The Killer In Room Five

Author: Sam Holland
Genre: Crime Fiction
449 pages
Publisher: Hemlock Press

Synopsis
A terrible confession
In an isolated room in Hollowpines, an infamous psychiatric hospital, Joe Sinclair is confessing to a violent murder.

An impossible crime
Locked away, Joe couldn’t possibly have killed the man, so how does he know so many of the horrifying details?

A detective at her limits
Suspended after a colleague was stabbed on her watch, DC Abby Fox has only just returned to work. But at Hollowpines, she must find out what really happened and how exactly Joe is involved.

Is he to blame, or the only one who can stop the killer?

My review
The Killer in Room Five is a crime thriller by Sam Holland, and as someone who’s read all of her previous novels, I was excited to dive into this standalone. It absolutely carries Holland’s signature style, though it feels a little less dark and emotionally heavy than her Major Crimes series. Rather than exploring deeper moral questions, this is simply a well-crafted, highly entertaining crime novel that knows exactly what it wants to be.

Set mostly within the walls of a secure psychiatric unit, The Killer in Room Five is a fast-paced and intense thriller where both patients and staff are hiding dangerous secrets. The cast of characters is unsettling and layered, with traumatic pasts gradually coming to light, adding depth and steadily building the tension.

Holland’s short chapters and sharp pacing make this an easy book to race through. She manages to weave in the characters’ backstories without slowing the momentum, and despite its length, I finished it in no time because I simply didn’t want to put it down.

The Killer in Room Five is a fun, addictive serial killer thriller that delivers exactly the kind of suspense I’ve come to expect from Holland. I’ll definitely remain a huge fan, and I can’t help but wonder if this standalone might grow into a new series.

My recommendation: definitely worth the read!