Scan barcode
k_baney's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
3.5
cosyupnread5's review against another edition
5.0
Absolutely fantastic, had me totally gripped from beginning to end
kcfromaustcrime's review against another edition
4.0
The second book in the DS Allie Shenton series, FOLLOW THE LEADER is not impeded in any way by not having read the earlier novel.
Whilst many fans of crime fiction will take one look at the blurb and groan "not another serial killer", this one deserves a second look. This serial killer kind of makes sense - in a decidedly uncomfortable manner.
In another possibly groan inducing moment, readers will also find themselves spending time in the head of this killer. A viewpoint that's used here to illuminate the killings, their circumstances, and more importantly, the motivation. Even the hardest heart is going to find it hard not to feel a modicum of compassion for this killer - even if his actions are utterly without justification.
Whilst you're squirming a little feeling that sense of compassion, you're presented with a number of other well drawn characters that might be more comfortable for you - sympathetic or not. DS Shenton and her colleagues, many of whom have some school connections with these victims, through to the self-obsessed, pain in the neck live in girlfriend of another school friend, these people feel real. They are flawed, they have personal and professional lives, and they have problems and highlights that they have to balance with the day to day.
Whilst the plot and the killings progress rapidly, obviously heading on a timeline firmly in the killer's mind, there is some backwards timeline shifting going on - especially in the killer's viewpoint - all of which is handled well. There's also school-yard nicknames, married names, changed names to keep track of and the connections from the past and present, which sounds like a lot. Fortunately any chance of confusion is minimised as some of the characters reiterate the confusing aspects, sort it through in their minds, helping the reader to do the same. And the idea of all those connections coming into life in a place as small as Stoke on Trent (in comparison to a major city small) made perfect sense.
Having a strong, central female cop protagonist with a happy, but not nauseatingly perfect home life is a particularly nice change, although there's obviously something from the earlier book that's leaked forward into this one. Shenton's sister is the victim of a vicious rape and assault which has left her in a nursing home, and desperately unwell. That idea that Shenton's life isn't picture postcard perfect or an absolute train wreck is both well done and refreshing, as are the honest occasional flashes of annoyance or difficulty in dealing with her sister's health situation. There's something more to be done in this thread as a very personal threat to Shenton appears in the middle of the current investigation (possibly the only clanger in the whole book as the obvious intent of that rape and attack seemed to muddle the current investigation waters for no good reason).
It looks very much like FOLLOW THE LEADER is heading off into series territory and it shows considerable promise in that. Certainly enough to put the first book firmly on my reading list. Nothing like being prepared when book 3 surfaces.
http://www.austcrimefiction.org/review/review-follow-leader-mel-sherratt
Whilst many fans of crime fiction will take one look at the blurb and groan "not another serial killer", this one deserves a second look. This serial killer kind of makes sense - in a decidedly uncomfortable manner.
In another possibly groan inducing moment, readers will also find themselves spending time in the head of this killer. A viewpoint that's used here to illuminate the killings, their circumstances, and more importantly, the motivation. Even the hardest heart is going to find it hard not to feel a modicum of compassion for this killer - even if his actions are utterly without justification.
Whilst you're squirming a little feeling that sense of compassion, you're presented with a number of other well drawn characters that might be more comfortable for you - sympathetic or not. DS Shenton and her colleagues, many of whom have some school connections with these victims, through to the self-obsessed, pain in the neck live in girlfriend of another school friend, these people feel real. They are flawed, they have personal and professional lives, and they have problems and highlights that they have to balance with the day to day.
Whilst the plot and the killings progress rapidly, obviously heading on a timeline firmly in the killer's mind, there is some backwards timeline shifting going on - especially in the killer's viewpoint - all of which is handled well. There's also school-yard nicknames, married names, changed names to keep track of and the connections from the past and present, which sounds like a lot. Fortunately any chance of confusion is minimised as some of the characters reiterate the confusing aspects, sort it through in their minds, helping the reader to do the same. And the idea of all those connections coming into life in a place as small as Stoke on Trent (in comparison to a major city small) made perfect sense.
