Mutilated

Second in a series by Will Patching. Not for the squeamish, but if you like your crime gritty and nasty, this is the book for you!

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Book description

A serial killer challenges criminal profiler, Doctor Colin Powers, to solve several cold case mutilation murders, while Detective Inspector Jack Carver investigates a newly dismembered victim.
An unlikely coincidence?
Is a vicious psychopath from Doc’s past somehow involved, despite having been incarcerated for two decades?
And most importantly to Doc, where is his lover, Judy Finch, who went missing several months ago..?

Find out in Mutilated - the second 'stand alone' novel in this dark, gritty, British Crime Thriller trilogy.

My review -

Second in a series, this is not for the squeamish. In a complex story, Will Patching shows us the work of an evil genius who uses others for his own ends. He uses punishment by mutilation, but pulls others into his orbit to taunt DI Carver and his consultant, Doctor Powers. It’s a graphic, exciting and pretty horrific story in which nothing is quite as simple as it first appears. A great read.

About the author

Will Patching was born and raised in ‘Sarf Lunnon’, Engerland, or at least, that’s how he pronounces it! Hence, many scenes from his novels are situated in London, the surrounding suburbs and other parts of southeast England, though they also span as far afield as Thailand and the USA.

His approach to writing is to hit the reader with hard truths about the world we live in, and his mysteries, thrillers, and suspense novels are designed to set your pulse pounding. One male reader decided he needed to check his door locks late one night while reading Remorseless and subsequently commented on social media: 

‘Seriously scary!’

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Just a thought - I owe everything I am and everything I will ever be to books.

Gary Paulsen

Remorseless

I've read a trilogy by Will Patching and have been intending to read this book for some time. It's the start of another trilogy and it's hooked me!

Amazon UK link

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Book description

Peter Leech is a cunning, devious killer, brutalized by half a lifetime in prison for the vicious murder of his parents. Now he’s up for parole and, one way or another, he wants out.

He's driven by his obsessive lust for Judy Finch - an attractive parole officer who spurned his advances - and his thirst for revenge on those he blames for his conviction.

His nemesis, Doc Powers, the forensic psychiatrist who assessed his mental health for trial, is now on the panel reviewing Leech’s parole application. But Doc fears for his own sanity. His feelings of guilt over his wife’s death and his terrible experiences as a criminal profiler threaten to overwhelm him. Hallucinations haunt Doc as he struggles to convince his colleagues that Leech is a dangerous unreformed psychopath.

A blossoming relationship with Judy helps Doc heal – emotionally and professionally – but he soon discovers he’s ill-prepared for Leech’s re-entry into his life...

My review -

I’ve read Will Patching’s work before so I knew I was in for an exciting ride. This is the story of a very manipulative man who is released after eighteen years in prison. He maintains his innocence of the original crime. The author takes us into his mind and we realise how deep is his thirst for revenge. It’s impossible to predict who will end up in his sights. I enjoyed every moment of this fast-paced thriller.

Author info

Will Patching writes gritty crime stories that mix murder mystery, psychological suspense and intense thrills while offering unique insights into the darker side of human nature. His 'pull no punches' style and sparse but often brutal descriptive passages will not suit all readers, so if you are into cozy mysteries you might want to look elsewhere!

With complex plots and rounded characters, Will's novels are necessarily longer than average, usually well over 100,000 words, so these are definitely stories designed for readers who like to really get their teeth into a good yarn! 

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Just a thought - I cannot sleep unless I am surrounded by books.

― Jorge Luis Borges

Will Patching

Third in this super-fast trilogy.

The Hangman

Amazon.com link

My review -

This is the explosive finale to The Hack trilogy and takes a sideways look at recent political developments. Someone is trying to foment war in the Middle East. Kate, the journalist in this set of novels, is caught up in a terrorist attack in London – but who is behind it? Doug Hunter is on the same mission at the other side of the world but longs to leave it all behind him and disappear into an ordinary life somewhere.

I am used to thriller novels building up to a massively suspenseful climax but with Will Patching, the whole thing is climactic. We reel from crisis to crisis, horror to horror and scarcely get time to draw breath. This is thriller writing at its best. The whole trilogy is highly recommended.

The Hunter

The second in Will Patching's Hack series. Compulsive reading!

The Hunter

Amazon.com link

My review -

Put together an investigative journalist and an ex-CIA agent with a vigilante attitude and you have a great premise for a thriller. The author can make you care about characters you suspect you wouldn’t like in real life. A serial killer is bad but some of the ruthless and grossly rich people he’s up against are worse. This is a thrill a minute and a worthy follow up to The Hack. I think it could be read as a stand-alone but these books are so good that I read them back to back. Great writing and a brilliant story.

Will Patching

A new author for me but I've just bought book two in this series of three! This one's free - tempted? 

The Hack

Amazon.com link

My review -

Wow, what a book! The title can be taken several ways, as its different meanings are incorporated into the story. It ranges from tabloid journalism, computer hacking, the CIA, child prostitution and pornography. It’s got a Thailand connection, a link to the president of the US, to a British Lord, to Russia – it’s an amazingly wide-ranging story which has its roots in the truth. You will scarcely get time to draw breath. It’s brilliantly written and the characters are largely not black and white, but multiple grey shades – and I found myself rooting for people I’d consider bad in normal life. This is so good I’ve downloaded and started the second in the series. Will Patching rocks!