Book Review: Ragdoll (Daniel Cole) @HarperCollinsCa @eccobooks @Daniel_P_Cole

A body is found; however, this is not a regular, run of the mill body. Instead, this body is made up of several dismembered parts, stitched together like a puppet, a puppet that the press names the “ragdoll”. Assigned to this case is Detective William Fawkes, known as the Wolf. He has a shady past and a killer instinct. As the “Ragdoll Killer” taunts the nation with a hit list of names and numerous kills, Wolf and his partner, Emily Baxter, must use all their resources to catch this killer before it’s too late.

Ragdoll, the debut by Daniel Cole (which is out TODAY in Canada) was one of my most anticipated reads for spring, and for good reason! This book was downright addicting.    I opened up to the first page and was instantly sucked into the plot. Heart-pounding, consuming and entertaining, Ragdoll had me on the edge of my seat and up late into the night.

I have been very open lately with my struggle reading police procedural novels, and I am happy to say that Ragdoll exceeded my expectations. Fast paced, intricate and complex, I never once felt as if I was reading the same old story. Ragdoll felt like a breath of fresh air in a seemingly overdone genre. A classic battle between good and evil, this one will leave you gasping.

The novel opens with a trip down memory lane, setting up the backstory for Detective Fawkes. Flash forward, Fawkes is recovering from his past indiscretions and trying to rebuild his reputation when he is assigned to the Ragdoll case.

I absolutely loved Detective Fawkes and was more than thrilled to find out that this book is the first in a series that will feature this eclectic character.  Perfect amounts witty, flawed and lethal, Fawkes is the type of character that you root for and want to fight alongside.   Told through multiple POVs, we hear not only from Fawkes but also from his partner and other members of the police force as they work to try and navigate the world of this killer. ). I did feel as if there were moments where the POV switched randomly without warning and it became slightly confusing, but overall, I was able to easily follow the story even with these choppy switches.

Entertaining until the last page, I will be eagerly awaiting the next novel in this series and to see what William Fawkes will be up to next.  And can we for a second pause and acknowledge that this is a debut…WHAT?!

5/5 stars. I’d consider it a must read.

Thanks to Harper Collins Canada, Ecco Books and Daniel Cole for a copy of this novel; it was my pleasure to provide an honest review.