Catherine Yaffe is a bestselling British crime author whose gripping thrillers have topped the Amazon charts multiple times. Her work is known for its psychological depth, twisty plots, and unforgettable characters—particularly strong, complex women like Dr Evelyn Shaw.
When she's not plotting fictional murders, she’s passionate about supporting new writers. She runs a local writing group dedicated to helping unpublished authors develop their stories, and delivers workshops on crime writing, storytelling, and overcoming creative blocks.
A regular speaker at festivals including CrimeFest, Bay Tales, and Bloody Scotland, she also gives talks to libraries and community groups like the Women’s Institute, where she shares her journey through writing, illness, and resilience. Each year, she co-hosts Murder in the Rhubarb Triangle in partnership with Wakefield Library, a lively crime event that attracts over 200 visitors.
Her stories often draw on her own experiences bringing authenticity and emotional grit to her work. When she’s not writing or speaking, she can usually be found with a strong cup of tea, plotting her next murder.
Well, as a gal with a love of crime/thriller, this definitely was right up my street! This is Book 4 of Dt Ziggy Thornes, but it can absolutely be read as a standalone, you may have a few questions of what happened in the previous books, but the author does touch on them in a way that adds to the characters/storyline. I haven't read the other 3, but I definitely will be going back to read them.
I loved the 80s theme of this in the first half of the book and how it was still woven into the latter part of the book, which is set in 2022. For those who love a continuously well paced thriller, this is the book for you. There was just something about it that kept me reading. I wanted to know what happened next!
It has twists, turns, suspense, and keeps you guessing... I doubted myself with one of the ones involved.. if you know you know! For you true crime/thriller lovers, add this to your tbr you won't be disappointed!
This book has 2 time lines. We start off by going back to the late 80s in the UK where the rave scene is booming as well as other illegal activities. This goes on for about half of the book where we follow a couple people who are in the rave business. One of them turns out to be an undercover cop and helps take down the biggest man in charge. When the story catches up to the present time where we left off from the last book. Detective Ziggy Thorne and his team where just involved in a café bomb explosion and the past from the late 80s starts to cross over to the current bomb explosion. Ziggy and his team must figure out if there is a new man at play or if its the same people from the past coming for revenge.
I really enjoyed this book. Reading about the rave scene from the 80s and how different the police force was in contrast to the present in this series was really interesting and refreshing to read. I was still second guessing myself right to the end on who was involved and what their roles were.
This is the fourth book in the series but could be read as a standalone. I read first three books in the series and absolutely loved her writing style and same goes with this one as well. I haven’t read that many books with 80’s setting and when I heard of it, I was really intrigued to find out and I definitely don’t regret doing that. I absolutely loved 80’s setting! The storyline was fast paced (just the right kind one!) and I wasn’t a slightest bit bored while reading it. As someone who loved true crime/thriller this book has kept me entertained and excited to find out what happens next! There many new characters introduced here who helped the story to be more interesting and engaging for the readers. I think anyone who likes true crime/thriller should read this book or series! It was really a good one!
I was born in the 80s and I still love the decade (although I was way too young to have been involved in the rave scene!). Combine that with a crime story and it's a winning combination for me.
The dual timeline with the characters then and as they are in more recent times works really well, as we gradually fill in the gaps about how they ended up where they are - and why.
I feel like these are characters I would like to see more of in a running series. I now knows a bit of their history, but I would love to find out more!
Thanks to the author, and Love Books Tours for the eARC of this book.
Catch me twice by Catherine YaffeBinge-worthy Crime Thrillers That Read Like True Crime. Book 4. I did enjoy this book. I did like the cover. Great story and plot. I am really enjoying this series. I did like Ziggy. Also, Nick Angela and Sadie. I couldn't put it down. On the edge of my seat. Twisty and gripping. I didn't see that coming. I was shocked. I really didn't like Semion. Garilich. Sergei. I did like how it was wrapped up in the end. I'm hoping there is more to come. 5*.
First book that I have read in this series & it’s a fantastic stand alone story but I now wish to read the other books in this series. It’s a twisted tale & it was confusing to start with but once I got into it, I couldn’t put it down & wanted to know how it ended. Loved this book
🌟arc review🌟 First book i read in the series. It does well as a stand-alone. I loved it so much in going back to read the other ones. im not too much of a thriller girlie, but i definitely enjoyed this one
In this fourth installment of Yaffe’s crime thriller series, we are met with quite a seedy bunch. Rave organisers mix with underworld gangsters who don’t care about the consequences of their actions. People die, young girls are trafficked, and the drugs flow a little too freely as the crime organizers push to sell their product. Little do they know, their circle has been infiltrated by undercover cops. This book reads like true crime. The characters are interesting to say the least. My only complaint is that the second half moves at a slower pace.
I am so glad I stumbled upon this indie author! This series holds a place in my heart for sure. This one was really a great read, so buckle up for this review.
