“EVERY MURDER IS A SIGN.

In a society divided along Zodiac lines, status is cast at birth – and binding for life. Who you are can be determined by a matter of days, hours, even minutes.

Even for the most experienced detectives, every once in a while a murder can shake them to the core. Like when the Chief of Police is killed in his own home.

For Detective Jerome Burton, catching the case will change his life forever.

Because this murder is only the first piece of a vast and twisted puzzle made of secrets, lies and tragedy.

The signs are everywhere. But is the truth written in the stars or hiding in the shadows?

You know that feeling when you’re really looking forward to reading a book but it doesn’t quite hit the mark?  Yeah, that feeling.  That’s the feeling I’m feeling as I sit here typing this review.  I so desperately wanted to love this book.  It’s the kind of premise that gets my attention immediately.  A twisted serial killer choosing his victims based purely on one factor that only he knows about.  While the investigating officer fumbles blindly, searching for that elusive break in the case.  However, for me, I’m afraid Zodiac fell flat.

Following on from his recent starring role in the apprehension of a Senator’s murderer, Detective Burton is allocated another high profile case.  The Chief of Police has been brutally murdered and it’s down to Jerome Burton to find the culprit.  Disappointingly (for him) he is partnered with Lindiwe Childs, an astrologer.  Lindi is keen to participate in the investigation, Burton is not so keen on having Lindi aboard.  Nor is he keen on her ideas.  But together they must work to solve the case and save another victim from ’embracing their element’.

Let’s get this out in the open straight away: I don’t really believe in astrology.  But I do love a book with a killer hook and this book, I thought, had a killer hook!  However, what I didn’t expect was the set up of the story and the general cross-genre feel of it.  To me it felt parts fantasy, parts dystopian, parts crime and quite mixed up.  The blurb clearly says the book is based on a society where your star sign determines who you are, how you speak, how you dress, how others see you and the job you have.  I just didn’t realise the extent of this.  In this book it’s everything; the MOST important thing.  It defines you above all else.  Others will love this book and I expect it to get rave reviews, it just didn’t sit well with me.

The story did take me by surprise thanks to a twist I was not expecting.  As I neared the end of the book I did start to feel more connected with the story, more involved.  It is a good book but it just felt a little too astrology heavy for me and that must have taken a lot of research by the author.  I’ve learnt things I didn’t know about star signs!  I would like to read another book by Sam Wilson (one that doesn’t have an astrological thread to it) just to see how it compares.  Oh, and I do love that cover!

Three out of five stars.

Many thanks to Penguin  UK – Michael Joseph, the author and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of Zodiac in exchange for an honest review.

Zodiac by Sam Wilson is published in the UK by Penguin UK Michael Joseph on 3rd November 2016 in eBook format.  Other formats to follow at a later date. | amazon.co.uk | amazon.com | Waterstones | goodreads |

Sam Wilson is a writer and TV director working in Cape Town.  Connect with Sam via Twitter @WombatSam.