Although this is book 3 in a series, I found this novel worked as a standalone. There was enough backstory teased through so that the relationships between the various characters made sense without slowing the pace. And there is some pace to this book! I read it almost in one sitting, never bored. I wasn't surprised to discover that the author used to work for the MPS. There was an authenticity to both the storyline and the procedures that raised this above a lot of police procedurals for me.
If I found a weakness, it was that I found myself more involved in the Lizzie Griffiths/Kieran Shaw storyline rather than with Sarah Collins'. I think this was because there was such a focus on life at home for Lizzie and Kieran while Sarah's home life was relegated to a series of texts - it was hard to root for her personal relationships when they weren't see on the page.
A solid 4 out of 5.
If I found a weakness, it was that I found myself more involved in the Lizzie Griffiths/Kieran Shaw storyline rather than with Sarah Collins'. I think this was because there was such a focus on life at home for Lizzie and Kieran while Sarah's home life was relegated to a series of texts - it was hard to root for her personal relationships when they weren't see on the page.
A solid 4 out of 5.