[The Harvest Man] by Alex Grecian
Scotland Yard’s Murder Squad series Book #4
4.5★’s

From The Book:
When London discovered that Jack the Ripper was back, it sent Scotland Yard’s Murder Squad into chaos. But now it is even worse. There are two of them. When the Harvest Man begins killing, carving people’s faces off their skulls, the men of the Yard know they need Inspector Walter Day to find him before more families are murdered. Meanwhile, Saucy Jack is playing his own games—and when the two killers come together, the men of the Yard may never be the same.

My Thoughts:
This was the most suspenseful and the most enjoyable of all the books thus far…even with… or maybe I should say especially with… the rather grotesque murder gains a much deeper insight into the lives of Walter Day and Nevil Hammersmith. Grecian has provided a deeply atmospheric book that is rich in historical detail as well as filled with intense plotlines, deplorable murders, intriguing characters and family situations of the era…interspersed throughout the book. The level of tension and excitement will keep the reader turning the pages. I would recommend The Harvest Man to anyone who enjoys historical thrillers and have been fans of Grecian’s previous books. ( )

Grecian's Scotland Yard Murder Squad series have an extreme goriness to them, as they traverse the dark foggy streets and the labyrinth of tunnels and catacombs under the streets of London. Jack the Ripper is the "name" criminal that is the focus of Scotland Yard's search, but the many surrogates, imitators, and other murderers who go about their "business" in these page-turners, make it harder and harder for me to continue to say I don't read mysteries. This whole period of London crime stories have always pulled me in, ever since I read my first Sherlock Holmes stories, while puffing on my meerschaum pipe, those many years ago, in a small Vermont apartment that was painted bright red. ( )

This has become one of my favorite historical fiction murder mystery series. In this book there isn't just one killer on the loose, there are three and one of them is cutting people's faces off. Also, Jack the Ripper is still out there and he wants Inspector Walter Day. Jack feels he has a connection with Walter. Alex Grecian does a great job of pulling the reader into the lives of the characters living in 1885. You wish they could pick up a cell phone and call for help instead of looking for a young boy to give a penny to so they can run a message to someone. Can't wait for the next installment to find out what happens with Jack and Walter. ( )

Multiple serial killers means multiple murders to solve for Scotland Yard and DI Day. Jack the Ripper is still out there taunting him but there are some new kids on the block to keep things jumping. Much is revealed about Day's home life with new twin babies and interfering in-laws who hire a "staff" for the household. His recent injury plagues him and the new DI who is taking over the bulk of the investigations is less than his equal. Ms.Grecian's prose brings things alive for me. I am right there in that time period, on the street, watching as events unfold. A thoroughly enjoyable read for me. My thanks to the author and Penguin's First to Read program for a complimentary copy
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Not the best in the series, but creepy and atmospheric as usual. Reviewed for Booklist. ( )