The Girl in the Ice by Robert Bryndza (#1)

4.0 out of 5 stars -- Thrilling and fast-paced debut featuring DCI Erika Foster and set in London.

Beautiful, young Andrea Douglas-Brown is found dead in the ice. She's the daughter of a wealthy member of the House of Lords and the fiance of an equally moneyed business man -- so who would want to kill her?

DCI Foster soon realizes that she is the odd one out as her nemesis in the police department trots out a suspect and wants to close the case. Soon left to her own investigative devices, Erika figures out that this murder was committed by a vicious serial killer and she's put off the case but fortunately still kept in the loop by her Met team members. The investigation is solid police procedural with the addition of some backstory into Erika's character and life situation as well.

I enjoyed this novel and can't wait to read the next in the series, THE NIGHT STALKER, tentative publication date in June 2016. I like the protagonist and am also very interested in the other characters with whom Erika works. It's an excellent blend of strong female lead who is also vulnerable because of events in her past -- but definitely not a psycho mess. I'd recommend it to anyone who likes a suspense novel about the hunt for a serial killer that is well-plotted not manipulative and twisty -- though, if you're guessing, it might take you awhile to figure out the ending.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for an e-book ARC to review.