Book Review: Hangman by Daniel Cole

After reading Ragdoll by Daniel Cole earlier this year, I was excited to receive an ARC of the next book in the crime series, Hangman. Thank you to NetGalley and Orion for the chance to read it in exchange for an honest review.

Title: Hangman

Author: Daniel Cole

Publisher: Orion Publishing Group

Release date: 22nd March 2018

 

Blurb

The new thriller from the bestselling author of Ragdoll

A detective with no one to trust
A killer with nothing to lose

18 months after the ‘Ragdoll’ murders, a body is found hanging from Brooklyn Bridge, the word ‘BAIT’ carved into the chest.

In London a copycat killer strikes, branded with the word ‘PUPPET’, forcing DCI Emily Baxter into an uneasy partnership with the detectives on the case, Special Agents Rouche and Curtis.

Each time they trace a suspect, the killer is one step ahead. With the body count rising on both sides of the Atlantic, can they learn to trust each other and identify who is holding the strings before it is too late?

My Thoughts

What a thrill! This book grabbed me from the beginning,  once I had got my head around the plethora of characters introduced there and it did not let me go until the last page. By the middle, I was tempted to read it behind a cushion and was grateful I was reading not watching the scenes on a screen. If you are put off by powerful gruesome murders I would give this book a miss –  it isn’t for the squeamish or faint-hearted.

All the characters have depth and backstory adding to the plot which is full of complicated, intricate twists.  Investigations in UK and America with the involvement of FBI and CIA are not my usual read but the relationships between the three units held my attention. This is not a book to skim read but one to immerse yourself in without giving yourself nightmares.

The introduction says you do not have to have read the first book of the series, Ragdoll but personally, I think it is an advantage because it introduces you to main characters, Emily Baxter and Wolf and their complex relations and motivations.

I loved the intensity of this book but now need to catch up on all the things I postponed so I could keep reading.

Would I recommend?

Oh yes! Daniel Cole is someone to read if you love crime thrillers, complex characters and don’t mind gory imagery. It is reminiscent of the books by Mo Hayder.