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Margaret Murphy
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BEFORE HE KILLS AGAIN an unputdownable crime thriller full of twists (Detective Cassie Rowan Book 1) Kindle Edition

by MARGARET MURPHY (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.3 out of 5 stars 4,016 ratings
“Pace, taut plotting and great characterisation from the first page. Add humour and some wonderful one liners and you have a popular novel with depth.” Sunday Times bestseller Ann Cleeves

CAN CASSIE STOP A SERIAL PREDATOR BEFORE HE KILLS AGAIN?

A serial predator on the prowl in Liverpool. Seven victims so far. And he’s already chosen his next one.

The police can’t catch him. He leaves no trace. No one has been able to provide a reliable description.

Detective Cassie Rowan goes undercover in a dangerous game of cat and mouse through the teeming backstreets of Liverpool. But how long will it be before he turns the tables and begins hunting her?

ONE OF THE ABSOLUTE MUST-READ PSYCHOLOGICAL CRIME THRILLERS OF 2020.

This thrilling new novel from bestselling author Margaret Murphy will keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end. If you like Patricia Gibney, Lisa Regan, Robert Dugoni, Angela Marsons and Rachel Abbott, you’ll love Before He Kills Again.

MEET DETECTIVE CASSIE ROWAN
DC Cassie Rowan is a young policewoman who has been the main carer for her younger brother, Neil, since their parents died. She has to balance this role with her demanding job. She is working undercover on the streets of Liverpool trying to find the ‘Furman’, a man who has been brutally assaulting sex workers. Cassie blames herself and another detective, Wicks, for not catching him sooner. Forensic scientist Dr Ian Chan is on her side, but her boss Detective Chief Inspector Pat Warman thinks she is uncooperative and needs to work as part of a team.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Margaret Murphy writes internationally acclaimed psychological thrillers. She is a past Chair of the Crime Writers Association (CWA), founder of Murder Squad, and a former RLF Writing Fellow and Reading Round Lector. She’s been a country park ranger, biology teacher, dyslexia specialist and Visiting Professor in creative writing. A Short Story Dagger and CWA Red Herring award winner, she has also been shortlisted for the “First Blood” critics award and CWA Dagger in the Library.

READERS CAN'T PUT DOWN BEFORE HE KILLS AGAIN:

“Before He Kills Again is set on the dark side of Liverpool, atmospherically evoked by an author who knows this great city inside out.” Edgar-winning author Martin Edwards

“This is one of those books that pitches you straight in to the story and grips you throughout. This is the first to feature Detective Cassie Rowan, so a great jumping on point for this hot new series with a psychological twist.” Chris Simms, Shots Mag

“This book was so captivating, it had me engrossed from the start.” Sandra B.

“Exceptional good read.” Beverley Ann H.

“A really good read.” Nerys R.

“Engrossing.” Ghada A.

“Very intense.” Keerthana N.

ALSO BY MARGARET MURPHY
DETECTIVE CASSIE ROWAN
Book 1: BEFORE HE KILLS AGAIN
Book 2: THE SCARECROW KILLER

CLARA PASCAL
Book 1: DARKNESS FALLS
Book 2: WEAVING SHADOWS

DETECTIVE JEFF RICKMAN
Book 1: SEE HER BURN
Book 2: SEE HER DIE
Book 3: DON'T SCREAM

STANDALONE NOVELS
DEAR MUM
HER HUSBAND'S KILLER
THE LOST BOY
DYING EMBERS
THE DARKEST HOURS
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  1. Book 1 of 2
    Detective Cassie Rowan
  2. Print length
    359 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Accessibility
    Learn more
  5. Publication date
    July 13, 2020
  6. File size
    1.4 MB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Margaret Murphy writes internationally acclaimed psychological thrillers. A past Chair of the Crime Writers Association (CWA), the founder of Murder Squad, and a former RLF Writing Fellow and Reading Round Lector, she’s been a country park ranger, a biology teacher, a dyslexia specialist, and a visiting professor in creative writing. A Short Story Dagger and CWA Red Herring award winner, she has also been shortlisted for the “First Blood” Critics Award and the CWA Dagger in the Library.

Bianca Amato is a South-African actress known for her work in American theatre, as a prolific audiobook performer, and for her portrayal of Philippa De Villiers in the original cast of the South African soap opera Isidingo.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08CY5TD9F
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ JOFFE BOOKS crime thrillers and mysteries
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ July 13, 2020
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1.4 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 359 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1789314618
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Book 1 of 2 ‏ : ‎ Detective Cassie Rowan
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 out of 5 stars 4,016 ratings

About the author

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Margaret Murphy

Margaret Murphy

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Margaret Murphy writes internationally acclaimed and bestselling psychological thrillers under her own name, the Detective Rick Turner series as M.K. Murphy, and forensic thrillers as Ashley Dyer and AD Garrett. She is a past Chair of the UK Crime Writers Association (CWA), founder of Murder Squad, and a former RLF Writing Fellow. She’s been a country park ranger, biology teacher, dyslexia specialist and Visiting Professor in creative writing. A Short Story Dagger, HRF Keating, and CWA Red Herring award winner, she has also been shortlisted for the ‘First Blood’ critics award and CWA Dagger in the Library.

