Impostor: An Alexander Gregory Thriller by @ljross_author ~ A killer on the loose in Ireland… @wfhowes @PRincolour #HughDancy

Author: LJ Ross

Performed by Hugh Dancy

Released: October 2019 by Whole Story Audiobooks

Category: Contemporary, Murder, Mystery, Audiobook, Book Review

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

After an elite criminal profiling unit is shut down amid a storm of scandal and mismanagement, only one person emerges unscathed. Forensic psychiatrist Doctor Alexander Gregory has a reputation for being able to step inside the darkest minds to uncover whatever secrets lie hidden there, and soon enough he finds himself drawn into the murky world of murder investigation.

Forensic psychologist Dr Alexander Gregory’s assistance has been requested, in his capacity as a profiler, from the mayor of Ballyfinny, County Mayo.

Liam Kelly had arrived home with his daughter after her swimming class to find his pregnant wife murdered in their home. Meticulously planned and executed, Claire Kelly’s murder begs the question would an outsider be able to plan and carry out an attack of this nature, as the Gardaí believed. Alex wasn’t so sure. That such a thing could happen in the small, close knit community has shocked and saddened the residents of Ballyfinny beyond measure.

Initially reluctant to accept the request after a profiling unit he was a member of previously became the scapegoat when a case went awry. His life revolves around his work with people legally detained by the courts for their own safety and that of others, but some soul searching and a conversation with his friend and mentor changes his mind and Alex agrees to travel to Ireland.

Alex thought of a little girl who’d lost her mother, and of the kind of distorted mind that was responsible. The doctor inside him wanted to prevent as well as to cure, and the man…

The man just wanted to help, however he could.

The flight to Ireland in the small plane was a white knuckle ride and Alex was thankful to touch down, although the sight of green hills and glistening lakes that greeted him once they were through the layers of cloud almost made it all worthwhile. Mayor Margaret Byrne was there to meet him. Her sons, Niall and Connor, are the two main officers heading the investigation and she makes it plain there’s opposition to bringing in an outsider. The introduction of a profiler, especially one who doesn’t ‘belong’, adds a different angle, one that I enjoyed very much.

Small towns, Gregory thought. Everybody knew everybody else, which was something that could help them to catch Claire Kelly’s killer.

Small towns, Gregory thought again. He’d need to be careful what he said, and to whom.

Alex is a deep, complex character who is deeply affected by those he deals with, which causes him to be tormented by nightmares. He tends to be guarded and, although we do get to know him up to a point, I think this introduction only really scratches the surface leaving much to be explored in future books. I look forward to seeing how his character develops. He has an instinct for understanding criminals and the way their minds work which is put to good use in this story, despite the initial local scepticism. It’s a moving story given the murderer’s methods and the closeness of the community. The characters are all well drawn and diverse, not at all prepared for the events that develop. 

The small, typically Irish town and surrounding scenery is vividly portrayed, as are the feelings of fearfulness and suspicion where before there was only a sense of community and ease. Impostor is a very well written, steadily evolving plot with a strong opening, an ending that came as a complete surprise and several potential suspects popping up throughout. Hugh Dancy’s narration is wonderful, achieving the perfect combination of tone, seriousness, and realistic accents.

Book links ~ Amazon UK | Amazon US | 

About the Author

LJ Ross is an international bestselling author, best known for creating atmospheric mystery and thriller novels, including the DCI Ryan series of Northumbrian murder mysteries which have sold over four million copies worldwide.

In addition to her DCI Ryan series, Louise has created a new series of thriller novels based around the central character of ‘Dr Alexander Gregory’, whose work as a psychological profiler takes him around the world. The first book, Impostor, will be available from Halloween 2019. She is also writing several standalone romantic suspense novels featuring strong female protagonists which will be available in 2020.
Louise was born in Northumberland, England. She studied undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in Law at King’s College London and studied abroad in Paris and Florence. She spent much of her working life in London, where she was a regulatory lawyer for a number of years before taking the decision to change career and pursue her dream to write.
Now, she writes full time and lives with her husband and son in Northumberland. She enjoys reading all manner of books, travelling and spending time with family and friends.

Author links ~ Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads