Title: BLACK REED BAY
Author: Rod Reynolds
ISBN: 9781913193676
Publisher: Orenda Books
Pages: 317
Source: Review copy from the publisher
Tour Organised by Random Things Tours
When a young woman makes a distressing middle-of-the-night call to 911, apparently running for her life in a quiet, exclusive beachside neighbourhood, miles from her home, everything suggests a domestic incident.
Except no one has seen her since, and something doesn’t sit right with the officers at Hampstead County PD. With multiple suspects and witnesses throwing up startling inconsistencies, and interference from the top threatening the integrity of the investigation, lead detective Casey Wray is thrust into an increasingly puzzling case that looks like it can have only one ending.
And then the first body appears, and Casey’s investigation plunges her into a darkness she could never have imagined…
Black Reed Bay introduces a breathtaking, powerful and addictive new series, fronted by the fantastic Detective Casey Wray, from the CWA-nominated author of Blood Red City and The Dark Inside.
Official Summary
Sit back and brace yourself – this book will blow your mind! Black Reed Bay is a breathtaking crime novel that will keep you in the dark while your head spins trying to figure out who the guilty party is. Filled with everything you would expect of a crime novel, murder, a missing person, a police officer on the chase while dealing with the possibility of corrupt co-workers and office politics. If you enjoy the Harry Bosch series – you will love this book.
Rod Reynolds tells a detailed story that leaves the reader front and centre in the police investigation. You are left feeling part of the chase as Casey Wray struggles to find a missing person. This book is full of detail dropping bits of evidence like breadcrumbs from page to page while never allowing you to guess what the ending will reveal. This is a book that you will have to read to the very last page before you have a complete picture of what happened.
When a young woman makes a call to 911 during the early hours, claiming someone is going to kill her the operator tries to keep on the line. However, her phone goes dead, and no one has seen or heard from her since.
Casey Wray and her partner Cullen pick up the case the next morning. Soon they discover something is not right. When other bodies are found close to where the young woman was last seen, Casey loses faith that the woman is still alive. Despite threats to herself, Casey is determined to find out what happened to give the family answers and hopefully closure. The big question is will Casey find this woman dead or alive?
This was not a long book, but the detailed included made it feel like a long read. I found myself drawn into the investigation, eager to discover the truth while feeling as exhausted as Casey did along the way. Constantly unsure and mistrusting everyone along the way.
Casey Wray is a brilliant character and I look forward to reading more about her. The author did a wonderful job allowing the reader to experience what Casey what going through throughout the story. At times I found myself feeling as if I have worked through the night along with Casey, leaving me bone tired. Her frustration at ever dead-end forced me to keep reading, know eventually the pieces had to fall into place.
This is a gripping read with a surprising ending. I enjoyed reading this book and I look forward to spending more time with this character.
Crime fans who enjoyed the Harry Bosch series will find themselves loving this book as it has similar investigation detail and office politics that will leave you eager for more.
Also by Rod Reynolds -Blood Red City
A witness but no victim. A crime but no crime scene…
When crusading journalist Lydia Wright is sent a video of an apparent murder on a London train, she thinks she’s found the story to revive her career. But she can’t find a victim, much less the killers, and the only witness has disappeared. Wary she’s fallen for fake news, she begins to doubt her instincts – until a sinister call suggests that she’s not the only one interested in the crime.
Michael Stringer deals in information – and doesn’t care which side of the law he finds himself on. But the murder on the train has left him exposed, and now he’ll stop at nothing to discover what Lydia knows.
When their paths collide, Lydia finds the story leads through a nightmare world, where money, power and politics intersect … and information is the only thing more dangerous than a bullet.
A nerve-shattering and brutally realistic thriller, Blood Red City bursts with energy and grit from the opening page, twisting and feinting to a superb, unexpected ending that will leave you breathless.
About The Author
Author bio from the publisher
Rod Reynolds is the author of four novels, including the Charlie Yates series. His 2015 debut, The Dark Inside, was longlisted for the CWA New Blood Dagger, and was followed by Black Night Falling (2016) and Cold Desert Sky (2018); the Guardian has called the books ‘pitch-perfect American noir ’. A lifelong Londoner, Rod’s first novel set in his hometown, entitled Blood Red City, was published by Orenda Books in 2020.
Rod previously worked in advertising as a media buyer and holds an MA in novel writing from City University London. He lives with his wife and family and spends most of his time trying to keep up with his two young daughters.
Thank you Anne Cater from Random Things Tours for including me in this blog tour. This was a breathtaking read, full of surprises that made it hard to put down. Have you read any of Rod Reynold’s books? Which is your favourite? Leave a comment below.
Thanking you for spending time with me again, I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did. Until next time… Happy Reading!
Sounds like a great read!
Yep, a good one!
Huge thanks for the blog tour support. I loved this book!
Always a pleasure.