I am @murphynovels on social media!

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
4,016 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this crime thriller suspenseful with lots of twists and surprises, and they enjoy it from the first page. Moreover, the book features excellent characters, fast-paced pacing, and is well-written. However, some customers find the book repetitive and nonsensical.

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PlotReadabilityCharacter developmentPacingWriting qualityBoredom
33 customers mention "Plot"28 positive5 negative

Customers enjoy the plot of the book, describing it as suspenseful with lots of twists and surprises.

"...This was an excellent story. Cassie is headstrong, but very dedicated to righting wrongs and giving everyone the same quality of justice...." Read more

"...Very interesting, gripping at times & suspenseful. You will enjoy the read." Read more

"...Rowan is a great character, and the story was an investigative powerhouse. Lots of twists and surprises here! Fully engaging from the start!" Read more

"Wow, what a great story. I really liked the characters and would definitely recommend to crime story readers. Thanks for an enjoyable experience." Read more

18 customers mention "Readability"18 positive0 negative

Customers find the book engaging, enjoying it from the first page and describing it as a very interesting read.

"...Very interesting, gripping at times & suspenseful. You will enjoy the read." Read more

"...Thanks for an enjoyable experience." Read more

"I enjoyed this book very much. Will definitely be reading more by this author. Looking forward to the next book in this series...." Read more

"Good book, pretty much figured everything out beforehand, so that was a bummer all on its own.storyline was a little confusing in the beginning...." Read more

17 customers mention "Character development"14 positive3 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book.

"...Rowan is a great character, and the story was an investigative powerhouse. Lots of twists and surprises here! Fully engaging from the start!" Read more

"...The star detective was an interesting character. She was intuitive and hard working only to be ridiculed and mocked...." Read more

"Wow, what a great story. I really liked the characters and would definitely recommend to crime story readers. Thanks for an enjoyable experience." Read more

"...If you love a great story with very interesting characters, this is one you will love. I highly recommend it." Read more

10 customers mention "Pacing"7 positive3 negative

Customers appreciate the pacing of the book, describing it as fast-paced, with one customer noting its gritty and real investigation.

"...This was a tightly plotted, fast-paced, action-packed, dark and gritty story with plenty of suspects...." Read more

"...parts of town and are not for the faint of heart, but Rowan's investigation is gritty and real...." Read more

"...She was intuitive and hard working only to be ridiculed and mocked. I give me three stars for the characterization of the main players in the book." Read more

"This book was a mix of good and bad. Some parts were so slow and bad that I wanted to stop. Other parts were so good that I couldn't stop reading...." Read more

6 customers mention "Writing quality"6 positive0 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book, finding it well-crafted and easy to read, with one customer noting its descriptive style.

"...prone to nightmares or mental illness, but a really suspenseful, well written, realistic read." Read more

"...I wanted more description of Cassie and her background. Well written and easy to read." Read more

"I found this story well written. The characters were interesting and well written. The plot twisted around with some unexpected moves...." Read more

"Very well written crime novel with a very likable main character. Hoping another Cassie Rowan is in the works, will definitely read it." Read more

3 customers mention "Boredom"0 positive3 negative

Customers find the book repetitive and boring in spots.

"...Some things could have been condensed somewhat. It was rather boring in spots and I found myself wishing it would just get on with it, but I will..." Read more

"...Interest plot, though repetitive. First in series Cassie Rowan so next maybe better" Read more

"It was a lot of fill and repetitive nonsense!..." Read more

Great starter to a series
4 out of 5 stars
Great starter to a series
Before He Kills Again “CAN CASSIE STOP A SERIAL KILLER BEFORE HE KILLS AGAIN?” First off, thanks to @joffebooks for this gifted copy to read and review. Also, I’ve been very busy these last two months and totally slacked on finishing this book in my normal time frame. This book was also very lengthy and jam packed with information, so that was a factor in why it took me so long to finish. I have never read a book by @murphy_dyer before and I really enjoyed the writing style. The book has great suspense and thrill and hits you in all the emotions. I think my only complaint would be that there was just so much information that I think this book could have been shorter. This author was able to make me feel the pain of each victim and I wanted to save them all. I’m not 100% sure why he was called a serial killer because only one victim was murdered. The rest were let go to live their lives with traumatizing memories. This story follows Cassie ( and there are more books to follow involving her ) working as a constable for the police department, trying to track down the Furman, who kidnaps and beats prostitutes. The day she finally has him in her grasp, her partners are busy not being professional and she loses him. Then other women disappear and Cassie begins to believe they are dealing with two different criminals. The story also goes back and forth with Dr. Palmer, a therapist, who has two intense patients with mental health issues, that may or may not be involved in the abductions, rapes and murder. Cassie will stop at nothing to figure out what is happening, even if she gets suspended! This book had me on the edge of my seat and I still had questions unanswered, so I guess I will be reading the next release in the Cassie series :) Grab a copy now! This book was released July 17!!
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Top reviews from the United States

  • D. Zendel
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fast-paced, action-packed
    Reviewed in the United States on April 20, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Liverpool police detective Cassie Rowan is the main caregiver for her younger brother since the death of their parents. There’s an older brother around to “help,” but he’s moved to America, so he’s pretty much out of the picture. She has to balance this role with being a take charge cop on the hunt for a serial killer with seven victims to his credit.

