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Detective Kate Young #1
An Eye for an Eye
A killer running rings around the police. A detective spiralling out of control.
DI Kate Young is on leave. She’s the force’s best detective, but her bosses know she’s under pressure, on medication and overcoming trauma. So after her bad judgement call leads to a narrowly averted public disaster, they’re sure all she needs is a rest.
But when Staffordshire Police summon her back to work on a murder case, it’s a harder, more suspicious Kate Young who returns. With a new ruthlessness, she sets about tracking down a clinical, calculating serial killer who is torturing victims and leaving clues to taunt the police. Spurred on by her reporter husband, Young begins to suspect that the murderer might be closer than she ever imagined.
As she works to uncover the truth, Young unravels a network of secrets and lies, with even those closest to her having something to hide. But with her own competence—and her grip on reality—called into question, can she unmask the killer before they strike again?
DI Kate Young is on leave. She’s the force’s best detective, but her bosses know she’s under pressure, on medication and overcoming trauma. So after her bad judgement call leads to a narrowly averted public disaster, they’re sure all she needs is a rest.
But when Staffordshire Police summon her back to work on a murder case, it’s a harder, more suspicious Kate Young who returns. With a new ruthlessness, she sets about tracking down a clinical, calculating serial killer who is torturing victims and leaving clues to taunt the police. Spurred on by her reporter husband, Young begins to suspect that the murderer might be closer than she ever imagined.
As she works to uncover the truth, Young unravels a network of secrets and lies, with even those closest to her having something to hide. But with her own competence—and her grip on reality—called into question, can she unmask the killer before they strike again?
426 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 1, 2021
About the author
Carol Wyer
40 books1,062 followersUSA Today bestselling author and winner of The People's Book Prize Award, Carol Wyer's crime novels have sold over one million copies and been translated into nine languages.
A move from humour to the 'dark side' in 2017, saw the introduction of popular DI Robyn Carter in Little Girl Lost and proved that Carol had found her true niche.
In 2021, An Eye For An Eye, the first in the DI Kate Young series, was chosen as a Kindle First Reads. It became the #1 bestselling book on Amazon UK and Australia. The third, A Life For A Life, is due out March 15th, 2022, but is available to preorder.
Carol has had articles published in national magazines 'Woman's Weekly', featured in 'Take A Break', 'Choice', 'Yours' and 'Woman's Own' magazines and written for the Huffington Post. She's also been interviewed on numerous radio shows and on BBC Breakfast television.
She currently lives on a windy hill in rural Staffordshire with her husband Mr. Grumpy who is very, very grumpy.
When not plotting devious murders, she can be found performing her comedy routine, Smile While You Still Have Teeth.
To learn more, go to www.carolwyer.co.uk, subscribe to her YouTube channel, or follow her on Twitter @carolewyer
A move from humour to the 'dark side' in 2017, saw the introduction of popular DI Robyn Carter in Little Girl Lost and proved that Carol had found her true niche.
In 2021, An Eye For An Eye, the first in the DI Kate Young series, was chosen as a Kindle First Reads. It became the #1 bestselling book on Amazon UK and Australia. The third, A Life For A Life, is due out March 15th, 2022, but is available to preorder.
Carol has had articles published in national magazines 'Woman's Weekly', featured in 'Take A Break', 'Choice', 'Yours' and 'Woman's Own' magazines and written for the Huffington Post. She's also been interviewed on numerous radio shows and on BBC Breakfast television.
She currently lives on a windy hill in rural Staffordshire with her husband Mr. Grumpy who is very, very grumpy.
When not plotting devious murders, she can be found performing her comedy routine, Smile While You Still Have Teeth.
To learn more, go to www.carolwyer.co.uk, subscribe to her YouTube channel, or follow her on Twitter @carolewyer
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 755 reviews
February 18, 2021
Trust can be murdered instantly with lies.
DI Kate Young is living on the edge of a town called Paranoia. It sits with her day and night pressing on the reality that you never quite leave its boundaries. She's on leave from the Staffordshire Police and is suffering from the weight of PTSD. Her daily cocktail is a combo of copious glasses of wine and little white pills delivered on demand through the pressure of her thumb on cellophane.
Kate witnessed the aftermath of a slaughter of innocent victims aboard a train car. Even though the perpetrator was taken out, the visual of it all sits front and center in her brain. And that same brain plays reruns of the incident daily in her mind.
Superintendent John Dickson and her boss DCI William Chase think it's time for Kate to return. She's their top detective. Kate tries to convince herself that she's up to the challenge even though she reaches into her pocket to hear the little crackle of that pill cellophane for reassurance. But how long can she travel on empty?
The body of a successful international exporter has been found in his kitchen. From all indications, Alex Corby had been tortured before his death. He didn't appear to have enemies, although his marriage wasn't on the most stable of ground. When another body is found with an extremely similar crime scene, Kate and her team are wary that they've got a serial killer on their hands.
Now, you ask, what makes this one stand out from all the other thrillers out there? Carol Wyer has seeped this one into the very dark corners of doubt dusted with a heavy layer of mistrust. From the beginning pages, we're not sure of what exactly went down with that train incident for Kate to not even trust herself. As she gets back with her tried-and-true team, the team itself is unsure if their lead detective is quite up to taking on this case. Her superiors are pressing Kate for instant results. The more they lean on her, the more Kate starts questioning everything in regard to her own abilities and the parameters of this particular case. This one is a WoW.....a smackin' WoW.
I received a copy of An Eye for an Eye through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Thomas & Mercer Publishers and to Carol Wyer for the opportunity.
DI Kate Young is living on the edge of a town called Paranoia. It sits with her day and night pressing on the reality that you never quite leave its boundaries. She's on leave from the Staffordshire Police and is suffering from the weight of PTSD. Her daily cocktail is a combo of copious glasses of wine and little white pills delivered on demand through the pressure of her thumb on cellophane.
Kate witnessed the aftermath of a slaughter of innocent victims aboard a train car. Even though the perpetrator was taken out, the visual of it all sits front and center in her brain. And that same brain plays reruns of the incident daily in her mind.
Superintendent John Dickson and her boss DCI William Chase think it's time for Kate to return. She's their top detective. Kate tries to convince herself that she's up to the challenge even though she reaches into her pocket to hear the little crackle of that pill cellophane for reassurance. But how long can she travel on empty?
The body of a successful international exporter has been found in his kitchen. From all indications, Alex Corby had been tortured before his death. He didn't appear to have enemies, although his marriage wasn't on the most stable of ground. When another body is found with an extremely similar crime scene, Kate and her team are wary that they've got a serial killer on their hands.
Now, you ask, what makes this one stand out from all the other thrillers out there? Carol Wyer has seeped this one into the very dark corners of doubt dusted with a heavy layer of mistrust. From the beginning pages, we're not sure of what exactly went down with that train incident for Kate to not even trust herself. As she gets back with her tried-and-true team, the team itself is unsure if their lead detective is quite up to taking on this case. Her superiors are pressing Kate for instant results. The more they lean on her, the more Kate starts questioning everything in regard to her own abilities and the parameters of this particular case. This one is a WoW.....a smackin' WoW.
I received a copy of An Eye for an Eye through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Thomas & Mercer Publishers and to Carol Wyer for the opportunity.
February 22, 2021
Carol Wyer Has Done It Again!
Detective Kate Young is back to work on a special assignment after being on extended sick leave due to a tragic case a few months earlier which left many people dead and had a devastating effect on Kate and caused severe PTSD. Kate is still not quite herself yet but knows she must prove herself to her superiors or be at risk of losing her honored position and this new case will be even more troublesome since the victim was a good friend of her boss and he expects her to solve the brutal murder case quickly and quietly. Soon after she begins the investigation she realizes something is not right and her boss seems to be hiding Somme important information from her and also Kate begins to wonder if she is being set up to fail on this very high profile case. Kate has a wonderful and efficient team working for her but they are also wondering if Kate returned back to work too early and are starting to question if Kate is stable enough to handle these vicious and highly unusual crimes. Angry and frustrated, Kate refuses to get sidetracked when another identical murder occurs, little does she know that her job is not the only thing at risk in this case but her sanity as well. So many secrets and lies!
I'm a big fan of Carol Wyer and I just loved the "Natalie Ward series" (I hope there will be more books written) so I was excited to try this new book "An Eye For An Eye" but I was a little skeptical as well because I couldn't imagine this series being as exciting as the previous one but I was in for a huge surprise. I loved the book and the characters were completely different yet just as entertaining and interesting. Kate is another strong female detective yet very vulnerable and likeable who seems to have been through a lot in her lifetime. There is also a great cast of many complex and intriguing characters with a lot of red herrings thrown in. I enjoy mysteries and thrillers where I don't know who the killers or predators are until the end of the story and that leaves me feeling very satisfied. Terrific writing, great sub,-plots and an ending that makes you in a hurry to read book the second book.
