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A review by kris_mccracken
Killer on the Fens by Joy Ellis
2.0
"Killer on the Fens" by Joy Ellis is a rather lacklustre addition to the crime fiction genre. At its centre is DI Nicki Galea, a character seemingly plucked from the 'damaged detective' mould without much care for originality.
Galea ticks all the requisite boxes: a failed marriage, a daughter lost to drugs, a deceased father, and a workaholic streak that should be compelling but instead feels utterly by the numbers. The writing itself is pedestrian, with a plot so silly that it’s almost laughable. Yet, I suppose it does serve as a kind of palate cleanser—if only in the sense that it’s easily forgettable.
The novel feels amateurish and unconvincing, with dialogue that no real person would ever utter. The characters speak in a fashion so stilted and unnatural that, at times, I had to look away. Very little effort is made to introduce any genuine tension into the proceedings. Even the supposedly haunted marshland airbase—a setting that should naturally lend itself to a menacing atmosphere—fails to generate any real sense of dread or intrigue.
The bland cast of characters struggle to emerge from the page, lacking the depth or conflict needed to make them memorable. I find myself feeling depressingly ambivalent towards them, which is never a good sign in a novel that should thrive on character engagement.
There are far too many plot points interlinked between too few characters. Almost every issue ties back to one of several main characters, which feels contrived and unnecessary. The story could have been more compelling with a broader range of connections rather than this forced sense of interrelation.
In the end, Killer on the Fens feels more like a missed opportunity than a thrilling read. It might pass the time if you have nothing better to do but don’t expect to be captivated.
⭐ ⭐
Galea ticks all the requisite boxes: a failed marriage, a daughter lost to drugs, a deceased father, and a workaholic streak that should be compelling but instead feels utterly by the numbers. The writing itself is pedestrian, with a plot so silly that it’s almost laughable. Yet, I suppose it does serve as a kind of palate cleanser—if only in the sense that it’s easily forgettable.
The novel feels amateurish and unconvincing, with dialogue that no real person would ever utter. The characters speak in a fashion so stilted and unnatural that, at times, I had to look away. Very little effort is made to introduce any genuine tension into the proceedings. Even the supposedly haunted marshland airbase—a setting that should naturally lend itself to a menacing atmosphere—fails to generate any real sense of dread or intrigue.
The bland cast of characters struggle to emerge from the page, lacking the depth or conflict needed to make them memorable. I find myself feeling depressingly ambivalent towards them, which is never a good sign in a novel that should thrive on character engagement.
There are far too many plot points interlinked between too few characters. Almost every issue ties back to one of several main characters, which feels contrived and unnecessary. The story could have been more compelling with a broader range of connections rather than this forced sense of interrelation.
In the end, Killer on the Fens feels more like a missed opportunity than a thrilling read. It might pass the time if you have nothing better to do but don’t expect to be captivated.
⭐ ⭐