Shatter Creek (Detective Casey Wray)

by Rod Reynolds

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SYNOPSIS

Hampstead County Police Department is embroiled in scandal after corruption at the top of the force was exposed. Cleared of involvement and returned to active duty, Detective Sergeant Casey Wray nonetheless finds herself at a crossroads when it becomes clear not everyone believes she’s innocent.

CORRUPTION

Partnered with rookie Billy Drocker, Casey works a shocking daytime double-homicide in downtown Rockport with the two victims seemingly unknown to one another. And when a third victim is gunned down on her doorstep shortly after, it appears an abusive ex-boyfriend holds the key to the killings.

MURDER

With powerful figures demanding answers, Casey and Billy search for the suspect, fearing he’s on a murderous rampage. But when a key witness goes missing, and new evidence just won’t fit, the case begins to unravel.

DANGER

With her career in jeopardy, Casey makes a shattering discovery that threatens to expose the true darkness at the heart of the murders… with a killer still on the loose…

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REVIEW

I read Black Reed Bay (the first in the Casey Wray series) back in September 2021, so I was a little bit concerned that I wouldn't be able to just jump back into the series without a re-read. However, I started reading Shatter Creek and as soon as Casey appeared I instantly had very vivid memories of certain scenes from the first book. This is a testament to Rod Reynolds skills as a writer - the fact that I was able to remember these scenes so clearly after so many years, means that they must have made a big impact on me at the time. Shatter Creek follows on directly from the first book and begins with Casey being caught up in what sounds like an incredibly dangerous Police situation. We then go back in time to find out what happened in the lead up to this event. Casey is struggling with the fallout of the scandal and corruption which were revealed in Black Reed Bay, and her job is being made impossible by her new boss who is determined to distance herself from Casey, believing she must have been involved somehow in all of the issues in the department. The structure of the book is really successful in building up the tension. Shifting backwards and forwards in time throughout the various incidents, shootings and internal struggles within the department made it impossible to put down. Every time I thought there was going to be a reveal of some important information, there was another shift, keeping the pace flowing and my intrigue high! What I personally love about this series is that it's a 100% solid police procedural. The terminology, tactics and investigations all seemed completely authentic to me, I never questioned any of Casey and her team's involvement into this complex double-homicide. It's a dark story, made even darker by the fact that there is so much negativity surrounding the department at this trying time for them all. Casey is desperately trying to solve the case as normal but she's finding it harder and harder to know who to trust, and to know whether anyone has any confidence left in her to lead the team. It's so realistic and gritty, it was almost torture to read at times. This is a no spoilers review but I'll just finish by saying that the ending of Shatter Creek was perfection!

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Rod Reynolds is the author of six novels, including the Charlie Yates series, the standalone Blood Red City and the bestseller Black Reed Bay. His new book, Shatter Creek, is published in 2025.

His 2015 debut, The Dark Inside, was longlisted for the CWA New Blood Dagger, and was followed by Black Night Falling (2016) and Cold Desert Sky (2018); the Guardian called the books 'Pitch-perfect American noir.' A lifelong Londoner, in 2020 Orenda Books published his first novel set in his hometown, Blood Red City, which was a Summer 2020 pick in the FT.

In 2021, Rod returned to the US with Black Reed Bay, a novel loosely based on the infamous Long Island Serial Killer, which introduced underdog cop Casey Wray. in 2025, Casey returns in Shatter Creek.

Rod previously worked in advertising as a media buyer, and holds an MA in Novel Writing from City University London. He lives near London with his wife and children.

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Thanks to Anne Cater - @RandomTTours, Rod Reynolds and Orenda Books - @OrendaBooks for the opportunity to read and review.

Fiction: Police Procedural / Thriller

Publisher: Orenda Books

ISBN: 978-1916788091

Pages: 300pp