“Detective Inspector Helen Grace is no stranger to tragedy. But when a body is found in a Southampton nightclub, the death cuts too close to the bone.

Hiding her personal connection to the victim – and a double-life which must remain secret at all costs – Helen becomes a woman possessed, working her team around the clock to chase down every lead.

As the killer strikes again, the investigation takes its toll not only on Helen but also her senior officers. Tempers flare, friendships fray and Helen faces an impossible choice.

Confess her sins and lose control of the case? Or keep living a lie, protecting her darkest secrets, and risk getting trapped in this tangled web?

But whatever she does, this killer will not stop until the truth is revealed: there are some fates worse than death . . .”

Back in January I confessed to a girl crush on a new detective.  However, I have to tell you that DI Helen Grace was my first ‘womance’ and nothing has changed!  I love the DI Grace series.  If you need someone on your side in a tricky situation then it’s got to be Helen!

I did however blush ever so slightly whilst reading this book as the killings centre around the BDSM community.  If you don’t know what that is I’m afraid I’m not going to tell you but go and google it (then delete your browsing history immediately!).

A body is discovered in ‘The Torture Rooms’, a BDSM nightclub in Southampton.  DI Grace is called to the scene but quickly discovers that she knows the victim….intimately. Normally in this situation the officer in charge would declare their connection and step down from the investigation but not our Helen, oh no.  She becomes heavily involved in the case but then more murders take place and things start to spiral out of control.

It’s an edge of your seat kind of read; M J Arlidge has done it again with another blinder of a story.  When I say things start spiralling out of control for DI Grace I REALLY mean it.  I couldn’t get over the conclusion of the book and it has left me longing for the next instalment.  Little Boy Blue is published in the UK on 10th March so go and get yourself a copy (along with the first four books).  I dare you not to love DI Grace.

Four out of five stars.

Many thanks to Penguin UK – Michael Joseph, NetGalley and the M J Arlidge for providing with an ARC in return for an honest review.