Review ~ Don't Turn Around by Caroline Mitchell

Rating: 4/5 Stars
Author: Caroline Mitchell
Available Formats: eBook, Paperback
Publisher: Bookouture 
Publication Date: 04-24-15           Pages: 318
Purchase ~ Amazon                        Add ~ Goodreads 

You don’t know him. But he knows you. 

Soon he would be able to touch her, to feel the warmth of her blood. And when the time came, nothing would stop him.

As D.C. Jennifer Knight investigates a routine stabbing in the quiet town of Haven, she is shocked at what seems like a personal message from beyond the grave.

When more bodies are found, Jennifer is convinced the killings are somehow linked. What she discovers is more chilling than she could possibly imagine. The murders mirror those of the notorious Grim Reaper – from over twenty years ago. A killer her mother helped convict.

 Jennifer can no longer ignore the personal connection. Is there a copycat killer at work? Was the wrong man convicted? Or is there something more sinister at play …

With her mother’s terrifying legacy spiralling out of control, Jennifer must look into her own dark past in a fight not only to stop a killer – but to save herself and those she loves.

My So-Called Review:

I’m a huge fan of the Paranormal/Supernatural genre; I’m also a huge fan of the Suspense/Thriller genre. It’s not often that I find a book that can blend these two genres and not just make it work but make it work well. Caroline Mitchell’s Don’t Turn Around is one of those rare books that blend the Paranormal with a perfectly paced Crime Thriller and the result is outstanding!! Even if you’re saying to yourself that you only enjoy straight Police Crime Thrillers, trust me when I say you’ll love this too! The Paranormal aspect works so well in this story and really doesn’t detract from the Crime Thriller at all.

Since the time she was little, D.C. Jennifer Knight has heard strange voices in her head that seem to be coming from the “other side”. These paranormal abilities had helped her solve some cases in the past but when she disclosed her ability to the wrong person she faced a sudden scrutiny and concern for her “mental health” state. After basically being demoted to the Criminal Investigation Department in small town Haven, she now tries to suppress the voices inside her head. Jennifer and her partner Will, who seem to get assigned the worst cases, are now investigating several routine and seemingly unconnected deaths. As their investigations continue so do the voices that Jennifer hears, it’s becoming harder for her to ignore them, especially as she begins to see patterns in her current cases, patterns that are strangely similar to a case her mother worked years ago. Could the serial killer they called the Grim Reaper, whom her mother helped put away, be responsible for these current deaths or is there some kind of copycat killer on the loose?

I just adored the character of Jennifer Knight, while being strong and independent she’s also completely relatable and real. I felt such a connection to her, not only because we share the same name but also because I could identify with so many of her characteristics, especially her serious OCD tendencies! I loved the fact that as the case intensified and her stress increased so did her frantic cleaning; this is a dark, serious story yet I couldn’t help but chuckle at these parts because I’ve been there so many times! Equally great is Jennifer’s partner Will, he’s such a charming goofball and although I don’t normally like a romantic aspect between partners in crime thrillers, this is one exception I’d definitely make because I really want to see these two get together! Sorry Ethan but Will’s definitely more my style ;) The third main character is Frank and I must admit I was totally fascinated by him, not sure if I was supposed to feel that way but I did. The story alternates between the present and the past and it’s these chapters in the past that explore Frank’s character, starting from the time he was a young boy. You know right from the beginning that Frank becomes a serial killer but seeing how he grows from a somewhat confused, odd little boy into a cold blooded killer was truly fascinating and a tad bit frightening!

Don’t Turn Around is a dark and creepy tale that had me up very late at night because I couldn’t stop reading; I just had to get to the end to figure out what was really going on! It takes a lot for a book to scare me but this one had me seriously creeped out in a few of its scenes! On top of that, there were twists and turns at the end I was not expecting at all and I’m so glad Mitchell took the ending in the direction she did! I was equally thrilled to learn this will be the first in a series of books surrounding D.C. Jennifer Knight and I cannot wait to see where she takes us next! I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a dark, thrilling mystery, even if you think paranormal isn’t your cup of tea, don’t pass this one up because you’ll seriously be missing out! Don’t Turn Around is a fantastic debut from an author that I’m positive will be around for a very, very long time to come!

Many thanks to the publishers, Bookouture who continue to put out some of the best books this year, and to NetGalley for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!