The Seventh Girl
She thought he was gone. She was wrong.
Fifteen years ago, a serial killer was on a rampage murdering young women in Middlehampton. Then, suddenly, the killings stopped, and the murderer was never found…
So when the body of another young woman is found bearing the twisted killer’s unique hallmark—the overpowering stench of lavender and an origami heart—DS Kat Ballantyne knows this can only mean one thing: the killer is back.
For Kat, whose best friend was the killer’s last victim all those years ago, this is deeply personal. She’ll stop at nothing to prevent more women dying and bring her friend’s murderer to justice. But the scent has gone cold once before. Kat will need all the help she can get in her investigation as she hunts down leads and encounters dead ends and horrifying twists.
With time running out, can she finally crack the case and put a stop to the killings—or will she be the next victim?
The series
In the gritty underbelly of the city, where corruption runs deep and danger is never far behind, Detective Kat Ballantyne stands as an unflinching force of justice. The Detective Kat Ballantyne series invites readers into a dark world of suspense, where every case is a puzzle, and no one is as innocent as they seem.
Read full series description
Kat is a seasoned detective with a razor-sharp mind and an unwavering moral compass—traits that both serve her well and complicate her personal life. Tasked with solving cases that range from heart-stopping murder mysteries to complex conspiracies, Kat’s determination to uncover the truth often pushes her into dangerous territory, where she must confront not only the criminals she pursues but the ghosts of her own past.
With every investigation, Kat navigates a city that is as much a character in the story as the people she encounters. The tension between right and wrong, truth and deception, runs through the city’s very streets. Andy Maslen masterfully weaves a tapestry of suspense, offering readers not only high-stakes crime solving but a deep dive into the psyche of a woman who has seen it all and still holds onto her integrity.
What sets this series apart is its rich character development. Kat isn’t just a detective—she’s a woman battling her own demons, grappling with loss, and making tough decisions that reveal her vulnerability and strength. The people she meets, from allies to enemies, are multi-dimensional, making every interaction pulse with tension and unpredictability.
As the Detective Kat Ballantyne series unfolds, it plunges readers deeper into a world where justice isn’t always clear-cut, and the line between right and wrong is often blurred. Maslen's writing is taut, atmospheric, and utterly immersive, leaving readers at the edge of their seats, eager to see where Kat's journey will take her next.
For fans of gritty detective novels that balance action with emotional depth, the Detective Kat Ballantyne series is an unforgettable ride. Each twist and turn pulls readers further into Kat’s world—one where nothing is ever as simple as it seems, and the cost of uncovering the truth may be more than she’s willing to pay.
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