“While attending a crime scene on the outskirts of Maidstone, DI Kay Hunter makes a shocking discovery.

The victim has been brutally cut to pieces, his identity unknown.

When more body parts start turning up in the Kentish countryside, Kay realises the disturbing truth – a serial killer is at large and must be stopped at all costs.

With no motive for the murders and a killer who has gone undetected until now, Kay and her team of detectives must work fast to calm a terrified local population.

When a third victim is found, her investigation grows even more complicated.

As she begins to expose a dark underbelly to the county town, Kay and her team are pulled into a web of jealousy and intrigue that, if left unchecked, will soon claim another life.”

If you follow damppebbles regularly then you will be well aware that I am a huge fan of Rachel Amphlett’s Detective Kay Hunter series.  I have followed this series from its inception and I will continue to do so until the author decides she’s calling it a day (woe betide that should ever happen!).  This is an exceptional series featuring a thoroughly likeable and relatable lead in the form of Kay Hunter and one that crime fans should make a bee-line for.  Gone to Ground is the sixth book in the series and my new favourite!  Check out my reviews for the first five books here; 1. Scared to Death, 2. Will to Live, 3. One to Watch, 4. Hell to Pay and 5. Call to Arms.

I would also like to wish Rachel Amphlett a very happy publication day as Gone to Ground is available to purchase TODAY!

Gone to Ground opens with a leisurely Sunday bike ride that quickly morphs into a terrifying experience for a group of friends when they discover a severed foot, still housed in its original boot.  Kay and the team are called to investigate the grisly find but struggle to discover the victim’s identity.  The Home Office Pathologist is the first person to shed any light on who the victim may be and from there on Kay and her devoted team slowly and methodically work with the evidence they have to attempt to solve a difficult case.  The teams floundering in the first half of the book shows the frustrations of everyday police work and the minutiae they are required to sift through.  Add to this Kay’s recent promotion to Detective Inspector, her despair at the mounting paperwork her new role entails and the thankless task of interviewing and finding a new Detective Sargeant for her close-knit team.  I have to admit, the thought of a new character joining the team made me feel a little uneasy but I’m sure I’ll get used to the new arrangements soon enough.

One of the things I love about the Kay Hunter series is Adam, Kay’s (dishy) other half.  Adam is a veterinarian and regularly brings home a patient from the practice.  Often Kay has stumbled home after an exhausting day protecting the folk of Kent to be met by some odd creature snuggled up on her kitchen floor!  I was lucky enough to host a wonderful guest post from the author to celebrate the release of Call to Arms on why Adam is a vet.  You can check that out by clicking HERE.  I love these small, often furry additions to the storyline as they add a touch of humour and as a regular reader of the series, I am always looking forward to finding out who will be arriving next.  Adam also adds to the story as he grounds Kay and allows the reader to see Kay the person, not Kay the copper.  A perfect pairing.

Would I recommend this book?  Absolutely.  This is my favourite in the series, so far.  The plot had me gripped from start to finish and I struggled to put the book down.  I have a bit of a thing for serial killer thrillers so Gone to Ground ticked all the boxes for me.  It’s a little grisly in places but I LOVE THAT and you shouldn’t let that put you off (it’s really not that bad, I’ve read more gruesome books!).  Gone to Ground works perfectly well as a standalone as it feels as though this is a new dawn for Kay and the team.  Saying that, why would you want to miss out on the proceeding five books when they’re brilliant and well worth a read!  Absolutely compulsive reading from an author who gets better and better with each book.  Roll on book seven because I can’t flipping wait!

Five out of five stars.

Make sure you join me again later this week when I will be sharing a guest post from the brilliant Rachel Amphlett as part of the Gone to Ground celebrations!

I chose to read and review an eARC of Gone to Ground.  The above review is my own unbiased opinion.

Gone to Ground by Rachel Amphlett was published in the UK on 8th July 2018 and is available in paperback and eBook versions (please note, some of the following links are affiliate links): | amazon.co.uk | amazon.com | Waterstones | BookDepository | Rachel’s online bookstore | Goodreads |

Before turning to writing, Rachel Amphlett played guitar in bands, worked as a TV and film extra, dabbled in radio as a presenter and freelance producer for the BBC, and worked in publishing as a sub-editor and editorial assistant.

She now wields a pen instead of a plectrum and writes crime fiction and spy novels, including the Dan Taylor espionage novels and the Detective Kay Hunter series.

Originally from the UK and currently based in Brisbane, Australia, Rachel cites her writing influences as Michael Connelly, Lee Child, and Robert Ludlum. She’s also a huge fan of Peter James, Val McDermid, Angela Marsons, Robert Bryndza, Ken Follett, and Stuart MacBride.

She’s a member of International Thriller Writers and the Crime Writers Association, with the Italian foreign rights for her debut novel, White Gold sold to Fanucci Editore’s TIMECrime imprint, and the first four books in the Dan Taylor espionage series contracted to Germany’s Luzifer Verlag.

Her novels are available in eBook, paperback and audiobook formats from worldwide retailers including Amazon, iBooks, Kobo, and Google Play.

A keen traveller, Rachel holds both EU and Australian passports and can usually be found plotting her next trip two years in advance!

Author Links: | Twitter | Facebook | Website | Amazon Author Page |