Published 20th October 2023 by Joffe Books.
From the cover of the book:
Debby Morris, mother of two, goes to a Christmas party at historic Hollyhock Manor in Marlow, and never comes home.A MISSING MOTHER.
Her phone, handbag and Santa’s elf hat are found in a park near the River Thames. The police issue a nationwide search, but Debby is nowhere to be found.
Three weeks later, Debby’s body, still in her elf costume, is discovered five miles downstream from where she disappeared.
A DETECTIVE ON THE BRINK.
Detective Rob Miller is pulled from compassionate leave and put in charge. He’s still reeling from his last botched case, and he knows all eyes are on him — waiting to see if he’ll crack.
Meanwhile, another body is found with their throat slashed . . . and a link is discovered between the two cases that changes everything.
A RACE AGAINST TIME TO STOP A KILLER.
Rob and his team will need to pull out all the stops to catch a twisted killer before anyone else dies...
***********
In the run up to Christmas, young mother Debby Morris goes missing on her way home from a Festive get-together at Hollyhock Manor, Marlow. Her elf hat and mobile phone are found near the tow path the next morning, but she has vanished without a trace. Three weeks later, a woman's body is pulled from the freezing Thames: clad in an elf costume, there is no doubt that it belongs to the missing woman.
DCI Rob Miller is called upon to take responsibility for the investigation, even though he is still on extended leave following the repercussions of the Soho Killer case, and the crime is outside the usual jurisdiction of the Met's Major Incident Team. The word from above is not to ruffle the feathers of the affluent town's influential residents who attended the Hollyhock Manor event, but when one of the suspects turns up dead, it becomes inevitable that Miller will have to dig into the lives of Marlow's elite... even though it means putting the future of his team on the line.
The Marlow Murders picks up six months after the shocking events of The Soho Killer, which uncovered a monster - and almost lost Miller the woman he loves. This can be read as a standalone, but it is so much better if you have read the previous books, especially The Soho Killer, which plays a big part in how this investigation plays out - it is an absolute corker too!
Dragged back early from leave, Miller is forced to tread more carefully than his usual MO in this case, and politics complicates both the investigation and the relationship between Miller and his boss Felicity Mayhew. The legacy of the Soho Killer case overshadows the team, and Miller's personal feelings about being back at work, and they are under pressure to wrap up the investigation quickly. As multiple lines of enquiry throw up intriguing leads about the indiscretions of those who wish to keep their secrets, the story develops in classic Pearce style, holding you fast until damning truths about corruption and sins of the past hit you right between the eyes in a luscious twist and twist again ending.
One of my favourite things about Pearce's DCI Miller books is the way she draws her characters, especially the relationships within Miller's team and with his partner Jo. This story in particular carries a big emotional punch due to the events of the Soho Killer case, and although this means Jo is more in the background than normal, it does provide Pearce with an opportunity to allow Miller's boss Mayhew a bigger part in the story. I really enjoyed getting to know Mayhew better in this book, and loved the interplay with Miller and the new character PC Trent, who I hope we get to see more of in the future. There are fabulous Christmas thriller vibes too, which are perfect for this time of year.
Biba Pearce has been one of my favourite crime writer discoveries over the last couple of years. If you are a fan of a well constructed crime story which combines gripping police procedural plotlines with an engaging cast of characters, then you will find this series a treat - especially if you live along the course of the river Thames, which is always a character in its own right in these books. I am already looking forward to book eight!
The Marlow Murders is available to buy now in paperback and ebook.
Thank you to Biba Pearce for sending me a copy of this book in return for an honest review.
About the author:
Now a full-time writer, Biba lives in leafy Surrey with her family and when she isn’t writing, can be found walking along the Thames path or rambling through the countryside.
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