When Detective Morgan Brookes is called to Lake Thirlmere one frosty night, she’s devastated to find the body of a young woman positioned in front of the glistening reservoir. She has ligature marks on her limbs, glue residue on her eyes, and her beautiful face is as cold as ice. Knowing only a dangerous serial killer would arrange a scene so carefully, Morgan is in a race against time to stop them before more innocent lives are lost.

The victim is twenty-year-old Jasmine Armer and her mother is distraught to hear that her beautiful daughter is gone. And Morgan is shocked when she learns that Jasmine’s father recently died by suicide at the same picturesque spot. The killer must have known the family. Then Morgan receives a terrifying package at the station of an intricate death mask. She immediately recognises Jasmine’s long lashes and perfectly-plump lips.

With the killer taunting her, Morgan knows time is running out. And then Morgan gets the heart-shattering call that her friend, Emily, has been killed. Ligature marks on Emily’s arms are identical to Jasmine’s. Heartbroken Morgan knows this isn’t the end of the killer’s twisted game, but can she track them down before they take another life?

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Paperback | 52 Chapters | 306 Pages | 3 Hours

I am determined to reduce the looming pile of unread books that I have conveniently and guilt-trippingly stacked opposite my bed where I can’t ignore them! April was a bit of a dud month, I didn’t read anything and have been bed-bound for 2 weeks due to my back, so I’ve been itching to read.

Hold Your Breath is the 9th book in the Detective Morgan Brookes series by Helen Phifer. If you haven’t read the series yet and you are a fan of crime books, then go check them out!!

With this review I am diverting away from my endless annoyances about the relationship between Morgan and Ben. I like to think that I’ve mellowed about it. I certainly felt more fondness reading through their interactions in this book, so maybe I am now used to the relationship and accepting of it.

Now, usually with a Helen Phifer book, the reveal of the killer – mostly – remains a surprise to me, or, I work it out moments before the reveal. Here though, I knew exactly who the killer was in chapter 18. I don’t think this is a reflection on the author though. More, I think it shows how accustomed I am to Phifer’s style of writing that I was able to work it out so quickly.

In terms of the characters, this book is hard hitting as it involves the death of someone that both Morgan, Ben, and others know (this isn’t a spoiler, it literally tells you this in the book blurb!!) If I think about it through the lens of character development and plot advancement, then I understand completely why it was their time to leave.

I worried though how this would affect Morgan and Ben – Moreso Ben because his character has been more vulnerable lately. Much of this plot did have the capacity to strain the relationship between Morgan and Ben and in that regard, I was anxious the relationship would retreat backwards.

Morgan, as usual, is right in the middle of trouble. She is sort of an ‘all powerful oracle’ being the only one in 9 books to make the connection that solves the case. And, I get it, I really do, she’s the star of the series, but would it kill Phifer to write some of the breakthroughs into the other characters? If not just to prove they earned their detective badges. (This has irritated me greatly for some time.)

I think at this point – had Morgan been an actual physical person and not the super detective on paper…she would have died years ago from all the physical trauma she’s endured. Somewhere in this book Morgan ends up at the hospital! I was in hospital for 2 days in January and that was enough for me. I’m surprised they haven’t got a bed made up with her name on it at this point!!!

Aside from our romancing trouble following duo, we can also talk about Amy and Cain. At the start of the series Cain was more of a third string character, however, due to some recent changes he now partners with Amy to even out the team. My conclusion? Everyone needs a Cain in their life! He is the yin to Amy’s sarcastic yang and their pairing couldn’t be more compatible.

I’m still on the fence about Marc. I was more lukewarm about him reading this, but, still…

Aside from not realising how much of my own sarcasm and ranting would end up in this review, the book is good! Go read it or start the series journey.