Title: THE PUPPET MASTER – Major Crimes #03
Author: Sam Holland
ISBN: 9780008615086
Publisher: Harper Collins
Pages: 400
Source: Private Copy
He watches your every move…
We’ve all experienced it. That creeping sensation of eyes on your back, the faint echo of footsteps following yours.
He controls you…
Across the country, a madman is carefully choosing his victims. Once he has you in his sights, he won’t let go.
He will make you pay…
You think you’re in control of your own life? Think again. Because The Puppet Master is coming for you, and he won’t stop until you’re dead…
Official Summary
18 June 2025
Dark, chilling, and utterly addictive—The Puppet Master had me hooked from the very first chapter. Sam Holland delivers a masterclass in psychological tension with this thriller that creeps under your skin and stays there.
Right from the eerie opening, the book sets a tone of paranoia and unease. We’ve all felt that unnerving sense of being watched, but Holland takes that common fear and cranks it up to terrifying heights. The killer in this story is no ordinary villain—he’s methodical, calculating, and enjoys pulling the strings from the shadows. It’s not just about physical control—it’s about psychological domination. And that’s what makes it so compelling.
The pacing is perfect, building tension gradually while still offering enough action and revelation to keep the pages turning late into the night. The chapters are sharp and tense, often ending in just the right kind of cliffhanger to make you say, “Just one more…”
What really stood out to me was how disturbingly real this book felt. The characters felt authentic in their fear and confusion, and the emotional toll of the Puppet Master’s games is vividly portrayed. There’s a sense of helplessness woven through the narrative that had me feeling just as unsettled as the victims.
This isn’t a book for the faint-hearted—it’s intense, gritty, and leans into the darkness of human psychology. But if you enjoy thrillers that push boundaries and keep you guessing, The Puppet Master is a must-read. Sam Holland has a real talent for crafting suspense and villainy that feels disturbingly plausible.
It left me thinking twice about who might be watching—and that, to me, is the mark of an excellent psychological thriller.
Books in the series:
BOOK ONE: THE ECHO MAN
The murders have begun…
Across England, a string of murders is taking place. Each different in method, but each horrifying and brutal.
But the killer is just getting started…
Jess Ambrose is plunged into the investigation when her house is set ablaze. With her husband dead and the police pointing at her, she runs. Her only hope is disgraced detective Nate Griffin, who is convinced Jess is innocent.
And he’s going to shock the world…
Soon, Jess and Griffin discover the unthinkable; this murderer is copying the world’s most notorious serial killers. And now, imitation isn’t enough. The killer dubbed The Echo Man is ready to create his own masterpiece, and it will be more terrifying than anything that has come before…
BOOK TWO: THE TWENTY
A shocking crime scene…
DCI Adam Bishop has never seen anything like it. Five murder victims – all with numbers written above. And the spray-painted daubs reveal a horrific truth: the killer is counting down…
A case that twists and turns…
When Dr Romilly Cole learns of the murders, they trigger memories of a traumatic past she has tried hard to forget. But getting involved with the case is a bad idea. She and Bishop have history – and working together could never end well.
A race against time to stop a killer…
Adam and Romilly soon realise the truth lies in a decades-old case, and only Romilly holds the key. But they must act quickly because with every passing day, there are more victims. And as the numbers edge toward zero, the murders get closer to home…
BOOK FOUR: THE COUNTDOWN KILLER
A MAN MURDERED, LIVE ON CAMERA
When a DVD is delivered in the dead of night, DCI Cara Elliott hits play on a horrifying showreel of violence… This is death, on demand.
A KILLER COUNTING DOWN
Avid viewers are paying for the killings, with twisted specifications. A request, an abduction, a murder. And always in a forty-eight-hour pattern.
A MISSING DETECTIVE
But when the killer finds out they’re being investigated, they reveal their next target. In forty-eight hours, a police officer will be the one in front of the camera. The hunters have become the hunted, and the clock is ticking…
About the Author
Author bio from the author’s site
Having always been fascinated with the dark and macabre, Sam Holland exploded onto the crime thriller world in 2022 with her debut novel, The Echo Man, shocking and enthralling readers and reviewers alike with its sinister depiction of a serial killer copying notorious real-life murderers of the past. The Twenty followed the year after, garnering reviews such as ‘riveting reading… packed with suspense’ from the Daily Mail and ‘smart and brooding’ from bestselling author, AJ Finn.
Her books have been published in 15 countries worldwide, including the US, Germany and the Netherlands, where she became the first author to win the Bronze Bat for her debut and the Silver Bat for best thriller in consecutive years at the Nederland’s Thriller festival. She also writes as Louisa Scarr
I read book four in this series first, not a good idea! I would suggest reading the books in order. However, despite reading them out of order, I loved this series and cannot wait to see what comes next. Have you been following the series? Which is your favourite book? I would love to hear from you. I am working on a Major Crimes wrap-up post and will share that with you soon. Until next time…. Happy Reading!
