Dead Scared is book 2 in the Lacy Flint series.

DI Mark Joesbury recruits DC Lacey Flint to go undercover at the Cambridge University as a student. There have been several suicides, but the London police aren't convinced that the victims acted alone. Could there be someone out there preying on insecure students? And, is Lacey herself being put in danger?

It was quite nice to return to this book series. The first book was good and I was interested in reading and learning more about Lacey, and, of course, Joesbury since they have a very deep connection. And, that connection is clearly still there as Joesbury has to worry throughout the book about Lacey's safety. I just love those two in the first book. Both are very fond of each other, but there are barriers between them.

What I really like about this series is that Lacey is such an interesting character, if you have read the first book will you know what I mean and if you haven't well all I will say is that she has been through a lot in her life. And, her past is perfect for her to play a vulnerable student, but it can also be extremely dangerous for her if the police are right and it's a killer out there trying to get vulnerable students.

The story was good, the case with suicides at a university didn't feel overused and I especially liked that, despite that I figured things out was I still surprised by the ending when certain things were revealed that I hadn't figured out. The book started with the ending and after that, it was a countdown through the days as the story progressed to the scene in the beginning of the book. I'm not always that fond of that kind storyline when we get a glimpse of what will happen at the ending of the book at the beginning, but in this case, it worked. And, that ending. Loved it. Although I felt that some things were left unresolved, but perhaps next book with deal with that. Still, wow what an ending!

You can probably read this without having read the first book. But to understand Lacey do I think reading the first book would be prudent.

4.5 stars

Read this review and others on A Bookaholic Swede ( )

Probably 2.5 stars, I guess. Students at Cambridge are committing suicide in twisted, creative and unorthodox ways: not only at many times the average, but mostly women. Detective Constable Lacey Flint is asked by Detective Inspector Mark Joesbury to go undercover as a fragile, troubled student, taking the room of a recent victim, who tried to burn herself to death. Lacey works with wheelchair-bound psychologist Evi Oliver, whose patient list included several of the young women who died, and who having bad dreams and thoughts. Unfortunately, as a reader, I did not feel the terror, and Bolton did not spend enough time on the perpetrators and their motivations. Also, the relationship between Flint and Joesbury is truly tiring, at least for me. ( )

This is the second book in a psychological thriller detective series set in the London area featuring Detective Inspector Mark Joesbury and Detective Constable Lacey Flint. It begins three months after the previous book concluded.

Joesbury received clearance to request Lacey’s help on a case being worked on by his unit, the SO10, which involves officers being sent undercover into difficult and dangerous situations. In this case, there have been a rash of bizarre and gruesome suicides among students, most of them attractive females. Lacey, although nearly 28, is to pretend to be a psychology student at St. John’s College at Cambridge studying under the direction of Dr. Evi Oliver, who is head of student counseling. Joesbury tells Lacey her job will be to immerse herself in student life, pretending to be “the sort of student who might be thinking about suicide,” and report back on anything out of the ordinary. She is to use the name Laura Farrow.

Lacey is specifically told not to be investigating the matter herself, but she can’t resist, especially as she uncovers more and more anomalies about the girls who committed suicide. What stands out most about these suicides is the violent means they chose to end their lives. Moreover, although few of them had a reputation for taking drugs, all of them were found at autopsy to have high levels in their systems not only of antidepressants but of powerful hallucinogens. Almost all reported the same fears and disturbing incidents prior to taking their own lives.

Lacey works with Evi to uncover what is really going on, but as they get closer to the truth, both of their lives are in extreme danger that is terrifying not only for them but for readers as well!

Evaluation: You will find yourself tearing through this dark, gritty page-turner. Bolton does a fine job of keeping the tension very high and the characters interesting. ( )

I read this in in one sitting (even though there are other books I am mean to be reading urgently) and it was great. It is very dark, especially towards the end, and I'm not convinced there would be enough money in this sort of criminal enterprise to make it worth so many co-conspirators' time, but what do I know? ( )

I'm pretty sure this is would be my worst nightmare. ( )