Nine Elms by Robert Bryndza 9th January

I really enjoyed this book. From the shock beginning, I was hooked by Kate and her terrible realisation that the murderer she is seeking is right under her nose. The so called ‘Nine Elms Murderer’ is named after the place he dumped the first girl he raped and killed, but there are many more. Kate and her boss Peter are secretly having an affair while desperately trying to find this murderer before he kills again. The murderer ties up his victims with a distinctive ‘monkey knot’. It’s on Kate’s mind this particular night as she closes the door on her boss and settles in at home. Then she notices she still has his keys and there, on his keyring, is a very distinctive little knot. While her mind is racing there is a knock on the door and she has to decide whether to let him in. 

I bought into Kate’s world immediately. We meet her as she’s immersed in the horror of a terrible murder case, and now has to face whether she has been sleeping with the man capable of this violence. When the story moves to the present day, that old case is still very much part of her personal life. She credits her new job working in the Criminology department of a university with saving her life and she certainly seems to have control over her demons. Although she is apart from those she cares about, her job and the home that comes with it overlooking the sea, have brought peace into her life. She is two years sober and lives next door to her sponsor. However, will she be able to stay on an even keel when another case comes her way? 

Kate is pulled back into the Nine Elms case when a copycat starts to emerge. I really enjoyed getting into the case with Kate and her assistant. I did find it strange that a university lecturer would get the access to crime scenes that she does, but this is a minor quibble and easy to set aside when you’re hooked. She is dogged at finding evidence and very observant for those tiny clues that crack a case. I was interested in her personal struggles too, especially around her son and her concerns about his future. The crime scenes were gory but fascinating and I enjoyed getting into the psychology of both Nine Elms murderers, particularly Peter’s odd relationship with his mother. I had already enjoyed the author’s Erika Foster novels and I was glad that this is the first in a series. I look forward to seeing where Kate goes next.