A Brutal Trade by Faith Mortimer

A Brutal Trade
By Faith Mortimer
Published by Topsails Charter (12 June 2015)
ISBN: 978-1512367478

Publisher's description
Even on a small island, the darkest secrets can't stay buried forever…
It began like any normal day in Cyprus… except it wasn't… the body of a woman brutally murdered and discovered in a shallow grave changes all that.
It is only days later when amateur sleuth, Diana Rivers, and old flame, Chief Superintendent Adam Lovell, discover a second female victim… only this time the discovery is even more chilling and shocks the island inhabitants.
Joining forces with local policeman, Sergeant Yiannis Loukiades, the three embark on a journey that takes them on the fringes of humanity. Disturbing secrets are unearthed. They are on the hunt for killers who will stop at nothing in their hunt for one vital woman.
As the bodies mount up, the detectives ask themselves one question. What is the reason for the women's deaths and their horrific mutilations?
With the investigation quickly gathering momentum, Diana finds herself exposed to great danger… in the sighs of a lethal individual who'll put a stop to her meddling. Each move could be deadly… vicious in its outcome… can the team bring a halt to this brutal trade?

My verdict
This is my first Diana Rivers book, and I can't believe that I haven't discovered this series before now.

Firstly it's set in the beautiful island of Cyprus, with lovely vivid descriptions of the stunning scenery. Secondly it tackles some serious crimes, in this case human trafficking. And thirdly, it's an excellent murder-mystery filled with believable but colourful characters.

I whizzed through A Brutal Trade from beginning to end, desperate to know what would happen next. Even though I haven't read any of the previous Diana Rivers books (this is the 7th), I picked up the backstory of each of the characters with ease. And it didn't take long for the main characters to feel like old friends. The background about Cyprus and human trafficking is woven seamlessly into the plot, and the rich dialogue keeps the story flowing at a fast pace.

A Brutal Trade isn't intended to be comfort reading, thanks to its highly thought-provoking underlying story. But it's definitely an easy read that I would recommend to anyone who likes crime fiction with a serious message. Faith Mortimer certainly isn't afraid to tackle difficult subject matter.

I received an Advance Reader Copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Read my Author in the Spotlight Q&A feature with Faith here.