ragdoll – Fawkes and Baxter Series Book #1

Author: Daniel Cole
Genre: Thriller, Crime Fiction
376 pages
Publisher: Orion Books, 2017

Synopsis
William Fawkes, a controversial detective known as The Wolf, has just been reinstated to his post after he was suspended for assaulting a vindicated suspect. Still under psychological evaluation, Fawkes returns to the force eager for a big case. When his former partner and friend, Detective Emily Baxter, calls him to a crime scene, he’s sure this is it: the body is made of the dismembered parts of six victims, sewn together like a puppet–a corpse that becomes known as “The Ragdoll.”

Fawkes is tasked with identifying the six victims, but that gets dicey when his reporter ex-wife anonymously receives photographs from the crime scene, along with a list of six names, and the dates on which the Ragdoll Killer plans to murder them.

The final name on the list is Fawkes.

Baxter and her trainee partner, Alex Edmunds, hone in on figuring out what links the victims together before the killer strikes again. But for Fawkes, seeing his name on the list sparks a dark memory, and he fears that the catalyst for these killings has more to do with him–and his past–than anyone realizes.

My review
Ragdoll by Daniel Cole is the first book in the trilogy and had been sitting on my TBR shelf for a couple of years before I finally moved it to the top of my list. I’m so glad that I did. This gritty, dark, and brutal serial killer story was masterfully delivered by Cole, with a well-thought-out and intriguing plot. Trust me, Ragdoll is addictive!

One aspect of the novel that grabbed my interest was Cole’s development of flawed and complex characters, particularly the protagonist Detective Sergeant William Fawkes, known as Wolf. His backstory was cleverly and seamlessly revealed throughout the story, adding depth to the narrative. I was drawn into the story by this character development and found Wolf to be completely believable.

The plot was original and intricately woven, and I was on the edge of my seat with the fast-paced narrative and unexpected twists. Each twist in the story added a new layer of complexity and it was impossible to put the book down.

Ragdoll is an intelligent and gripping example of crime fiction and I found myself completely engrossed in the investigation. Cole’s skillful storytelling kept the momentum going, ensuring that there was never a dull moment, and I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough to uncover the next twist in the tale. I look forward to reading Hangman, the next installment in the series.

My recommendation: read it!