THE HARDWICK HEATH KILLER by Michelle Kidd.

 4.75* Brilliant intro to this author, that's made me buy the previous 2 books in this series. Brilliant storyline, plus bonus arc storyline that's surely got to conclude in book 4, right? 

I have to say that I'm impressed with Joffe books and their murder mysteries set in the UK. I've read several recently but I think this series has the slight edge, because of what drives DI Hardcastle. 

She's on a mission to prove that a hanging isn't a hanging, but murder, and then there's another, with several good red herrings, several people who're credible suspects, including a protective mother, and lies being told to protect identities, and/or perhaps more. Everything dovetails incredibly well, and I didn't see the triple - yes, triple - twist at the end, that had me half in horror and half in understanding, with a dash of admiration, too. Yes, murder is a crime, but could it be justified, if the perpetrator of a previous crime deserves it? An eye for an eye, like? Could you turn a blimey eye, or even take the blame for good reason? This book had it all, and on top, there's the DI's guilt and estrangement from her family because of the disappearance of her little brother, whilst she was distracted by candyfloss at a fair. That part alone could have anchored a story from start to finish, but it's an unfinished theme carrying on throughout the books; it's the thing that drives her, that made her become a policewoman. I liked her, and bonus, she's a fellow cat lover! 

There were a couple of small things that made me eyeroll - how could Nicki ignore evidence and not go with her gut, especially when it's clear  her house has been invaded, but it was worth suspending disbelief and going with the tale,  plus there are typos to do with plural forms of names and nouns, that the editing/proofing guys should have caught. But, this was still a good enough read that I can't wait for the next.

ARC courtesy of NetGalley and Joffe Books, for my reading pleasure. 

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