I want to thank the author "Carol Wyer", the publisher "Amazon Publishing UK/ Thomas & Mercer and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this exciting book and any thoughts and opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!
I highly recommend to any reader who enjoys good detective stories of just a good mystery/thriller and I given this captivating book a rating of 4 1/2 Explosive 🌟🌟🌟🌟❇ Stars!!
Detective Kate Young is back to work on a special assignment after being on extended sick leave due to a tragic case a few months earlier which left many people dead and had a devastating effect on Kate and caused severe PTSD. Kate is still not quite herself yet but knows she must prove herself to her superiors or be at risk of losing her honored position and this new case will be even more troublesome since the victim was a good friend of her boss and he expects her to solve the brutal murder case quickly and quietly. Soon after she begins the investigation she realizes something is not right and her boss seems to be hiding Somme important information from her and also Kate begins to wonder if she is being set up to fail on this very high profile case. Kate has a wonderful and efficient team working for her but they are also wondering if Kate returned back to work too early and are starting to question if Kate is stable enough to handle these vicious and highly unusual crimes. Angry and frustrated, Kate refuses to get sidetracked when another identical murder occurs, little does she know that her job is not the only thing at risk in this case but her sanity as well. So many secrets and lies!
I'm a big fan of Carol Wyer and I just loved the "Natalie Ward series" (I hope there will be more books written) so I was excited to try this new book "An Eye For An Eye" but I was a little skeptical as well because I couldn't imagine this series being as exciting as the previous one but I was in for a huge surprise. I loved the book and the characters were completely different yet just as entertaining and interesting. Kate is another strong female detective yet very vulnerable and likeable who seems to have been through a lot in her lifetime. There is also a great cast of many complex and intriguing characters with a lot of red herrings thrown in. I enjoy mysteries and thrillers where I don't know who the killers or predators are until the end of the story and that leaves me feeling very satisfied. Terrific writing, great sub,-plots and an ending that makes you in a hurry to read book the second book.
I want to thank the author "Carol Wyer", the publisher "Amazon Publishing UK/ Thomas & Mercer and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this exciting book and any thoughts and opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!
I highly recommend to any reader who enjoys good detective stories of just a good mystery/thriller and I given this captivating book a rating of 4 1/2 Explosive 🌟🌟🌟🌟❇ Stars!!
February 1, 2021
Review published in: https://diagnosisbookaholic.blogspot....
"An apple a day keeps the doctor away". Tell that to the killer's victims! From now on I won't look at apples the same way!
What a fantastic start to a brand new police procedural series! Carol Wyer already proved she knows what she's writing about with the Robyn Carter and Natalie Ward series, and DI Kate Young is a welcomed addition to this group of strong policewomen.
The book starts with a bang, with DI Young taking some leave from work after a really traumatic incident, the details of which will be revealed bit by bit throughout the story and that serves as background to understand Kate's mental state. I loved how we're not told from the beginning what really happened to her, allowing the reader to form their own theories (I had a few!). I also liked how both lines tied together at the end, setting the pieces for the next chapter in Kate's story.
Although the murders were quite grisly, they were not played out on the page, with the focus set on the forensics. As a medical examiner myself I love stories where forensics play a key part in the story. It might be because of my job, but I always love to play detective while reading a crime/mystery book, and get a weird satisfaction when my theory is proved right. I would have loved to do a buddy read to be able to discuss all the different theories my head kept creating!
I really loved Kate and her small team. I think it was a good choice not to have a huge team where sometimes you can't even distinguish one policeman from another, but a small one with just a couple of young promising detectives, whose backstories I can't wait to learn.
Kate's mental health issues were very well portrayed and helped to make her a more sympathetic character. With everything she has going on she could be obnoxious and alienating to her colleagues, but in spite of her problems she always behaved with them in a respectful and professional manner.
The story moved at a really quick pace, and once you get immersed into the investigation it is quite hard to unglue yourself from the pages.
Great start to what promises to be (based on that last sentence) another series whose installments I'll be anxiously waiting.
Thanks to Carol Wyer for providing a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.
"An apple a day keeps the doctor away". Tell that to the killer's victims! From now on I won't look at apples the same way!
What a fantastic start to a brand new police procedural series! Carol Wyer already proved she knows what she's writing about with the Robyn Carter and Natalie Ward series, and DI Kate Young is a welcomed addition to this group of strong policewomen.
The book starts with a bang, with DI Young taking some leave from work after a really traumatic incident, the details of which will be revealed bit by bit throughout the story and that serves as background to understand Kate's mental state. I loved how we're not told from the beginning what really happened to her, allowing the reader to form their own theories (I had a few!). I also liked how both lines tied together at the end, setting the pieces for the next chapter in Kate's story.
Although the murders were quite grisly, they were not played out on the page, with the focus set on the forensics. As a medical examiner myself I love stories where forensics play a key part in the story. It might be because of my job, but I always love to play detective while reading a crime/mystery book, and get a weird satisfaction when my theory is proved right. I would have loved to do a buddy read to be able to discuss all the different theories my head kept creating!
I really loved Kate and her small team. I think it was a good choice not to have a huge team where sometimes you can't even distinguish one policeman from another, but a small one with just a couple of young promising detectives, whose backstories I can't wait to learn.
Kate's mental health issues were very well portrayed and helped to make her a more sympathetic character. With everything she has going on she could be obnoxious and alienating to her colleagues, but in spite of her problems she always behaved with them in a respectful and professional manner.
The story moved at a really quick pace, and once you get immersed into the investigation it is quite hard to unglue yourself from the pages.
Great start to what promises to be (based on that last sentence) another series whose installments I'll be anxiously waiting.
Thanks to Carol Wyer for providing a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.
February 3, 2021
I am a massive fan of Carol Wyer’s crime novels - Natalie Ward and Robyn Carter are 2 of my favourite series. So when I heard that we were to meet a new female detective I could not wait to read it. I got this book though Amazon First Reads and upgraded to the audiobook on publication day. And it was fantastic. If you love a good police procedural story then grab a Carol Wyer book.
DI Kate Young is a determined, tough but broken woman. She is on leave after a massively traumatic experience that we learn about throughout the book. However, when a prominent business man is murdered in his home, he superiors ask her to come back to Head the team to find the killer. It is a particularly gruesome murder and Kate has her work cut out for her. While still nowhere near finding their culprit another body is found, who has suffered a similar fate. And that is not all they have in common. The further they dig, the more this case twists and finds links to other cases.
I love that Kate was. It perfect, far from it. She is suffering, taking pills to get through the days. She makes mistakes, she works her butt off and I cannot wait to learn more about her.
DI Kate Young is a determined, tough but broken woman. She is on leave after a massively traumatic experience that we learn about throughout the book. However, when a prominent business man is murdered in his home, he superiors ask her to come back to Head the team to find the killer. It is a particularly gruesome murder and Kate has her work cut out for her. While still nowhere near finding their culprit another body is found, who has suffered a similar fate. And that is not all they have in common. The further they dig, the more this case twists and finds links to other cases.
I love that Kate was. It perfect, far from it. She is suffering, taking pills to get through the days. She makes mistakes, she works her butt off and I cannot wait to learn more about her.
December 17, 2022
3.5★s
DI Kate Young had faced the biggest trauma of her life and was subsequently on leave. On pills for her anxiety and stress, nevertheless she was increasingly bored with herself. When she was requested by her superiors to return to work, she was surprised, as were her colleagues. But the case facing her, and her new team, was horrific. Kate put aside - as best she could - her feelings of inadequacy, and Emma, Morgan and Kate advanced on the interviews with family, friends and people who knew the deceased. But when a second, then a third victim was murdered in the same callous and cruel manner, Kate and her small team were desperate. Could they find the killer before anyone else lost their life?
An Eye For An Eye is the 1st in the Detective Kate Young series by Carol Wyer, an author new to me. I enjoyed the police procedural aspect of the story, but found it was drawn out and overly wordy. There was too much reminiscing of Kate's past, the trauma she suffered, in my opinion. But overall, it was an enjoyable novel which I'm happy to recommend to fans of the genre.
