The Jigsaw Man (Inspector Anjelica Henley #1) by Nadine Matheson, Davine Henry (Narrator)

Published March 16th 2021 by Harlequin Audio, Harlequin– Trade Publishing (U.S. & Canada)

4 Stars: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

I had read so many wonderful reviews of this book that when the audiobook was available to listen to and review through Harlequin Audio, I jumped at the chance. THE JIGSAW MAN by Nadine Matheson is the first book in An Inspector Anjelica Henley series. It stars DI Anjelica Henley and the other members of her team, which all play an important role in this story. DI Anjelica Henley has been on desk duty since her return to the SCU, suffering from PTSD. When body parts are found on the banks of the Thames, she becomes the lead investigator. This find is very similar to her last investigation, but Peter Olivier, the Jigsaw Killer, is in prison. Is this a copycat killer or was there someone else in on his original crime spree? She is still dealing with emotional issues from her last encounter with this madman, can she survive this investigation.

This is much darker and violent than most books that I read. It is a serial killer who loves to kill and torture, sometimes in a graphic way. The investigation, the cat and mouse chase, the many victims that I wanted to find some justice for and the chills kept me listening when I should have been doing other things. There were so many twists that I was constantly changing my mind and trying to figure out the puzzle. DI Anjelica Henley is a protagonist that was completely focused on her job and catching this madman. When Peter Olivier escapes prison, it ratchets up her determination and her emotions. We see bits of her personal life along the way, and it is complicated, but makes her more real to me. Peter Olivier, the Jigsaw Killer, is terrifying. When a criminal as cruel and self-important as he is, but also so intelligent makes an appearance in a story, you know it is not going to end well. The secondary characters, members of her SCU team are well-developed and I hope to see them back in a future story. I can’t wait to see where Nadine Matheson takes Anjelica and her team in the next book in this series. I recommend this one to anyone who enjoys a dark police procedural.

The audiobook was narrated by Davine Henry, a new narrator to me. I had to find the pace that fit for me, which was 1.4 and then I was able to enjoy this listening experience. I did have to listen carefully to determine who was speaking and the POV, as there was no change in voices for the various speakers. This was a bit disappointing, but once I got into the story, I realized that this was basically an expressive reading of the story. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book upon request. The rating and opinions shared are my own.

The Jigsaw Man

About the Book: A serial killer and his copycat are locked in a violent game of cat and mouse. Can DI Anjelica Henley stop them before it’s too late?

On the day she returns to active duty with the Serial Crimes Unit, Detective Inspector Anjelica Henley is called to a crime scene. Dismembered body parts from two victims have been found by the river.

The modus operandi bears a striking resemblance to Peter Olivier, the notorious Jigsaw Killer, who has spent the past two years behind bars. When he learns that someone is co-opting his grisly signature – the arrangement of victims’ limbs in puzzle-piece shapes – he decides to take matters into his own hands.

As the body count rises, DI Anjelica Henley is faced with an unspeakable new threat. Can she apprehend the copycat killer before Olivier finds a way to get to him first? Or will she herself become the next victim?

Drawing on her experience as a criminal attorney, debut novelist Nadine Matheson delivers the pause-resisting crime novel of the year. Taut, vivid, and addictively sinister, The Jigsaw Man will leave you breathless until the very last word.

Nadine Matheson

About the Author: Nadine Matheson is a writer of crime fiction, contemporary fiction and occasionally dips into the world of speculative fiction.

When Nadine is not writing, she works as a criminal lawyer and lecturer. She lives in London and in her fantasy life would write comic books for a living.

You can find Nadine Matheson here: Twitter – Instagram – Webpage

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