The Recently Read posts are not typical book reviews. As a writer, I do not believe I should be reviewing the hard work of other writers. These posts are simply books I have recently read and enjoyed and will share with you. They will not always be crime books as I am trying to widen my reading selection. I hope you enjoy some of these with me.
The Scars Beneath the Soul by Dave Sivers
In a quiet market town in Buckinghamshire, a brutal killer strikes, shattering any illusions Detective Inspector Lizzie Archer might have had about her new patch in Aylesbury Vale being a sleepy hollow.
NEW SCARS…
Disfigured in the line of duty, Archer has transferred in from the Met, hoping to make a fresh start in her life and her career. The last thing she needs is an awkward colleague, but that is what she seems to find in Detective Sergeant Dan Baines.
OLD SCARS…
Baines bears scars of his own, the kind that cannot be seen. Eleven years ago, his family fell victim to a serial killer, and recently his life has fallen into fresh turmoil. Haunted by dreams and visions of his still-missing son, and confused by feelings for his murdered wife’s identical twin sister, he finds himself resenting a new boss who knows nothing about the area.
HOW MANY MORE VICTIMS?
But the killer shows no sign of stopping and with no obvious connection between the victims and the body count rising daily, Archer and Baines must put aside their differences and work together if they are to stop a maniac whose appetite for slaughter seemingly knows no bounds.
My Thoughts;
This was a strong police procedural with two new protagonists I loved. The prologue starts with Lizzie Archer before she becomes DI and an incident that changes her life. An incident that leaves her facially disfigured. She is naturally conscious of this with every person she meets and finds they are conscious of it in varying degrees in response. I loved that fact that one of the two main protagonists had such a clear and obvious issue for them to overcome. It was fresh and extremely well handled.
You see the two sides of a new partnership forming and it’s interesting to see how easy it is for crossed wires, lack of communication and self awareness to make what should be a simple working day, quite a challenge.
The plotting was tight and be warned, the killer is revealed early on, you just don’t realise it…
Alex J. Cavanaugh says
It’s not just what happens externally but what’s going on inside the characters that make a story compelling.
Rebecca Bradley says
Exactly, and this shows the internal conflict for a character, caused by the external force of a facial scar.
Margot Kinberg says
Rebeca – I always appreciate it when an author tries something innovative but still believable with characters. I’m glad to hear you thought that worked in this one.
Rebecca Bradley says
It really did work. I was gripped by Lizzie as she made initial contact with people, conscious of her face.
Jacqui Murray says
I like this approach to book reviews. I’m a Vine reviewer and feel an obligation to offer pros and cons, but that is contrary to my nature. I feel a lot of empathy for the effort expended by writers in their craft and find it difficult to be critical. I seem to always find something to be positive about (well, there was that one…)
Don’t let the Vine folds read this!
Rebecca Bradley says
Ha! The only books that will make it in here will actually only be the books I enjoy as well. There are far too many books I want to read without continuing with books I’m not enjoying.
diannegray says
I love good characters and this sounds like it would be perfect for me to read. Great title as well 😉