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Kate Marshall #5
La vittima mancante
Un caso irrisolto da più di 30 anni. Il corpo di una ragazza
che non è mai stato ritrovato. Non ci sono testimoni.
Il suo nome rimarrà per sempre nella lista degli scomparsi?
Nel 1988, la studentessa Janey Macklin sparì in una zona malfamata di Londra. Senza prove, la polizia non è mai riuscita a trovare il corpo e il caso è stato archiviato. Ora, più di trent’anni dopo, la detective privata Kate Marshall viene contattata da un’agenzia creativa con una domanda intrigante a cui dare risposta: e se Janey fosse stata uccisa da Peter Conway, il famigerato cannibale di Nine Elms? Il contratto è il più redditizio della carriera di Kate, ma il prezzo da pagare risulta molto alto: l’indagine riporta a galla un passato complicato che Kate avrebbe preferito dimenticare. Mentre Kate e il suo socio, Tristan, setacciano King’s Cross in cerca di indizi, ci sono due piste che sembrano puntare nella stessa direzione e il confine tra clienti e sospettati si confonde sempre di più. L’ultima persona ad aver visto Janey viva è già stata indagata, processata e poi assolta; Peter Conway è in cattive condizioni di salute e sta rapidamente morendo. Con poco su cui lavorare, Tristan e Kate riusciranno a districarsi tra telefonate clandestine, segreti vecchi decenni e tracce di DNA in deterioramento per risolvere l’omicidio di Janey, o rimarrà una delle innumerevoli persone scomparse a Londra, perduta per sempre nel tempo?
Il suo nome rimarrà per sempre nella lista degli scomparsi?
Nel 1988, la studentessa Janey Macklin sparì in una zona malfamata di Londra. Senza prove, la polizia non è mai riuscita a trovare il corpo e il caso è stato archiviato. Ora, più di trent’anni dopo, la detective privata Kate Marshall viene contattata da un’agenzia creativa con una domanda intrigante a cui dare risposta: e se Janey fosse stata uccisa da Peter Conway, il famigerato cannibale di Nine Elms? Il contratto è il più redditizio della carriera di Kate, ma il prezzo da pagare risulta molto alto: l’indagine riporta a galla un passato complicato che Kate avrebbe preferito dimenticare. Mentre Kate e il suo socio, Tristan, setacciano King’s Cross in cerca di indizi, ci sono due piste che sembrano puntare nella stessa direzione e il confine tra clienti e sospettati si confonde sempre di più. L’ultima persona ad aver visto Janey viva è già stata indagata, processata e poi assolta; Peter Conway è in cattive condizioni di salute e sta rapidamente morendo. Con poco su cui lavorare, Tristan e Kate riusciranno a districarsi tra telefonate clandestine, segreti vecchi decenni e tracce di DNA in deterioramento per risolvere l’omicidio di Janey, o rimarrà una delle innumerevoli persone scomparse a Londra, perduta per sempre nel tempo?
326 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 11, 2024
573 people are currently reading
4999 people want to read
About the author
Robert Bryndza
31 books7,093 followersRobert Bryndza is an international bestselling author, best known for his page-turning crime and thriller novels, which have sold over seven million copies.
His crime debut, The Girl in the Ice was released in February 2016, introducing Detective Chief Inspector Erika Foster. Within five months it sold one million copies, reaching number one in the Amazon UK, USA and Australian charts. To date, The Girl in the Ice has sold over 1.5 million copies in the English language and has been sold into translation in 30 countries. It was nominated for the Goodreads Choice Award for Mystery & Thriller (2016), the Grand prix des lectrices de Elle in France (2018), and it won two reader voted awards, The Thrillzone Awards best debut thriller in The Netherlands (2018) and The Dead Good Papercut Award for best page turner at the Harrogate Crime Festival (2016).
Robert has released a further six novels in the Erika Foster series, The Night Stalker, Dark Water, Last Breath, Cold Blood and Deadly Secrets, all of which have been global bestsellers, and in 2017 Last Breath was a Goodreads Choice Award nominee for Mystery and Thriller. Fatal Witness, is the seventh Erika Foster novel.
Most recently, Robert created a new crime thriller series based around the central character Kate Marshall, a police officer turned private detective. The first book, Nine Elms, was an Amazon USA #1 bestseller and an Amazon UK top five bestseller, and the series has been sold into translation in 18 countries. The second book in the series is the global bestselling, Shadow Sands, the third book is, Darkness Falls and the fourth, Devil’s Way has just been published.
Robert was born in Lowestoft, on the east coast of England. He studied at Aberystwyth University, and the Guildford School of Acting, and was an actor for several years, but didn’t find success until he took a play he’d written to the Edinburgh Festival. This led to the decision to change career and start writing. He self-published a bestselling series of romantic comedy novels, before switching to writing crime. Robert lives with his husband in Slovakia, and is lucky enough to write full-time.
You can find out more about Robert and his books at www.robertbryndza.com
His crime debut, The Girl in the Ice was released in February 2016, introducing Detective Chief Inspector Erika Foster. Within five months it sold one million copies, reaching number one in the Amazon UK, USA and Australian charts. To date, The Girl in the Ice has sold over 1.5 million copies in the English language and has been sold into translation in 30 countries. It was nominated for the Goodreads Choice Award for Mystery & Thriller (2016), the Grand prix des lectrices de Elle in France (2018), and it won two reader voted awards, The Thrillzone Awards best debut thriller in The Netherlands (2018) and The Dead Good Papercut Award for best page turner at the Harrogate Crime Festival (2016).
Robert has released a further six novels in the Erika Foster series, The Night Stalker, Dark Water, Last Breath, Cold Blood and Deadly Secrets, all of which have been global bestsellers, and in 2017 Last Breath was a Goodreads Choice Award nominee for Mystery and Thriller. Fatal Witness, is the seventh Erika Foster novel.
Most recently, Robert created a new crime thriller series based around the central character Kate Marshall, a police officer turned private detective. The first book, Nine Elms, was an Amazon USA #1 bestseller and an Amazon UK top five bestseller, and the series has been sold into translation in 18 countries. The second book in the series is the global bestselling, Shadow Sands, the third book is, Darkness Falls and the fourth, Devil’s Way has just been published.
Robert was born in Lowestoft, on the east coast of England. He studied at Aberystwyth University, and the Guildford School of Acting, and was an actor for several years, but didn’t find success until he took a play he’d written to the Edinburgh Festival. This led to the decision to change career and start writing. He self-published a bestselling series of romantic comedy novels, before switching to writing crime. Robert lives with his husband in Slovakia, and is lucky enough to write full-time.
You can find out more about Robert and his books at www.robertbryndza.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 404 reviews
June 30, 2024
A Compelling Case
The Lost Victim is the 5th book in the Kate Marshall series, focusing on the mystery of a girl who went missing without a trace in 1988. 30 years later, Private Detective Kate Marshall and her partner Tristan are hired to solve the case, leading to an intriguing connection between the girl and a notorious serial killer whom Kate knows intimately.
In addition to the case of the missing girl, serial killer Peter Conway is making waves from prison, adding another layer to the mystery. Kate and Tristan travel to London as part of the investigation, and it was fun seeing them in a different environment from the norm.
Not only is the case a page-turner, Kate's character is also compelling. Her character has grown immensely since book #1. The events of this installment make way for further growth in the future as her past demons are finally put to rest. My one gripe is that there was way too little of Tristan.
The plot moves at a slow but steady pace. Tension and suspense build as details of the mystery come to light. The ending is satisfying and sad, opening many possibilities for Kate and Tristan in the future.
Overall, this is a well-plotted, riveting mystery that kept me turning the pages. I can't wait to see what's next for Kate and Tristan. Bryndza hints at a Kate Marshall and Erika Foster crossover, which would blow my mind!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and Raven Street Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
The Lost Victim is the 5th book in the Kate Marshall series, focusing on the mystery of a girl who went missing without a trace in 1988. 30 years later, Private Detective Kate Marshall and her partner Tristan are hired to solve the case, leading to an intriguing connection between the girl and a notorious serial killer whom Kate knows intimately.
In addition to the case of the missing girl, serial killer Peter Conway is making waves from prison, adding another layer to the mystery. Kate and Tristan travel to London as part of the investigation, and it was fun seeing them in a different environment from the norm.
Not only is the case a page-turner, Kate's character is also compelling. Her character has grown immensely since book #1. The events of this installment make way for further growth in the future as her past demons are finally put to rest. My one gripe is that there was way too little of Tristan.
The plot moves at a slow but steady pace. Tension and suspense build as details of the mystery come to light. The ending is satisfying and sad, opening many possibilities for Kate and Tristan in the future.
