Un cuerpo desollado en un contenedor de Brighton es una mala noticia. Pero también la oportunidad perfecta para que un ambicioso policía recién ascendido pueda demostrar a sus superiores que la confianza que han depositado en él está justificada —y de paso cerrar la boca a su compañero, con más años de servicio y resentido por no haber sido promocionado para el puesto—. Así que el inspector Francis Sullivan necesita a toda costa resolver el crimen, obra de uno de los más salvajes y retorcidos asesinos en serie de la historia del país. Como descubrirá enseguida, la pieza clave tiene nombre y apellido, Marni Mullins, la tatuadora que encontró el cadáver y que lo sabe absolutamente todo sobre la extraña alquimia de la sangre y la tinta. Pero Marni tiene un tormentoso pasado y motivos de sobra para desconfiar de la justicia...

From the time I read the description of this book I was intrigued and once I actually started I was completely hooked. I read the entire thing in one day, though saying I read it might be an understatement, I devoured the thing. The story itself was refreshing with a few twists and turns and characters that I felt myself being drawn to. I didn't want to put it down, I had to know what was happening next, and if that isn't the hallmark of a truly enjoyable book, well, I don't know what is. ( )

Un cuerpo desollado en un contenedor de Brighton es una mala noticia. Pero también la oportunidad perfecta para que un ambicioso policía recién ascendido pueda demostrar a sus superiores que la confianza que han depositado en él está justificada —y de paso cerrar la boca a su compañero, con más años de servicio y resentido por no haber sido promocionado para el puesto—. Así que el inspector Francis Sullivan necesita a toda costa resolver el crimen, obra de uno de los más salvajes y retorcidos asesinos en serie de la historia del país. Como descubrirá enseguida, la pieza clave tiene nombre y apellido, Marni Mullins, la tatuadora que encontró el cadáver y que lo sabe absolutamente todo sobre la extraña alquimia de la sangre y la tinta. Pero Marni tiene un tormentoso pasado y motivos de sobra para desconfiar de la justicia...

Mijn volledige recensie is terug te vinden op:
https://www.linda-linea-recta.nl/de-tattooverzamelaar/

Een verhaal wat zich in een sneltreinvaart afspeelt. Leuk om vanaf de zijkant de (veranderende) verstandhouding tussen Francis en Rory en Francis en Marni mee te maken. Daarnaast was ik totaal verrast door de plottwist! Deze heb ik absoluut niet aan zien komen. Het mag duidelijk zijn dat ik genoten heb van dit verhaal. Helemaal top. Als je vervolgens er achter komt dat dit het debuut van de auteur is, nou dat belooft wat! ( )

I've been reading some cracking crime thrillers lately and The Tattoo Thief most definitely fits into that category. Personally, I'm not a fan of tattoos and so I wasn't at all sure the storyline being predominantly about them would suit me but oh my goodness, it absolutely did.

Marni Mullins is a tattoo artist in Brighton. One evening she stumbles across a dead body, one that she later learns has had a tattoo flayed from his body. In reporting the body she couldn't imagine how involved she would later become in the case. The policeman in charge is newly promoted DI Francis Sullivan, a relatively wet behind the ears young man, but with a core of steel and the strength to stand by his convictions.

There are four voices that we hear from in this book: Marni, Francis, Rory - a DS who believes he should have got Francis's job, and the killer - the one who is dubbed "The Tattoo Thief". I really liked this way of telling the story and seeing it from different viewpoints. The killer's voice in particular is chilling.

I loved Francis and I was over the moon to read that he will be in Alison Belsham's next book as I think he has great potential. He was determined not to let police politics get in the way of finding the killer and I admired him a lot. I really felt for him trying to take charge without the respect of his colleagues. Rory was a bit of a pain for much of the story but I think he redeemed himself later on.

I also liked Marni very much. She's feisty and strong and a talented tattooist. I found the tattoo world really fascinating, the way that all the artists had distinctive styles and the different designs. I would quite like to have seen pictures of similar designs to the ones in the book, but actually the descriptions were enough that I could imagine them quite well.

I found this book to be completely absorbing. It's such an intriguing and original storyline. It's quite dark in nature, and graphic, but it's not really that gory. The characters are brilliant too. Also a word for the plot - when it all seemed to be coming to a conclusion rather earlier than I expected, a curveball was thrown right at me and the second stage of the conclusion was entered. Very clever work by the author.

This is the first in a planned trilogy of books to feature Francis, Rory and Marni and I really can't wait to return to Brighton and meet them again. The Tattoo Thief is a debut but you wouldn't know it. It's an assured and fabulous read. ( )