdeen Police's Major Incident Team. Eve has recently returned to her job after six months on sickness absence, following a brutal attack on her and her colleague, DS Nicola Sanders, leaving Eve with a limp and Nicola paralysed. On her first day back, Eve is called upon to hunt down a serial killer in a gruesome and grisly case.
The body of eighteen-year-old Melanie Ross has been discovered with her tongue removed, and tied up with blind cords, along with evidence of puncture wounds that indicate she was drugged before being killed. When more bodies are discovered - all with their tongues removed, Eve and the team chase down all the leads they have...
Hold Your Tongue is told from various points of view, mostly from Eve with contributions from her team. This gets a thumbs up from me as it allows for a wider perspective on events without being distracting in any way. The police perspective is interspersed with chapters from the unnamed killer, alternating between their history and present day behaviour.
DI Eve Hunter makes a very rewarding protagonist. Her background story and personal struggles are as fascinating as the main plot, making the story all the more interesting. I really enjoyed the gradual revelations from Eve’s past, and finding out what happened that caused the loss of respect from her team. Deborah Masson's inspired writing was a treat and I especially liked that the team were often working in disharmony with each other, as this added a touch of reality for me.
With plotting that is intriguing and memorable, there is an abundance of twists that I did not see coming and the end where the killer is caught is a winner. Overall, Hold Your Tongue is a tremendous début that definitely leaves me wanting more from both the author and this remarkable team of characters.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel from Random House Transworld via NetGalley at my request, and this review is my own unbiased opinion.
The body of eighteen-year-old Melanie Ross has been discovered with her tongue removed, and tied up with blind cords, along with evidence of puncture wounds that indicate she was drugged before being killed. When more bodies are discovered - all with their tongues removed, Eve and the team chase down all the leads they have...
Hold Your Tongue is told from various points of view, mostly from Eve with contributions from her team. This gets a thumbs up from me as it allows for a wider perspective on events without being distracting in any way. The police perspective is interspersed with chapters from the unnamed killer, alternating between their history and present day behaviour.
DI Eve Hunter makes a very rewarding protagonist. Her background story and personal struggles are as fascinating as the main plot, making the story all the more interesting. I really enjoyed the gradual revelations from Eve’s past, and finding out what happened that caused the loss of respect from her team. Deborah Masson's inspired writing was a treat and I especially liked that the team were often working in disharmony with each other, as this added a touch of reality for me.
With plotting that is intriguing and memorable, there is an abundance of twists that I did not see coming and the end where the killer is caught is a winner. Overall, Hold Your Tongue is a tremendous début that definitely leaves me wanting more from both the author and this remarkable team of characters.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel from Random House Transworld via NetGalley at my request, and this review is my own unbiased opinion.
December 21, 2019
What an epic debut novel Hold Your Tongue is. That opening chapter is enough to make you squirm, and at every attack scene that was described in vivid detail, I squirmed and held my breath some more. What a vicious and cruel act to hack at someone's tongue. Stomach churning. But why did the serial killer do this to their victims? Well obviously I'm not going to tell you that nugget of information. Get the book and find out.
In this book we are introduced to DI Eve Hunter. Now I'll be honest when I started reading this story and as I got more into it, I did wonder if in fact I had missed out on a book somewhere. Hunter has a backstory that is referred to a lot. A previous case that went a little bit wrong. And, I'll be honest I was getting a bit confused and annoyed as to why on earth we were having to read about something that isn't in another book. But, then it dawned on me. This was to build the character of Hunter and her colleagues, it was also crucial to see how they all worked together and it gave us a basis for a clearer image of our lead character, rather than little titbits here and there.
This story is edge of your seat stuff and the evidence and clues are dropped to us at just the right times to keep us hooked. Even when I was rolling my eyes at the mistakes the police were doing, this showed how clever the author was in her writing ability because whilst I was thinking what on earth are they playing at? The author throws a curve ball here and there that slots the puzzle into place.
A cracking debut novel and I hope we get to see a lot more of DI Eve Hunter in the future.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for my gifted e-arc copy in exchange of an honest review.
In this book we are introduced to DI Eve Hunter. Now I'll be honest when I started reading this story and as I got more into it, I did wonder if in fact I had missed out on a book somewhere. Hunter has a backstory that is referred to a lot. A previous case that went a little bit wrong. And, I'll be honest I was getting a bit confused and annoyed as to why on earth we were having to read about something that isn't in another book. But, then it dawned on me. This was to build the character of Hunter and her colleagues, it was also crucial to see how they all worked together and it gave us a basis for a clearer image of our lead character, rather than little titbits here and there.