DI Kate Young had faced the biggest trauma of her life and was subsequently on leave. On pills for her anxiety and stress, nevertheless she was increasingly bored with herself. When she was requested by her superiors to return to work, she was surprised, as were her colleagues. But the case facing her, and her new team, was horrific. Kate put aside - as best she could - her feelings of inadequacy, and Emma, Morgan and Kate advanced on the interviews with family, friends and people who knew the deceased. But when a second, then a third victim was murdered in the same callous and cruel manner, Kate and her small team were desperate. Could they find the killer before anyone else lost their life?
An Eye For An Eye is the 1st in the Detective Kate Young series by Carol Wyer, an author new to me. I enjoyed the police procedural aspect of the story, but found it was drawn out and overly wordy. There was too much reminiscing of Kate's past, the trauma she suffered, in my opinion. But overall, it was an enjoyable novel which I'm happy to recommend to fans of the genre.
June 6, 2022
Detective Kate Young has been on leave since a gunman slaughtered a train-car full of people. The aftermath of that horrendous incident left Kate with PTSD and a reliance on pills to get her through the day. When she’s called to investigate the murder of a prominent businessman, she wants to prove to herself, her staff, and her superiors that she’s up to the task, although she doesn’t do the greatest job hiding her ongoing trauma from these folks.
The gruesome murder involving torture is quickly replicated, and Kate and her team worry they might have a serial killer on their hands. She begins to doubt the people around her just as they don’t fully seem to trust her.
I enjoyed the ending to this and would read more books in this series (this is the first).
The gruesome murder involving torture is quickly replicated, and Kate and her team worry they might have a serial killer on their hands. She begins to doubt the people around her just as they don’t fully seem to trust her.
I enjoyed the ending to this and would read more books in this series (this is the first).
February 2, 2021
Check out all of my reviews at: https://www.avonnalovesgenres.com
AN EYE FOR AN EYE (Detective Kate Young Book #1) by Carol Wyer is the first book in a hopefully new British police procedural crime fiction/mystery series featuring DI Kate Young.
DI Kate Young is suffering after a traumatic incident. She is having flashbacks and taking pills and alcohol to cope. After a narrowly avoiding hurting a civilian, her superintendent places her on forced leave in March.
Just three months later, Kate’s friend and fellow officer DCI Chase comes to tell her she is requested specifically for a murder investigation by her superintendent. In a small team, just two of her fellow officers, DS Morgan Meredith and DS Emma Donaldson, they work diligently to track down a ruthless killer who tortures his victims and taunts the police. This case is a tangled web of secrets, lies and vengeance.
Everyone worries about Kate’s mental state, but Kate is determined to prove she is able to work the evidence and clues step-by-step to catch the killer.
I could not put this book down! Kate is an absolutely stellar new main character that I am looking forward to following. Her personal story, which is intertwined in bits throughout the entire book, had me as intrigued as the crime/mystery itself. The plot moves at a steady pace and is full of red herrings and twists. Interesting and fully fleshed secondary characters. Although the murders are gruesome, they do not occur on the page and are only discussed and in the forensics after the fact.
This book has me wanting the next book immediately! I highly recommend this new British police procedural crime fiction and author.
AN EYE FOR AN EYE (Detective Kate Young Book #1) by Carol Wyer is the first book in a hopefully new British police procedural crime fiction/mystery series featuring DI Kate Young.
DI Kate Young is suffering after a traumatic incident. She is having flashbacks and taking pills and alcohol to cope. After a narrowly avoiding hurting a civilian, her superintendent places her on forced leave in March.
Just three months later, Kate’s friend and fellow officer DCI Chase comes to tell her she is requested specifically for a murder investigation by her superintendent. In a small team, just two of her fellow officers, DS Morgan Meredith and DS Emma Donaldson, they work diligently to track down a ruthless killer who tortures his victims and taunts the police. This case is a tangled web of secrets, lies and vengeance.
Everyone worries about Kate’s mental state, but Kate is determined to prove she is able to work the evidence and clues step-by-step to catch the killer.
I could not put this book down! Kate is an absolutely stellar new main character that I am looking forward to following. Her personal story, which is intertwined in bits throughout the entire book, had me as intrigued as the crime/mystery itself. The plot moves at a steady pace and is full of red herrings and twists. Interesting and fully fleshed secondary characters. Although the murders are gruesome, they do not occur on the page and are only discussed and in the forensics after the fact.
This book has me wanting the next book immediately! I highly recommend this new British police procedural crime fiction and author.
June 2, 2021
This was a new author to me, recommended by one of my Goodread friends. Maybe I was expecting too much, but I struggled a little with this, possibly because the book I had read before this one is probably book of the year possibly in top 10 books I have ever read, so it had a hard act to follow.
It took a long time to get into this as I found the plot a bit “clunky”, and never really felt any connection to the characters. It took until probably 75-85% of the book before I started to feel as if it wasn’t going to be a waste of my time.
I am not sure if the author does this in all her books, but she has a propensity for using big words that wouldn’t normally be used by people other than English professors or maybe English Teachers. Even Inspector Morse didn’t really use words like that, although I am sure he knew them. As such it undermined the scenes.
I already have book 2 so will have to see if that is any better.
Another niggle of mine concerns a reference to an event on "Wednesday 2nd January 2021", but 2nd January 2021 was a Saturday! I found this unprofessional, would have been very easy to check.
It took a long time to get into this as I found the plot a bit “clunky”, and never really felt any connection to the characters. It took until probably 75-85% of the book before I started to feel as if it wasn’t going to be a waste of my time.
I am not sure if the author does this in all her books, but she has a propensity for using big words that wouldn’t normally be used by people other than English professors or maybe English Teachers. Even Inspector Morse didn’t really use words like that, although I am sure he knew them. As such it undermined the scenes.
I already have book 2 so will have to see if that is any better.
Another niggle of mine concerns a reference to an event on "Wednesday 2nd January 2021", but 2nd January 2021 was a Saturday! I found this unprofessional, would have been very easy to check.
April 20, 2021
An Eye for an Eye is the first book in the Detective Kate Young Series by award-winning author of mystery and romance novels. Having enjoyed reading some of her other series; Detective Robyn Carter and Detective Natalie Ward, I was looking forward to starting this new detective series.
The novels in the Detective Kate Young Series Include:
Book 1-An Eye For An Eye (2021)
Book 2- A Cut For A Cut (June 2021)
DI Kate Young is on leave after suffering a traumatic experience. She’s the force’s best detective, but is suffering from nightmares and her bosses know she’s under pressure, on medication and booze to overcome the trauma. Her boss, Superintendent John Dickson places her on mandatory sick leave, after a breakdown on a train, that we learn more about throughout the book where she almost attacked a civilian.
A few months later, Kate’s friend and friend of her late father, fifty-eight- year- old detective DCI Chase comes to tell her that her boss wants her back at work, to hunt down a serial killer. The victim was Alex Corby, who had been held captive and tortured in his home, was a VIP, his company a massive exporter of British food. Case asked her if she would consider heading up a small team, her and two officers of her choosing. She accepted the offer and chooses two of her fellow officers from her old team, DS Morgan Meredith (dedicated worker that had worked closely on several tough cases in the past) and DS Emma Donaldson (an expert in marital arts).
This proves to be a complex case and the team works meticulously to track down the brutal killer who tortures his victims, leaving clues for the police.
Then another body is found, who has suffered a similar fate. It appears they are linked but why?
Kate’s husband, Chris, a journalist, encourages her to remain strong and steadfast with her investigation.
Kate soon uncovers the truth, a network of secrets and lies and vengeance. Can she reveal the killer before they strike again?
I was glued to this fast-paced crime/mystery with its intriguing plot, well-developed characters and lots of twists and turns and ample red herrings. I loved this book and can’t wait for book 2 to continue the series. Highly recommended!
Many thanks to the author, Thomas & Mercer Publishers and NetGalley for my digital copy.
The novels in the Detective Kate Young Series Include:
Book 1-An Eye For An Eye (2021)
Book 2- A Cut For A Cut (June 2021)
DI Kate Young is on leave after suffering a traumatic experience. She’s the force’s best detective, but is suffering from nightmares and her bosses know she’s under pressure, on medication and booze to overcome the trauma. Her boss, Superintendent John Dickson places her on mandatory sick leave, after a breakdown on a train, that we learn more about throughout the book where she almost attacked a civilian.
A few months later, Kate’s friend and friend of her late father, fifty-eight- year- old detective DCI Chase comes to tell her that her boss wants her back at work, to hunt down a serial killer. The victim was Alex Corby, who had been held captive and tortured in his home, was a VIP, his company a massive exporter of British food. Case asked her if she would consider heading up a small team, her and two officers of her choosing. She accepted the offer and chooses two of her fellow officers from her old team, DS Morgan Meredith (dedicated worker that had worked closely on several tough cases in the past) and DS Emma Donaldson (an expert in marital arts).
