Blog Tour: Scared to Death (A Detective Kay Hunter Novel) by Rachel Amphlett
Scared to Death (A Detective Kay Hunter novel)
by Rachel Amphlett
Genre: Mystery, Thriller, & Suspense
Release Date: December 1, 2016
Blurb:
A serial killer murdering for kicks. A detective seeking revenge.
When the body of a snatched schoolgirl is found in an abandoned biosciences building, the case is first treated as a kidnapping gone wrong. But Detective Kay Hunter isn’t convinced, especially when a man is found dead with the ransom money still in his possession. When a second schoolgirl is taken, Kay’s worst fears are realised. With her career in jeopardy and desperate to conceal a disturbing secret, Kay’s hunt for the killer becomes a race against time before he claims another life. For the killer, the game has only just begun... Scared to Death is the first book in a new crime thriller series featuring Kay Hunter – a detective with a hidden past and an uncertain future… If you like Angela Marsons, Peter James and Mark Billingham, discover Rachel Amphlett’s new series today – at a special launch price.
Buy Links: Amazon | B&N | Kobo
Sara's Review
Four Boundless Stars
I voluntarily received an ARC of Scared to Death for a blog tour. This is the second novel I’ve read by Amphlett and it did not disappoint. The story starts off fast with a set of parents trying to save their daughter from a kidnapper. It was extremely thrilling and got the blood pumping. It was the perfect opening to draw the reader into the story. Enter our main protagonist Detective Sergeant Kay Hunter, and all the inner politics and workings of the British Police.
For those of you who don’t read my blog, I am an American so I always find it interesting to read books from the other side of the “pond”. I found myself highlighting phrases to go back and check later or was using Wikipedia. For example making someone redundant, we call that being laid off. Or take the Mickey out of him which I don’t think we have an equivalent. It makes the reading interesting and I have to do a mental shift to processes the “language”. In Scared to Death it wasn’t too difficult, I’ve watched a few movies, that I’ve had to turn the subtitles on. LOL
This is a mystery, suspense, thriller, slash police drama/crime drama, centered on Kay Hunter. Kay just got finished going through an inquiry regarding missing evidence in a case, what we would call an IA or Internal Affairs investigation. She is suspected of being a dirty cop by some of her peers. Which is making her life as a detective, difficult at best. She was cleared of wrong doing and is given the case of the Kidnapping, much to the chagrin of said peers.
The case is fast moving and intense. With a bunch of twist and turns that keep the reader engaged. There is the inner workings of the chase along with the POV from the bad guy, it was exciting. Where things slowed for me, Amphlett tends to give too many inane details that don’t add anything to the story, except to slow the pace. Case in point.
“Kay shut the door as he distributed the drinks onto the table, then took her seat next to him. She reached out for her coffee, and blew across its surface.”
Then there was the interview of the farmer which was a repeat of what just happened. It was frustrating. I don’t like when the pace is moving at a fast clip and then it is bogged down with too many details that aren’t necessary. In a thriller I want to keep my adrenaline pumping. It did in the beginning, a little in the middle and then the end. I wish it would have kept the pace throughout.
Overall it was a pretty good read, with some interesting twists and a sadistic bad guy. I am rating it 4 Boundless Stars.
About Rachel Amphlett
Rachel Amphlett is the bestselling author of the Dan Taylor espionage novels and the new Detective Kay Hunter series, as well as a number of standalone crime thrillers.
Originally from the UK and currently based in Brisbane, Australia, Rachel’s novels appeal to a worldwide audience, and have been compared to Robert Ludlum, Lee Child and Michael Crichton.
She is a member of International Thriller Writers and the Crime Writers Association, with the Italian foreign rights for her debut novel, White Gold, being sold to Fanucci Editore's TIMECrime imprint in 2014.
An advocate for knowledge within the publishing industry, Rachel is always happy to share her experiences to a wider audience through her blogging and speaking engagements.
Author Links:
Email: info@rachelamphlett
Skype: rachel.amplett1