This story is edge of your seat stuff and the evidence and clues are dropped to us at just the right times to keep us hooked. Even when I was rolling my eyes at the mistakes the police were doing, this showed how clever the author was in her writing ability because whilst I was thinking what on earth are they playing at? The author throws a curve ball here and there that slots the puzzle into place.
A cracking debut novel and I hope we get to see a lot more of DI Eve Hunter in the future.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for my gifted e-arc copy in exchange of an honest review.
December 3, 2019
Deborah Masons debut novel - Hold your tongue certainly packs a punch and grabs you from the off.
Well done on writing a thriller thats dark and moody and intense and you don’t guess who did it!
I liked the characters all with their own problems, like-able and you definitely put yourself in their shoes.
I can imagine this being made into a movie or tv show.
Set in Aberdeen, DI Eve Hunter is returning to work after a six month break. With reference to a limp following a severe attack that also left her partner in a wheelchair paralyzed.
She must pick up the pieces and lead a team that no longer respect her or want her as their DI we are drip fed the information as the story unfolds as to what happened to the existing detectives at the station.
In a hotel room victim Melanie Ross’s body has been discovered, tied up with a puncture wound suggesting she was awake when the violence occurred oh and did I mention her tongue had been cut out.
Great crime drama unfolds as Eve and her team follow every lead they have, while resentment builds within the team.DC Mearns, and DC Ferguson seem to add to the tension and you almost feel like shouting “give her a break”
Flipping back to the killers thoughts and mental health battles this is told in the third persons view point - lots of twists and police perspectives.
There seems to be scope for a follow up as the team all seem to be gelling towards the end.
Will be looking out for Mason in the future.
Thanks for the ARC Netgalley In exchange for a review.
Well done on writing a thriller thats dark and moody and intense and you don’t guess who did it!
I liked the characters all with their own problems, like-able and you definitely put yourself in their shoes.
I can imagine this being made into a movie or tv show.
Set in Aberdeen, DI Eve Hunter is returning to work after a six month break. With reference to a limp following a severe attack that also left her partner in a wheelchair paralyzed.
She must pick up the pieces and lead a team that no longer respect her or want her as their DI we are drip fed the information as the story unfolds as to what happened to the existing detectives at the station.
In a hotel room victim Melanie Ross’s body has been discovered, tied up with a puncture wound suggesting she was awake when the violence occurred oh and did I mention her tongue had been cut out.
Great crime drama unfolds as Eve and her team follow every lead they have, while resentment builds within the team.DC Mearns, and DC Ferguson seem to add to the tension and you almost feel like shouting “give her a break”
Flipping back to the killers thoughts and mental health battles this is told in the third persons view point - lots of twists and police perspectives.
There seems to be scope for a follow up as the team all seem to be gelling towards the end.
Will be looking out for Mason in the future.
Thanks for the ARC Netgalley In exchange for a review.
November 24, 2019
3.5 stars
DI Eve Hunter is back on the job after a personal
matter. When the body of a woman is found with her tongue missing and a newspaper cutting pinned to her clothing, it’s clear that the killer is trying to send a message. Eve has everything to prove, and this is her one chance to redeem herself and show that she is ready to be back on the team. The clock is ticking for Eve as bodies begin to show up everyday and she comes closer and closer to finding out who the killer is. Hold Your Tongue is a fast-paced crime thriller with a twist you won’t see coming.
I’m not a huge fan of detective novels because the genre is very different from thrillers, but reading the synopsis, I knew I wanted to read this one. If all crime thrillers are like this one, then I’m an instant fan!
Since this is the first book in the series, I enjoyed how we got a backstory of Eve, and why she has left the team in the first place. We get a lot of insight into her life and I found that to be very interesting to read. It’s a little different than thrillers because they tend to focus more on the victim’s family or other people rather than the detectives so it was nice to see that.
In terms of plot, I would say that it was very well done. It’s a fresh concept and I’ve never really read anything like it. I thought the part about the tongues was really creepy, but in an entertaining way. I also loved the newspaper clippings because it added more depth to the story and the killer and as you read along you see how significant they actually are to the plot. Masson’s writing is so addictive and it wasn’t really boring in anyway, I was always intriguing to figure out what would happen next
I would have liked to see a lot more italicized areas when the killer is speaking. It works well where they are, but little parts where we learn about his childhood would’ve been nice to have a little more of. But still well done!
