The Body in Nightingale Park, a review by Joanna

Craig and his heavily pregnant wife Sam have just moved into a new house in a smart part of Guildford, and he is looking forward to some much needed leave, when he learns that a revered retired police sergeant has been stabbed to death in his Brighton home while watching a football match. Then a jogger is killed in the park near Craig’s home, following a series of violent assaults, and he is himself attacked by the fleeing suspect. When an inexplicable forensic link between the cases emerges, Craig is unable to resist the pressure to return to work, but with Sam about to give birth and his team spread across the country, will this case be the one to break him?

This was another well plotted police procedural, with a topical issue in the UK front and centre – no spoilers! I liked how the female members of Gillard’s team are taking over, especially Clare, and how Rainy and her backstory are developed. There are nuggets of humour and the writing flows smoothly. I have mixed feelings about this series ending, as I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the varied and unpredictably twisty mysteries that Gillard and his team have unlocked. I do however feel that some authors keep their heroes going too long – how many serial killers can one police team encounter – so respect the decision to wrap things up here, even if I’m sad about aspects of the ending, and a bit disappointed that certain characters’ arcs are left unresolved.
The three chapters of Louth’s new series opener included at the end are an appropriate consolation prize, and I look forward to reading the rest of it. Thanks to NetGalley and Canelo for the ARC.