This proves to be a complex case and the team works meticulously to track down the brutal killer who tortures his victims, leaving clues for the police.
Then another body is found, who has suffered a similar fate. It appears they are linked but why?
Kate’s husband, Chris, a journalist, encourages her to remain strong and steadfast with her investigation.
Kate soon uncovers the truth, a network of secrets and lies and vengeance. Can she reveal the killer before they strike again?
I was glued to this fast-paced crime/mystery with its intriguing plot, well-developed characters and lots of twists and turns and ample red herrings. I loved this book and can’t wait for book 2 to continue the series. Highly recommended!
Many thanks to the author, Thomas & Mercer Publishers and NetGalley for my digital copy.
September 18, 2020
An absolutely stellar book!
Really review to come closer to publication day.
Really review to come closer to publication day.
February 1, 2021
Book Reviewed on www.whisperingstories.com
Author Carol Wyer is back with a brand new detective thriller. In An Eye for an Eye, DI Kate Young who was on leave from the department after a traumatic experience is called back in to head up a team who initially are put together to deal with a high-profile death.
Whilst they are still investigating the first murder a second body is found and it seems the two are linked. Can Kate keep a clear head and keep her nightmares and visions from her trauma at bay long enough to solve the cases, or before more bodies are found?
DI Kate Young is a sharp, wise, energetic character who has been through a harrowing ordeal that left her with PTSD. Throughout the book, we get to read snippets of what happened to Kate on a train journey. How helpless she felt and scarred that she couldn’t do more to help. After reliving the ordeal on another train journey and nearly injuring an innocent person Kate is asked to take some leave from her job.
When she is asked to return she isn’t sure it is the right thing to do but she also knows that she has to go back to work at some point. Her judgement is clouded a little and she is harsher on the people caught up in her investigation.
The plot is intense and full-on. There are numerous twists, turns, and red-herrings. Everyone lies and numerous people could be the killer which keeps you guessing right to the end. Are we also looking for one murderer or two working together?
The writing is perfect and the excitement ebbs and flows, though it completely intensifies as you reach over the 50% mark. I like that our main character is not perfect. Yes, she is the department’s top detective but her ordeal has caused her to not be quite so level-headed at times. I also love that her journalist partner gets to play a part in helping her see logically and for being there so that she can bounce some ideas off him.
The ending was spot on and I like that it has led us onto book two, (which I can’t wait to read), without the need for a big cliff-hanger, more a revelation.
Author Carol Wyer is back with a brand new detective thriller. In An Eye for an Eye, DI Kate Young who was on leave from the department after a traumatic experience is called back in to head up a team who initially are put together to deal with a high-profile death.
Whilst they are still investigating the first murder a second body is found and it seems the two are linked. Can Kate keep a clear head and keep her nightmares and visions from her trauma at bay long enough to solve the cases, or before more bodies are found?
DI Kate Young is a sharp, wise, energetic character who has been through a harrowing ordeal that left her with PTSD. Throughout the book, we get to read snippets of what happened to Kate on a train journey. How helpless she felt and scarred that she couldn’t do more to help. After reliving the ordeal on another train journey and nearly injuring an innocent person Kate is asked to take some leave from her job.
When she is asked to return she isn’t sure it is the right thing to do but she also knows that she has to go back to work at some point. Her judgement is clouded a little and she is harsher on the people caught up in her investigation.
The plot is intense and full-on. There are numerous twists, turns, and red-herrings. Everyone lies and numerous people could be the killer which keeps you guessing right to the end. Are we also looking for one murderer or two working together?
The writing is perfect and the excitement ebbs and flows, though it completely intensifies as you reach over the 50% mark. I like that our main character is not perfect. Yes, she is the department’s top detective but her ordeal has caused her to not be quite so level-headed at times. I also love that her journalist partner gets to play a part in helping her see logically and for being there so that she can bounce some ideas off him.
The ending was spot on and I like that it has led us onto book two, (which I can’t wait to read), without the need for a big cliff-hanger, more a revelation.
May 12, 2021
I'm so glad others loved this.
For some reason, I just could not get into this one. The plot took a minute to really catch me and even then, I felt like the mystery of it all was easy to guess pretty early on. I didn't feel the connection with the team and I thought most of the conversations felt off and odd. I wish I'd loved this one.
For some reason, I just could not get into this one. The plot took a minute to really catch me and even then, I felt like the mystery of it all was easy to guess pretty early on. I didn't feel the connection with the team and I thought most of the conversations felt off and odd. I wish I'd loved this one.
April 12, 2021
An Eye for an Eye by Carol Wyer is the first in the Detective Kate Young series.
First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Thomas & Mercer, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
My Synopsis: (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
DI Kate Young returns to work after seeing the aftermath of a massive shooting on a train, but she isn't sure she is ready to work. She's still on meds, still having panic attacks, and still having nightmares. But she's also the forces best detective, and her bosses want her back, even though they consider her "fragile".
When DCI William Case tells her that Superintendent John Dickson has specifically asked for her to return to take lead on a new homicide case, Kate agrees, even though she thinks it is odd, since Dickson is the one that insisted she take three months leave. Apparently the victim, millionaire Alex Corby has been a friend to Dickson since childhood. Corby was tortured, and an eye removed.
Kate selects DS Morgan Meredith and DS Emma Donaldson to work with her. Both are over-achievers. But as her investigation continues, her suspicions mount that she is somehow being used, and that she isn't being told everything. She is also starting to question her own judgement and decisions...as are others.
My Opinions:
WOW. Okay, that was an amazing read. Now, I was suspicious of a few people right from word go, and the story proved me right. The twists were not surprises to me. However, none of that detracted from the book.
The book sucked me in from the first chapter and held my attention to the last page.
Wyer's writing skills bring such depth to the characters, and such strength to the plot.
I like how Wyer entwined the story of the train catastrophe into Kate's crime investigation. It gave a good indication of where her mind was, and moved the story in the right direction. It eventually showed the reason for her mental anguish, which I had guessed early on.
There is some fore-shadowing as to Kate's direction in subsequent books, so I can't wait to see where the next one takes us.
For a more complete review of this book and others (including my reason for choosing to read this, as well as author information), please visit my blog: http://katlovesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
May 10, 2021
AN EYE FOR AN EYE introduces a new series featuring protagonist DI Kate Young. Her backstory explains why she is the way she is. She's been under a great deal of pressure from her last case, which fortunately for her, didn't turn out as bad as it could have. However, that seems to have been the breaking point. She's now no leave and taking medication to cope with her trauma.
She's called back to duty with the Staffordshire Police, to investigate a murder committed by a serial killer who tortures his victims before killing them. He even goes so far as to leave clues for the police. Let the cat-and-mouse games begin.
The more she investigates, the more secrets and lies she discovers. Suspects are varied ..and they seem to all be holding secrets .. even the people closest to her. Her supervisors call to question her ability to handle the case .. and her grip on reality.
This cleverly written plot is filled with suspense, tension, lies, secrets, twists and turns that the reader doesn't see coming. The characters are deftly drawn, and have to admit I did not like Kate at the beginning. It was a slow start, even a bit monotonous, but once the story picked up, it was a wild ride to the unexpected conclusion. Beware: There is a major shocking cliff hanger.
Many thanks to the author / Amazon Publishing UK / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
She's called back to duty with the Staffordshire Police, to investigate a murder committed by a serial killer who tortures his victims before killing them. He even goes so far as to leave clues for the police. Let the cat-and-mouse games begin.
The more she investigates, the more secrets and lies she discovers. Suspects are varied ..and they seem to all be holding secrets .. even the people closest to her. Her supervisors call to question her ability to handle the case .. and her grip on reality.
This cleverly written plot is filled with suspense, tension, lies, secrets, twists and turns that the reader doesn't see coming. The characters are deftly drawn, and have to admit I did not like Kate at the beginning. It was a slow start, even a bit monotonous, but once the story picked up, it was a wild ride to the unexpected conclusion. Beware: There is a major shocking cliff hanger.
Many thanks to the author / Amazon Publishing UK / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
June 4, 2021
Another brilliant offering and first book in a new series from Carol Wyer.
February 3, 2021
An Eye for an Eye is the first book in a new series by author Carol Wyer. Her Robin Carter's story ended, thus DI Kate Young story begins.
At the beginning of the book, Kate Young is on compassionate leave after having witnessed a PTSD inducing event : A shooter rampage on a train, then demonstrated she couldn't keep working without healing first. We get bit after bit of the train shooting story through Kate Young's flashbacks, when she doesn't take her meds on time. She does use them a lot, tho, sometimes complementing them with wine, in spite of her husband Chris' support.