** As always, I try to avoid any blatant spoilers, but due to the detail of this review there may be some small hints at the story line!! **
I didn’t start with the first book in this series (oopsies), but with the context and information provided, it wasn’t a problem at all! So it is perfect for those who, like me, pick a book up because it looks cool. This is the second book in the series I’ve read and it is the best one yet!
The way the author really breaks down each characters story without it being overwhelming is a gift. I’ve really come to love each character in their own way.
Being able to do this while still holding my attention the WHOLE TIME is something not many mystery thrillers can do. Most of the time you don’t hear about the backstories of characters like this, only the mystery/case at hand.
Lastly, I adored the two stories in one aspect. The entire beginning of the novel I was thinking, “where is Catherine going with this?”, but I got immersed in the story quickly and honestly was sad for a minute when we back to present day!
I would definitely recommend this to anyone who likes investigation dramas, thrillers and mysteries!
There are some moderately graphic scenes as well just to let you know.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
This is the fourth book in the DI 'Ziggy' Thornes Crime Thriller series and I have to admit that I've still not caught up on the rest of the series since reading book 3, When We Deceive, about a year ago.
The cases in these books are wholly self contained, so this makes them super easy to read as a standalone - but you know me, I love to read series' from the start so that I can follow the character development through the whole series story arc. Having read book 3 already though, I got into this book easily.
Recognising the exciting writing style, I was gripped by this book right from the start. I loved that this case centred around events set back in 1989 and the rave scene. This is the era of my youth and it brought back so many memories of going out with friends back then - minus all the drugs and crime, of course!!
Ziggy was back and just as brilliant a character as before - still just as flawed and morally grey, which I loved!
I loved how the timelines worked together, filling in the details of the past events and helping us to understand the relationships at play. The 'then and now' sections gave us some twists and turns along the way, before coming together in an exciting conclusion.
This was another fast paced read and I was hooked from start to finish. I can't wait to catch up on books 1&2 and also to see where book 5 might take us?
This is the first book By Catherine Skeet-Yaffe I have read and I am sure I will be delving into more . Very modern themes drugs, abuse partying are at the heart of the novel and I did not warm to the characters in the first half of the book . But the second half was incredible and at time I couldn't stop reading as I was trying to sort out the twists along with DI Ziggy Thornes and his police team. I read this as a stand alone book and maybe that may have contributed to my difficulty at the start , but there are a lot of characters to meet and some have very challenging personalities. But I am glad I stuck with it as it is a great read and will be enjoyed by anyone who enjoys a thriller with many twists and turns . Thanks go to the author for an ARC which I read as an e-copy , I will be looking to read more
CATCH ME TWICE - I missed the first three books of this series but it did not matter. The few slight references to the past were not actually needed. I throughly enjoyed the writing style, the dialog and the characters. The pace is steady and the story lines, set between 1989 and 2002, are interesting. It is an easy one-sitting read, which I enjoyed after just finishing a 560-page Clancy novel. Source: The author. 4*
THE WEB THEY WOVE - The story seemed to be written by novice in police procedures. The boss is always telling the coworkers what needs to be done instead of having their actions written into the story. It makes the police look dumb or the boss egotistical. The dialog did not feel right in many places. It got to a point I skipped to the last three chapters after reading the first forty pages. No improvement. 3*
I hadn't read the previous books in this series, but I didn't feel like I was missing anything vital. Yes, there are details about the personal lives of the team that have probably been explored previously, but the pivotal information was all contained within this book. I struggled getting into the book, as I was confused thinking from the blurb, that this was about someone that wasn't being mentioned. About 25% in, I clicked with what was going on, and when the story then jumps forward in time, it all becomes crystal clear. It was full of action and intensity, I raced through this in less than 24 hours, stopping only to sleep! I found the relationships between the team really interesting, and I think there's probably still a lot more to be developed, so I believe this series could have real longevity. I'd gladly read more by this author.
Told across 2 timelines; starting with the rave and drug scene of the 80’s and then the present which in this story is 2002. I couldn’t relate to the rave scenes as I was too young then but the writing allowed me to really get an idea of what it felt like.
This is actually book 4 in the DI Thornes (Ziggy) series but this book can definitely be read as a standalone. There is a crossover with characters however the story is completely new. The previous storylines are touched on so you get an idea of the characters progression as the series moves on. Full of action from the get go it’s easy to get lost in the story and before you know it hours have passed. If you enjoy a fast paced police procedural story then I would definitely recommend trying out this series.
This is book 4 in the DI 'Ziggy' Thorne series but the first one I have read. I feel it worked perfectly well as a standalone but will be going back to read the previous ones when I have time.
Catch Me Twice is a fast placed, duel timeline crime thriller which is packed with action from day one. It was full of twists, turns and suspense and I devoured it in two sittings.
