Hampstead County Police Department is embroiled in scandal after corruption at the top of the force was exposed.

Cleared of involvement and returned to active duty, Detective Sergeant Casey Wray nonetheless finds herself at a crossroads when it becomes clear that not everyone believes she’s innocent.

Partnered with rookie Billy Drocker, Casey works a shocking daytime double homicide in downtown Rockport with the two victims seemingly unknown to one another. And when a third victim is gunned down on her doorstep shortly after, it appears an abusive ex-boyfriend holds the key to the killings.

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With powerful figures demanding answers, Casey and Billy search for the suspect, fearing he’s on a murderous rampage.

But when a key witness goes missing, and new evidence just won’t fit, the case begins to unravel. With her career in jeopardy, Casey makes a shattering discovery that threatens to expose the true darkness at the heart of the murders … with a killer still on the loose…

My Review

This is the second book I have read in the series (the third of Rod’s books), so I’m pretty up to speed on Detective Sergeant Casey Wray and her chums. The first book took down the top people in her department and she was investigated in the process. She still feels that some of her colleagues view her with suspicion because she was close to her boss, bent copper Ray Carletti, who she thought of as a father. How could she not have guessed he was behind it all?

Still a Sergeant, Casey applied for promotion, but Lieutenant Helen Dunmore was brought in over her head from NYPD. Casey isn’t that bothered, but Dunmore is. She still thinks Casey knew what was going on all the time, which means she doesn’t trust her, or is it more that that?

I really detested Dunmore. She’s vile. She’s everyone’s worst nightmare of a boss. What happened to women supporting other women? With three homicides to investigate, the top brass seem more concerned with internal politics than actually solving the murders.

Shatter Creek is one of those unputdownable books and I read it in two days. It’s so well written, the narrative just flows beautifully. There’s no ‘padding’ or unnecessary trivia, the story just keeps moving forward. I’m looking forward to more about Casey in the next book in the series.

Many thanks to @annecater for inviting me to be part of #RandomThingsTours

About the Author

Rod Reynolds is the author of five novels, including the Charlie Yates series. His 2015 debut, The Dark Inside, was longlisted for the CWA New Blood Dagger, and was followed by Black Night Falling (2016) and Cold Desert Sky (2018); the Guardian has called the books ‘Pitch-perfect American noir.’ A lifelong Londoner, in 2020 Orenda Books published his first novel set in his hometown, Blood Red City. The first in the Casey Wray series, Black Reed Bay, published in 2021, was shortlisted for the CWA Steel Dagger, with its long-awaited sequel, Shatter Creek, out in 2025. Rod previously worked in advertising as a media buyer, and holds an MA in novel writing from City University London. Rod lives with his wife and family and spends most of his time trying to keep up with his two daughters.

About Orenda Books

Orenda Books is a small independent publishing company specialising in literary fiction with a heavy emphasis on crime/thrillers, and approximately half the list in translation. They’ve been twice shortlisted for the Nick Robinson Best Newcomer Award at the IPG awards, and publisher and owner Karen Sullivan was a Bookseller Rising Star in 2016. In 2018, they were awarded a prestigious Creative Europe grant for their translated books programme. Three authors, including Agnes Ravatn, Matt Wesolowski and Amanda Jennings have been WHSmith Fresh Talent picks, and Ravatn’s The Bird Tribunal was shortlisted for the Dublin Literary Award, won an English PEN Translation Award, and adapted for BBC Radio Four ’s Book at Bedtime. Six titles have been short- or long-listed for the CWA Daggers. Launched in 2014 with a mission to bring more international literature to the UK market, Orenda Books publishes a host of debuts, many of which have gone on to sell millions worldwide, and looks for fresh, exciting new voices that push the genre in new directions. Bestselling authors include Ragnar Jonasson, Antti Tuomainen, Gunnar Staalesen, Michael J. Malone, Kjell Ola Dahl, Louise Beech, Johana Gustawsson, Lilja Sigurðardóttir and Sarah Stovell.