When a public figure falls victims to a pretty weird act of torture and murder, the Superintendent specifically asks for Kate Young to lead the case with a small team of coppers she trusts : Emma and Morgan, a pair whose interactions through the book will bring out laughs, but sometimes also raise eyebrows.
We also meet the highly regarded head of forensics, Erwin and Faith, a new intern from Africa who did everything in her power to end up in Erwin's lab
So much insistence for Kate to take the case makes her paranoid. Why if the superintendent and the DSI, in spite of being an old family friend, were hoping for her to fail ? And if so, to achieve what ? Her husband isn't helping, buying into the conspiracy theory himself. In any case, Kate is set on avoiding any traps, and proving her worth to get back on the force.
When a grueling scene precedes the murder of another public figure, and a link is found between the two victims and some other people, Kate's paranoia cranks up to eleven. Threats to give the investigation to another detective doesn't help, and Kate is determined to uncover the whole truth herself, even if some powerful people might not want her to.
Or, that's the story we're given as seen by the main protagonist, DI Kate Young. Even if the book is written in the third person, she's the one we're following. She suffers from PTSD after a highly traumatic event. She pops anxiolytics as Max Payne pops painkillers. She has frequent flashbacks and losses of time. She is highly paranoid. Is she really a reliable narrator ?...
That's one of the strenghts of this book. Damaged characters are nothing new. But, a character so damaged her vision of reality might be altered, bringing the reader into the rabbit's hole with her ? That's less common.
Carol Wyer did her research on this kind of mental problems, interviewing afflicted people, and she manages to give the reader a pretty good idea of how they can affect someone like DI Kate Young.
The writing is on par with Carol Wyer's other books. The story is quick paced, but she doesn't forget to give us a good view of the locales. The supporting cast of characters is really fleshed out and, we end up wanting to read more about them all.
You can try and guess the killer and the motive. There are some red herrings here and there but, if you're a seasoned detective, you can guess them a little before they're properly revealed in the final batch of pages.
I can't wait to read more about DI Kate Young, and see how she manages her next assignments, in spite of her mental health problems.
Thanks to Thomas Mercer, Amazon Publishing UK, Carol Wyer herself, and Netgalley for the ARC provided in exchange for this unbiased review.
At the beginning of the book, Kate Young is on compassionate leave after having witnessed a PTSD inducing event : A shooter rampage on a train, then demonstrated she couldn't keep working without healing first. We get bit after bit of the train shooting story through Kate Young's flashbacks, when she doesn't take her meds on time. She does use them a lot, tho, sometimes complementing them with wine, in spite of her husband Chris' support.
When a public figure falls victims to a pretty weird act of torture and murder, the Superintendent specifically asks for Kate Young to lead the case with a small team of coppers she trusts : Emma and Morgan, a pair whose interactions through the book will bring out laughs, but sometimes also raise eyebrows.
We also meet the highly regarded head of forensics, Erwin and Faith, a new intern from Africa who did everything in her power to end up in Erwin's lab
So much insistence for Kate to take the case makes her paranoid. Why if the superintendent and the DSI, in spite of being an old family friend, were hoping for her to fail ? And if so, to achieve what ? Her husband isn't helping, buying into the conspiracy theory himself. In any case, Kate is set on avoiding any traps, and proving her worth to get back on the force.
When a grueling scene precedes the murder of another public figure, and a link is found between the two victims and some other people, Kate's paranoia cranks up to eleven. Threats to give the investigation to another detective doesn't help, and Kate is determined to uncover the whole truth herself, even if some powerful people might not want her to.
Or, that's the story we're given as seen by the main protagonist, DI Kate Young. Even if the book is written in the third person, she's the one we're following. She suffers from PTSD after a highly traumatic event. She pops anxiolytics as Max Payne pops painkillers. She has frequent flashbacks and losses of time. She is highly paranoid. Is she really a reliable narrator ?...
That's one of the strenghts of this book. Damaged characters are nothing new. But, a character so damaged her vision of reality might be altered, bringing the reader into the rabbit's hole with her ? That's less common.
Carol Wyer did her research on this kind of mental problems, interviewing afflicted people, and she manages to give the reader a pretty good idea of how they can affect someone like DI Kate Young.
The writing is on par with Carol Wyer's other books. The story is quick paced, but she doesn't forget to give us a good view of the locales. The supporting cast of characters is really fleshed out and, we end up wanting to read more about them all.
You can try and guess the killer and the motive. There are some red herrings here and there but, if you're a seasoned detective, you can guess them a little before they're properly revealed in the final batch of pages.
I can't wait to read more about DI Kate Young, and see how she manages her next assignments, in spite of her mental health problems.
Thanks to Thomas Mercer, Amazon Publishing UK, Carol Wyer herself, and Netgalley for the ARC provided in exchange for this unbiased review.
October 20, 2020
Well Hello, Kate!!! It must always be a bit daunting for an author who introduces a new character into their fold, especially when they already have established characters. Here it is no different, Carol has Robyn and Natalie, so I was nervous to see how Kate would fit. It took me a few chapters to get into the flow of the book, this is because in a way I felt like I might be betraying Robyn and Natalie so a small part of me maybe didn’t want to like the book. However, when it clicked, it clicked, and there is more than enough room for Kate Young in this world. (Plus I loved the book)
Robyn and Natalie are two powerhouse women, they both suffer some big losses, they are conflicted, tenacious but loyal so how would Kate fair up? Well, she slotted in as if she has always been there. Her story, well I won’t talk about her story but you can see throughout how it affects her, it bleeds into her work life. The constant worry of the case with the blurring of lines is a huge factor throughout this book. We have a new team to meet and they have Kate’s back even when you feel like they might not.
We have a whole bunch of new characters to be wary of, no one to hate just yet but we do have a dodgy wotsit that I will be keeping my eye on! But I can sense when the fallout comes it will be a HUGE explosion. I don’t think anyone will be safe and it is quite an exciting thread to carry on in the series. Although, exciting might not be the right word considering how dark this thread is!! Yup, Carol is back darker than before! More ruthless and she makes sure she makes your heart crack a little.
I didn’t play detective, I watched the story, the sad tale (they are always sad) and the reasoning behind it all. However, I love that this story is not wrapped up all neatly there are a few loose threads floundering, ready to take us on to the next phase of the story. One thing to love is when the book title makes sense, here An Eye for An Eye makes perfect sense and it adds to yet another layer to this tale. When everything, and I mean everything, clicks in to place it is an eye-watering OMG moment! One that will make your heart falter as you second-guess what you have read. I had suspicions all along and I really did not want them to be true, the lump in my throat was huge!
You can not help but love Kate. You feel her pain and you can see easily why she loves her bubble and wants to stay there. I bet so many of us would want to do the same!!
So many more words I want to say, but I can’t. But please do take the chance on Kate, you won’t regret it!
Robyn and Natalie are two powerhouse women, they both suffer some big losses, they are conflicted, tenacious but loyal so how would Kate fair up? Well, she slotted in as if she has always been there. Her story, well I won’t talk about her story but you can see throughout how it affects her, it bleeds into her work life. The constant worry of the case with the blurring of lines is a huge factor throughout this book. We have a new team to meet and they have Kate’s back even when you feel like they might not.
We have a whole bunch of new characters to be wary of, no one to hate just yet but we do have a dodgy wotsit that I will be keeping my eye on! But I can sense when the fallout comes it will be a HUGE explosion. I don’t think anyone will be safe and it is quite an exciting thread to carry on in the series. Although, exciting might not be the right word considering how dark this thread is!! Yup, Carol is back darker than before! More ruthless and she makes sure she makes your heart crack a little.
I didn’t play detective, I watched the story, the sad tale (they are always sad) and the reasoning behind it all. However, I love that this story is not wrapped up all neatly there are a few loose threads floundering, ready to take us on to the next phase of the story. One thing to love is when the book title makes sense, here An Eye for An Eye makes perfect sense and it adds to yet another layer to this tale. When everything, and I mean everything, clicks in to place it is an eye-watering OMG moment! One that will make your heart falter as you second-guess what you have read. I had suspicions all along and I really did not want them to be true, the lump in my throat was huge!
You can not help but love Kate. You feel her pain and you can see easily why she loves her bubble and wants to stay there. I bet so many of us would want to do the same!!
So many more words I want to say, but I can’t. But please do take the chance on Kate, you won’t regret it!
