WHEN I LOST YOU by Merilyn Davies

A gritty, heart-stopping debut that perfectly blends psychological thriller with police procedural.

Former MET Police Crime Analyst, Merilyn Davies, has created a chilling, authentic world that will totally consume you.

WHEN I LOST YOU will enthral fans of LINE OF DUTY, Cara Hunter, Helen Fields and Fiona Barton.

When a couple are the lead suspects in the murder of their only child, Thames Valley Police Crime Analyst Carla Brown and DS Nell Jackson are assigned to investigate.

A terrible case, but seemingly simple to solve, as all evidence points to the parents… But something doesn’t feel right. The couple are adamant it wasn’t them, and when the father is found dead only a few days later with mysterious letters carved into his skin, their protests of innocence don’t seem quite so hard to believe.

The case is quickly cast into doubt when the lead forensic pathologist starts receiving threatening letters alluding to a secret past – containing details only the police should know.

With so many people hiding secrets, Carla and Nell must work desperately to find out the truth – even if it hits close to home.

Introducing female crime fighting duo, Crime Analyst Carla Brown and DS Nell Jackson, When I Lost You marks the start of an addictive new crime series.

Merilyn Davies is a former Crime Analyst with the Metropolitan Police who worked as part of the violent and hate crime unit for eight years. She was inspired to write about strong women working in the police force thanks to the incredible women she encountered on the force, and was fascinated to explore the relationship between civilians working in the force and police officers, drawing on her own experiences being married to a serving MET officer.

She decided to set her debut thriller in her home her home city of Oxford, but the action all takes place away from the dreaming spires in parts tourists don’t stop at. She studied Sociology at university and is fascinated with the manner in which society leads people down criminal paths. She was co-founder of the Chipping Norton Literary Festival and now works for Oxford City Council. Follow Merilyn on Twitter @nellbelleandme #WhenILostYou

My Review:

For DS Nell Jackson the City of Oxford brings the usual problems you’d expect to find in any place largely populated by students, and also more hard hitting crime – and the premise for When I lost you – Murder.

Nell is faced with an infantile death, that finds Eve Graham a pathologist blaming the mother, despite the mother giving details as to what happened. It echos a previous child’s death and subsequent prison term for Joanne, now released due to the the re-examination of her case.

But Eve starts receiving letters, the writer unknown and yet they know details, personal details, who’s sending them? – how do they know these thing about Eves past? A deep and dark past that comes back to haunt her and test her will.

Its up to Nell and her sidekick Carla Brown – crime Analyst – to solve these and find the individuals whove murdered the next victim, Connor O’Brian

Nell and Carla make a great team – and the fact that author Merilyn Davies worked as Crime Analyst herself, shows that the processes Carla goes through and the way Nell uses her police skills from the field are used in real life.

I think this book shows great thought and meticulous planning has gone in it to this strong debut and believe this is only the start for Merilyn Davies. Shes covered some sensitive subjects and handled them sympathetically and I for one will be following Nell & Carla’s progress and believe this is the start of something great for Jackson & Brown.

Pre-order When I Lost you here https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/When-I-Lost-You-by-Merilyn-Davies-author/9781787461550

@nellbelleandme #WhenILostYou

@rachel90kennedy @arrowpublishing