Overall, I really enjoyed this and will for sure be checking out more books by Masson! The plot twist at the end was one I wouldn’t have guessed myself. It was incorporated in a very subtle way, that it’s easy to guess, but also not, at the same time.
Thank you to Penguin Random House UK for sending me a copy of this novel in exchange for my honest opinion and for the opportunity to be a part of this blog tour!
DI Eve Hunter is back on the job after a personal
matter. When the body of a woman is found with her tongue missing and a newspaper cutting pinned to her clothing, it’s clear that the killer is trying to send a message. Eve has everything to prove, and this is her one chance to redeem herself and show that she is ready to be back on the team. The clock is ticking for Eve as bodies begin to show up everyday and she comes closer and closer to finding out who the killer is. Hold Your Tongue is a fast-paced crime thriller with a twist you won’t see coming.
I’m not a huge fan of detective novels because the genre is very different from thrillers, but reading the synopsis, I knew I wanted to read this one. If all crime thrillers are like this one, then I’m an instant fan!
Since this is the first book in the series, I enjoyed how we got a backstory of Eve, and why she has left the team in the first place. We get a lot of insight into her life and I found that to be very interesting to read. It’s a little different than thrillers because they tend to focus more on the victim’s family or other people rather than the detectives so it was nice to see that.
In terms of plot, I would say that it was very well done. It’s a fresh concept and I’ve never really read anything like it. I thought the part about the tongues was really creepy, but in an entertaining way. I also loved the newspaper clippings because it added more depth to the story and the killer and as you read along you see how significant they actually are to the plot. Masson’s writing is so addictive and it wasn’t really boring in anyway, I was always intriguing to figure out what would happen next
I would have liked to see a lot more italicized areas when the killer is speaking. It works well where they are, but little parts where we learn about his childhood would’ve been nice to have a little more of. But still well done!
Overall, I really enjoyed this and will for sure be checking out more books by Masson! The plot twist at the end was one I wouldn’t have guessed myself. It was incorporated in a very subtle way, that it’s easy to guess, but also not, at the same time.
Thank you to Penguin Random House UK for sending me a copy of this novel in exchange for my honest opinion and for the opportunity to be a part of this blog tour!
November 3, 2019
Coming back from six months of enforced sick leave most people would hope for a little time to get back into the swing of things. Unfortunately for DI Eve Hunter that isn't even a remote possibility after a young girl's body is found at a local Aberdeen hotel with all the signs pointing to a possible serial killer.
As the body count begins to rise the hostility Eve receives from colleagues and the local press bring previous mistakes back into the limelight and her insecurities to the fore. When a victim is discovered which hits far too close to home Eve and her team realise they have far less time and way more to lose than anyone could imagine.
This is the first book by Deborah Masson but I have absolutely no doubt more will follow. To begin with this was an entertaining story, one which set the scene well, had a main protagonist with an interesting history and a seriously flawed killer but somehow it didn't quite reach unputdownable status. Then, wham, a victim was found which changed everything and turned 3 stars into 4 in one powerful chapter. From then on it was an indication of what Ms Masson is capable of and I can't wait to see what comes next.
I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers in exchange for an unbiased review and would recommend it to anyone who is looking for a new author to follow or enjoys good, well written police procedurals which has the ability to surprise.
As the body count begins to rise the hostility Eve receives from colleagues and the local press bring previous mistakes back into the limelight and her insecurities to the fore. When a victim is discovered which hits far too close to home Eve and her team realise they have far less time and way more to lose than anyone could imagine.
This is the first book by Deborah Masson but I have absolutely no doubt more will follow. To begin with this was an entertaining story, one which set the scene well, had a main protagonist with an interesting history and a seriously flawed killer but somehow it didn't quite reach unputdownable status. Then, wham, a victim was found which changed everything and turned 3 stars into 4 in one powerful chapter. From then on it was an indication of what Ms Masson is capable of and I can't wait to see what comes next.
I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers in exchange for an unbiased review and would recommend it to anyone who is looking for a new author to follow or enjoys good, well written police procedurals which has the ability to surprise.
December 14, 2020
As a long-time fan of Stuart MacBride's fantastic Logan McRae series, I was delighted to come across another Aberdeen-based police procedural series. And my faith was not misplaced!
