Read in July Sarah Flint Edition

Treating myself to a Kindle Fire was honestly one of the best things I have ever done. I am discovering so many new series' as they are cheaper and more portable. It also means I don't have to wait for the next book to be delivered. I can dive straight in.

I have recently become hooked on the Charlie Stafford series by Sarah Flint. 

If you love Angela Marsons or M.J Arlidge then you need to check her out because I cannot get enough. It's honestly everything I look for in a crime series. Gritty and slightly gruesome murders, loveable characters, fast-paced and unputdownable. There are currently 4 books in the series but I really hope there will be more.

Mummy’s Favourite (#1)

A mother and her favourite child are buried in the woods. One is dead and one is alive. DC Charlie Stafford is your standard female copper with a tragic backstory. She works alongside DI Hunter to try and crack the case of missing mothers & their children. All the mothers have left behind other children which makes running away seem like an unlikely scenario. They have a few suspects but nothing really adds up.

This book was both heartbreaking and gripping. The tension really builds towards the end. Will Charlie find the latest mother and her child in time? I felt so many emotions and could not put this book down. I only guessed who the bad guy was when it was majorly hinted at near the end. There are flashbacks to the bad guy so you get to learn the motive as the story progresses, which is both disturbing and tragic.

This was my introduction to Sarah Flint and it made me go out and buy the next 2 books in the series immediately. I love Charlie's character and it is so lovely seeing her relationship with DI Hunter, who acts as a kind of father figure. The secondary characters are all pretty loveable as well and I am just in love with this team.

Trophy Taker (#2)

Charlie and her team are busy investigating a spate of vicious racist attacks when a serial killer strikes. The killer is ripping out the hearts of their victims only to throw it away and keep a finger. Nothing seems to link the victims but they keep piling up.

I loved that we got to see more of the team and I fell in love with them even more. They all just interact so well. I also love Charlie so much. She can be a serious police officer but also has a great sense of humour. I think Ben may be my new favourite character though.

The two cases worked well alongside each other and were both chilling. You get a couple of chapters from both bad guys point of views to add to the tension. Pretty much everyone that was questioned seemed to be a tad suspicious so I had no clue as to who the actual bad guy was. It definitely kept me guessing. The ending was explosive and left me ready for more.

Liar Liar (#3)

Two police officers are brutally murdered in very different ways with the only link between them being a single red rose left at the scene. Charlie and Hunter have to try and solve the case before more of their own are killed. Unfortunately, they are both having to go through an internal review due to a previous case, which adds to their stress.

The opening chapter kicks off the book with the first murder and the tension just builds from there. The motive behind the murders was interesting and definitely kept me guessing for a while. In usual Sarah Flint style, the tension all comes to a head in the final chapters with another explosive ending. I honestly wasn’t sure how it was going to end.

Liar Liar also covers PTSD and how it affects the person and their relationships. Ben and Charlie are probably my favourite characters. Liar Liar can be read as a stand alone but their relationship makes more sense if you read them in order.

Broken Dolls* (#4)

The body of a premature baby is found tossed out with the rubbish. Whilst DC Charlie Stafford and DI Hunter try and work out where she came from and where the mother is, the beaten body of a well-known prostitute, Redz, is found. These cases take the police into the dark world of the sex and drugs trade.

I absolutely adore Charlie and Hunters characters but every character is so well written. The story switches between the points of views of Charlie and Caz, a prostitute who shared a pimp with Redz. There are 2 murders running alongside each other but they work well together and are easy to keep straight.

The story was pretty intense with a lot of detail on sex trafficking and prostitution along with drug use. Bear that in mind if you are triggered by abuse, rape or drug use. It definitely kept me hooked and the ending was not what I expected. I pretty much suspected everyone except the actual person. It was dark and gritty and I need more. I also need more of Charlie and Ben in my life.

It’s slightly slower paced than the other books in the series which is why it isn’t my favourite out of the 4. However I still thoroughly enjoyed it and cannot wait for more.

What are your favourite crime series?

Beth...x

* I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. It does not affect my views and the opinions expressed in this review are independent and my own

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