#Bookvent – Celebrating my top reads of 2020
My day fourteen #bookvent choices are split into two, partly because they are the two books I have read this year that fall outside of my usual bookvent criteria. Both, in my opinion, are too good to leave off the list and so even though they are older titles they are going to take double billing on the blog. The first is a book I’ve had on my list for a while, one that I had seen Mandie get very excited about so I knew that I had to read it. The good news is that being the first in a series of three books, I had book two and now book three, on my kindle ready and waiting for me so I don’t have to wait, but it is, at the moment, book one which really made an impression. Pairing up two of the least conventional or compatible characters in crime fighting, my first day fourteen pick is …
The Tattoo Thief by Alison Belsham
A policeman on his first murder case
A tattoo artist with a deadly secret
And a twisted serial killer sharpening his blades to kill again…
When Brighton tattoo artist Marni Mullins discovers a flayed body, newly-promoted DI Francis Sullivan needs her help. There’s a serial killer at large, slicing tattoos from his victims’ bodies while they’re still alive. Marni knows the tattooing world like the back of her hand, but has her own reasons to distrust the police. So when she identifies the killer’s next target, will she tell Sullivan or go after the Tattoo Thief alone?
Murder, mystery, skinning and scalping … What’s not to love about this book? Not as gruesome as it sounds, although it does have some of the most inventive murders of the past couple of years, this book had me well and truly hooked. I love a good police procedural, perhaps one of my most favourite genres, and this is a most excellent example. With very religious Detective Inspector In Francis Sullivan and tough tattoo artist, Marni Mullins, readers are treated to two very interesting and likeable characters who it is hard not to like. There is a clear chemistry between them in spite of their completely contrasting personalities, and with Sullivan’s training and logic and Marni’s smarts, they make a dream team. The story is full of tension, the pacing spot on and the gore kept to just the right side of too graphic. There is plenty of action and intrigue and readers are kept guessing right through to the very intense ending that sees out protagonists lives on the line. This is a story of an art collector with a very, very different need and it kept me on edge but thoroughly entertained. If you haven’t read the books in this series yet, you really should. I am loving them.
You can read my full review of the book here.
Happy #bookvent reading all
Jen
Jen Med's Book Reviews 