Review: Tell Tale by Mark Sennen

Title: Tell Tale (DI Charlotte Savage, #4)
Author: Mark Sennen
Publisher: Avon
Publication Date: 12th February 2015
Pages: 400
ISBN: 9780007587872
Source: Review Copy
Rating: 4/5
Purchase: Amazon

DI CHARLOTTE SAVAGE KNOWS WHO KILLED HER DAUGHTER

But before Charlotte can get her revenge, disturbing events start to unfold on Dartmoor…

A woman’s naked body is found near an isolated reservoir on the bleak winter moors. When the woman’s housemate also goes missing, Charlotte knows she must move fast.

But in a police force tainted by corruption, Charlotte’s hunt for the killer won’t be easy.

And resisting her own urge to kill will be even harder…

Mark Sennen's books have been on my TBR for a long time so when mysterious black envelopes started getting delivered to me, I was thrilled when a final package arrived with Tell Tale inside. For those who may also be new to the series, this is the place to start. I never had that feeling you sometimes get jumping into a series of feeling out of place. Rather the story was so good and I was endeared to the character of Charlotte Savage from very early on, that it didn't matter I hadn't read the previous books. Sennen sets the scene, makes the introductions and just gets straight into the story.

Usually this is where I do the 'book jacket blurb' and some shout 'Spoilers!' but the book's blurb gives nothing away and I feel I must do the same and urge you to go into this book knowing as little about it as possible. It's a very addictive mystery, with some equally addictive subplots running alongside it. Not least Charlotte Savage and the decisions she must make concerning her daughter's killer, who just so happens to be the son of somebody of a very high rank. This part of the story excited me because there was a real sense of unpredictability in not knowing just how Savage was going to act. I can't say whether the outcome is the one I would have chosen, but it was interesting to read a crime fiction book with this level of corruption.

Tell Tale is a little bit of a slow burner in the beginning, but this was necessary to introduce the characters and get the story going, starting that build up to a very exciting second half as some brilliant twists and turns take us towards a thrilling conclusion, and speaking of twists there were a couple in Tell Tale that I just did not see coming until they were revealed. Quite chilling in places and with an eerie sense of realism, this is a story that will definitely draw emotion from the reader, and I do always enjoy a book more that has that effect on me as a reader, getting caught up in the case and caring about the characters.

I loved the setting for this book, and really liked the way it was used to create some truly atmospheric scenes that at times had my heart racing. Some vivid descriptions allow the areas used in the book to completely come alive in the mind of the reader, making the book all the more exciting. Also, given how the story plays out the setting is perfect for it. You'll see why when you read. Overall the story, characters and everything else about Tell Tale just felt really fresh, and left me excited at having finally read one of Mark Sennen's books (I wasn't crazy about the short story released over Christmas) but I have definitely been left with the desire to go back and read the previous books in the series, and will be at the front of the queue for book five, as I can't wait to pick up where this book left off. I highly recommend Tell Tale and don't think it will disappoint new or returning readers.

4/5