New Release Book Review: Mirror Man by Fiona McIntosh

New Release Book Review: Mirror Man by Fiona McIntosh

Title: Mirror Man

Author: Fiona McIntosh

Published: June 1st 2021

Publisher: Penguin Books Australia

Pages: 416

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary, Crime, Mystery, Suspense, Thriller

RRP: $32.99

Rating: 4 stars

On the streets of England, a hunter is on the loose.

The highly anticipated new crime thriller in the DCI Jack Hawksworth series.

‘There is a connection, Jack. Find it, or you’ll never find him.’

Police are baffled by several deaths, each unique and bizarre in their own way – and shockingly brutal. Scotland Yard sends in its crack DCI, the enigmatic Jack Hawksworth, who wastes no time in setting up Operation Mirror. His chief wants him to dismiss any plausibility of a serial killer before the media gets on the trail.

With his best investigative team around him, Jack resorts to some unconventional methods to disprove or find a link between the gruesome deaths. One involves a notorious serial killer from his past, and the other, a smart and seductive young journalist who’ll do anything to catch her big break.

Discovering he’s following the footsteps of a vigilante and in a race against time, Jack will do everything it takes to stop another killing – but at what personal cost for those he holds nearest and dearest?

By the bestselling author of Bye Bye Baby and Beautiful Death comes this heart-stopping new thriller that questions whether one life is worth more than another.

Review:

Charming and charismatic DCI Jack Hawksworth makes a triumphant return for a third time in Mirror Man. A thorough and intriguing police procedural, Mirror Man is another thrilling title from Fiona McIntosh. Fans of crime thrillers and solid police investigation titles should not miss this release.

A dangerous killer is stalking the streets in Britain, committing a series of seemingly unrelated deaths. With police unable to put a stop to these strange and brutal crimes, they call in the services of Scotland Yard DCI Jack Hawksworth. Soon after being assigned to this case, this seasoned DCI creates Operation Mirror, in his attempt to capture the killer. Keen to keep the media away from the news that a serial killer is operating in London, Jack surrounds himself with an experienced and dedicated investigation team. Despite their commitment, knowledge and skills, Operation Mirror struggles to find any connection between the unusual deaths that are occurring. Turning to some alternative methods and unconventional support systems, Jack knows he is facing an uphill battle in capturing this deranged killer before they strike again.

Confession time, I have had McIntosh’s previous two crime fiction novels sitting on my TBR shelf for far too long. An opportunity presented itself from the publisher of this novel to read and review the third book in this series, Mirror Man. Although I was a touch apprehensive about starting a book that is already part of an established series, I am glad I gave Mirror Man a chance as I found it a very entertaining crime thriller offering, that I was able to enjoy as a standalone story.

DCI Jack Hawksworth really makes this book something special. Jack is interesting, handsome, likeable, charming and authentic. I liked Jack’s interactions with his known acquaintances, colleagues and the new players in this novel, it was a pleasurable experience to engage the dialogue in this novel. I really found myself cheering Jack on, hoping that he would be able to ensnare the perpetrator. The clear and believable presentation of Jack’s character, along with the support cast really allows the reader to indulge in a solid crime fiction read. If I had any doubt of Fiona McIntosh’s ability to cross genres, this story definitely proves otherwise.

With some familiar and not so familiar players supporting Jack, Mirror Man proved to be a story with high entertainment value. The killer is revealed fairly clearly and early on in the book, but the resulting storyline surrounding the investigation, as well the tactics involved in the case helps to elevate Mirror Man to a high level crime read. The overall plot focus is realistic and intriguing, revealing a great deal about the state of police affairs in Britain. McIntosh also places a critical eye on the state of the law system, policy, punishment, imprisonment, parole procedures and the ability for prisoners to assimilate into society following their prison terms. This is all great food for thought, especially for seasoned crime readers.

With a few surprises, deviations, turns and pit stops, the reader is taken on quite a hair-raising ride with DCI Jack Hawksworth and his crew in their efforts to put a stop to a killer with an unusual strike system. Readers who love to indulge in astute crime thriller novels will be sure to consume Mirror Man in one easy bite.

Mirror Man by Fiona McIntosh was published on 1st June 2021 by Penguin Books Australia. Details on how to purchase the book can be found here.

To learn more about the author of Mirror Man, Fiona McIntosh, visit here.

*I wish to thank Penguin Books Australia for providing me with a free copy of this book for review purposes.

Mirror Man is book #56 of the 2021 Australian Women Writers Challenge

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