‘A shadow moved between her and the sun, and a pang of relief went through her. Help was on the way.’

Murder can be brutal. It can be banal. But in DCI Geldard’s Norfolk, a ten year old murder is top of Greg’s priority list, until a rash of unsolved disappearances becomes something more sinister.

What’s it about?

When individual, unconnected cyclists start vanishing mid-cycle, DI Chris Matthews thinks something is very wrong. Her suspicions are soon confirmed by a body, and the force start trying to identify who might be targeting cyclists.

Meanwhile, Chris is recovering from the events of ‘Buried in the Past’, the seventh book featuring these characters, and Greg is still investigating a related crime.

What’s it like?

Briskly paced, thoroughly focused on police procedure and entirely convincing, this is a crime thriller that feels wonderfully realistic whilst keeping the tension high.

Although Peck clearly anticipates readers being invested long term in her characters (in the blurb, the personal circumstances of the police officers has top billing, followed by the current case being investigated!) but the personal blends effectively with the professional and this can be read as a standalone.

I really enjoyed the focus on procedures and the way Peck integrates telling details into the narrative. I found the use of police dogs particularly interesting and also the way the CPS works.

Final thoughts

This is the second book I have read in this series now and it has helped me to enjoy the story more, less because of familiarity with the characters, who are quite straightforward, but more because familiarity with the author’s style helped me feel comfortable with the way investigations are more ongoing than in the majority of crime novels. Despite this overlapping approach, ‘Spinning into the Dark’ is effective as a standalone.

I have not yet found a moment to read the earlier entries in this series, but absolutely intend to do so and look forward to book nine!

Many thanks to the author and Anne Cater’s Random Things Tours for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review and a spot on the blog tour.
‘Buried in the Past’,
Heather Peck,
2025, Ormesby Publishing, paperback

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