Overall, this is a well-plotted, riveting mystery that kept me turning the pages. I can't wait to see what's next for Kate and Tristan. Bryndza hints at a Kate Marshall and Erika Foster crossover, which would blow my mind!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and Raven Street Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
May 22, 2024
The Lost Victim (Kate Marshall, #5) by Robert Bryndza
Synopsis /
When schoolgirl Janey Macklin disappeared from the seedy side of London in 1988, her case went cold, with no body and no witnesses. Now, thirty years later, private detective Kate Marshall has been approached by a true crime podcast producer with an intriguing question they need her help answering: What if Janey was killed by Peter Conway, the notorious Nine Elms Cannibal?
The contract would be the most lucrative of Kate’s career, but it comes with a price of its own, dredging up a sordid, complicated past that she would sooner forget . . . one that the paparazzi are determined to keep in the headlines.
As Kate and her partner, Tristan, scour King’s Cross for clues, no two leads seem to point in the same direction. The last person to see Janey alive has already been tried, convicted, and then acquitted of her murder, Peter Conway is in poor health and fading fast, and the line between their clients and their suspects is blurring with each new revelation about the case.
With little to work from, can Tristan and Kate wade through clandestine phone calls, decades-old secrets, and deteriorating DNA evidence to solve Janey’s murder, or will she remain one of London’s countless missing persons, forever lost to time?
My Thoughts /
First and foremost, a huge THANK YOU to NetGalley, Raven Street Publishing, and author Robert Bryndza, for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review. Publication date is currently set for July 11, 2024.
Don't you just hate it when you get your Erika Fosters and your Kate Marshalls mixed up?? NO? Must just be me then. This is what happens when I am not up to date on my series reading. Or maybe because I'd not long finished Lethal Vengeance (Erika Foster #8) and she was still in my mind. But no matter, because I quickly refocussed and was on the right path…err, girl. Anyway, thankfully both of Bryndza's Erika Foster series and his Kate Marshall series make high star reading.
The Lost Victim follows two timelines.
It was 1988, when a then young girl by the name of Janey Macklin went missing just before Christmas. She was last seen in King's Cross on December 23, getting into the van belonging to a guy called Robert Driscoll. Driscoll was tried and convicted for her murder in 1989; however, Janey Macklin's body has never been found. At the time, Kate Marshall was just a young police detective.
2018, 30 years later, and there's been a lot of water flow under the metaphorical bridge. Kate Marshall is no longer in the police force. She has now partnered with Tristan Harper and together they run a small private detective agency in Thurlow Bay. The agency has been struggling a little of late, so when they receive a call from someone at the Stafford-Clarke Literary Agency with an offer of a job, it sees them on a trip to London. The Agency is researching and investigating the disappearance of Janey Macklin some thirty years ago with the intention of turning it into a true crime podcast. They want to hire Kate and Tristan to gather the much-needed background information and research into the cold case of the missing teenager. The Agency's podcast producer has also posed an intriguing line of investigation - what if Janey Macklin was killed by Peter Conway?
Peter Conway was an ex-police detective who served multiple life sentences for the murder and mutilation of five young women in and around the Nine Elms area of South London. Kate, who was then a young police detective, had worked out that the reason the Nine Elms Cannibal, (as he became known in the press), had evaded the police for so long was because he WAS the police. To muddy the waters further, Kate had been having an affair with Peter Conway when she cracked the case. Aye yai yai!
What is it about this author's writing that can keep a reader's eyes glued to every page? Maybe it's the bright, capable, intelligent, strong female mc? Maybe it's the well-developed cast of supporting characters? The well plotted, fast paced storyline? Or how he can manage to create a sense of the reader 'belonging' in the picture through well written descriptive text? Maybe, it's because of the suspense - from the beginning until the end, the story twists, turns, zigs and zags. Or maybe, it's just all the above? Either way, all I know, is that I was thoroughly engaged from start to finish and I loved every tense, nail biting moment.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Raven Street Publishing for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
#TheLostVictim #NetGalley
Synopsis /
When schoolgirl Janey Macklin disappeared from the seedy side of London in 1988, her case went cold, with no body and no witnesses. Now, thirty years later, private detective Kate Marshall has been approached by a true crime podcast producer with an intriguing question they need her help answering: What if Janey was killed by Peter Conway, the notorious Nine Elms Cannibal?
The contract would be the most lucrative of Kate’s career, but it comes with a price of its own, dredging up a sordid, complicated past that she would sooner forget . . . one that the paparazzi are determined to keep in the headlines.
As Kate and her partner, Tristan, scour King’s Cross for clues, no two leads seem to point in the same direction. The last person to see Janey alive has already been tried, convicted, and then acquitted of her murder, Peter Conway is in poor health and fading fast, and the line between their clients and their suspects is blurring with each new revelation about the case.
With little to work from, can Tristan and Kate wade through clandestine phone calls, decades-old secrets, and deteriorating DNA evidence to solve Janey’s murder, or will she remain one of London’s countless missing persons, forever lost to time?
My Thoughts /
First and foremost, a huge THANK YOU to NetGalley, Raven Street Publishing, and author Robert Bryndza, for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review. Publication date is currently set for July 11, 2024.
Don't you just hate it when you get your Erika Fosters and your Kate Marshalls mixed up?? NO? Must just be me then. This is what happens when I am not up to date on my series reading. Or maybe because I'd not long finished Lethal Vengeance (Erika Foster #8) and she was still in my mind. But no matter, because I quickly refocussed and was on the right path…err, girl. Anyway, thankfully both of Bryndza's Erika Foster series and his Kate Marshall series make high star reading.
The Lost Victim follows two timelines.
It was 1988, when a then young girl by the name of Janey Macklin went missing just before Christmas. She was last seen in King's Cross on December 23, getting into the van belonging to a guy called Robert Driscoll. Driscoll was tried and convicted for her murder in 1989; however, Janey Macklin's body has never been found. At the time, Kate Marshall was just a young police detective.
2018, 30 years later, and there's been a lot of water flow under the metaphorical bridge. Kate Marshall is no longer in the police force. She has now partnered with Tristan Harper and together they run a small private detective agency in Thurlow Bay. The agency has been struggling a little of late, so when they receive a call from someone at the Stafford-Clarke Literary Agency with an offer of a job, it sees them on a trip to London. The Agency is researching and investigating the disappearance of Janey Macklin some thirty years ago with the intention of turning it into a true crime podcast. They want to hire Kate and Tristan to gather the much-needed background information and research into the cold case of the missing teenager. The Agency's podcast producer has also posed an intriguing line of investigation - what if Janey Macklin was killed by Peter Conway?
Peter Conway was an ex-police detective who served multiple life sentences for the murder and mutilation of five young women in and around the Nine Elms area of South London. Kate, who was then a young police detective, had worked out that the reason the Nine Elms Cannibal, (as he became known in the press), had evaded the police for so long was because he WAS the police. To muddy the waters further, Kate had been having an affair with Peter Conway when she cracked the case. Aye yai yai!
What is it about this author's writing that can keep a reader's eyes glued to every page? Maybe it's the bright, capable, intelligent, strong female mc? Maybe it's the well-developed cast of supporting characters? The well plotted, fast paced storyline? Or how he can manage to create a sense of the reader 'belonging' in the picture through well written descriptive text? Maybe, it's because of the suspense - from the beginning until the end, the story twists, turns, zigs and zags. Or maybe, it's just all the above? Either way, all I know, is that I was thoroughly engaged from start to finish and I loved every tense, nail biting moment.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Raven Street Publishing for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
#TheLostVictim #NetGalley
July 15, 2024
EXCERPT: They sat under an awning, where a discarded copy of the Mirror was on the other end of the bench. Kate picked it up and turned to the article about Peter Conway: NINE ELMS CANNIBAL HAS JUST DAYS TO LIVE. The close-up photo of Peter Conway's face stared out at her.
'Bloody hell. I don't know if I'll ever escape this,' she said. The photo was the first time she'd seen him in close-up for years. He was so old, and yet it was like the young Peter Conway was staring out at her from inside a mask of prosthetic old make-up. A three-inch scar above his left eye was visible, even amongst the wrinkles. It was a clear curving line. Kate closed her eyes, and the memory of the night she gave him that scar returned to her. The night she cracked the case and worked out he was the Nine elms Cannibal.
ABOUT 'THE LOST VICTIM': When school girl Janey Macklin disappeared from the seedy side of London in 1988, her case went cold, with no body and no witnesses. Now, thirty years later, private detective Kate Marshall has been approached by a true crime podcast producer with an intriguing question they need her help answering: What if Janey was killed by Peter Conway, the notorious Nine Elms Cannibal?
