Book info

• Title Chapter One
• Author Michael Wood
• Year 2025
• Genre Thriller

Since being left for dead in a brutal attack, crime writer Aidan Cullen hasn’t left his house. For five years his paranoia and fear have confined him to the walls of his rural home with just his dog for company. Not even his hugely successful, much-longed-for publishing career could tempt him from his self-imposed prison. But when a murder happens so close to Aidan’s home that he can see the lights of the police cars and the white suits of the forensic team, even his elaborate security system and iron gates can’t keep the world out. Aidan finds himself at the heart of DS Katherine Marshall’s investigation, as a string of seemingly unrelated murders start to show a terrifying pattern, a pattern that only he can see. As Aidan starts to feel his world closing in on him, his paranoia grows – is someone out to get him, or is it all in his mind?

Thoughts

I was really enjoying this book and could feel the tension and isolation as it ramped up and up, the levels of confusion building and a deep desire to know what was going on. I’ll be honest, initially I was a bit disappointed by the twist ending because it’s a trope that I’m worried is starting to be over-used and isn’t particularly sensitive to the topic. But the more I think about it, the more I think this was well done, neatly handled, and overall a really good read.

Rating: 4 / 5