NetGalley Review: The Pick, The Spade and The Crow (The National Crime Agency #1) by Bill Rogers

30046026Title:  The Pick, The Spade and The Crow
Author: Bill Rogers:
Published: Sept. 27, 2016
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer
Pages: 364
Genre: Murder, Mystery
Review: ebook provided by NetGalley and Publisher
Buy Links: Amazon, Amazon.uk 



When the body of a man is discovered in woodlands outside Manchester, a ten-year missing-persons investigation can finally be filed away. But this was no ordinary death: gagged, bound and buried alive, he was the victim of a sophisticated and sadistic killer. And there is something else that has the National Crime Agency puzzled. A single character carved into a nearby tree.
Newly promoted to the NCA's Behavioural Sciences Unit, Senior Investigator Joanne Stuart is determined to hunt down the perpetrator. Just as Jo's investigation begins to reveal links with other disappearances, there is another murder. This is no longer a cold case; she is dealing with the escalating violence of a chilling serial killer.
Stepping into a sinister world of secrets, symbols and rituals, Jo will have to confront the legacy of her own past and the violent memories that lurk there if she is going to solve this case. But at what cost?


I received this book via NetGalley to give an honest review.

I enjoy reading murder mysteries especially from new authors. In this story we are introduced to Joanne who goes by Jo. She has been promoted to a behavioral science unit where she gets her first case pretty quickly as there are just a few clues. Jo is a very hard worker and she leaves no stones unturned, even though she doesn't want to step on anyone's toes. While trying to solve this cold case along with another case that ends up coming her way she is trying to start a family with her partner. Though it seems that she gets a bit caught up in her work that her partner isn't too happy about. 
We see how Jo slowly starts to put the pieces together and the clues that are left behind seems to be from the Free Masons but it is them or someone else? 
I can honestly say I didn't have a clue who the killer was even though we are introduced to this person it just flew right over my head. 
Jo for me was a good character though she seemed a bit mysterious in some ways. I did like the characters that she worked with as they seemed to have a sense of humor and welcomed Jo in right away without any hostility. Now her boss that she answers too he is for sure a bit more mysterious for that I can not pinpoint what it is about him but there is something there I believe. Maybe in another story we will get some information if there is any there to give.  
I enjoyed the British setting that this took place in I could imagine the woods and the city how it was described. If you like British police procedures then give this book a try. 



Bill  Rogers


I heard today that I've been given the Amazon ePublishing Consortium Writers Award for The Cleansing. This is for excellence in writing,cover design, and epublishing. I'm especially chuffed because the judging panel includes fellow writers.
And on the same day all six of my titles have reached the top 0.7% of paid-for sales in Kindle Book Store. Must be doing something right.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Interview and Giveaway with Author Teri Polen

Spreading Some Love Indie Blog Hop 2016

Review: The Ouija Board (Paranormal Adventure #1) by Shelby White