The contract would be the most lucrative of Kate’s career, but it comes with a price of its own, dredging up a sordid, complicated past that she would sooner forget . . . one that the paparazzi are determined to keep in the headlines.
As Kate and her partner, Tristan, scour King’s Cross for clues, no two leads seem to point in the same direction. The last person to see Janey alive has already been tried, convicted, and then acquitted of her murder, Peter Conway is in poor health and fading fast, and the line between their clients and their suspects is blurring with each new revelation about the case.
With little to work from, can Tristan and Kate wade through clandestine phone calls, decades-old secrets, and deteriorating DNA evidence to solve Janey’s murder, or will she remain one of London’s countless missing persons, forever lost to time?
MY THOUGHTS: The Lost Victim is a real page turner! How wonderful it is to be back with Kate and Tristan again. I enjoy their tenacity and commitment.
The dreaded Peter Conway makes another appearance in this, the 5th book in the Kate Marshall series, as does Kate's lovely son, Jake. Sometimes I wonder if Kate will ever be free of her ex-partner. In light of what happens in this book (no spoilers here), it will be interesting to see what happens in the future.
I can't imagine living for thirty years, not knowing what had happened to my child, yet Janey Macklin's mother has done just that. Kate and Tristan come across some previously ignored and undiscovered clues, some of which may point in Peter Conway's direction. Or, is that someone just trying to muddy the waters? It is a complex enough situation trying to solve a disappearance 3o years after the actual event, but when a page of evidence goes missing in a burglary, Kate and Tristan know they must be on the right track.
As well as coping with the investigation and all it unearths, Kate is being asked to have contact with her ex-partner and father of her son, serial killer Peter Conway, something she is not sure she is willing to do. There are also money worries as she scrambles to find the funds to repair flood damage in the caravan park before opening for the new season. Tristan is also having money worries and is trying to keep them hidden from his sister Sarah, who likes to micromanage his life. Strangely enough, it is Jake who may just have the solution to both their financial problems.
Able to be read as a stand-alone, The Lost Victim had me captivated and enthralled. The storyline is well plotted and fast-paced and is written in such a fashion that I felt I was there amidst all the action rather than just reading about it. I loved all the twists and turns the plot takes, all perfectly believable and plausible. There were a couple of twists that literally took my breath away! The characters are deftly portrayed and well-rounded and the suspect pool greatly expanded from the original investigation.
A fast-paced and compelling read that has earned the full five stars from me.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
#TheLostVictim #NetGalley.
THE AUTHOR: Robert was born in Lowestoft, on the east coast of England. He studied at Aberystwyth University, and the Guildford School of Acting, and was an actor for several years, but didn’t find success until he took a play he’d written to the Edinburgh Festival. This led to the decision to change career and start writing. He self-published a bestselling series of romantic comedy novels, before switching to writing crime. Robert lives with his husband in Slovakia, and is lucky enough to write full-time.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Raven Street Publishing via NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of The Lost Victim for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
'Bloody hell. I don't know if I'll ever escape this,' she said. The photo was the first time she'd seen him in close-up for years. He was so old, and yet it was like the young Peter Conway was staring out at her from inside a mask of prosthetic old make-up. A three-inch scar above his left eye was visible, even amongst the wrinkles. It was a clear curving line. Kate closed her eyes, and the memory of the night she gave him that scar returned to her. The night she cracked the case and worked out he was the Nine elms Cannibal.
ABOUT 'THE LOST VICTIM': When school girl Janey Macklin disappeared from the seedy side of London in 1988, her case went cold, with no body and no witnesses. Now, thirty years later, private detective Kate Marshall has been approached by a true crime podcast producer with an intriguing question they need her help answering: What if Janey was killed by Peter Conway, the notorious Nine Elms Cannibal?
The contract would be the most lucrative of Kate’s career, but it comes with a price of its own, dredging up a sordid, complicated past that she would sooner forget . . . one that the paparazzi are determined to keep in the headlines.
As Kate and her partner, Tristan, scour King’s Cross for clues, no two leads seem to point in the same direction. The last person to see Janey alive has already been tried, convicted, and then acquitted of her murder, Peter Conway is in poor health and fading fast, and the line between their clients and their suspects is blurring with each new revelation about the case.
With little to work from, can Tristan and Kate wade through clandestine phone calls, decades-old secrets, and deteriorating DNA evidence to solve Janey’s murder, or will she remain one of London’s countless missing persons, forever lost to time?
MY THOUGHTS: The Lost Victim is a real page turner! How wonderful it is to be back with Kate and Tristan again. I enjoy their tenacity and commitment.
The dreaded Peter Conway makes another appearance in this, the 5th book in the Kate Marshall series, as does Kate's lovely son, Jake. Sometimes I wonder if Kate will ever be free of her ex-partner. In light of what happens in this book (no spoilers here), it will be interesting to see what happens in the future.
I can't imagine living for thirty years, not knowing what had happened to my child, yet Janey Macklin's mother has done just that. Kate and Tristan come across some previously ignored and undiscovered clues, some of which may point in Peter Conway's direction. Or, is that someone just trying to muddy the waters? It is a complex enough situation trying to solve a disappearance 3o years after the actual event, but when a page of evidence goes missing in a burglary, Kate and Tristan know they must be on the right track.
As well as coping with the investigation and all it unearths, Kate is being asked to have contact with her ex-partner and father of her son, serial killer Peter Conway, something she is not sure she is willing to do. There are also money worries as she scrambles to find the funds to repair flood damage in the caravan park before opening for the new season. Tristan is also having money worries and is trying to keep them hidden from his sister Sarah, who likes to micromanage his life. Strangely enough, it is Jake who may just have the solution to both their financial problems.
Able to be read as a stand-alone, The Lost Victim had me captivated and enthralled. The storyline is well plotted and fast-paced and is written in such a fashion that I felt I was there amidst all the action rather than just reading about it. I loved all the twists and turns the plot takes, all perfectly believable and plausible. There were a couple of twists that literally took my breath away! The characters are deftly portrayed and well-rounded and the suspect pool greatly expanded from the original investigation.
A fast-paced and compelling read that has earned the full five stars from me.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
#TheLostVictim #NetGalley.
THE AUTHOR: Robert was born in Lowestoft, on the east coast of England. He studied at Aberystwyth University, and the Guildford School of Acting, and was an actor for several years, but didn’t find success until he took a play he’d written to the Edinburgh Festival. This led to the decision to change career and start writing. He self-published a bestselling series of romantic comedy novels, before switching to writing crime. Robert lives with his husband in Slovakia, and is lucky enough to write full-time.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Raven Street Publishing via NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of The Lost Victim for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
June 13, 2024
Once again, just brilliant!! I am a huge fan of Robert Bryndza crime books and this latest installment in the Kate Marshall series is an absolute belter. I could not put it down. I love Kate and Tristan and look forward to more books with them solving cold cases for many years to come. Reading the author notes and the possibility of a Kate and Erika case has me very excited for the future!!
I loved that this book went back to the beginning with Peter Conway, the Nine Elms Cannibal. Kate and Tristan are approached by a media agency who are interested in a true crime podcast, and believe they have found another victim of this serial killers. As they investigate, they find so much more than they expected, and Kate has to deal with her very personal relationship to Peter Conway.
This was such a clever and interesting case, with plenty of twists along the way.
Thanks so much to Raven Street Publishing for my advanced copy of this book to read. Publishes on July 11th.
I loved that this book went back to the beginning with Peter Conway, the Nine Elms Cannibal. Kate and Tristan are approached by a media agency who are interested in a true crime podcast, and believe they have found another victim of this serial killers. As they investigate, they find so much more than they expected, and Kate has to deal with her very personal relationship to Peter Conway.
This was such a clever and interesting case, with plenty of twists along the way.
Thanks so much to Raven Street Publishing for my advanced copy of this book to read. Publishes on July 11th.
May 18, 2024
This is book five in this great series.Another fantastic book,kate and her partner Tristan are investigating a case that happened in 1988 a murder of a young schoolgirl Janey Mackin what happened to her, there was no body it all pointed to Peter Conway a killer in prison was it him or someone else? Will they find the answers.another great book,highly recommend this series.brillliant author...
June 2, 2024
First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Robert Bryndza, and Raven Street Publishing for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.
Returning for another Kate Marshall cold case thriller, I was once more impressed with the writing of Robert Bryndza. In a story that takes the reader back three decades, Bryndza provides all the elements for a great piece and provides some chilling personal development regarding the protagonist. A quick read, but also thoroughly enjoyable!