August 11, 2021
I'm a bit late in reviewing this book as I've not had the best reading year, but An Eye For An Eye really helped me get my mojo back. It's a cracker of a story which is told at breakneck speed as Kate investigates a series of grizzly torture/murders while dealing with her traumatic past. If you'd like a meaty crime novel then this is the perfect series to sink your teeth into. It's easy to see why Carol Wyer is loved by so many thriller enthusiasts. Enjoy!
January 18, 2021
I picked this book from the lineup for this months Amazon First Reads.
I picked this book for a few reasons, firstly I’ve read a book by this author in the past and loved it and so wanted to try more. Secondly, it’s a police procedural thriller. Thirdly, this author tends to set her books in Staffordshire and Derbyshire in the UK, which are areas I know really well.
I enjoyed this book a lot, I enjoy a good serial killer hunt. Knowing many of the locations mentioned throughout really added to the experience too. I sadly did find many elements predictable, including who the killer really was. The very last line of this book surprised and shocked me out of nowhere though. I can’t wait to read the sequel when it comes out. Overall, not a bad book at all, and worth the read
I picked this book for a few reasons, firstly I’ve read a book by this author in the past and loved it and so wanted to try more. Secondly, it’s a police procedural thriller. Thirdly, this author tends to set her books in Staffordshire and Derbyshire in the UK, which are areas I know really well.
I enjoyed this book a lot, I enjoy a good serial killer hunt. Knowing many of the locations mentioned throughout really added to the experience too. I sadly did find many elements predictable, including who the killer really was. The very last line of this book surprised and shocked me out of nowhere though. I can’t wait to read the sequel when it comes out. Overall, not a bad book at all, and worth the read
April 26, 2022
An accidental find on World Book Day from Amazon
e-books. Compelling ending. The author kept us rooted whole through.
e-books. Compelling ending. The author kept us rooted whole through.
January 29, 2023
A refreshing, intricate and unique story.
This is another wowzer and a lovely surprise! I had seen a few booksta’s raving about this series, so of course I had to add it, another “booksta made me”!
Going in blind, neither of us had read this author before and were unsure what to expect. Well, I’m so glad we invested the time, it was a terrific psychological and crime procedural thriller. I finished it in two sittings.
This is the first book in a series (there are two more after this) We are introduced to DI Kate Young who is struggling to cope after a traumatic life experience.
Narrated in flashback chapters, DI Kate is put in charge of leading a team to discover who is killing and torturing prominent business men in Staffordshire UK. As the team uncover clues, the investigation starts to unravel a more sinister plot.
I loved the flow of this book, it was twisty, fast paced, with authentic and rich characters. What I really loved is how the author portrayed DI Kate as a flawed and vulnerable character, yet with equal parts strength and independence as a woman dealing with her life. A suspenseful, exciting plot with an ending I did not see coming!
I cannot wait to read the rest of this series and what Carol Wyer comes out with next. Highly recommended
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Available on Kindle Unilimited now.
February 13, 2021
DI Kate Young is called back into work even though she is on leave due to a horrible event occurred a few months earlier. Now she has to investigates about a murderer who tortures and kills his victims following a unique pattern.
The victims are all related to each other, but how?
I loved this book! Got me hooked from the beginning and, although I could guess both the killer and the 'husband's thing' quite early, it didn't make the read less enjoyable. The writing is exceptionally good, the plot is very catching, a great read!
The open ending left me eager to read more about DI Young and what is going to happen next and I'll definitely have a look at other Carol Wyer's books in the meantime, since this was my first one.
I need more Carol Wyer in my life!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The victims are all related to each other, but how?
I loved this book! Got me hooked from the beginning and, although I could guess both the killer and the 'husband's thing' quite early, it didn't make the read less enjoyable. The writing is exceptionally good, the plot is very catching, a great read!
The open ending left me eager to read more about DI Young and what is going to happen next and I'll definitely have a look at other Carol Wyer's books in the meantime, since this was my first one.
I need more Carol Wyer in my life!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
February 15, 2022
Interesting premise for a new detective series; a broken cop almost cracking up before the reader’s eyes.
A new author to me and one worthy of additional attention as quite original ideas flow from her pen.
If you like baffling police procedurals then this book is for you.
Based in Stoke on Trent and I don’t think “The Potteries” or Alton Towers has been over-egged yet. Indeed this plot has the case spanning a couple of counties including places I’m familiar with bringing a more comfortable feel to the book.
DI Kate Young appears to be dealing with the horror of a previous terrorist incident; resentful the case was kept away from her and suffering from flashbacks and PTSD symptoms. She is barely coping at home, yet she is requested to head up a small team into the suspicious death of a senior police officer’s old school chum.
At times she feels she’s being manipulated. Set up to fail for reasons connected to the mass shooting on a train. Unable to function without the tablets she has become dependent on.
I like the development of the investigation. However it seems to be a MIT to be based on just three officers on the case. The work seems to be outsourced in part to others like the tech department but the seriousness of the crimes seems at odds with the resources involved.
Another frustration is that no-one is honest in their replies to police questioning which leads to delays in firm evidence being found. A ploy crime writers use to spread doubt and raise the number of people of interest. While it does not confuse the plot it does stall the process and allows the perpetrator more time to carry out their actions without suspicion or motive becoming clear. The links to an overseas trip is a clever example where this works well. Elsewhere the reasons for incomplete and evasive answers to the questioning is less clear.
Another weakness for me is the signalling of who is behind it all. It is provided without doubt too early and the reaction to who the suspect could be is initially clumsily set aside and out of step with the reader’s own intelligence.
This sense of more senior police manipulation within the book looks like it will be carried forward and Kate Young’s tenacity appears to be the means to get behind this and uncover the truth in future instalments.
A easy read, well paced and with many new ideas to bring to this genre. I will be interested to follow Kate’s journey in the books that follow.
A new author to me and one worthy of additional attention as quite original ideas flow from her pen.
If you like baffling police procedurals then this book is for you.
Based in Stoke on Trent and I don’t think “The Potteries” or Alton Towers has been over-egged yet. Indeed this plot has the case spanning a couple of counties including places I’m familiar with bringing a more comfortable feel to the book.
DI Kate Young appears to be dealing with the horror of a previous terrorist incident; resentful the case was kept away from her and suffering from flashbacks and PTSD symptoms. She is barely coping at home, yet she is requested to head up a small team into the suspicious death of a senior police officer’s old school chum.
At times she feels she’s being manipulated. Set up to fail for reasons connected to the mass shooting on a train. Unable to function without the tablets she has become dependent on.
I like the development of the investigation. However it seems to be a MIT to be based on just three officers on the case. The work seems to be outsourced in part to others like the tech department but the seriousness of the crimes seems at odds with the resources involved.
Another frustration is that no-one is honest in their replies to police questioning which leads to delays in firm evidence being found. A ploy crime writers use to spread doubt and raise the number of people of interest. While it does not confuse the plot it does stall the process and allows the perpetrator more time to carry out their actions without suspicion or motive becoming clear. The links to an overseas trip is a clever example where this works well. Elsewhere the reasons for incomplete and evasive answers to the questioning is less clear.
Another weakness for me is the signalling of who is behind it all. It is provided without doubt too early and the reaction to who the suspect could be is initially clumsily set aside and out of step with the reader’s own intelligence.
This sense of more senior police manipulation within the book looks like it will be carried forward and Kate Young’s tenacity appears to be the means to get behind this and uncover the truth in future instalments.
A easy read, well paced and with many new ideas to bring to this genre. I will be interested to follow Kate’s journey in the books that follow.
January 31, 2021
An Eye for an Eye is the first book in a brand new crime series featuring DI Kate Young. There’s nothing I find more exciting than finding a new crime series that’s full of promise. The market for police procedurals is a crowded one, so if I’m going to invest in a new series, it has to have a couple of “must haves”, an engaging protagonist, and a tantalising story line. Does An Eye for an Eye meet my “must have”rules? It’s a “hell yes” with bells on! The plot follows two threads, Kate’s past and an investigation into the torture and murder of prominent men.
From the start you know something BIG has happened to Kate, as the plot progresses you learn precisely what. Told through flashbacks you realise the impact it’s had on Kate’s life and how fragile she is. As she struggles with her demons, her own competence, and her grip on reality are called into question by the powers that be. I immediately felt drawn to Kate. There are some emotionally charged scenes that add depth to her character, something that can sometimes lack in a crime thriller. As Kate works to uncover the truth, the suspense mounts tenfold as she unravels a network of secrets and lies, with even those closest to her having something to hide.
