London, SE15

DC Ruth Hunter, Book 4

By: Simon McCleave

Narrated by: Rachel Atkins

A murdered ex-soldier. A British Army conspiracy. Can DC Ruth Hunter and DC Lucy Henry uncover the killer's identity before there's yet another cover-up.

When ex-soldier Ashley Campbell is brutally murdered outside a Peckham nightclub, Ruth's first thought is that it is gang related. Yet, as the investigation progresses, it seems that the victim's time as a recruit at Cranleigh Barracks might hold the key to the true identity of the murderer. As Ruth and Lucy uncover a brutal culture of bullying, racism and sexual abuse at the barracks, it seems that several officers in the British Army will go to any lengths to protect their identity.

Can Ruth find enough evidence to bring the officers to justice? And what will she do when new evidence appears to suggest that CID should have been looking far closer to home for Ashley's killer?

©2021 Simon McCleave (P)2022 W F Howes

The stories deserve better characters.

Honestly, I have stuck with this series for the simple fact that the stories themselves are actually pretty good, and bonus point, they are free! That said I will not miss some of the characters, and in particular the dunderhead that is DC Lucy who seemingly has absolutely no common sense or judgment whatsoever and who, based on her actions, should have lost her job in the very first book. Frankly she’s an idiot and I wouldn’t give her a library card let alone a police warrant card.

The narration is excellent though.