It was just before Christmas 1988 that Janey Macklin disappeared without a trace. She was last seen in the sketchy part of London, but when no body was ever found. While there was an arrest and conviction, the courts eventually overturned the result and the accused whet free. With no other leads, the case went cold.
Three decades later, Kate Marshall and her investigative partner, Tristan Harper, are called on to help reopen the investigation. A literary group is eager to launch a review and potentially turn it into a podcast or tell-all book. They utilises Kate and Tristan to explore old leads and turn over anything they might discover. Some wonder if Janey could have been an early victim of the Nine Elms Cannibal, a killer with whom Kate is unfortunately well versed.
While Kate and Tristan agree to the contract, it will open up old wounds and many issues for Kate. Still, she is determined to get it the bottom of things and help bring some closure for Janey’s family. While the man once convicted of her murder says that he dropped her off inside a pub, others are sure they saw Janey outside in the cold. This same pub was a known hangout of the man, Peter Conway, who would become the Nine Elms Cannibal. His enjoyment of young girls and sadistic means of self-pleasure do not go unnoticed by Kate, who wonders if there is more to the story.
Exploring all angles, Kate and Tristan come up with a potential theory that could solve the case, but also jeopardise the contract they recently signed. If it means discovering the truth, it may be worth it. A chilling story with a few surprises, Robert Bryndza keeps the reader highly entertained.
I have long enjoyed the work of Robert Bryndza and his various thriller series. There is something about them that is both impactful and easy to read. The narrative flows well ask keeps the reader hooked as they try to discover all that is going on, never letting things wane. Strong characters and their backstories provide wonderful sub-plots that add depth to an already strong series.
The plot is strong and provides the reader with a few key surprises, peppered throughout this strong narrative. Using both past and present, as well as Kate’s own experiences, help enrich an already strong story, leaving the reader hooked as they race to discover the truth. Add in a few red herrings and the story has it all! I am eager to see what Bryndza has next and how he will breathe life into all that is Kate Marshall, while hinting that there may be an Erika Foster crossover eventually!
Kudos, Mr. Bryndza, for another chilling read.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
Returning for another Kate Marshall cold case thriller, I was once more impressed with the writing of Robert Bryndza. In a story that takes the reader back three decades, Bryndza provides all the elements for a great piece and provides some chilling personal development regarding the protagonist. A quick read, but also thoroughly enjoyable!
It was just before Christmas 1988 that Janey Macklin disappeared without a trace. She was last seen in the sketchy part of London, but when no body was ever found. While there was an arrest and conviction, the courts eventually overturned the result and the accused whet free. With no other leads, the case went cold.
Three decades later, Kate Marshall and her investigative partner, Tristan Harper, are called on to help reopen the investigation. A literary group is eager to launch a review and potentially turn it into a podcast or tell-all book. They utilises Kate and Tristan to explore old leads and turn over anything they might discover. Some wonder if Janey could have been an early victim of the Nine Elms Cannibal, a killer with whom Kate is unfortunately well versed.
While Kate and Tristan agree to the contract, it will open up old wounds and many issues for Kate. Still, she is determined to get it the bottom of things and help bring some closure for Janey’s family. While the man once convicted of her murder says that he dropped her off inside a pub, others are sure they saw Janey outside in the cold. This same pub was a known hangout of the man, Peter Conway, who would become the Nine Elms Cannibal. His enjoyment of young girls and sadistic means of self-pleasure do not go unnoticed by Kate, who wonders if there is more to the story.
Exploring all angles, Kate and Tristan come up with a potential theory that could solve the case, but also jeopardise the contract they recently signed. If it means discovering the truth, it may be worth it. A chilling story with a few surprises, Robert Bryndza keeps the reader highly entertained.
I have long enjoyed the work of Robert Bryndza and his various thriller series. There is something about them that is both impactful and easy to read. The narrative flows well ask keeps the reader hooked as they try to discover all that is going on, never letting things wane. Strong characters and their backstories provide wonderful sub-plots that add depth to an already strong series.
The plot is strong and provides the reader with a few key surprises, peppered throughout this strong narrative. Using both past and present, as well as Kate’s own experiences, help enrich an already strong story, leaving the reader hooked as they race to discover the truth. Add in a few red herrings and the story has it all! I am eager to see what Bryndza has next and how he will breathe life into all that is Kate Marshall, while hinting that there may be an Erika Foster crossover eventually!
Kudos, Mr. Bryndza, for another chilling read.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
May 6, 2025
3,5 ✨✨✨
(Audiobook)
(Audiobook)
June 24, 2024
Book 5 in the Kate Marshall series. By the amazing author Robert Bryndza, he never fails.
Investigating another cold case from the late 1980’s, was this another previously unidentified victim of the 9 Elms killer? A subject close to Kate’s heart. Involves some soul searching and difficult decisions.
Personally, I found this one more difficult to read as I got confused with all the various men involved the night victim disappeared. I enjoyed the elements of the investigations and developments in the general storyline. But struggled a bit with the issue. Probably just me. Still can’t wait for next instalment
Thanks to Netgalley and publishers for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Investigating another cold case from the late 1980’s, was this another previously unidentified victim of the 9 Elms killer? A subject close to Kate’s heart. Involves some soul searching and difficult decisions.
Personally, I found this one more difficult to read as I got confused with all the various men involved the night victim disappeared. I enjoyed the elements of the investigations and developments in the general storyline. But struggled a bit with the issue. Probably just me. Still can’t wait for next instalment
Thanks to Netgalley and publishers for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 12, 2024
This is the fifth in the Kate Marshall series. I have read three of them.
Teenager Janey Macklin disappeared in 1988. A man was convicted of killing her but later that conviction was reversed. Now, an imprisoned serial killer claims that fellow serial killer Peter Conway, known as the Nine Elms Cannibal, is responsible. A podcast company hires private investigator Kate Marshall and her partner Tristan Harper to seek the truth. In need of increased cash flow, they take the case even though Conway is Kate’s former husband, the father of her child, and the man she put behind bars. As they work to unravel the mystery, long held secrets are revealed.
Bryndza writes a well plotted, fast paced story with good character development that draws you in from the beginning. I couldn’t put this book down. He creates a good sense of place, I could easily picture the seedier neighborhoods of the 1980s, the hustle and bustle of present day London, and feel the chill of the frigid weather and heat deprived apartment used by Kate and Tristan. Kate is a bright, capable, strong, but vulnerable female character despite her earlier difficulties in life. Tristan, her once research assistant, has grown into being a valuable partner. I enjoy these characters.
Although part of a series, this does work as a standalone. Fans of solid investigative procedurals and mysteries will enjoy this addition to the series, among one of my favorites, along with Bryndza’s Erika Foster series.
Thanks to #netgalley and @robertbryndza #ravenstreetpublishing for the DRC.
Teenager Janey Macklin disappeared in 1988. A man was convicted of killing her but later that conviction was reversed. Now, an imprisoned serial killer claims that fellow serial killer Peter Conway, known as the Nine Elms Cannibal, is responsible. A podcast company hires private investigator Kate Marshall and her partner Tristan Harper to seek the truth. In need of increased cash flow, they take the case even though Conway is Kate’s former husband, the father of her child, and the man she put behind bars. As they work to unravel the mystery, long held secrets are revealed.
Bryndza writes a well plotted, fast paced story with good character development that draws you in from the beginning. I couldn’t put this book down. He creates a good sense of place, I could easily picture the seedier neighborhoods of the 1980s, the hustle and bustle of present day London, and feel the chill of the frigid weather and heat deprived apartment used by Kate and Tristan. Kate is a bright, capable, strong, but vulnerable female character despite her earlier difficulties in life. Tristan, her once research assistant, has grown into being a valuable partner. I enjoy these characters.
Although part of a series, this does work as a standalone. Fans of solid investigative procedurals and mysteries will enjoy this addition to the series, among one of my favorites, along with Bryndza’s Erika Foster series.
Thanks to #netgalley and @robertbryndza #ravenstreetpublishing for the DRC.
July 11, 2024
4.5 stars
The Lost Victim by Robert Bryndza is the 5th in the PI Kate Marshall series.
First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Raven Street Publishing, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Series Background: (Warning – May contain spoilers from previous books)
Kate Marshall lost her career, reputation, friends, and almost her life when, as a plain-clothes detective, she unmasked the Nine Elms Serial Killer, Peter Conway - her boss and lover. Pregnant with his child, Kate suffered. She turned to alcohol, and almost lost her son, but her parents stepped in to become Jake's legal guardian when he was six. She is now sober, and back in his life, although he is currently in California studying. She is now a PI, partnered with her old teaching assistant Tristan Harper.
