Roses for the Dead by Chris McDonald – Review | Blog Tour

Many thanks to Meggy from Red Dog Press for my spot on this blog tour.

WHAT’S THE BOOK ABOUT

2013

Rockstar Johnny Mayhem sits on his bed, holding a bloody baseball bat. On the floor, clutching a lavender rose in her fist, is his wife, Amanda, who he has just beaten to death. Erika Piper knows this because she is one of the first on the scene. Mayhem is arrested and led away, screaming that they’ve got the wrong man. But the evidence is irrefutable and when Mayhem is sentenced to life in prison, no one is surprised.

Now

Thanks to new evidence, Johnny Mayhem is a now free man. During a television interview, he issues a thinly veiled threat to those involved in the original case before seemingly disappearing off the face of the Earth. When the body of Mayhem’s dealer is found, Erika Piper is pulled from the safety of her desk job and thrown into the hunt for the Rockstar. Can she find Mayhem before he can enact his revenge or everyone involved, including Erika? Or, has he been telling the truth all along? Did the police really get the wrong man?

Roses for the Dead by Chris McDonald – Review | Blog Tour

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 4 out of 5.

WHY YOU SHOULD READ THIS BOOK

Upon reading The Curious Dispatch of Daniel Costello by Chris McDonald, I had found his writing style to be fun and easy. So, when I got the chance to read Roses for the Dead, the final installment in the DI Erika Piper series, I jumped at it. I am glad to say, I loved the book.

McDonald maintains his writing style in Roses for the Dead. Easy to slip into, no introductions required. However, not fun. A series of gruesome murders keep the police and the readers on their toes. The murderer is too clever. He (or is it she?) leaves behind clues deliberately mocking the police and leaving them befuddled. Erika and her partner, Andy, are at their wit’s end trying to figure out the murderer’s identity.

McDonald seamlessly intersperses these somber events with light-hearted moments such as Erika having drinks and conversations with her friends, sharing a light moment with her partner, Andy, or even cuddling, feeding, and rocking her toddler to sleep.

While Erika (and the reader) is anxious about finding the killer as soon as possible, McDonald also bares Erika’s dilemma between choosing a boring but safe desk job or an exciting but dangerous job of a DI.

Roses for the Dead is gripping and cleverly written. The little clues left throughout the text builds to an explosive climax. I honestly had not anticipated the killer’s identity, nor the final revelation at the end.

Crime fiction lovers will like Roses for the Dead by Chris McDonald.

Roses for the Dead by Chris McDonald

BOOK DETAILS

Genre: Crime Fiction ||  To be Published on 13th April 2021 by Red Dog Press

AUthor Bio

Chris McDonald

Originally hailing from the north coast of Northern Ireland and now residing in South Manchester, Chris McDonald has always been a reader. At primary school, The Hardy Boys inspired his love of adventure before his reading world was opened up by Chuck Palahniuk and the gritty world of crime. A Wash of Black is his first attempt at writing a book. He came up with the initial idea whilst feeding his baby in the middle of the night, which may not be the best thing to admit, considering the content. He is a fan of 5-a-side football, heavy metal and dogs. Whispers in the Dark is the second installment in the DI Erika Piper series, and Chris is currently working on his latest series, The Stonebridge Mysteries, to be published by Red Dog Press in 2021.

AUTHOR Links

Twitter: @cmacwritescrime