Cover: The Murder Club
(Miller Hatcher, #2)
by Nikki Crutchley
The author sent me an ARC of this book (epub format) in exchange for an honest review (a member of Rosie’s Book Review Team).
My rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ (five stars)
Plot
(by Goodreads)
A dead body. An anonymous letter. This is only the beginning.
‘Not all evil, on the surface, is ugly and menacing. It doesn’t always lurk in city centres after dark. It mows your lawns, frequents your local pub, takes its kids to school and contributes to communities.’
When the first letter arrives saying that ‘tonight it begins’, journalist Miller Hatcher ignores it. But then the body of a murdered woman is discovered, strangled, a scarf around her neck.
Cassie Hughes has always vowed to find the man who murdered her mother. Cassie knows he’s out there and wants him to pay, and Miller agrees to bring the cold case back into the public’s eye.
Logan Dodds has been obsessed with true crime ever since his sister was murdered thirty years ago. He has turned his obsession into a career and has created the True Crime Enthusiasts Club and his newest venture, True Crime Tours.
The lives of Miller, Cassie and Logan – all affected differently by murder – become entwined as The Scarf Killer, desperate for infamy, and Miller’s attention, makes his mark on the small town of Lentford.
| Genre(s): | > International Mystery & Crime (Kindle Store) > International Mystery & Crime (Books) > Women Sleuths (Kindle Store) |
| Series: | Miller Hatcher, #2 |
| File size: | 304 pages |
| Release date: | >>> 2020-08-31 <<< |
Teaser
Kahu nodded ‘What’s up?’
Miller withdrew the two letters from her bag. She’d already been home to get the other one she’d received on Friday.
‘Take a look at these. That first one I opened on Friday night, but it’s dated the day before. I didn’t really think much of it. Just another crazy. This one here,’ she said, handing over the other envelope, ‘was hand-delivered to the office by the looks of it. Not sure when. Probably last night when the office was closed or early this morning. I guess It could’ve been delivered over the weekend.’
My Opinion
This book reintroduces you to Miller Hatcher, a young journalist who moved back to her deceased mother’s house; sober for quite a while and working at the local newspaper, she starts receiving anonymous letters.
With “The Murder Club” (2nd in the Miller Hatcher series), Nikki Crutchley has created another gripping as well as a chilling story with a plot that keeps its promises. It is a plot that kept me glued to my eReader, drawing me very close to Miller and to Kahu. Nikki Crutchley created a well-elaborated suspense story with a complex and likeable heroine – as well as a colourful variety of further important characters. Miller and the others are believable, complemented by the aptly written plot. There is a lot more to the story than simply good versus bad; there are some insights into the human behaviour that will make you wonder. It is a highly enjoyable read with authentic characters, interesting turns, and a great flow. A memorable book to read again, written by a new author to watch out for!
This is a book for you if you like intriguing suspense, feisty heroines, believable characters, and if you appreciate cleverly elaborated stories.
Highly recommended!
In brief:
| Cover | ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ (five stars) |
| Writing | ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ (five stars) |
| Plot | ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ (five stars) |
| Characters | ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ (five stars) |
| Mood | Suspenseful |
| Pace | Fast |
| POV | Third person – past tense |
| Language |  – 😳 (some mild swearwords) |
| Violence | 😳 (some violence) |
| Sexual content | – 😳 (some activities without details) |
About the author
After seven years of working as a librarian in New Zealand and overseas, Nikki now works as a freelance proofreader and copy editor. She lives in the small Waikato town of Cambridge in New Zealand with her husband and two girls.
Nikki has been writing on and off her whole life and recently has had success in flash fiction. She has been published in Flash Frontier, Flash Fiction Magazine and Mayhem Literary Journal. Crime/thriller/mystery novels are her passion. Nothing Bad Happens Here is her first novel (but hopefully not her last), set on the Coromandel Coast of New Zealand.
Connect with the author:
Please take a look at my statement on reading in My train of thoughts on …reading. Now I am asking you. 🙂
My questions for you bibliophiles:
What about you? What did you think about “The Murder Club”? Or – if you did not yet read “The Murder Club” – are you now interested in reading it yourself?
I am looking forward to reading your comments. 🙂
My train of thoughts on... 
Thank you Karen.
You are very welcome, Rosie.
I really love these thrillers.
This sounds really good. Haven’t seen you as much this year. Hope you are well and safe from all the madness.
Thanks for your kind feedback, Craig.
My job is taking up quite a bit of my time – hence my prolonged absences from the media. I am well despite all the madness. Hope you are doing great, my friend.
We’re all great here. Keep your head up. This madness can’t last forever.