Having a strong, central female cop protagonist with a happy, but not nauseatingly perfect home life is a particularly nice change, although there's obviously something from the earlier book that's leaked forward into this one. Shenton's sister is the victim of a vicious rape and assault which has left her in a nursing home, and desperately unwell. That idea that Shenton's life isn't picture postcard perfect or an absolute train wreck is both well done and refreshing, as are the honest occasional flashes of annoyance or difficulty in dealing with her sister's health situation. There's something more to be done in this thread as a very personal threat to Shenton appears in the middle of the current investigation (possibly the only clanger in the whole book as the obvious intent of that rape and attack seemed to muddle the current investigation waters for no good reason).
It looks very much like FOLLOW THE LEADER is heading off into series territory and it shows considerable promise in that. Certainly enough to put the first book firmly on my reading list. Nothing like being prepared when book 3 surfaces.
http://www.austcrimefiction.org/review/review-follow-leader-mel-sherratt
clairereviews's review against another edition
4.0
Publication Date: 20th February 2015
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer
ISBN: 978-1477821855
Source: Publisher provided review copy via NetGalley
Rating: 4.5/5
Synopsis:
A man’s body is found on a canal towpath. In his pocket, a magnetic letter in the shape of an E.
Days later, a second victim is found, this time with the letter V tucked into her clothing.
As the body count rises, the eerie, childlike clues point to a pattern that sends DS Allie Shenton and her colleagues into full alert.
The race is on. Allie and the team must work quickly to determine where the killer will strike next. The rules are simple but deadly—to catch the killer, they must follow the leader.
From the acclaimed author of Taunting the Dead comes a flesh-creeping tale of a child's game with a terrifying, grown-up twist. This is the second book in the DS Allie Shenton series but can be enjoyed as a stand-alone story.
Review:
Although this is the second DS Allie Shenton novel, it's my first experience of reading Mel Sherratt. As crime is my favourite genre, it always makes me happy when I first read an author whose work I end up loving; that's what reading is all about!
Sherratt's writing is slick, DS Shenton is likeable and believable, the plot is entertaining. I'll definitely be reading more of Sherratt's novels.
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer
ISBN: 978-1477821855
Source: Publisher provided review copy via NetGalley
Rating: 4.5/5
Synopsis:
A man’s body is found on a canal towpath. In his pocket, a magnetic letter in the shape of an E.
Days later, a second victim is found, this time with the letter V tucked into her clothing.
As the body count rises, the eerie, childlike clues point to a pattern that sends DS Allie Shenton and her colleagues into full alert.
The race is on. Allie and the team must work quickly to determine where the killer will strike next. The rules are simple but deadly—to catch the killer, they must follow the leader.
From the acclaimed author of Taunting the Dead comes a flesh-creeping tale of a child's game with a terrifying, grown-up twist. This is the second book in the DS Allie Shenton series but can be enjoyed as a stand-alone story.
Review:
Although this is the second DS Allie Shenton novel, it's my first experience of reading Mel Sherratt. As crime is my favourite genre, it always makes me happy when I first read an author whose work I end up loving; that's what reading is all about!
Sherratt's writing is slick, DS Shenton is likeable and believable, the plot is entertaining. I'll definitely be reading more of Sherratt's novels.
mpr2000's review against another edition
3.0
How many years can you wait for your revenge?
Patrick had been bullied all his childhood and he decided that now was his moment to make his bullies pay for all the shame he suffered in school. Could he be able to go on with his vengeance before the police stop him?
Allie Shenton will have to stop a serial killer who went at the same school as her and in the same class of her sister, Karen.
Will she discover the murderer with the help of the plastic letters the killer left at the victims?
Start reading and you will have the answers for all these questions!
It took me a while to read this book, I prefer not knowing who the murder is till the end of the book, and here you know it from the first page. It was less intriguing to read, but not less interesting!
It's quite sad how children can make suffer their school buddies just for pleasure or for being different. Can we say that the adults don't make this? Because I think we are worst than the children, we know how to be cruel and we make it knowing that we will hurt someone and in the contrary, the youngsters just try to be accepted and don't know how the words can hurt.
Mel Sherratt will mix past and present creating a link between the victim and the bullies where the vengeance will be the only answer.
Would you follow the leader?
Patrick had been bullied all his childhood and he decided that now was his moment to make his bullies pay for all the shame he suffered in school. Could he be able to go on with his vengeance before the police stop him?
Allie Shenton will have to stop a serial killer who went at the same school as her and in the same class of her sister, Karen.
Will she discover the murderer with the help of the plastic letters the killer left at the victims?