The two plots are different as chalk and cheese which I found really disconcerting to begin with. It was futile to determine how the two connected apart from Kate being the common denominator. But when Carol Wyer untangles the complicated web, she has created and everything becomes clear I had one of those ‘OMFG’ moments! It’s the best type of crime thriller, you’re never sure who to trust, and every suspect has something to hide. The perpetrator and motive are well hidden within red herrings, subtle clues, and misdirection. I always enjoy whodunnit so much more when everything isn’t laid out for the reader. After finishing An Eye for an Eye I’m left eager to read the next book in the series which is due out later this year.
From the start you know something BIG has happened to Kate, as the plot progresses you learn precisely what. Told through flashbacks you realise the impact it’s had on Kate’s life and how fragile she is. As she struggles with her demons, her own competence, and her grip on reality are called into question by the powers that be. I immediately felt drawn to Kate. There are some emotionally charged scenes that add depth to her character, something that can sometimes lack in a crime thriller. As Kate works to uncover the truth, the suspense mounts tenfold as she unravels a network of secrets and lies, with even those closest to her having something to hide.
The two plots are different as chalk and cheese which I found really disconcerting to begin with. It was futile to determine how the two connected apart from Kate being the common denominator. But when Carol Wyer untangles the complicated web, she has created and everything becomes clear I had one of those ‘OMFG’ moments! It’s the best type of crime thriller, you’re never sure who to trust, and every suspect has something to hide. The perpetrator and motive are well hidden within red herrings, subtle clues, and misdirection. I always enjoy whodunnit so much more when everything isn’t laid out for the reader. After finishing An Eye for an Eye I’m left eager to read the next book in the series which is due out later this year.
January 3, 2021
A brilliant start to a new series and one I’ll be sure to follow.
Detective Kate Young is struggling to cope following a traumatic incident and has been told to take some time off.
She’s not doing well being off work but when she’s asked to come back to solve a murder case, she’s not sure she can do it.
She eventually agrees but suspects there’s more to the request to return to work, but can’t quite put her finger on it.
There’s flashback chapters of the incident Kate witnessed and as the book progresses we find out what happened.
Soon there’s another murder and Kate, Emma and Morgan have their hands full trying to find the killer.
This is a great start to a new series and I look forward to the next book.
Detective Kate Young is struggling to cope following a traumatic incident and has been told to take some time off.
She’s not doing well being off work but when she’s asked to come back to solve a murder case, she’s not sure she can do it.
She eventually agrees but suspects there’s more to the request to return to work, but can’t quite put her finger on it.
There’s flashback chapters of the incident Kate witnessed and as the book progresses we find out what happened.
Soon there’s another murder and Kate, Emma and Morgan have their hands full trying to find the killer.
This is a great start to a new series and I look forward to the next book.
September 7, 2021
Initially, I was hooked by this book, even though the main character’s idyllic marriage was clearly not all it seemed, the crimes (and the reasoning for them) were overly complicated and there was an uncomfortable old gay stereotype.
I was disappointed to find that vital information was under the DI’s nose the whole time – but I was prepared to overlook this.
But what I cannot overlook is the ridiculous and overused ploy of leaving a novel unresolved in order to get us to buy the next in the series. This is getting out of hand, and I really think publishers should sticker these books with a warning.
I was disappointed to find that vital information was under the DI’s nose the whole time – but I was prepared to overlook this.
But what I cannot overlook is the ridiculous and overused ploy of leaving a novel unresolved in order to get us to buy the next in the series. This is getting out of hand, and I really think publishers should sticker these books with a warning.
February 1, 2021
Really good thriller and first book to start a series with.
It gave me many feelings of Midsummer Murders and the suspense was on with each page turned .
Probably the most interesting thing that I enjoyed was that the author managed to keep me invested throughout the book and the secret life that many of the characters/suspects were undergoing was a twist that I haven’t predicted.
A must read story.
It gave me many feelings of Midsummer Murders and the suspense was on with each page turned .
Probably the most interesting thing that I enjoyed was that the author managed to keep me invested throughout the book and the secret life that many of the characters/suspects were undergoing was a twist that I haven’t predicted.
A must read story.
January 15, 2021
REVIEW
Review for 'An Eye For An Eye' by Carol Wyer.
Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous
Publication date 1st February 2021
I have already read several books by Carol Wyer including all her Natalie Ward series which I LOVED!! This is the first book in the 'Detective Kate Young' series and I'm looking forward to begin a new adventure with her.
I was originally drawn to this book by its beautiful eye catching cover and its intriguing synopsis and title. I am a MASSIVE fan of Carol Wyer so am looking forward to see if it lives up to her normal high standards. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).
This novel consists of a prologue and 52 chapters. The chapters are medium in length so possible to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!
This book is based in Staffordshire, UK 🇬🇧. The bonus for me of books that are partly or fully based in the UK is that I live in the UK and have sometimes visited places mentioned in the book which makes it easier to picture. I have actually visited Staffordshire on several occasions so am looking forward to see if I recognise anywhere
This book is written in third person perspective and the main protagonist is DI Kate Young. The benefits of third person perspective are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out on anything.
What are you doing to me!!!!! Seriously!!!!! I hope you are writing your next book as I write this!!! I'm talking to you Mrs Wyer!!!!! Right, yes, well anyway let's give you my review....
Carol Wyer does it again!!! Fantastically written as always ensuring a smooth and easy read that sucks you straight into the pages. Vivid descriptions put me in the middle of the action looking at everything going on in High definition. The cover and synopsis works perfectly with the storyline.
The storyline itself was very fast paced, rammed full of action, murder, mystery, suspense, tension and twists and turns. At least three major bombshells of unexpected twists which I was not expecting (a rarity to surprise me after the amount of crime books I've read but Carol does it without fail every time!!!) and a major cliffhanger at the end!!! I CANNOT WAIT for the next in this series. The storyline was realistic so easily imagined and the killings themselves were unique which is definitely a positive when you have read the same ones over and over again!! I loved the flashbacks throughout which brought it all together and dropped little hints of what was going on but as soon as I thought I had it there would be another explosion of surprises or crime. An absolutely addictive and compelling page turner!!! A perfect start to what promises to be a gripping new series!!!
Loved all the new characters!! If your like me then you always find it hard 'being introduced' to new characters in a new series, missing the ones in previous ones, wondering if they will love up to their expectations and if you are going to connect with them. Well, none of these were a problem in this case I'm glad to report!! Well, I say all the new characters, maybe not quite all!! Kate was amazing, an extremely strong female lead who didn't hold back the punches while going through hell herself after the trauma she had been through. I always love it when an author brings in strong women. I also liked Katie's personality and really felt for her in several occasions. I'm not quite sure what I think of Morgan at the moment, he annoyed me on several occasions so I'll keep him on the shelf for now until I get to know him more. Emma was another strong woman who I really enjoyed getting to know. I'm not sure what I thought of William, I thought I liked him on introduction but I have a strange feeling about him. I absolutely adored Ervin who made me laugh on several occasions!!! Regardless of who I did or didn't like they were all very strong and well defined characters who I'm looking forward to meet in the next 'episode'. A great team who I feel may butt heads in the future.
I am really looking forward to the next book and would LOVE to see this made into a movie!!! It would definitely be a best seller along with this amazing novel which kept me up late at night (early in the morning) as I just could not put it down!!!!
Overall an addictive, explosive page turning start to what promises to be an epic series!!!
Genres covered in this novel include Thriller, Police Procedural and Crime Fiction amongst others.
I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as Angela Marsons, Tess Gerritsen, anyone looking for a good book and YOU!!
426 pages.
This book is just 99p to purchase on kindle via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!
Rated 5/5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.
Feel free to add me on Goodreads or follow me on my website or Facebook for more reviews
Review for 'An Eye For An Eye' by Carol Wyer.
Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous
Publication date 1st February 2021
I have already read several books by Carol Wyer including all her Natalie Ward series which I LOVED!! This is the first book in the 'Detective Kate Young' series and I'm looking forward to begin a new adventure with her.
I was originally drawn to this book by its beautiful eye catching cover and its intriguing synopsis and title. I am a MASSIVE fan of Carol Wyer so am looking forward to see if it lives up to her normal high standards. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).
This novel consists of a prologue and 52 chapters. The chapters are medium in length so possible to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!
This book is based in Staffordshire, UK 🇬🇧. The bonus for me of books that are partly or fully based in the UK is that I live in the UK and have sometimes visited places mentioned in the book which makes it easier to picture. I have actually visited Staffordshire on several occasions so am looking forward to see if I recognise anywhere
This book is written in third person perspective and the main protagonist is DI Kate Young. The benefits of third person perspective are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out on anything.
