'The Art of Death' by David Fennell was an absolutely brilliant crime novel.
From the stunning cover that draws attention and has 'blood' splatters that catch the light, to the pace and tense dark tone that runs throughout the book.
DI Grace Archer has transferred over to Charing Cross, replacing an corrupt cop who she herself arrested. She is the protagonist and is well written, her personality really comes through and she feels like an real person. Harry Quinn and Chief Peirce likewise have a real presence on the pages they are in, whilst some of the other members of the force are perhaps a tad stereotyped and very much fillers. That isn't an problem though because the rest of the writing is exceptional.
Her first case is an serial killer who is displaying his victims in strange ways as Art across London. The story really starts with the discovery of 3 bodies in tanks displayed in public and then roars through from there, with more bodies, lots of suspects and victims, and glimpses into the mind of the killer, DI Archer, and some of the victims.
It's an real page turner full of twists and turns, interwoven with the details of an police investigation and personal crisis
I don't want to spoil anything so am being quite careful what I say but I can honestly say I had no idea who the killer was until the big reveal, which is great and refreshing.
My only slight critique is I would have liked to explored the Killer's motivations and why it was Artwork, I didn't feel the reasoning behind it was quite developed enough before the dramatic conclusion.
5/5 Would recommend to any crime fans
From the stunning cover that draws attention and has 'blood' splatters that catch the light, to the pace and tense dark tone that runs throughout the book.
DI Grace Archer has transferred over to Charing Cross, replacing an corrupt cop who she herself arrested. She is the protagonist and is well written, her personality really comes through and she feels like an real person. Harry Quinn and Chief Peirce likewise have a real presence on the pages they are in, whilst some of the other members of the force are perhaps a tad stereotyped and very much fillers. That isn't an problem though because the rest of the writing is exceptional.
Her first case is an serial killer who is displaying his victims in strange ways as Art across London. The story really starts with the discovery of 3 bodies in tanks displayed in public and then roars through from there, with more bodies, lots of suspects and victims, and glimpses into the mind of the killer, DI Archer, and some of the victims.
It's an real page turner full of twists and turns, interwoven with the details of an police investigation and personal crisis
I don't want to spoil anything so am being quite careful what I say but I can honestly say I had no idea who the killer was until the big reveal, which is great and refreshing.
My only slight critique is I would have liked to explored the Killer's motivations and why it was Artwork, I didn't feel the reasoning behind it was quite developed enough before the dramatic conclusion.
5/5 Would recommend to any crime fans