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_onemorechapter_ 's review for:
Lethal Vengeance
by Robert Bryndza
adventurous
challenging
dark
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
💭Well, well, well… just when I thought this series was spiraling into mediocrity, "Lethal Vengeance" comes in swinging and reminds me why I stuck around in the first place. After the last two or three books (which, let’s be real, were a struggle), this installment finally brings Erika Foster back to form. And dare I say it? I actually liked her in this book. She wasn’t irritating, insufferable, or making me want to throw my Kindle across the room—huge win.
The story kicks off four and a half years after the last book, and we see Erika investigating the brutal murder of a young woman. But, as always, nothing is ever simple in her world. This case cracks open a horrifying look into the corrupt side of the top brass and just how far people in power will go to cover their tracks—even if it means threatening their own. And then there's the utterly bleak, gut-wrenching reality of foster care and what happens to the kids who fall through the cracks. Some parts of this book left me genuinely horrified.
🔎The Case:
Erika is supposed to be enjoying a nice, quiet dinner with her partner, but fate (and murder) clearly have other plans. A high-profile politician, Neville Lomas, is found dead in his apartment—naked, hog-tied, and very much not alive. The higher-ups at the Met are quick to dismiss it as natural causes (sure, Jan 🙄), but when a famous footballer and a casting director turn up dead in eerily similar circumstances, it’s impossible to ignore the truth: a serial killer is at work.
Things take an even weirder turn when CCTV footage reveals five female suspects—who all look exactly the same(hitch in the matrix girl). Who are they? How are they tied to the victims? And just how far are the top brass willing to go to keep the truth buried? As Erika digs deeper, she finds herself going head-to-head with an elusive sex worker who knows way too much, and let’s just say—powerful men do not like their dirty laundry aired.
💥What Worked for Me:
✔️ Erika was back to being her—relentless, determined, and (for once) not grating on my nerves.
✔️ The plot was twisty, dark, and full of political corruption and cover-ups. The foster care angle? Absolutely gut-wrenching.
✔️ Annabelle’s POV was so compelling—cold, calculated, and driven by revenge. Every chapter from her perspective had me hooked.
✔️ Erika’s bond with Tom (Igor’s son) was a wholesome break from all the murder and mayhem. Loved seeing this softer side of her.
💀What Didn’t Work:
❌ Marsh remains the most useless character in this series. Man’s got the backbone of a soggy noodle.
❌ The open ending had me screaming. The Annabelle case? That mysterious grey man?? Bryndza, you *better* be working on book 9 right now.
Overall, If you’ve been feeling meh about the last few Erika Foster books (same, bestie), let me tell you—Lethal Vengeance is the redemption arc we needed. This book brings back everything that made the series great: a chilling murder case, a relentless investigation, and Erika actually being likable again.
This book was a massive step up from the last few installments, and I’m so relieved the series is getting its groove back. If the next book keeps up this momentum, I might just become an Erika Foster stan again.
𝐏.𝐒 This is the highest I’ve rated a book in this series, and that’s saying something.
𝐏.𝐏.𝐒 If Erika can stay this version of herself, I might just stick around for the long haul. But seriously, I need book 9 yesterday.
⚠️If you’re new to the series, I’d say start from the beginning to appreciate Erika’s journey (even if some books are a bit rocky). And if, like me, you were close to giving up on this series—give this one a chance. It might just pull you back in.
🔸𝑴𝒚 𝑹𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
🔸𝑮𝒆𝒏𝒓𝒆:Thriller, Mystery, Fiction, Police procedural
🔸𝑺𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔: Detective Erika Foster (Book 8)
🔸I’d 𝑹𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒅 this to: 🔍 Fans of dark, twisty police procedurals with political corruption and cover-ups.
🕵️♀️ Readers who enjoy a detective that won’t back down—even when her own job (and life) is on the line.
📖 Anyone who loves a fast-paced, binge-worthy thriller with multiple POVs and morally grey characters.
The story kicks off four and a half years after the last book, and we see Erika investigating the brutal murder of a young woman. But, as always, nothing is ever simple in her world. This case cracks open a horrifying look into the corrupt side of the top brass and just how far people in power will go to cover their tracks—even if it means threatening their own. And then there's the utterly bleak, gut-wrenching reality of foster care and what happens to the kids who fall through the cracks. Some parts of this book left me genuinely horrified.
🔎The Case:
Erika is supposed to be enjoying a nice, quiet dinner with her partner, but fate (and murder) clearly have other plans. A high-profile politician, Neville Lomas, is found dead in his apartment—naked, hog-tied, and very much not alive. The higher-ups at the Met are quick to dismiss it as natural causes (sure, Jan 🙄), but when a famous footballer and a casting director turn up dead in eerily similar circumstances, it’s impossible to ignore the truth: a serial killer is at work.
Things take an even weirder turn when CCTV footage reveals five female suspects—who all look exactly the same(hitch in the matrix girl). Who are they? How are they tied to the victims? And just how far are the top brass willing to go to keep the truth buried? As Erika digs deeper, she finds herself going head-to-head with an elusive sex worker who knows way too much, and let’s just say—powerful men do not like their dirty laundry aired.
💥What Worked for Me:
✔️ Erika was back to being her—relentless, determined, and (for once) not grating on my nerves.
✔️ The plot was twisty, dark, and full of political corruption and cover-ups. The foster care angle? Absolutely gut-wrenching.
✔️ Annabelle’s POV was so compelling—cold, calculated, and driven by revenge. Every chapter from her perspective had me hooked.
✔️ Erika’s bond with Tom (Igor’s son) was a wholesome break from all the murder and mayhem. Loved seeing this softer side of her.
💀What Didn’t Work:
❌ Marsh remains the most useless character in this series. Man’s got the backbone of a soggy noodle.
❌ The open ending had me screaming. The Annabelle case? That mysterious grey man?? Bryndza, you *better* be working on book 9 right now.
Overall, If you’ve been feeling meh about the last few Erika Foster books (same, bestie), let me tell you—Lethal Vengeance is the redemption arc we needed. This book brings back everything that made the series great: a chilling murder case, a relentless investigation, and Erika actually being likable again.
This book was a massive step up from the last few installments, and I’m so relieved the series is getting its groove back. If the next book keeps up this momentum, I might just become an Erika Foster stan again.
𝐏.𝐒 This is the highest I’ve rated a book in this series, and that’s saying something.
𝐏.𝐏.𝐒 If Erika can stay this version of herself, I might just stick around for the long haul. But seriously, I need book 9 yesterday.
⚠️If you’re new to the series, I’d say start from the beginning to appreciate Erika’s journey (even if some books are a bit rocky). And if, like me, you were close to giving up on this series—give this one a chance. It might just pull you back in.
🔸𝑴𝒚 𝑹𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
🔸𝑮𝒆𝒏𝒓𝒆:Thriller, Mystery, Fiction, Police procedural
🔸𝑺𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔: Detective Erika Foster (Book 8)
🔸I’d 𝑹𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒅 this to: 🔍 Fans of dark, twisty police procedurals with political corruption and cover-ups.
🕵️♀️ Readers who enjoy a detective that won’t back down—even when her own job (and life) is on the line.
📖 Anyone who loves a fast-paced, binge-worthy thriller with multiple POVs and morally grey characters.