Film star Anna Symons is found dead on an ice rink in Manchester, recreating a scene from a blockbuster she starred in years ago.
DI Erika Piper, having only recently returned to work after suffering a near-fatal attack herself, finds she must once again prove her worth as the hunt for the media-dubbed 'Blood Ice Killer’ intensifies.
But when another body is found and, this time, the killer issues a personal threat, Erika must put aside her demons to crack the case, or suffer the deadly consequences.
A Wash of Black is the first book in Chris McDonald's DI Erika Piper series and has recently been republished with a new cover by Harper North. I've been meaning to read this series for ages so this seemed like the perfect time to start. Having raced through the book in a day, I'm thrilled to have found a new favourite series and now can't wait to read the rest!
The prologue finds Erika Piper arriving at a crime scene and she instantly feels like a real person with an intriguing past. It's here that readers learn she is returning following an enforced year of absence – but her first day back is no gentle reintroduction to the job. A young woman has been brutally murdered at an ice rink, vividly described as looking like 'a dystopian future fuelled by Torvill and Dean.' Her blood has spread across the icy surface and John, the head Scene of Crime officer is almost certain her cause of death is due to exsanguination. It's a chilling case in both senses then, and becomes even more so when Erika's partner, DS Liam Sutton suddenly announces it's not the first time the victim has died like that. He explains that Anna Symons was an actor who appeared in a film where she died in a disturbingly similar way.
Back at the station, Erika is evidently well-liked and is welcomed back by her team, most notably Detective Sergeants Tom Calder and Angela Poynter. Nevertheless – and as anybody returning to work following a prolonged break will empathise with – she still feels nervous. Chris McDonald does a superb job here introducing the team charged with investigating the grisly murder; it's clear that he has taken pains to ensure her relationships with her colleagues are well-established and authentic, and the humour between them provides a warm contrast to the emotional weight wrought by this challenging case.
With the murderer's careful staging of the body being so unmistakably linked to the Blood Ice film, it's obvious that Anna wasn't a random victim. It's not long, therefore, before they have identified some potential suspects, including Anna's fiancé, Rory, particularly after it transpires that their relationship has endured its share of troubles in the past. However, with CCTV revealing her actions on the final night of her life, there are other avenues to pursue too. With jealousy, obsession and revenge all possible motives for murder, the scene is set for what becomes a complex and dangerous search for the ruthless killer, especially after a second body is discovered. Despite the methodology being different, this death is horribly violent as well and unquestionably linked to the first.
The body count rises still further and with the escalating sense of tension becoming unbearable, the next murder is the stuff of nightmares, particularly for Erika. A Wash of Black is a riveting crime thriller but Chris McDonald also understands that readers need to care about his characters, and the convincing dynamics between them are excellent throughout. Erika is a thoroughly believable protagonist who is shown to still be dealing with the enduring aftermath of her own attack a year ago. Although it isn't unusual for detectives in crime fiction to have dramatic back stories, Erika isn't a stereotypical, irrevocably damaged officer and I enjoyed seeing her positive interactions with a counsellor. Meanwhile, she also undergoes significant upheaval in her personal life which brings some welcome romance and light-hearted moments to this dark and twisty thriller.
As the pieces of the jigsaw finally slot into place for Erika, the high-octane conclusion results in a tense, unpredictable confrontation which had me tearing through the pages with my heart in my mouth. A Wash of Black was Chris McDonald's debut and he certainly announced himself as a talent to watch – I'm not surprised he has gone on to write several other sterling crime novels since. This clever, suspenseful thriller is a fast-paced, compulsive read from start to finish and I very highly recommend it.
A Wash of Black is published by Harper North, purchasing links can be found here. Also available to order from your favourite independent bookshop.
About the Author
He is the author of the ‘DI Erika Piper’ series, as well as the ‘Stonebridge Mysteries’.
Chris also writes under the name Chris Frost, and the first book by this name, The Killer's Christmas List, was published by HarperNorth in 2023. He is a script writer, husband, father to two beautiful girls, a regular voice on The Blood Brothers Podcast and co-founder of Stockport Noir. He is a fan of 5-a-side football, heavy metal and dogs.
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