What are you doing to me!!!!! Seriously!!!!! I hope you are writing your next book as I write this!!! I'm talking to you Mrs Wyer!!!!! Right, yes, well anyway let's give you my review....
Carol Wyer does it again!!! Fantastically written as always ensuring a smooth and easy read that sucks you straight into the pages. Vivid descriptions put me in the middle of the action looking at everything going on in High definition. The cover and synopsis works perfectly with the storyline.
The storyline itself was very fast paced, rammed full of action, murder, mystery, suspense, tension and twists and turns. At least three major bombshells of unexpected twists which I was not expecting (a rarity to surprise me after the amount of crime books I've read but Carol does it without fail every time!!!) and a major cliffhanger at the end!!! I CANNOT WAIT for the next in this series. The storyline was realistic so easily imagined and the killings themselves were unique which is definitely a positive when you have read the same ones over and over again!! I loved the flashbacks throughout which brought it all together and dropped little hints of what was going on but as soon as I thought I had it there would be another explosion of surprises or crime. An absolutely addictive and compelling page turner!!! A perfect start to what promises to be a gripping new series!!!
Loved all the new characters!! If your like me then you always find it hard 'being introduced' to new characters in a new series, missing the ones in previous ones, wondering if they will love up to their expectations and if you are going to connect with them. Well, none of these were a problem in this case I'm glad to report!! Well, I say all the new characters, maybe not quite all!! Kate was amazing, an extremely strong female lead who didn't hold back the punches while going through hell herself after the trauma she had been through. I always love it when an author brings in strong women. I also liked Katie's personality and really felt for her in several occasions. I'm not quite sure what I think of Morgan at the moment, he annoyed me on several occasions so I'll keep him on the shelf for now until I get to know him more. Emma was another strong woman who I really enjoyed getting to know. I'm not sure what I thought of William, I thought I liked him on introduction but I have a strange feeling about him. I absolutely adored Ervin who made me laugh on several occasions!!! Regardless of who I did or didn't like they were all very strong and well defined characters who I'm looking forward to meet in the next 'episode'. A great team who I feel may butt heads in the future.
I am really looking forward to the next book and would LOVE to see this made into a movie!!! It would definitely be a best seller along with this amazing novel which kept me up late at night (early in the morning) as I just could not put it down!!!!
Overall an addictive, explosive page turning start to what promises to be an epic series!!!
Genres covered in this novel include Thriller, Police Procedural and Crime Fiction amongst others.
I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as Angela Marsons, Tess Gerritsen, anyone looking for a good book and YOU!!
426 pages.
This book is just 99p to purchase on kindle via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!
Rated 5/5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.
Feel free to add me on Goodreads or follow me on my website or Facebook for more reviews
February 11, 2021
This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart
Review copy was received from Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
4.5 hearts
I've really been preferring to read police procedurals lately but you never know exactly what you will get when you try a new (to me) author. I have had some good luck with this genre in Kindle Unlimited titles. So I read the start of the new Detective Kate Young series. I'll definitely be reading more and trying the author's backlist, too.
An Eye for an Eye was layered with all sorts of interesting aspects. Even though it is a murder investigation, there is quite a theme of love, which I noticed because of the upcoming holiday. There is no romance. Kate Young shares in her thoughts the dearest moments of her husband from their meeting, to his love of cereal, and his support of her and her career. Their connection flows throughout the story. But with her own trauma, she is a bit of an unreliable narrator which normally isn't my favorite thing. Somehow the intrepid Kate makes it appealing.
There is also the uncompromising love of family. The killer is dedicated to revenging wrongs to family. The efforts are enormous and unswerving. The mystery is complex enough to not be figured out quickly. Although I don't usually try to figure it out and just let the story be told. The politics, personalities and people all seemed believable and were well developed enough to not be cliche.
I enjoyed the progression of Kate through her past trauma and to gather the evidence to solve the case. She perseveres even with those who don't believe she can do it, or are actively preventing her from getting what she needs to find the killer. I got more than I expected here; it was a fantastic read and I really recommend it. I look forward to the ongoing story arcs as the series continues.
Narration:
This narrator is new to me but Robin has enjoyed her before. I was comfortable with her voices right away, with both male and female voices sounding appropriate. I enjoyed her voice for Kate. There were differentiated voices for other main characters but some of the lesser characters I didn't hear enough to notice. I listened a little slower than usual at 1.25x speed.
Listen to a clip:
https://soundcloud.com/brilliance-aud...
Review copy was received from Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
4.5 hearts
I've really been preferring to read police procedurals lately but you never know exactly what you will get when you try a new (to me) author. I have had some good luck with this genre in Kindle Unlimited titles. So I read the start of the new Detective Kate Young series. I'll definitely be reading more and trying the author's backlist, too.
An Eye for an Eye was layered with all sorts of interesting aspects. Even though it is a murder investigation, there is quite a theme of love, which I noticed because of the upcoming holiday. There is no romance. Kate Young shares in her thoughts the dearest moments of her husband from their meeting, to his love of cereal, and his support of her and her career. Their connection flows throughout the story. But with her own trauma, she is a bit of an unreliable narrator which normally isn't my favorite thing. Somehow the intrepid Kate makes it appealing.
There is also the uncompromising love of family. The killer is dedicated to revenging wrongs to family. The efforts are enormous and unswerving. The mystery is complex enough to not be figured out quickly. Although I don't usually try to figure it out and just let the story be told. The politics, personalities and people all seemed believable and were well developed enough to not be cliche.
I enjoyed the progression of Kate through her past trauma and to gather the evidence to solve the case. She perseveres even with those who don't believe she can do it, or are actively preventing her from getting what she needs to find the killer. I got more than I expected here; it was a fantastic read and I really recommend it. I look forward to the ongoing story arcs as the series continues.
Narration:
This narrator is new to me but Robin has enjoyed her before. I was comfortable with her voices right away, with both male and female voices sounding appropriate. I enjoyed her voice for Kate. There were differentiated voices for other main characters but some of the lesser characters I didn't hear enough to notice. I listened a little slower than usual at 1.25x speed.
Listen to a clip:
https://soundcloud.com/brilliance-aud...
April 9, 2022
What a mess!
Instead of using one bit of discernment or critical thinking, this writer throws in anything and everything and leaves the reader to plow through the mess to try to find the story - which isn't worth reading after all.
This is SO bad that I am angry, angry with the writer's sloppy, truly bad writing, angry at all her helpers for giving this absurdity a pass - did any of them actually read it? With its:
1) annoying and then grating repetition times infinity of a past event
2) Juvenile dialogue and behavior of the cardboard cutout sidekicks
3) sea of red herrings that take up time for no reason, only to soon completely disappear from the pages
4) absolutely ludicrous method for the murders
5) ignorance in portraying Kate's drug dependency - first in showing her swallowing pills several times a day and somehow still functioning in her job ( aside from the flashbacks that hit every few minutes !)
and even worse, abruptly stopping with them, and, instead of going through withdrawal symptoms, IMMEDIATELY experiencing improved clarity of thought without missing the pills one bit. WHAT?
6) having frequent conversations with her dead husband whether on or off the pills
I7)falsely tying together a preposterous number of characters and events that would never, by any stretch of a healthy imagination, go together.
I am angry that junk like this is published, and perhaps most of all, that readers greedily swallow such imbecility and then gush and rave about it and clamor for more brain numbing waste.
Instead of using one bit of discernment or critical thinking, this writer throws in anything and everything and leaves the reader to plow through the mess to try to find the story - which isn't worth reading after all.
This is SO bad that I am angry, angry with the writer's sloppy, truly bad writing, angry at all her helpers for giving this absurdity a pass - did any of them actually read it? With its:
1) annoying and then grating repetition times infinity of a past event
2) Juvenile dialogue and behavior of the cardboard cutout sidekicks
3) sea of red herrings that take up time for no reason, only to soon completely disappear from the pages
4) absolutely ludicrous method for the murders
5) ignorance in portraying Kate's drug dependency - first in showing her swallowing pills several times a day and somehow still functioning in her job ( aside from the flashbacks that hit every few minutes !)
and even worse, abruptly stopping with them, and, instead of going through withdrawal symptoms, IMMEDIATELY experiencing improved clarity of thought without missing the pills one bit. WHAT?
6) having frequent conversations with her dead husband whether on or off the pills
I7)falsely tying together a preposterous number of characters and events that would never, by any stretch of a healthy imagination, go together.
I am angry that junk like this is published, and perhaps most of all, that readers greedily swallow such imbecility and then gush and rave about it and clamor for more brain numbing waste.
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