
Book Description
Even on a small island the darkest secrets can’t stay buried forever…
It began like any normal day in Cyprus…except it wasn’t…the body of a woman brutally murdered and discovered in a shallow grave changes all that.
It is only days later when amateur sleuth, Diana Rivers and old flame, Chief Superintendent Adam Lovell discover a second female victim…only this time the discovery is even more chilling and shocks the island inhabitants.
Joining forces with local policeman, Sergeant Yiannis Loukiades, the three embark on a journey which takes them on the fringes of humanity. Disturbing secrets are unearthed. They are on the hunt for killers who will stop at nothing in their hunt for one vital woman.
As the bodies mount up, the detectives ask themselves one question. What is the reason for the women’s’ deaths and their horrific mutilations?
With the investigation quickly gathering momentum, Diana finds herself exposed to great danger…in the sights of a lethal individual who’ll put a stop to her meddling. Each move could be deadly… vicious in its outcome…can the team bring a halt to this brutal trade?
My review
Just wow! I've finished reading this book and am still recovering from the fast-paced breathtaking events taking place towards the end.
I would like to thank the author, Faith Mortimer, for sending me an ARC of her latest book - the 7th Diana Rivers thriller - to read and review.
Diana lives with her husband Steve in Agios Mamas, a tiny mountain village in Cyprus. She's neither a police officer nor a private investigator, just a normal ex-pat who loves to stick her nose in when crimes need solving.
Asian-looking women are being murdered and mutilated, their bodies buried in shallow graves or dumped in the countryside. With a serial killer on the loose, Sergeant Yiannis Loukiades is entrusted with the investigation. He is joined by Adam Lovell, a British Chief Superintendent. Who is murdering these women? And why? How come the victims are all Asians?
When Mali, a Thai woman working for Diana is stalked by two strange men, Diana fears for her maid's safety and decides to take action. She joins Yiannis and Adam in the investigation and uses her house as a meeting base.
An international ring of human trafficking is then uncovered. By the end, the ring's affairs turn out to be far more sinister than first thought. But who's the ringleader? And how can the investigators ever get to the filthy rich top brass of the operation?
I've read many positive reviews about the Diana Rivers series and now that I've read this book, I really feel ashamed of myself that this is just the first one I've read. Though there are hints of past cases and side stories, this doesn't prevent the reader from enjoying the book to the full, so it may well be read as a stand-alone thriller.
I can only describe this book as 'rich': rich in vivid descriptions, rich in strong, likeable characters, rich in realistic dialogue and rich in action. Not mentioning Faith's exquisite writing which makes the words just flow by, immersing the reader in the story. I liked the general setting and mood of the book. The suspense grabbed me from the beginning and didn't leave me until I reached the final OMG twist and confrontation.
Well, I can't stress enough how much I enjoyed reading this book and I highly recommend it. If this thriller is anything to go by, I'm sure I'll have a great time reading the rest of the series. Well done Faith, I love your book and I love Diana Rivers - she's ace!