‘Mimic’ by Daniel Cole | @DanielColeBooks @orion_crime | #recommended #20BooksofSummer

Author : Daniel Cole
Title : Mimic
Pages : 350
Publisher : Trapeze / Orion UK
Publication date : August 19, 2021

| ABOUT THE BOOK |

1989. DS Benjamin Chambers and DC Adam Winters are on the trail of a serial killer with a twisted passion for recreating the world’s greatest works of art through the bodies of his victims. After Chambers nearly loses his life, the case goes cold due to lack of evidence. The killer lies dormant, his collection unfinished.

Seven years later. 
DS Marshall has excelled through the ranks of the Metropolitan Police Service, despite being haunted by the case that defined her teenage years. She obtains new evidence and joins Chambers and Winters to reopen the case. However, their resurrected investigation brings about a fresh reign of terror, the team treading a fine line between justice and vigilante in pursuit of a monster far more dangerous and intelligent than any of them had anticipated.

| MY THOUGHTS |

Daniel Cole is back and I couldn’t be more excited! After the success of his ‘Ragdoll‘ trilogy, Daniel returns with a stand-alone thriller featuring a serial killer on a mission. This killer mimics well-known masterpieces of art. Think Venus de Milo, for instance. And then imagine the sheer brutality of trying to copy that statue with a human being. There is a method to this killer’s madness, there is a muse and there is a goal to achieve.

This serial killer first pops up in 1989. Enter DS Chambers and DC Winters, who quite frankly might just be a new favourite pairing of mine. Unfortunately, their investigation comes to an abrupt end, and years later, it is remarkably obvious how much of a toll this case had on both of them. Physically and mentally, neither are the same. But when a young and ambitious DS Marshall finds new evidence, she enlists their help to reopen the case and finally put this dangerous killer behind bars.

This book is utterly fantastic! First of all, the pace is so spot-on that I just couldn’t stop reading. Then, of course, there is the utterly sadistic killer. For most of the book, their identity is known to the reader but they always seem to be one step ahead and let me tell you, the frustration is real. Argh! Throughout my hardback copy, I found beautiful drawings of the art pieces this mimic is copying, which stood in such stark contrast to the horrifying scenes of death that were supposed to depict the same “beautiful art”. Super nice touch.

Then, there’s the setting of 1989 and 1996. I absolutely adored this time and place for the story. No CCTV cameras on every street corner, no endlessly boring trawling through databases. Good old fashioned detective work, research, pounding the pavement, pestering suspects, maybe digging up a garden in between and why the hell not. But also phone booths! Ah, bless the old days. 😄

But most of all, it was the characters of DS Benjamin Chambers and DC Adam Winters that drew me in. I became incredibly invested in them. Spurring them on, wanting good things for them – which obviously included stopping this madman – but also just happiness, both at work and at home.The banter between them feels incredibly natural, their dialogues are believable, and at times I absolutely chuckled out loud at the delightful sense of humour. This was definitely the case in the part dealing with 1989.

I wasn’t entirely sure about DS Marshall in the beginning. I didn’t quite trust her, or like her for that matter. Her angle as to why she joined the police couldn’t really convince me, and to be honest I just thought her name spelled trouble. I can admit when I’m wrong. Marshall ended up fitting into this team like a glove. Suddenly a favourite duo became a favourite trio, and I can honestly say I do so hope there will be more from these three in the future.

Some days I feel like the crime fiction genre is all over the place. The same old but with a different cover, or stories that need belief suspended so much I might as well be reading fantasy. I fully admit I’ve been “in a mood” for ages but then something like this comes along. I thoroughly enjoyed everything about ‘Mimic’. It’s full of suspense, fabulously dark and twisted, and just … fun. A whole lot of fun from start to finish with a superb plot, and fantastic characters. Thrilled to bits that Daniel Cole is back, and ‘Mimic‘ is wholeheartedly recommended by yours truly. I would just really like some more now, please and thank you.

Amazon UK | Hive UK | Kobo | Waterstones

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20 Books of Summer : 17/20