Detectives Ruth Lake and Greg Carver, introduced in the electrifying Splinter in the Blood, must stop a serial killer whose victims are the centerpiece of his macabre works of art.
While Britain is obsessed with the newest hit true-crime television show, Fact, or Fable? detectives Ruth Lake and Greg Carver are tormented by a fiendish flesh-and-blood killer on the loose.
Lured to a "crime scene" by a mysterious digital invitation, Ruth Lake is horrified by what she finds: a bizarre and gruesome tableau surrounded by a crowd of gawkers. The deadly work is the latest "art installation" designed by a diabolical criminal dubbed the Ferryman. Not only is this criminal cold-blooded; he's a narcissistic exhibitionist desperate for an audience. He's also clever at promoting his deadly handiwork. Exploiting England's current true-crime craze, he uses social media to titillate and terrorize the public.
Ruth is joined in the investigation by her partner Greg Carver, who is slowly regaining his strength after a run-in with another sadistic criminal. But Greg can't seem to shake the bewildering effects of the head wound that nearly ended him. Are the strange auras blurring his vision an annoying side effect of his injury, or could they be something more . . . a tool to help him see a person's true nature?
In this utterly engrossing and thrilling tale of suspense, a pair of seasoned detectives face off against a wickedly smart and inventive psychopath in a tense, bloody game that leads to a shocking end.
About the Author :
Ashley Dyer is a writing duo based in the United Kingdom. This is their first book together
Peter Noble, an Earphones Award-winning narrator, grew up in South Africa and studied drama and music at the University of Cape Town. He has worked extensively as an actor, touring South Africa with a small repertory theater company, as well as working on radio, TV, and film.
Review :
"Dyer (the writing duo of Margaret Murphy and Helen Pepper) keeps the twists coming while sprinkling in a few clever red herrings, and Carver and Lake are an effective and symbiotic detecting duo...Fans of intricate procedurals who like things gritty and gruesome will find a lot to love."
-- "Kirkus Reviews"
"In a riveting investigation, a true-crime-crazed public creates a new folk hero and helps him avoid capture. Dyer is the pen name of UK crime writer Margaret Murphy and forensic scientist Helen Pepper, who provide a grimly authentic narrative and deeply defined characters, although the ending may make readers wonder if they really know Ruth at all."
-- "Booklist"
"The Cutting Room is a well-written, complex, and harrowing tale that will keep you on the edge of your seat...There's enough of Edgar Allen Poe, Peter James, and Michael Connelly in The Cutting Room to make every mystery reader's heart beat faster. Highly recommended."
-- "Joseph Badal, author of the Danforth Saga"
"This addictive sequel...[has] material is fresh enough to keep readers turning the pages. Fans of British police procedurals will be well satisfied."
-- "Publishers Weekly"