While lacking the dark humour of MacBride's books, Hold Your Tongue was a well-paced, gripping and gritty thriller, with great character complexity and development.
DI Eve Hunter is returning to work at Aberdeen CID following several months' leave, having been injured in an ambush. Her reception is luke-warm at best, given that she was the officer in charge of a situation which resulted in the permanent quadriplegia of a fellow officer, a close colleague and friend of Hunter's.
On her first morning back on the job, Hunter is greeted by a gruesome crime scene in a room at a plush Aberdeen hotel. The victim is a young aspiring model, whose family background quickly throws up some curious circumstances and a potential suspect. A second and then a third victim follow in successive weeks, with indications that a serial killer is at work. All these women had recently received attention in the press - but what else links them?
This was an extremely tightly-plotted crime thriller, with plenty of sprinkled clues and misdirection. The cast of characters is varied and interesting, and the interrelationships create a base layer of tension over which the crime investigation plotlines push the protagonists to their limits. Interwoven within the present-day storyline are chapters told in the first person by an unknown character, consisting of flashbacks to a traumatic incident in the past.
The crimes themselves are quite gruesome, an aspect this title has in common with MacBride's series. While there isn't gratuitous graphic violence, some of the details may be challenging for squeamish readers.
Hold Your Tongue is a gripping and unputdownable read. I'm moving straight onto Deborah Masson's upcoming release, the second in the Eve Hunter series, Out for Blood. I'm glad I took the time to read this first, as recommended by several other readers, as there are substantial character arcs that occur over the course of the first book that flow into the second.
Very highly recommended.
While lacking the dark humour of MacBride's books, Hold Your Tongue was a well-paced, gripping and gritty thriller, with great character complexity and development.
DI Eve Hunter is returning to work at Aberdeen CID following several months' leave, having been injured in an ambush. Her reception is luke-warm at best, given that she was the officer in charge of a situation which resulted in the permanent quadriplegia of a fellow officer, a close colleague and friend of Hunter's.
On her first morning back on the job, Hunter is greeted by a gruesome crime scene in a room at a plush Aberdeen hotel. The victim is a young aspiring model, whose family background quickly throws up some curious circumstances and a potential suspect. A second and then a third victim follow in successive weeks, with indications that a serial killer is at work. All these women had recently received attention in the press - but what else links them?
This was an extremely tightly-plotted crime thriller, with plenty of sprinkled clues and misdirection. The cast of characters is varied and interesting, and the interrelationships create a base layer of tension over which the crime investigation plotlines push the protagonists to their limits. Interwoven within the present-day storyline are chapters told in the first person by an unknown character, consisting of flashbacks to a traumatic incident in the past.
The crimes themselves are quite gruesome, an aspect this title has in common with MacBride's series. While there isn't gratuitous graphic violence, some of the details may be challenging for squeamish readers.
Hold Your Tongue is a gripping and unputdownable read. I'm moving straight onto Deborah Masson's upcoming release, the second in the Eve Hunter series, Out for Blood. I'm glad I took the time to read this first, as recommended by several other readers, as there are substantial character arcs that occur over the course of the first book that flow into the second.
Very highly recommended.
July 10, 2022
I was very excited to learn about a new series of detective novels set in Aberdeen, where I grew up. Being a devoted Stuart MacBride fan, its lovely to revisit my old stomping grounds, recognising lots of locations!
This series has DI Eve Hunter as the protagonist, as always a character with many flaws and a complex back-story. It took me a while to get the various characters straight - both the old/new team members, and the cast of baddies from the past. Eve herself is full of angst and beats herself up more than anyone else could ever do. I didn't warm to her as much as I wanted, but as it's the first in a series, will be interested to see how she grows. Quite liked a couple of the team - especially Mearns (BTW way - a surname I would have associated with Scotland, despite her coming from Bolton!). The unfolding tale of the twisted serial killer was suitably gory, and increasingly obvious that there was a link to the team/Eve. Hadn't spotted the link that gave them their clue to the next murder(s) - very clever!
I'm dithering between 3* and 4*; its a 3.5 in many ways. Good introduction to a new series, and I've already downloaded book 2 to see how it progresses. But not quite as immediately engaging as I had hoped.