My Synopsis: (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
Kate and Tristan have been approached by a media agency to investigate a cold case, thereby allowing the company to produce a podcast, or possibly a true-crime book.
Over 30 years ago, teenager Janey Macklin disappeared. Initially someone was convicted of her murder, but as no body was ever found, he was eventually acquitted.
Now, the podcasters want to tie her disappearance to legendary Peter Conway, who is currently serving time for other atrocities. His health is already poor, and he may not have long to live. They figure Kate, having an "in" with the serial killer, will be able to get more details. Although the podcasters will pay well, Kate is unsettled by the fact that her past with the Nine Elms Cannibal will be dredged up again, and that both she and her son will be center stage with the paparazzi.
As Kate and Tristan delve deeper into the case, they become more suspicious about their clients, who have lied on more than one occasion, and may be more involved in the cold case than they should be.
My Opinions:
Well, this was really good.
It was interesting to see how differently Kate and her son deal with Peter. Both felt "right".
Plot-wise, there were enough twists to keep me interested. Character-wise, I love the friendship between Kate and Tristan -- they really care for each other. They make a good team.
There were a couple of things I would have liked to see expanded: Jake asked Kate to get her mom's opinion before taking this case, but unless I missed it, nothing was said either way. What happened with Tristan's possible room-mate? What happened with the media agency? What happened with Jake's idea of selling the story themselves? None of these things were "needed" in the book, they were just questions I still have.
That being said, Bryndza is an amazing author, and this was another fast and compelling read.
For a more complete review of this book and others (including the reason I chose to read/review this book, as well as author information), please visit my blog: http://katlovesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
July 11, 2024
Having read all the preious books in the Kate Marshall series, I had to pick up this fifth book. It's a really good series.
Description:
When school girl Janey Macklin disappeared from the seedy side of London in 1988, her case went cold, with no body and no witnesses. Now, thirty years later, private detective Kate Marshall has been approached by a true crime podcast producer with an intriguing question they need her help answering: What if Janey was killed by Peter Conway, the notorious Nine Elms Cannibal?
The contract would be the most lucrative of Kate’s career, but it comes with a price of its own, dredging up a sordid, complicated past that she would sooner forget . . . one that the paparazzi are determined to keep in the headlines.
As Kate and her partner, Tristan, scour King’s Cross for clues, no two leads seem to point in the same direction. The last person to see Janey alive has already been tried, convicted, and then acquitted of her murder, Peter Conway is in poor health and fading fast, and the line between their clients and their suspects is blurring with each new revelation about the case.
With little to work from, can Tristan and Kate wade through clandestine phone calls, decades-old secrets, and deteriorating DNA evidence to solve Janey’s murder, or will she remain one of London’s countless missing persons, forever lost to time?
My Thoughts:
Kate and Tristan make a good private investigator team and work together playing off each other's strengths. Kate's history with serial killer Peter Conway comes into play again in this book - seems she will never be free of him even though he's been in prison a long time now. In this book Kate and Tristan are trying to find out what really happened to Janey Macklin who disappeared thirty years ago. A case couldn't get much colder I think. The expertise Kate and Tristan show in their investigation is outstanding and they turn over possible evidence that others missed trying to find the truth. The book held my attention and was well plotted. It build tensino as it progressed. This book can be read as a stand along and will appeal to mystery/thriller lovers.
Thanks to Raven Street Publishing through Netgalley for an advance copy.
Description:
When school girl Janey Macklin disappeared from the seedy side of London in 1988, her case went cold, with no body and no witnesses. Now, thirty years later, private detective Kate Marshall has been approached by a true crime podcast producer with an intriguing question they need her help answering: What if Janey was killed by Peter Conway, the notorious Nine Elms Cannibal?
The contract would be the most lucrative of Kate’s career, but it comes with a price of its own, dredging up a sordid, complicated past that she would sooner forget . . . one that the paparazzi are determined to keep in the headlines.
As Kate and her partner, Tristan, scour King’s Cross for clues, no two leads seem to point in the same direction. The last person to see Janey alive has already been tried, convicted, and then acquitted of her murder, Peter Conway is in poor health and fading fast, and the line between their clients and their suspects is blurring with each new revelation about the case.
With little to work from, can Tristan and Kate wade through clandestine phone calls, decades-old secrets, and deteriorating DNA evidence to solve Janey’s murder, or will she remain one of London’s countless missing persons, forever lost to time?
My Thoughts:
Kate and Tristan make a good private investigator team and work together playing off each other's strengths. Kate's history with serial killer Peter Conway comes into play again in this book - seems she will never be free of him even though he's been in prison a long time now. In this book Kate and Tristan are trying to find out what really happened to Janey Macklin who disappeared thirty years ago. A case couldn't get much colder I think. The expertise Kate and Tristan show in their investigation is outstanding and they turn over possible evidence that others missed trying to find the truth. The book held my attention and was well plotted. It build tensino as it progressed. This book can be read as a stand along and will appeal to mystery/thriller lovers.
Thanks to Raven Street Publishing through Netgalley for an advance copy.
July 9, 2024
This is the fifth book in the Kate Marshall series by one of my favourite authors Robert Bryndza.
“The Lost Victim” is another gripping and intricately woven thriller by author Robert Bryndza that follows private detective Kate Marshall as she tackles one of the most challenging cases of her career, the disappearance of schoolgirl Janey Macklin from London’s seedy underbelly in 1988.
Kate is approached by a true crime podcast producer thirty years after Janey vanished without a trace. The producer wants to know if Janey could have been a victim of the notorious Nine Elms Cannibal, Peter Conway? This case has added difficulties for Kate as she must confront a past she’d rather leave behind and one that the paparazzi are eager to exploit.
Kate is determined to solve Janey’s case but must face her own demons as well as the media frenzy that is bound to follow. There are some good supporting characters such as Kate’s partner Tristan as well as the Nine Elms Cannibal Peter Conway.
“The Lost Victim” is an excellent addition to this series but can be read as a standalone but why miss out on the others in this series. Well crafted plot, developed characters and lots of twists and turns to keep you on your toes.
I would like to thank both Netgalley and Raven Street Publishing for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
“The Lost Victim” is another gripping and intricately woven thriller by author Robert Bryndza that follows private detective Kate Marshall as she tackles one of the most challenging cases of her career, the disappearance of schoolgirl Janey Macklin from London’s seedy underbelly in 1988.
Kate is approached by a true crime podcast producer thirty years after Janey vanished without a trace. The producer wants to know if Janey could have been a victim of the notorious Nine Elms Cannibal, Peter Conway? This case has added difficulties for Kate as she must confront a past she’d rather leave behind and one that the paparazzi are eager to exploit.
Kate is determined to solve Janey’s case but must face her own demons as well as the media frenzy that is bound to follow. There are some good supporting characters such as Kate’s partner Tristan as well as the Nine Elms Cannibal Peter Conway.
“The Lost Victim” is an excellent addition to this series but can be read as a standalone but why miss out on the others in this series. Well crafted plot, developed characters and lots of twists and turns to keep you on your toes.
I would like to thank both Netgalley and Raven Street Publishing for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
January 16, 2025
4.5*
The Lost Victim is the fifth instalment in Robert Bryndza's series featuring former police officer - turned private detective Kate Marshall and her trusty sidekick Tristan Harper. This book takes Kate and Tristan away from the Devon coast, where they run a holiday park as well as their detective agency, to the gentrified area of Kings Cross in London, where a young girl disappeared just before Christmas 1988.
Solving this "cold case" has a significant personal element for Kate, as documents have come to light which suggest a link between the Janey Macklin case and notorious convicted "Nine Elms Killer" Peter Conway. As readers of the series will be aware, Conway is Kate's former lover and police boss, as well as the father of her adult son, Jake. He's now terminally ill in prison, and Kate's not too thrilled about renewing their acquaintance, but the detective agency is in dire need of income, and Kate's personal link to Conway is the reason they've been offered the contract by the producers of a true crime podcast in the first place.
Against the backdrop of a frigid London winter, Kate and Tristan begin the process of uncovering the past and negotiating an interview with the ailing Conway. They quickly realise that they're being manipulated by the producers who are paying them, and that they're not the only ones with a personal stake in the mystery surrounding Janey's disappearance.
