Review: Cold Blood by Robert Bryndza @bookouture @RobertBryndza

She fell in love with a killer, now she’s one too.

The suitcase was badly rusted, and took Erika several attempts, but it yielded and sagged open as she unzipped it. Nothing could prepare her for what she would find inside…

When a battered suitcase containing the dismembered body of a young man washes up on the shore of the river Thames, Detective Erika Foster is shocked. She’s worked on some terrifying cases but never seen anything like this before.

As Erika and her team set to work, she makes the link with another victim – the body of a young woman dumped in an identical suitcase two weeks ago.

Erika quickly realises she’s on the trail of a serial killer who’s already made their next move. Yet just as Erika starts to make headway with the investigation, she is the victim of a brutal attack.

But nothing will stop Erika. As the body count rises, the twin daughters of her colleague Commander Marsh are abducted, and the stakes are higher than ever before. Can Erika save the lives of two innocent children before it’s too late? She’s running out of time and about to make a disturbing discovery…there’s more than one killer.

Review

Happy Publication Day!

Cold Blood is the fifth book in the DCI Erika Foster series by Robert Bryndza. Previous titles are; The Girl in the Ice, The Night Stalker, Dark Water and Last Breath. You can click on the titles to read my reviews. Although this can be read as a standalone, I recommend that you read the entire series in order. This will help you get to know the characters  better especially the MC, DCI Erika.

The story begins with the discovery of two bodies in suitcases. The detectives have little to go on and so they start piecing together the evidence. Unlike most cases where killers escalate their crimes and body count goes up, this one is a bit different in that it sorts of goes backwards. It takes time for detectives to realize who they are dealing with.They  have to look into the killer’s past to understand the nature and extent of their crimes.

The story is told through different POVs. DCI Erika is the main narrator. However, there are chapters narrated by the killer. In these chapters, we get to learn how the crimes began and the motives. I really liked this second narration. It is darker, thrilling and gives insight into the making of a killer.

What I loved most about this book is that the focus is not solely on the investigation. There are other things going on. DCI Erika has changed so much through the series. I disliked her in the second book, Night Stalker and thought she was kinda mean. Now, I feel like I know her better and so I really enjoy reading about her. I wish certain parts of her life would have stayed the same as in the previous book but it is okay, the changes are good even though some broke my heart. Once you read the series, you will get to know what I mean. I like how we get to know more about the characters outside the investigation.

Bryndza has done it again with this book. It’s a crime thriller masterpiece that has everything that makes this genre so enjoyable. A murder mystery, serial killer, twists and lots of suspense and of course a lead detective that readers can root for, DCI Erika Foster. This was a gripping, thrilling, addictive read. I can’t wait to see what Robert Bryndza comes up with next. Honestly, I can’t recommend this series enough.