Jacey Bedford's Journal

Original review 2018.
A modern fantasy, rural rather than urban. Dan works with wood, moving from place to place so he doesn't get too close to anyone. A century ago, a person with a secret could simply move to the other end of the country and take up a new identity, but nowadays with CCTV and social media, it's not so easy. Dan has a big secret. His mother is a Dryad and that makes Dan… different. When a young woman is murdered and left in Derbyshire woodland, Dan realises that the culprit is from his world. She's not the first. The police are never going to find the serial killer, so it's up to Dan. Dan is a great character, always trying to avoid that attention of the local police, but rarely managing it. He's a big lad with powerful fists and usually at the top of the list when the Law comes around asking questions. I do hope Juliet McKenna makes this the first in a series. I'd love to read more. There's a wealth of British folklore in here, and a damn good story.

Audiobook narrated by Will Huggins

I love this book, so imagine how gutted I am to have to say that I didn't care much for the reader. Will Huggins is a bit... clinical. He reads perfectly well, but he doesn't bring out the drama and emotion, and that's doing this excellent book an injustice. I had to listen slightly speeded up to give the whole thing some of the pace it deserved. Dan McMain is a larger than life character and that doesn't come over as well as it might. I enjoyed listening, but not as much as I hoped, and I think this is one case where I'm glad I read the book first.