Mimic: A gripping serial killer thriller from the Sunday Times bestselling author of mystery and suspense

Daniel Cole is back and I couldn’t be more excited! After the success of his ‘Ragdoll‘ trilogy, Daniel returns with a stand-alone thriller featuring a serial killer on a mission. This killer mimics well-known masterpieces of art. Think Venus de Milo, for instance. And then imagine the sheer brutality of trying to copy that statue with a human being. There is a method to this killer’s madness, there is a muse and there is a goal to achieve.This serial killer first pops up in 1989. Enter DS Chambers and DC Winters, who quite frankly might just be a new favourite pairing of mine. Unfortunately, their investigation comes to an abrupt end, and years later, it is remarkably obvious how much of a toll this case had on both of them. Physically and mentally, neither are the same. But when a young and ambitious DS Marshall finds new evidence, she enlists their help to reopen the case and finally put this dangerous killer behind bars.This book is utterly fantastic! First of all, the pace is so spot-on that I just couldn’t stop reading. Then, of course, there is the utterly sadistic killer. For most of the book, their identity is known to the reader but they always seem to be one step ahead and let me tell you, the frustration is real. Argh! Throughout my hardback copy, I found beautiful drawings of the art pieces this mimic is copying, which stood in such stark contrast to the horrifying scenes of death that were supposed to depict the same “beautiful art”. Super nice touch.Then, there’s the setting of 1989 and 1996. I absolutely adored this time and place for the story. No CCTV cameras on every street corner, no endlessly boring trawling through databases. Good old fashioned detective work, research, pounding the pavement, pestering suspects, maybe digging up a garden in between and why the hell not. But also phone booths! Ah, bless the old days. 😄But most of all, it was the characters of DS Benjamin Chambers and DC Adam Winters that drew me in. I became incredibly invested in them. Spurring them on, wanting good things for them – which obviously included stopping this madman – but also just happiness, both at work and at home.The banter between them feels incredibly natural, their dialogues are believable, and at times I absolutely chuckled out loud at the delightful sense of humour. This was definitely the case in the part dealing with 1989.I wasn’t entirely sure about DS Marshall in the beginning. I didn’t quite trust her, or like her for that matter. Her angle as to why she joined the police couldn’t really convince me, and to be honest I just thought her name spelled trouble. I can admit when I’m wrong. Marshall ended up fitting into this team like a glove. Suddenly a favourite duo became a favourite trio, and I can honestly say I do so hope there will be more from these three in the future.Some days I feel like the crime fiction genre is all over the place. The same old but with a different cover, or stories that need belief suspended so much I might as well be reading fantasy. I fully admit I’ve been “in a mood” for ages but then something like this comes along. I thoroughly enjoyed everything about ‘Mimic’. It’s full of suspense, fabulously dark and twisted, and just … fun. A whole lot of fun from start to finish with a superb plot, and fantastic characters. Thrilled to bits that Daniel Cole is back, and ‘Mimic‘ is wholeheartedly recommended by yours truly. I would just really like some more now, please and thank you.

I really enjoyed reading Mimic by Daniel Cole. The story is full of twists and in some parts very dark. I read this book over 3 books and found it addictive. I could not put it down because I had to get to the bottom about what happened to the serial killer. Detective Chambers put himself into so much danger but he expected nothing less because that is the nature of a homicide detective. Not bad for a novel. There was some black and white pictures throughout the book and looked interesting. Ready to read the next book in his collection. Something different to the real crime and forensic material I usually read. This book will be added to my collection to read again in the future.

I recently finished The Ragdoll Trilogy and was sad I wouldn’t be reading more from the fabulous team. So imagine how elated I was to find one of those characters had his own standalone!The first part of the book is set in 1989 then forwarding seven years the story continues in 1996.What I love about this novel is the illustrations that accompany some chapters. I won’t say more otherwise it could be a spoiler. With a unique theme and an impressive MO it really does push the boundaries.I loved this novel as much as the previous trilogy and look forward to reading any more Daniel Cole publishes.As with the previous two books in the trilogy, I’m sat both exhilarated and sad. This is the last of the series and I’m not only sad to see the book come to an end but the series too. If you haven’t yet read any of them then start at the beginning as you’ll get to experience that rise in writing expertise which frankly after Daniels Cole’s debut being one of the best I’ve ever read, I’m shocked he got better with each; but you get to experience the best characters and team, great settings in and around, the London we love and a storyline that just smashes a majority of other crime novels out the park!With dark themes, it may not be as gruesome as the previous two but it is just as chilling. A storyline that was so good, trying up everything we learnt in the previous joys novels. Endgame equally is one of Daniel Cole’s best novels.I think I can honestly say that I adored this series so much. It was so good and no words I write here will show how much I truly loved it. I’m sad I won’t be experiencing any more novels with such a fabulous host of characters, well researched and plotted storylines and the fabulous writing of this series by Daniel Cole. Mostly I’m going to miss the banter between Wolf and Emily which was hilarious in the middle chapters. The conclusion completed and officially ended… I guess now I just have to say goodbye to the team and get excited for the standalones.

Having read and really enjoyed the Ragdoll trilogy, I was looking forward to getting to know a new character . Unfortunately DS Chambers (along with his equally useless colleagues) proves to be so incompetent that I gave up after 150 pages, unable to see how he could solve any case, let alone this one. The writing is disjointed and the characters generally thinly drawn and very difficult to find empathy for.It's almost as though the Daniel Cole who wrote this is a completely different person from the one who wrote the first three books.I can't recommend this and just hope that Daniel rediscovers his touch on the next one.

Great thriller, very likeable characters who work well together. First book of Daniel's I have read, but would definitely read more. Recommended.

Characters and plot were unconvincing. That said, it was an easy, enjoyable read as long as the reader was prepared to suspend reality to get to the end.

An excellent psychological thriller. Really different, clever plot, loved the main characters and their relationships. Well worth a read. Hope this is the beginning of a new series.

Really fab book as always by daniel cole, grpping .