The Teacher By Katerina Diamond

[amazon_link id=”0008168156″ target=”_blank” ][/amazon_link]’The Teacher’ is the first book by Katerina Diamond.

The body of the head teacher of an exclusive Devon school is found hanging from the rafters in the assembly hall. Hours earlier he’d received a package, and only he could understand the silent message it conveyed. It meant the end. As Exeter suffers a rising count of gruesome deaths, troubled DS Imogen Grey and DS Adrian Miles must solve the case and make their city safe again.But as they’re drawn into a network of corruption, lies and exploitation, every step brings them closer to grim secrets hidden at the heart of their community. And once they learn what’s motivating this killer, will they truly want to stop him?

Last weekend, I decided to read something different, so I picked up a copy of ‘The Teacher’ and found myself engrossed in Katerina Diamond’s debut novel, a disturbing and gory story that I regularly read aloud to others so they also felt part of the gruesome tale.

‘The Teacher’ begins with the brutal murder of a headteacher and then follows in the same vein, as a killer targets different people and exposing them to the most horrific forms of torture.

The story is seen through the eyes of the two main people of the story. Abby, a young taxidermist who feels at her most comfortable surrounded by dead animals. After an incident at university, she was retracted into herself, safe in the solace of her dead beings, she enjoys her work until a young man called Parker, comes along on placement and disrupts her routine and the two become firm friends. The story flashes in past and present sequences for Abby, as we get to know the young woman and the reason she has become such a recluse.

Adrian Miles, has returned to the police force after a six month break and has a new partner, outspoken and bolshy DCI Imogen Grey and wants to get involved in the recent series of murders. The two of them are embroiled in the drama as they uncover secrets and old ghosts return.

This book is an incredibly gripping read but it’s most definitely not for the faint hearted, as it’s filled with gore from the very beginning. With a dark cover, ‘The Teacher’ is dark and chilling and gives an insight into the policing system as we try to catch the killer with the police. Regarding the circumstances, of the killer, it’s hard not to feel sympathetic towards the killer as motives are revealed and scores are settled, even though it is terribly graphic.

Addictive from the start, this grisly read is the ultimate page turner, filled with blood, gore and a handsome detective, ‘The Teacher’ is a deliciously good debut.

You can buy [amazon_link id=”0008168156″ target=”_blank” ]The Teacher from Amazon [/amazon_link] and is available to buy from good bookshops.