Watch Her Disappear by Eva Dolan

YOU CAN RUN FROM YOUR PAST BUT YOU CAN’T RUN FROM MURDER

The body is found by the river, near a spot popular with runners.

With a serial rapist at work in the area, DI Zigic and DS Ferreira are initially confused when the Hate Crimes Unit is summoned to the scene. Until they discover that the victim, Corinne Sawyer, was born Colin Sawyer.
Police records reveal there have been violent attacks on trans women in the local area. Was Corinne a victim of mistaken identity? Or has the person who has been targeting trans women stepped up their campaign of violence? With tensions running high, and the force coming under national scrutiny, this is a complex case and any mistake made could be fatal.

This is the 4th Zigic and Ferreira novel, books which focus on cases dealt with by the Hate Crimes Unit in Peterborough. While Zigic is concerned with the impact that a new baby is having on his sleeping patterns, Ferreira is avoiding unnecessary personal intimacy by having casual sex with someone she should know better than to be with. But these personal issues serve to give depth and characterisation to two already well fleshed out detectives, whose personalities and approach to the job have been developing with every book.

The crime this time is against a transgender woman, found murdered on a lonely path. Is this the culmination of a series of attacks on trans women? Or is the answer to be found in the murdered woman’s personal life? For DI Zigic and DS Ferreira gaining the trust of the transgender community is essential, but they are battling against distrust of the police, antediluvian attitudes within the force and prejudice on all fronts.

Always an intelligent writer, Dolan’s work flows impressively. Her characters are entirely believeable, her plotting flawless and her writing is exceptional.

I loved reading this because the characters were both plausible and engaging. The plot is riveting and the denouement completely true to the book.

Dolan is a writer of great talent. Any new book from her should be snapped up straight away.

Watch Her Disappear is published by RandomHouse U.K. Vintage Publishing on 26 January 2017.