Many reviewers thank various publishers for ARCs etc. I think we have to invent a new category to thank Paromjit for her stellar reviews. We seem to have similar tastes, and I am always grateful when there's a new book on her list that I wouldn't have otherwise found!! It means my WTR list is full of books she's read and reviewed; happy days!
This series has DI Eve Hunter as the protagonist, as always a character with many flaws and a complex back-story. It took me a while to get the various characters straight - both the old/new team members, and the cast of baddies from the past. Eve herself is full of angst and beats herself up more than anyone else could ever do. I didn't warm to her as much as I wanted, but as it's the first in a series, will be interested to see how she grows. Quite liked a couple of the team - especially Mearns (BTW way - a surname I would have associated with Scotland, despite her coming from Bolton!). The unfolding tale of the twisted serial killer was suitably gory, and increasingly obvious that there was a link to the team/Eve. Hadn't spotted the link that gave them their clue to the next murder(s) - very clever!
I'm dithering between 3* and 4*; its a 3.5 in many ways. Good introduction to a new series, and I've already downloaded book 2 to see how it progresses. But not quite as immediately engaging as I had hoped.
Many reviewers thank various publishers for ARCs etc. I think we have to invent a new category to thank Paromjit for her stellar reviews. We seem to have similar tastes, and I am always grateful when there's a new book on her list that I wouldn't have otherwise found!! It means my WTR list is full of books she's read and reviewed; happy days!
June 2, 2020
I received a free copy via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.
This was a brilliant read although confusing at the start with no clear reasons for what had previously occurred to DI Hunter.
It has me totally engrossed with the difference in characters totally engaging.
This is definitely worth a read.
This was a brilliant read although confusing at the start with no clear reasons for what had previously occurred to DI Hunter.
It has me totally engrossed with the difference in characters totally engaging.
This is definitely worth a read.
April 27, 2021
Really enjoyed this - I extended walks to carry on listening to this
Eve Hunter is back to work after recovering from an injury sustained at work but carrying the guilt of knowing she shouldn’t have been on duty
The team are fractured but have to work together to find a killer who is taking a memento from every woman he kills. The clock is ticking...
Fast paced and so enjoyable
Eve Hunter is back to work after recovering from an injury sustained at work but carrying the guilt of knowing she shouldn’t have been on duty
The team are fractured but have to work together to find a killer who is taking a memento from every woman he kills. The clock is ticking...
Fast paced and so enjoyable
November 5, 2019
DI Eve Hunter returns to work after an incident in which one of her colleagues was injured. Her team don’t trust her and she’s not sure she trusts herself. When the bodies start piling up she needs to get her team on board and push through them blaming her for past mistakes.
Be prepared for some gritty and gruesome murders in which the victims lose a body part. Plus we get to meet the killer and hear their thoughts. This added a lot of tension because the killer really is merciless and clever.
I enjoyed the second half of the story more than the first. There’s more action, the team dynamics aren’t so prominent and there are some great twists. I had no idea who the killer was and the reveal was a good one. In the first half Eve’s difficulties felt a bit laboured but I have to say I ended up liking her.
I’ll definitely look out for the next in the series.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for a copy of this book. This is my honest review.
Be prepared for some gritty and gruesome murders in which the victims lose a body part. Plus we get to meet the killer and hear their thoughts. This added a lot of tension because the killer really is merciless and clever.
I enjoyed the second half of the story more than the first. There’s more action, the team dynamics aren’t so prominent and there are some great twists. I had no idea who the killer was and the reveal was a good one. In the first half Eve’s difficulties felt a bit laboured but I have to say I ended up liking her.
I’ll definitely look out for the next in the series.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for a copy of this book. This is my honest review.
September 26, 2019
Morgan’s incredibly gritty thriller excels where others have difficulty matching with its troubled characters, backstory and gruesome crimes providing a whirlwind of crime and tension. This is a novel that hits all the right marks that most crime stories often lack.
The characters are richly written and stand on their own against the backdrop that Morgan uses. They are well developed and provide enough angst, pain, suffering and pathos to keep you interested but at the same time staying very true to their humanistic approach.
The crimes and plotting are ingeniously done and Morgan shows a great fortitude for the subject matter. You can tell a lot of work went into the psychological understanding of the crimes and police procedure. This kept the novel intriguing and combined this with the personal dramas and situations within the characters personal lives we end up with a winning formula.
Hold Your Tongue is an excellent crime novel that works on all aspects providing an insightful and thought provoking and a damn good read. This page turner gets it right on so many levels and it is really hard to find anything negative to find. Great characters, fantastic backstory and crimes that are gruesome and a conclusion that makes perfect sense; a crime winner on all fronts.
