THE PERFECT GIRL by Andy Maslen

4* Something's building for Kat and Van, and I suspect it's not going to be happy families in book 7.

This tale is up to the author's usual standard, and thankfully Tomski's getting back to his normal self, with the potential for a new girlfriend. And the guy has balls, telling Carve-Up where to go when it needed saying, causing the bully to back down, silenced. I can't wait to see Carve-Up's attitude towards him in book 7, because it's clear that Tomski's star is rising again, and that he's also Kat's defender against her dodgy boss, and he's found his voice as well as his balls.

This tale is pretty much all work, no interfering by Kat's dodgy family. But, talking of families, there were too many frissons where the handsome pathologist was concerned and too few - we get told about the unsatisfactory perfunctory sex with Van, who went to fix things at Marnie's (the sexpot purveyor of sexual services for cheats), but who came home claiming he'd stayed out at a mate's until 2am playing COD - where Van is concerned. I'm not sure why Kat didn't pick up on that, whether she was too physically tired or too emotionally tired and didn't want to start an argument. Unfortunately it feels like things are brewing for an affair or two, which would ruin this series for me. I hope the author doesn't go there but the signs are on the wall.

The detective work on this tale, considering it was just AI, Kat and Tomski - Carve-Up has appropriated Fez and Leah (?) - was pretty believable and impressive. The killer was stone-cold and without any remorse, but also without bragging. I suspect in book 7 that we'll find out that they got off on an insanity plea. Sadly. And that a nemesis of Kat's has...not quite an upper hand but a hold of sorts in future tales. I'm pretty certain that they won't be getting an easy payday thanks to Tomski and Kat following the evidence, though. I'm also hopeful that a small reveal about a SIO on one of the cases that comes to light turns into an investigation by a body that can maybe deliver the just desserts that others can't. Sorry to be cryptic but this has to potential to be sooooo satisfying, it can't be spoilered.

Overall, it's a good police procedural but a book that's giving me slightly sad vibes for book 7 where Kat and Van are concerned.

ARC courtesy of NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer for my reading pleasure.

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