The Girl In The Ice by Robert Bryndza (DCI Erika Foster #1)

The Girl In The Ice is the first book in the DCI Erika Foster by the British author Robert Bryndza. I have to admit, I picked up this book on a whim because my past experience with British crime mysteries involving a female detective was pretty good.

And much to my delight, I’ve probably found yet another favorite author, along with authors like Sharon Bolton, M.J. Arlidge, and Mel Sherratt.

The book starts with a bang. A young woman is kidnapped, murdered and later found under the ice somewhere in South London. It turns out that Andrea Douglas-Brown was a popular socialite, coming from a wealthy and powerful family. And DCI Erika Foster is the one who is put on this very sensitive case.

One of the things that are puzzling to Erika right from the start is that Andrea was found in a poor area of London where a wealthy young woman had no place to go. Why was she there in the first place?

Erika has her own demons to deal with, having just returned from an extended sabbatical while recovering from her husband’s death and still struggling with her own guilt in what lead to her husband’s murder.

Many think that she is not up to the task of finding the killer, what with all the baggage she carries, but from the very start you couldn’t but notice just how strong a character is Erika, especially when all she gets from others are roadblocks to impede her investigation, coming not only from her boss and colleagues but also from the murdered young woman’s father and even government officials.

The story is quite compelling from start to finish. The way it began, I honestly couldn’t put it down until I got to the last page. Suspects are plenty and eliminating them one by one is a daunting task for our lead investigator, despite others efforts to stop her from succeeding.

However, as Erika gets closer and closer to finding out the truth about the murder, the killer also closes in on her in equal strides, especially when Erika finds other similar cases which could connect right to her own.

There was plenty of action and suspense to keep you reading, making you curious about what happens next. I daresay in fact to say that The Girl In The Ice is more than just a crime mystery novel. It is a fast-paced thriller which lovers of this genre will eat right up. And while I sort of figured out the killer at some point, the major twist at the end, well, that I didn’t see coming.

Erika is an interesting character, which I can’t wait to follow as she develops and evolves in the next books, starting with The Night Stalker, which is book #2 in the series. She is extremely smart, strong-willed, used to taking no bullshit from anyone. It is interesting to notice how she is changing her team, Foster, Peterson, and Moss, who initially rather resented her, to suddenly find themselves in her corner, supporting her all the way. I liked their interaction and hope to see more of this team in the next books.

Overall, The Girl In The Ice is a strong next entry in the British crime mystery thriller genre with a female protagonist that you can’t but like and admire, with non-stop action and a great twist at the end. I can’t wait to read the next book, which should come out in June.

The Girl In The Ice by Robert Bryndza
Series: DCI Erika Foster #1
Published by Bookouture
Published 2016
Genres: British Mystery, Crime Mystery, Thriller
Source: Purchased
Also by this author: The Night Stalker, Dark Water, Last Breath