The characters are richly written and stand on their own against the backdrop that Morgan uses. They are well developed and provide enough angst, pain, suffering and pathos to keep you interested but at the same time staying very true to their humanistic approach.
The crimes and plotting are ingeniously done and Morgan shows a great fortitude for the subject matter. You can tell a lot of work went into the psychological understanding of the crimes and police procedure. This kept the novel intriguing and combined this with the personal dramas and situations within the characters personal lives we end up with a winning formula.
Hold Your Tongue is an excellent crime novel that works on all aspects providing an insightful and thought provoking and a damn good read. This page turner gets it right on so many levels and it is really hard to find anything negative to find. Great characters, fantastic backstory and crimes that are gruesome and a conclusion that makes perfect sense; a crime winner on all fronts.
December 31, 2019
Introducing Detective Eve Hunter - it’s been a while since I read a crime book and I’m glad I picked up this one. A new release for paperback that if I you like crime fiction I think you should buy!
Uncovering the murders of others, this story links to the life and past of Eve and how it can’t really be forgotten! I really enjoyed it from the start. It definitely showed signs of a up debut novel but that didn’t deter from the writing itself.
The whole time I was reading this I was trying to piece together the clues, coming up with my own theories about who could have done what and the only thing that knocked my rating down was that I guessed it right - although there was a bit that I didn’t guess or expect!
A really good read, a great start to what will hopefully go on to be a series. I recommend for anyone interesting in police/crime books!
Uncovering the murders of others, this story links to the life and past of Eve and how it can’t really be forgotten! I really enjoyed it from the start. It definitely showed signs of a up debut novel but that didn’t deter from the writing itself.
The whole time I was reading this I was trying to piece together the clues, coming up with my own theories about who could have done what and the only thing that knocked my rating down was that I guessed it right - although there was a bit that I didn’t guess or expect!
A really good read, a great start to what will hopefully go on to be a series. I recommend for anyone interesting in police/crime books!
March 17, 2020
Book reviews on www.snazzybooks.com
Hold Your Tongue is an enjoyable start to this new detective series featuring DI Evie Hunter.
The plot is interesting but fairly easy to follow, with some of Evie’s past revealed and a definitely ‘gritty’ Aberdeen as the backdrop to the spate of killings which are under investigation.
Evie is a detective who has yet to get over the guilt of a previous mistake involving her colleague, and in many ways she’s a typical ‘troubled’ detective. This sometimes felt for a me a bit of a cliche, but I did warm to her as the book continued.
Hold Your Tongue features some other characters who feel realistic and interesting. Although Mearns seems like a difficult character at first, she has her own strengths, and there are plenty of other people on Evie’s team who offer an interesting array of personality traits and quirks. I like Deborah Mason’s character development in this novel and look forward to seeing how Evie and her team develop as the series goes on.
Overall this is a good read but I don’t feel like it would make my list of favourite police series (not from this novel alone yet, anyway). I will be interested to read further releases from this series though.
Hold Your Tongue is an enjoyable start to this new detective series featuring DI Evie Hunter.
The plot is interesting but fairly easy to follow, with some of Evie’s past revealed and a definitely ‘gritty’ Aberdeen as the backdrop to the spate of killings which are under investigation.
Evie is a detective who has yet to get over the guilt of a previous mistake involving her colleague, and in many ways she’s a typical ‘troubled’ detective. This sometimes felt for a me a bit of a cliche, but I did warm to her as the book continued.
Hold Your Tongue features some other characters who feel realistic and interesting. Although Mearns seems like a difficult character at first, she has her own strengths, and there are plenty of other people on Evie’s team who offer an interesting array of personality traits and quirks. I like Deborah Mason’s character development in this novel and look forward to seeing how Evie and her team develop as the series goes on.
Overall this is a good read but I don’t feel like it would make my list of favourite police series (not from this novel alone yet, anyway). I will be interested to read further releases from this series though.
October 11, 2021
Struggled with this one. I had high hopes because the reviews were so promising but I just couldn't feel anything for the characters. It seemed like the usual "detective returning to work after major trauma" set up and I find it unoriginal.
January 4, 2020
A big thank you to NetGalley and Random House UK for allowing me to read an eARC copy of this book. All views and opinions discussed here are solely my own.