The Lost Victim is a tense and engaging crime-thriller, with great characters and a multilayered, well-paced plot. I always enjoy author Robert Bryndza's writing, whether it's this series, his popular Erika Foster series or standalones such as his 2023 release Fear the Silence. His female heroines are gutsy and complex, and his books always present an immersive sense of setting in time and place, in this case highlighting the contrast between the seediness of 1980s Kings Cross when compared with the gentrified surroundings of the present day. The scenes set in a high-security prison also indicate the depth of his research and ability to create a realistic context for the narrative action.
I'd highly recommend The Lost Victim to any reader who enjoys tightly-plotted crime-thrillers with great characterisations and engrossing detail.
My thanks to the author, Robert Bryndza, publisher Raven Street Publishing, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this title.
The Lost Victim is the fifth instalment in Robert Bryndza's series featuring former police officer - turned private detective Kate Marshall and her trusty sidekick Tristan Harper. This book takes Kate and Tristan away from the Devon coast, where they run a holiday park as well as their detective agency, to the gentrified area of Kings Cross in London, where a young girl disappeared just before Christmas 1988.
Solving this "cold case" has a significant personal element for Kate, as documents have come to light which suggest a link between the Janey Macklin case and notorious convicted "Nine Elms Killer" Peter Conway. As readers of the series will be aware, Conway is Kate's former lover and police boss, as well as the father of her adult son, Jake. He's now terminally ill in prison, and Kate's not too thrilled about renewing their acquaintance, but the detective agency is in dire need of income, and Kate's personal link to Conway is the reason they've been offered the contract by the producers of a true crime podcast in the first place.
Against the backdrop of a frigid London winter, Kate and Tristan begin the process of uncovering the past and negotiating an interview with the ailing Conway. They quickly realise that they're being manipulated by the producers who are paying them, and that they're not the only ones with a personal stake in the mystery surrounding Janey's disappearance.
The Lost Victim is a tense and engaging crime-thriller, with great characters and a multilayered, well-paced plot. I always enjoy author Robert Bryndza's writing, whether it's this series, his popular Erika Foster series or standalones such as his 2023 release Fear the Silence. His female heroines are gutsy and complex, and his books always present an immersive sense of setting in time and place, in this case highlighting the contrast between the seediness of 1980s Kings Cross when compared with the gentrified surroundings of the present day. The scenes set in a high-security prison also indicate the depth of his research and ability to create a realistic context for the narrative action.
I'd highly recommend The Lost Victim to any reader who enjoys tightly-plotted crime-thrillers with great characterisations and engrossing detail.
My thanks to the author, Robert Bryndza, publisher Raven Street Publishing, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this title.
July 15, 2024
The Lost Victim is book 5 in the Kate Marshall series by Robert Bryndza. The book can easily be read and enjoyed as a standalone. I thoroughly enjoyed The Lost Victim and really liked Kate and her partner, Tristan. Kate and Tristan are investigating a cold case from 1988 in which a young girl, Janey Macklin, went missing. Janey's mom worked at the local pub and she and her sister often hung out playing video games while she worked. Janey had gone out to buy her mom a pack of cigarettes at a store she could walk to. That's the last time her mom and sister saw her.
A true crime podcast producer approached Kate and Tristan about their interest in this case. They offered really good money and a flat in London that they could use during their investigation. They wanted Kate and Tristan to find out what happened to Janey. They thought that Kate's ex, a serial killer now in prison, might have been Janey's killer. They thought Kate would be able to get it out of him since she had a relationship and son with him. His name is Peter Conway and he's in bad shape with major dental problems. Kate can't stand Peter and wants nothing to do with him, but her son is conflicted.
As Kate and Tristan work the case they get phone calls from people, hear noises in the London flat, and interview everyone that might have seen Janey that night in 1988. Somebody's hiding something and maybe more than one person. As they get closer to the truth, danger lurks around them. Someone doesn't want the truth to come out and they're willing to kill again to keep it quiet. Will Kate and Tristan be able to solve the case before they're attacked or worse? I rate The Lost Victim 4 stars with a high recommendation. If you like a suspenseful book, this is a must read. I'd like to thank NetGalley and Raven Street Publishing for an advanced copy of The Lost Victim in exchange for a fair review. #TheLostVictim
A true crime podcast producer approached Kate and Tristan about their interest in this case. They offered really good money and a flat in London that they could use during their investigation. They wanted Kate and Tristan to find out what happened to Janey. They thought that Kate's ex, a serial killer now in prison, might have been Janey's killer. They thought Kate would be able to get it out of him since she had a relationship and son with him. His name is Peter Conway and he's in bad shape with major dental problems. Kate can't stand Peter and wants nothing to do with him, but her son is conflicted.
As Kate and Tristan work the case they get phone calls from people, hear noises in the London flat, and interview everyone that might have seen Janey that night in 1988. Somebody's hiding something and maybe more than one person. As they get closer to the truth, danger lurks around them. Someone doesn't want the truth to come out and they're willing to kill again to keep it quiet. Will Kate and Tristan be able to solve the case before they're attacked or worse? I rate The Lost Victim 4 stars with a high recommendation. If you like a suspenseful book, this is a must read. I'd like to thank NetGalley and Raven Street Publishing for an advanced copy of The Lost Victim in exchange for a fair review. #TheLostVictim
August 12, 2024
THE LOST VICTIM is the fifth novel Kate Marshall Crime Thriller Series by international bestselling author Robert Bryndza. The novel’s central character Kate Marshall, is a police officer turned private detective. This novel can be read as a stand-alone, but I recommend starting with book one for clarity and content.
Novels In The Kate Marshall Series Include:
1. Nine Elms (2019)
2. Shadow Sands (2020)
3. Darkness Falls (2021)
4. Devil's Way (2023)
5. The Lost Victim (2024)
This is my review of The Lost Victim.
This is the story of a school girl Janey Macklin who disappeared in London in 1988, and now 30 years later private detective Kate Marshall and her associate, Tristan accepts a contract by a crime podcast producer to investigate this cold-case file.
Could Janey have been killed by Peter Conway, the notorious Nine Elms Cannibal?
There was no body or witnesses.
Peter Conway, Kate's ex, a serial killer now in prison in poor health, was the last person to see Janey alive and has been cleared of her murder.
After further investigation and reviewing the case notes, phone calls and limited poor DNA evidence, Kate and Tristan must look elsewhere for more information.
Slowly Kate and Tristan start piecing things together.
This was a fast-paced well written mystery crime thriller with well-defined characters and believable plot. Clues are disclosed on a need-to-know basis, and this gripping novel will keep you hooked until the very last page.
Many thanks to the author, Raven Street Publishing and NetGalley for my digital copy.
Novels In The Kate Marshall Series Include:
1. Nine Elms (2019)
2. Shadow Sands (2020)
3. Darkness Falls (2021)
4. Devil's Way (2023)
5. The Lost Victim (2024)
This is my review of The Lost Victim.
This is the story of a school girl Janey Macklin who disappeared in London in 1988, and now 30 years later private detective Kate Marshall and her associate, Tristan accepts a contract by a crime podcast producer to investigate this cold-case file.
Could Janey have been killed by Peter Conway, the notorious Nine Elms Cannibal?
There was no body or witnesses.
Peter Conway, Kate's ex, a serial killer now in prison in poor health, was the last person to see Janey alive and has been cleared of her murder.
After further investigation and reviewing the case notes, phone calls and limited poor DNA evidence, Kate and Tristan must look elsewhere for more information.
Slowly Kate and Tristan start piecing things together.
This was a fast-paced well written mystery crime thriller with well-defined characters and believable plot. Clues are disclosed on a need-to-know basis, and this gripping novel will keep you hooked until the very last page.
Many thanks to the author, Raven Street Publishing and NetGalley for my digital copy.
May 26, 2024
Poor Kate can’t escape the notorious killer Peter Conway. He’s like a bad penny that just keeps turning up. The new case that her and Tristan are working on, raises the question of whether the disappearance of teenager Janey was one of Peter’s last murders before he was sent down. This opens up a lot of old wounds for Kate.
There is a melancholy feel throughout as Kate has to battle not only with her demons but with the dreaded press who never seem to give her a break. Their quest into a cold case is both sad and surprising. I really felt for Janey’s mum and sister and it’s a reminder of how families are left to cope with the loss of a loved one, more so when they have been left years with no answers.
The storyline had me well and truly hooked. The duo make great progress in a short amount of time which for some reason doesn’t seem to go down to well with the clients who hired them. Everyone seems to be keeping things close to their chests and I was dying to find out just what they were.
The Lost Victim was full of cleverly crafted twists that had me pointing my finger at quite a few of the characters. With so many red herrings, you would need to be Columbo to have any hope of solving this one! At times it makes for some uncomfortable reading as the author knows how to create some seriously sick killers and the prison scenes made my blood boil. Grippingly brilliant and highly addictive, I can’t get enough of this serious!
