‘The Missing Woman’ by Jodie Lawrance

Published by Joffe Books,
18 April 2023.
ISBN 978-1-80405-754-4 PB)

The prologue describes a man being thrown from a moving train. He is later identified as an author who wrote a book all about “The Button Killer”, in which he claimed the man serving time for the murders is innocent.

Detective Sergeant Helen Carter has grim memories of the Button Killer, her father Detective Richard Carter, was responsible for putting away Mark Lucas for committing the crimes. He put everything into proving Landis’ guilt and it very nearly tore her family apart.

Then a report comes in of a murder at the address of  an Ella White. Helen and Detective Constable Randall arrive at her maisonette, but there is no sign of her. However, a scenes of crime officer finds traces of blood and evidence of someone having cleaned up.

A box is found containing thirty-year-old newspaper cuttings with a picture of Helen’s father under headlines “Button Killer Still At Large”.  Records reveal Ella had complained of being stalked and she had changed addresses many times.

News then comes in of a woman living opposite Helen being murdered, a button had been cut off of her cardigan. There is evidence of someone having spied on Helen’s flat from the neighbour’s window. When she was a child around the time of the button murders, a neighbour of Helen’s family had been killed by Landis. Someone seems to be giving Helen a message – is the real killer behind bars? Also, worryingly, where is Ella?

A campaign is started to free Landis, much to the concern of the police. Then another woman goes missing. She is discovered later, murdered, and with a button lodged in her throat, something the Button Murderer used to do to his victims. Everyone is now really concerned. Was the wrong man imprisoned, or is there a very thorough copycat killer at large?

A chill goes down Helen’s spine when the body of a taxi driver is found, and a button is found near his abandoned taxi. This is exactly the same as happened all those years ago. What is going on? Could her father really have got it all so wrong? Plus, where is Ella?

How many more murders will there be before Helen and the team can solve these horrendous crimes? This is one of the most complicated cases they have ever had to investigate.

Another brilliantly gripping thriller fearturing Detective Helen Carter, full of twists and turns right to the very end. Highly recommended.
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Reviewer: Tricia Chappell

Jodie Lawrance graduated from Manchester Metropolitan University in 2018 with an MA in Creative Writing. When not writing, she is also an actress and has appeared in a variety of television, stage and film.

Tricia Chappell.  I have a great love of books and reading, especially crime and thrillers. I play the occasional game of golf (when I am not reading). My great love is cruising especially to far flung places, when there are long days at sea for plenty more reading! I am really enjoying reviewing books and have found lots of great new authors.