Review: The Thames Path Killer (Detective Rob Miller Mysteries Book 1) by Biba Pearce

  

Print Length: TBA

Publisher: Joffe Books (June 2, 2021)

From Goodreads.com:  A deranged serial killer. An ambitious young detective. A case that could destroy everything he holds dear.

When a young woman is found raped and strangled along the Thames River path, it looks like a personal vendetta by an enraged ex-lover. Then two more women die in the same manner and it becomes clear that a deranged serial killer is on the loose. All three women were engaged to be married. Could this be the link between them?

The case is assigned to DI Rob Miller, a young, ambitious detective, whose job it is to catch the killer before any more women are murdered. Rob throws himself into the investigation to the detriment of his own fiancé who is planning their wedding. When Rob begins to hone in on the killer, his fiancé disappears, and Rob knows it's only a matter of time before the killer makes this personal.

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My Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

DISCLAIMER #1:  I feel it is important to mention that this book is a completely revised version of The Surrey Stalker which was published in October of 2020 under the pen name B.L. Pearce. While this wasn't an issue for me having not read the prior version, I don't want any of my followers who may have read it to be caught off-guard. 

That being said, this was your typical police procedural novel masquerading under the disguise of "suspense" or "thriller" novel. What I mean by this is that while there are some aspects that would classify this as either a suspense or a thriller novel (as we do get a glimpse inside the head of our killer throughout the book), most of the time we follow DI Miller and his team (and then later DI Miller and DCI Maguire) as they chase down leads, pursue dead ends and otherwise bang their heads against a figurative wall. Meaning that while most of this novel is exactly the sort of mundane behaviors you expect from police officers working an active case, there are just enough leads and action to keep you invested in this story from beginning to end.  

I also enjoyed not knowing exactly who the killer was until later in the story, even though we got glimpses into his head as he stalked his victims and completed his heinous acts. 

But with all good things, usually negative things do follow and this story was no exception. First off I found Yvonne to be a hard character to like. She was in an established relationship with a police officer for two years (I believe it was said although they had only been engaged a shorter time), and yet suddenly it was a problem? Even when women her own age were being raped and murdered she cared that he wasn't home? And Rob when she decides to move out doesn't bother to clue her in to the fact that the first murdered girl wasn't the only one? And not only that, but they were all recently engaged? Perhaps had he had the foresight to explain even that much to her she would have agreed to be more aware of her surroundings? 

I also had some difficulty believing that a seasoned officer would go stumbling through the woods, heedless of the danger he might possibly be placing a victim in only to rush at the suspect (and then to do what he did? It was understandable to an extent, but I wish the author had found another way to wrap things up). 

However, I noticed there were more books published in this series under their original titles, and I would continue on with this series if the author and publishing company decide to give those novels an overhaul as well. 

DISCLAIMER #2: I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.

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