Sarah Reviews… Dark Game by Rachel Lynch

Title: Dark Game

Author: Rachel Lynch

Publisher: Canelo

Publication Date: 29^th January 2018

Format: eARC

This book was received from the publisher in return for an honest review

About the book:

Kelly’s gut turned over as she realised the danger she was in. She heard no sirens. She knew that she was simply collateral. To these men who made a lot of money from the suffering of others, they’d have no problem snuffing her out.

After a scandal forces D. I. Kelly Porter out of the Met, she returns to her home turf in the Lake District. Crimes in the Cumbrian constabulary tend to be of the minor sort, but Kelly begins work on a cold case that shocked the local community – the abduction and brutal murder of ten-year-old Lottie Davies.

Meanwhile, Kelly is also investigating two seemingly straightforward crimes: a case involving an illegal immigrant, and a robbery following the death of local businessman Colin Day. But evidence comes to light that reveals a web of criminal activity beyond anything Kelly imagined. Behind the veneer of sleepy, touristy towns lies a dark and dangerous underworld. As Kelly threatens to expose those with much to lose, she risks paying the ultimate price to get to the truth…

What I Thought:

I really enjoy a good thriller and last year I had the pleasure of reading several that were published by Canelo so when Ellie got in touch and asked if I’d like to take part in a blog tour for the first book in a new crime series I jumped at the chance, and Dark Game certainly didn’t disappoint.

DI Kelly Porter has left the Met Police under a cloud after a case went wrong, returning to the Lake District where she grew up she’s now trying to find her place in the squad room in Penrith. Dark Game sees Kelly taking the lead on her first cases since returning, starting with a cold case that had shocked the area several years before, she also finds herself investigating an abandoned baby and his mother who seem to have been smuggled into the country illegally, finally she finds herself taking the lead in a suspected robbery after a local businessman is found dead in one of his own hotels minus his expensive watch and a roll of money. As Kelly delves further into each case she soon discovers her three cases might not be as separate as first thought

Once I started Dark Game I couldn’t put it down, making my way through it in one sitting. I took an instant liking to DI Kelly Porter, she’s one tough cookie, determined to regain her confidence after being scapegoated and losing her drive in London. Kelly is clearly a competent detective, and is getting her professional life back in order, we also discover a little about her personal life, back living in her childhood room she struggles to connect with her mother and is the polar opposite of her sister which leads to tension. I think this insight into her personal life really helped me connect to the character, it was certainly something I could identify with. While Dark Game focused heavily on DI Porter as the lead character we were also introduced to a number of secondary characters who work with her, I’m looking forward to them being developed further in the following books.

The plot caught my attention and didn’t let up until I’d finished, it’s not a book for the fainthearted though, it deals with some difficult topics including people trafficking, prostitution and child abduction, and Rachel doesn’t shy away in her descriptions, there are some brutal murders and graphic descriptions, so Dark Games won’t be for everyone but for those who don’t mind their crime fiction more on the gritty than cosy side this book is for you.

Would I Recommend?

Yes, Rachel Lynch does a wonderful job of combining the dark underworld of drugs, prostitution and trafficking with the picturesque setting of the Lake District. The settings are described in detail, so while it’s an area I’m not familiar with I’m sure anyone who knows the Lake District will be able to picture the scene clearly. I may now know more about Darren’s gut than I ever needed to know Dark Game is a wonderful introduction to a new series. One that I will be eagerly following waiting for the next instalment.

Want to buy it?

   

As always if you’ve read the book let me know what you thought! If you’ve not read it yet will my review convince you to pick it up? and don’t forget to check out the other people on the tour