Chris Merritt

Please see all of my reviews at www.robinlovesreading.blogspot.com

What happened in 1998 that is apparently causing deaths now? DI Zac Boateng certainly has his suspicions when good friend Troy McEwen is the victim of an apparent suicide. Boateng doesn't believe this for one minute. He is certain that it was murder. But, he is alone in his feelings, and as he goes about trying to prove that he is right, and to apprehend the murderer, other deaths begin happening. There are definite links, and Boateng is sure that it all relates back to 1998. He was involved then, so does that indeed put his very life at risk?

Boateng is flawed, although he is a wonderful family man. He does a superb job of going off the cuff when it comes to investigating what he is sure is murder. He goes even further with connecting it with other deaths that are suddenly occurring. Watching him work while Detective Sergeant Kat Jones works separately at first getting to the bottom of things captured my attention. Last Witness was chuck full of intrigue and kept me on my toes. There were twists and turns and a lot of confusion for me as a reader to try and identify the true killer. There were red herrings for sure and it was a true crime thriller written in a captivating way.

Although this is the second book in the Zac Boateng series, it read perfectly well as a standalone. There were references that I am sure related to the first book, but in no way did it affect the integrity of this title. I may have missed the first book in the series, but I definitely will be back for the next one, especially since the riveting conclusion has gotten me excited. So, in all, this was a thrilling mystery that was a terrific read.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC to review in exchange for my honest opinion.… (mais)

The beginning of "The Murder List" is particularly poignant. Detective Zac Boateng is enjoying an early morning run with his daughter Amelia. At some point during the exercise he loses sight of Amelia and is shocked when a number of gun shots are clearly heard. The unthinkable has happened his beautiful Amelia is now lying before him fatally wounded finally succumbing to the gunshots and dying in the arms of her father.

We fast forward 5 years and Detective Boateng together with work colleagues Nasim Malik, Pat Connelly and DS Kat Jones is called to the scene of a violent crime The location is a pawnbrokers shop where the owner Ivor Harris has been bludgeoned with an axe left embedded in his skull. What follows is a detailed, intricate, tangled story that will test the ability and patience of Zac to the limit. Whilst attempting to discover and apprehend the pawn shop killer there appears to be a trail going all the way back to that fateful day in 2012 and Amelia's death. As evidence mounts, a culprit is identified who must not only contend with the wrath of Zachariah Boateng but it in addition a lone sniper, ex military who has been hired to execute him for reasons soon made clear.

Although the plot of this book is good it is the character and flaws of Boateng that set The Murder List above the average thriller. He is consumed by his inability to protect Amelia and is tortured each and every day that he did or could not save her.."Never give up. You owe it to that person you loved. To the memory you still love, that no one can take away"... So will the ending of this fast paced thriller give our lone detective some inner peace and the courage to be a good father to his son Kofi and wife Etta? You dear reader of my review will have to discover that for yourself but rest assured the journey will be exciting full of doubt and yes some hope....Many thanks to the good people of netgalley and the publisher Bookouture for a gratis copy of this excellent thriller in exchange for an honest review and that is what I have written.… (mais)