A Killer in the Family

March 1, 2023

In Lodge's A Killer in the Family, a woman who uploaded her DNA with hopes of finding her missing father is instead contacted by series star Jonah Sheens, who explains that her DNA matches that of a serial killer. Prepub Alert.

Copyright 2023 Library Journal

Copyright 2023 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

June 19, 2023
Ancestry searches can bring families together, or reveal long-buried secrets, as Irish single mother Aisling Cooley learns all too well in the riveting latest from Lodge (Little Sister). Aisling hasn’t seen her father, Dara Cooley, since he disappeared more than 30 years ago, leaving behind a note for her and her mother (“I love you deeply, but I can’t keep living this duplicitous life”). As her two sons approach adolescence, Aisling wants them to know their family history—and maybe even their grandfather, if he’s still alive—so she registers with an ancestry site. Her profile catches the attention of Det. Chief Insp. Jonah Sheens in sleepy Southampton, England, as Aisling’s DNA provides a genetic match suggesting a close familial relationship to the so-called “Bonfire Killer,” who’s been affixing local victims to pyres and setting them on fire. Police attempt to track down Dara and begin questioning Aisling’s sons as suspects, forcing her into a moral crisis: if one of her loved ones really is responsible, does she want them caught? Heartfelt family drama and thundering suspense elevate the ripped-from-the-headlines plot. This continues Lodge’s winning streak.

July 1, 2023

The Bonfire Killer has struck again, but this time is different. The pyre upon which he places his dead middle-aged female victims did not burn. It has been three months since the burned body of his previous victim was discovered, and DCI Jonah Sheens and his team are no closer to solving the case. However, their luck may be changing. Blood was found at the most recent scene, and while there is no DNA match in the system, they are trying something new: searching genealogy websites for possible matches. The results and further DNA analysis conclude that the blood belongs to one of four people: Aisling Cooley, her two sons, or her father, who has been missing since he ran out on the family in 1987. Have there been more murders with a similar M.O.? Will the killer strike again before he is caught? It is a race against time to identify and locate all suspects. VERDICT This fifth book in the Jonah Sheens series (after Little Sister) stands on its own. It is a solid police procedural with a believable and interesting plot, good characters, excellent pacing, and multiple twists and turns. Perfect for fans of Peter Robinson.--Ed Goldberg

Copyright 2023 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.