Detective Declan Miller has his hands full. While still dealing with the unsolved murder of his wife, a young man appears at his door with a briefcase, containing a pair of severed hands. His gut tells him they result from a contract killing by a local criminal, but are they related to his wife’s murder? The same killer? THE WRONG HANDS has more unexpected twists and turns, dark humor, and edge-of-your-seat suspense than anything you’re likely to read. Jump on board. A great ride.

DP Lyle, award-winning author of the Jake Longly and Cain/Harper thriller series ( )

I received a copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley.

This begins with a hilarious scene set in a public toilet during which a briefcase is stolen from a contract killer by a minor thief. The contract killer is very keen to retrieve the briefcase so he can get paid for his latest job, and soon it falls into Declan's hands. As in the first instalment of this series, Declan discusses the case with his dead wife Alex, goes ballroom dancing, plays with his pet rats, and makes terrible jokes. Disappointingly, Declan's partner Sara seems to be beginning to get some of his jokes and even made one or two of her own.

This is a very funny book and, provided you buy into the reason for the retrieval of the briefcase (is proof of this sort ever really required?) then a great read. My only quibble was that the mystery of how Alex died (which again carries over from the first book) didn't seem very integrated into the main story. The end of the book makes me wonder if this series will continue...

Recommended. ( )