Publisher's Description
After three years behind a desk, Inspector John Barton wonders if he’s still got what it takes.
An opportunity arises to return to Major Crimes, so he jumps at it, after all he’s been around the block a few times. When he and his team are called in to investigate an attempted murder which seems to be linked to the case of a missing child, Barton is immediately thrust back into the life of a detective – early mornings, late nights and endless pressure to get to the truth.
Then a man dies.
Something deadly is going on behind the high walls and imposing gates of the mansions in the sleepy village of Castor. The locals are keeping each other’s secrets and if Barton doesn’t find out why soon, the bodies will start mounting up.
The Village Killer knows who’s next, and the clock is ticking.
The book all Ross Greenwood fans have been waiting for - Barton is Back! Ross Greenwood returns to his bestselling series, perfect for fans of Mark Billingham and Ian Rankin.
My Thoughts
Crime thrillers tend to follow a familiar path. The investigating police officer or detective is troubled, monosyllabic or obsessive. There are several red herrings as to the perpetrator. There’s usually a pathologist who’s a bit of an oddball.
DI Barton smashes the stereotypes by being a genuinely normal and nice guy. He’s spent 3 years behind a desk and is pleased to move back to Major Crimes, where his friend Zander works.
A missing teenager whose mother seems very disengaged forms the basis of a novel that, as well as being a crime thriller, is a study of friendships in its many forms.
Unexplained deaths at a house in a wealthy area are found to be linked to a website similar to OnlyFans, and the missing girl and her mother are both frequent visitors to the house.
A Cracking Plot
It’s a cracking plot with contemporary themes. The problem of children who are forced to grow up too fast because of absent parents. What to do with neuro-diverse offenders who are likely to reoffend because there is nowhere for them to be homed or rehabilitated.
There’s lots of humour, particularly between Zander and Barton as they play tennis in unprepossessing outfits and make up humorous ditties about each other. There is kindness and empathy too, as Barton reaches out to the grieving pathologist whose wife has died.
Barton's rare gift as a detective is that he is intuitive and empathetic. He doesn’t just want to solve crimes, he wants to join dots and prevent mistakes from happening. He finds innovative solutions to help the troubled souls in this complex plot. Well done Ross Greenwood for finding a new way to present crime.
About the Author
Ross Greenwood has had an eclectic career, ranging from financial advisor to Prison officer. The advent of parenthood and the terrifying rise of Spice in prison led Ross to become a stay -at-home parent and a novelist.
Social Media Links
Facebook: @rossgreenwoodauthor
X: @greenwoodross
Instagram: @rossg555
Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/RossGreenwoodnews
Bookbub profile: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/ross-greenwood
Thanks to Rachel Gilbey ar Rachel's Random Resources and the publisher for an advance copy in return for a review.
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