I enjoyed this, and I like Warren and Tony, but I would agree with other reviewers that it was obvious from very early on who the killer was, and this made the book seem overlong. The whole 'death of Warren's grandmother' section could have been cut for a start. I did occasionally wonder if my suspicions were correct, but they were! ( )

Can Detective Chief Inspector Warren Jones find a serial killer before the killer brutally rapes and kills again? The first murder leads DCI Jones to suspect the victim’s boyfriend and father. Then another body is found – carefully hidden to give enough time for vital clues to disappear but not so well that it won’t be found in a few days. The murderer seems to be taunting the police.

As any reader of mysteries and police procedurals knows, most murderers are somehow connected to the victim. The hardest killings to solve are when the killer and victim are strangers. DCI Jones begins to wonder if these killings aren’t going to be that type.

Suspicion falls on Richard Cameron, recently released from prison after serving twelve years for rape. However, Cameron did not kill his victims. And, there is no physical evidence that Cameron was involved. However, when the third body is found, DNA evidence says Cameron is the killer. Cameron disappears. The evidence against him mounts. Another victim. But the killer seems to be getting more careless. Then suddenly the evidence begins to suggest that others may be involved.

You will enjoy this second DCI Warren Jones book by biologist-turned-science teacher Paul Gitsham. The characters are well-developed and the addition of Jones’ personal tragedies adds to rather than detracts from the plot. The story itself has enough twists and turns to cause even the most jaded of mystery readers to wonder where the story will eventually lead. There are clues aplenty to identify the murderer – if you’re paying close attention. But if you skip through parts of the story that you think are merely added fluff, you may just miss those carefully placed clues.

This review is based on a pre-release version provided through NetGalley.com. ( )