Mostly Murders

A DI with a complicated past. A ragtag team of investigators. A vicious killer. An adorable, food-obsessed corgi.

Bury the Truth is a contemporary police procedural/crime thriller set in Chesterfield, England. It follows DI Ryan Hale’s first case in Chesterfield in 12 years, as he returns from London and is thrown headfirst into a ritualistic murder case with a new team of investigators under his command.

Ryan Hale is a man with a dark past. 12 years ago, Ryan’s wife mysteriously disappeared. Her case was never solved, and Ryan transferred to London soon after. Now he is back in Chesterfield, physically scarred from a brutal case that nearly left him dead and emotionally haunted by his own perceived failings. Ryan is not, however, the kind of man who gives up or gives in to the darkness inside him. And he is not alone.

Ryan’s second in command is his old friend and ally Fiona Bennet, a reliable and sympathetic character who serves as a softer, gentler counterpart to Ryan’s occasional dark thoughts and cynicism. DC Mathis “Digit” Asare lends some comedic relief with his extreme logical and analytical nature, and Ryan’s Corgi Winston offers some moments of pure fun and cuteness, lightening the mood in the book considerably whenever he appears.

The novel balances dark and light elements very nicely. Ryan is traumatised but not completely broken. The murders, and there are several, are serious and chilling but not overly graphic or disturbing. The mystery is solid and well presented, but to me the highlight of this novel is the characters. Ryan and his team of investigators are all very different, they are interesting, slightly flawed and feel very real and human.

Bury the Truth releases today, December 9th. Pick it up if you want a police procedural/crime thriller with clear, descriptive writing, an interesting mystery and well-crafted characters.

Thank you so much to R. K. Lynott for this ARC.

Police procedural – Mystery – Crime thriller