Review copy was received from Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
A Life for a Life by Carol Wyer Narrator: Henrietta Meire
Published by Brilliance Audio, Thomas & Mercer on March 15, 2022
Genres: Mystery, Thriller
Length: 10 hours, 5 minutes
Format: Audiobook, eARC
Source: Publisher
Goodreads
Amazon, Audible
When a young man is found lying on a station platform with a hole in his head, DI Kate Young is called in to investigate the grisly murder. But the killing is no one-off. As bodies start to pile up, she is faced with what might be an impossible task—to hunt down a ruthless killer on a seemingly random rampage.
Meanwhile, Kate has her own demons to battle as she struggles to come to terms with her husband’s death. And she is hell-bent on exposing corruption within the force and bringing Superintendent John Dickson to justice. But with the trail of deception running deeper—and closer to home—than she could ever have imagined, she no longer knows who she can trust.
A Life for a Life might be the end of the Detective Kate Young series, but I hope not. The plot gives us some layers with a serial killer, Kate’s personal grief and career aspirations and her investigation into her husband’s death and department corruption. The ending is a bit vague so I’d like more to see what happens.
Kate is smart but still burdened by the death of her husband. She has shut herself off a bit with still trying to feel her husband with her.  She talks to her sister Tilly but otherwise keeps isolated so others don’t know she is still investigating. It’s dangerous to her and potential witnesses if the corrupted realize her efforts. Her father’s best friend, William, is retiring and encourages her to try for a promotion.
The serial killer is taking out another person daily. It takes a few days and a profiler and Kate’s intuition to grasp that the killer suffered a tragedy and is grieving. It takes a lot of good police work to narrow down and find the killer.
Kate continues to collect evidence and witnesses, to finish the story her husband was killed to stop, into police corruption.  She argues with herself about how to safeguard witnesses because all of them she has found have been murdered, including an officer who caught on to the corruption. Kate can’t trust people she knows well and expects to be on her side. She learns her father and his best friend, William, might have known or been in on it. She finally makes some real progress which is exciting!
Narration:
This narrator was new to me with this series. I have settled into her performance and am enjoying the voices for the different characters. Kate is the primary character and her voice fits well. Both male and female voices sound appropriate for the region.  The voices were differentiated for other characters. I listened a bit slower at 1.25x speed this time.
Listen to a clip: HERE
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About Carol Wyer
A former teacher and linguist, Carol began writing full-time in 2009 and enjoyed much success with several comedies and humorous non-fiction books, one of which, Grumpy Old Menopause won her the People’s Book Prize Award in 2015.
January 2017, saw her move into police procedurals with Little Girl Lost, the first in the DI Robyn Carter series, that featured in USA Today Top 150 best selling books and became the #2 best-selling book on Amazon. The books, set in Staffordshire where Carol has lived for over 30 years, earned her acclaim as a crime writer and in 2018, a new team lead by DI Natalie Ward was introduced to her readers.
She currently lives on a windy hill in rural Staffordshire with her husband Mr Grumpy… who is very, very grumpy.
When she is not plotting devious murders, she can be found performing her comedy routine, Smile While You Still Have Teeth.
I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 22-COYER
Anne, a very genuine thank you for reviewing the audiobook and for taking part in the book tour. I enjoy Henrietta’s narration and as you point out, it suits Kate’s character very well.
There will be another two books in this series. I’m currently writing the 4th, A Truth for a Truth so this isn’t the end for Kate Young even after that ending!
Huge thanks for this super review. I hope you’ll join Kate Young, Henrietta and me again next time xoxo
Thank you so much for commenting and letting me know there will be more in the series. I’m excited to continue the series!
Thanks for the heads up on this series. It sounds like one I would like. 🙂
I hope you do enjoy it. There are minor things which might be viewed as paranormal or psychic. It’s all very believable though.
I will definitely have to look into this series. My kind of read. Thanks for putting it on my radar.
I hope you get to try it. This is the third in the series and I would read them in order.
This does sound really good! Kate sounds like a great character and the mystery sounds interesting.
I love how smart Kate is and she deserves to lead the team and be promoted. I’m also happy to learn there will be at least 2 more books.
I could kick myself for not getting this series from the beginning! Great review, Anne💜
I hope you enjoy it.