High Force by L.J. Ross
Hello there, we are nearly halfway through January already which is flying by. How is your new year going? Do you make resolutions? If so, how are they going? Or are you taking a different approach and wintering instead? I'm definitely camp wintering and I take inspiration from Claudia Winkleman here. Not just for her fabulous Traitors wardrobe, but for her approach to January and February. In her radio show, a few years ago, she imparted that she adores these months.
Read my review of Wintering by Katharine May
Following the madness of Christmas, the winter months are a time to gather yourself, eat the rest of the Christmas chocolates. It becomes acceptable to don our pyjamas as soon as we finish work, cuddle up under the blanket and like the rest of nature, just rest. Our hobbies become watching the next episode of The Traitors (I am OBSESSED!!), crafting and of course reading our wonderful books.
I am fully leaning into this.
Today's review is actually for a book I read before Christmas and is the next in the L.J. Ross series and heavens this is good. This is sweaty tense, page-turning, palms itching good. I loved it. This is the 5th in the series which is showing no signs of tiring. I would definitely read these in order
Serial Killer 'The Hacker' has escaped prison and kidnapped one of his own detectives from her own home. Ryan and The Hacker have a lot of history - he brutally murdered Ryan's sister. The team desperately search for Detective Inspector MacKenzie as the trail begins to go cold, and The Hacker is getting ready to kill again.....
This was a fast-paced page turner of a book with a great, and terrifying protagonist who is able to anticipate Ryan, MacKenzie and the team's moves before they make them. He is a cold, clinical killer, a narcissist who has no regret of his terrible actions. This whole escape and kidnap is a game, a chance to massage his own considerable ego. He is looking for worthy opponent to defeat.
MacKenzie is great, and we see her struggle is much more than a physical one, Ross covers the psychological impact on her, and it is brutal. Small victories turn to nothing when she realises her rebellious actions are fully anticipated.
As a police procedural it's great, as Ryan and his team follow any piece of evidence they can gleam about The Hacker's past. The pacing is excellent.
This is a well written thriller, that will keep you up at night, either through the page-turning or through the terrifying vision that L.J. Ross has created. I'm already looking forward to the next in the series.
