The breadth of this author’s writing is just awesome. While the main character was consistent, I had to remind myself what the first book in the series was about because it was so vastly different that I had trouble remembering. The first felt like a stone’s throw away from a locked-room, cozy crossover set on a Scottish island.
About the Book
Berlin, summer 1994 … where past and present collide … a serial killer haunts the sweltering city
Colin Buxton arrives in Berlin, which – like him – is facing an uncertain future. And things turn sinister when the bodies of five gay men are found in parks around the city.
Colin suspects there’s a serial killer on the loose, and as he delves deeper into the men’s lives, evidence suggests it could be someone they’ve known intimately. But despite the mounting evidence, the authorities seem unwilling to listen. Will it take another victim for them to act?
My Thoughts
This time around, our hero has seen some stuff – partly from the first book, partly from the aftermath – and is a lot more grizzled and burly. Just the way I like my masc-presenting detectives, honestly. For some reason, grizzled with hard-won experience is how I like ’em. And must be how most people like ’em, because it’s how we keep getting them. We catch up with Colin in Berlin after the fall of the wall. A woman from back home reaches out to beg him to look into her brother’s death. A pattern emerges surrounding the suspicious deaths of gay men who haven’t been investigated properly, pulling Colin back into the game.
I enjoy Colin’s brand of vigilante-type detective work. He wants to do what’s right, and it’s certainly not about the money. When you love something and when you’re passionate about helping people, it’s hard just to let things go. It keeps you up at night, and the best detectives have that fire. Colin is quickly becoming one of my personal favorites.
While I love all the quirky characters – it’s one of my favorite things about books like this – this one had so many I had a slightly hard time keeping up. But it also had a lot of red herrings, which is always fun.
I’m excited to see what comes next! I’m so grateful to the author and LBT for including me in this tour, and I can’t wait to read the next book in the series!
Who’s It For?
If you enjoy a good thriller/cozy crossover, I believe you’ll enjoy this. I don’t know if that’s what this is technically, but as a pretty avid reader of both, I give it my stamp of approval! It’s got elements of both, and kept me on the edge of my seat wanting more until the end. I needed to know who did it, and I was invested in what was happening to the characters. I, personally, can’t ask for more out of a cozy or a thriller.
Content Warnings: Murder, Homophobia (inc. self-directed), Adult Language/Situations, Political Strife, Dysfunctional Families, Corrupt Officials, Drug Abuse, Alcohol Abuse, Betrayal, Infidelity, Suicide
Question of the Day
Do you have a favorite detective?
Answer of the Day
At this point, I’ve read far too many detective books to have a favorite. Though, if FBI agents count – which I guess they would – Dr. Spencer Reid has my heart. And that’s me even writing my OWN detective novel. ;D
About the Author
We’re Chris Deans and Colin Thomas Begg, the bestselling writing duo behind the pen name CC Gilmartin.
Scots-born, we’ve lived in London, Sydney, Berlin, and Barcelona but now call Glasgow home. With diverse backgrounds, we’ve come together to share our passion for crime fiction and suspense. The stories we create have dark secrets at their heart. Love, denial, and betrayal drive, and sometimes destroy, our characters. We’re also inspired by the Scottish landscape and the great cities we’ve been lucky enough to live in.
Want to know more about our books? Join the CC Gilmartin Readers Club at https://www.ccgilmartin.com/book-club and receive a FREE Colin Buxton story, plus regular updates on our writing and travels.
Links
Amazon US: https://a.co/d/j26sE2a
Amazon UK: https://amzn.eu/d/400Fe3y
Bookshop US: https://bookshop.org/a/25511/9781739136239
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/111139839-the-look-of-death
Author’s Website: https://www.ccgilmartin.com/
As a Bookshop.org (US) Affiliate, I may earn on qualifying purchases. Bookshop.org purchases support local, independent bookshops. My chosen affiliate bookshop is Tubby & Coo’s Traveling Bookshop, a local, queer-owned bookshop in New Orleans.
Published by Amorina Carlton. Award-winning American author, Amorina Carlton, is currently working on her first novel. You can find more about her published work and works in progress on the home page. She also serves as the PR/Marketing Lead for Ravens and Roses Publishing, and reviews books, mostly by other indie authors, here and on Bookstagram.