This review is written with thanks to The Pigeonhole for the opportunity to read and review The Two Deaths Of Ruth Lyle.

Blurb:

DI Jan Talantire is called to a cottage in Ilfracombe, where the female occupant is found dead, impaled with a crucifix. The woman, who had been renting the house for a few months, is well known locally. Documents found at her house indicate her name is Ruth Lyle. The name means nothing to the young PC who found her, but DI Talantire knows that this cannot be true.

Fifty years earlier, sixteen-year-old Ruth Lyle was murdered – stabbed by a crucifix, in exactly the same location. It is impossible for this to be the same woman, and yet all the records are a match.

With a brutal killer at large, DI Talantire must work quickly to solve the most complicated case of her career: how can a woman die twice?

A twisty and unputdownable crime thriller. Perfect for fans of Elly Griffiths and Kate Ellis.

Review:

As you will probably all know, I love the first book in a new police procedural series as I love the chance to get to know a brand new detective and their team. I enjoyed meeting DI Jan Tallantire and her team – the younger detectives are enthusiastic and intelligent, while Jan herself is determined and outspoken. They work together well and I particularly appreciated that the author has used the characters to challenge the outdated attitudes in the police force. I am looking forward to seeing how their characters develop over the series.

The premise of The Two Deaths Of Ruth Lyle is ingenious and I was gripped from the very beginning. I was fascinated each time we met a new suspect and I loved trying to work out the connection between the crime fifty years ago and the crime in the present day. The twists are incredibly clever – they literally made my jaw drop.

Towards the end of the novel, as the detectives search for those they want to interview, the tension rises tenfold and pace becomes much faster. I really wanted to know who had committed these crimes and the staves could not drop fast enough. I did feel that the ending and the explanation was a little rushed, but I still enjoyed this thrilling ride and I look forward to seeing the author’s new ideas as the series continues

The Two Deaths Of Ruth Lyle is available from Amazon.