Overkill by Vanda Symon is one of those books where you’re just sat reading, minding your own business, and then all of a sudden you’ve read 130 pages and wondering where the time has gone.

When I was at a book launch back in May, I was talking to someone who had read this book earlier in the year, and she said this was her most anticipated book of the year so far and she loved it. She’d set the expectation so high for Overkill, and trust me, I was NOT disappointed.

The plot:

When the body of a young woman is found washed up on the banks of the Mataura River, a small rural community is rocked by her tragic suicide. But all is not what it seems.

Sam Shepard, sole-charge police constable in Mataura, soon discovers the death was no suicide and has to face the realisation that there is a killer in town. To complicate the situation, the murdered woman was the wife of her former love. When Sam finds herself on the list of suspects and suspended from duty, she must cast aside her personal feelings and take matters into her own hands.

To find the murderer… and clear her name.

Every page was gripping – whether something was going on, we got news on the case, or just building a character, I damn well loved this book.

When someone you’ve just met says this is one of the best books they’ve read this year, you’re like “yeah yeah, I’ll give it a go”, but booooooooooooy, I think this is one of my favourite books of the year. And you have to believe me, because Bookmark That never lies about favourites.

It’s one of those books that you read even when you’re brushing your teeth, because those two minutes are valuable.

Some chapters are quite short, but there’s the trap. I said to myself “right at the end of this chapter I am going to bed”, but that’s basically impossible when something happens. It’s one of those books that you read even when you’re brushing your teeth, because those two minutes are valuable.

There’s a lot of stigma around thrillers needing huge, unpredictable plot twists these days, and I love a good plot twist as much as the next person, but this book doesn’t have that. I’m 110% not mad though, because it just didn’t need it. It is just very clever in itself.

Fresh, gripping and all round wonderful; a real page-turner. Bookmark That approved!

Overkill, Vanda Symon, RRP £8.99 (paperback); Book Depository 

Pages: 268

Publisher: Orenda Books

Genre: Crime Fiction/ Thriller

Release date: 6 September, 2018