Book info

• Title The Infirmary
• Author L. J. Ross
• Year 2019
• Genre Mystery

In the stifling summer heat of 2014, a killer has been stalking the streets of Newcastle causing city-wide panic. When the officer in charge of the case turns up dead, it falls upon Detective Chief Inspector Ryan to take up the baton and find the person responsible.​ To the close-knit team of police in Northumbria CID, Ryan is still an outsider; aloof and uncompromising. He’s lived a charmed life and has an unbroken track record to match. But, as The Hacker’s death toll rises, Ryan realises this is one adversary he’ll never bring to justice on his own… ​

Thoughts

A prequel to the Ryan series, this was a slightly weird story because we all knew where it was heading and that was nowhere good. It’s weird to know the answer of a mystery book before you really get into it, but equally that shone a light on aspects you may not notice otherwise. This time you’re more attuned to the clues and whether they are being noticed or missed, and that’s an interesting take. Poor Ryan really gets put through the ringer in this one and it’s actually a timely reminder of what he’s been through for when we return to the main series in the next book.

Rating: 4 / 5