Tormented to the edge of sanity … 

Just when DI Matthew Adams thinks he’s left the past behind him, it comes back to haunt him once again; this time in the form of the Conner family.
Like Matthew, the Conners have lost a child in tragic circumstances – and they’ve also found themselves in the hands of one of the most depraved criminals to walk the streets: ‘Dead-eyed’ Charlie Roberts, a drug addicted low-life with a penchant for extreme violence.

Matthew’s greatest affinity lies with Daniel Conner, the brooding father who still blames himself for his youngest child’s death. But when Daniel’s wife and daughter are tortured and tormented by Roberts, can Matthew prevent him from completely ruining his own life for an act of revenge particularly when, once upon a time, that’s exactly what Matthew would have done too?

Titles in the DI Matthew Adams series include:  After She’s Gone – Sins of the Father – Deadly Intent –

Title:  Deadly Intent
Series:  DI Mathew Adams #3
Author:  Sheryl Browne
Genre:  Mystery, Suspense
Published:  September 5, 2017
Publisher:  Death by Choc Lit
My Rating:  5 stars

Just when you think you’ve seen the face of ultimate evil… meet Charlie.  Don’t be taken in by his surface good  looks for beneath the cover of humanity lies a truly cruel and twisted soul who uses a layer of charm to hide his Deadly Intent.

In the third story of the DI Matthew Adams series we will meet Daniel and Joanne Conner, their daughter Kayla, the memory of the youngest member of the family Emma… and a young man so terrifying in his madness that it seems nothing is beyond his acts of terror and cruelty.  While Deadly Intent focuses on the Conner family there are also memories and flashbacks to the horror that Matthew and his own family went through at the hands of madness.  While I will always suggest going back to the beginning of any series, if you are unable to do that then this story could stand on its own – you’d obviously get more understanding of Matthew’s part and reactions and two damned good stories as well if you do decide to start at the first book in this series.

Charlie is an arrogant, drug dealing slime with the need to inflect pain and terror on others.  He’s always managed to slip through the authorities hands and isn’t above tossing that in their faces at each opportunity.  Kayla is unfortunately his perfect target.  She’s already at that rebellious age, add to that a father who grieves in silence, a mother who is drowning herself in a liquor bottle and the memories of her little sister Emma and you’ll find a perfect storm ripe for Charlie to sweep in and reveal his evil self.

I’ve always believed that tragedy will do one of two things to a family, either draw and bind them together or rip them to shreds.  Daniel and Jo are being torn apart while dragging their surviving daughter along with them.  When Kayla looks to a young crush for the emotions she’s seeking she has no idea of what this young man is capable of or what he will put her family through.

Sheryl Browne has the ability of allowing us to see through the eyes of pure evil and come out the other side changed.  Deadly Intent is not only a story of terror but of survival as well.  Fast paced, chilling in its intensity for pain and suffering, frightening for the glimpse of madness and evil and in the end satisfying if left a bit on edge.  For now we know that monsters exist hidden behind pretty faces and false smiles… so now who do we trust.

(and, yes, I’ve been purposefully vague on details for you need to read the lengths Charlie will go to for his own needs first hand and not in my words)

I would highly recommend Deadly Intent and the rest of this series to any reader who enjoys Suspense or Mystery, isn’t afraid to look evil in the eye and those who will always find the shivers of a really good mystery/suspense novel well worth the sleepless nights that will be the result.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

Available for the Kindle