4.5 stars.

The Cutting Room by Ashley Dyer is a multi-layered, spellbinding mystery. This second installment in the Carver and Lake series can be read as a standalone, but I highly recommend book one, Splinter in the Blood, as well.

DCI Greg Carver is still on restricted duty following his horrific injuries sustained on a previous case. However, when a suspected serial killer begins displaying macabre art which incorporates parts of the victim's bodies, Carver and DS Ruth Lake work overtime to catch the murderer. Relying heavily on DC Tom Ivey, Crime Scene Manager John Hughes and forensic psychologist Dr. Kris Yi, Carver and Hughes work feverishly to locate the elusive killer who calls himself the Ferryman. The killer is utilizing social media to publicize his displays and the team finds it challenging to protect their crime scenes from outside contamination. Quickly identifying the victims from the displays, Carver and Lake fear several other missing men will soon become part of the Ferryman's artistic tableaus. Ruth is a little distracted when she notices a familiar face at one of the crime scenes and she is frantic to locate this person in order to figure out their involvement in the case. Carver is worried about a worrisome new development in the aftereffects from his previous injuries. As the Ferryman's murders and displays become more and more grisly, Carver, Lake and the rest of the team are under immense pressure to make an arrest. But will they finally get the break they need to uncover the Ferryman's identity?

Ruth remains concerned about some of Carver's lingering symptoms, but she is very protective of him. She is very observant and she easily steps in when she notices he is struggling at different points in their investigation. Despite Carver's occasional slips, he too is quite perceptive and he is well aware that Lake is hiding something from him. In spite of a close working relationship and immense loyalty to one another, both are quick to call the other out for their obvious distractions. Carver is Lake's boss and he rarely pulls rank on her, but as she becomes in danger of losing objectivity, he is insistent she follow his orders. Ruth is not happy, but she complies with his request which leads to very troubling suspicions as the investigation finally receives a long awaited break. Will Greg's fears that she is allowing a personal connection to cloud her judgment affect her decisions as the case hurdles to its conclusion?

The Cutting Room is a chilling mystery which features a topical and clever storyline. Carver and Lake are a formidable investigators who diligently follow every clue they unearth. Chapters written from the Ferryman's perspective provide interesting insight into his plans. With a few very clever red herrings, Ashley Dyer brings this dark police procedural to a shocking conclusion. While the current case is completely wrapped up by the novel's end, the final page will leave readers impatiently awaiting the next release in the Carver and Lake series.
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The Cutting Room by Ashley Dyer is a very highly recommended police procedural/thriller with Detectives Lake and Carver on the search for a serial killer.

Detectives Ruth Lake and Greg Carver are searching for a serial killer in Liverpool, England, where men are disappearing. When they arrived at the first crime scene, they are shocked to see sections of human brains encased in plexiglass and set up as an art installation on display for everyone to see. The gruesome crime scene becomes even more surreal when a crowd of people show up at the scene, to see, photograph, and film the "art" and the investigators. The serial killer is dubbed the Ferryman and is gaining a wide following across social media. The brain sections belonged to three of the missing men. It becomes clear that the Ferryman is a narcissistic exhibitionist psychopath who craves an audience and accolades for his ghastly exhibitions. He alerts both the detectives and his groupies via social media whenever he sets up a new installation.

Both Ruth and Carver are still recovering from their last run-in with a killer, but focus on finding this latest fiend. Ruth never forgets a face and she closely examines photos of all the people who show up at the crime scenes. After his head injury, Carver sees auras and experiences synesthesia which allows him to read people's emotions. The two work to overcome or hide any personal issues while searching for the killer, and this looks like it might be too personal to Ruth.

Chapters follow the point-of-view of Ruth and Carver, with brief passages from the killer presented between. Both Ruth and Carver are interesting, complicated, intelligent, well-developed characters. Following their investigation and the actions of the killer is absorbing and engaging. The tension is palatable as the duo work together looking for the killer, while still keeping some personal information to themselves.

This is an excellent police procedural/ thriller that is completely engrossing. The quality of the writing is outstanding. Dyer (a pen name of former CWA chair Margaret Murphy and forensic expert Helen Pepper writing together) creates a complex plot, an intricate investigation, and well developed characters. There are twists and false leads. The forensics details are fascinating. The killer's focus on social media followers is a timely, subtle social commentary. This is the second book in the Carver and Lake series; the first is Splinter in the Blood.

Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of HarperCollins Publishers.
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