Will To Live – Rachel Amphlett @RachelAmphlett

5*

Reputation is everything. When a packed commuter train runs over a body on a stretch of track known to locals as Suicide Mile, it soon transpires that the man was a victim of a calculated murder. As the investigation evolves and a pattern of murders is uncovered, Detective Sergeant Kay Hunter realises the railway’s recent reputation may be the work of a brutal serial killer. With a backlog of cold cases to investigate and attempting to uncover who is behind a professional vendetta against her, Kay must keep one step ahead of both the killer and her own adversaries. When a second murder takes place within a week of the first, she realises the killer’s timetable has changed, and she’s running out of time to stop him.

Will To Live is the second book in the Kay Hunter series and it’s even better than the first one.

When a train runs over a body on the tracks, it soon becomes clear this wasn’t a suicide. It doesn’t take long for Kay to realise there may be more victims of this novel way of murdering someone.

Meanwhile, it’s also becoming increasingly obvious that someone is raging a personal vendetta against her. But who? And why? Kay continues to investigate but is she putting anyone in danger by doing so?

One of the things I love so much about this series are the various layers and threads. There’s the murder investigation, there’s the personal investigation and there’s Kay’s private life. The moments when she’s at home with Adam, who keeps bringing animals home (thank goodness not a snake this time!), offer some relief from the dark brutality of the murders. Not just for her, but for us as a reader too. It works like a charm.

This is quite a quick and action-packed read. All the characters in the team work really well together, even though you’re left to wonder who Kay can trust. There’s something quite natural about the way Rachel Amphlett writes and I can see myself having the kinds of conversation her characters have. Nothing stilted here.

While this can be read as a stand-alone, I suggest you read Scared To Death first. And then get comfortable because I have no doubt there is way more to come from Kay and Rachel Amphlett.

Will To Live is out now.

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