There is a melancholy feel throughout as Kate has to battle not only with her demons but with the dreaded press who never seem to give her a break. Their quest into a cold case is both sad and surprising. I really felt for Janey’s mum and sister and it’s a reminder of how families are left to cope with the loss of a loved one, more so when they have been left years with no answers.
The storyline had me well and truly hooked. The duo make great progress in a short amount of time which for some reason doesn’t seem to go down to well with the clients who hired them. Everyone seems to be keeping things close to their chests and I was dying to find out just what they were.
The Lost Victim was full of cleverly crafted twists that had me pointing my finger at quite a few of the characters. With so many red herrings, you would need to be Columbo to have any hope of solving this one! At times it makes for some uncomfortable reading as the author knows how to create some seriously sick killers and the prison scenes made my blood boil. Grippingly brilliant and highly addictive, I can’t get enough of this serious!
August 7, 2024
The many authors I read, especially in the action thriller and police thriller, Robert Bryndza, is one I am up to date with, with Kate Marshall and Erika Foster, the slightly stronger series. That cannot be said for many authors. A strong character. a strong story, although in my honest opinion, the slowest of all of his books I have read, still good, just a little heavier than previous books in the series.
When schoolgirl Janey Macklin disappeared from the seedy side of London in 1988, her case went cold, with no body and no witnesses. Now, thirty years later, private detective Kate Marshall has been approached by a true crime podcast producer with an intriguing question they need her help answering: What if Janey was killed by Peter Conway, the notorious Nine Elms Cannibal?
The contract would be the most lucrative of Kate’s career, but it comes with a price of its own, dredging up a sordid, complicated past that she would sooner forget . . . one that the paparazzi are determined to keep in the headlines.
As Kate and her partner, Tristan, scour King’s Cross for clues, no two leads seem to point in the same direction. The last person to see Janey alive has already been tried, convicted, and then acquitted of her murder, Peter Conway is in poor health and fading fast, and the line between their clients and their suspects is blurring with each new revelation about the case.
Still a four star, for the great characters, a collection of them actually
When schoolgirl Janey Macklin disappeared from the seedy side of London in 1988, her case went cold, with no body and no witnesses. Now, thirty years later, private detective Kate Marshall has been approached by a true crime podcast producer with an intriguing question they need her help answering: What if Janey was killed by Peter Conway, the notorious Nine Elms Cannibal?
The contract would be the most lucrative of Kate’s career, but it comes with a price of its own, dredging up a sordid, complicated past that she would sooner forget . . . one that the paparazzi are determined to keep in the headlines.
As Kate and her partner, Tristan, scour King’s Cross for clues, no two leads seem to point in the same direction. The last person to see Janey alive has already been tried, convicted, and then acquitted of her murder, Peter Conway is in poor health and fading fast, and the line between their clients and their suspects is blurring with each new revelation about the case.
Still a four star, for the great characters, a collection of them actually
July 20, 2024
3 stars.
A bit of a let-down. Half-way through, and it becomes pretty obvious for the most part what had happened, so the rest of the book just drags on.
A bit of a let-down. Half-way through, and it becomes pretty obvious for the most part what had happened, so the rest of the book just drags on.
June 17, 2024
Copy received via Netgalley/Raven Street Publishing/Robert Bryndza for an honest review
Wow... just, wow! This is the best Kate Marshall book yet. It is absolutely brilliant.
A cold case from 30 years ago has her wrapped up again in the life of serial killer Peter Conway - when all she has ever wanted was to have her links to him disappear. I liked that we got to go back to him though.
This blended past and present so well. It goes into the world of forensics and how much things have changed since the 80s.
Bryndza is a master a of theory driven stories. There is so many ways this story could have gone, the twists and turns in the array of characters that keep the readers eyes locked on the pages, eager to turn the next page.
And I found myself a lot more emotional than the other books in the series. What Bryndza makes Kate go through in this installment is heartbreaking really, and she has the strenght of an ox to get through it all in my opinion.
I liked the character development throughout the series, absolutely adore Kate, Tristan and Jake and where they are now compared to the first book.
This is a series that I will keep on reading until Bryndza says "enough!". I look forward to seeing what Kate and Tristan tackle next
Wow... just, wow! This is the best Kate Marshall book yet. It is absolutely brilliant.
A cold case from 30 years ago has her wrapped up again in the life of serial killer Peter Conway - when all she has ever wanted was to have her links to him disappear. I liked that we got to go back to him though.
This blended past and present so well. It goes into the world of forensics and how much things have changed since the 80s.
Bryndza is a master a of theory driven stories. There is so many ways this story could have gone, the twists and turns in the array of characters that keep the readers eyes locked on the pages, eager to turn the next page.
And I found myself a lot more emotional than the other books in the series. What Bryndza makes Kate go through in this installment is heartbreaking really, and she has the strenght of an ox to get through it all in my opinion.
I liked the character development throughout the series, absolutely adore Kate, Tristan and Jake and where they are now compared to the first book.
This is a series that I will keep on reading until Bryndza says "enough!". I look forward to seeing what Kate and Tristan tackle next
January 21, 2025
The Lost Victim is the fifth book in the Kate Marshall series by best-selling, award-winning British author, Robert Bryndza. Early in 2018, with poor weather affecting their campground income, PI Kate Marshall and her partner, Tristan Harper need some cases to pay the rent. Kate is a little hesitant at the latest approach: a creative agency that wants to produce a true crime book or podcast about a girl who went missing thirty years earlier.
Fidelis Stafford and her assistant, Maddie want Kate and Tristan to investigate the disappearance of fifteen-year-old Janey Macklin back in December 1988. Janey’s body was never found, but a Real Crime magazine article raises the possibility that Janey was taken by Nine Elms Cannibal, Peter Conway, something mentioned in letters exchanged between the late Judith Leary and jailed child killer, Thomas Black. The man who was imprisoned for Janey’s murder in 1989 was acquitted in 1997 due to lack of evidence.
Kate is well aware that the agency may be involving her just to get access to Conway, and it soon becomes apparent that they are being quite selective in what they reveal to her and Tristan. Questioning family, potential witnesses, associates, neighbours, and possible suspects thirty years on is a challenge: some have changed their names, or disappeared, or died. It doesn’t deter Kate or Tristan, but the idea of seeing Peter Conway is unappealing.
There are a few twists and red herrings before the satisfactory resolution, although some of them stretch the reader’s credibility a bit far, and there are times when the story drags on longer than necessary. This is captivating British crime fiction, and more of the cast will be welcome.
Fidelis Stafford and her assistant, Maddie want Kate and Tristan to investigate the disappearance of fifteen-year-old Janey Macklin back in December 1988. Janey’s body was never found, but a Real Crime magazine article raises the possibility that Janey was taken by Nine Elms Cannibal, Peter Conway, something mentioned in letters exchanged between the late Judith Leary and jailed child killer, Thomas Black. The man who was imprisoned for Janey’s murder in 1989 was acquitted in 1997 due to lack of evidence.
Kate is well aware that the agency may be involving her just to get access to Conway, and it soon becomes apparent that they are being quite selective in what they reveal to her and Tristan. Questioning family, potential witnesses, associates, neighbours, and possible suspects thirty years on is a challenge: some have changed their names, or disappeared, or died. It doesn’t deter Kate or Tristan, but the idea of seeing Peter Conway is unappealing.
There are a few twists and red herrings before the satisfactory resolution, although some of them stretch the reader’s credibility a bit far, and there are times when the story drags on longer than necessary. This is captivating British crime fiction, and more of the cast will be welcome.
July 20, 2024
The Lost Victim is the latest excellent investigative thriller by talented author Robert Bryndza, and the fifth entry in his Kate Marshall series. Kate is a private investigator, formerly a police detective in London, whose career become tangled with the dark doings of fellow cop and boyfriend, Peter Conway, aka the Nine Elms Cannibal. After the notoriety of the case, the subsequent years saw her dismissal from the police force for her behavior and reaction to the trauma of realizing she was having a child by this monster. Now, years later, Kate has a modest PI business and son Jake is a young adult pursuing a career in Los Angeles, California.
In need of cash, Kate agrees to look into the cold case of a school girl, Janey Macklin, presumably murdered 30 years before, and whose body was never found. A team of national podcasters are willing to pay Kate well to discover new information and solve the case.
The plotting of this story is intriguing, complex, and well-paced, with several threads involving predators, prisoners, and victims. It becomes quite a cat and mouse game, and the intensity and excitement mounts toward the conclusion.
