Dead Gone
""Luca Veste hits the ground running with this impressive debut..." "
Synopsis:
A serial killer is stalking the streets of Liverpool, gruesomely murdering victims as part of a series of infamous, unethical and deadly psychological experiments.
When it becomes apparent that each victim has ties to the City of Liverpool University, DI David Murphy and DS Laura Rossi realise they're chasing a killer unlike any they've hunted before – one who doesn't just want their bodies, but wants their minds.
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Review:
Luca Veste hits the ground running with this impressive debut which puts a new twist on the serial killer sub-genre of crime fiction. I particularly enjoyed the taunting letters to DI Murphy, which dropped hints at the killer's motivation. Murphy was well drawn, although I think that perhaps some of his back story could have been kept for future novels as Veste has dealt him a terrible hand. However he is still a strong and convincing lead ably supported by Rossi and the lovelorn Rob. The killer is suitably odious but of all the characters, I found myself most drawn to Murphy's best friend Jess. The plot is constructed with a lot more panache than usually found in a debut novel, and the pace was a steady drumbeat rising to a crescendo as the final pages were encountered. Never having read a novel set in Liverpool, it was nice to encounter a new city and meet the natives of a fascinating city. All in all, 'Dead Gone' is a fine debut which marks the introduction of an author who is well on his way to becoming a must-read.