Review: Day of the Dead by Nicci French

Title: Day of the Dead by Nicci French
Frieda Klein Series Book Eight
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery, Suspense
Length: 416 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through Edelweiss

Summary:

Now the final book in this extraordinary series is here. And it’s an ending you’ll never forget.

A decade ago, psychologist Frieda Klein was sucked into the orbit of Dean Reeve — a killer able to impersonate almost anyone, a man who can disappear without a trace, a psychopath obsessed with Frieda herself.

In the years since, Frieda has worked with — and sometimes against — the London police in solving their most baffling cases. But now she’s in hiding, driven to isolation by Reeve. When a series of murders announces his return, Frieda must emerge from the shadows to confront her nemesis. And it’s a showdown she might not survive.

This gripping cat-and-mouse thriller pits one of the most fascinating characters in contemporary fiction against an enemy like none other. Smart, sophisticated, and spellbinding, it’s a novel to leave you breathless.

Review:

The final installment in the Frieda Klein series, Day of the Dead by Nicci French is a spellbinding mystery in which serial killer Dean Reeve engages in a deadly game to draw Klein out of hiding. Although the eighth in the series, this latest release can be read as a standalone. However, there are mentions of previous cases which contain spoilers so reader beware if you are a newcomer to the series.

Detective Chief Inspector Bill Dugdale and his assistant Dan Quarry are assigned to a murder case which is quite puzzling. A car plunges down a hill and through a shop window, killing and injuring everyone in its path, but it is quickly determined the driver was dead before the accident. This curious case yields few clues other than the puzzling discovery the dead man was researching Detective Inspector Malcolm Karlsson, who just happens to be a friend of Frieda Klein. When more bodies begin turning up, Dugdale and Quarry are at a loss as they attempt to identify the killer or killers.

Meanwhile, in order to protect her friends and family, Frieda is living in isolation as she tries to come up with a plan to find Dean Reeve. Her solitary life is suddenly interrupted by university student Lola Hayes, who plans to use Klein for her dissertation.  Agreeing to allow Lola to stay with her, Frieda slowly begins to understand the meaning behind the spate of recent deaths. She reports her suspicions to Dugdale, but after it appears someone on his team has leaked her and Lola’s whereabouts to Reeve, Frieda begins devising a plan to lure Dean to her in an effort to take down the wily and ruthless killer.

Day of the Dead is an engrossing mystery with an array of well-rounded and intriguing characters. Although Frieda is mainly working by herself, her friends and family members make heartwarming guest appearances. Karlsson remains on the periphery for much of the story, but he does play an important role in Klein’s confrontation with Reeve. Husband and wife author duo Nicci French bring the Frieda Klein series to a satisfying conclusion that both old and new fans are sure to enjoy.