This was a compelling police procedural that dives into a chilling murder mystery involving a medieval torture device and a web of secrets. DS Karen Hart proves to be a skilled and determined investigator, supported by a strong team, making the unraveling of the case engaging and satisfying. The pacing is spot on, and while I correctly guessed the culprit midway through, the surprise ending still delivered an emotional and satisfying twist. Despite being the 10th book in the series, it works perfectly as a standalone, though it left me intrigued to explore Karen's backstory in earlier installments. Fans of crime thrillers will find this a well-written and entertaining read!