Start reading and you will have the answers for all these questions!
It took me a while to read this book, I prefer not knowing who the murder is till the end of the book, and here you know it from the first page. It was less intriguing to read, but not less interesting!
It's quite sad how children can make suffer their school buddies just for pleasure or for being different. Can we say that the adults don't make this? Because I think we are worst than the children, we know how to be cruel and we make it knowing that we will hurt someone and in the contrary, the youngsters just try to be accepted and don't know how the words can hurt.
Mel Sherratt will mix past and present creating a link between the victim and the bullies where the vengeance will be the only answer.
Would you follow the leader?
jmatkinson1's review against another edition
4.0
A man is found murdered on a canal footpath with no seeming motive and the only clue being a magnetic letter found on his body. Days later a woman is stabbed in her home, again a letter is found at the scene, again seemingly motiveless. However there is a connection between the two, they were part of a gang of 'popular kids' at school. As the bodies mount up DS Allie Shenton and her team are facing a race against time to find the murderer before he strikes again.
It was nice to read a simple police procedural for a change and this is a very simple police procedural at its heart. The setting in the Black Country is threaded throughout, the plot is relatively tight and there is enough backstory to all the characters to mean that it can be read as a standalone> It's not the most complex read in the world but it is entertaining and a good example of its genre.
It was nice to read a simple police procedural for a change and this is a very simple police procedural at its heart. The setting in the Black Country is threaded throughout, the plot is relatively tight and there is enough backstory to all the characters to mean that it can be read as a standalone> It's not the most complex read in the world but it is entertaining and a good example of its genre.
daynpitseleh's review against another edition
3.0
I received this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is the 2nd book in a series, which I did not know going in to it, however it works as a stand-alone. It's a quick read that kept me interested, although it's a pretty standard thriller/mystery. The ending is a little weak and is clearly setting things up for the third novel in the series.
This is the 2nd book in a series, which I did not know going in to it, however it works as a stand-alone. It's a quick read that kept me interested, although it's a pretty standard thriller/mystery. The ending is a little weak and is clearly setting things up for the third novel in the series.
lynsey284's review against another edition
5.0
Im a big fan of Mel's work i love what she calls her grit lit books and have read the estate books, taunting the dead and the standalone novel watching over you. As you can tell I'm a very big fan of Mel and i was very excited once i signed up for netgalley to see that follow the leader was read now.
I like the cover of this book its just something about the swing makes me think back to my childhood and another part makes me think of the swing being a bit eerie. If saw this book in the shop or on my kindle i would definately buy it as the cover really draws me in the cover fits in with the story.
Once i started to read i could not put this book down its a very addictive read like Mel's other books. This book is part of a series and would recommend reading taunting the dead first.
In the story we are presented with flashbacks and present events and it was not long before the first murder happens but right from the start we know who the killer is and we understand his motives for the killings.
This book does deal with the sensitive and still ongoing issue of bullying and how bullying in early life can change and shape a person in later life it made me think back to my school days as children can be very cruel and i did feel a bit of sympathy for the killer as not only did he have to contend with bullying at school but also his home life was very upsetting.
Even though we know who the killer is and its not a typical guess who done it book there is still a lot of twists and turns in the book and i really enjoyed DS Allie putting the pieces together to solve the puzzle.
There are a lot of characters in this book and it was nice to see a link from the first book with one of the characters. I especially enjoyed knowing each of the victims stories of what they did to the killer before they were killed.
I love DS Allie she seems to have a heart and has matured and developed a lot from taunting the dead. I like to see the insights of her personal life she does not have it easy and is carrying alot of guilt around with her hoping that she can let this go.
The primary plot is finished and tied up very nicely but the book ends on a cliffhanger so now we have to wait till may for the next book 'only the brave' and i for one cant wait.
From reading Follow The Leader and her previous books I really think that Mel Sherratt is a very talented and is becoming one of my favourite authors along with DS Allie becoming my favourite crime fighting heel wearing heroine and hope this series runs for a very long time.
I like the cover of this book its just something about the swing makes me think back to my childhood and another part makes me think of the swing being a bit eerie. If saw this book in the shop or on my kindle i would definately buy it as the cover really draws me in the cover fits in with the story.
Once i started to read i could not put this book down its a very addictive read like Mel's other books. This book is part of a series and would recommend reading taunting the dead first.
