A Wash of Black by Chris McDonald

IT'S NOT LIFE THAT IMITATES ART. IT'S DEATH.

Anna Symons. Famous. Talented. Dead.
The body of a famous actress is found mutilated on an ice rink in Manchester, recreating a scene from a blockbuster film she starred in years ago.
DI Erika Piper, having only recently returned to work after suffering a near-fatal attack herself, finds she must once again prove her worth as the hunt for the media-dubbed ‘Blood Ice Killer’ intensifies.
But when another body is found and, this time, the killer issues a personal threat, Erika must do more than put aside her demons to crack the case, or suffer the deadly consequences.

If you like Ian Rankin, Val McDermid and Cara Hunter, you will love this.

Review.

Well, isn’t this a cracker of a debut - deliciously complex and packs the punches from the get go! You would never believe that this is a debut novel as the narrative is divine, the characters multi-layered and his story telling is superb.

We meet DI Erika Piper on her first day back at work after being off for an extended period and her first case back involves this weird and complex case. I don’t think I have ever read a book where the murder takes place on a ice rink and such a twisted death - the victim is an actress and the murder scene comes from one of her movies!

This is a killer start to a new series as DI Erika Piper is a great character - there is the usual back story etc but it’s the little bits like not ‘ratting’ on her superior being to blame for certain past actions, allowing new team members and old colleagues to come round to making their own minds up about her. Its her strength that got me - and I am definitely looking forward to seeing how she and the rest of her team develops throughout the series. Yes, we already know there is going to be a follow up to this book - see my Q&A with Chris to find out the title.

But, it is the delicate touch of the writing that makes this book. The way Chris spins his characters is delightful, it entices you into the narrative and then you are unable to escape. You want to, no need to find out more, until you realise it is 2am and you haven’t moved in hours!

Rafflecopter Giveaway:

 

The prize is a signed Hardback edition of A Wash of Black, along with a Go Away I’m Reading Tote Bag and a Luxury Bookmark. 

The giveaway runs from 28th Jan to 11th Feb, and we (Red Dog Press) will announce the randomly chosen winner on the evening of the 11th Feb (GMT)

Routes to entry are all on the giveaway link, but basically, sign up to Red Dog Press Reader’s Club (which also gets you discounts in our store, a free eBook, and latest news from us), following us on twitter. Entrants who tweet our promo tweet get two bonus entries.

Link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/share-code/YjU5MzljNjFlYTUzNDc2MTg3MzU5ZGUxYTgwMDU2OjI=/?

Thank you to Red Dog Press for asking me on this tour, providing me with a copy of the book and allowing me to have two stops on the tour!