Skin by Mo Hayder

Skin by Mo Hayder
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - over 6 days

Pages - 384

Publisher - Bantam Books

Blurb from Goodreads

When the decomposed body of a young woman is found by near railway tracks just outside Bristol one hot May morning, all indications are that she's committed suicide. That's how the police want it too: all neatly squared and tidied away.

But DI Jack Caffery is not so sure. He is on the trail of someone predatory, someone who hides in the shadows and can slip into houses unseen.

And for the first time in a very long time, he feels scared.

Police Diver Flea Marley is working alongside Caffery. Having come to terms with the loss of her parents, and with the traumas of her past safely behind her, she's beginning to wonder whether their relationship could go beyond the professional.

And then she finds something that changes everything. Not only is it far too close to home for comfort - but it's so horrifying that she knows that nothing will ever be the same again.

And that this time, no one - not even Caffery - can help her ...



My Review

A young woman who has committed suicide or so it appears, DI Caffery is on the case and doesn't think it is quite so clear cut. Working alongside Police Diver Flea Marley the two try to get on with the job whilst acknowledging there is something between them. If that isn't enough to whet the appetite, Flea discovers something about her brother that could ruin both their lives and Caffery is being stalked. Can they solve the case, deal with their feelings and keep everything together whilst trying to deal with their own personal demons!

I wasn't sure if I had read Hayder before, I don't think I have and to be honest I think I need to start at the beginning of the series. Clearly a lot has transpired, it is after all the fourth book however I do feel the reader is at a disadvantage starting with this one and that is my fault. The chapters split between the two main police officers and we get a wee chapter here and there from the killer. There is some brutal animal treatment, in that they are skinned which made for really uncomfortable reading however it is relative to the main story line. I had major issues with the behaviour of one main character and some very questionable choices, I felt you had to suspend belief as I genuinely cannot see a cop doing some of the actions this one did. That in itself made the book a bit of a struggle for me and I failed to connect with any of the characters.

I am sure if you have read the previous books you may well love this one, I think my lack of knowledge on the back story impeded my enjoyment. I just couldn't get over some of the questionable choices made, maybe if I had read the previous books I would get where that character was coming from. Just a tad out of the realms of belief for me, coming from someone who likes horror and zombie reads I know I have a cheek! 3/5 for me this time, I would read this author again however I think I would make a point of reading the books in chronological order first.

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