Bryndza is very skillful at juxtaposing the dark reality of contemporary criminal activity with the human drama and feelings of the victims and their survivors. So this is also a character-driven story, as world-weary Kate struggles with her past but rises to defend against the real world evils. Her partner, Tristan, is a younger and more optimistic defender of right, and a complimentary character to Kate.
This book can definitely be read as a stand-alone novel, yet I would encourage new readers to go back to books #1-4 to enjoy the richness of the arc of Kate Marshall’s story.
Thank you so much to Raven Street Press, the author, and NetGalley for the ARC. It is a pleasure to read and review Mr. Bryndza’s new thriller.
In need of cash, Kate agrees to look into the cold case of a school girl, Janey Macklin, presumably murdered 30 years before, and whose body was never found. A team of national podcasters are willing to pay Kate well to discover new information and solve the case.
The plotting of this story is intriguing, complex, and well-paced, with several threads involving predators, prisoners, and victims. It becomes quite a cat and mouse game, and the intensity and excitement mounts toward the conclusion.
Bryndza is very skillful at juxtaposing the dark reality of contemporary criminal activity with the human drama and feelings of the victims and their survivors. So this is also a character-driven story, as world-weary Kate struggles with her past but rises to defend against the real world evils. Her partner, Tristan, is a younger and more optimistic defender of right, and a complimentary character to Kate.
This book can definitely be read as a stand-alone novel, yet I would encourage new readers to go back to books #1-4 to enjoy the richness of the arc of Kate Marshall’s story.
Thank you so much to Raven Street Press, the author, and NetGalley for the ARC. It is a pleasure to read and review Mr. Bryndza’s new thriller.
October 11, 2024
I liked this one okay, but I have read better. I figured out where the body was hidden way before they did.
July 19, 2024
Quite surprisingly (considering the previous book), this was a rather good one.
The story was engrossing and I liked how Kate and Tristan acted. Especially the later, who seemed more sure of himself.
What I didn't like was that my e-book edition had two incomplete chapters. In the end, it wasn't a big deal in terms of the story; I don't think I missed a lot. But I paid for this, so it's unfair I don't get to read the whole thing. Shame on you, Raven Street Publishing!
I also thought the end was a bit hurried. After many chapters of investigation, the whole thing is discovered in one chapter. I was seeing the book almost at the end, still no clues about Janey Macklin's murder, and then, almost in a blink of an eye, they know who did it.
But at least it wasn't offensive.
The story was engrossing and I liked how Kate and Tristan acted. Especially the later, who seemed more sure of himself.
What I didn't like was that my e-book edition had two incomplete chapters. In the end, it wasn't a big deal in terms of the story; I don't think I missed a lot. But I paid for this, so it's unfair I don't get to read the whole thing. Shame on you, Raven Street Publishing!
I also thought the end was a bit hurried. After many chapters of investigation, the whole thing is discovered in one chapter. I was seeing the book almost at the end, still no clues about Janey Macklin's murder, and then, almost in a blink of an eye, they know who did it.
But at least it wasn't offensive.
January 10, 2025
Just as engaging as the previous instalments! At first I didn't enjoy that Peter was "dragged" back in but it became a really good subplot for Kate.
November 11, 2024
Toen Janey Macklin in 1988 verdween in een louche buurt in Londen werd na een vluchtig onderzoek haar zaak geseponeerd. Er was immers geen lichaam en er waren geen getuigen.
Nu, dertig jaar later, is privédetective Kate Marshall door een true crime-podcast benaderd met de intrigerende vraag: wat als Janey vermoord was door Peter Conway, de beruchte Nine Elms-kannibaal?
Terwijl Kate en haar partner Tristan King’s Cross afspeuren, stuurt iedere aanwijzing hen een andere richting op. Lukt het Tristan en Kate zich door clandestiene telefoontjes, tientallen jaren oude geheimen en verouderd DNA-bewijs heen te worstelen om de verdwijning van Janey op te lossen?
'Dwaalspoor' is het vijfde deel van de serie met Kate Marshall in de hoofdrol en het begint meteen met een interessante inleiding in het jaar 1988. Je leest hier over de laatste momenten van Janey. Vanaf dan is ze opeens vermist en niemand weet wat er met haar gebeurd is.
Vervolgens maak je een sprong naar het heden en lees je over Kate. Samen met Tristan heeft ze een detectivebureau en wordt er contact met ze opgenomen door mensen die een true crime-podcast hebben. Ze willen de zaak uit 1988 weer onder de loep nemen. Waar is het lichaam van Janey?
Het persoonlijke leven van Kate komt ook deze keer enorm aan bod. Zij heeft namelijk een korte affaire met Peter Conway gehad, een beruchte seriemoordenaar, en samen hebben ze een zoon. Misschien is het daarom handig om bij het eerste deel te beginnen.
Peter Conway speelt dus deze keer weer een hele grote rol en zijn verhaallijn vond ik ook enorm interessant. Is Janey in 1988 ook één van zijn slachtoffers geworden?
Het verhaal is weer prima opgebouwd en ook is de nodige spanning aanwezig. Er komen verschillende verdachten voorbij en op het einde komt de waarheid dan eindelijk naar boven en lees je wat er met Janey is gebeurd.
Ik vond dit dan ook weer een prima deel en kijk weer uit naar een volgend verhaal van @robertbryndza!
Beoordeling: 4,0 ⭐️
Nu, dertig jaar later, is privédetective Kate Marshall door een true crime-podcast benaderd met de intrigerende vraag: wat als Janey vermoord was door Peter Conway, de beruchte Nine Elms-kannibaal?
Terwijl Kate en haar partner Tristan King’s Cross afspeuren, stuurt iedere aanwijzing hen een andere richting op. Lukt het Tristan en Kate zich door clandestiene telefoontjes, tientallen jaren oude geheimen en verouderd DNA-bewijs heen te worstelen om de verdwijning van Janey op te lossen?
'Dwaalspoor' is het vijfde deel van de serie met Kate Marshall in de hoofdrol en het begint meteen met een interessante inleiding in het jaar 1988. Je leest hier over de laatste momenten van Janey. Vanaf dan is ze opeens vermist en niemand weet wat er met haar gebeurd is.
Vervolgens maak je een sprong naar het heden en lees je over Kate. Samen met Tristan heeft ze een detectivebureau en wordt er contact met ze opgenomen door mensen die een true crime-podcast hebben. Ze willen de zaak uit 1988 weer onder de loep nemen. Waar is het lichaam van Janey?
Het persoonlijke leven van Kate komt ook deze keer enorm aan bod. Zij heeft namelijk een korte affaire met Peter Conway gehad, een beruchte seriemoordenaar, en samen hebben ze een zoon. Misschien is het daarom handig om bij het eerste deel te beginnen.
Peter Conway speelt dus deze keer weer een hele grote rol en zijn verhaallijn vond ik ook enorm interessant. Is Janey in 1988 ook één van zijn slachtoffers geworden?
Het verhaal is weer prima opgebouwd en ook is de nodige spanning aanwezig. Er komen verschillende verdachten voorbij en op het einde komt de waarheid dan eindelijk naar boven en lees je wat er met Janey is gebeurd.
Ik vond dit dan ook weer een prima deel en kijk weer uit naar een volgend verhaal van @robertbryndza!
Beoordeling: 4,0 ⭐️
April 17, 2025
Mattig, ik jou nog steeds van de reeks en zijn personages maar ik vond de verhaallijnen maar mager ... niet echt heel spannend. leest wel vlot maar het blijft bij 3 sterren.
July 28, 2025
Brynza raamatute peale on alati üsna kindel minek kui soovid midagi tempokat ja põnevat lugeda. Kate Marshalli sarja olen ma küll juba algusest saadik lugeda, "Kadunud ohver" on sarja viies osa. Seekord pean tõdema, et tõin punkti alla, sest suutsin pahalase enda jaoks ära arvata juba üsna ammu ja seega olulist üllatust selle koha pealt ei tulnud. Küll aga sündmuste käik oli erakordselt põnev ning lõpetasin raamatu kiiresti.
Põnevike ja Bryndza fännidele kindlasti soovitan.
Põnevike ja Bryndza fännidele kindlasti soovitan.
January 11, 2025
Neste 5º livrinho da série da detective Kate Marshall, Robert Bryndza transporta-nos até Londres e leva Kate e Tristan a investigar um desaparecimento / homicídio (?) ocorrido em plenos anos 80, há mais de 30 anos.
É um bom thriller. O final não foi propriamente uma surpresa, mas ainda assim lê-se muito bem!
É um bom thriller. O final não foi propriamente uma surpresa, mas ainda assim lê-se muito bem!
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