A review by karteabooks
A Cut for a Cut by Carol Wyer

emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated

5.0

 

This is book two in the DI Kate Young series, and I am just about to start book three as I am so invested in DI Young and the need to find out more… This can be read as a standalone, as you are given a few hints about Kate’s past and why she is grieving, but I suggest you read the first novel, An Eye for and Eye first, as this book really sets the scene for this one and makes the reading of this so more relatable. 

I love a good police procedural crime thriller, and this ticks all the right boxes and some! ‘You’re mine, forever.’ Three words that prompt DI Kate Young into what she and her team do best, albeit with initially very little to go on, continuing to fight for justice. Kate is still grieving and with much more than the latest case to deal with, she really is running on adrenaline and is understandably distraught when she discovers her latest case is very close to home. 

Yet again, I was hooked from the start, and I read this in 2 days. Carol writes so brilliantly, and her writing style is gritty but also very personable and I really feel invested in Kate and like I know her very well. Some difficult subjects (rape, violence and grief) were so compassionately and thoughtfully written. 

This was a fast-paced rollercoaster ride that kept me completely enthralled and all too quickly I found myself reading the last page and I had to sit completely still for several minutes to comprehend what had happened. I then very quickly grabbed book 3 and immersed myself back into DI Kate Young’s world as I need to find out…. 

I highly recommend this book and the complete DI Kate Young series to everyone, but in particular fans of police procedural and gritty, real life crime fiction.