‘The Sweetheart Killer’ by N. J. Mackay

Published by Canelo,
18 April 2024.
ISBN: 978-1-80436489-5 (PB)

Stevie Gordon had a traumatic childhood; her mother was obsessed with cleanliness and would put bleach in her daughter’s food to rid of any “badness”. This led to the young girl being taken into care. She is a teacher now, but the effects of her troubled childhood are still clear. She has bouts of heavy drinking after which her mind is a blank and has regular sessions with a psychiatrist.

She thought a while back her world had turned around, things were getting better, she dated James and really loved him. Then he broke the relationship up and married Zoe. Recently Stevie has taken to stalking him and discovers he has a mistress. His wife knows nothing of this.

Meanwhile Detective Inspector Sebastian Locke and the Thamespark team are alerted to the brutal murder of a woman in a bluebell wood. She is identified as Hannah – James’ mistress. When she hears of it, Stevie is shocked. She is really worried as she knows she was in the same woods that night, but very drunk. Plus, she discovers blood on her dress and scratches on her arm with no knowledge of how they got there. In fact, a lot of the evening is a blank.

As D. I. Locke investigates, another similar murder comes to light, which happened some years ago and was never solved. James comes under suspicion as various clues point to him. To make matters worse his assault on a woman several years ago is also brought to light.

Stevie now has the tables turned on her, she is sure she is being followed. Is the emotional turmoil she is in making her imagine it, or is it for real? She doesn’t know which way to turn. Things then get even worse for her when someone who Stevie thought she could trust and confide in reveal their true colours. Her life is now in jeopardy.

When even another woman is murdered Seb and the team realise there is a serial killer at large. On interviewing James in depth, they now cannot be sure he is the person responsible. A very baffling case and when it is finally revealed all that the perpetrator has done, even the hardened police officers are taken aback.

Will they catch the monster responsible?

A revealing and harrowing story of how a traumatic childhood can have a devastating effect on a person’s adult life.

Another thoroughly absorbing police crime novel involving D. I. Sebastian Locke which I highly recommend and look forward to the next book which the author promises to be very personal.
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Reviewer: Tricia Chappell

NJ Mackay studied Performing Arts at the BRIT School, and it turned out she wasn’t very good at acting but quite liked writing scripts. She holds a BA (Hons) in English Literature and Drama and won a full scholarship for her MA in Journalism.

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.