A review by kellylacey
The Tattoo Thief by Alison Belsham

5.0

Sometimes a book comes along that is so clever that when you finish it you feel like you have been hit on the head with a brick, like in the cartoons you watched as a child. As you exhale a WOW and sit for a few minutes in the stunned awe. Replaying your favourite parts over and over in your head. A fantastic place to be may I say, it doesn’t happen a lot. So when it does, the book is truly magnificent.

The Tattoo Thief is a debut novel by Alison Belsham. Set in Brighton, England. We meet two key characters Marni Mullins and Di Francis Sutton. When Marni discovers a murdered victim, their life’s become entwined in a way neither could imagine.

The plot is genius and I don’t think I am giving much away, the clue is in the title. It includes a killer who is a thief of tattoos. A tattoo, something so personal and of course you would think once it was on your body, that was it a permanent addition. But this killer has other ideas.

I loved the gory gritty descriptions and the unpredictability of the storyline. I was never bored and it was an extremely enjoyable read.

Marni Mullins is my new favourite crime fiction crush. She is ballsy, tough, strong and underneath all that hard exterior has a beautiful heart of gold. It was refreshing to read about a female character who wasn’t afraid to speak her mind and who wasn’t feeble and girlie.

I was as very lucky to hear the talented Alison Belsham read from The Tatto Thief at the Noir at the Bar Edinburgh event and hearing an author read from their own book is always special. But having Alison Belshams voice bring it to life was so delicious and moreish. I wanted to read it again.

I loved The Tattoo Thief, if you are looking for something different to tantalise your crime fiction taste buds then buy it today. Let Marni Mullins into your life, you will be so glad you did.