The Jigsaw Man

This is one helluva amazing debut. The Jigsaw Man is a chilling story about dueling serial killers and a police Inspector with a complicated past who is desperately trying to catch these killers when they go on a murder spree.

This is a well-written, 'can't-put-this-book-down-for-nothin' story. Matheson deftly balances a striking police procedural with relevant social issues (PTSD, complicated family dynamics, sexism, and racism) and includes backstories of her main characters, enabling readers to connect with Anjelica and her team in their personal and professional lives. But the most fascinating bond is between Henley and Olivier - the Jigsaw Man. DI Anjelica Henley will forever be connected to this serial killer who she put behind bars two years previously. Their connection was chilling, complex and reminiscent of Hannibal Lecter and Clarice. *inner shiver*  

This is an incredibly impressive debut that has a darkly compelling cat and mouse feel and a well-developed and diverse cast. My only issue is, towards the end, the story dragged a bit and lost some of its impact once the identity of the imitator was revealed. A cliff-hanger promises more to come in this new series, and I cannot wait to see where Anjelica's story goes next.

Disturbing and darkly compelling, be prepared to sink into the minds of a killer and a woman who must face her deepest fears and stop him at all costs. This book is not for the faint of heart or the squeamish. Readers with sensitivities, please be warned that there are vividly depicted gruesome scenes of mutilation and physical and emotional torture. This is one book you'll want to read with the lights on and the doors locked.

My Rating: 4.5 stars

Author: Nadine Matheson

Genre: Suspense, BIPOC author

Series: #1 in the Inspector Anjelica Henley series

Type and Source: Hardcover from public library

Pages: 496

Publisher: Hanover Square Press

First Published: March 16, 2021

Opening Lines: 6:44a.m. Greenwich Pier, low tide, and Maxwell Perkins 

is walking his dog on the riverbank. He's not expecting to find pieces of a body.

Book Description from GoodReads: Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery...

When body parts are found on the banks of the River Thames in Deptford, DI Angelica Henley is tasked with finding the killer. Eerie echoes of previous crimes lead Henley to question Peter Olivier, aka The Jigsaw Killer, who is currently serving a life sentence for a series of horrific murders.

When a severed head is delivered to Henley's home, she realises that the copycat is taking a personal interest in her and that the victims have not been chosen at random.

To catch the killer, Henley must confront her own demons - - and when Olivier escapes from prison, she finds herself up against not one serial killer, but two.