30 Sep The Night Stalker by Robert Bryndza Blog Tour

Time for another blog tour, and boy this one is AWESOME! Today I have the pleasure to review Robert Bryndza’s new thriller, THE NIGHT STALKER, as part of his blog tour. As you can see from the banner, there are so many fab bloggers taking part, and though the blog tour is ending tomorrow, stop by their blogs to read more reviews of the book (everyone loves) and more content. OK, as I know you’re impatient and waiting on my thoughts, without furher ado here’s my review. Enjoy!

I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

The Night Stalker by Robert Bryndza
Series: DCI Erika Foster #2
Published by Bookouture
Published on 31.5.2016
Genres: thriller
Pages: 384
Format: e-book

If the Night Stalker is watching, you’re already dead…
In the dead of a swelteringly hot summer’s night, Detective Erika Foster is called to a murder scene. The victim, a doctor, is found suffocated in bed. His wrists are bound and his eyes bulging through a clear plastic bag tied tight over his head.
A few days later, another victim is found dead, in exactly the same circumstances. As Erika and her team start digging deeper, they discover a calculated serial killer – stalking their victims before choosing the right moment to strike.
The victims are all single men, with very private lives. Why are their pasts shrouded in secrecy? And what links them to the killer?
As a heat wave descends upon London, Erika will do everything to stop the Night Stalker before the body count rises, even if it means risking her job. But the victims might not be the only ones being watched… Erika’s own life could be on the line.
The global bestselling author of The Girl in the Ice is back with a heart-racing, electrifying thriller.

As a huge chick lit/women’s fiction fan, I’m quite familiar with Robert Bryndza’s writing and have read most of his chick lits. However, this year Mr Bryndza has switched genres, stepping to the darker side, publishing two thrillers for Bookouture. Changing genres and going from chick lit to mystery/crime seems to be very in these days (Paula Hawkins, C. L. Taylor just a few of these authors) and I wasn’t surprised that much to hear Mr Bryndza will be following their footsteps. However, no matter how much I like these authors, I always have doubts about whether they’ll be able to find their way in the new genre. It seems I had no reason to worry when it comes to Mr Bryndza.

‘The Night Stalker’ is the second one in the DCI Erika Foster series, but can definitely be read as a stand alone. It follows DCI Erika Foster as she’s investigating some very gruesome murders in London on a very hot summer. A GP is found dead in his own house, naked and with a plastic bag over his head. There are no signs of forced entry, the security system and phone line is cut with a precision and seems like the victim wasn’t even aware of any danger or has let the killer in his house at one point. The profile of the killer says he’s methodical, doesn’t leave anything to chance, and knows his victim well. The only thing found on the crime scene are some old gay magazines, a possession of the GP. Erika and her team start questioning the GP’s mother, his wife he recently divorced and his ex-wife’s brother, who seem to have a criminal record and is very suspicious. Was the GP killed by a lover? Was he killed for his money? Did he get in another fight with his ex-wife’s brother and things took the wrong turn? They are still working on putting the pieces together, when a new murder happens. A famous TV host is found dead by his producer when he didn’t show up for work. He’s found naked, with a plastic bag over his head, death by asphyxiation. Erika and the rest of the team are pretty sure it’s the same killer, however what is the connection between these two murders in that case?

‘The Night Stalker’ is a gripping and fast paced thriller that will definitely get you hooked from the opening chapter. I’ve yet to read the first in the series (it’s on my kindle already), however I didn’t feel confused even for a minute. That’s why I said it can easily be read as a stand alone. The writing is brilliant, and the story simply flows. As a Slavic myself, I was proud of DCI Erika and her investigating skills. Of course as anyone investigating murders, she’s a bit damaged (which is normal as she’s seen a lot of nasty crime scenes) and also there’s the guilt she feels over her husband’s death. Even after two years the pain and the guilt are still there, and she hasn’t got much of a social life. She is ambitious though and hoping for a big promotion. The only reason why I gave this book 4* instead of 5* is her though. No matter how awesome and kick ass Erika is, I wish I could feel her more. I’m sure as the series continues and I read the books, she’s going to become a very dear character to me. But for now, I still feel her a bit distant.

Overall, ‘The Night Stalker’ is a great, suspenseful thriller you definitely need to check out. I’m not sure how many installments are there going to be in the series, but I’m 100% positive I’m going to read them all. If you’re looking for a gripping book you’ll devour in one sitting, look no further. This is definitely the book for you!

About Robert Bryndza

Originally from the UK, Rob lives in Slovakia
with his Slovak husband and their two crazy dogs. He originally trained as an actor, but was bitten by the writing bug in his mid-twenties and hasn’t looked back. His debut novel, The Not
So Secret Emails of Coco Pinchardbecame
an Amazon bestseller, and has grown to a best selling series of five books.
In addition to his recent number one romantic comedy Miss Wrong and Mr Right, Rob is excited to embrace the darker side of life,writing his first crime thriller series. He is currently writing the third book in the Erika Foster series, which will be released in September 2016.