The Darkening Hills by Kerry Buchanan
Discover an electrifying crime thriller full of breathtaking twists, set amid the lonely hills of County Antrim, Northern Ireland.
Gerren Penrose has waited too long to call on his friend, reclusive old Rob Harris. He takes the twisty road to Rob’s secluded cottage, steps inside . . .
To be hit by the stench of death.
Gerren follows a trail of dismembered pieces, to what remains of his friend. The grisly sight sends him running from the cottage — the howls of Rob’s beloved collie ringing in his ears.
He thinks the horror is behind him. That he’s alone out in the darkening hills. But he is wrong.
Not far away, a woman hides in the shadows, watching silently.
Her and the dead man were close like you wouldn’t believe. But she’s not sorry he’s gone. She’s smiling.
Can Detectives Harvey and Birch uncover the shocking secret that binds them? Before fresh blood is spilled . . .
MY REVIEW
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Detectives Harvey and Birch are back in another brilliant addition to the series. The books do work perfectly as stand alone.
The story begins when a retired vet, Gerren Penrose visits a friend in his remote dwelling. When he arrives he realises that all is not well but nothing prepares him for the horror when he enters the cottage. Rob has been living as a recluse for some time his only visitor and friend is Gerren. and he only ventured into the village when it was absolutely necessary so who could possibly hate him so much they would wreak such carnage on his body?
The police are baffled. There are no clues and no suspects except Gerren and while he fits he is an unlikely murderer. The team must look harder at everyone and everything to find more clues. But it is going to be a hard case to crack.
Changed identities and revenge going back years and years. Deathbed confessions, abuse and bullying and you have a very intriguing edge of your seat thriller that will keep the pages turning all the way to the mind blowing ending.
An absolutely brilliant read that I recommend to anyone who loves crime thrillers.
Thank you to Joffe Books for the advance digital copy of this book.
MEET THE DETECTIVES
DETECTIVE ASHA HARVEY
Asha Harvey has always had a powerful sense of right and wrong. She has wanted to be a detective since she was a child, and while she can be a little too trusting, her open manner makes people want to confide in her. She is especially driven to succeed as a woman of colour in a largely white, male police force in Northern Ireland. Her family support her and are ridiculously proud of her, which adds to her internal pressure to succeed.
DETECTIVE AARON BIRCH
Boyish and gangly, Aaron Birch entered the police force as a detective through a graduate recruitment scheme. This makes him the butt of snide remarks by fellow officers, so he always feels he has something to prove. He also has a tendency to stretch the rules to suit himself, which can lead to him getting into trouble.
WHAT EVERYONE IS SAYING ABOUT DETECTIVES HARVEY AND
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘LOVED IT! Great thriller, compulsive read.’ Paul
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Fast paced and well written, this book kept me gripped from beginning to end.’ Barbara
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Phenomenal! I did not want to put it down. I was blown away . . . brilliant.’ Michelle C.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Exciting and pacey. Couldn’t put it down.’ Aileen G.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A great read that keeps you turning the pages until the end. Totally enjoyable.’ Sandra G.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Absolutely brilliant . . . had me on the edge of my seat all the way through.’ Jill B.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Intriguing and utterly riveting . . . Everything you want from a crime thriller.’ John D.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A fantastic crime thriller . . . I loved it . . .