A Soul for a Soul - Carol Wyer

Reading Challenge Category: Free ARC from NetGalley

Official Blurb:

The syndicate have taken everything from her. It’s time to take them down—or die trying.
DCI Kate Young never meant to shoot Superintendent John Dickson at the reservoir that night—even if, as a scheming corrupt cop and head of the shady syndicate, he probably had it coming. But now Kate has photographic evidence that someone else knows her terrible secret…
Tormented by guilt and the voices of the dead, Kate is desperate to unmask the rest of the corrupt officers before her own sins catch up with her. When DI Harriet Khatri, awaiting trial for the murder of Kate’s mentor, claims she was framed by Dickson’s syndicate, Kate reluctantly agrees to help in the hope of finding answers.
Meanwhile, DI Emma Donaldson finds herself on the hunt for a double murderer—a man who incapacitates his victims with a powerful narcotic called Devil’s Breath. Desperate to measure up to her role-model boss, Emma finds herself hurled into the deep end in more ways than one…
While Kate’s grip on reality wavers and the syndicate closes in, and with the mystery killer taking a special interest in Emma, could this be the case that defeats both detectives?

My Thoughts:

A Soul for a Soul by Carol Wyer, purportedly the final instalment in the series, attempts to tie up the elusive syndicate storyline that has lingered throughout the preceding books. While there are moments of intrigue and resolution, the overall execution left me somewhat unsatisfied.
The narrative predominantly revolves around Kate's relentless pursuit of answers, notably regarding the mysterious figure, Digger, and a search of Williams's house. Unfortunately, the plot seemed to meander in repetitive circles, with Kate engaging in similar actions without significant progress. This repetitive structure created a sense of frustration, making the reading experience less engaging than anticipated.
A noteworthy subplot involves Emma's investigation, which held promise but concluded with a rather underwhelming outcome—a damp squib, to be precise. The lacklustre resolution to this side story contributed to my disappointment with the overall narrative.
The conclusion to the syndicate storyline, which I had eagerly anticipated, also failed to deliver the anticipated impact. Instead of going out all guns blazing, the ending felt subdued and left me yearning for a more dynamic and compelling resolution.
As the supposed final chapter in Kate's journey, I couldn't help but feel a sense of relief upon finishing the book. The lingering question now is whether Kate has genuinely fulfilled her purpose and whether there is anything more she could bring to the table in future instalments. I hope that, if there are to be further developments, a fresh perspective and renewed vigour be brought to the series.