To Hunt A Killer by DS Julie MacKay and Robert Murphy is a gripping true crime story of how the 1984 murder of a young girl, Melanie Road was finally solved. The case evolved into a cold case investigation and although they had the murderer’s DNA, finding a fit proved to take years.

Mostly due to a lack of funding, bad luck, politics and a massive amount of paperwork that needed to be sorted through thirty some years passed without a resolution. The murderer seemed to have vanished after committing the crime but he did leave some of his blood behind which provided his DNA. The cold case investigators were dedicated, committed and professional as they continued the hunt over the years. Julie MacKay spent over six years leading the investigation and this book tells her story about both the hunt for the killer and the turmoil in her own personal life during this time.

To Hunt a Killer is a fascinating read and the details that MacKay supplies about her own daily struggles help to bring the story to life and provide a reality to this crime story. Her determination to never give up and her dedication to the victim and her family is commendable. This is a highly readable story that engaged me from the first page. ( )