In the story we are presented with flashbacks and present events and it was not long before the first murder happens but right from the start we know who the killer is and we understand his motives for the killings.
This book does deal with the sensitive and still ongoing issue of bullying and how bullying in early life can change and shape a person in later life it made me think back to my school days as children can be very cruel and i did feel a bit of sympathy for the killer as not only did he have to contend with bullying at school but also his home life was very upsetting.
Even though we know who the killer is and its not a typical guess who done it book there is still a lot of twists and turns in the book and i really enjoyed DS Allie putting the pieces together to solve the puzzle.
There are a lot of characters in this book and it was nice to see a link from the first book with one of the characters. I especially enjoyed knowing each of the victims stories of what they did to the killer before they were killed.
I love DS Allie she seems to have a heart and has matured and developed a lot from taunting the dead. I like to see the insights of her personal life she does not have it easy and is carrying alot of guilt around with her hoping that she can let this go.
The primary plot is finished and tied up very nicely but the book ends on a cliffhanger so now we have to wait till may for the next book 'only the brave' and i for one cant wait.
From reading Follow The Leader and her previous books I really think that Mel Sherratt is a very talented and is becoming one of my favourite authors along with DS Allie becoming my favourite crime fighting heel wearing heroine and hope this series runs for a very long time.
steph1rothwell's review against another edition
5.0
Having loved the first Allie Shenton novel, Taunting The Dead I was pleased that there is a follow up.
Very different from the first, straight away we know who the killer was. Some don't like this but I found that it worked very well. The story jumps back and forward in time. From the constant torment in the killers home life, along with the years of bullying at school. Again this worked well and was easy to follow.
Through out the novel there is a nursery rhyme/ children's song repeated that I found myself singing all day long. Very much suspect that I wasn't the only one
As with the first novel we learn more about Allie's family life and the guilt she feels over what happened to her sister Karen. Hints are dropped again and I very much hope that this means there will be further books in the series.
Thanks to the author and the publisher for the copy via Netgalley.
Very different from the first, straight away we know who the killer was. Some don't like this but I found that it worked very well. The story jumps back and forward in time. From the constant torment in the killers home life, along with the years of bullying at school. Again this worked well and was easy to follow.
Through out the novel there is a nursery rhyme/ children's song repeated that I found myself singing all day long. Very much suspect that I wasn't the only one
As with the first novel we learn more about Allie's family life and the guilt she feels over what happened to her sister Karen. Hints are dropped again and I very much hope that this means there will be further books in the series.
Thanks to the author and the publisher for the copy via Netgalley.
sarahs_bookish_life's review against another edition
5.0
Follow The Leader is the second in the DS Allie Shenton series and wow what a sequel.
When a mans body is found with the letter E in his pocket Allie and her team are sent to investigate, then when a second body is found with the letter V on them it's not long before they realise they have a serial killer on their hands. It then becomes a race against time to figure out the connection between the victims and to stop the killer before he kills again.
The storyline really gripped me from the start of this book and yet again as with previous novels by this author I devoured it in less than a day. It had me hooked all the way through and as the pace got even faster towards the end I was literally on the edge of my seat.
As detectives go DS Allie Shenton is some one I would love to work with as in other detective series the main character is usually very misunderstood, a loner and un liked by most of their colleagues. It actually makes a refreshing change to have a leading character who is compassionate and well liked in this role. If anything I think there is an air of vulnerability about Allie more so in this book than the first.
After the ending in this book I am very much looking forward to the third one.
When a mans body is found with the letter E in his pocket Allie and her team are sent to investigate, then when a second body is found with the letter V on them it's not long before they realise they have a serial killer on their hands. It then becomes a race against time to figure out the connection between the victims and to stop the killer before he kills again.
The storyline really gripped me from the start of this book and yet again as with previous novels by this author I devoured it in less than a day. It had me hooked all the way through and as the pace got even faster towards the end I was literally on the edge of my seat.
As detectives go DS Allie Shenton is some one I would love to work with as in other detective series the main character is usually very misunderstood, a loner and un liked by most of their colleagues. It actually makes a refreshing change to have a leading character who is compassionate and well liked in this role. If anything I think there is an air of vulnerability about Allie more so in this book than the first.
After the ending in this book I am very much looking forward to the third one.