A BODY ON THE FLATS by Max Manning

 5* intro to this author, who doesn't let slip for a second.

I'm getting more and more impressed with Joffe Books and their UK-based tales, and this may just be the current best of the lot.

I think it's the first of a series, featuring a recently widowed detective who's given his first case since his bereavement, and a new, younger female partner. 

There's no faux awkwardness in their new relationship, no using her mixed race as a prop, and good on her for being a strong enough character to say that despite her age, she's proven herself - which she has - and she doesn't need shielding or protecting or being spoken for. That was delivered completely as a non-sensationalist, relevant and matter-of-fact statement, and once that was out in the open, good, healthy boundaries were set.

The tale itself is excellent. Not gruesome but well orchestrated in a twist I didn't see coming, and with a perfect red herring in one character that was used by the author and by the killer as a plot device. There was some really good blurring on both their parts. I hadn't expected the ending, which feels about 5% cliff hanger. Not in a way that makes you want to chuck your Kindle at the wall, but rather makes you want to nose at the author's website to find out when the next book will be out. It's really that good. 

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

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