    This was an excellent story. Cassie is headstrong, but very dedicated to righting wrongs and giving everyone the same quality of justice. She’s hobbled by a spineless good-old-boy sergeant who expends the minimum amount of energy, another officer who’s so new he doesn’t know bad police work when he sees it and really wants to fit in, and a boss who she thinks doesn’t like her. Fortunately, she also has the help and friendship of a crime scene investigator who is looking out for her best interests.

    This was a tightly plotted, fast-paced, action-packed, dark and gritty story with plenty of suspects. There was a good balance of work life and home life. It made the time at the gym whizz by (and I got a great workout as a bonus, because I was so involved in the story). I will read more in this series.
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  • Ms. C
    4.0 out of 5 stars A Very Good Read!
    Reviewed in the United States on August 2, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    I usually read cozy mysteries, I decided to read a different kind of book. Very interesting, gripping at times & suspenseful. You will enjoy the read.
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  • Autumn Danner
    5.0 out of 5 stars Definitely add this to your TBR pile!
    Reviewed in the United States on August 1, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Rowan is a detective that is undervalued and under-respected, but she is tenacious when it comes to protecting the underdog. She sees value in victims and sees connections between crimes. She doesn't stop even when it is in her best interest. This mystery is as complex as the characters. The characters are so real that you love them or hate them. The crimes occur in the seedier parts of town and are not for the faint of heart, but Rowan's investigation is gritty and real. Rowan is a great character, and the story was an investigative powerhouse. Lots of twists and surprises here! Fully engaging from the start!
    Helpful
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  • Lulubak
    3.0 out of 5 stars Three Stars
    Reviewed in the United States on August 6, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    I did not enjoy this book. Seemed to go on and on with the same thing. The violence to one female detective was over done. Towards the end with the psycho dishing the same cruel violence when on and on. How can one police officer, who knowingly abetted a criminal get a medal in the end.
    The star detective was an interesting character. She was intuitive and hard working only to be ridiculed and mocked. I give me three stars for the characterization of the main players in the book.
    12 people found this helpful
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  • Marsha
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great read
    Reviewed in the United States on June 28, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Wow, what a great story. I really liked the characters and would definitely recommend to crime story readers. Thanks for an enjoyable experience.
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  • Kindle Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars Good book
    Reviewed in the United States on November 21, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    This book was a mix of good and bad. Some parts were so slow and bad that I wanted to stop. Other parts were so good that I couldn't stop reading. It was worth it in the end, though. I would recommend this to my friends with a word of caution to keep reading .
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  • Born on a Monday
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great story
    Reviewed in the United States on October 26, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    I knew who the bad guy was, until I didn't. Then I knew again who it was. Until I figured out who it really was. Until I was wrong again. If you haven't guessed by now, I never figured it out until the end of the book.
    And I love that about books of this genre. If I know too soon and I'm not totally confused, it takes away my joy in reading it.
    If you love a great story with very interesting characters, this is one you will love.
    I highly recommend it.
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  • P. Keene
    4.0 out of 5 stars Good plot
    Reviewed in the United States on August 2, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    The author keeps you guessing. It did, however, go on a bit long. Some things could have been condensed somewhat. It was rather boring in spots and I found myself wishing it would just get on with it, but I will recommend that you read it.
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Peter the constant reader
    5.0 out of 5 stars Slow start great finish
    Reviewed in Australia on August 19, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Another useless prologue completely at odds with the story and I nearly gave the book the flick.

    Then a complex and confusing series of chapters and again I nearly gave up. Then Cassie started to make sense and the story took shape. After that the story was entertaining and thrilling to the end.
    Report
  • Pugsey
    4.0 out of 5 stars Befor he kills
    Reviewed in France on August 12, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Good story line, well rounded characters
    Report
  • Anne Brooke
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent crime thriller with strong characters
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 18, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    This is an excellent crime thriller with strong main characters. I really loved Cassie and her can-do attitude to getting the policework done, and I also liked her relationships with the various other characters, both at work and in her home life. The story is a real page-turner and I had to keep reading to find out what would happen next. Yes, there's too much on-page violence to women for my taste (so be warned), but it's still a stonkingly good novel.
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  • Caro
    5.0 out of 5 stars Murphy
    Reviewed in Canada on March 3, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Love this author and her writing. Different series - took a bit more time to get into story but once in, I was hooked.
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  • Davie Boy
    4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 4, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    An excellent and well thought out crime thriller. The pace was quick throughout and the tension was a 'page turner'. I couldn't put the book down.
    Report

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