#ADGIFTED all thoughts and opinions are my own.

THE HARDWICK HEATH KILLER (DI Nicki Hardcastle mysteries Book 3) by Michelle Kidd

MEET DETECTIVE NICKI HARDCASTLE IN THIS BRILLIANT NEW SUFFOLK-BASED CRIME SERIES.

Two grisly murders. Three days apart. One brutal killer?

The call comes at midnight on a stormy March night. A body has been found hanging from a tree on Hardwick Heath. In the dead man’s pocket is a handwritten note: SORRY. LIFE IS JUST TOO HARD. LOVE TO YOU ALL.

Detective Nicki’s instincts tell her this was no suicide — but someone has gone to a lot of trouble to make it look like one.

Three days later, a second body is found floating in a pond, just a few miles away. But the victim didn’t drown.

The police are treating the deaths as separate cases. Then Nicki uncovers a link between the two dead men — and the case takes a shocking twist.

As she unearths a series of secrets stretching back twenty years, Nicki and her team find themselves in a race against time before more people die.

Perfect for fans of Helen H. Durrant, Joy Ellis, Ann Cleeves, Angela Marsons and Rachel McLean.

READERS LOVE the Nicki Hardcastle series:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Lots of twists and turns . . . A riveting read.’ Jane M.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Full of suspense and intrigue that kept me going ‘til the last page.’ Michelle G.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘This book had a bit of everything! It had high suspense, intrigue, murder, mystery, a serial killer, some great police work and some crazy twists and turns! . . . Had me glued to my Kindle!’ Debbie B.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Not for the faint-hearted . . . The ideal thriller with enough red herrings to keep me guessing. Very enjoyable.’ Debra G.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I loved the story as it unfolded, with surprises along the way.’ Steven S.

THE DETECTIVE
Detective Nicki Hardcastle is in her early thirties. She’s an independent, determined woman who is good at her job and treats her team with the respect they deserve. When she was ten years old, her little brother Dean disappeared. Nicki was supposed to be watching him. Now, she is estranged from her family, and finds it difficult to let people get close to her. Contentedly single, Nicki’s perfect evening consists of a long run followed by a hot bath. Her closest companion is her cat, Luna.

THE SETTING
Bury St Edmunds is a picturesque market town in the heart of Suffolk, on the east coast of England. Founded in the 11th century, the town is notable for its rich and colourful history. Tourists flock to see the ruins of the medieval abbey and maybe catch a glimpse of the infamous ghostly ‘Grey Lady’. It’s also home to the Angel Hotel, once frequented by Charles Dickens, and the Nutshell, famous for
being Britain’s smallest pub. It’s an unlikely setting for murder. But its tranquil surroundings and stunning architecture hide a darker side.

ALSO BY MICHELLE KIDD:
DI NICKI HARDCASTLE
Book 1: MISSING BOY
Book 2: THE TROPHY KILLER
Book 3: THE HARDWICK HEATH KILLER

DI JACK MACINTOSH
Book 1: SEVEN DAYS TO DIE
Book 2: FIFTEEN REASONS TO KILL
Book 3: SIXTEEN CARVED PIECES
Book 4: TWENTY YEARS BURIED
Book 5: THREE BROKEN BODIES

Author Bio – MICHELLE KIDD 
Michelle Kidd is a crime fiction author best known for the DI Jack MacIntosh and DI Nicki Hardcastle series. Michelle qualified as a legal executive in the early 1990s, spending ten years practising civil and criminal litigation.
But the dream to write was never far from her mind and in 2008 she began writing the first book in what would later become the DI Jack MacIntosh series. Michelle now works full time for the NHS and lives in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk. She enjoys reading, wine and cats — not necessarily in that order. 
BOOKS BY MICHELLE KIDD:
DI JACK MACINTOSH SERIES: 
· SEVEN DAYS TO DIE
· FIFTEEN REASONS TO KILL
· SIXTEEN CARVED PIECES
· TWENTY YEARS BURIED
FOLLOW MICHELLE ON:
TWITTER
AUTHOR WEBSITE
FACEBOOK

My Review I don’t believe I’ve come across this author before, and wow, I’m hooked. I love how the murders are outwardly looking like a suicide, or the next a drowning, but really foul play is afoot. Surely they are connected, we get taken on a journey of pure excitement and dogged police detective work, carefully Nicki pieces them together, when all around her think they are separate cases. I think this is a third book in a series, but I had no idea while reading this, so it clearly stands alone. The writing style is very pleasing and flows so well, giving us well liked and easily relatable characters and dilemmas. Got to be one of my favourites this year. I like that there is a side undercurrent story going alongside, so if you read more of these books, I’m sure those parts will connect each one for you.