#BlogTour #WillToLive #RachelAmphlett

Reputation is everything.

When a packed commuter train runs over a body on a stretch of track known to locals as “Suicide Mile”, it soon transpires that the man was a victim of a calculated murder. 

As the investigation evolves and a pattern of murders is uncovered, Detective Sergeant Kay Hunter realises the railway’s recent reputation may be the work of a brutal serial killer. 

With a backlog of cold cases to investigate and attempting to uncover who is behind a professional vendetta against her, Kay must keep one step ahead of both the killer and her own adversaries.

When a second murder takes place within a week of the first, she realises the killer’s timetable has changed, and she’s running out of time to stop him…

The opening chapter of this book is gripping. A woman, out on her own walking her dog one evening across the fields that her husband has already told her to avoid....with a torch that is running out of battery and no mobile phone........ Well, you just wouldn't would you?!

Amphlett grabbed my attention straight away. There's a satisfying level of detail about the character- who we know will only be minor, their job is to lead us to the main event- but it felt good to be reading another of Amphlett's thrillers. There is enough tension and suggestion in the narrative to realise that we are about to witness something we'd rather not and that a gripping crime story is about to unveil.

The tension captured in the opening section is immense and the murder that takes place is horrific. Although the scene at the beginning of the book is quite traditional in that it employs all the key ingredients of a thriller, the book does become quite graphic, violent and gory so be prepared! At times the details are pretty difficult to read and after the first murder is described there is no doubt that this case is going to be shocking and violent. But it's impossible to turn away as once again I was reminded at how well Amphlett can structure her novels and how well she can judge pace. Before you have a chance to squirm, squeal and think about turning away, you will find yourself turning the pages, desperate to find out what happens next. Amphlett sets up all her scenes effectively through plenty of dialogue and action which keeps the writing fluent and moving forward. The reader moves along through the events swiftly, but without ever losing track of the key points or getting bogged down in complex and erroneous details. It is very well judged and even though I found this a quick read, I appreciate the skill that lies behind making that possible.

I really like Kay Hunter, the protagonist. She is an honest, intelligent woman who has a loving partner and although has her own difficulties in her private life, she is dedicated to solving the crimes she's working on. I enjoyed the dynamics between her and her colleagues - particularly the detective who seems to be doing all he can to thwart her chances of promotion. As with all great protagonists, Hunter has her complexities and demons but she is not dysfunctional; she is realistic and easy to imagine. Her relationship with her husband and their recent heartbreak over trying to start a family reveals her emotional side and Will To Live almost combines police procedural with family drama. I hope that we are learning more about Hunter because Amphlett is planning a long running series for her!

This is the second book in the Kay Hunter series and although it probably could be read as a stand alone, I would actually recommend that you started with Scared to Death. There is a continuing story arc involving events from book 1 and even though Amphlett fills in any gaps, it would enhance your enjoyment to have started the series at the beginning. There is a definite continuation and development of characters in Will to Live and I also enjoyed seeing more of some of the secondary characters.

To be honest, I'm not going to write a long review for Will To Live - there's no need as this book does exactly what it promises it will and is just a great read. This is a great police procedural, this is a great crime detective thriller. It is a well paced, well written, engaging novel with great dialogue and great characters. Basically this is a book for all fans of detective fiction and for anyone looking for a satisfying read. As I have mentioned, I have read Amphlett's first book in the Hunter series - Scared to Death - and this sequel did not disappoint. I have just found me a new series to follow and a new 'go to' crime writer for when I'm looking for an easy, exciting and engaging read!

Will To Live is published on 4th April 2017.

Buy a copy of Will To Live on Kobo or iTunes using the links below:

https://www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/will-to-live-a-detective-kay-hunter-novel

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/book/will-to-live-detective-kay/id1205404093?mt=11

Rachel Amphlett




Rachel Amphlett is the bestselling author of the Dan Taylor espionage novels and the new Detective Kay Hunter series, as well as a number of standalone crime thrillers.

Originally from the UK and currently based in Brisbane, Australia, Rachel’s novels appeal to a worldwide audience, and have been compared to Robert Ludlum, Lee Child and Michael Crichton. 

She is a member of International Thriller Writers and the Crime Writers Association, with the Italian foreign rights for her debut novel, White Gold, being sold to Fanucci Editore's TIMECrime imprint in 2014, and the first four books in the Dan Taylor espionage series contracted to Germany’s Luzifer Verlag in 2017.

An advocate for knowledge within the publishing industry, Rachel is always happy to share her experiences to a wider audience through her blogging and speaking engagements.

www.rachelamphlett.com

@RachelAmphlett

To find out more about me, my recommendations and reviews please check out bibliomaniacuk.co.uk or follow me on Twitter @KatherineSunde3