She Treads Softly: The Village Killer

Saturday, October 19, 2024

The Village Killer

The Village Killer by Ross Greenwood
10/25/24; 401 pages
Boldwood Books
DI Barton #7

The Village Killer by Ross Greenwood is a highly recommended procedural and the 7th novel in the series with Detective Inspector John Barton.

After three years behind a desk, Inspector John Barton is offered the opportunity to return to Major Crimes. After discussing it with his wife, he accepts and the team immediately are called in to investigate an attempted murder which seems to be linked to the case of a missing child. Soon enough a murder occurs, and Barton is thrust back into the back into the life of a detective with early mornings, late nights and endless pressure to get to the truth.

The well-written narrative follows the discoveries of the intricate investigation with occasional chapters from the point-of-view of the village killer. The cases also test Barton personally to see if he still has what it takes. There are several suspects to chose from as the plot unfolds and clues point to who could be behind the crimes.

The team knows each other, get along, including Barton's friend Zander, and a new member. They all work well together. Banter between the characters can be witty, as well as insightful. Greenwood keeps the investigation moving at a steady pace within the plot while also touching on current societal concerns, including an online "fans" site and concerns over handling those with neurodivergent conditions in the legal system.

The Village Killer is a great choice for those who appreciate detailed procedurals. Thanks to Boldwood Books for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

No comments:

Post a Comment

John Updike's six rules for reviewing:

1. Try to understand what the author wished to do, and do not blame him for not achieving what he did not attempt.

2. Give him enough direct quotation--at least one extended passage--of the book's prose so the review's reader can form his own impression, can get his own taste.

3. Confirm your description of the book with quotation from the book, if only phrase-long, rather than proceeding by fuzzy precis.

4. Go easy on plot summary, and do not give away the ending.

5. If the book is judged deficient, cite a successful example along the same lines, from the author's oeuvre or elsewhere. Try to understand the failure. Sure it's his and not yours?

To these concrete five might be added a vaguer sixth, having to do with maintaining a chemical purity in the reaction between product and appraiser.....Review the book, not the reputation.... Better to praise and share than blame and ban. The communion between reviewer and his public is based upon the presumption of certain possible joys in reading, and all our discriminations should curve toward that end.