Prompt: A book with a blck and white cover

The lovely folks at HQ Stories sent me a proof copy of The Jigsaw Man by Nadine Matheson last month and the black and white cover makes it the perfect choice for this prompt.

What it’s about?

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery…

When body parts are found on the banks of the River Thames in Deptford, DI Angelica Henley is tasked with finding the killer. Eerie echoes of previous crimes lead Henley to question Peter Olivier, aka The Jigsaw Killer, who is currently serving a life sentence for a series of horrific murders.

When a severed head is delivered to Henley’s home, she realises that the copycat is taking a personal interest in her and that the victims have not been chosen at random.

To catch the killer, Henley must confront her own demons – – and when Olivier escapes from prison, she finds herself up against not one serial killer, but two.

What I think:

This is a serious creepy book that fans of serial killer investigations will love.

DI Angelica Henley was part of the investigation that caught serial killer Peter Olivier. And she has paid a high price as she survived his violent attack.

She’s back working investigations after some time off and office work and her first case sees body parts washing up in the Thames. When more parts are discovered, one with a distinctive mark, it all leads back to the Jigsaw Murders. But Olivier is in jail.

Henley is a fantastic female lead. She’s clever and methodical, tough and vulnerable. She’s struggling to balance a difficult job that she loves with being a wife and mother. She’s a character that lots of women will be able to relate to.

The murders are pretty gruesome and the investigation is complex. There are a few dead-ends that keep the reader guessing right until the end.

Olivier is a complex and charismatic killer with an interesting story. As the story unfolds it becomes clear that being in prison has not ended his ability to terrorise his enemies. There is a some horrific violence that it not for the faint-hearted.

This was a completely engrossing read. Clever and complex. Dark and gritty. A great read.