I'm not old enough to remember the rave and drugs scene of the 1980s, and can't imagine having been part of it if I had. But this book did make it seem easy to have fallen into that world. I really felt for Kat and wanted to reach into the book and hug her.
I like how the storyline from 1989 then had echoes in the present day. It was really clever, and different to most books I've read.
This is book 4 DI Ziggy Thorne. The story is told over different timelines, it begins in Leeds Nov 2002. We are taken back to the Summer of 1989, where the Rave scene is in its infancy. Promoter Nikki Hastings along with help from Sean Bosworth are organising a rave in an abandoned warehouse in Leeds, when something happens. This leads to drugs, criminal gangs and unfortunate accidents. Fast forward to Leeds 1989, DI Ziggy Thorne and his team are a part of Operation Vale. How does this case end up with looking back to to an undercover op from 1989. It was well written and highly descriptive! The characters were believable. I highly recommend this book.
ARC Review ✨️ ☆UK:1989☆ Catch Me Twice is 100% my favorite story of the series! I loved the fact that it's based back in the 80s in the UK. During that time, the rave scene was the new craze. Not so shortly after, undercover cops begin hanging out at the raves and peeking around for anything illegal they might be doing. There was a very high level of suspense that started right at the very beginning of the book. I love the author's writing, but I think she did a wonderful job on this one. I was intrigued to know everything that was happening, and it was a very enjoyable reading experience!
I was gripped by this book from page one. It was action packed and had some twists that I was not expecting.
The story starts in the present, 2002, and then we are taken back to 1989. We are then brought back to the present which ends with tying everything together (trying not to drop any spoilers!)
I enjoyed getting to know the characters, especially Ziggy.
This is the fourth book in the DI Ziggy Thornes series but it read fine as a standalone.
This was my first Catherine Yaffe novel. The storyline was good, and the characters were interesting. I felt myself wanting to know what was happening to MCs. Where this fell short a bit for me, I felt there was a little too much detail in the in-between scenes. A lot of explaining the process of making tea or coffee, or ordering of sandwiches. It felt like unnecessary fodder. Overall, a good read.
Another fantastic book from Cat, this is number 4 in the series and they just keep getting better, so much so I can't wait to read number 5.
Full of twists and turns and high levels of suspense. You won't be able to put it down. It's so gripping and it's a completely believable storyline as well as having great and believable characters.
I loved Ziggy again in this one and his nonsense approach to police work.
This is the 4th book by this author, and her stories get better and better! I've enjoyed rejoining these characters, who are so well written and real. I loved the storyline and the twists and turns along the way. If you want a gritty, honest, realistic and exciting book to read, look no further. Amazing, five stars as always!
Catch me Twice did not disappoint. It was fast moving, and read like a true crime movie. There weren't any slow parts, but there are some surprising moments, and characters that I had a love hate relationship with (Kat) ones I just despised (Nikki and Russell) and as always I adore Ziggy. He gives me Will Trent vibes (great show btw)! Bring on book #5!
A big thank you to @haylingbookstorm and @cat_yaffe_author for giving me the opportunity of being on the ARC team!
A work of art. Beautifully written and so good. I enjoyed this book a lot. It was rather interesting and captivating. It was so well written that I was on the edge of my seat so to speak. The suspense was so good. I was constantly on edge and captivated. An absolute recommend, especially for anyone that enjoys suspense and crime/thriller.
This book put me through a loop and this could be because I haven't read the previous books or just the fast paced element of the action in the two time periods. I liked that we have two time periods, 1989 and present day - as this helped me understand all of the relationships and backstories of the characters. I do also want to go back and read the previous 3 novels which Catherine has written.
Catch Me Twice was a fast-paced thriller. I loved the setting in the beginning- late 80s rave culture and underground gangsters just sucked me in and kept me guessing through the whole story. It’s part of a series but can be read as a stand alone without too much confusion. I’ll definitely be going back to read more of the DI Ziggy Thorne series. This was a great read!
This is an action packed story that kept me on the edge of my seat throughout. I liked the way that the prologue explained what happened in the 80s and combined it with the present to weave a compelling story. I would definitely recommend it. I received a free copy of this book from the author and this is my honest review.
This is my first novel by Catherine Yaffe and I'm not sure if I needed to read the others in the series or what but this was just ok for me. It had interesting characters and a good plot. Just a lot of detail and instead of drawing me in and pushed me away. I'm not opposed to trying more from her but yeah this was just ok.
I was so pleased to find out there would be a book 4 in the series, having loved the previous three Cat Yaffe books. I found that part one of this story was a little confusing/ slow at times, but it was made up for by the second half which explained everything and drew the story together well.
Great book with minimal prior book references (love that) which eliminates the "do I need to start at the beginning of the series" issue. Very fast paced with great twists and OMG moments. I'm off to read the first three in the series.