The Ripple Effect

Dead Man’s Daughter by Roz Watkins is a marvellous contemporary psychological murder thriller that will have you hooked from the start. It is the second book in the D.I Meg Dalton series but can be read as a stand-alone. However for maximum enjoyment I would recommend reading book one The Devil’s Dice first.

I loved returning to familiar faces and following the latest case. Roz Watkins has created realistic characters in that they are not perfect but have their hang ups. It is easy to identify with the main characters. The plotline is intricate and well thought out and executed.

Once again the Peak District is the setting. It is refreshing to read of places I know. The whole novel is very atmospheric with dark winter evenings and snow on high ground.

The tension is palpable from the start. A horrific crime is committed with the reader finding the evidence incredulous. Like Meg Dalton, we do not want to believe what we are seeing. We cheer her on as she digs deeper.

There are the difficult subjects of organ donation and suicide. These are sensitively portrayed by Roz Watkins.

Traumatic childhood events remain even into adulthood. “I don’t want to spend my whole life defined by this… I’m not just the woman who found her sister hanging.” (No spoilers here as this happened in childhood many years before book one opened) Some events mean recovery is slow or not at all.

This has been another fantastic offering from Roz Watkins. I really hope that a producer from the BBC or ITV out there spots the potential of these D.I. Meg Dalton books as I think they would translate perfectly into a television series.

I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.

JULIA WILSON