Fennell’s first book, ‘The Art of Death’, was one of my top crime books of last year so I was eagerly awaiting this sequel and a chance to follow the story of DI Grace Archer of London’s Metropolitan Police. Thanks to NetGalley and Zaffre for my copy for review – as always, opinions are entirely my own.
This book opens with some gruesome murders – we have missing eyes and disfigured faces as a particularly grim modus operandi this time. DI Grace Archer and her partner, DS Harry Quinn, find themselves racing against time to uncover the killer as the body count rises…and rises…and rises. Investigations begin to centre on a religious commune, but at the same time start to skirt too close to Archer’s own dark past.
All the promises made by ‘The Art of Death’ are delivered on here – some graphic murders, brilliantly twisty plotting and some genuine surprises along the way. However, as with the first novel, the real strength is in the characterisation of DI Grace Archer and DS Harry Quinn. Archer is struggling with her horrific past, although this adds genuine peril to her present rather than becoming a crime novel cliche. Her relationship with her grandfather (with whom she lives) is gorgeous and relatable, but with challenges given his dementia. DS Harry Quinn is also a lovely character and the warm relationship between the two detectives is packed with wit and affection – something that is a welcome diversion from the darkness of the book’s themes at times.
This isn’t a book for the faint-hearted and there are some themes that might prove difficult for some readers, not least child abuse, violence and drugs. Grace Archer’s past as a kidnap victim (already explained in the first book) also makes for some tough reading.
Overall, I’d highly recommend this book – I raced through it and didn’t foresee the final denouement at all, the mark of an excellent crime novel when the solution makes sense (as it does here). I genuinely cannot wait for DI Grace Archer’s next outing.
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Header photo by Colin Lloyd on Unsplash
Great review, Kate! This sounds like a great crime book and I really like that you mentioned certain themes that might be difficult for some readers. Trigger warners are so important!