I have very mixed feelings towards this book so let me try and hash out my main issue with this one.
I think my main issue with this book is that it wasn't anything overly unique to what i've read before from other police procedural drama's. I'm not talking about the serial killer, but the actual cast of characters and those issues. Eve felt like a number of other DI's i've read about; women who are good at their job but struggling with their own personal demons which ultimately impact their job. The male character, Ferguson, who's a bit of a dick but ultimately a "good guy". The two character traits that annoy me the most though are that picked up by Mearns and then Jenkins; in almost every police book i've read where there's a female in charge there is always a female subordinate who has it out for the boss with almost no reasoning behind it and a journalist who is hell bent on destroying that female leads career. It almost just felt like caricatures at times and the character of Mearns really didn't seem to have a mind of her own for half the book and has just listened to Ferguson spew his vile everywhere. Luckily she does grow a spine and have opinions of her own, but it just felt a little too late for me. And then with Jenkins... why are the vile reporters always women who ultimately die in some horrific way?
This is what ultimately made me rate this book 3 stars rather than 4 - if it was for the plot in itself about the serial killer, that could have got a 4* rating because I did find that intriguing and honestly didn't guess the big twist at the end. I had guessed that the murderer was going to be whoever Mearns was seeing because it just seemed to jump out at the same time as the murders started, but I didn't guess who that was going to be. I did enjoy the storyline and think it was quite an intriguing and very dark plot line. I did enjoy the backstory we got of Eve and why she was off the team, but I also found it a bit jarring a times. I almost wish that had been a separate story in itself so we could have seen what she was like before and then know the impact it had on her, but overall I think this was a good start to a series - if the character stereotypes improve I can definitely see that this would be a series I would enjoy.
The flashbacks for the killer were a good addition as it let us into his brain piece by piece and really helped to drive home his narrative and why he was doing what he was doing. It also worked to set up a few red herrings and send us down the wrong path.
I'm hoping this doesn't become like the DI Helen Grace series where they're stalking a serial killer every book because you can only believe there's so many serial killers in one area.
Overall I wouldn't say this was a bad start to the series, but I just wish we'd get some police procedural stories where the characters don't all hate each other and some of the detectives actually have their lives together.
I have very mixed feelings towards this book so let me try and hash out my main issue with this one.
I think my main issue with this book is that it wasn't anything overly unique to what i've read before from other police procedural drama's. I'm not talking about the serial killer, but the actual cast of characters and those issues. Eve felt like a number of other DI's i've read about; women who are good at their job but struggling with their own personal demons which ultimately impact their job. The male character, Ferguson, who's a bit of a dick but ultimately a "good guy". The two character traits that annoy me the most though are that picked up by Mearns and then Jenkins; in almost every police book i've read where there's a female in charge there is always a female subordinate who has it out for the boss with almost no reasoning behind it and a journalist who is hell bent on destroying that female leads career. It almost just felt like caricatures at times and the character of Mearns really didn't seem to have a mind of her own for half the book and has just listened to Ferguson spew his vile everywhere. Luckily she does grow a spine and have opinions of her own, but it just felt a little too late for me. And then with Jenkins... why are the vile reporters always women who ultimately die in some horrific way?
This is what ultimately made me rate this book 3 stars rather than 4 - if it was for the plot in itself about the serial killer, that could have got a 4* rating because I did find that intriguing and honestly didn't guess the big twist at the end. I had guessed that the murderer was going to be whoever Mearns was seeing because it just seemed to jump out at the same time as the murders started, but I didn't guess who that was going to be. I did enjoy the storyline and think it was quite an intriguing and very dark plot line. I did enjoy the backstory we got of Eve and why she was off the team, but I also found it a bit jarring a times. I almost wish that had been a separate story in itself so we could have seen what she was like before and then know the impact it had on her, but overall I think this was a good start to a series - if the character stereotypes improve I can definitely see that this would be a series I would enjoy.
The flashbacks for the killer were a good addition as it let us into his brain piece by piece and really helped to drive home his narrative and why he was doing what he was doing. It also worked to set up a few red herrings and send us down the wrong path.
I'm hoping this doesn't become like the DI Helen Grace series where they're stalking a serial killer every book because you can only believe there's so many serial killers in one area.
Overall I wouldn't say this was a bad start to the series, but I just wish we'd get some police procedural stories where the characters don't all hate each other and some of the detectives actually have their lives together.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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