The Jigsaw Man by Nadine Matheson #bookreview #crimefiction

On my blog today, I’m sharing my thoughts on the debut crime novel by Nadine Matheson, The Jigsaw Man.

BLURB

There’s a serial killer on the loose.

When bodies start washing up along the banks of the River Thames, DI Henley fears it is the work of Peter Olivier, the notorious Jigsaw Killer. But it can’t be him; Olivier is already behind bars, and Henley was the one who put him there.

The race is on before more bodies are found.

She’d hoped she’d never have to see his face again, but Henley knows Olivier might be the best chance they have at stopping the copycat killer. But when Olivier learns of the new murders, helping Henley is the last thing on his mind . . .

Will it take a killer to catch the killer?

Now all bets are off, and the race is on to catch the killer before the body count rises. But who will get there first – Henley, or the Jigsaw Killer?

MY THOUGHTS

Nadine Matheson’s debut crime novel, The Jigsaw Man, is a tense, gruesome serial killer thriller. I first heard about this book at the HQ Fiction Showcase back in January 2020, and I wanted to read it as soon as possible. For fans of Chris Carter, this is a must-read. This is for you if you like your crime books dark and with plenty of tension. I’ll certainly be keeping an eye out for what Nadine Matheson writes next. 

We’re thrown headfirst into a grisly case when body parts are found along the banks of the River Thames. A link is instantly drawn to the ‘Jigsaw Killer.’ Peter Olivier was convicted and handed a life sentence, after committing a string of murders, giving him the nickname the ‘Jigsaw Killer,’ several years earlier. But these new murders are a cause for concern. Do the body parts belong to old victims of Peter’s who were never found? Or are the police now dealing with a copycat? This is a case which has haunted DI Henley as she was the officer who put Peter Olivier behind bars. She hoped never to see him again, but now it is clear she may have to. It also seems that Peter has a particular interest in DI Henley.

Nadine Matheson certainly doesn’t shy away from gruesome details. This is what made this novel particularly tense. I absolutely loved Nadine Matheson’s voice, and it hooked me into the novel from the very first page. There’s a real sense of a race against time to catch the killer. The police need to bring this case to a successful conclusion quickly. There is also the fear that the killer isn’t finished and that more lives will be lost if they aren’t caught. Nadine Matheson kept the pace flying forwards as the investigation heated up. There were more than a few moments when I couldn’t bear to turn my eyes away from the page. I was desperate to know what was going to happen next. Nadine Matheson also delivers several jaw-dropping twists, DI Henley and her team certainly aren’t given an easy ride here.

What makes this book really interesting is that the motive behind the copycat killings isn’t entirely clear. Is the killer trying to do this to impress their ‘idol’, Peter Olivier? Or are they looking to upstage him? It’s the unknowns that makes this case terrifying for DI Henley and her team. They don’t know what turn the killer is going to take next.

Nadine Matheson is a writer who I can’t wait to read more from. I enjoyed getting to know the characters and their backstories in this book. She has left the ending of this open for a possible continuation of this story and I’m hoping that there will be more books in this series. The Jigsaw Man is a compelling debut crime novel, and it is an entertaining read that will keep you reading.

Publisher: HQ

Publication date: 18th February 2021

Print length: 400 pages

The Jigsaw Man is available to buy:

Amazon UK Waterstones