Sycamore Gap by L J Ross

 

Detective Chief Inspector is never going to have a quiet life. When he thinks one hurdle is behind him he is forced to face another.

This mystery murder is set in Northumberland, alongside the ancient Hadrians Wall and brings the Detective in directly confrontation with the historians and archaeologists and worse his own Police Force with their own agendas. A body is found within the Wall itself and it has been there for ten years. Identifying it was not long in coming and then the dots start to get connected with a serial murderer who is notorious and is in a high security prison. A second copycat killing shows a killer who is determined to out manoeuvre the Police. The detection has to be carefully followed because Ryan does know that opponents to him are within the Department and though most imagine The Circle (The cult which has caused them grief in the past is dead and buried), it is very much alive and wanting to consolidate their position.

A touch of romance adds another genre but adds to the overall danger because it becomes a tool for the opponents to manoeuvre a situation to their advantage and highlight the weaknesses of the Chief Inspector.

My second read of this author within a week but it still held my interest very much.

Sent by Poisoned Pen Press for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley.